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The fantasy football playoffs will be here before we know it, and the deep-league waiver wire is ultra-thin. While it's rare to find studs on the waiver wire at this point in the season, fantasy managers should continue to search and scavenge for upgrades or stashes ahead of the end of the 2023 campaign.
The top waiver wire adds are often obvious for traditional 10 and 12-team leagues, but a larger pool of players is in consideration in leagues of 14 people or more. Some of these Week 12 deeper-league waiver wire suggestions will have value right away, while others are simply bench stashes that could help your fantasy team in the future. We won't cover chalk pickups like Zach Charbonnet and AJ Dillon.
Without further ado, here are the top deeper league waiver wire targets for Week 12, including Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Rico Dowdle, Michael Carter, Tyjae Spears, Demario Douglas, Jameson Williams, and more.
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Running Back Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Kenneth Gainwell has the highest upside of any handcuff running back stash. If D'Andre Swift gets banged up at all, Gainwell would see a ton of touches behind the NFL's best offensive line.
Rico Dowdle remains an attractive handcuff running back, especially since the Dallas offense has a high ceiling when it's clicking.
Tyjae Spears has played on more than 50% of the Titans' offensive snaps in eight of his ten games. He continues to be a high-end handcuff stash as Derrick Henry's backup with some standalone value.
Joshua Kelley was disappointing in his handful of starts in the absence of Austin Ekeler early in the season. However, he remains a top-tier handcuff RB in an explosive Chargers offense.
Jerick McKinnon could have fantasy value late in the season, just like he did last year. The Chiefs' passing offense needs a spark, so McKinnon, who posted 56 receptions for 512 yards and nine touchdowns last season, could see more action moving forward.
Ezekiel Elliott posted a season-high 88 total yards on 15 touches in the Patriots' last game, a loss to the Indianapolis Colts. Although his ceiling is limited in a bad offense, he can be utilized as a desperation flex play in standard formats.
Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell should both be rostered in deep leagues. Christian McCaffrey has already been banged up this season, and there's a real chance he will miss a game or two down the stretch. Mitchell and Mason would compete to have RB2 upside.
Michael Carter was claimed by the Arizona Cardinals off waivers. Cleary, Arizona thinks he has some talent, so it's not wrong to expect the former Jet to become the team's RB2 in short order.
Ronnie Rivers is eligible to come off of injured reserve in Week 12. He suffered a knee injury five weeks ago but was backing up Kyren Williams (ankle) before both were placed on IR. If Rivers can't return soon, Darrell Henderson and Royce Freeman will remain on the fantasy radar as Williams' backups. Williams is expected to play in Week 12.
Note: Any direct backup running back, especially one in a good offense, should be considered a bench stash in deep leagues.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Jameson Williams and Josh Reynolds aren't weekly fantasy studs, but in one of the best offenses in the NFL, both should be rostered. Both players would have legitimate fantasy upside if Amon-Ra St. Brown had to miss any time. Consider them "handcuff" wide receivers. Williams can be utilized as a "touchdown or bust" play every week.
Quentin Johnston and Jalen Guyton continue to draw interest in deep leagues. Although Johnston had a crucial drop in the Week 11 loss to the Green Bay Packers, he's playing with one of the best QBs in the NFL. Hopefully, he'll emerge just in time for the fantasy playoffs.
Demario Douglas has earned at least six targets in each of his last four games and saw a career-high nine targets in Week 10. The Patriots are coming off a Week 11 bye, and they might make a quarterback change to Bailey Zappe. Will Zappe dramatically improve the offense? Maybe not. But he could give it a slight boost.
Mecole Hardman Jr. has caught the third-most touchdowns from Patrick Mahomes all-time, trailing only Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. As Hardman gets reacclimated to the Kansas City offense, he could have legitimate deep-league value. The Chiefs need someone to step up behind Kelce and Rashee Rice.
Rondale Moore has 107 total yards and a touchdown in two games with Kyler Murray this season. Moore is an electric playmaker, so if he can start to earn targets consistently, he has plenty of upside.
Rashod Bateman caught his first touchdown of the season in Week 11. With Mark Andrews (ankle) expected to miss significant time, Bateman's fantasy value could finally be on the rise.
Tight End Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Luke Musgrave has seen at least four targets in each of his last three games. He has 143 yards and a touchdown over the span. Sadly, that's all it takes to enter the fantasy radar at the scarce tight end position.
Michael Mayer caught his first NFL touchdown in Week 10, then caught four passes for 46 yards in Week 11. Rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell could start to favor his fellow rookie as a security blanket over the middle.
Donald Parham Jr. or Gerald Everett need to step up behind Keenan Allen in the Chargers' passing offense. Mike Williams and Joshua Palmer are both on Injured Reserve with knee injuries, and Quentin Johnston has failed to make a big impact. Fantasy managers needing life at the tight end spot should give one of the Chargers' tight ends a look. Everett is currently dealing with a back injury.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues/2-QB Leagues
Dorian Thompson-Robinson averaged just 3.8 yards per attempt in the Week 11 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, the rookie posted over 1,200 yards and 21 touchdowns as a runner during his final two collegiate seasons. There's a chance the Cleveland offense will start to rely on his legs to give the offense a spark. In deeper formats or two-QB leagues with a ton of roster spots, Joe Flacco may be worth picking up after he signed with the Browns on Monday.
Jake Browning is now the Bengals' starter after Joe Burrow suffered a season-ending wrist injury. Although Browning has very little experience, he'll get to throw passes to Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. For that reason, he's worth taking a flyer on in two-QB leagues.
Tim Boyle is the Jets' starter after the long-awaited benching of Zach Wilson. Boyle will likely struggle mightily behind one of the worst offensive lines in the NFL, but all starting QBs carry value in two-QB and Superflex leagues.
Bailey Zappe could become the Patriots' starter after the Week 11 bye. Although he'd have a low-end QB2 or worse outlook, all starters should be rostered in two-QB formats.
Mike White would be given the keys to the Dolphins' explosive offense if the oft-injured Tua Tagovailoa gets banged up this year. That makes him worth stashing in Superflex and two-QB leagues.
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