High-Upside Bench Stashes: Sneaky Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Adds Before Week 12

Andy's must-have bench stashes and sneaky fantasy football waiver wire adds, sleepers ahead of Week 12 in 2025. Pick up these high-upside players before Week 12.

Hey RotoBallers! With the Week 12 slate just hours away, let's take a look at a few high-use stash options at each position. Throughout this series, I have encouraged managers to stash players like Sean Tucker, Oronde Gadsden II, Jaxson Dart, and Kimani Vidal.

This weekend, we will spotlight a must-add running back who is quickly taking over his respective backfield and a tight end who is nearing a return from the IR.

However, these suggestions are not meant to be your "one-week" replacement players. The vast majority of these players hold minimal standalone value but could become must-start players as soon as they receive a boost in the depth chart. All players suggested are available in at least 75% of all Yahoo! leagues. Let's dive in!

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Running Backs

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders
15% rostered

With the Washington Commanders on bye this weekend, this may be the perfect time to stash Rodriguez before he claims the lead job. After rookie Jacory Croskey-Merritt began to struggle and lose his grip on the starting role, the Commanders turned to Rodriguez to lead the backfield.

After logging 34% and 33% of the snaps back in Weeks 9 and 10, the 25-year-old took a massive step forward in Week 11. During their loss to the Miami Dolphins in Madrid, Rodriguez logged a season-high 45% of the snaps. In this contest, Croskey-Merritt took just 27% of the snaps (second-lowest mark of his season), and Jeremy McNichols saw just 25% of the snaps.

This allowed Rodriguez to earn a season-high 15 carries for 79 yards. He also brought in his lone target for six yards. While he does not have the most receiving upside (only one target all season), Rodriguez has been very efficient with his carries.

Through 11 weeks, Rodriguez is averaging an impressive 4.7 YPC. Over his last five, Croskey-Merritt has posted a much lower 2.9 YPC. Given that Rodriguez will face several weak defense units down the stretch (including two within the top-5 in terms of the most PPR points allowed to opposing RBs), Rodriguez is a priority stash in all formats.

Chris Rodriguez Jr. On the Rise as Commanders Get Healthy https://t.co/KLLPQTjK1I

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 20, 2025

Brian Robinson Jr., San Francisco 49ers
20% rostered

While Robinson does not possess the same standalone value that Rodriguez does, in terms of a handcuff, there may not be a better play to stash. Since operating as the RB1 in D.C. last season, Robinson has reverted to a reserve role in San Francisco, sitting behind superstar Christian McCaffrey.

Through 11 games, Robinson has never logged double-digit carries in a game and has seen more than five carries in just five of them. However, he has been able to capitalize on his limited workload, punching in two rushing touchdowns over his last three games.

However, he has never logged 30% of the snaps in a single game and has typically sat under the 20% snap mark in all but five games.

Despite this, if McCaffrey were to miss time (which is not usual given his injury history), Robinson could push for high-end RB2 upside. McCaffrey is currently seeing 17.5 attempts per game and 8.7 targets per game. While not all of those opportunities, especially the targets, will go to Robinson, it is safe to assume most of them will, as no other running back on the team has taken a single carry outside of these two this season.

Managers with an open bench spot should prioritize this lottery ticket.

Other RBs to Consider Stashing:

• Isaiah Davis, NYJ
• Ray Davis, BUF
• Devin Neal, NO

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Wide Receivers

Luther Burden III, Chicago Bears
15% rostered

Like Rodriguez, Burden is the must-stash candidate when looking at the WR position. After weeks of sitting behind Olamide Zaccheaus on the depth chart, the Bears finally gave their second-round rookie the No. 3 WR role. In their victory over the Vikings, Burden logged 44% of the snaps, compared to Zaccheaus' 13%.

Over the last two games, Burden has logged at least 44% of the snaps and has nearly fully claimed the No. 3 role. While he has only caught six passes during this two-game stretch, he has seen eight targets and run at least 20 routes in back-to-back games.

