FAAB Waiver Wire Bidding - Fantasy Football Pickups to Target for Week 12 (2024)

Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 12 (2024) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.

We're likely headed for a Trey Lance versus Tommy Devito Thanksgiving Day matchup -- don't let anyone tell you the 2024 NFL season isn't fun! If you're still reading this, you're likely in the deep in the playoff hunt trenches looking to gain an edge. Let's hit the playoffs strong with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.

These prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, especially as some leagues have seen teams use all of their FAAB already, and percentages are based on your starting budget. Each league values players differently, so context is king. These values provide a baseline to understand how much you should be looking to spend on a particular player, with different categories to reflect team-need situations.

Be sure to update how much FAAB your rivals have left to compete with so you can accordingly adjust your aggression. Let's check out my median FAAB bid ranges and adds going into Week 12, which has a rude six teams on a bye (ATL, BUF, CIN, JAC, NO, and NYJ).

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks

Drake Maye (QB, NE) - 14% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%

Maye tallied a career-high 282 passing yards against the Rams, completing 30 of his 40 pass attempts for two touchdowns and an interception. He would add three rushes for 27 yards as he continues to bolster his median expectation on the ground.

Maye can only fly so high with limited talent around him, yet he’s thrown for multiple scores in half of his six career starts thus far. He’ll lead the Pats into a divisional date with Miami next. It's encouraging that he's proving good at succeeding while under pressure because New England's line won't improve soon.

He's making it look easy but it's not normal how good #Patriots QB Drake Maye already is at throwing "hot" vs. pressure.

The Rams drop the DE out while blitzing the safety, who is disguising like he's covering Henry. Maye is hot if that safety comes. He knows it and hits Boutte… pic.twitter.com/N6X5x3e03N

— Evan Lazar (@ezlazar) November 18, 2024

Jameis Winston (QB, CLE) - 12% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%

Winston couldn’t keep up with the Saints’ scoring but still totaled 395 yards and two scores on 30-of-46 passing on the day. It was good to see no turnovers after the three INTs in Week 9. He’s attempted over 40 passes in all three starts this year. The trend should continue with PIT, DEN, PIT again, KC, CIN, and MIA ahead.

That’s bad for the Browns and won’t look pretty, but Winston has the green light to sling it. The 2024 version of Nick Chubb isn’t carrying this offense downfield. Remember that “real-life success” doesn’t equate to fantasy production, so take what the offensive script gives you.

Will Levis (QB, TEN) - 9% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%

Levis threw for a season-high 295 yards with a touchdown and an interception on 17-of-31 passing, with 18 rush yards on a season-best seven carries as well. It wasn’t an astounding performance but this was against a dynamic Vikings defense that brings creative pressure.

It’s good to see his rushing usage still there, even trending up a bit, because lighter skies lay ahead. While he faces Houston in Week 12, the final five fantasy games come with both Jacksonville divisional games in the mix. The Jags went back to their horrid ways after limiting Sam Darnold in Week 10 and remain a plus-plus fantasy matchup.

**Trey Lance (DAL) may soon get his chance to flash the rushing upside as well. Tommy DeVito also gets to make magic happen with Malik Nabers against the Bucs. Don't forget DeVito had four or more rushes in six of seven starts last year, including a 10-71-0 line against the Packers in Week 14.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs

Ameer Abdullah (RB, LV) - 0% rostered
Dylan Laube (RB, LV) - 0% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5% / 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7% / 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 7-12% (in PPR) / 6-10%

This is a murky situation early in the week. The Raiders lost Zamir White to a quad injury late in the third quarter before Alexander Mattison was forced out with an ankle injury shortly after the fourth quarter began. Abdullah was the only remaining active RB with Laube scratched, which may skew bidding towards Abdullah.

But Laube is the more complete back, even if he’s the raw rookie compared to Abdullah’s veteran tenure. Abdullah is a passing-down RB, with 17 catches to 17 carries through 10 games.

Unfortunately, Laube’s only regular-season touch resulted in a lost fumble, so we’ll see how head coach Antonio Pierce feels. Laube was an all-purpose yard freak in college and the Raiders may opt to give him a run down the stretch in a lost year.

There’s a chance that White and/or Mattison is okay for Week 12’s home tilt against the Broncos. White remained questionable to return throughout the game while Mattison was ruled out. No matter how ugly it is, any player with a reasonable path to starting RB snaps is worthy of fantasy attention.

Roschon Johnson (RB, CHI) - 7% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 4-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%

Johnson turned 10 carries into 33 yards and a TD plunge, also gaining three first downs to D’Andre Swift’s two. He had two of the team’s three carries inside the five-yard line and looks to have the short-yardage role to himself.

