Week 12: Waiver Wire Pickups - Fantasy Football 2011

Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups - Start & Sit Advice. If you are looking for a free agent or waiver wire pickup for your fantasy football team in Week 12, here are a couple of the best options likely available in your fantasy league. Week 12 Waiver Wire Pickups at each starting position are listed, including QB - RB - WR - TE - D. The number before each players name is their overall ranking at their position for week 12 according to my weekly position rankings.

If you have any questions, feel free to post them at my Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Fantasy-Football-Start-Sit-Lineup-Advice/262183993792691 and get live replies and answers to your questions there.

- Hawk Michaels @ Hawk Fantasy Sports Blog - www.hawkfantasysports.wordpress.com

Week 12 --- QB Rankings --- RB Rankings --- WR Rankings --- TE Rankings --- Defense Rankings --- Waiver Wire Pickups --- NFL Picks & Predictions

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QUARTERBACK

12. Tim Tebow - Den = @SD 60% ----- Just simply getting the job done in Denver right now, fantasy football teams in need of a QB should enjoy the Tebow ride now while they can. A matchup against a reeling San Diego Chargers defense this week could easily lead to 50-100 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns for Tebow in this game.

14. Carson Palmer - Oak = Chi 64% ----- Maybe the Raiders weren't so crazy after all when they traded the house for Palmer a month ago. A matchup against a pressure Chicago Bears defense does not look great for Palmer this week, but the Bears secondary has shown to be susceptible.

16. Andy Dalton - Cin = Cle 43% ----- Playing almost like a wiley veteran in last weeks game against a very tough Baltimore Ravens defense, Dalton faces a much easier matchup this week against a not-so-great Cleveland Browns defense. Add in the possible return of AJ Green, and Dalton should be ranked as an easy top 15 fantasy football QB this week.

17. Sam Bradford - StL = Ari 32% ----- An excellent matchup pushes up Bradford's potential this week. 200-250 passing yards and 1-2 touchdowns are definitely within reach for Bradford in this game.

18. Mark Sanchez - NYJ = Buf 66% ----- Sanchez is not a great stats QB, but a matchup against an awful Buffalo Bills pass defense could easily change things for Sanchez this week. If your team just lost Jay Cutler or Matt Schaub, Sanchez is a solid gamble as a spot starter in your lineup this week.

19. Matt Moore - Mia = @Dal 8% ----- Playing extremely well in recent weeks, Matt Moore is definitely using his offensive weapons to the fullest. Another game of at least 250 passing yards and 1-2 touchdowns is within reach for Moore in this game.

20. Rex Grossman - Was = @Sea 6% ----- The revival of Rex Grossman continues, and just imagine how good Grossman could be if he actually had a wide receiving corps to throw to. At least TE Fred Davis is pretty good..... and maybe Jabar Gaffney counts as well.

26. Matt Leinart - Hou = @Jac 10% ----- You don't know unless you try right? Should be a good starter game for Leinart to see what he is made of. Maybe a few seasons on the bench has helped....

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RUNNING BACK

20. Kevin Smith - Det = GB 19% ----- If 201 total yards and 3 touchdown does not get your attention, then obviously nothing will in the fantasy football world. Right now it looks like Smith is 100% healthy, and with a roll in this potent Detroit Lions offense, Smith could turn into fantasy football gold down the stretch of the season. This weeks matchup against a struggling Green Bay Packers defense could easily have Smith topping the 100 total yard mark in this game.

25. Ben Tate - Hou = @Jac 68% ----- For all that Tate has done so far this season, he enters week 12 at just 68% owned in fantasy football leagues. With Matt Schaub out and defenses focusing solely on shutting down the Texans running game, the going could get a lot tougher for Tate and Arian Foster. But until a defense can prove to slow this Texans duo down, there is no reason that Tate should not be a starting flex option this week in nearly all fantasy football lineups this week.

28. Chris Ogbonnaya - Cle = @Cin 35% ----- Ogbonnaya showed no problem in his ability to rack up rushing yards in last weeks game against what was considered a solid Jacksonville Jaguars run defense entering the game. A matchup against a solid but not great Bengals defense this week could easily allow Ogbonnaya to post numbers in the 50-100 rushing yard range, and a touchdown is possible as well. Also on a side note, with Ogbonnaya playing well right now, why would the Browns rush back Montario Hardesty or Peyton Hillis? Let's hope both Hardesty and Hillis are once again held out this week.

31. Donald Brown - Ind = Car 8% ----- Don't look now, but Brown is actually the Colts most reilable offensive weapon right now. Yikes. But in all seriousness, Brown faces a weak Carolina Panthers run defense, and it would not be surprising it Brown was able to rack up 50-100 yards, and maybe even a touchdown.

