Scott Engel is in his eighth season of providing Fantasy Football coverage for Seahawks.com. An inaugural member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association's Hall of Fame, he is in his 23rd year as a Fantasy analyst and professional. You can now find more of his work and weekly rankings on RotoBaller.com and hear him every Saturday night on SiriusXM Fantasy Sports Radio.

We are almost finished with the challenges of bye weeks, and the Fantasy Football playoffs are drawing closer in many leagues. But we do have one more set of matchups, in Week 12, where four teams are off and your rosters will feel a significant impact. Once we are past this marker, though, the reward for surviving will be a chance to nail down your playoff seeding and then advance to Fantasy Football's version of the Super Bowl tournament.

But for now, the Chiefs, Chargers, Vikings and Cardinals will be idle in a pivotal, crucial week for many Fantasy teams. Not having the services of the explosive Kansas City stars and top performers on the Chargers offense will force many owners into their reserve pools and onto the waiver wire for replacements. We will also be without Dalvin Cook, arguably the best RB in the Fantasy game right now.

On the positive side, four teams will be return to action, including the Seahawks, as they travel to Philadelphia. You can get the No. 1 QB in Fantasy Football before last week's bye, Russell Wilson, back into your lineup. Tyler Lockett and Chris Carson, both top players at their positions, will be available as well. Rising Fantasy stars DK Metcalf and Jacob Hollister can be activated again. Josh Gordon will also be worth consideration as a Fantasy WR4 type.

Week 12 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Running Backs

Jonathan Williams, Colts (0.1 owned in NFL.com leagues): Marlon Mack is out indefinitely with a hand injury. Jordan Wilkins has also been dealing with an ankle injury, and Indianapolis has a short week before a Thursday night matchup with the Texans. Williams was a surprise standout for the Colts against Jacksonville, rushing for 116 yards on 13 carries after Mack exited the game. He appears to be set to operate as the main ball carrier Thursday, although you should keep a watch on the status of Wilkins.

Derrius Guice, Redskins (34.8): He has been through some very daunting injury battles, but showed he still has some promising potential in Week 11. Guice took a 45-yard screen pass for a touchdown, and it was encouraging to see him score on such a play.The Redskins may give him a much longer look down the stretch as they eye the future.

Bo Scarbrough, Lions (0.1): One day after signing with the Lions on the weekend, Scarbrough unexpectedly led the team in rushing, with 55 yards and a TD on 14 carries. Scarbrough was a physical, determined ball carrier, and gave the Lions a missing element in their offense. Detroit has been searching for a runner who will challenge defenses over the past few weeks and it's possible the Lions may have found an unlikely contributor who can return their ground game to respectability. 

Wide Receivers

Randall Cobb, Cowboys (12.7): The former Packers standout has really started to come on in the past two weeks, with a pair of 100-yard outings and a score in each game. Dallas is looking very good in the passing game and there seems to be enough deliveries from Dak Prescott to keep all of his top three wide receivers involved. Cobb is looking like a quality bye week plugger right now.

James Washington, Steelers (11.0): JuJu Smith-Schuster has knee and concussion issues to work through, and Diontae Johnson suffered a concussion as well in Week 11. Washington may have to step forward to play a bigger role in the Pittsburgh passing game for at least a week. He is a former college teammate of Mason Rudolph and the two do have an established connection. Johnny Holton may also be worth an add if is he is needed to start alongside Washington.

Josh Gordon (44.2): His Fantasy Football ownership is climbing, but there is still a chance to acquire Gordon in many leagues. Gordon made some very important catches in the fourth quarter and overtime in the win at San Francisco before the bye week. Consider using him if you add him in time for Week 12 in Fantasy Football.

Tight Ends

Ryan Griffin, Jets (1.1): He is going to be a very hot pickup this week, as Griffin and the Seahawks' Jacob Hollister are looking like late-season breakout candidates at the thinnest position in Fantasy Football. Griffin flashed signs of what was to come with a two-TD outing in Week 8, and then truly splashed onto the Fantasy scene with five receptions for 109 yards and a TD in Week 11. He was the highest scoring Fantasy TE of the week. Sam Darnold has shown an affinity for throwing to the TE in his first two pro seasons, so Griffin should remain in the flow of the New York offense.

David Njoku, Browns (16.3): He was cut by many owners when he injured his wrist very early in the 2019 season, but now Njoku appears to be close to returning. He may be back at practice as soon as this week, and even if Njoku does not play right away, he could be available for the final week of your Fantasy Football regular season and playoffs. He does have Top 10 TE potential when he is back in action and getting regular reps. 

Quarterback

Jeff Driskel, Lions (0.2): Many Fantasy owners often assume that when an NFL team turns to a backup QB, the guy stepping in will be a major downgrade and not competitive. They won't think of him as useful whatsoever and may assume the offense will be dragged down as a result. Gardner Minshew reminded us for awhile earlier in the year that backup QBs can indeed be productive. Driskel is also looking very respectable as Matthew Stafford deals with back issues. He has thrown three TD passes and rushed for 88 yards and a TD in his first two starts for Detroit this season. Driskel was actually the fifth highest scoring Fantasy QB of Week 11 and can be at least an adequate fill-in play for Week 12.

For answers to your Fantasy questions early every week, fill out the bottom of this form on Sunday nights or early Mondays for priority consideration. You can also tag me or @Seahawks on Twitter.

Craig Ephraim of Buffalo asks; Who should I start at TE in Week 12: Ryan Griffin, Jared Cook, Gerald Everett, Noah Fant, Evan Engram or Dallas Goedert?

Engel: These are all quality options to choose from, so it is going to come down to a matchup here. Griffin is certainly on the rise, as is Fant. Cook and Goedert can be TD threats and a healthy Engram has the best track record overall of any of them. Based on recent momentum and matchup, though, I will give the nod to Griffin. The Raiders have allowed the most Fantasy Points Per Game to TEs over the full season and the past month. The Jets should continue to comfortably move the ball against Oakland. 

For more from Scott Engel, get the RotoBaller.com 2019 Fantasy Football Package, which includes his lineup rankings and regular weekly columns. Enter code "Seahawks" at checkout for a discount. The price has already been slashed for your Fantasy Football playoff push.