Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week.

Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try and help.

Every week I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played.

• Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
• Waiver Wire Picks
• Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
• Fantasy Football Trade Tools

Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Gardner Minshew (QB – IND) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7.2% Rostered)

Fantasy players have seen Minshew play hot and cold this season. He had 305 passing yards, two touchdowns, 29 rushing yards, two touchdowns and 27.1 fantasy points in Week 7 against the Cleveland Browns. However, the veteran has averaged only 10.5 fantasy points per game in his other five starts this year. Furthermore, Minshew totaled 321 passing yards and 15.2 fantasy points in his past two games. Yet, he is one of my favorite streaming options in Week 12 because of the matchup against the Buccaneers.

Tampa Bay has struggled to slow down opposing passing attacks this year, giving up 19.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the fourth-most in the NFL. More importantly, the Buccaneers have been a fantasy goldmine for opposing quarterbacks lately. Over the past four weeks, opposing quarterbacks other than Will Levis have averaged 375.7 passing yards, 3.3 touchdowns and 32.5 fantasy points per game against them and scored 26.7 or more in every contest. While he won’t have 26 fantasy points, Minshew should have a top-12 finish.

Keaton Mitchell (RB – BAL) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (33.6% Rostered)

The Ravens are one of the most run-heavy offenses in the NFL. They will lean on their run game even more with Mark Andrews out for the year. While Gus Edwards remains the clear-cut No. 1 running back, Mitchell has earned a role on offense: He’s seen an increase in snaps in every game this year. The rookie has averaged 6.7 rushing attempts for 68.3 yards, 0.7 touchdowns and 12.5 half-point PPR fantasy points per game since the bye week. He totaled 13 or more in two of three contests.

Meanwhile, the Chargers have struggled to slow down running backs this season. They have surrendered 21.5 fantasy points per game – the eighth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Los Angeles has given up 94.5 rushing yards, one touchdown and 22.8 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past month. They have the second-highest percentage of rushing yards allowed on explosive runs over the past two weeks (52%). By comparison, Mitchell has the highest explosive run rate among running backs with at least 20 rushing attempts (20%) this year (per Fantasy Points Data).

Hopefully, the rookie is available in your league. If Mitchell isn’t, Ty Johnson (0.3% rostered) is a decent backup option. He played two offensive snaps this year before playing 16 last week. Furthermore, the veteran played only eight fewer snaps than Latavius Murray and had a role in the passing game. The Philadelphia Eagles have arguably the top run defense in the NFL. Therefore, expect the Buffalo Bills to lean on their passing game, which could lead to more work for Johnson.

Royce Freeman (RB – LAR) vs. Arizona Cardinals (19.2% Rostered)

Reportedly, Kyren Williams will play Sunday after missing the past four games with an ankle injury. More importantly, the Rams waived Darrell Henderson Jr. earlier this week, leaving Freeman as the clear-cut No. 2 running back on the roster. Over the past four contests, the veteran has averaged 53.8 rushing yards and 6.9 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, Los Angeles wants to lighten Williams’ workload. Therefore, don’t be surprised if Freeman has a near 50-50 backfield workload split with the second-year player on Sunday.

When the Rams faced the Cardinals in Week 6, their backfield had 177 rushing yards, one touchdown and 24.6 fantasy points in the win. While Williams had most of that workload, Arizona hasn’t fixed their run defense since that matchup. They have surrendered 24.1 fantasy points per game to running backs in 2023, the third-most in the NFL. Furthermore, the Cardinals have given up 109.3 rushing yards and 1.5 touchdowns per game to running backs over the past four weeks. The situation and matchup make Freeman an appealing flex option in Week 12.

Demario Douglas (WR – NE) vs. New York Giants (31.1% Rostered)

So much for the narrative that Bill O’Brien would fix the Patriots’ offensive struggles. The team has one of the worst offenses in the NFL. Yet, Douglas has been a bright spot. Over the past four contests, Douglas has averaged five receptions on 7.3 targets for 54.5 receiving yards and 8.6 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, he had his best performance of the year before the team’s Week 11 bye, totaling six receptions on nine targets for 84 receiving yards and 11.4 fantasy points.

Regardless of who plays quarterbacks for New England, Douglas should be the focal point of the passing attack. Meanwhile, the rookie has an appealing matchup on Sunday. The Giants surrendered 33 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the fifth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they have given up 547 receiving yards, four touchdowns and 105.6 fantasy points to wide receivers over the past two contests. Douglas should have his second consecutive game with double-digit fantasy points.

Khalil Shakir (WR – BUF) vs. Philadelphia Eagles (7.3% Rostered)

While I’m not ready to declare Shakir the No. 2 wide receiver in Buffalo, I feel more confident starting him over Gabe Davis. Last week, the second-year player led the team’s wide receivers in receiving yards (115) and half-point PPR fantasy points (19). More importantly, he has been the WR20 and averaged 10.5 fantasy points per game over the past four weeks with Dawson Knox sidelined. Despite having only a 16% target per route run rate over the past month, Shakir leads the Bills in receiving yards market share (27.9%) per Fantasy Points Data.

More importantly, he couldn’t ask for a better Thanksgiving week matchup. The Eagles have surrendered 37.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the most in the NFL. Wide receivers have averaged 222 receiving yards, 1.8 touchdowns and 42.1 fantasy points per game against Philadelphia over their past four contests. More importantly, the Eagles have the second-highest targeted slot rate in the NFL (per Fantasy Points Data). Shakir has run 77.2% of his routes from the slot this year and should have another solid performance this week.

Isaiah Likely (TE – BAL) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (29.5% Rostered)

Unfortunately, Mark Andrews suffered a season-ending injury in the Week 11 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. While the superstar might return if the Ravens make a deep playoff run, he won’t play again during the regular season. Last week, Likely didn’t catch either target and scored zero half-point PPR fantasy points. More importantly, he had only one reception for four receiving yards and 0.9 fantasy points in the Week 1 matchup that Andrews missed. Yet, the former Coastal Carolina star had big performances as a rookie.

Last year, Likely had eight receptions on 13 targets for 103 receiving yards and 14.3 fantasy points in the season finale, a game Andrews didn’t play. More importantly, the Chargers have surrendered 11.4 fantasy points per game – the fourth-most in the NFL. Tight ends have scored 12.9 or more fantasy points in half the matchups against Los Angeles this season, including in four of the past five games. While Likely won’t put up Andrews-like numbers, the matchups should result in him having a low-end TE1 finish.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.