37. Lance Ball - Den = @SD 27% ----- Ball's value obviously depends on the health of Willis McGahee this week. If Ball gets the majority of the carries, he could be a show in for 100 rushing yards in this game, with a touchdown definitely possible as well.

38. Joe McKnight - NYJ = Buf 12% ----- If Shonn Greene and LaDainain Tomlinson are still dealing with their injuries come Sunday, McKnight will surely get the starting nod for the Jets this week. And facing a struggling Buffalo Bills defense could easily lead the speedy McKnight to a huge stat output if given the opportunity.

39. Marion Barber - Chi = @Oak 20% ----- Barber has become a classic red zone TD vulture in the Bears offense this season, and Matt Forte owners cannot be happy. However for fantasy football teams in need of a spot starting RB or Flex option, Barber offers lots of TD potential in this game.

47. Toby Gerhart - Min = @Atl 6% ----- Obviously Gerhart's value rest solely on the health of Adrian Peterson this week. And while the matchup is not great for Gerhart to excel in that stat department if given the starting spot, there is always potential for a starting RB in fantasy football lineups.

43. Ryan Grant - GB = @Det 35% ----- The late game knee injury to James Starks will determine Grant's value for this week.

44. CJ Spiller - Buf = @NYJ 16% ----- In the same boat at Toby Gerhart and Ryan Grant, Spiller's playing time rests on the health of Fred Jackson. And even at that, this is a tough matchup for whoever is the Bills RB in this game.

71. Marcel Reece - Oak = Chi 1% ----- If McFadden is once again out, and backup RB Taiwan Jones is also out with injury, the TD threat Reece could get a handful of carries in this game.

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WIDE RECEIVER

21. Torrey Smith - Bal = SF 60% ----- A hot fantasy football commodity right now, Smith has exploded in the Ravens passing attack and has shown to be Joe Flacco's top target in recent weeks. Just remember, Smith is a rookie so a boom or bust game is always possible from week to week.

31. Vincent Brown - SD = Den 19% ----- After a huge week 10 game, Brown fell hard back to earth in week 11 as he only hauled in 1 reception for less than 10 yards. However with the Chargers continuing to focus on the passing game, Brown should continue to be a threat as long as Malcolm Floyd is out with injury.

32. Damian Williams - Ten = TB 31% ----- The potential loss of Matt Hasselbeck throwing the ball in this game could lead to a down week for Williams. However if Hasselbeck is healthy and does play, then there is plenty of hope for a solid stat output from Williams this week.

34. Jabar Gaffney - Was = @Sea 42% ----- The return of Rex Grossman at QB has definitely brought some life back into Gaffney's fantasy football stock. A matchup against a weak Seattle Seahawks secondary this week could easily lead Gaffney to 50-100 receiving yards, and a touchdown is within reach as well.

43. Jerome Simpson - Cin = Cle 29% ----- Playing first fiddle with AJ Green out, or playing second fiddle with AJ Green back in the lineup this week. In fact if AJ Green plays, that could mean even better news for Simpson in this game as he will not be covered by the Browns best cover corner Joe Haden.

49. Doug Baldwin - Sea = Was 25% ----- The Redskins secondary is injured ravaged, and Baldwin is a speedster who can break a long TD reception on any passing play.

55. Titus Young - Det = GB 5% ----- In what should be an extremely high scoring Thanksgiving game, Young has just as much potential as Calvin Johnson, Greg Jennings, or Jordy Nelson in this game. In deep leagues, Titus Young could be one of the cheapest waiver wire pickups and spot starters this week.

56. Nate Burleson - Det = GB 33% ----- A much higher owned Detriot Lions wide receiver, Burleson has plenty of potential to rack up some solid fantasy points this week.

64. Donald Driver - GB = @Det 11% ----- The revitalization of Donald Driver has been obvious in the Packers offense over the past few weeks, as Driver has seemingly taken over the WR3 spot from James Jones. Lots of potential for the just 11% owned Driver this week.

72. Andre Caldwell - Cin = Cle 2% ----- A secret weapon for Andy Dalton in recent weeks, Caldwell at just 2% owned is an outstanding cheap waiver wire pickup for teams in deep leagues this week.

90. Steve Smith - Phi = NE 5% ----- With Maclin injured, and DeSean Jackson getting all the attention from defenses, Smith tallied a TD reception in last weeks game, and should easily see more playing time this week with the Eagles facing a weak Patriots pass defense.

100. Jerricho Cotchery - Pit = @KC 1% ----- Looking for a huge sleeper this week? Look no further than Jericho Cotchery. Especially if Rashard Mendenhall, Hines Ward, and Emmanuel Sanders are all dealing with injuries yet this week.

