Week 12 Waiver Wire Sleepers & Overview for Fantasy Football

Zach Wilkens analyzes Week 12 sleepers available on your fantasy football waiver wire. These NFL running backs (RBs), wide receivers (WRs), tight ends (TEs) and quarterbacks (QBs) are fantasy football sleepers.

Week 12 Waiver Wire for Fantasy Football

We are past the biggest bye weeks in the NFL, so your lineups should once again be stocked with all the big name players and star sleepers you drafted. Oh...that's right, half your team is injured...well, you came to the right place. I'm here to help you out with reviews of all the top fantasy football waiver wire adds going into Week 12 of the NFL season.

Just a friendly reminder that in my weekly waiver wire pickups overview column, I only highlight players owned in fewer than 50% of leagues on Fleaflicker. There very well may be other options out there, so be sure to read all of RotoBaller's Week 11 waiver wire analysis. And of course, you can always stop by the RotoBaller chat rooms for any live advice you may need.

For now, check out my waiver wire thoughts below for Week 12, but be sure to come back to see my rankings when they're posted right here on RotoBaller later on in the week!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
• Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
• Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
• Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
• NFL rookie fantasy football rankings
• Best ball fantasy football rankings
• Superflex fantasy football rankings
• Dynasty fantasy football rankings

Quarterback Waiver Wire Pickup Options

1. Mark Sanchez (PHI) @ Titans - 46% Owned on Fleaflicker

Sanchez had four turnovers last week and two were returned for touchdowns which invoked a lot of "Sanchez being Sanchez" stuff on Twitter, but the Packers are an underrated defense and he did throw for 346 yards and 2 TD even if it was garbage time aided. The Titans are a MUCH easier matchup and Sanchez should have a very nice game in week 12.

2. Brian Hoyer (CLE) @ Falcons - 26% Owned on Fleaflicker

I'd be recommending Hoyer based on the matchup alone but the fact that JOSH GORDON RETURNS!!!!!! this week makes it even better. I fully expect WR1 numbers from Gordon and Hoyer has already thrown for 300 yards in two of the past three weeks after not doing so at all previously. Hoyer should be a great bet for 15+ points this week.

3. Alex Smith @ Raiders - 49% Owned on Fleaflicker

Alex Smith was horrible this past week and plays on Thursday in Week 12, so it's understandable if you are don't trust him here. That said he goes from playing Seattle to playing Oakland and that is as easy as it gets. Smith can also usually be counted on for 2+ points in the run game which was not the case this past week. He will rebound.

Running Back Waiver Wire Pickup Options

1. Jonas Gray (NE) vs Lions - 13% Owned on Fleaflicker

What a day for Gray this past week! I don't think anyone expected that 38 carries, 199 yards, or 4 TDs, let alone all together. And to expect it going forward would also be a mistake. He did prove himself capable of excellent numbers in a good offense. He has several tough matchups ahead starting with the Lions this week. I don't expect too much but he has 17, 12 and 38 touches the past three weeks so you can expect a healthy 15 or so.  At this point Shane Vereen is really only relevant in PPR leagues or deep non-PPR leagues as a possible FLEX.

2. Isaiah Crowell (CLE) @ Falcons - 31% Owned on Fleaflicker

The Browns RB situation has quickly gone from a nuisance to a total headache for owners of Crowell, Ben Tate and Terrance West. Will Crowell start next week as well? I don't think anyone knows for sure right now but given the matchup he (and West) should be owned by any RB needy team. Going into Week 11 the Falcons were allowing the most points to opposing RBs. That will change following the unsurprising lackluster performance of the Panthers RBs but the Cleveland starter next week will have significant value and at this point it is probably (?) Crowell.

