NFL Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Week 12: 4 adds and 3 drops with playoffs nearing

The fantasy football playoffs are almost here, and new names continue to emerge on the waiver wire that could make or break your postseason hopes.

Here is a look at four adds and two drops you need to make on your fantasy team heading into Week 12.

ADDS

Mike Gillislee

LeSean McCoy left Sunday's game after hurting his thumb and was soon downgraded to out. It’s never good news when a player is ruled out as opposed to designated questionable to return.

If McCoy’s latest injury is serious enough to sideline him for a few games, Mike Gillislee, showed on Sunday he can be an effective back in Buffalo’s offense. Gillislee rushed for 72 yards on 14 carries and has shown he can produce when given touches.

So far this season, Gillislee has 56 carries for 322 yards and four touchdowns to go with eight catches for 40 yards and a score.

Tyler Boyd

Even when Tyler Boyd was getting chances in the Bengals offense, he wasn’t making enough plays with them to become a viable fantasy option. That changed in a big way when A.J. Green went down, forcing Boyd to become Cincinnati’s top receiver

With Green out for most of this game and Eifert also hobbled, Boyd stepped up and made big play after big play for the Bengals’ struggling offense, finishing with six catches on eight targets for 54 yards and one touchdown.

With Green potentially out for the remainder of the season, Boyd may very well be getting 8-10 targets per game the rest of the way, making him a very viable PPR receivers.

Cameron Meredith

When the Bears finally got healthy at wide receiver and Jay Cutler made his return, Cameron Meredith faded into the abyss of the Bears’ struggling offense. Coming into Week 11, Meredith had caught just three passes for 86 yards and one score, most of which came on a 50-yard hail mary reception in Week 10.

On Sunday, Meredith hauled in four grabs for 49 yards, but the real story is who Chicago is now without. Alshon Jeffery is suspended for three more games due to PED use, and tight end Zach Miller has been lost for the year with a broken foot.

Miller and Jeffrey were getting the bulk of the touches in this offense, and with them out, Meredith is once again a viable fantasy receiver.

Ameer Abdullah

If you’re in need of running back help and no one is out there, you might ought a take a swing at Ameer Abdullah. A solid fantasy back when healthy, Abdullah is on I.R. right now due to a foot injury

However, there are rumors that he may be activated soon, possibly in time for the fantasy playoffs, which typically begin in Week 13-14. He’s nothing more than a stash right now, but in Detroit’s offense, he could be in for a big role when/if he returns. Theo Riddick is a pass-catching back who needs to be the No. 2 guy, but there is no other Lions running back doing much of anything.

DROPS

Giovani Bernard

Sadly, Giovani Bernard’s season is over. The fourth-year running back is now out for the rest of 2016, and possibly the start of 2017, due to a torn ACL suffered in Sunday’s loss to the Bills.

This means you will obviously drop Bernard from all fantasy leagues this week. Hopefully he’s back before the start of the 2017 season, but that’s never a given with ACL tears. As for the Bengals going forward, Jeremy Hill should get the bulk of the touches going forward, but look for Rex Burkhead to get a lot more run as well. Rex has the potential to be a decent PPR back going forward since he’ll essentially be thrust into Gio’s role.

Zach Miller

As mentioned above, Zach Miller is done for the rest of 2016 with a broken foot. His days as a relevant fantasy football player are over as he’s now 32 and has never been able to last for a full season.

In the meantime, Logan Paulsen becomes a name to watch for in Chicago. He showed flashes of being a good tight end in Washington, but never could make much of a dent with Jordan Reed there.

Dennis Pitta

The Ravens’ passing game has become much more balanced as the season has wore on, and Dennis Pitta isn’t being force-fed the ball like he was early in the year. He’s caught just 15 passes for 110 yards and no scores over the past four weeks.

That’s not cutting it, so cut Pitta before he costs you down the stretch.