Week 11 in the NFL delivered some truly memorable moments. While acclaimed stars such as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson faced challenges, it was the unexpected players who emerged to steal the spotlight.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett etched his name into the record books by achieving the most completions in a single game. Meanwhile, Bryce Young set a new benchmark for the Carolina Panthers with an impressive display of passing yards. Fantasy football enthusiasts found heroes in these performances, along with contributions from players like Buccaneers running back Sean Tucker and Seahawks tight end AJ Barner.

As Week 12 approaches, these standout performances have thrust these names into the spotlight of waiver wire discussions. The pressing question remains: are these players destined to be reliable choices moving forward, or will they fade as fleeting sensations?

Fantasy football decisions, especially regarding quarterbacks, are notoriously complex. Players like Brissett and Young often fill the role of temporary solutions during bye weeks. In leagues that feature a single quarterback, they typically don’t rank above the established top 12. In superflex leagues, their availability is even more limited.

If you manage to have one on your roster, your strategy likely involves some tactical maneuvering. With Arizona’s upcoming schedule, Brissett might just be a valuable option for those dealing with underperforming quarterbacks like Trevor Lawrence or Jordan Love. However, while Young’s potential flashes, his consistency remains a question mark.

But in looking at running backs and just how barren the position is on your waiver wire, many are going to jump at the chance to add Tucker. You should not. We don’t want to diminish the performance as he ran all over the Bills for 106 yards and two touchdowns on just 19 carries while also chipping in a pair of receptions for 34 yards and a third score, but expecting any sort of a repeat could be a major mistake.

Though Tucker’s performance led all running backs for the week and likely saved the hides of Jonathan Taylor managers, we cannot ignore that conditions for this matchup were ideal. The Bills ranked 30th in DVOA against the run and were allowing the second-most rushing yards per game. As a true north-south runner, Tucker was a much better fit for this game than the typically inefficient Rachaad White, and it showed.

However, with the impending return of Bucky Irving, both Tucker and White will fall back into reserve or complementary roles. And even if Tucker’s performance rates him a few extra carries while Irving gets his feet wet, do you really want to use him in Week 12 against the Rams and their top five-ranked run defense? Probably not.

The same goes for Barner, who saw a career-high 11 targets Sunday, which was more than he saw in the previous four games combined. The Rams corners did a masterful job of stifling the Seahawks receivers, which left Barner in a better position to see some extra looks. But this is still a guy who routinely shares snaps and targets with rookie Elijah Arroyo, and with Sam Darnold so focused on feeding Jaxon Smith-Njigba, there’s just no consistency. Not to mention, Seattle’s next three opponents all rank favorably against the tight end.

Betting on the NFL?

It is easy to get caught up in the hype of a player’s standout performance. But as we enter Week 12, trusting a fluke achievement can be dangerous. Save your waiver priority and your FAAB dollars for more consistency. That’s how you finish the season strong and head into the playoffs.

Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.