Welcome to TheFantasyFix.com’s week 12 fantasy football waiver wire. This week, Buffalo, Cincinnati, Philadelphia and Seattle are on a bye, so a few fantasy footballers could be cruising the wire for some bye week magic. We’ll be looking at players like Bobby Rainey, Delanie Walker and Michael Crabtree that could make a positive impact on your team in week 12 and beyond.

Before we get to this week’s potential waiver wire pickups, it’s important to note that I indicate below each name what type of waiver priority I would use on said player as well as the amount of FAAB I’d be willing to use to acquire their services. Despite the lack of high profile names that may be available this late in the season, I continue to be aggressive, not only to build the depth of my own team for a playoff run, but to prevent other teams from adding crucial pieces where possible.

You may notice that a few of these names are making their second appearance on this list, but that’s because those players are not yet owned in as many leagues as they should be. If you have any additional questions, please feel free to leave them in the comments below.

Bobby Rainey | Buccaneers

It was just last week that we suggested you add Bobby Rainey from your waiver wires, even at the cost of your number one waiver priority. And I’ll be the first to admit that the stars don’t always align like they did in week 11, but if by chance you took our advice and started him, you’re welcome.

However, if you couldn’t find room to add the former Hilltopper heading into week 11, making room for him in week 12 is a priority. Greg Schiano and the Bucs fed Rainey the rock 30 times against a porous Falcons defense on Sunday resulting in 163 yards on the ground and two scores, then added two receptions and a touchdown through the air. Since joining Tampa Bay, Rainey is averaging an impressive 5.5 yards/carry and 4 yards after contact/carry.

Going forward, Rainey and the Bucs’ schedule for fantasy purposes isn’t all that beneficial as they go toe-to-toe with the Lions, Panthers, Bills, 49ers and Rams. The 49ers, allowing 23.80 fantasy points/week to opposing bell-cows, in week 15 and the Rams, allowing 28.11 fantasy points per week to ball carriers, in week 16 seem like the best bets for matchup plays. However, if you add him this week, there is a very good chance you’re slotting him in your starting lineup going forward.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 1 or lower
Spend this much FAAB 45-50%
Players I’d drop for him: Trent Richardson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Mark Ingram

Shane Vereen | Patriots and Donald Brown | Colts

And again, Shane Vereen lands on our list of waiver wire recommendations due to the fact that he’s still owned in less than 60% of Y! leagues. Those of you who watched last evening’s Monday Night Football contest between Vereen’s Patriots and the Carolina Panthers saw firsthand how valuable he can be for New England’s offense, and in turn, your fantasy football squads. In his first action since being activated from the injured reserve, Vereen carried the ball just once for seven yards, but hauled in eight passes on 10 targets for 65 yards (8.1 y/c), 57 of which came after the catch. Make the add and I promise not to include him in next week’s waiver wire. He’s PPR gold, kids.

Donald Brown isn’t quite owned in as many leagues as the aforementioned Vereen, but he very well may be after Tuesday evening’s waiver wire is processed. Not exactly sure whether Brown’s skills are superior to Richardsons, but since Richardson joined the Colts the elder former first-rounder has outperformed him. On Thursday Night Football, Brown carried the ball 14 times for 80 yards while finding the end zone on two occasions. He also added one reception on one target for 14 yards, giving him 15 receptions on 17 targets in twenty-thirteen.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 1 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 45-50%
Players I’d drop for him: Trent Richardson, Jacquizz Rodgers, Mark Ingram

Delanie Walker | Titans

Over the past two weeks, Walker hauled in 14-of-15 targets for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Through 11 weeks, Walker has found the end zone five times and there are only four tight ends in the NFL who’ve done so more than he: Jimmy Graham (10), Julius Thomas (10), Vernon Davis (8) and Jordan Cameron (6). Three of his next five opponents — Denver, Arizona and Jacksonville — are among the top five most generous fantasy defenses to opposing tight ends, yielding more than 16 fantasy points/game on average. Need I say more? He’ll be a great addition to any team for a playoff run.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 6 and lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 15-20%
Players I’d drop for him: Kyle Rudolph, Jared Cook, Brandon Pettigrew

Miles Austin | Cowboys, Michael Crabtree | 49ers and Jerricho Cotchery | Steelers

Miles Austin finally looks to be at full-strength following the bye week and should find himself back into the Cowboys lineup immediately. Stealing targets from Terrence Williams may not be a problem going forward either, considering Williams fell off a bit after a hot start. It still hasn’t been determined as to what capacity Michael Crabtree would be able to play on Monday Night in week 12, if he were to play. But with Crabtree you’re adding him with the playoff run in mind, so don’t let any week twelve news sway you from making the add. Like some of the others above, Cotchery makes this list again because he continues to play well but isn’t owned enough. He’s found paydirt five times the last three weeks, and with Emmanuel Sanders dinged up, I would expect his role to increase. Don’t assume he’ll continue landing in the end zone at this rate, but assume he’ll continue to get targets, catch passes and chew up some yards after. You could do a lot worse in deeper formats.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 10-15%
Players I’d drop for him: Greg Jennings, Vincent Brown, Nate Washington

Montee Ball | Broncos and Chris Ogbannaya | Browns

In all fairness, I have recently suggested that Montee Ball could be dropped from most fantasy rosters due to his inability to keep the pigskin secure and the not-so-sudden emergence of Knowshon Moreno. Despite what we thought we knew about John Fox’s intolerance for backs not holding onto the ball, the Broncos continue to serve Ball the rock inside the ten-yard line. Each of his three scores this season — all of which have come in the last three weeks — have come from distances of 4, 1 and 8 yards respectively. Needless to say, you’re not going to get a ton of fantasy production from the former Badger eating up yards, but he could be a viable option in deeper, touchdown-heavy formats for those in need.

Conversely, Chris Ogbannaya could be the Ball equivalent for those in deep, points-per-reception formats. Although he’s only found the end zone twice this season — both times through the air — Ogbonnaya has reeled in 14-of-22 targets in the last three weeks for 84 yards. Desperate times call for desperate measures.

Consider in leagues: 12-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: 8 or lower
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5-10%
Players I’d drop for him: Your least valuable asset

Buffalo D/ST and Dallas D/ST

If you followed our suggestion to roll with the Bills defense against the Jets in week 11, congratulations, you feasted. And you may want to hang onto or add the Bills considering they face the Falcons, Buccaneers, Jaguars and Dolphins following their bye. For week twelve, consider the Cowboys who draw the New York Football Giants that surrender a leagues-worst 14.60 fantasy points per week to opposing defenses.

Consider in leagues: 10-team
Waiver Priority Worthy: N/A
Spend this much FAAB to acquire: 5%
Players I’d drop for him: Cincinnati, Miami, Washington