Welcome back, IDP Nerds! It’s hard to believe we’re already staring down Week 12, with less than a month left in the fantasy football regular season. Every roster move from here on out can make an impact on your team’s playoff hopes. Late-season IDP waiver wire adds often become the unsung heroes of championship runs. Whether you’re battling for a postseason berth or strengthening your depth for a title push, the Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire report not only highlights players who can help you finish strong, but also identifies young players you can stash for the start of next season, potential future stars for your team.
Looking for more reinforcements? See our offensive Week 12 Waiver Wire, the previous Week 11 IDP Waiver Wire or check our IDP Hub.
Top Dynasty IDP Adds | Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups
🏈 Week 12 IDP Adds | Top Waiver Wire Pickups Table
| Player | Position | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arden Key | DL | Titans | 1–5% | Best game of the season in Week 11; Top-12 DL finish. |
| Arik Armstead | DL | Jaguars | 1–5% | Double-digit points in 5 of last 6; DL19 over recent stretch. |
| Oren Burks | LB | Bengals | 1–5% | Earning snaps as rookies struggle; short-term floor play. |
| Claudin Cherelus | LB | Panthers | 3–8% | Injury fill-in with 10 tackles in Week 11; strong short-term value. |
| Ronnie Harrison | DB/LB | Falcons | 1–5% | Playing full-time LB snaps with DB designation; high tackle floor. |
| Jordan Poyer | DB | Bills | 1–5% | 51 FP since Week 9; 15 tackles in Week 11; short-term starter. |
🧱 Best Defensive Line Waiver Pickups | Week 12 IDP
| Player | Pos | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arden Key | DL | Titans | 1–5% | Best game of the season in Week 11—Top 12 DL finish. |
| Arik Armstead | DL | Jaguars | 1–5% | Double-digit points in 5 of the last 6 games. DL19 overall over the previous two games. |
Arden Key | Tennessee Titans | 1–5% FAAB
Times are desperate for fantasy managers searching for production at the DL position. Arden Key of the Tennessee Titans is coming off his best game of the season with a 23-point performance. The veteran DL has been mostly non-existent across all IDP formats, but he is the lone pass rusher making an impact for the less-than-desirable Titans defense. He has missed the previous five games due to injury and responded in a big way in his return. I’m looking at this as a desperation add for IDP managers, but there are definitely worse options for you if you need DL help in the final games of the regular season.
Arik Armstead | Jacksonville Jaguars | 1–5% FAAB
One of my favorite sneaky finds of this season is the Jaguars’ interior defender Arik Armstead. The veteran DT has been featured as a streaming option at the position twice this season and has delivered both times. It’s encouraging that he’s still available on over 90% of waiver wires in non-DT required formats. Armstead has scored double-digit fantasy points in 5 of his last 6 games, including being a top-24 DL overall from Week 10 on. It’s worth riding the hot hand here and sticking with the veteran DL, who is delivering for fantasy managers searching for production this late in the season as they prepare for a playoff run.
💪 Linebacker Adds (LB) | Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Pos | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oren Burks | LB | Bengals | 1–5% | The Bengals are rotating veterans in as rookie LBs are struggling with missed tackles. |
| Claudin Cherelus | LB | Panthers | 3–8% | Injuries to starting LBs. Could see short-term IDP value. |
Oren Burks | Cincinnati Bengals | 1–5% FAAB
Often, the frustration of real football creeps in, making being an IDP manager complicated. From the outside looking in, Barrett Carter and Demetrius Knight are ideal young, developing dynasty assets. However, they’re struggling on defense, and when an NFL team is trying to make the postseason, it doesn’t have time to let players develop. Oren Burks has found himself earning snaps for the Bengals’ defense. He will likely do more harm to a promising young LB than provide any actual value himself. At this point of the season, managers are taking what they can get, and a player like Burks can be a solid fill-in if his defensive snap share continues to increase over the next week.
Claudin Cherelus | Carolina Panthers | 3–8% FAAB
After Week 10 of the regular season, finding starting players at the linebacker position is a tall task. IDP managers are forced to look at depth players and react suddenly to an injury to a starter to find a competitive edge. This proactive approach can often be the difference between a win and a loss. Claudin Cherelus offers us that opportunity ahead of Week 12. Carolina Panthers’ starting linebackers Christian Rozeboom and Trevin Wallace are both dealing with injuries that could sideline them for at least one week.
Claudin Cherelus delivered last week with a 10-tackle performance, notching his first double-digit fantasy performance of the season. Fantasy managers of Christian Rozeboom should be a little extra aggressive this week, looking to add Cherelus to their rosters. The third-year pro can provide sneaky value late in the season for teams needing a boost to their LB group.
IDP Trivia | Which Week 12 DB add is playing a full-time linebacker role while still holding DB eligibility, giving IDP managers one of the strongest positional advantages this late in the season?
