Only three weeks to go in most fantasy football leagues, and like me, many of you are on the edge of securing playoff berths. My season has been turbulent—nothing has been predictable. Last week, two of my three teams finished in the top third of the league in weekly scoring, but I still went 0–3. Fortunately, I play in victory point leagues and get points for ranking high, which has kept those two teams in the race. My records now sit at 6–5 (6th), 4–7 (8th), and 4–7 (10th).

There are still opportunities on the waiver wire, especially with last week’s injuries. Unless you’re 3–8 or worse, you can still slide into the playoffs.

Here’s last week’s “crystal-ball waiver lineup”—a simple gauge of waiver strength by building a lineup from last week’s streamers (1 QB, 1 RB, 2 WR, 1 TE, 1 FLEX [RB/WR/TE], 1 K, 1 D/ST):

QB — Jacoby Brissett — 28.4
RB — Sean Tucker — 34.0
WR — Christian Watson — 20.6
WR — Mack Hollins — 7.4
TE — Terrance Ferguson (R) — 11.6
FLEX — Ty Johnson (RB) — 15.0
K — Riley Patterson — 12.5
D/ST — Pittsburgh Steelers — 20.0
Week 10 Total — 152.5

Previous weeks:
Week 10 — 113.6
Week 9 — 102.3
Week 8 — 133.35
Week 7 — 152.15

Wow—that was some serious opportunity on the waiver wire if you could have known in advance who to pick. It looked like it was leveling off, but I guess not. This is what I mean when I say this season is unpredictable.

Now, on to business…

If you’re familiar with my Streamers for the Desperate series, feel free to skip down to this week’s rankings.

If you’re new, here’s the quick background. These articles are based on the principles I outlined in How To Own Your League's Waiver Wire, and they’re geared toward deep-roster leagues (18–24 spots), where free agents thin out quickly, with extra consideration for dynasty and keeper formats.

Players with an asterisk (*) are available in my toughest 24-man league, where streaming is truly challenging. Rookies and sophomores have an (R) and (S) after their names to indicate they might have longer-term upside potential.

I loosely rank the players, but your roster needs and league type should guide your prioritization. In parentheses after each name, you’ll see the opponent’s rank against that position for the next four weeks — '1st' being the toughest matchup, '32nd' the softest. Then in the blurb, I give each player's four-week stat line, such as (CMP-ATT/YDS-TD-INT) for a quarterback.

If you are playing in more standard formats, such as a Yahoo redraft league, check out ASL’s Fantasy Football Adds - Week 12 by Colton Peters and Injuries & Opportunities - Week 12 by Chris Hexter. 

Finally, a word on philosophy: I put in waiver requests every week for every team, not just to cover immediate needs but to strengthen my roster top-to-bottom. Deep benches build injury resilience and force other managers into weaker options — which opens the door for trades and future draft capital.

Quarterbacks

Running Backs

Sean Tucker, TB @ LAR (3rd, 24th, 16th, 29th) – Tucker (40/201-3, 3-4/32-1) exploded against the Bills with three touchdowns and has stacked three straight weeks of elevated usage while Bucky Irving remains out. He still shares work with Rachaad White, but recent scripts tilted early downs toward Tucker and included a pair of long scoring runs plus a receiving score. Against a stingy Rams run defense, efficiency may be volatile, yet his current role keeps him in streamer range. Expect the Buccaneers to keep him involved on early downs and in red-zone sets while Irving sits.

Kenneth Gainwell, Pit @ Chi (17th, 31st, 22nd, 23rd) – Gainwell (17/54-1, 15-18/124-2) stepped into a larger role after Jaylen Warren hurt his ankle and turned eight targets into 81 yards and two touchdowns. With Mason Rudolph taking over at quarterback, Pittsburgh featured Gainwell on designed flats and screens, and he handled short-yardage chances near the goal line. If Warren is unavailable or limited, Gainwell projects for passing-down work plus a meaningful slice of early downs. He’s a viable streamer with PPR juice tied to targets.

Emanuel Wilson, GB v Min (11th, 1st, 17th, 4th) – Wilson (29/119-1, 6-8/38-0) handled the backfield after Josh Jacobs exited with a knee injury and added a key two-point conversion. Reports indicate Jacobs is day-to-day and could miss Week 12, with a quick turnaround on Thanksgiving complicating matters. If Jacobs sits, Wilson should lead early downs with goal-line chances, while Chris Brooks profiles as the next man up for depth. Treat Wilson as a volume-driven streamer pending Jacobs’ status.

Devin Singletary, NYG @ DET (1st, 2nd, Bye, 25th) – Singletary (34/107-2, 7-7/92-0) doubled his previous season-high carries over the last two weeks and scored twice, but he still worked behind Tyrone Tracy in overall production. The Giants have leaned on Tracy’s explosiveness while using Singletary for short-yardage and change-up snaps. A stout Lions run defense narrows his margin for efficiency, keeping him touchdown-dependent. He’s a depth play unless the rotation shifts.

