Week 12 QB and RB Pickups
Byron Lambert, Rosterwatch.com

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90%-45%-10%. Those are my odds of making the playoffs in one of my two leagues, both of my leagues, or neither of my leagues. None are numbers that I like. Making this week’s free agent pick ups far and away the most important of the season. A trend that will continue.

It’s a crazy holiday work schedule and somehow this fantasy football geek scored a last minute invite from a very hot lady to a Tuesday Night Thanksgiving pot-luck. I know some of you cannot fathom the idea. I’m a little shocked myself.

Waiver claims are due tonight, though. So, we won’t go completely off the reservation. Here are the quarterback and running back pickups for the week. Some you may need to place a waiver claim for, some you can snipe off the free agent list after waivers run. WR, TE, and DEF will be going up later tonight. Hopefully much later. Cheers!

Quarterback:

Jake Locker (@JAC), QB Tennessee Titans
18 points in his first game back from injury. Two weeks to prepare for Jacksonville. This could be a big game.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (@IND), QB Buffalo Bills
The matchup is great. I’m expecting a healthy 15+ points here.

Colin Kaepernick (@NO), QB San Francisco 49ers
Everybody is talking about his MNF performance. There is a lot more in store next week against the Saints pitiful (yet slightly improving) defense. Keep an eye on Alex Smith’s status. I love this play if he gets the nod.

Russell Wilson (@MIA), QB Seattle Seahawks
This is a tricky play. Traveling cross-country to play a pretty good defense coming off of a long layoff. Sometimes you have to dig deep. Wilson has been pretty darn good this season. Have faith in him.

Mark Sanchez (vs NE), QB New York Jets
I can’t believe that he made it on any list of mine. I hate Sanchez. For some reason I think he has a decent game at home against a very familiar foe. The Jets are going to have to score.

Running Back:

Ronnie Hillman (@KC), RB Denver Broncos
McGahee is out for the season. Hillman has been the clear-cut RB2 for several weeks now. He is going to be very useful moving forward. Make sure and snatch him up. He’s going to pay dividends right away against the Chiefs. Lance Ball is also worth a pick up if Hillman is not available.

Beanie Wells (vs STL), Arizona Cardinals
Somehow he is still only 30% owned. Wells is going to take over the bulk of the backfield duties upon his return this week. Wells says he has been healthy and raring to go for a month now. The Rams present a nice matchup for fantasy running backs.

Bryce Brown (vs CAR), RB Philadelphia Eagles
There is a good chance Shady McCoy is out with a concussion this week. Brown is good. A north-south slashing style runner with burst. I love him if McCoy is out.

Jalen Parmele (vs TEN), RB Jacksonville Jaguars
Rashad Jennings has been no good. Parmele is getting his crack this week after totaling 83 yards on 27 touches last week. He should definitely be owned, and potentially played as we see how things shake out.

Jonathan Dwyer (@CLE), RB Pittsburgh Steelers
Rashard Mendenhall was dubbed the “starter” but it was Dwyer who got more touches and snaps. Dwyer was the most productive Steelers back as usual. I think he gets a lot of carries with Charlie Batch at the helm in what could be a grind it out division game.

James Starks (@NYG), RB Green Bay Packers
He had 26 touches as the starter last week but he only totaled 80 yards. Coach McCarthy isn’t happy about it and a more even timeshare with Alex Green seems imminent. Still, we can’t ignore the workload, the team he is on, and that he is only 25% owned. You might be able to squeeze 5-10 points out of Starks for a couple of weeks.

Daniel Thomas (vs SEA), RB Miami Dolphins
He is pretty consistently getting as many or more snaps and touches than Reggie Bush. Neither guy is doing much and the Seahawks are a tough matchup. Sometimes desperation is at hand. At least Thomas is getting the touches and he will be playing at home.

Shane Vereen (@NYJ), RB New England Patriots
He’s scored between 6-11 points four out of the last six games. Vereen is getting more involved in the offense and the Jets are a nice fantasy matchup.

Bilal Powell (vs NE), RB New York Jets
I don’t like anything about this. I have to put him on here after 11 carries and 2 touchdowns in Week 11. He played more snaps than Shonn Greene. Play him at your own risk.

Cedric Peerman (vs OAK), RB Cincinnati Bengals
Took him off the list right before I published the article because he only played on 11% of snaps. I realized that anytime The Trashman recommends him the week before and he faces Oakland next, you keep him on the list. He did produce 75 yards on limited touches last week so Peerman does have upside.