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Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Kenneth Gainwell, Emanuel Wilson, Sean Tucker in 2025. Read their waiver wire outlooks for fantasy football.
Adding and stashing backup running backs is one of the most important edges in fantasy football roster construction. Rather than holding players with limited upside or few pathways to meaningful production, managers should stack their bench with these contingency bets that can immediately step in for an injured starter and win you your week.
That was on full display in Week 11, and this is a big waiver wire week with multiple high-priority options. With Josh Jacobs (knee) going down, Emanuel Wilson stepped in and was the clear lead back. Sean Tucker emerged as clearly the best option with Bucky Irving (foot, shoulder) still sidelined, and Kenneth Gainwell took advantage of Jaylen Warren (ankle) missing some time.
So, should fantasy managers add Gainwell, Wilson, and Tucker in Week 12? Let's dive in.
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Kenneth Gainwell Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 42.2% of ESPN Leagues
Baller Move: Add in All Leagues
Gainwell should be rostered in all leagues with the upside he's shown when Warren misses time. Warren exited early in Pittsburgh's Week 11 win over the Bengals, and Gainwell wound up playing 60% of the snaps, handling 9 carries for 24 yards along with seven receptions for 81 yards and two touchdowns on eight targets.
The 26-year-old's involvement in the passing game has been consistent all season, and he's become a reliable weapon for an offense that needs playmakers. Gainwell has caught multiple passes in all but one game this season and has three games with at least six receptions, tied for fourth most in the league among running backs. The former Philadelphia Eagle has standalone value because he gets most of the receiving work, and Aaron Rodgers loves to check it down, although it looks like he will miss their upcoming game due to a wrist injury.
Kenneth Gainwell showing off
CINvsPIT on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXnxV pic.twitter.com/zJ8SM5NIex
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
There are eight running backs this season with multiple single-game performances that rank inside the top 30 at the position. Those include Jonathan Taylor (six), Christian McCaffrey (three), De'Von Achane (two), Jahmyr Gibbs (two), Bijan Robinson (two), Rico Dowdle (two), Josh Jacobs (two), and Kenneth Gainwell (two). Gainwell has shown week-winning upside when he gets a workhorse-type role.
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin is optimistic that Warren will be able to play in Week 12 against the Bears, but Gainwell should be rostered regardless in case he misses. If Warren doesn't play, Gainwell would be a must-start.
Emanuel Wilson Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 6.1% of ESPN Leagues
Baller Move: Add in All leagues
Wilson played a near every-down role after Jacobs left early in Week 11 against the New York Giants. After the first quarter, he played 86.1% of the snaps, handled 84.6% of the running back carries, and ran 65.2% of the routes, finishing with 11 carries for 40 yards and a touchdown to go with one catch (one target) for nine yards.
Jacobs is in real danger of missing Week 12, which would immediately put Wilson into the RB2 conversation. Head coach Matt LaFleur said that Jacobs could potentially be available to play on Sunday against the Vikings and won't be placed on injured reserve, but it's looking likely that he will miss at least one week.
All of Emanuel Wilson's carries over the last three weeks pic.twitter.com/xEiFF1TsKm
— Justis Mosqueda (@JuMosq) November 18, 2025
The 26-year-old Wilson should be a priority add in all leagues this week. Wilson has been effective in his limited opportunities this season and could have a multi-game runway for fantasy managers needing to make a late-season playoff push. Even if it ends up being just one week, Wilson is well worth a hefty FAAB bid and would rank inside the top 24 running backs for Week 12 against the Vikings.
Sean Tucker Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups
Rostered: 28.6% of ESPN Leagues
Baller Move: Add in All Leagues
Tucker was expected to see more run in Week 11 against the Bills, but he essentially took over the lead role for the Bucs over Rachaad White and had a monster day, rushing for 106 yards and two touchdowns on 19 carries and adding two receptions (two targets) for 34 yards and another score as a receiver. He finished with 34 PPR points, only behind McCaffrey (35.1) in Week 11.
The former Syracuse running back has almost certainly earned more reps moving forward, even with Irving expected back sometime soon. Tucker exploded in Week 6 last season when White missed the game, and he had a meaningful workload, going for 136 rushing yards and a touchdown on 14 carries, along with three catches for 56 yards and another touchdown. So in two career games with more than 12 touches, Tucker has scored 68.2 PPR points.
SEAN TUCKER. 43-YARD TD.
TBvsBUF on CBS/Paramount+https://t.co/HkKw7uXVnt pic.twitter.com/O0chu1HMdk
— NFL (@NFL) November 16, 2025
The 24-year-old is a big, explosive back who can rip off the long runs as well as churn out the tough yardage between the tackles. He had a strong prospect profile and is clearly a much more talented runner than White and better suited to handle a bigger workload than the smaller Irving. This kind of explosion makes Tucker another must-add, with how great he's looked on his touches and with Irving's status still up in the air for Week 12.
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