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Every Monday during the season, Justin Boone breaks down the recommended fantasy football waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are generated from Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Key injuries to consider

• Drake London (knee)

• Josh Jacobs (knee)

• Aaron Rodgers (wrist)

• Michael Penix Jr. (knee; IR)

• Jaylen Warren (ankle)

• Kimani Vidal (quad)

• Dillon Gabriel (concussion)

• Bhayshul Tuten (ankle)

• Chimere DIke (concussion)

• Calvin Ridley (fibula; season-ending)

• Xavier Legette (hip)

• Tyler Higbee (ankle)

• Emari Demercado (ankle)

Bye weeks

• Denver Broncos

• Los Angeles Chargers

• Miami Dolphins

• Washington Commanders

Pickups by position

• Quarterbacks

• Running backs

• Wide receivers

• Tight ends

• Defense/Special teams

• Kickers

Week 12’s top-10 overall pickups

1. Alec Pierce, Colts
2. Emanuel Wilson, Packers
3. Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers
4. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars
5. Juwan Johnson, Saints
6. Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders
7. Christian Watson, Packers
8. Devin Singletary, Giants
9. Michael Wilson, Cardinals
10. Darnell Mooney, Falcons

Quarterbacks

Jacoby Brissett, Cardinals

Brissett is averaging the fourth-most fantasy points among quarterbacks since taking over as the Cardinals starter in Week 6. 

The veteran has finished as a top-12 fantasy option in all four of his starts and gets another great matchup in Week 12 versus the Jaguars. 

Tougher opponents like the Rams and Texans are lurking in Week 14 and 15, but Brissett is a strong streamer for the time being.

Streaming options

• Bryce Young at SF (13% rostered)

Streaming options (if healthy)

• C.J. Stroud vs. BUF (41% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Trevor Lawrence at ARI (41% rostered)

• Tyler Shough vs. ATL (3% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out)

• Davis Mills vs. BUF (4% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy)

• Aaron Rodgers at CHI (45% rostered)

Desperation streaming options

• Tyrod Taylor at BAL (1% rostered)

• Kirk Cousins at NO (1% rostered)

• Geno Smith vs. CLE (17% rostered)

• Cam Ward vs. SEA (7% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if starter is out)

• Jameis Winston at DET (4% rostered)

• Mason Rudolph at CHI (0% rostered)

• Shedeur Sanders at LV (1% rostered)

Desperation streaming options (if healthy)

• Dillon Gabriel at LV (4% rostered)

Running Backs

Emanuel Wilson, Packers

Josh Jacobs left early with a knee injury and reports indicate it’s not believed to be season-ending. The knee is structurally sound and doesn’t require surgery, so the team is calling him day-to-day. 

While some people might interpret that as a positive sign, I’m concerned that it could mean he still misses a week or two. 

Wilson was the clear replacement after Jacobs left and finished the day with 49 yards and a score on 12 touches. 

He’s a must-add in all formats as a possible fantasy RB2 while Jacobs is sidelined. 

In deeper leagues, you could consider Chris Brooks as a risky flex option or even stash MarShawn Lloyd who’s on injured reserve. 

Kenneth Gainwell, Steelers

Jaylen Warren hurt his ankle this week, and though he was able to return to the game, he saw significantly less snaps due to the injury. 

It’s possible he could heal up over the next week and suit up on Sunday versus the Bears, but ankle injuries can also flare up after the game and force players to miss time. 

Gainwell has been excellent when filling in for Warren this season. In Week 4, he started and turned 25 touches into 134 scrimmage yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns. Then, this week he stepped up with 105 yards and two receiving touchdowns on 16 touches. 

If Warren sits out or is limited, Gainwell will be in the RB2 conversation with RB1 upside, as he’s displayed in those aforementioned contests. 

Rookie Kaleb Johnson can be stashed in deeper leagues, but he isn’t a threat to Gainwell’s spot on the depth chart. 

Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars

Tuten was in the midst of a potential breakout game when he suffered an ankle injury that ended his day. 

