Week 12 of the NFL season brought both dazzling performances from emerging stars and new opportunities created by unfortunate injuries. As the fantasy football playoffs approach, managers are scouring the waiver wire for the next breakout player to propel their teams to a championship. Two names that stood out this week were Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and Washington Commanders running back Jeremy McNichols.
Caleb Williams Delivers in Week 12
Caleb Williams, the dynamic rookie quarterback for the Bears, posted his best fantasy outing since Week 6 in Sunday’s matchup against the Minnesota Vikings. Williams completed 9 of 12 passes against the blitz for two touchdowns and excelled on deep throws, connecting on 5 of 12 attempts of 15-plus air yards for 141 yards.
While the Bears face a challenging remaining schedule, Williams has shown enough upside to warrant an add in superflex leagues or as a high-end QB2 in single-quarterback formats. His ability to make plays with both his arm and legs gives him a solid floor and tantalizing ceiling in the right matchups.
Other QB Waiver Targets
In addition to Williams, fantasy managers in need of quarterback help should consider these options:
- Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars: Expected to return from a shoulder injury after the Jaguars’ Week 12 bye, Lawrence was playing well before going down and gets a favorable schedule.
- Will Levis, Tennessee Titans: Levis has scored 15-plus fantasy points in three straight starts and faces appealing matchups against the Jaguars and Bengals.
- Bryce Young, Carolina Panthers: The rookie is coming off a season-best performance and could be a solid superflex option with the Panthers’ remaining slate.
Jeremy McNichols: The Next Man Up in Washington
In the Commanders’ backfield, Jeremy McNichols appears poised to take on lead duties after both Brian Robinson Jr. and Austin Ekeler went down with injuries in Week 12. With Robinson suffering an ankle injury on the opening play and Ekeler later sustaining a concussion, McNichols finished out the game as Washington’s most reliable healthy back.
Should Robinson and Ekeler miss time, McNichols would vault into the RB2 discussion behind a Commanders line that ranks second in the league in run block win rate. The matchup against the Titans’ middle-of-the-pack run defense is appealing enough to consider McNichols as a potential flex even if he’s sharing work in the Washington backfield.
“It’s next man up in this league, and I’m ready to step up and do my part to help this team win games,” McNichols said after Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys.
Stashing Running Backs for the Playoffs
As the fantasy postseason nears, it’s wise to stash high-upside backup running backs who could pop if given an expanded opportunity. A few names to consider:
- Ameer Abdullah, Las Vegas Raiders: With Josh Jacobs playing at an extremely high level, Abdullah doesn’t have a path to relevance without an injury. That said, he’s shown well in relief with 149 total yards over the past two weeks and would be a must-add if Jacobs went down.
- Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars: Travis Etienne Jr. hasn’t been consistently dominant, and Bigsby has flashed when given double-digit touches. He’d likely form a committee with JaMycal Hasty if Etienne missed time but would still offer RB2 appeal.
- Trey Benson, Arizona Cardinals: James Conner has yet to play a full season as a pro, and Benson would be next in line for a large workload on a Cardinals offense that likes to feature a lead back.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Roundup
Finally, let’s take a quick look at some of the top wide receiver adds heading into Week 13:
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
With at least four catches and nine fantasy points in four straight games operating as the Panthers’ top wideout, Legette needs to be rostered in all formats.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans
Westbrook-Ikhine is thriving as a red zone weapon with five touchdowns over his past six games. Tennessee’s remaining schedule is enticing for wide receivers.
Noah Brown, Washington Commanders
Brown’s 10 targets and 93 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Cowboys cemented him as the Commanders’ top receiving weapon with over 11 fantasy points per game since Week 8.
Remember, making the right moves on the waiver wire can be the difference between making the fantasy playoffs and being on the outside looking in. Whether it’s finding a high-upside quarterback like Caleb Williams, a temporary starter like Jeremy McNichols, or a wide receiver on the rise like Xavier Legette, there are always opportunities to improve your roster and give yourself the best chance to bring home a fantasy title.
