Week 12 Wide Receivers: Waiver Wire Pickups & Adds

November 17, 2014

Bill Dubiel analyzes Week 12 fantasy football wide receivers (WR) - waiver wire pickups, adds and sleepers for both PPR and non-PPR leagues. NFL wide receivers are a key component.

It’s about that time, eh chaps? Your trade deadline may or may not have come and gone, so you may be left with only the waiver wire to beef up your squad before the playoffs begin. Fortunately, there are a few legitimate wide receiver options out there if you need a spot starter or if you're looking to build some depth for the home stretch.

Below, I will examine some Week 12 wide receiver waiver wire pickups and sleepers, based on their current ownership numbers and fantasy outlooks.

Each week of the fantasy football season, I’ll also give you a bonus player to avoid (usually someone who projects to be a popular pickup that I'm not so bullish on). Good luck hitting that waiver wire for Week 12 RotoBallers.

Fantasy Football Wide Receivers (WR) - Week 12

Jarvis Landry (MIA) - Owned in 14% of Fleaflicker leagues

I advised adding this possession receiver last week, and I’ll do it again for Week 12. Over the last three weeks, Landry has 17 catches for 145 yards and two scores, and he's established himself as the number two wide receiver in Miami—sorry, Brian Hartline. The yardage totals aren’t ever going to be there, as Landry’s single-game high for the season is only 75, but he’s been particularly useful in PPR leagues, a trend that I expect will continue against the Broncos in Week 12.

The Dolphins defense will either make a game of it with Tannehill looking to Landry to keep the chains moving, or else he'll be the beneficiary of some solid garbage time points—either way, you can’t lose!

Baller Move: Add in all PPR leagues/deep standard leagues

Chris Hogan (BUF) - Owned in 1% of Fleaflicker leagues

Sigh. I am a die-hard Bills fan (and boy howdy, do we die hard); this will be the first time I've ever recommended a Buffalo Bill in an article, but here we go. Hogan has become Kyle Orton’s second option in the passing game behind Sammy Watkins, and he's managed at least five catches and 50 yards in four of his last five games. He’s also chipped in two scores during that timeframe, and Orton has looked for him in the red zone somewhat consistently over the past couple games.

This former college lacrosse star operates in fashion similar to the aforementioned Landry: limited yardage, but plenty of targets, and a 50/50 shot at a touchdown on any given week.

Baller Move: Add in deep PPR leagues/monitor in standard leagues

Dwayne Bowe (KC) - Owned in 52% of Fleaflicker leagues

Up until Week 11, this fantasy pariah had quietly put up at least six catches and 50 receiving yards in each of his last four games. He was stifled by the stingy Seattle secondary, but as the team’s only true wide receiver, he was afforded plenty of attention, and I don’t expect that to become a pattern. The thing here is that the Kansas City running game is so deadly that opponents have to plan their defense around that.

Bowe has benefitted, and while he hasn’t yet found the endzone or broken the 100-yard mark in any game this season, he’s putting up decent enough numbers to maintain fantasy relevance.

Baller Move: Add in deep PPR/deep standard leagues

Andrew Hawkins (CLE) - Owned in 44% of Fleaflicker leagues

Yes, I’m aware Josh Gordon will be back next week. But here’s the thing—he can’t catch ALL the passes from Brian Hoyer…probably. Defenses will be well aware of Gordon's return, and I promise you that they will be accounting for him. Whether or not that stops him only time will tell, but what we do know is that Andrew Hawkins and Brian Hoyer have a heck of a rapport.

He managed six catches on 13 targets for 97 yards and a score in Week 11, and while I don’t see him earning 13 targets again with Gordon active, I don’t think either Hoyer or Mike Pettine will be willing to eliminate Hawkins from the game plan. Gordon is going to get the deep bombs, but Hawkins should still see plenty of work in the middle of the field (and perhaps even the endzone) as defenses do their best to blanket the troubled-yet-talented Cleveland WR1.

Baller Move: Add in all PPR leagues/deep standard leagues

Wide Receiver To Avoid (Bonus)

Kenny Britt (STL) - Owned in 12% of Fleaflicker leagues

If you’ve gotten this far and are still in the playoff hunt, I would think you'd know better than to get suckered into the one week of production from Britt. However, in Week 1 we watched everyone and their grandmother try to add Allen Hurns, so I’m going to say this anyway: don’t add Kenny Britt. He had a monster game in Week 11, catching four passes on seven targets for 128 yards and a score, but I’m just about positive that this will be the best game of the season for Britt.

Shaun Hill attempted 29 passes on Sunday, and he only looked Britt’s way seven times, so it’s not like he’s getting peppered with targets. Also, take out the 63-yard score on broken coverage, and Britt's line becomes just three catches for 65 yards. I don’t see any sort of offensive renaissance with Shaun Hill under center versus Austin Davis, so I certainly don’t have any confidence in any of his receivers. In 2014, say “NO” to Kenny Britt.

I’ll be your wide receiver authority for the 2014 season, so don’t hesitate to reach out to me @Roto_Dubs with any questions whenever.