A common theme on this Week’s list is players who reached the end zone for the first time this season. Both running backs and wide receivers hadn’t scored entering Week 12. Even the tight end didn’t have an NFL catch until Week 11.
To make this weekly list of Fantasy Football stars who were likely unowned, players had to be owned in less than 25 percent of ESPN fantasy football leagues entering their game. Each week, one quarterback, two running backs, two wide receivers, and one tight end snag a spot on the list.
To see the Week 11 list, click here.
Quarterback
Brett Hundley, Packers
Week 12 stats: 245 passing yards, 3 passing touchdowns, 6 rushing yards
Hundley entered Sunday with only two passing touchdowns to go with his seven interceptions. Making his fifth start since replacing an injured Aaron Rodgers, the 24-year-old easily put together his best performance. He secured his first game with more than one touchdown and tied his season-high with 245 passing yards.
Running backs
Rod Smith, Cowboys
Week 12 stats: 41 rushing yards, 1 rushing touchdown, 2 receptions, 7 receiving yards
Smith received his most work of the season in Week 12 and capitalized with his first NFL touchdown, Dallas’ only points of the game. His nine carries represent a new career-high, and he may have a couple more good games left in him with Ezekiel Elliott suspended three more games.
Peyton Barber, Buccaneers
Week 12 stats: 7 rushing yards, 2 rushing touchdowns
Getting more time after Doug Martin was forced to leave with a concussion, Barber scored his first two touchdowns on the year. He had just five carries for seven yards, but two of them came on two and one-yard scores.
Wide receivers
Cody Latimer, Broncos
Week 12 stats: 3 receptions, 48 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Latimer entered Sunday with just 10 catches for 137 yards on the year in seven games.
The fourth-year pro snagged a 25-yard touchdown throw from Trevor Siemian in the fourth quarter. It was his first touchdown of the season and just his second in 42 career games.
Josh Reynolds, Rams
Week 12 stats: 4 receptions, 37 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
Drafted in the fourth round in April’s NFL Draft, Reynolds had been targeted just three times on the year entering Sunday.
His only catch came over two months ago in Week 2. With Robert Woods out, Reynolds saw his role expand as he easily put up his best performance to date while scoring his first NFL touchdown.
Tight end
Ricky Sealy-Jones, Cardinals
Week 12 stats: 4 receptions, 72 receiving yards, 1 receiving touchdown
For the second straight week, Sealy-Jones is the tight end on this list. After scoring two touchdowns in Week 11, not many fantasy owners picked up the undrafted rookie who had zero catches to his name prior to that game. Again, Sealy-Jones produced with 72 yards and another touchdown. Expect more owners to give him a try in Week 13.