Post-waiver wire fantasy football pickups for Week 12

Not (Isaiah) Likely to get the waiver claim you wanted? Thankfully, all these players are still available for Week 12.

QB: Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos)

First, the good news. Wilson threw 35 passes to eight different receivers in a last-minute, comeback victory against the Vikings last week. Now the bad news. Denver’s next opponent, the Cleveland Browns, has the NFL’s toughest defense.

That last part is pretty damning, but the Browns could have trouble sustaining drives with fifth-round rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson at quarterback. He managed to beat the Steelers last week but he’s no Deshaun Watson.

Wilson has played much better lately with six touchdowns in his last three games. The 34-year-old quarterback looks more comfortable in head coach Sean Payton’s system and could find even more relief in the team’s upcoming schedule.

After the Browns game, the Broncos travel to face the Texans, Chargers and Lions. All three are high-scoring teams giving up tons of fantasy points to quarterbacks. With so many injuries to quarterbacks lately, adding a veteran player like Wilson makes sense.

Wilson is available in 45% of Yahoo! leagues.

RB: Tyjae Spears (Tennessee Titans)

The Titans ran just 38 plays against the Jaguars in Week 11, leaving Spears with 4.60 fantasy points and fellow running back Derrick Henry with 5.40 points. Henry had six more carries than Spears, but with free agency pending, he could soon take a back seat to Spears.

The  3-7 Titans already turned the page at quarterback by naming Will Levis the starter. Running back should be next. Henry’s 2.8 yards per carry over the past two games aren’t helping the team. 

Spears is averaging 5.2 yards per attempt and could damage against a Carolina team giving up the second-most fantasy points to running backs and a run-friendly Colts defense in Week 13. Timing is everything in fantasy football. Getting in early on a player like Spears could be the move that wins your league.

Spears is available in 62% of Yahoo! leagues.

WR: Odell Beckham Jr. (Baltimore Ravens)

After a slow, injury-filled start to the season, Beckham has gotten things together with 13.7 fantasy points per game over the last three weeks. He led the team with four catches for 116 yards against the Bengals and could have an even better day against a woeful Chargers defense. Only the Commanders allow more fantasy points to wide receivers than the Chargers.