Bam Knight, Ari v Jax (19th, 10th, 24th, 1st) – Knight (24/79-1, 7-10/46-0) returned from an ankle issue and logged the Cardinal’s only rushing score against the 49ers. This backfield remains fluid: Emari Demercado and Michael Carter both mixed in, and head coach Jonathan Gannon recently said he would lean on the hot hand. If Knight practices fully, he should open on early downs with Carter handling more passing-down work; limited participation would push Knight toward a situational role. Monitor usage notes—this has been a true week-to-week committee.

Ty Johnson, Buf @ Hou (8th, 9th, 32nd, 2nd) – Johnson (8/25-1, 6-6/97-1) turned a swing pass into a 52-yard touchdown and has multiple receptions in three straight games. He’s operating as Buffalo’s top reserve and change-of-pace option behind the starter, with packages that get him into space. Short-week travel to face the Texans keeps the rotation tight, but his passing-down usage sustains a workable floor in deeper formats. He’s a viable bench start when you need receptions and a path to a big play.

*Michael Carter, Ari v Jax (5th, 26th, 3rd, 8th) – Carter (5/10-0, 5-7/22-0) saw his snap share rise (44%) with Emari Demercado exiting early, and he drew seven targets while splitting with Bam Knight. If Demercado remains limited and Trey Benson stays on IR, Carter projects for third-down/long-down work with occasional schemed touches. In PPR formats he’s a viable streamer whose value hinges on target volume rather than carries. If Demercado returns to full strength, Carter slides back to a lighter role.

Keaton Mitchell, Bal v NYJ (18th, 32nd, 9th, 32nd) – Mitchell (18/116-0, 3-4/20-0) picked up extra chances with Justice Hill sidelined, logging 16 snaps and nine opportunities while Derrick Henry led the way. The Ravens use Mitchell as a change-of-pace speed element with designed touches; if Hill remains out, that role should hold. Should Hill return, Mitchell’s snap share likely dips back into the single-digit touches range.

*Kyle Juszczyk, SF v Car (21st, 6th, Bye, 27th) – Juszczyk (0/0-0, 6-8/50-0) functions as a matchup-specific outlet and lead blocker in Kyle Shanahan’s offense, with occasional schemed targets in the flat or on leak routes. He typically plays around half of San Francisco’s offensive snaps, but touches are light and inconsistent for fantasy purposes. In deep PPR formats he’s a floor-only plug when injuries thin your options, with a narrow path via receptions.

Receivers

Michael Wilson, Ari v Jax (20th, 22nd, 19th, 2nd) – Wilson (22-29/280-0, 0/0-0) erupted for 15 catches on 18 targets with Marvin Harrison Jr. sidelined, benefitting from extreme pass volume in Week 11. Michael Wilson’s prior single-game highs were far lower, but the staff trusted him as the primary intermediate option once the Cardinals trailed. His recent efficiency supports a stable role even if the target spike normalizes. If Harrison misses again, Wilson projects for another heavy snap share and first-read looks.

*Mack Hollins, NE @ Cin (10th, 16th, 26th, Bye) – Hollins (21-24/268-0, 0/0-0) posted 64 yards on five targets and has averaged over 60 yards across Kayshon Boutte’s two-game absence. Mack Hollins has been Drake Maye’s perimeter complement to Stefon Diggs, mixing chain-moving outs with selective vertical shots. The role is solid but contingent on health elsewhere. If Boutte sits, he remains a viable streamer.

*Isaiah Hodgins, NYG @ Det (18th, Bye, 29th, 5th) – Hodgins (5-6/57-0, 0/0-0) stepped in off the Steelers’ practice squad and immediately led the Giants in receiving yards. Isaiah Hodgins’ familiarity with Mike Kafka’s system showed in his perimeter assignments and timing routes with Jameis Winston. With Darius Slayton (hamstring) sidelined, the usage is there. If Slayton remains out, Hodgins profiles as a short-term volume play on outside snaps.

Christian Watson, GB v Min (5th, 21st, 24th, 1st) – Watson (12-17/234-2, 0/0-0) delivered two red-zone scores last week and played his highest snap share of the season. Christian Watson’s vertical usage remains intact, but the Packers receiver room is healthier with Romeo Doubs and Dontayvion Wicks available. The Vikings present a stingy matchup on the perimeter, which may funnel him to situational and red-zone work. He stays in streamer range on touchdown equity despite a tougher opponent.

*Greg Dortch, Ari v Jax (20th, 22nd, 19th, 2nd) – Dortch (6-6/66-1, 3/11-1) capitalized on an elevated snap share with Harrison Jr. out, catching all six targets and finding the end zone. Greg Dortch’s role centered on quick hitters and option routes, giving Jacoby Brissett an efficient underneath outlet. The volume is closely tied to the depth chart. If Harrison sits again, Dortch should maintain an expanded route load and PPR-friendly floor.