Prior to getting hurt, Tuten was leading the backfield split with 15 carries to Travis Etienne Jr.’s 12 and racked up 74 yards and a TD despite his injury-shortened day. 

While this wasn’t a complete takeover, it was a great sign that Tuten could earn a bigger role in this offense down the stretch. 

There’s no doubt his gamebreaking ability and nose for the end zone would lead to fantasy success, if he was given enough volume in this offense. 

For now, we’ll monitor the Tuten injury while stashing him and hoping for good news. 

At worst, he’s a flex option who’s one Etienne injury away from league-winner status. 

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Commanders

Rodriguez has risen to the top of the Commanders’ backfield, despite remaining in a three-man committee. 

He’s now produced decent results in three straight outings with 65 yards and a score versus the Seahawks, a touchdown against the Lions and 85 yards on 16 touches this past week in a loss to the Dolphins. 

It’s not week-winning production, but he can certainly be an RB3/flex option in better matchups. 

If he can maintain this role, Washington gets the Giants, Eagles and Cowboys in the fantasy playoffs, who are all plus-opponents for running backs this season. 

We’ll see if anything changes when the Commanders return from their bye, which is often a time when rookies like Jacory Croskey-Merritt see a bump in usage. 

RB3/Flex options

• Devin Singletary at DET (21% rostered)

RB3/Flex options (if starter is out)

• Sean Tucker at LAR (27% rostered)

• Bam Knight vs. JAX (18% rostered)

Flex options

• Tyjae Spears vs. SEA (38% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Blake Corum vs. TB (17% rostered)

• Brian Robinson Jr. vs. CAR (28% rostered)

• Keaton Mitchell vs. NYJ (3% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Chris Brooks vs. MIN (0% rostered) 

Dart-throw flex options

• Isaiah Davis at BAL (6% rostered)

• Dylan Sampson at LV (13% rostered)

• Brashard Smith vs. IND (7% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy and starter is out)

• Emari Demercado vs. JAX (47% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out)

• Kaleb Johnson at CHI (15% rostered)

• Michael Carter vs. JAX (3% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Tank Bigsby (21% rostered)

• Ray Davis (8% rostered)

• Jaydon Blue (6% rostered)

Deep stashes

• Devin Neal (2% rostered)

• LeQuint Allen Jr. (0% rostered)

• Raheem Mostert (1% rostered)

• Tahj Brooks (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes

• Jaleel McLaughlin (1% rostered)

• Ollie Gordon II (9% rostered)

• Trayveon Williams (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• MarShawn Lloyd (1% rostered)

• Phil Mafah (0% rostered)

Wide Receivers

Alec Pierce, Colts

Nothing has changed with Pierce, who is coming off his bye, but here’s a reminder of why you should be picking him up. 

In his last seven games, Pierce has gone for 67 yards or more on six different occasions. 

His recent outings are even more impressive, with stat lines of 5-98-0, 2-69-0, 6-115-0 and 4-84-1.

Pierce has now become a high-end fantasy WR3 with legitimate weekly WR2 potential in one of the NFL’s best offenses. 

I’ve recommended him in past weeks as a cheap way to invest in the Colts’ attack, but that discount no longer applies. If he’s still available in your league, you’ll have to be aggressive to get him on your roster — and you should. 

Christian Watson, Packers

Watson has been a steady producer since returning from injury with stat lines of 4-85-0, 2-58-0, 2-45-0 and now 4-46-2 on Sunday. 

It’s been hard to trust any of the Packers receivers, since the team prefers to spread the ball around. However, Watson is making a case to be a weekly fantasy WR3/flex option with significant TD upside — especially in positive upcoming matchups with the Lions, the Bears twice and Ravens. 

Jayden Reed (35%) is also an intriguing IR stash, as the Packers need someone to step up down the stretch with star tight end Tucker Kraft out for the year. 

Michael Wilson, Cardinals

Wilson’s numbers had increased ever since Jacoby Brissett took over as the starter, but no one could have predicted his stat line in Week 11. 