3. Latavius Murray (OAK) vs Chiefs - 17% Owned on Fleaflicker

I'm actually surprised Murray is more owned than Gray because I think he was the deeper sleeper even before this week. The Oakland offense has declined in every way lately. The Raiders have seemingly refused to use their young back in favor of Darren McFadden and the incredibly bad Maurice Jones-Drew. That finally changed this week as Murray got 7 touches for 59 yards, easily more than the other two combined on 12 touches. If Murray doesn't see an increased workload this week I'll be amazed. Either way that role is developing and this is a guy you might want to add in case he develops real value during the playoffs (much like Rashad Jennings down the stretch last year).

Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Pickup Options

1. Kenny Britt (STL) @ Chargers - 12% Owned on Fleaflicker

Britt was a semi-popular draft sleeper after a strong preseason and reports of his leadership surfaced. Come regular season he disappeared into the fantasy void where many sleepers go to die. For whatever reason, Britt was excellent against the Broncos, burning Aqib Talib and Bradley Roby deep on multiple occasions. Beating Talib is no small feat either. It's hard to say if it will continue but he was clearly Shaun Hill's favorite target and he is worth the add for sure.

2. Cecil Shorts (JAX) @ Colts - 45% Owned on Fleaflicker

I was really bummed about Allen Robinson's season-ending injury, but in fantasy you move on to the next guy. Shorts will retake his role as #1 receiver in this offense. Even despite a disappointing and injury-riddled season, Shorts has managed to put up two 100 yard games this year. The Colts will be a tough matchup as he should see coverage from the excellent Vontae Davis but as we know, garbage time is often the perfect cure. That said, because of Vontae Davis, consider adding Allen Hurns or Marqise Lee (preference to Hurns) in deeper leagues as well.

3. Charles Johnson (MIN) vs Packers - 1% Owned on Fleaflicker

Johnson was on my radar in the preseason as a super deep sleeper. Of course at that time he was with the Browns who had no clear top option (until this week!!). When he couldn't even make the Browns roster, he fell off my radar. He manages to find himself on the Vikings roster and last week finally had a big game. Let's face it, Cordarrelle Patterson is not happening. Greg Jennings is alright but well past his prime. There is room for someone to step up and Johnson could be that guy. He has excellent workout metrics and dominant college numbers, though it was with small-time Grand Valley State. If you're looking for a guy who could see a huge increase in value during the remainder of this year, Johnson is the guy to own.

Tight End Waiver Wire Pickup Options

1. Coby Fleener (IND) vs Jags - 51% Owned on Fleaflicker

Okay, Fleener is above my cutoff of 50% but given that he is still out there in plenty of leagues, just had a big game, has a great matchup, and Dwayne Allen is possibly out, I HAD to include him. When streaming tight ends you have to play matchups more than RB/WR and you don't need me to tell you the Jags are a great matchup. Dwayne Allen sprained his ankle and is day-to-day, and he should be limited if he does play. Fleener is a fantastic play this week if he is available.

2. Charles Clay (MIA) @ Broncos - 51% Owned on Fleaflicker

Oops, Clay is over 50% too, but he will see a slight drop in ownership following last week's dud. The Broncos are a good matchup for opposing tight ends. I didn't expect Clay to do well last week (well outside my top-12) but I'll be more optimistic this week. The Broncos game against the Rams was an anomaly. We can expect that the Dolphins won't be able to control the clock and thus will be throwing a lot more. Clay will be a part of that.

3. Austin Seferian-Jenkins (TB) @ Bears - 16% Owned on Fleaflicker

In deeper leagues those first two are already owned and the options get bad really fast. I've written about ASJ in this column several times and he still hasn't done a whole lot. That said, the Bears are putrid against tight ends, having allowed 10 touchdowns to opposing tight ends in the last six games alone, easily first during that span. Last week I knew it was happening and I wrote about Kyle Rudolph and Chase Ford in this column. A tight end scored sure enough, but it was blocker Rhett Ellison. Oops, my bad on that one. There is a chance the Bucs' other TE Brandon Myers could do the same this week but ASJ is the guy you want to play if you have to.