Elic Ayomanor (R), Ten v Sea (9th, 20th, 8th, 28th) – Ayomanor (9-20/109-0, 0/0-0) battled through a hamstring issue and stayed on the field after the Titans lost Calvin Ridley (season-ending) and Chimere Dike in-game. Elic Ayomanor’s path to routes is clear, and his target share should rise by necessity on boundary snaps. Efficiency has been modest, but the role is expanding. He’s a deep-league streamer while the Titans reshape the receiver rotation.

*Van Jefferson, Ten v Sea (9th, 20th, 8th, 28th) – Jefferson (5-19/49-1, 0/0-0) logged seven targets and his first touchdown of 2025 after injuries thinned the Titans’ receiving corps. Van Jefferson worked as a primary perimeter option late, including the short score to tie the game. The near-term outlook hinges on who returns. If Elic Ayomanor and Chimere Dike sit, Jefferson can operate as the Titans’ No. 1 and push for another 7–9 targets.

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry, NE @ Cin (32nd, 11th, Bye, 1st) – Henry (10/17-112-1) bounced back with 4-45-0 on six targets and continues to be a steady underneath option. His weekly volume has been streaky since October, but the role remains intact and red-zone usage gives him scoring paths. The Bengals are the league's softest opponent for tight ends this week further supports low-end TE1 streaming.

Noah Fant, Cin v NE (24th, 9th, 1st, 9th) – Fant (10/12-105-1) drew six targets (fourth on the team) and caught five for 36 yards, remaining involved while Mike Gesicki is on IR. He’s splitting work with Drew Sample and cedes primary looks to Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, and even Chase Brown, which caps weekly ceiling. He profiles as a touchdown-dependent TE2 streamer.

Chigoziem Okonkwo, Ten v Sea (29th, 31st, 12th, 25th) – Okonkwo (9/10-119-0) posted 3-56-0 and looks fully past the foot issue, with multiple catches in three straight. He still shares snaps with Gunnar Helm (R), but Okonkwo retains the more vertical usage. The Titans are a soft opponent for tight ends this week raises his odds of a usable line.

Gunnar Helm (R), Ten v Sea (29th, 31st, 12th, 25th) – Helm (7/9-67-1) logged 4-29-0 on five targets and has at least one catch in every game, though he has yet to top 36 yards. He remains part of a two-man rotation with Chigoziem Okonkwo, keeping routes and volume modest. He's a score-driven TE2 this week.

Colby Parkinson, LAR v TB (8th, 21st, 23rd, 13th) – Parkinson (8/9-65-2) snagged a late, game-winning touchdown after Tyler Higbee exited and has converted 15 of 17 looks on the season. He’s still working in a rotation with Higbee, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson, so weekly routes can swing. Monitor Higbee’s ankle; if Higbee is limited, Parkinson’s role should expand enough to keep him in the streaming mix.

Mason Taylor (R), NYJ @ Bal (9th, 3rd, 30th, 31st) – Taylor (10/14-68-1) went 4-30-0 on four targets and has three multi-catch games in his last four. With Garrett Wilson likely sidelined, Taylor’s target share can climb, though his production still tracks Justin Fields’ week-to-week efficiency. He’s a volatile TE2 streamer who benefits if the Jets are forced to throw.

*Tyler Higbee, LAR v TB (8th, 21st, 23rd, 13th) – Higbee (7/9-69-1) left last week with an ankle injury and hasn’t topped 40 yards in a game this season. Even when active he shares work with Colby Parkinson, Davis Allen, and Terrance Ferguson, which caps routes and target volume. Monitor practice reports; if he’s limited or a game-time decision, he’s a risky TE2/3 stream.

*Darnell Washington, Pit @ Chi (20th, 1st, 30th, 13th) – Washington (9/12-125-0) matched his season high in catches and set a new yardage best with 67, including a 31-yard catch-and-run. He remains in a rotation with Pat Freiermuth and Jonnu Smith, so targets fluctuate week to week. Recent usage puts him on the TE2/3 radar, with big-play ability offering ceiling if the Steelers open the script.

Kickers

Evan McPherson, Cin v NE (6th, 30th, 9th, 30th)

Nick Folk, NYJ @ Bal (30th, 24th, 15th, 2nd)

Zane Gonzalez, Atl @ NO (17th, 32nd, 3rd, 13th)

Blake Grupe, NO v Atl (24th, 15th, 13th, 12th)

Will Reichard (S), Min @ GB (11th, 3rd, 29th, 25th)

Defense / Special Teams

Green Bay Packers v Min (27th, 4th, 1st, 7th)

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Ari (25th, 32nd, 6th, 26th)

New York Jets @ Bal (20th, 15th, 21st, 13th)

Tennessee Titans v Sea (13th, 14th, 31st, 16th)

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chi (1st, 10th, 20th, 21st)