Fantasy Football Week 12 Waiver Pickups

Fantasy analysts have a purpose. We dig through the statistics, the articles, the updates – the good, the bad, and the nonsense. We do the work to make your decisions easy. Cheers to analysts. But it comes with a price. If you follow any of us on Twitter (and ahem, please follow me… but not in a stalkery way), it can become almost unbearable reading all the “I told you so” tweets. Pretty, pretty annoying.

Of course, you have to be right to do that. And um, yes, I am working on that.

Enter Tampa Bay running back Bobby Rainey, who was touted by every fantasy analyst last week as a waiver wire grab. Kudos to the experts. Most of us also said Brian Leonard was the favorite to start, favorite to score. Rainey – 35.70 points. Leonard – 5.70 points. Experts – 0 points. 

As you hit the waiver wire, here is this week’s shopping list. And true to form, I must point out that last week, right here on HoustonTexans.com, I gave Rainey the edge.

Bobby Rainey, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – It was a coin flip call, that’s for sure. And if you called Rainey over Leonard, you won big with 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns. As long as fickle Bill Belichick or Mike Shanahan isn’t coaching Tampa Bay next week, look for Rainey to tote the rock again. Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Jarrett Boykin, WR, Green Bay Packers – Another solid performance for the Green Bay receiver who reeled in eight catches for 91 yards. And this was with Scott Tolzien at the helm! Aaron Rodgers is scheduled to come back in the next two weeks, which should boost Boykin’s value even higher. Boykin is a solid WR3 play, on the verge of WR2. Available in 50 percent of Yahoo leagues. 

Donald Brown, RB, Indianapolis Colts – It’s Brown – and not Trent Richardson – who has emerged as the lead back for Indy. On Thursday, Brown finished with 80 yards on 14 carries, nearly twice as many as Richardson. It’s definitely a timeshare, but with Brown as the lead back. Consider Brown an RB2/3 start. Available in 74 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Jericho Cotchery, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers – Another touchdown for Cotchery puts the Pittsburgh receiver back on this list. His score did come with a short-handed Emmanuel Sanders, but Cotchery has five touchdowns in the past three games. Hard to ignore. Consider Cotchery a strong add for deep leagues. Available in 79 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers – It’s speculated that this is the week that Crabtree makes his return. Like Percy Harvin, he will likely ease back into his role. I wouldn’t expect a lot the first week, but he should earn a WR2 spot within a couple of weeks. Crabtree is still available in 72 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Dallas Cowboys, DEF – The Cowboys face the New York Giants, who are 23^rd in the league in total offense. Add to that, the Giants O-line has allowed 26 sacks to Eli Manning, tying Eli for ninth in the NFL. If you need a defense, I like this matchup. Available in 58 percent of Yahoo leagues.

Erin Skelley joins Texans Radio every week on SportsRadio 610. Follow her on Twitter @erinskelley. She’ll babble fantasy to anyone who will listen.