Earlier in the season, Burden flashed immense upside in the No. 4 role, tallying 101 yards on just three catches back in Week 3 and 51 yards back in Week 6, which actually led the team.

More importantly, head coach Ben Johnson appears to be convinced that Burden has earned this job for the remainder of the season. Earlier this week, Johnson told reporters that Burden has "earned" more snaps going forward. Seeing him already out-snap Zaccheaus last Sunday, and these recent quotes suggest he could be in store for his highest workload of the season on Sunday.

He is a must-add in all 12-team leagues.

Luther Burden III has Earned "Increased Snaps" https://t.co/CEFhwBLoK9

— RotoBaller NFL (@RotoBallerNFL) November 20, 2025

Chimere Dike, Tennessee Titans
10% rostered

The final WR to consider stashing is another rookie, Chimere Dike. Dike began to carve out a role in Tennessee and could be poised for a massive increase heading into Week 12. In their Week 11 loss ot the Texans, top wideout Calvin Ridley suffered a season-ending lower leg injury and was placed on IR this week, opening up a high target share for Dike.

While Dike has caught just three passes over his last two games, he has begun to earn Cam Ward's trust before this minor skid. From Weeks 5 through 8, Dike averaged 9.9 PPR points per game and saw 5.0 targets per game.

While his upside is not overly high, he is primed to see a lead role for the remainder of the season. Managers in three-WR leagues needing extra depth should look to grab the Florida product ahead of his matchup against the Seahawks.

Other WRs to Consider Stashing:

• Jalen Coker, CAR
• Pat Bryant, DEN
• Kyle Williams, NE

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Tight Ends

Brenton Strange, Jacksonville Jaguars
15% rostered

Brenton Strange has been on the IR since suffering a hip injury in Week 5. However, he returned to practice this week as a limited participant and is quickly nearing his return to action.

Before his injury, Strange was quietly one of the most productive pass catchers on a roster with Brian Thomas Jr. and Travis Hunter. However, with Hunter now out for the season due to a knee injury and Thomas dealing with an ankle injury, Strange should have a relatively clear path to seeing a high target share once again.

During Weeks 1 through 4 (excluding Week 5 since he exited early), the tight end saw 5.8 targets per game and brought in 4.8 receptions per game with 45.5 yards per game. He eclipsed 50 receiving yards in two games and saw seven targets in each of his last two.

While the Jaguars did bring in Jakobi Meyers, and No. 3 WR Parker Washington has enjoyed a bit of an increase in targets, expect Strange to return to his role as Trevor Lawrence's go-to option in the middle of the field.

He has low-end TE1 upside, as he should push for double-digit points per week given his relatively high target share.

Other TEs to Consider Stashing:

• Isaiah Likely, BAL

High-Upside Fantasy Football Stashes - Quarterbacks

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders
15% rostered

With Jayden Daniels (elbow) on the shelf, Marcus Mariota has taken over QB1 duties in Washington. Through the five games in which he started a game, Mariota has posted a borderline low-end QB1 number, averaging 20.0 PPR points per game. During this five-game stretch, Mariota has averaged 200.4 passing yards and 31.4 rushing yards per game.

Even while playing with an undermanned WR room, Mariota has punched in eight scores (seven passing), but his decision-making has been a bit questionable, with four interceptions.

However, with Terry McLaurin (hip) making substantial progress and nearing a return, Mariota could quite possibly have his top WR back in action. Given how poorly the Washington defense has played (allowing 26.9 PPG), the former Oregon standout will likely see positive game scripts in most starts.

With potential shootouts lined up against the Broncos, Eagles (twice), and Cowboys, Mariota could be a viable streamer in most weeks, assuming Daniels continues to remain on the sidelines.

Other QBs to Consider Stashing:

• Tyler Shough, NO (12+ team 1-QB leagues)
• Tyrod Taylor, NYJ (2-QB leagues)
• Davis Mills, HOU  (2-QB leagues)

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