The final stretch of the fantasy season is here, as most leagues have only three weeks left before the playoffs. For most of us, securing a week 12 win can make or break our shot at the postseason, and with two big time teams (Kansas City and Arizona) on bye, we have a list of potentials that can save your week. And when we say "potentials"...we're just looking for double-digit points out of these guys.
With six teams playing on Thanksgiving, we didn't see any true breakout performances. Hunter Renfrow and (oddly) DeSean Jackson put up nice numbers for Las Vegas, while Darnell Mooney and Stefon Diggs did their part in the fantasy department as well. With Ceedee Lamb and Amari Cooper out for Dallas, Michael Gallup and Cedric Wilson put up passable numbers in their stead, but guys like Cole Beasley, Bryan Edwards, Emmanuel Sanders, and Marquez Callaway were essentially non-existent.
As usual, this list assumes the A-list receivers are automatic starts, and the second tier guys like DeVonta Smith, Mike Williams, Michael Pittman, DJ Moore, and Brandin Cooks you probably have to start whether you want to or not. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf haven't been explosive as of late, but with Russell Wilson they have pretty undeniable ceilings. At the least, they have too much upside to bench for a sleeper. Even Marvin Jones Jr, with the depleted receiving corp in Jacksonville, has must-start WR2 value.
Anyways, here are the fringe WRs we like this week, and the ones we don't.
Ball 'Em
Terry McLaurin, WFT
"Scary Terry" is about to get his partners in crime back, all in the same week. Deep threat Curtis Samuel and sure-handed tight end Logan Thomas are joining the cast against the Seahawks, and surging QB Taylor Heinicke will finally have a full array of weapons. Samuel perhaps may be the biggest aide to McLaurin, as the Seattle defense won't be able to solely key in on the star receiver without the speedster slipping by. McLaurin had a good week 11 and this matchup profiles as even more advantageous.
Chase Claypool, PIT
I love Chase Claypool this week, despite Diontae Johnson clearly being the WR1 in the Steelers offense, Claypool offers versatility in matchups such as this one against the Bengals. The Bengals have been decent at taking away a team's best option, but not great at stalling everyone. Big Ben is a much more adaptable quarterback than several teams Cincinnati has dominated as of late, which means the secondary option (Claypool) should see some extra looks this week.
Elijiah Moore, NYJ
Moore is the highest scoring fantasy receiver over the last four weeks, but a lot of that has been the Jets crazy game scripts with backup QBs targeting running backs at almost 40% and Moore taking advantage of what's left. Houston is a pretty favorable matchup for New York, but with rookie QB Zach Wilson back under center, that brings up some questions about how Moore will be used. Reason would say, he will be used the same...but while Wilson was the Jets starter, Moore averaged less than 20 yards per game, compared to almost 90 without him. I had Moore as a sit this week until Corey Davis was downgraded to doubtful, meaning that Moore and Keeland Cole will shoulder the receiving duties with running back Ty Johnson. The extra volume warrants a flex play for Moore, but I'm iffy on whether a guy who has scored four times in the last four weeks can keep it rolling...as a Jet. Fingers crossed flex play.
Jaylen Waddle, MIA
Waddle has pretty much become a must start at this point, but I like to throw him up here because a lot of people that have Waddle got him super late, meaning you likely have options at WR2/flex. Against tougher defenses this year (like Carolina who they face this week), Waddle has had sub-par outings but the one thing that makes him a must-flex for me is the red zone targets/touches this guy gets. On a week where we need solid floors, Waddle has the potential to break double digits without getting a ton of touches due to his high red zone usage. You don't need a lot of touches if the touches you have, count.
Lavishka Shenault, JAX
Shenault wasn't even a sleeper candidate during preseason evaluations, he was expected to be a solid WR2/explosive flex option week in and week out. That didn't come to fruition, between injuries and other factors he was essentially moved to the outside and second-year wideout Jamal Agnew took on the majority of the slot role. The slot role is where Shenault was supposed to shine, and now that Agnew is joining DJ Chark on season-ending IR, the Colorado alum is expected to move back to the slot. Rookie QB Trevor Lawrence has shown an affinity for targeting those quick slot routes, mostly due to inexperience, but in the fantasy world we are just looking for targets. I like Shenault as my sleeper flex/WR2 of the week.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, TEN
When active, Westbrook-Ikhine has taken advantage of the opportunities enough to earn himself a solid role moving forward with AJ Brown and Julio Jones on IR (possibly for the rest of the regular season). Chester Rogers is also out there, but without a solid running situation Tennessee likely will be forced to move the ball through the air against the Patriots this week. New England is one of the best in the league at defending the pass, so expectations are limited for Westbrook-Ikhine in week 12 but his volume alone warrants a flex start for teams struggling with injury/byes.
Solid Sleepers
Van Jefferson, LAR
Keeland Cole, NYJ
Brandon Aiyuk, SF
Bench 'Em
Jarvis Landry, CLE
Landry has been a pretty big disappoint for fantasy owners, but I feel like that has been a trend his whole career and I wouldn't even roster the guy at this point. The Browns offense seems to be in full self-destruct mode outside of Nick Chubb, and with Landry's knee giving him issues again, it's best to keep him far away from your starting lineup in a week 12 matchup against Baltimore.
Odell Beckham Jr, LAR
I am pretty public about my disdain for OBJ, and if he could at least have some fantasy value maybe he wouldn't be so worthless. But he doesn't. Against San Francisco he caught two balls on three targets for 18 yards in his first game as a Ram, despite them missing Robert Woods. Then they had a bye week, and this week they face the even tougher Green Bay defense. The Rams overall have regressed in the passing game, and the lack of focus OBJ has displayed over the last several years gives me zero reason to shove him out there expecting good things. Absolutely desperation start here.
Kenny Golladay, NYG
Part of me keeps putting Kenny on these lists hoping he proves me wrong eventually. Starting the year Golladay was seeing target volume and capitalizing on it, but missed three games to injury and by the time he returned the Giants were in full disarray. Golladay has only caught three balls on five targets since returning, and a week 12 matchup against Philadelphia (3rd least fantasy points allowed to wideouts) isn't conducive of a bounce back for Golladay.
Jerry Jeudy, DEN
Jeudy has seen an increase in targets each week since returning from IR in week 8, seeing 8 and then 9 respectively the last two games. While he is seeing more balls than fellow wideout Courtland Sutton, he hasn't been able to capitalize from a fantasy perspective with either yardage or scoring. Los Angeles poses a tough test through the air for Teddy Bridgewater and the Broncos, and their main strengths over the middle of the field may limit Jeudy more than his counterpart.
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