NFL Waiver Wire Workout: Week 12

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Because league formats vary, one size doesn't fit all when it comes to your waiver wire. That's why I break possible free agent adds into three categories, all of whom are available in fewer than one-third of Yahoo! leagues. Follow me on Twitter for the latest on possible additions to your fantasy roster.

Wendell Smallwood, RB, PHI (owned in 5% of Yahoo! leagues). Ryan Mathews took a shot on his right knee early in the second quarter Sunday and didn't return; the Eagles supposedly consider him day-to-day with an MCL strain, but let's just say Mathews (whose collarbones are scientifically known to be constructed from Funyuns) doesn't have the greatest track record of playing hurt. Darren Sproles was also injured in Week 11, breaking a rib while returning a punt.

While Sproles might have a chance to play Monday against the Green Bay Packers, Smallwood looks like the favorite in a matchup that isn't as daunting as it looked six weeks ago. Smallwood is a rookie who's quick and has a bit of power; he doesn't look like a fantasy leading man in the longer term, but right now he'll do.

Mike Gillislee, RB, BUF (25% owned). If you're a LeSean McCoy owner who hasn't handcuffed Gillislee to Shady, shame on you! I've only been telling to do so for two months! McCoy dislocated his thumb Sunday and required surgery to put it back in place; he's no guarantee to play Week 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. If he sits, Gillislee is an easy RB2 with power and decent acceleration. If McCoy does play, we could be headed for a frustrating one-week timeshare. The larger point is: Gillislee should be owned in every league!

Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd, WR, CIN (11% and 6% owned, respectively). How bad is A.J. Green's injured hamstring? Reports late Sunday had the stud wideout potentially out for the year, but after an MRI the Bengals were more optimistic. Still, Green won't play this week and will probably miss more time than that, meaning his ten-plus targets per week are up for grabs. Tyler Eifert is a natural candidate to see his workload increase, but LaFell and Boyd will also get cracks.

I'm torn. On the one hand, I'd tend to prefer the guy who plays outside and that's LaFell. On the other hand, I'm painfully aware of how bad LaFell's hands are. Maybe adding Boyd would be more comforting, because at least the polished rookie is a devil you don't know?

Carson Wentz, QB, PHI (32% owned). Wentz's ownership has dropped below the one-third threshold, making him eligible for this column for the first time in more than a month, and just in time: the Eagles get an execrable Packers pass defense Monday. Wentz acquitted himself well on the road in Seattle. He should fatten up at home versus Green Bay and is the week's obvious top streamer.

Lions Defense (17% owned). I could see using the Chargers (18%) or Titans (16%), too, but I'll play the Turkey Day card with the Lions facing a bad Vikings o-line Thursday. I'm not fooled by Minnesota scoring 30 scoreboard points against Arizona on Sunday—that included a shaky end-zone interference call, a 100-yard pick-six, and a kickoff return for a touchdown.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still adds: Kenneth Dixon, RB, BAL (28%); Dwayne Washington, RB, DET (3%); Austin Hooper, TE, ATL (4%); C.J. Fiedorowicz, TE, HOU (22%).

DeAngelo Williams, RB, PIT (23% owned). D-Willy won't play Thursday night, but give him another ten days and he should be recovered from his knee scope and resume the backup role behind Le'Veon Bell. I include him here because he was dropped prematurely. Every Bell owner has to have him. Assuming his return is smooth, he's fantasy's No. 1 handcuff.

Alex Collins, RB, SEA (0% owned). The Seahawks release Christine Michael and all hell breaks lose: C.J. Prosise breaks his shoulder blade and Troymaine Pope suffers a high-ankle sprain. Suddenly it's Thomas Rawls and Collins and nobody else (except QB Trevone Boykin, who played some emergency RB Sunday) until the Seahawks inevitably add a street free agent. Rawls is such a violent runner I'd be concerned about him lasting the rest of the year with 20-plus touches per game. Collins was a successful collegiate who's had a hard time getting a sniff on the depth chart as a rookie, but he'll play some against Tampa this week.

Kenjon Barner, RB, PHI (0% owned). I mentioned Wendell Smallwood as the week's top waiver add; Barner will also get playing time if both Ryan Mathews and Darren Sproles sit out Monday. Barner is sort of a third-generation faded copy of Sproles, but snaps are snaps.