🛡️ Defensive Back Adds (DB) | Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Pos | Team | FAAB % | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ronnie Harrison | DB/LB | Falcons | 1–5% | Playing the LB role with a DB designation. |
| Jordan Poyer | DB | Bills | 1–5% | Top 10 DB since being inserted into the lineup in Week 9. |
Ronnie Harrison | Atlanta Falcons | 1–5% FAAB
The Week 10 Waiver Wire report featured Ronnie Harrison as a trade target for fantasy managers. Harrison took over in Week 11 as a full-time starting LB and rewarded managers with a double-digit tackle performance, including a sack. Divine Deablo has been forced out of action due to injury, giving Harrison short-term relevance. Harrison is still available on over 70% of waiver wires entering this week. Adding a player this late in the season, at minimal risk, can be a huge benefit.
Jordan Poyer | Buffalo Bills | 1–5% FAAB
The Buffalo Bills’ defense has struggled this season, forcing them to bring back veteran DB Jordan Poyer. The familiar face has created a short-term opportunity for IDP managers. Poyer has totaled 51 fantasy points since Week 9. He’s coming off a season-high 15 tackles against Tampa Bay in Week 11. The veteran DB led the Buffalo defense with 55% box snaps in Week 11 and should remain the starter in the short term.
Are your Playoff chances over? Looking to scout which IDP Rookies to get excited about? Check out the 2026 IDP Rookie Big Board
❌ Drop Candidates | Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kwity Paye | DL | Colts | Double-digit points in 20% of games this season. Unlikely to improve his dynasty value this season. |
| JD Bertrand | LB | Falcons | Moved back to a special teams and rotational role after taking over a starting role for 3 weeks. |
| Harrison Smith | DB | Vikings | A 36-year-old DB who has zero value for non-contending teams. Could retire after the season and has failed to record double-digit points in 5 of his 8 games this season. |
🔁 Top Week 12 IDP Trade Targets | DL, LB, DB Must-Adds
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kayvon Thibodeaux | DL | Giants | Could be a trade candidate this offseason as the Giants are unlikely to extend him after drafting Abdul Carter. Strong target for non-contending teams. |
| Denzel Perryman | LB | Chargers | Veteran LB with consistent tackling volume who can help competing teams needing LB depth. |
| Amani Hooker | DB | Titans | The DB32 on the season. Underrated IDP who can add consistent production down the stretch. |
📚 Dynasty Scouting Notes | Week 12 IDP Watch List
| Player | Position | Team | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Princely Umanmielen | DL | Panthers | Posted the third-highest PFF pass-rush win rate (14.3%) of any Panthers defender in Week 11. |
| Brian Asamoah | LB | Bengals | Young Bengals LBs have struggled; elevated from the practice squad and could see a snap increase late in the season. |
| Dane Belton | DB | Giants | Second-highest scoring DB for the Giants; 15+ fantasy points in 5 of the last 6 games. |
🔒 Level Up Your IDP Game
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- 📝 IDP Hub → All of our IDP articles in one place.
- 📊 IDP Rankings Tiers → Updated IDP rankings for every position.
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🧠 FAQ | Week 12 IDP Waiver Wire Pickups
Q: Who is the top DL add for Week 12?
A: Arden Key (DL, Tennessee Titans) stands out as the top Week 12 waiver add after delivering his best game of the season with a 23-point performance in Week 11. With Tennessee desperate for defensive playmakers, Key is one of the few DL options seeing consistent opportunities. While he’s more of a desperation add than a long-term fix, his role and recent production give him immediate value during the final stretch.
Q: Which linebacker should I prioritize this week?
A: Claudin Cherelus (LB, Carolina Panthers) is the priority Week 12 linebacker add. Both Trevin Wallace and Christian Rozeboom are dealing with injuries, opening the door for Cherelus to earn another full workload. Coming off a 10-tackle performance, Cherelus offers rare late-season LB upside. Oren Burks (LB, Cincinnati Bengals) is the next-best option for managers needing a floor play, as he continues to see increased snaps while the Bengals’ young linebackers struggle.
Q: Are there any defensive backs worth adding this week?
A: Yes. Ronnie Harrison (DB/LB hybrid, Atlanta Falcons) is the most impactful Week 12 defensive back pickup. Now playing a full-time linebacker role with DB eligibility, Harrison provides a potent combination of tackle volume and positional advantage. Jordan Poyer (DB, Buffalo Bills) is also worth adding in the short term; he has totaled 51 points since Week 9 and is fresh off a 15-tackle outing in Week 11.
Q: Who are the top drop candidates for Week 12?
A: Kwity Paye, JD Bertrand, and Harrison Smith are all safe drops heading into Week 12.
Q: Who are the best trade targets heading into Week 12?
A: Kayvon Thibodeaux, Denzel Perryman, and Amani Hooker headline the list as the best value-based trade targets for Week 12.
Q: What deep dynasty stashes should managers monitor for the end of the season?
A: Princely Umanmielen, Brian Asamoah, and Dane Belton are your best dynasty stash candidates heading into the final weeks.
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Trivia Answer | Ronnie Harrison (click to return)