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TIGHT END

13. Brent Celek - Phi = NE 36% ----- With Jeremy Maclin injured and DeSean Jackson playing hide and seek in the Eagles offense, Celek is quite possibly the most reliable passing target in the Eagles offense right now. A matchup against a weak Patriots pass defense this week could have Celek racking up half a dozen receptions for anything between 50-100 receiving yards, and a touchdown is always possible.

14. Dustin Keller - NYJ = Buf 68% ----- Keller being listed here has more to do with how awful the Buffalo Bills defense has played in recent weeks. With Shonn Greene and LaDainain Tomlinson dealing with injuries, Mark Sanchez could be the main offensive weapon if the Jets plan on scoring in this game.

15. Jake Ballard - NYG = @NO 55% ----- Facing a high scoring Saints offense, the Giants could easily be throwing the ball a lot in this game, especially if Ahmad Bradshaw is once again out. Ballard should be targeted plenty in this matchup, and a touchdown is always possible.

16. Jermaine Gresham - Cin = Cle 39% ----- One of Andy Dalton's favorite red zone targets, Gresham is once again a candidate to score a touchdown in this game. And if AJ Green has to miss this game with injury, Gresham's targets could go up even more.

18. Ed Dickson - Bal = SF 30% ----- Displaying a solid report with Joe Flacco, Dickson has the potential to rack up 5 receptions for 50-80 receicing yards in this game, and a touchdown is within reach as well against an excellent 49ers run defense.

19. Jacob Tamme - Ind = Car 1% ----- Forget about Reggie Wayne or Pierre Garcon, Tamme will likely be the target of choice for whoever the Colts QB is in this game.

21. Heath Miller - Pit = @KC 45% ----- Definitely a TD threat in this game.

20. Anthony Fasano - Mia = @Dal 3% ----- With Matt Moore playing extremely well right now, Fasano has definitely found his groove in the Dolphins passing attack. In what is becoming the norm in Miami, Fasano is an excellent red zone scoring threat this week against a susceptible Dallas Cowboys linebacking core.

25. Tony Scheffler - Det = GB 3% ----- Simply put, the Packers defense struggles at covering tight ends, and Scheffler has proven to be a red zone touchdown threat this season. It would not surprise me to see Scheffler once again hit paydirt in the end zone in this game.

31. Lance Kendricks - StL = Ari 7% ----- The matchup is very intriguing for Kendricks to haul in some receptions this week.

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DEFENSE

2. Houston Texans = @Jac 69% ----- Coming off their bye last week, the Texans were dropped in several fantasy football leagues as teams picked up a replacement defense for the week. So at just 69% owned in 10 team leagues entering week 12's games, the Houston Texans defense should be a very popular waiver wire pickup this week. Facing a weak passing Blaine Gabbert, the Texans defense offers huge scoring potential for fantasy football teams.

7. Cincinnati Bengals = Cle 62% ----- After holding up against a tough Baltimore Ravens offense in last weeks game, the surging Bengals face a soft Cleveland Brown offense this week. There is plenty of reason to believe that the Cincinnati Bengals will be a top 10 scoring fantasy football defense this week.

11. Oakland Raiders = Chi 21% ----- The loss of Jay Cutler definitely hurts the Chicago Bears offensive scoring upside, and the Oakland Raiders defense has been playing very well anyway in recent weeks. At just 21% owned, the Raiders are an excellent waiver wire pickup and definitely deserve a spot start in most fantasy football lineups this week.

12. Carolina Panthers = @Ind 3% ----- This is anything but a sure bet, however even a defense like the Carolina Panthers have potential this week against an awful Indianapolis Colts offense. A couple interceptions, sacks, and turnovers are easily within reach for this 3% owned Carolina Panthers defense in week 12.

13. Washington Redskins = @Sea 21% ----- Facing a less than potent Seattle Seahawks offense, the pressure defense of the Redskins could easily rack up a handful of sacks and turnovers against Tarvaris Jackson in this game.

14. Tennessee Titans = TB 21% ----- The Tampa Bay offense was solid against the Packers defense last week, but Josh Freeman still is throwing interceptions and turning the ball over. That leaves the door open for the Titans defense to possibly come up big this week if all fall right.

15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers = @Ten 7% ----- With Matt Hasselbeck dealing with a sore throwing arm, the Buccaneers could feast on rookie Jake Locker in this game. At just 7% owned in 10 team leagues, the Buccaneers are a very intriguing spot starting defense this week for fantasy football teams.

16. Arizona Cardinals = @StL 13% ----- The Cardinals defense is not great, but the Rams offense is not great either.

23. St. Louis Rams = Ari 11% ----- If Kevin Kolb is out again this week, then the Rams defense could rack up a very solid game against the Arizona offense in this matchup.