Chicago is about to run a gauntlet against Minnesota (twice), Detroit (twice), and San Francisco, so opportunities may be sparse. At least Chicago’s offense showed life here after two listless losses.

The most notable change with new OC Thomas Brown for the Bears was the usage of Roschon Johnson. Utilized in more a committee with just 11 fewer snaps, a take over at the goal line work, and only 3 less routes run. It was only one game, but it seems to be an emphasis point yo get…

— Dan Mader (@DanMaderff) November 18, 2024

Cam Akers (RB, MIN) - 17% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%

Akers has not run well with Minnesota but has eclipsed double-digit touches in his last two games while Aaron Jones nurses a rib injury. Don’t judge the 10 carries for 25 yards too harshly, however, as even Jones only mustered 39 yards with 15 totes. Tennessee’s run defense is simply solid.

Luckily, Akers caught a touchdown with one of his two receptions on the day. The Vikings are on course for the playoffs and could opt to ease back on Jones with 10-12 weekly Akers touches.

Mix that with the upside of 15-18 touches over Ty Chandler if Jones misses any time and you’ve got a solid desperation flex play/stash.

Gus Edwards (RB, LAC) - 27% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-5%

Edwards ran for 27 yards on six carries on Sunday night against the Bengals and is averaging over five yards a pop in two games since returning from the IR. J.K. Dobbins only had 10 carries for 27 yards before ripping off a 29-yard, game-winning TD. He’s been good in the red zone but is only averaging 3.68 yards per carry since Week 3.

Dobbins also missed all of last year and could fade down the stretch, especially with a trio of top-10 rush units upcoming in Baltimore, Atlanta, and Kansas City. By the time the schedule opens up for the fantasy playoffs against Tampa Bay, Denver, and New England, Edwards may have forced more of a split.

*While not FAAB priorities, do be sure Trey Benson, Braelon Allen, and Kenneth Gainwell are rostered.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers

Elijah Moore (WR, CLE) - 8% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 10-15%
Aggressive Bid: 15-20%
Desperation Bid: 20-28%

Moore finally found the end zone during Week 11’s loss to New Orleans, totaling 66 yards and his first score of the season on six catches. He’s seen at least eight targets in the first three games with Jameis Winston at the helm. According to Fantasy Points Data Suite, here is a breakdown of the WR trio’s three games with Winston:

The yards currently lag, but the usage points to a more even distribution of opportunities than we’ve seen play out. Cleveland will face great defenses down the stretch (PIT twice, DEN, KC, CIN, MIA) and will surely rely on passing volume over efficiency (The Winston Way). The rostered rate disparity between Moore and Jeudy/Tillman should not be this wide.

Xavier Legette (WR, CAR) - 28% rostered
Adam Thielen (WR, CAR) - 20% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 5-10% / 4-7%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14% / 7-12%
Desperation Bid: 14-20% / 12-16%

The Panthers emerged from their bye having strung together a two-game win streak, but now they face the Chiefs. That probably won’t end well for them but it should create a negative gamescript that demands plenty of passing!

Legette should be joined by Adam Thielen, who is off of the IR and recovered from a hamstring injury, with Jalen Coker and David Moore seemingly behind the duo as role players. Legette has four touchdowns in Carolina’s last seven games, which is like 10 TDs when adjusted for a non-Carolina offense.

He hasn’t topped 40 yards since Week 4 but is a primary red-zone read. Thielen will offer a reliable set of hands for Young to help move the chains, with Jonathon Brooks’ hopeful activation perhaps injecting a surprising amount of life alongside Chuba Hubbard.

The real perk of adding these receivers is rooted in a pair of games against Tampa Bay’s secondary, which come in Week 13 and then most fantasy championships (Week 17). Let’s see if Legette can continue to dominate RZ looks as Thielen churns PPR value.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR, TEN) - 4% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

Westbrook-Ikhine brought in a massive 98-yard score on Sunday as Minnesota simply lost him as they pressed Will Levis by his end zone. NWI is starting a new TD streak after losing his four-game combo last week, now with five scores in six games played.

While we hate relying on TDs over volume, there’s no ignoring this. A starting role on a bad offense still provides ample chances for spikes like this.

Kendrick Bourne (WR, NE) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%

Bourne led the Patriots with 70 receiving yards and a touchdown after being benched last week, so he’ll draw some deep-league attention. He and Ja'Lynn Polk rotated while Kayshon Boutte and DeMario Douglas had more reliable roles.

But Bourne had five targets to Polk’s zero, with all five being first-read looks, per FPDS. Drake Maye gives these receivers some life going into a date with Miami’s stingy secondary next week.

