As we get deeper into the season, we’re going to have waiver weeks like this when there aren’t many big injuries. Most fantasy owners are fine with that trade-off, but it doesn’t help those in need of depth or streamers. Our full free agent list features a few more long-term contributors (Juwan Johnson, Treylon Burks, James Cook, Deshaun Watson, Odell Beckham Jr.), but we’re mostly looking at potential one-week wonders with favorable matchups. Even with no teams on bye in Week 12, we have a ton of streamer recommendations for quarterback, wide receiver, tight end, and D/ST. They’re organized by position and can be found at the end of the list.

With Joe Mixon in concussion protocol, we won’t know if Perine is slated to start in Week 12 until later in the week. It’s risky to go all-in with a high waiver claim on him, but someone is bound to do it in your league. Murray is close to meriting a high claim if you trust him to continue leading Denver’s backfield (which we think he will), and Akers has a string of favorable upcoming matchups, so he might be worth a high bid if you’re hurting at RB. The rest of this week’s top pickups are fairly interchangeable pass-catchers, and you likely aren’t desperate enough to use a high claim on them. You can make a case for using a low claim on one if you’re battling for your postseason life, but don’t go overboard.

UPDATE: With Melvin Gordon being waived on Monday and Chase Edmonds (ankle) expected to miss the next three or four games, Murray is a must-add. 

WEEK 12 FANTASY: Full waiver list | FAAB planner | Trade advice

With every team in action next week, it’s also unlikely that you need to use a waiver claim on a streamer, but if you’re planning for the next few weeks and want to make sure you get someone like Demarcus Robinson or Burks, then, by all means, use a low claim. You should still hold onto top-five priority in case there’s a big injury or surprise breakout in the weeks to come.

WEEK 12 STANDARD RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 12

Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.

Cam Akers, RB, Rams. We don’t like this any more than you do, but after a team-high 14 carries and 61 yards in Week 11, it looks like Akers is once again L.A.’s lead back. That has value going forward, especially in favorable matchups against the Chiefs, Seahawks, and Raiders over the next three weeks. You never know how many carries Akers is going to get on a weekly basis, but he looks like a good bet for double-digit touches for at least one more week.

Samaje Perine, RB, Bengals. Perine posted three TDs against Pittsburgh in Week 11, but that’s not why he’s on this list. He’s here because Joe Mixon exited in the second half due to a concussion. Perine has usually been effective when given touches (as we saw in Week 11), and if Mixon misses next week’s game against Tennessee, Perine will have flex value. He’s obviously not a long-term play, but if you’re hurting at RB, he’s worth adding based on his 15-touch potential.

WEEK 12 PPR RANKINGS:QBs | RBs | WRs | TEs | D/STs | Kickers

Latavius Murray, RB, Broncos. Murray scored on a one-yard TD plunge and led the Broncos in carries (17) and rushing yards (49) in Week 11, but perhaps the most important development from the game was that Melvin Gordon lost a fumble on the goal line. Gordon has now fumbled five times this year, losing three, and Denver’s coaches might be at the end of their rope with him. With Chase Edmonds tweaking his ankle, Murray could continue to dominate RB snaps as he did in the second half last week, making him a borderline RB2 going forward. At the very least, he’s a flex in a favorable matchup next week against Carolina. (Update: Gordon has been waived and Edmonds is expected to miss the next three or four games, making Murray a must-add.)

WEEK 12 FANTASY: Full waiver list | FAAB planner | Trade advice

Demarcus Robinson, WR, Ravens. After his nine-catch, 128-yard showing in Week 11, Robinson has now seen at least eight targets in two of his past three games. He’ll likely continue to operate as Baltimore’s top wide receiver going forward, and that should mean more solid performances. His Week 9 dud (one catch, 12 yards) should remind you that he doesn’t always have a particularly high floor, but he’s still a solid receiver to have on your bench for the stretch run. He’s definitely in play next week in a favorable matchup against Jacksonville, and he’ll be in a lot of starting lineups in Weeks 14 (Steelers), 16 (Falcons), and 17 (Steelers).

Donovan Peoples-Jones, WR, Browns. Peoples-Jones finally found the end zone in Week 11, and even though it was in garbage time, it counts just the same for fantasy owners. More important is that he had another five catches, six targets, and 61 yards, giving him at least four catches and 61 yards in five straight games. That’s the definition of a “high floor,” at least in PPR leagues, so consider DPJ a flex in most matchups. His ceiling should only go up when Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13.

For additional waiver/free agent suggestions, including a host of potential streaming options, check out our full Week 12 list.