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NFL Week 12 fantasy football waiver wire targets

2T8C7TJ Seattle Seahawks running back Zach Charbonnet (26) runs the ball as Los Angeles Rams linebacker Ernest Jones (53) and cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon (44) chase during the second half of an NFL football Sunday, Nov. 19, 2023, in Inglewood, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Zach Charbonnet sees increased opportunities for the Seattle Seahawks: Charbonnet’s playing time has increased in recent weeks, and now Kenneth Walker III is injured.

Isaiah Likely is the new starter for the Baltimore Ravens: Likely looked like the best backup tight end in 2022. He will have an opportunity to prove he deserves more playing time in 2024 with Mark Andrews out for the season.

Pay attention to the playoff schedule: No teams have a bye week in Week 12, and only eight have byes the rest of the way. Begin to look for players off the waiver wire who could start for you in the fantasy playoffs.

Estimated Reading Time: 16 minutes


Week 11 of the 2023 NFL season is just about in the books. Here are the players you should be targeting in your fantasy football leagues, including targets in smaller leagues and deeper leagues, as well as players to avoid.

Jump to a position group:

QB | RB | WR | TE

WR:CB Matchup Chart

Quarterback

Derek Carr, New Orleans Saints (Rostered in 21.3% of leagues on ESPN)

Carr scored the ninth-most fantasy points from Week 5 to Week 9.

  • Carr got off to a fine start against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 10, completing 13 of his 18 passes for 110 yards before suffering a concussion and a shoulder injury.
  • He reportedly avoided a serious injury, and the Saints had their bye this past week. He will hopefully be back for this upcoming game against the Atlanta Falcons, which is a favorable matchup.
  • He is someone to consider in fantasy football, based on his good play in October and early November and because of the schedule over the rest of the season.
  • According to PFF’s strength of schedule tool, the Saints have the most favorable schedule for quarterbacks during the fantasy playoffs. They face only one more team with a winning record in the Detroit Lions, who have allowed plenty of fantasy points to quarterbacks.
  • Carr probably won’t have many weeks as a top-five fantasy quarterback and doesn’t have the rushing floor of other quarterbacks, but he could easily be a top-10 fantasy quarterback from Week 12 to Week 17.

Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers (31.4%)

Love completed 27 of his 40 passes for 322 yards and two touchdowns in a Packers victory.

  • Love started the season with three straight top-10 finishes thanks to an unsustainably high touchdown rate.
  • He came down to earth after that point, but he has finished as a top-15 fantasy quarterback the past three weeks.
  • He has graded significantly better in the past three games compared to the first eight, which is a great sign for his fantasy value.
  • Romeo Doubs and Jayden Reed have been consistently making big plays during this stretch. Christian Watson scored a touchdown, and even Dontayvion Wicks put up big numbers this past week.
  • The Packers have an average schedule, but Love could have a few weeks as a fantasy starter down the stretch.
  • The Packers play the Detroit Lions to kick off the Thanksgiving slate of games. Detroit has allowed plenty of fantasy points to quarterbacks, in part because teams are often passing to catch up.

Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis Colts (6.7%)

Minshew completed 18 of his 28 passes for 194 yards and an interception in the Colts’ victory over the New England Patriots in Germany in Week 10.

  • While this was not a good week for him, he scored the 11th-most fantasy points at his position from Week 6 to Week 9.
  • The Colts took on a Patriots team that has allowed a lot of fantasy points to quarterbacks.
  • The Colts were also dealing with a lot of injuries. Josh Downs was limited, Alec Pierce was questionable coming into the game and tight end Andrew Ogletree was inactive.
  • The Colts had their bye this past week and now face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a favorable matchup for Minshew.
  • The week off should be enough time for the Colts’ receivers to return to full health.
  • The Colts have the third-best schedule for fantasy quarterbacks over the rest of the season.

Running Back

Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (32.2%)

Kenneth Walker III suffered an oblique injury in Week 11 and didn’t return.

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