Devaughn Vele (WR, DEN) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%

Vele caught four passes for the second straight game, this time notching 66 yards as the No. 2 receiver alongside Courtland Sutton. All five of Vele’s targets were first-read looks according to Fantasy Points Data Suite (Sutton had four), with his 23 routes edging Troy Franklin (19), Lil’Jordan Humphrey (12), and Marvin Mims Jr. (seven).

Counting up the games Vele has played, he is the only non-Sutton receiver to have a first-read rate north of 15%. He also has a comparable “first downs per route run” mark to Sutton as he helps keep Denver moving. These don’t go unnoticed and should speak to a safer role.

The good news is that Bo Nix and the Broncos offense should have plus matchups against Las Vegas and Cleveland. Josh Reynolds’ return from the IR with a finger injury shouldn’t affect Vele’s slot role, instead muddying the waters for Troy Franklin on the perimeter.

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends

*Cheers to those who streamed Taysom Hill or Jonnu Smith (both 54% rostered). Hill has a bye next week and will be boom-bust, but the boom ceiling can win entire weeks. Smith and the Dolphins have a tough RoS/fantasy playoff schedule but he’s outproducing Jaylen Waddle as the No. 3 behind Tyreek Hill and De’Von Achane.

Will Dissly (TE, LAC) - 23% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 3-5%
Aggressive Bid: 5-7%
Desperation Bid: 7-10%

Dissly turned four catches into 80 yards and his first TD of the year, running 22 routes while Tucker Fisk (five) and Stone Smartt (four) backed him up. Hayden Hurst was inactive for Sunday night’s contest, which once again showed the Chargers an enhanced appetite for passing.

Dissly quietly leads the team with 33 targets in their last five games, sitting tied with Ladd McConkey’s 24 receptions at the top as well. The Chargers will need Justin Herbert’s arm and the entire pass-catching crew over the next month with games against the Ravens, Falcons, Chiefs, and Bucs on tap. All four are top-10 fantasy matchups for TEs.

Will Dissly has seen target shares of 29.7%, 23.3%, 11.5%, 33.3%, and 18.2% over his last five games.

— JJ Zachariason (@LateRoundQB) November 18, 2024

Zach Ertz (TE, WAS) - 33% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 1-2%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%

Ertz rebounded with six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown on Thursday after two poor weeks in a row. There were murmurs that Ben Sinnott could take advantage down the stretch but Ertz still looks like the reliable TE to roster in Washington’s offense. Unfortunately, Jayden Daniels isn’t 100% so the overall ceiling is lower.

Noah Gray (TE, KC) - 1% rostered 

FAAB Bid: 0%
Aggressive Bid: 1%
Desperation Bid: 2%

Gray’s two touchdowns will grab some headlines but he still only had four catches for 23 yards at the end of the day. He remains a TD-dependent, complementary TE who plays in a great offense. They shouldn’t need him against Carolina or Las Vegas in the coming weeks unless you want to bank on starters being rested late in blowouts.

*Luke Schoonmaker could be a deep add if Jake Ferguson's concussion from Monday Night Football forces him from Week 12, but Dallas' offense remains anemic.

**Don’t forget about NYG’s Theo Johnson and CAR’s Ja'Tavion Sanders from last week’s column!

FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams

Washington Commanders Defense (vs. DAL) - 20% rostered

FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-7%

The Commanders did well in limiting Philadelphia to 26 points last Thursday but that was always a tall ask. Despite the loss, they still managed to post their ninth straight game with multiple sacks.

But this add is about their upcoming opponents. They’ll enjoy a pair of home games against the Cowboys and Titans before a Week 14 bye, meaning you can cruise through a couple of weeks here.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers Defense (at NYG) - 10% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%

I know, Tampa Bay’s defense has been frightful lately. But they had three or more sacks in two consecutive games against both participants of last year’s Super Bowl (KC, SF) and the competition level is about to plummet.

Here is Tampa Bay’s remaining schedule: Giants, Panthers, Raiders, Chargers, Cowboys, and Panthers. You can grab them for an audition against Daniel Jones/Drew Lock before the rest of the way. The secondary and late-game coaching decisions have been poor, but Vita Vea can dominate the trenches.

Arizona Cardinals Defense (at SEA) - 6% rostered

FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3-4%

While the Seahawks just pulled off a gritty upset over San Francisco, they still surrendered four sacks and haven’t topped 20 points in their last three games.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals’ last two games have seen them rack up nine sacks and just 15 points allowed. They enter this game fresh off of a bye and looking to distance themselves in the NFC West.

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