Eric Cross’s weekly waiver wire column for 2026’s Week 12 shines a light on a handful of players who are still flying under the radar in most fantasy leagues, each rostered under forty percent in the majority of formats.
Among the hitters, Braden Montgomery, the 2024 first‑round pick, has already turned heads with a walk‑off homer in his debut and a 93.2 mph average exit velocity that suggests he can keep the power flowing.
Dalton Rushing, the Dodgers’ catching prospect, has seized the starting role after Will Smith’s injury and is posting a 40.2% hard‑hit rate paired with a 9.8% barrel rate that makes him a solid everyday option.
Cole Carrigg, known for blending speed with pop, has already logged 30 steals and six homers in Triple‑A and cracked a home run in his third big‑league game, giving him a rare combination of speed and power.
Angel Martinez brings dual eligibility at second base and outfield, and his .240/.278/.443 line with 11 homers and nine steals this season adds a versatile spark for any roster.
On the mound, Griffin Jax is reshaping his role from reliever to starter, posting a 3.00 ERA and a 1.27 WHIP across eight starts while his curveball continues to generate a 52.9% whiff rate.
Brandon Young has quietly strung together four quality starts, maintaining a 3.04 ERA, a 1.24 WHIP and a 7.9% walk rate, making him a dependable back‑end starter.
Waiver Wire Watch: Week 12 Breakouts
The common thread among these additions is a clear path to playing time and a statistical profile that aligns with upside, so grabbing them now could pay dividends as the season unfolds.