Percy Harvin, WR, BUF (4% owned). Robert Woods is out for multiple weeks with a sprained knee and Sammy Watkins still isn't practicing, so the ghost of Percy Harvin figures to get a chance. He played a bunch after Woods' injury Sunday and presumably is working his way back into shape after sitting out a year. A big play could be coming.

Charles Clay, TE, BUF (13% owned). The guy with the best chance to capitalize if the Bills are really down to Harvin, Marquise Goodwin, and Brandon Tate at receiver should be Clay, although Tyrod Taylor doesn't always stick with him series to series.

Rex Burkhead, RB, CIN (0% owned). Gio Bernard is out for the year with a torn ACL and the Bengals don't have any other active halfbacks, so at the moment Burkhead figures to get more involved on passing downs. He's just another guy, but Bernard was on pace for 62 catches.

Jacquizz Rodgers, RB, TB (28% owned). The Quizz was excellent for a couple games replacing Doug Martin before spraining his foot, and he's supposedly close to returning. He'd reassume his spot as Martin's handcuff, at least until and if Charles Sims can come off injured reserve in Week 13 or beyond.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still speculative adds: Colin Kaepernick, QB, SF (18%); Alfred Morris, RB, DAL (12%); Chris Thompson, RB, WAS (27%); Damien Williams, RB, MIA (5%); Alfred Blue, RB, HOU (2%); Jeremy Langford, RB, CHI (30%); Paul Perkins, RB, NYG (21%); Kapri Bibbs, RB, DEN (14%); Andre Ellington, RB, ARI (3%); Ka'Deem Carey, RB, CHI (1%); Quincy Enunwa, WR, NYJ (31%); Pierre Garcon, WR, WAS (23%); Anquan Boldin, WR, DET (22%); Kendall Wright, WR, TEN (13%); Eddie Royal, WR, CHI (22%); Breshad Perriman, WR, BAL (2%); Ladarius Green, TE, PIT (12%); Vernon Davis, TE, WAS (10%); Hunter Henry, TE, SD (17%).

Peyton Barber, RB, TB (17% owned). Barber was Doug Martin's backup Sunday and got a third-quarter series to himself during which he had a few rugged gains. It's good to know he's back ahead of Mike James on the depth chart, but Barber's value hinges on Jacquizz Rodgers and Charles Sims not returning from injury.

Marquise Goodwin, WR, BUF (6% owned). I perceive Goodwin as a big-play artist for the truly desperate, but of course, with so many Bills receivers hurt, it's impossible to know what their usage might be in Week 12. Percy Harvin and Brandon Tate figure to play a bunch, and maybe Justin Hunter will be heard from, too.

Cordarrelle Patterson, WR, MIN (5% owned). Say this for Patterson: he'll do something the TV cameras notice. Patterson runs imprecise routes and has inconsistent hands, but he's a freight train with the ball, as evidenced by Sunday's kickoff TD. I've been using him the past couple games in a deep 0.5 PPR league.

Troymaine Pope, RB, SEA (0% owned). Let's just be honest: I'd never heard of Troymaine Pope until he showed up on Seattle's practice squad in September. An undrafted rookie out of Jacksonville State, Pope could've been in line for some work after C.J. Prosise's broken shoulder, but he suffered a high-ankle sprain soon thereafter. He figures to return before Prosise.

Knile Davis, RB, KC (1% owned). Charcandrick West suffered a concussion Sunday, so the well-traveled Davis finds himself in the No. 2 chair once again for the Chiefs in a Sunday night showdown against the Broncos.

Players listed in previous weeks who are still addable in deep leagues: Akeem Hunt, RB, HOU (2%); DeAndre Washington, RB, OAK (13%); Jalen Richard, RB, OAK (13%); Fozzy Whittaker, RB, CAR (4%); Kenneth Farrow, RB, SD (0%); Kenny Stills, WR, MIA (8%); Adam Thielen, WR, MIN (4%); Eli Rogers, WR, PIT (23%); Adam Humphries, WR, TB (24%); Seth Roberts, WR, OAK (2%); Dontrelle Inman, WR, SD (4%); Robby Anderson, WR, NYJ (0%); Taylor Gabriel, WR, ATL (3%); Brian Quick, WR LA (6%); Marqise Lee, WR, JAC (6%); Vance McDonald, TE, SF (8%).

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