This column is reserved for the weekly waiver-wire adds that can help push your roster over the top and into the playoffs. If you clicked this link, you knew that already. But we're going to use this space at the top of the column to remind you that the ESPN Fantasy trade deadline (at least for those leagues that follow the ESPN default league settings) is this Wednesday at noon ET. It's one more opportunity to retool your lineup in a way to position you for the home stretch of the season. Otherwise, your moves are left to be made via the waiver wire.
Below is the Week 12 ESPN Fantasy wavier-wire column.
Week 12 byes: None
Note: All players on this list are owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues on ESPN.com.
Wendell Smallwood, RB, Philadelphia Eagles (2.3 percent). As of now, it's unclear whether or not Ryan Mathews or Darren Sproles will miss Week 12 after both left Week 11 early due to injury. But should one or both miss time, the Eagles back I'm most intrigued by is Smallwood, a talented fifth-round rookie out of West Virginia. He logged 17 touches in Week 11 and could be heavily involved in Week 12. He's an add for anyone with a running back need.
Tyler Boyd, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (5.1 percent). With A.J. Green possibly out for the rest of the season, Cincinnati will have to find ways to piece together some of his production. Boyd, a second-round rookie out of Pittsburgh, led all Bengals wideouts with nine targets in Week 11. He's not a must-start yet, but he's likely to be the most talented healthy Bengals wideout now and worth an add in 12-team-or-larger leagues.
Dion Lewis, RB, New England Patriots (45.1 percent). It came in a relatively small dose (22 snaps), but Lewis showed flashes of why he was one of the unique running backs in football before his season-ending injury in 2015. Lewis had five rushes for 23 yards and three catches for 26 yards, playing two fewer snaps than fellow backfield mate James White. Lewis is the Patriots' best combo back in terms of rushing and receiving and should be added in all leagues.
Mike Gillislee, RB, Buffalo Bills (26.3 percent). The Bills announced on Sunday that LeSean McCoy is set to undergo a procedure on his thumb but could play in Week 12. That's good news, but Gillislee is a must-add for any McCoy owners as an insurance policy. He's also a smart add for anyone whose running back depth is in need of work, as he'd be a usable piece in Week 12 if McCoy is unable to play.
DeVante Parker, WR, Miami Dolphins (47.9 percent). The Dolphins are surging, and Parker was a key part of their 2-0 swing through California in Weeks 10 and 11. He has 13 catches on 18 targets over the past two weeks, including a touchdown and a 103-yard effort. A first-round pick in 2015, Parker has excellent size and a promising ceiling. He should be added in any-size leagues but isn't yet a sure-fire starter in 10-team leagues. But on ability alone he's worth the speculative add and can be started in deeper leagues.
Brandon LaFell, WR, Cincinnati Bengals (11.0 percent). It's a close call between Boyd and LaFell for the Bengals pass-catcher I'd be most interested in adding. While LaFell isn't an overwhelming talent, he's bound to see steady work going forward. He has averaged 5.5 targets per game this season, but it would not be a surprise to see him average eight per game for the rest of the season. He too can be added in 12-team-or-larger leagues.
Jared Cook, TE, Green Bay Packers (2.7 percent). Cook has been tantalizing in the fantasy world for quite some time: He has outstanding athletic ability, but that has not frequently translated to output on the field, especially during a long stretch of playing with average quarterbacks. Now healthy and catching passes from Aaron Rodgers, Cook exploded Sunday night for six catches, 105 yards and a touchdown. Yeah, he'll be on the border of a tight end starter in Week 12 based on what we saw in Week 11.
Bilal Powell, RB, New York Jets (41.1 percent). I don't have an explanation for Powell's ownership declining this past week other than the Jets being on a bye. But he's a steady option that has been in flex consideration for some time in PPR formats. He will continue to have a role alongside Matt Forte in New York and is a smart pickup in leagues with 12 or more team owners.
Cameron Meredith, WR, Chicago Bears (41.0 percent). For three more games, the Bears will be without wideout Alshon Jeffery, and their top tight end Zach Miller is now out for the season as well. Meredith hauled in all four of his targets in Week 11 and is the nominal No. 1 pass-catcher in Chicago until Jeffery's return in Week 15. He should be added in any-size league and is in flex consideration in 12-team-or-larger leagues.
Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers (17.0 percent). This is a numbers-speak-for-themselves argument: In his five games as a starter, Kaepernick has averaged 18.6 fantasy points per game. The 49ers offense isn't particularly good, but Kaepernick offers enough fantasy value as a dual-threat quarterback (he's already fourth among quarterbacks in rushing yards) to be considered as a streamer for an owner whose normal starter faces a stiff test in a given week. He's a good depth option to have on the bench or use as a spot-starter.
Rex Burkhead, RB, Cincinnati Bengals (zero percent). What a brutal Sunday for the Bengals, who lost both Green and Giovani Bernard to injuries, with Bernard to miss the rest of the year due to a torn ACL. Next up to fill in as Cincinnati's pass-catching back is Burkhead, a former sixth-round pick whose most notable NFL contributions to this point have come on special teams. He's an add in a larger league with PPR scoring.
Marqise Lee, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars (4.4 percent). If I had to choose a Jacksonville pass-catcher not named Allen Robinson to have in my fantasy lineup, it would be Lee over Allen Hurns. He has four catches in three straight games and at least four catches in 8-of-10 games this season. He's a deeper-league add who can be used in PPR leagues. Lee has made significant strides in his third pro season.
Jerick McKinnon, RB, Minnesota Vikings (49.3 percent). I debated whether or not to include McKinnon in this column, as he has had just two games this season with more than four fantasy points but five games this year with double-digit rushes. Just two more teams have a bye left on their schedule, which should help fill lineups out, so McKinnon is only a deeper-league add for someone in need of backfield help.
Malcolm Mitchell, WR, New England Patriots (0.7 percent). The reviews on Mitchell from New England have been strong since shortly after he was drafted in the fourth round this past year. He's in a bit of a logjam on the Patriots' receiver depth chart, though Week 11 was an opportunity for him to flex his talent. With Chris Hogan out, Mitchell piled up four catches for 98 yards and a touchdown. If Hogan misses Week 12, Mitchell will enter consideration for lineups in deep leagues. He's a speculative add given his talent and the offense he plays in.
Tajae Sharpe, WR, Tennessee Titans (14.8 percent). Quarterback Marcus Mariota is averaging 23.6 fantasy points per game over his past seven outings, which is notable, as it illustrates just how good this Titans offense has been of late. Sharpe has found the end zone in consecutive games and is a deeper-league add who has boosted value in PPR leagues as a flex player.
Kenneth Dixon, RB, Baltimore Ravens (23.3 percent). A running back depth add, Dixon had six rushes for 40 yards in Baltimore's Week 11 matchup with Dallas. While he hasn't yet taken over top duties from Terrance West, he does seem to be evolving as a player each week.
Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings (4.6 percent). The Vikings have found their No. 1 receiver in Stefon Diggs, but Thielen has been in the mix over the past six games, logging three touchdowns and a 127-yard effort during that stretch. In a deeper PPR league, he can be used as a flex option.
Vance McDonald, TE, San Francisco 49ers (1.7 percent). If you are a Zach Miller owner (or a Gronk owner, should he miss Week 12), McDonald is on the tight end radar. He has at least 50 receiving yards or a touchdown in three straight games, and Kaepernick has kept up his fantasy-steady quarterback play of late.