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Waiver Wire
Fantasy Waiver Wire - Week 12
The waiver wire is one of the most important keys to finding success in the world of fantasy football. Each week, I'll offer up 10 players you need to target off the free-agent market as you look to reach your ultimate goal -- winning a league championship! And if you play in a deeper, or highly competitive league and all 10 of these players are already owned, be sure to check out our weekly deep dive waiver wire targets for some high upside players to aim for heading into Week 12.

Gordon is eligible to come back in Week 12, so he needs to be owned in all leagues. I realize that some leagues out there might be "dead," but the fact that he's still a free agent in over 50 percent of NFL.com leagues is criminal. Unless you don't want to win your league's championship, well, what are you waiting for? The time to strike is right now, so go out and get Gordon off waivers.

First it was Montee Ball. Then it was Ronnie Hillman. Now it's Anderson, who has played well in the absence of his injured teammates. While his rushing totals were modest, he put up a solid eight catches for 86 yards and still finished with double-digit fantasy points in a loss to the St. Louis Rams. As the lone runner who isn't injured, Anderson is a must-add for owners across the board.

McCown has been on fire in the stat sheets, scoring 19-plus fantasy points in each of his two games since being re-inserted into the starting lineup. Overall, he's also recorded 17-plus fantasy points in each of his last three full starts. With a revenge game against the Chicago Bears next on the schedule, McCown is on the radar as a potential matchup-based starter in most fantasy formats.

Mason has been on this waiver-wire list for several weeks now, but he's still a free agent in more than 55 percent of NFL.com leagues. That should change after this week, though, as the Auburn product rumbled for 113 yards on 29 carries in a surprising win over the Denver Broncos. Mason is now the clear-cut featured back in St. Louis and needs to be owned in all 2014 leagues moving forward.

In what has been the season of the rookie wide receiver, Matthews has made quite a name for himself. He had five catches for 107 yards and one touchdown in Week 11, and has now recorded 10 or more fantasy points in three straight games. Matthews also has a great rapport with Mark Sanchez, which makes him even more attractive off the waiver wire. He'll face the Tennessee Titans next.

Trying to predict who will lead the Patriots backfield in touches week to week can be maddening, but it sure looks like Gray has earned a prominent role for coach Bill Belichick. The Norte Dame product went off in Week 11, scoring four touchdowns and over 40 fantasy points against the Indianapolis Colts. With runners hard to find, Gray now needs to be owned in all leagues.

Blue got the start in the absence of an injured Arian Foster and showed up well in a win over the Cleveland Browns. He carried the football a ridiculous 36 times for 156 yards and scored 15.6 fantasy points, which is a solid total for a potential one-week replacement. Even if Foster returns in Week 12, Blue should be added as a handcuff as we inch closer to the fantasy football playoffs.

The Jaguars have lost rookie Allen Robinson for the season, which means more targets and opportunities for Shorts in the Jaguars pass attack. In his last game before the bye, the veteran put up 119 yards and 11.9 fantasy points in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys. A potential PPR asset, Shorts should be rostered in all leagues regardless of format. The Jags face the Colts next weekend.

Britt, once considered a fantasy breakout candidate while in Tennessee, is coming off a breakout performance with 128 yards, one touchdown and 18.8 fantasy points in a win over the Broncos. Britt has now put up a score in two of his last three games, so owners in need of help at wide receiver should target him off the waiver wire. Britt has a tough matchup in San Diego coming up next.

Repeat after me ... I hate the Browns backfield. I hate the Browns backfield. I hate the Browns backfield. You get the point, but this week it was Crowell who got the start and most of the carries in a loss to the Houston Texans. Who knows what the future holds, but for now you have to at least consider rostering Crowell. That is, until Ben Tate or Terrance West takes over (bleagh!).