What's up RotoBallers. Welcome to my deeper standard league sleepers column for Week 12 of the NFL season. In this weekly article we are going to take a look at some deeper waiver wire options for standard leagues, who could help out your team in this upcoming week.

For reference's sake, we are looking at standard scoring leagues and will be using ownership percentage data from Fleaflicker. In order to qualify as a deep sleeper, a player must be 20% owned or less.

Let's get to the picks!

• 2025 fantasy football rankings
• Running back (RB) rankings
• Wide receiver (WR) rankings
• Quarterback (QB) rankings
• Tight end (TE) rankings
• Defense (D/ST) rankings
• Kicker (K) rankings
• FLEX rankings
• Dynasty rankings

Editor's Note: Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 12 waiver wire recommendations, for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF - FAAB - CUTS

Quarterback

Josh McCown (CLE) vs. New York Giants

(Ownership: 7%)

Expect Josh McCown to be under center in Week 12 when the Browns take on the Giants at home. Rookie Cody Kessler suffered his second concussion of the season against the Steelers in Week 11, and the Browns are expected to shut him down for at least a few weeks as a result. McCown has been up-and-down all season, but he does have multiple-touchdown upside if he's able to play the entire game.

McCown makes for a decent sleeper option in deeper leagues if you are desperate this weekend. He theoretically has several explosive weapons to target in Terrelle Pryor, Corey Coleman and old friend Gary Barnidge. Keep in mind McCown and Barnidge have shown a nice chemistry together, dating back to last season. Furthermore, the Giants have been weak against opposing tight ends for a few years now.

Running Back

Wendell Smallwood (PHI) vs. Green Bay Packers

(Ownership: 15%)

Wendell Smallwood is in line to see a heavy workload in Week 12 following injuries to both Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles this past weekend. Mathews has an MCL sprain and is expected to be out for several weeks. Sproles has a rib injury, making his status unknown at this point. If Sproles is out for Week 12, Smallwood should operate as Philadelphia's lead back and would be a solid play who is widely available on the waiver wire.

Green Bay's run defense has been strong this year, but they have shown some signs of springing a few leaks as of late. They are fresh off allowing Robert Kelley to smoke them for 137 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday night. The week prior, DeMarco Murray rolled up 117 yards and a touchdown. Smallwood is a priority waiver pickup this week for any team that is thin at running back.

Wide Receiver

Cordarrelle Patterson (MIN) @ Detroit Lions

(Ownership: 12%)

Patterson has quietly carved out a solid role in the Vikings' offense. He has seen six or more targets in five of his past seven games, scoring two touchdowns over that span. With Detroit's top cornerback Darius Slay expected to shadow Stefon Diggs, look for the secondary options in Minnesota's passing attack to see some extra work on Thursday. As an added bonus, if you play in leagues that award points for return touchdowns, Patterson is one of the best bets in the league to take a kickoff to the house, like he did in Week 11 against the Cardinals.

Tight End

Will Tye (NYG) @ Cleveland Browns

(Ownership: 8%)

Will Tye has put together a solid three-game stretch, during which he has caught 11-of-20 targets for 98 yards and a touchdown. Not huge numbers, but still useful from the tight end position. The main reason to take interest in Tye is his matchup this weekend. The Browns have been one of the worst teams in the league when it comes to stopping opposing tight ends. Before Week 11's action, Football Outsiders had them ranked dead last in DVOA against tight ends, which coincides with them also allowing the most fantasy points per game in the league to the position. Tye shapes up as a nice sleeper option at tight end this weekend.

Defense/Special Teams

Tennessee Titans (TEN) @ Chicago Bears

(Ownership: 16%)

The Titans' defense has been a decent fantasy option this season, ranking second in the league with 30 quarterback sacks and tied for fifth with nine interceptions. It is a mild surprise that the Tennessee defense is this widely available on waiver wires, so be sure to take advantage.

They draw a prime matchup in Week 12 against a Chicago Bears team that has really struggled on offense this season and is without top wideout Alshon Jeffery, who is suspended. They rank 31st in the league in points scored, in front of only the Los Angeles Rams. With news breaking Monday afternoon that Jay Cutler may possibly be out for the season, the Bears will have to turn their hopes to Matt Barkley. Barkley was a disaster in his only 2016 appearance in Week 7 against the Packers. Cutler's absence would just make the Titans defense all the more attractive of a fantasy option in Week 12.