A bad week for injuries means a lot of opportunity on the fantasy football waiver wire for people who need immediate help.
Among the most notable issues, the Baltimore Ravens lost both Joe Flacco and Justin Forsett for the season, per Gregg Rosenthal of NFL.com. Somehow in a terrible year for the organization, things have gotten much worse in a hurry. Atlanta Falcons star running back Devonta Freeman also could miss time after picking up a concussion Sunday, per Vaughn McClure of ESPN.com.
With a few other key players either banged up Sunday or nursing injuries coming into the day, there are some chances for lesser-known players to jump into the national spotlight. Here is a look at some players you should be targeting on the Week 12 waiver wire either due to injury or recent performance.
Note: All players are available in more than 50 percent of ESPN leagues.
Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported Marshawn Lynch isn’t likely to play in Week 12, although Ian Rapoport of NFL Network notes the absence could be much longer.
This might not be much of an issue for the Seattle Seahawks, who should have full confidence in Thomas Rawls taking over in the backfield. The rookie had two 100-yard games while filling in for Lynch earlier in the year, and he exploded against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11 with 209 rushing yards, 46 receiving yards and two touchdowns.
Although there might be less running room in Week 12 while facing the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Seahawks have proved they know how to run the ball, and Rawls has consistently produced when on the field. With an average of six yards per carry this year, there is no reason to doubt him now.
The running back should be your No. 1 priority if he is still available in your league. He has a chance to be a star for the rest of the season.
Javorius Allen, RB, Baltimore Ravens
With Forsett injured, Buck Allen becomes the next man up for the Ravens. While a lot of backups have taken on bigger roles over the past few weeks, the rookie out of USC has a chance to become a top fantasy option right out of the gate.
Last week, Allen finished with 67 rushing yards on 22 carries to go with 48 receiving yards on five catches, a combination that shows he has a lot of trust from the coaching staff.
“He played like a top-caliber NFL running back,” head coach John Harbaugh said after the game, per Ryan Mink of BaltimoreRavens.com. “He made guys miss. He made plays in the passing game, plays in the run game.”
Considering he got 27 touches in a game he didn’t even start, Allen is likely to continue getting a lot of work going forward, especially with Flacco also on the bench. The Ravens aren’t good at this stage thanks to the injuries, but they have enough talent on the offensive line to clear space for the young running back.
Adding talent and opportunity is all a fantasy player needs to put up big numbers.
Devin Funchess, WR, Carolina Panthers
A few receivers had bigger games, such as J.J. Nelson and Tyler Lockett, but Devin Funchess appears to be the best bet to keep up his recent production. The rookie finished Sunday with four catches for 64 yards and tied with Ted Ginn Jr. for a team high of eight targets.
He also received interesting praise from his coach, per Joe Person of the Charlotte Observer:
The Panthers have spent the entire season trying to replace Kelvin Benjamin as a No. 1 target for Cam Newton and have struggled to find a reliable receiver. However, Funchess has come along in recent weeks and might be living up to his hype as a second-round draft pick.
Additionally, Funchess was on the field for 68 snaps in Week 11, by far his most of the season, per Pro Football Focus. The receiver should take advantage of the increased playing time and turn it into much bigger numbers going forward.
Vernon Davis, TE, Denver Broncos
Whether it was due to the change at quarterback from Peyton Manning to Brock Osweiler or Emmanuel Sanders being inactive, Vernon Davis had his best game of the season in Week 11.
The San Francisco 49ers traded the tight end to the Broncos before the deadline, and he has spent the past few weeks getting acclimated to the offense. Sunday, he finally broke through with a team-high six catches for 68 yards. This obviously doesn’t equal a huge fantasy day, but it is enough to show he is now part of the offense and could have an even bigger role in future games.
While Osweiler does have a strong arm, inexperienced quarterbacks tend to rely more on tight ends, and Davis clearly still has the ability to make plays when he has the ball.
At a position with so few marquee options, Davis has a lot of upside for the rest of the season.
While we are already getting deep in the season for long-term additions, a few players have shown some promise without being “must-own additions.” Those players are worth an addition with a chance at being much better down the line if you have space on your roster.
Osweiler showed some potential in his first start and has a lot of talent around him. If he can hold onto the starting job, he could be a valuable fantasy commodity.
Running backs Ameer Abdullah, Robert Turbin and Jay Ajayi are all No. 2 on the depth chart but have been getting more touches lately, which provides hope for bigger opportunities in the future.
One overlooked player who might be worth an addition is San Diego Chargers receiver Javontee Herndon, who had just 37 receiving yards Sunday but finished with five catches on seven targets. In a pass-heavy offense dealing with injuries at receiver, he has a chance for bigger games in the future.
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