Fantasy Football Week 12 Running Back and Wide Receiver FAAB: Sean Tucker, Michael Wilson, and More

Every week in the NFL functions like a chapter in a book. They all come together to tell the full story at the end, but each week is unique both in the matchup and performance that the team puts forward, not always having the same level of execution, luck, and more.

It's the same story in fantasy football, where even the best lineups have duds and put up miniscule scores compared to expectations. After 11 weeks, nearly every owner has surely experienced the high of seeing their team break out and the low of scoring 60 points and getting blown out. The fantasy grind doesn't stop, as your failure or success to this point doesn't affect Week 12's contest.

Let's look at some of the hottest RB and WR names on the waiver wire heading into Week 12 and what reasonable FAAB bid ranges look like for each. Your numbers might vary a little based on your remaining budget and team needs, but this is a good baseline to start from. All bids are based on a $100 budget.

Use FantasySP's waiver wire tool to find the players being added to fantasy teams most often each week!

Running Back

Chris Rodriguez Jr., Washington Commanders

The Commanders have cycled through their three backs, seeing Jacory Croskey-Merritt get the most work early with Jeremy McNichols involved. Rodriguez has come on the past few weeks to lead the way, scoring a touchdown in Weeks 9 and 10 and leading the team with 15 carries for 79 yards on Sunday.

The problem here is that there isn't much consistency to the work distribution. Croskey-Merritt still gets the most carries some games, and Rodriguez has led the way in other games, maybe following more of a hot-hand strategy than anything else. That leaves Rodriguez as an uncertain, low-floor player.

Anyone with a real need at running back can grab Rodriguez with hopes that he takes over, but that's a risky proposition; if you're in that position, you have bigger problems. The best way to think of Rodriguez is as a bench guy who you can consider in the right matchups, and that's a fine player to add at a low cost.

Conservative Bid: $1-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Devin Singletary, New York Giants

Singletary had the big fantasy day for New York on Sunday, scoring two touchdowns to go along with his 44 yards on 16 carries. Tyrone Tracy Jr. was much more efficient, carrying the ball 19 times for 88 yards and catching four passes for 51 more, but Tracy didn't find the end zone, so Singletary had the better fantasy performance.

While they could continue to split work, Tracy is likely to touch the ball more, making him the better fantasy player. In Week 10 against he Bears, for instance, Tracy carried it 14 times for 71 yards while Singletary had eight for 20; this is probably going to be a fluid situation.

I don't like the idea of counting on Singletary, but he could be worth a roster spot in deeper leagues in case Tracy gets hurt or Singletary keeps scoring touchdowns. Don't spend a lot on him, and don't expect much high-level play, but this is at least a guy who gets on the field.

Conservative Bid: $1-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Emanuel Wilson, Green Bay Packers

We'll combine these guys because they are in the same position: Tucker and Wilson both had good games in Week 11 (especially Tucker), but there is a lingering starter dealing with an injury who could return at any time, which would push these two into fantasy irrelevance.

Tucker ranked as RB1 in standard and RB2 in PPR prior to Monday's game after carrying the ball 19 times for 106 yards and two touchdowns and adding two receptions, 34 yards, and another score. Rachaad White, who had been leading the way, touched the ball just 12 times, though he was efficient.

Bucky Irving is working his way back but still hasn't played since Week 4. He could return this week, and when he does, he will likely take most of the workload, though it's possible he works his way back to full speed. Tucker should probably be on a team in most leagues, but he has a low floor once Irving returns.

Wilson wasn't nearly as good, gaining 40 yards and scoring a touchdown on 11 carries, but getting into the end zone made for a decent fantasy day, and Wilson would be in line for big touches if Josh Jacobs remains out. Jacobs left in the first half with a knee injury, and while reports say there is no structural damage, his status is uncertain.

It seems like Jacobs won't miss a lot of time, if he even sits out a game, so Wilson's status is even more tenuous than Tucker's. Both players appear to have expiring shelf lives of fantasy value, so it's best to not spend much FAAB money unless you're desperate in Week 12.

Conservative Bid: $1-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Wide Receiver

Tyrell Shavers, Buffalo Bills

Shavers led the Bills with four catches, 90 yards, and a touchdown. On a team that could use a high-level playmaker at receiver, there will surely be rumblings that the second-year undrafted player should get an extended look. Does that give him fantasy intrigue?

Probably not. Keon Coleman was a healthy scratch after missing a team meeting this week, but he is expected back in the lineup in Week 12, and that will push Shavers back down the pass-catching hierarchy. Shavers has played the third-most snaps among receivers in Buffalo, but Joshua Palmer and Curtis Samuel are now playing after both missing stretches of time, and Shavers is likely to be squeezed.

Shavers has only been lightly involved, as this was his first game of the season with more than two catches or 27 yards. Shavers is likely to return to his anonymous ways, but it's worth keeping his name in mind because of Josh Allen's presence.

Conservative Bid: $0

Need Bid: $1

Desperation Bid: $2

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers

Watson returned in Week 8 after missing the first part of the season recovering from injury. He has averaged three receptions and 58.5 yards in his four games, scoring two touchdowns. Both of those TDs came on Sunday, when Watson had four catches and 46 yards against the Giants.

Watson is generally seen as more of a deep threat with big-play ability who doesn't touch the ball as much, and that makes for big games but also a low floor when those plays don't hit. The Packers have a lot of receivers, but no one is really a WR1, leaving the work to be spread around. That also makes for inconsistent fantasy performances.

There will be more days like this, but there will also be games where Watson catches two passes for around 50 yards, like each of the past two weeks. It's best to think of him in that big WR3/4/flex range where he can be considered with the matchup.

Conservative Bid: $1-2

Need Bid: $3-4

Desperation Bid: $5-6

Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals

What a day for Wilson: 15 catches for 185 yards. His previous season highs were four receptions and 61 yards, and his career bests were seven and 95, respectively, both set in his rookie season of 2023. This simply came out of nowhere.

It was all about volume, though, as Jacoby Brissett threw the ball 57 times (!!!) and completed 47, breaking the NFL record. Arizona was down early and trailed by multiple scores most of the game, so they had to throw the ball often, and Wilson was the main beneficiary.

We can't expect anything close to this moving forward. Brissett has been throwing a lot (over 40 times per game in his five outings), but Wilson hasn't seen anything close to this volume before, and Marvin Harrison Jr. will return eventually after having his appendix taken out last week.

It was a phenomenal day for Wilson, but he's only a low-level fantasy player who can't be counted on for consistent big production.

Conservative Bid: $1

Need Bid: $2

Desperation Bid: $3