An RB Pump Fake & A WR To Stash For Week 12

In today's Fantasy Life Newsletter, presented by Vanicream ...

When Josh Jacobs left Sunday’s game vs. the Giants with a knee injury, it felt like we would be emptying the FAAB clip on Emanuel Wilson on waivers this week.

But then Jacobs said, “Not so fast, my friends.”

He’s considered day-to-day and won’t need any surgeries.

Still, it seems like his availability vs. the Vikings in Week 12 is very much in doubt. I would definitely still put in bids for Wilson (especially if you are desperate for a spot start this week), but don’t go too wild otherwise.

The other major injuries from Sunday—Michael Penix Jr. (possibly out for the year) and Drake London (out at least one week with PCL sprain)—don’t really provide us any clear waiver opportunities (I’m sorry, KhaDarel Hodge stans).

If you’re hurting for WR help, you could certainly grab some of the Bills options who Kendall suggests here, but my preferred upside dart throw is Bears WR Luther Burden.

He ran a season-high 22 routes for the first time all year and operated as the clear slot WR over Olamide Zaccheaus (seven routes).

Even more encouraging is the fact that he was earning targets (18% share) when he was out on the field. In fact, he led the entire WR room in targets per route run (23%):

As Andrew Cooper points out here, a late-season breakout is not uncommon for WRs of Burden’s ilk.

If you can afford to be patient, stash Burden over the one-week rental types.

ONTO YOUR WEEK 12 WAIVER WIRE GUIDE

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Editors’ Picks

Week 11 is in the books. Who’s ready to look toward Week 12? Get a head start with some of the latest Fantasy Life content to come through the Week 12 pipeline …

Week 12 Waiver Wire Adds

Backup running backs ran the slate last week, but how pressing is it to pick up the likes of Sean Tucker and Emanuel Wilson? Kendall Valenzuela breaks down all things waiver wire for Week 12.

Week 12 DST Streamers

It’s not often that two teams playing against each other both find themselves in the top-three streamers conversation, but Jonathan Fuller breaks down why the Browns vs. Raiders game stands out in Week 12.

Players To Drop In Week 12

From chanting “Bill, Bill, Bill!” to costing you bills, bills, bills, Gladys Louise Tyler says the time has come to drop the Commanders rookie RB. Who else is worth cutting ties with ahead of Week 12?

The #1 Utilization Takeaway From Week 11 Is …

RJ Harvey became the clear RB1 for Denver in Week 11.

The Broncos' second-round pick only delivered eight points in a tough matchup against the Chiefs. Kansas City is the fifth-hardest matchup, holding opposing RB rooms to 3.7 fantasy points below their average (fantasy boost). But Harvey took charge of the backfield, commanding 61% of the snaps and rushing attempts. He also paced the backfield in target share at 9%.

On the one hand, this is excellent news, and better days are likely ahead for Harvey. On the other hand, his schedule is pretty tough the rest of the way based on DvP fantasy boost data:

Bye
Commanders: +2.9
Raiders: -3.5
Packers: -1.6
Jaguars: -3.4
Chiefs: -3.7

While the schedule isn't ideal, the volume is what we care most about, and Harvey is a plus player as a receiver. Of backs with at least 100 routes this season, the Broncos' new RB1 ranks fifth in targets per route run (TPRR) at 23%.

Christian McCaffrey is at 26% and De'Von Achane is at 25% as the top two options. Harvey is in the next tier after those names in the range of Jahmyr Gibbs (23%) and Bijan Robinson (22%). Harvey ranks eighth in yards per route run (YPRR) at 1.42. That is in the same tier as Gibbs and Breece Hall.

Harvey UPGRADES to mid-range RB2 territory, but his receiving chops could lift him beyond his schedule woes to give us RB1 upside.

» For the rest of Dwain McFarland’s Utilization Report ahead of Week 12, click below!

THE UTILIZATION REPORT FOR WEEK 12

Early Week 12 Rankings: Is McBride as Valuable as a Wide Receiver?

If you drafted Trey McBride with the idea he’d be one of the best TEs in fantasy, could you have imagined that he’d actually outperform that? Well, he has. In fact, he’s lapping his position and now has to be considered in another position group, as Ian Hartitz noted:

“TE1 Trey McBride: You already know McBride is the TE1 in fantasy, but get this: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Puka Nacua, Drake London, Ja'Marr Chase, Rashee Rice and Amon-Ra St. Brown are the only WRs averaging more PPR points per game than Jacoby Brissett's soul mate. Hell yeah!”

So McBride would be the WR7 so far. Pretty, pretty, pretty good. That’s just one of the great nuggets that Ian has uncovered in his early Week 12 Rankings article.

JOSH ALLEN’S BLOWUP GAME WAS THE BEST QB PERFORMANCE SINCE …