Week 12 was light on wide receiver options, but significant injuries to quarterbacks and running backs put those positions on the radar. We have already seen Dallas and Jacksonville flip to other quarterbacks due to injury. The Raiders will be forced to do the same, and rumors are swirling around the Jets. 

This article will discuss deep league waiver additions, focusing on Dynasty league formats. 

Players will fall into four primary categories: 

• Short-term Starters - Players capable of providing immediate production in deep leagues. 
• Proactive Pickups - Players who need the depth chart to be clear before them but are more available than other players in a similar role. 
• Deep Darts - Speculative players who have a chance at value.
• Dynasty Buys - Players whose values have changed, and the market may not have caught up.

Quarterback

Short Term Starters

Tyrod Taylor, NY Jets (25% Sleeper rostered) 

The Jets will eventually tell us what they will do. They need to figure it out first. 

The winds are blowing towards Aaron Rodgers's release, perhaps soon. The departure of GM Joe Douglas following HC Robert Saleh erodes Rodgers' support within the organization. An odd story came out about an injury situation with Rodgers refusing scans.   

Even without a release, Taylor's name has been in the media. Despite the Jets' struggles, Taylor, Davante Adams, Garrett Wilson, and Breece Hall demand attention in fantasy. 

Taylor started five games in 2023. His weekly finishes: QB7, QB10, QB11, QB21, QB27. The math is easy. Taylor averaged 29.6 rushing yards per start, and he is a competent enough passer to feed the Jets' weapons. 

Taylor is a potential fringe QB1 down the stretch. 

Aidan O'Connell, Las Vegas (25% Sleeper rostered) 

Gardner Minshew II's season-ending collarbone injury is very disappointing. Minshew gave minimal value himself, but since the Davante Adams trade, he has helped Brock Bowers achieve TE2 overall status and Jakobi Meyers become WR20. 

The silver lining is O'Connell became eligible to return from IR this week. He is back at practice, but HC Antonio Pierce noted he needed to show some vigorous practice sessions. Still, the Raiders likely do not want to start Desmond Ridder.

Proactive Pickups

Brandon Allen, San Francisco (38% Sleeper rostered) 

The good news is Allen is not expected to play in Week 13. The 49ers missed Brock Purdy in a game the Packers controlled from start to finish. 

But the injury seal is broken, and the 49ers are outside the playoffs. Purdy is their franchise, so if this injury lingers and the 49ers are eliminated, expect him to be shut down. 

Allen would be surrounded by talent, but he falls more into the caretaker side than playable in fantasy. Still, in deep leagues, he could be a potential option. 

Nick Mullens, Minnesota (9% Sleeper rostered) 

Mullens productively closed the 2023 season for the Vikings, finishing as fantasy QB10 over the last four games. 

Sam Darnold is working through a foot injury. He picked up a midweek injury designation but dropped it going into the game. Mullens pitched in for two snaps as Darnold briefly worked through something in Week 12. Mullens was clutch, going two for two for 38 yards. 

We know Minnesota's skill talent. If Darnold did miss time, Mullens is a potential QB1 stream option and a likely sure starter in Superflex.

Desmond Ridder, Las Vegas (25% Sleeper rostered) 

The Raiders may not want to start Ridder, but they may have to. 

You may also have to do so, depending on your quarterback situation in Superflex. 

There are situations in which I could talk myself into starting Ridder, but there are not any in which I would feel good about that development. However, I will not deny that he has athleticism and that Bowers and Meyers are talented enough to create production.