Fantasy football: DeVito, Benson among top add/drops for Week 12

1 of 5 | New York Giants quarterback Tommy DeVito will make his first start of the season in Week 12. File Photo by AJ Sisco/UPI | License Photo
MIAMI, Nov. 19 (UPI) — Tommy DeVito and Trey Benson are among my top fantasy football waiver wire priorities for Week 12 of the 2024 NFL season. Anthony Richardson, Christian Watson and the Washington Commanders defense/special teams are among my other targets. Advertisement
Check out my list of waiver-wire targets below if you need replacement options for players on bye week or injured starters. Players from the Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Jacksonville Jaguars, New Orleans Saints and New York Jets, who are on bye, should be benched or released.
Injuries, breakout performances and other factors have cleared the way for several players to warrant a spot on fantasy football team benches or maybe even in starting lineups.
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My waiver wire priorities each carry an ownership percentage of 60% or less. This week’s pool is a bit shallow, but still features streaming plays, as well as lottery-ticket style targets, who could be difference makers down the stretch or in the playoffs.
Here are my top players to add and top players to drop for Week 12:
ALL-ADD TEAM
QB | Tommy DeVito, Anthony Richardson; RB | Trey Benson, Jaylen Warren; WR | Jerry Jeudy, Quentin Johnston, Christian Watson; TE | Zach Ertz; D/ST | Washington Commanders; K | Chase McLaughlin
HONORABLE MENTIONS
QB | Bo Nix, Geno Smith; RB | Zamir White; WR | Wan’Dale Robinson; TE | Jonnu Smith; D/ST | Tampa Bay Buccaneers; K | Spencer Shrader
TOP DROPS
QB | Daniel Jones; RB | Raheem Mostert; WR | Gabe Davis, Diontae Johnson; TE | Dawson Knox; D/ST | San Francisco 49ers; K | Harrison Butker
QUARTERBACK
Tommy DeVito and Anthony Richardson are my top quarterback targets this week and could be useful if you need a bye week streamer at the quarterback position.
DeVito, who will take over for benched New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones in Week 12, is set to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in his first start of 2024.
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He provided several useful fantasy football performances last season, including three- and two-touchdown efforts. This week, the Giants will face a Buccaneers defense that allowed the most fantasy points, third-most passing yards (281.8) and tied for allowing the second-most passing touchdowns (2.0) per game to opposing quarterbacks through 11 weeks.
The Buccaneers surrendered at least two touchdown passes to opposing quarterbacks in five of their last six appearances, including in each of their last four games. They also allowed at least 250 passing yards in five of their last six showings.
DeVito can be used as a low-end QB1 in leagues with at least 14 teams.
Richardson returned to his starting role in Week 11 after a brief benching by the Indianapolis Colts. He responded with a Top 6 fantasy football performance. Richardson, who threw for 272 yards and a score and ran for another two touchdowns in Week 11, should provide Top-14 value again this week against the Detroit Lions.
The Lions have one of the NFL’s top offenses, which most likely will result in a game script of playing catch-up for the Colts. That should mean more passing attempts and runs for Richardson.
The Lions also allowed the sixth-most passing yards (249.6) to opposing quarterbacks so far this season. Look for at least 200 passing yards and a passing score, as well as rushing production from the Colts’ erratic, yet electric, passer.
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RUNNING BACK
The running back pool is very shallow this week and likely doesn’t include an immediate starter. I like Arizona Cardinals rookie Trey Benson the most out of the group because of his potential down the road.
Benson ran for a season-high 62 yards on 10 carries in Week 10, before the Cardinals’ Week 11 bye. He also totaled 25 yards on two catches in that meeting.
He should be owned in all leagues and could turn into an RB2/flex play if Cardinals starter James Conner gets injured or if he continues to get more opportunities.
WIDE RECEIVER
Jerry Jeudy and Christian Watson are the wide receivers I would target on your waiver wire for Week 12.
Jeudy lit up the New Orleans Saints with a season-high 142 yards and a score on six catches in Week 11. The Cleveland Browns pass catcher received 30 targets over his last three games and should remain heavily involved in the game plan in Week 12 against a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that is stronger against the run that it is against opposing passing games.
The Steelers surrendered the 15th-most receiving yards (147.9) per game to wide receivers through 11 weeks. Browns quarterback Jameis Winston continues to produce, which should help Jeudy stay relevant. The Browns quarterback totaled at least 325 passing yards and multiple passing scores in two of his last three appearances.
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Look for Jeudy to see upwards of eight targets and to total at least 75 yards in this AFC North divisional meeting.
Watson also exploded in Week 11, with 150 yards on four catches against a tough Chicago Bears pass defense. This week, the Green Bay Packers pass catcher will face the San Francisco 49ers, who surrendered 110 yards to Jaxon Smith-Njigba in Week 11.
Watson is a big-play threat who could underwhelm if he doesn’t receive enough targets, but I expect this to be a high-scoring game with both offenses moving the ball easily. Watson is a boom-or-bust WR3.
TIGHT END
Washington Commanders tight end Zach Ertz continues to draw targets, with 27 over his last four appearances. He totaled 47 yards and found the end zone for his second touchdown of the season in the Commanders’ Week 11 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.
This week, Ertz and the Commanders will face a Dallas Cowboys defense that allowed five tight ends to score touchdowns in their last six games. Look for Ertz to find the end zone for the second-consecutive week.
NFL: Cleveland Browns defeat New Orleans Saints