I wrote up Wilson as a potential WR3/flex option in my deep stashes column last week because Marvin Harrison Jr. had been ruled out due to an appendectomy and the 49ers are weaker against the pass. 

Even still, I didn’t think it would result in 15 catches and 185 yards on 18 targets. 

Another enticing matchup is on the way in Week 12 versus the Jaguars, but we’ll need to see if Harrison is back or not. 

Once Harrison returns, Wilson will become a risky flex option again. But until he’s back in the lineup, Wilson is a borderline WR2/WR3 with serious upside. 

WR4/flex options

• Darnell Mooney at NO (31% rostered)

WR4/flex options (if healthy)

• Darius Slayton at DET (46% rostered)

• Chris Godwin Jr. at LAR (46% rostered)

• Kayshon Boutte at CIN (33% rostered)

Risky flex options

• Jalen Coker at SF (3% rostered)

• Jayden Higgins vs. BUF (16% rostered)

• Tez Johnson at LAR (41% rostered)

• Parker Washington at ARI (47% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out)

• Mack Hollins at CIN (5% rostered)

• Greg Dortch vs. JAC (3% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options

• Tyrell Shavers at HOU (0% rostered)

• Cedric Tillman at LV (10% rostered)

• Elic Ayomanor vs. SEA (17% rostered)

• Hollywood Brown at TEN (45% rostered)

• Calvin Austin III at CHI (15% rostered)

• Joshua Palmer at HOU (6% rostered)

• Tyler Lockett vs. CLE (4% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy)

• Matthew Golden vs. MIN (48% rostered)

• Rashod Bateman vs. NYJ (18% rostered)

• Xavier Legette at SF (7% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Pat Bryant (1% rostered)

• Luther Burden III (8% rostered)

• Tory Horton (6% rostered)

• Isaac TeSlaa (1% rostered)

• Adonai Mitchell (2% rostered)

• Tre’ Harris (2% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• Jayden Reed (35% rostered)

• Brandon Aiyuk (36% rostered)

Tight Ends

Juwan Johnson, Saints

Johnson, who is coming off a bye, can be slotted into fantasy lineups as a solid low-end TE1. 

After producing at that level early in the season, Johnson battled through injuries, leading to some weaker performances. 

Fortunately, he’s returned to form with at least 50 yards or a touchdown in four consecutive outings. 

He’s also coming off a 92-yard, one-touchdown result against the Panthers, who are the same team he plays in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. 

With wideout Rashid Shaheed out of the picture, Johnson is the Saints de facto No. 2 receiver and a top-12 fantasy tight end the rest of the way. 

Colston Loveland is 48% rostered but would be the No. 2 TE add if available. 

High-end TE2 streaming options

• Harold Fannin Jr. at LV (40% rostered)

• Dalton Schultz vs. BUF (49% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if healthy)

• Brenton Strange at ARI (12% rostered)

Risky streaming options

• Mason Taylor at BAL (17% rostered)

• AJ Barner at TEN (9% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options

• Isaiah Likely vs. NYJ (5% rostered)

• Noah Fant vs. NE (3% rostered)

• Chig Okonkwo vs. SEA (15% rostered)

• Michael Mayer vs. CLE (2% rostered)

• Darnell Washington at CHI (0% rostered)

• Brock Wright vs. NYG (1% rostered)

• Taysom Hill vs. ATL (1% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy)

• Tyler Higbee vs. TB (2% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out)

• Dawson Knox at HOU (5% rostered)

• Colby Parkinson vs. TB (0% rostered)

Upside stashes to roster

• Terrance Ferguson vs. TB (0% rostered)

• Elijah Arroyo (1% rostered)

• Gunnar Helm (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes

• Darren Waller (21% rostered)

Defenses

Rams D/ST is 57% rostered but would be the No. 1 DST add if available. 

Falcons D/ST is 52% rostered but would be the No. 2 DST add if available. 

Kickers