Week 12: Player Upgrades

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone, and let me start off by saying that Thanksgiving is the greatest American tradition because it combines the four biggest F's in American society: Family, Food, Football, and Fantasy. Well maybe not that last one, but Thanksgiving is the perfect time to add some stuffing to your fantasy team's roster with these ten tasty wavier wire acquisitions featured in Week 12 Player Upgrades.

The fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching, and with the core of playoff bound fantasy teams already established, savvy fantasy owners are looking to the wavier wire to bolster their depth and keep players away from other fantasy owners so they can't be used against them when it counts the most. This Week 12 edition of Player Upgrades features ten of the hottest names on the wavier wire this week that fantasy owners need to target: Mike Bell, Rock Cartwright, Jamaal Charles, Justin Forsett, Fred Jackson, Bernard Scott, Davone Bess, Chris Chambers, Mohamed Massaquoi, and Kevin Boss.

Enjoy time with your families, turkey, and football this Thanksgiving, and don't forget fantasy football either. Eyes on the prize, not that pumpkin pie fantasy owners. Best of luck to all in Week 12!

RB Mike Bell, NO

Mike Bell was extremely quiet the past two weeks against two of the worst run defenses in the league (Carolina, and St. Louis), but with Reggie Bush limited this past weekend, Mike Bell played a much larger role in the Saints offense against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers -- carrying the ball 13 times for 75 yards scoring two touchdowns. Pierre Thomas also played a big role in the Saints' effort on the ground rushing for 92 yards on 11 carries, but was pulled in favor of Bell who hit pay-dirt twice from inside the five yard line.

With Reggie Bush expected to return for New Orleans' monster match-up on Monday Night against the New England Patriots, Mike Bell will see a decrease in carries. However, given both Bush and Thomas' struggles with injuries this season, Mike Bell has shown he can be a reliable and productive fill-in worthy of fantasy consideration as a flex option if his role in New Orleans' offense increases. If Bell made it back on the wavier wire in your league, he needs to be picked back up.

RB Rock Cartwright, WAS

Fellow FFToolbox columnist (and Washington Redskins fan) Ben Standig had it first last week in both his Deep League Pickups, and on the FFToolbox.com Weekly Podcast: Rock Cartwright is an interesting fantasy pickup as a change of pace back for the Redskins. Ladell Betts (who was one of if not the hottest name on the wavier wire last week) tore ligaments in his knee this past weekend and will miss the remainder of the season. Clinton Portis has already been ruled out for Week 12 against Philadelphia, which means that Rock Cartwright will be the starting running back for Washington.

Cartwright (who Standig describes is "built like a fire hydrant") is a powerful runner, and also possesses great speed as well (he previously served as the Redskins' kick returner this season). Cartwright is in line for a full workload in the immediate future, and will have an increased role until Clinton Portis is fully recovered from a concussion. Cartwright rushed for 67 yards on 13 carries, and added 73 yards on seven catches in relief of Betts against Dallas' 7th ranked run defense this past weekend. He will be very productive against the Eagles this weekend who are ranked 10th against the run.

RB Jamaal Charles, KC

Jamaal Charles shouldn't be available in most fantasy leagues, but in the rare case that he is, he needs to be picked up immediately. Charles may not have been in many fantasy owners' starting lineups this past weekend against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but he deserves to be for the remainder of the fantasy season.

Jamaal Charles took the opening kick-off 97 yards for a touchdown, was dynamic out of the backfield rushing for 58 yards on 17 carries, and caught two passes for eight yards and one touchdown. Charles showed the ability to overcome a tough match-up and still produce, making him a reliable #2 fantasy running back the remainder of the season. Charles has an extremely favorable schedule for the remainder of the season featuring match-ups against San Diego, Denver, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Denver again. Those defenses rank 21st, 18th, 31st, 29th, 2nd, and 18th against the run this season. Aside from the Cincinnati match-up, Charles is a solid start, and is a worthy target in trades for fantasy owners looking to win a championship.

RB Justin Forsett, SEA

Justin Forsett was featured in Player Upgrades last week, and after his performance the past two weeks, he won't be around on the wavier wire much longer. Forsett was picked up in a ton of leagues last week, but wasn't in too many starting lineups facing a tough match-up against the Minnesota Vikings (who boast the #3 ranked run defense in the NFL). Forsett didn't put up great number on the ground (managing only nine yards on nine carries), but found the end-zone for a late touchdown to salvage his day. Forsett was even more valuable for fantasy owners in point-per-reception leagues this past weekend, catching eight passes for 80 yards against Minnesota.

Julius Jones isn't likely to return this weekend against the St. Louis Rams, which means that Justin Forsett is in line for another start against the league's 28th ranked run defense that gave up almost 200 yards to the Cardinals' backfield duo of Tim Hightower and Chris Wells this past weekend. Forsett has excellent long-term value because even when Julius Jones returns, Forsett is likely to remain the starter. Seattle has an excellent schedule for the remainder of the season and Forsett will be the beneficiary.

RB Fred Jackson, BUF

Marshawn Lynch suffered a shoulder injury during the Bills' dramatic last second loss at the hands of the Jacksonville Jaguars this past weekend. While he has been "feeling better" according to intern Head Coach Perry Fewell, there is still a chance that Lynch could miss the Bills' next game on Sunday versus the Miami Dolphins.

Fred Jackson had tremendous fantasy value the first three weeks of the season -- starting in place of a suspended Marshawn Lynch -- but has found himself on the downgrade side of the ledger for fantasy owners since seeing his workload cut into by Lynch. If an owner in your league dropped Fred Jackson then he should be picked up this week, and makes for a sneaky flex play against Miami. Jackson possesses excellent speed and exceptional hands as a receiver out of the backfield (point-per-reception fantasy owners take notice), and is worthy of being in fantasy owners lineups if Marshawn Lynch is absent from the Buffalo backfield rotation.