Alec Pierce of Indianapolis Colts gestures during the NFL 2025 match between Atlanta Falcons and Indianapolis Colts at Olympiastadion on November 9, 2025 in Berlin, Germany.
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Now that we’re through nearly two-thirds of the NFL season, it’s not hyperbole to say that the waiver wire can be the thing that makes or breaks your fantasy season.
Your savvy drafting has gone out the window with injuries or players not meeting expectations. You have holes in your roster. But smart waiver claims can plug those gaps seamlessly.
These are the players you should consider putting in a waiver-wire claim for ahead of Week 12. All players are rostered in less than half of leagues, and one can be considered a deep sleeper.
Rostered percentages and scoring figures via FantasyPros.
Jacoby Brissett #7 of the Arizona Cardinals looks to throw the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during an NFL 2025 game at State Farm Stadium on November 16, 2025 in Glendale, Arizona.
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Quarterback
Jacoby Brissett (Arizona Cardinals)
Rostered: 34%
Week 11 stats: 47-of-57, 452 pass yds, 2 pass TDs, 2 INTs, 23.9 pts
Cardinals backup-turned-starter Jacoby Brissett was the top fantasy quarterback waiver-wire rec in this column last week. And all he did in Week 11 was set an NFL record for completions in a game (47). Sure, the Cardinals were clawing their way back in what turned out to be a 41-22 loss to the San Francisco Giants. But fantasy scores care not for how the points are gotten.
Brissett’s 52 yards and two touchdowns were tempered by two interceptions, but he still posted his second-highest point total of the season (23.9). Brissett should be a starter in all but the deepest leagues, so if you’re quarterback needy, submit a waiver claim now while you still can.
Emanuel Wilson #23 of the Green Bay Packers scores a two point conversion during the fourth quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 16, 2025 in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
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Running Back
Emanuel Wilson (Green Bay Packers)
Rostered: 9%
Week 11 stats: 11 att, 4o rush yds, 1 rush TD, 1 rec, 9 rec yds, 13.9 pts
The sleeper of the list, Wilson will be rostered in a lot more than 9% of leagues by this time next week, so the time to submit a waiver claim is now. It’s unclear how much time Packers lead back Josh Jacobs will miss after suffering a knee contusion in the Packers’ Week 11 win over the New York Giants; according to head coach Matt LaFleur, he could “potentially” even be available in Week 12 against the Minnesota Vikings.
If Jacobs does miss time, however, the next man up, Emanuel Wilson, stands to see a ton of touches. Even in the half of football he played, Wilson racked up 40 yards on 11 carries and found the end zone to boot.
If you already roster Jacobs, handcuffing him with Wilson may be a win-win.
Alec Pierce #14 of the Indianapolis Colts warms up before the NFL 2025 game between Denver Broncos and Indianapolis Colts at Lucas Oil Stadium on September 14, 2025 in Indianapolis, Indiana.
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Wide Receiver
Alec Pierce (Indianapolis Colts)
Rostered: 49%
Week 11 stats: Bye
Alec Pierce and the Colts were off in Week 11, but in Week 10, Pierce had his best game of the season, racking up 84 yards on four receptions and finding the end zone in the Colts’ win over the Atlanta Falcons.
Pierce is most often the other player on the end of Colts quarterback Daniel Jones’ big plays; the veteran wideout is averaging 20.9 yards per reception this season. Crucially, he finally found the end zone in Week 10, which propelled him to a season-high 18.4 points.
Pierce is a candidate to slot into your Flex position this week, and if he’s available in your league, you should run to submit a claim.
Juwan Johnson #83 of the New Orleans Saints runs the ball during the second half of an NFL game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on November 09, 2025 in Charlotte, North Carolina.
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Tight End
Juwan Johnson (New Orleans Saints)
Rostered: 47%
Week 11 stats: Bye
Like Pierce, Johnson was on bye last week. However, he was trending in the right direction in the Saints’ Week 10 win over the Carolina Panthers, when he posted a season-high 19.2 points on the strength of 92 receiving yards and a receiving touchdown. In his two career starts, Saints rookie quarterback Tyler Shough has looked to Johnson often; the only player seeing more volume in the Saints’ passing attack is wideout Chris Olave.
In even better news for fantasy managers, Johnson has seen two red-zone targets with Shough lining up under center. Since finding the end zone can be the difference between feast or famine when it comes to tight ends in fantasy, that’s a promising trend that warrants a waiver wire claim.
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellebruton/2025/11/19/week-12-fantasy-football-waiver-wire-pickups-pierce-wilson-and-more/
