Week 12 QB and TE Waiver Adds: Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Isaiah Likely, Michael Mayer, and More!
Happy Monday! The fantasy playoffs are right around the corner, and unless you're sitting at the bottom of your league, you still have a chance to make one last push -- or hopefully expand your lead in the standings. And a big part of making up some ground is making sure you make the right waiver moves.
We're digging deep this week as the waiver wire is starting to run dry, so I'm going to focus on some deep league/speculative adds. With running backs and wide receivers coming in a separate article, let's take a look at the quarterbacks and tight ends you should be scooping off the waiver wire for Week 12.
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Quarterback
(ownership percentages are based on ESPN leagues)
Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Cleveland Browns (2.6 percent)
DTR may not have a stranglehold on the Browns' starting quarterback job as they just signed Joe Flacco, but he'll at least get the nod against the Broncos this week. While most teams limit what they ask of a rookie quarterback, the Browns had Thompson-Robinson throw the ball 43 times in their Week 11 win against the Steelers. He only threw for 165 yards with those 43 attempts (that's not good), but the attempts are at least a good sign -- and DTR has some rushing ability that raises his fantasy floor at well. With matchups against the Broncos, Rams, Jaguars, Bears, and Texans ahead, the rookie's schedule is fantasy-friendly enough to warrant an add.
Tommy DeVito, New York Giants (1.5 percent)
I'm not sure DeVito is a good quarterback, but he's coming off a big fantasy performance (246 passing yards and three touchdowns -- good for QB5 on the week) so we have to pay attention. The Giants have let him throw the ball at least 25 times in each of their last two games, and he'll get to face a very average Patriots defense at home this week. With a solid rushing ability (think poor man's Danny Jones), DeVito could be a serviceable QB2 in superflex leagues.
Jake Browning, Cincinnati Bengals (0.1 percent)
I told you're we're digging deep... Browning looks to be the Bengals' starter for the rest of the season, and while I don't think he's very good, it's always worth looking at a quarterback who has JaMarr Chase and Tee Higgins as his receivers. The veteran has a tall task ahead of him this week as he faces a tough Steelers defense, but I still think he's worth an add in deeper leagues due to his weapons.
Tight End
(ownership percentages are based on ESPN leagues)
Isaiah Likely, Baltimore Ravens (0.9 percent)
If you pick up no one else this week, make Likely the guy you target. With Mark Andrews out for the season, Likely should gobble up a bunch of those vacated targets and has a shot to be a TE1 over the rest of the season. While he won't automatically turn into Andrews, the Ravens have turned to Likely in the past when Andrews missed time. While I might be getting a little too excited over a guy who has caught all of nine passes all season, Likely at least has a 100-yard receiving performance under his belt last season and is a high-upside add at tight end this week.
Michael Mayer, Las Vegas Raiders (6.5 percent)
The rookie has yet to pop as he still only has one touchdown on the season, but his arrow is pointing up with five targets in each of his last two games. While his upsdie is limited with rookie Aiden O'Connell under center, rookie quarterbacks also notoriously love to rely on tight ends as a safety valve, and we've started to see that happen with Mayer's recent uptick in targets. I don't think we're talking about a league-winning pickup here, but Mayer is just as good of a waiver add as any other (non-Likely) tight end out there.
Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals (0.4 percent)
Hudson has come out of nowhere (well, the practice squad) to somehow provide production at a really thin fantasy position. While he hasn't scored a touchdown yet this season, he's averaging over five targets a game over the Bengals' last three games and has come close to putting up 10 fantasy points in each of those three games. We're not talking about a league winner here, but Hudson has a solid floor as long as Browning continues throwing him the ball as much as Joe Burrow was. There's a disclaimer here with Tee Higgins missing the Bengals' last two games, but Hudson looks to have usurped Irv Smith Jr. on the tight end depth chart and is worth a look if you need help at the position.
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