Waiver Wire Week 11

Waiver Wire Pickups, Week 11: These fantasy players may be worth an add this week or in the coming weeks as teams prepare for the playoffs. 

Week 10 was certainly very interesting in terms of fantasy. Depending on your scoring format, at quarterback, we saw the likes of Daniel Jones, Mitch Trubisky, Sam Darnold, and Baker Mayfield all in the top twelve. We also had Ronald Jones as a top-five running back and Christian Kirk, Darius Slayton, Randall Cobb, and James Washington as top twelve wide receivers. Sometimes fantasy football is just unpredictable, but if we take it week by week we can look to rebound from a possible down week. 

In Week 11 we encounter four teams with a bye — the Packers, Giants, Seahawks, and Titans. This means we have quite a bit of fantasy-relevant players you may need a fill-in for, but it isn’t the most exciting waiver wire week once again.  

This is where the waiver wire comes in handy for some. If your sitting pretty and already locked up a playoff spot, there is always time to build up your roster to get ready for that playoff run. A few of the players listed today are ones who might be on bye in Week 11, but could help you out come the playoffs. 

As always, we want to continue to pay attention to injuries as more news comes out for some players. Most of the players listed below are the ones who are most likely available on your waiver wire in your league and I’ve found a few players at each position that may be available in your league. Every player listed is owned in less than 50 percent of leagues (Yahoo and ESPN formats) with a few who might have a little more ownership, but possibly available. 

Week 11 Waiver Wire: Possibly owned, but worth a look

Ronald Jones II (RB, TB) 

Ronald Jones sits around 75% owned on ESPN and Yahoo platforms, but is worth a look in your league. His ownership jumped significantly since last week, but may still be available. Jones wasn’t the most productive on the ground as he averaged 2.63 YPC (11 rushes for 29 yards), but he scored a rushing touchdown to help save the day. He saw most of his action through the air as he caught all 8 of his targets for 77 yards. He did lose a fumble, but in PPR formats, Jones is worth an add if he is available. 

Jamison Crowder (WR, NYJ) 

Jamison Crowder continues to appear to be a favorite of Sam Darnold as he caught 5 receptions for 81 yards and a touchdown in week 10. Crowder has seen at least 5 targets in the last 5 games and has at least 9 targets in three games with Darnold. He’s got a favorable schedule coming up as well. He’s worth an add if you can stomach starting a Jet. 

Kareem Hunt (RB, CLE) 

Kareem Hunt made his season debut with 4 rushing attempts for 30 yards and he also caught 7 of his 9 targets for 44 receiving yards. Hunt played on 38 of 69 offensive snaps in his debut, but also was seen alongside Nick Chubb on 43% of the Browns plays. He’s got some flex appeal and could possibly continue to get more involved. 

Week 11 Waiver Wire: Less than 50% ownership 

Running Back Handcuffs (Tony Pollard, Alexander Mattison) 

With the playoffs nearing, if you’re in line to make it already, this is a good time to pick up some strong running back handcuffs. You can look to handcuff your own running back, but also there is value in picking up other running back handcuffs as well. Should a guy like Dalvin Cook or Ezekiel Elliot go down, you all of a sudden have a very strong running back if you grabbed Tony Pollard or Alexander Mattison. You might be able to wait a few weeks, but with playoffs nearing, it never hurts to start looking ahead. 

Sam Darnold (QB, NYJ) 

Sam Darnold had a decent Week 10 where he threw for 230 yards and a touchdown, but also ran for 25 yards and a rushing touchdown. He seems to be bouncing back from the Week 7 debacle against New England. Darnold gets another plus matchup against the Washington Redskins in Week 11, but then also gets Oakland, Cincinnati, and then Miami. 

Nick Foles (QB, JAX) 

Nick Foles returns to the starting role in Week 11, bringing some fantasy appeal with him. He’s one who could be rostered if you’re needy at the quarterback position. 

Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN)

Ryan Tannehill has been on this list the last several weeks, but continues to sit around less than 35% ownership in some formats. In Week 10 he threw for 181 yards and 2 touchdowns, but also contributed 37 yards on the ground. He is on a bye in Week 11, but if you’re in need of a quarterback to round out the season or injuries have hurt you at the position he may be worth a stash. He’s not going to blow the doors off, but he’s been a pretty safe play especially with some of the rough weeks other quarterbacks have had.

Daniel Jones (QB, NYG) 

Daniel Jones may be another quality stash at the quarterback position after he threw for 308 yards and 4 passing touchdowns. He also contributed 20 yards rushing and a 2-point conversion. He’s on a bye in Week 11 and then faces off against the Bears and Packers, but then gets the Eagles, Dolphins, and Redskins for the fantasy playoffs. If you’ve got the space, he’s definitely worth a stash. 

Brian Hill (RB, ATL) 

Devonta Freeman left the game with an injury and Brian Hill stepped in to see 21 total touches. He managed 20 rushing attempts for 61 yards and 1 reception for 10 yards and a touchdown. He provides some strong upside if Freeman continues to miss time. Should Freeman be back, Hill may still offer some flex appeal as well. 

J.D. McKissic (RB, DET) 

Ty Johnson left the game with a concussion in the first half and J.D. McKissic stepped in as the lead back. He had 10 rushing attempts for 36 yards, but also had 6 receptions for 19 yards on 7 targets. He’s a quality pickup in PPR formats if Johnson misses Week 11. 

Cole Beasley (WR, BUF) 

Cole Beasley continues to be very Cole Beasley-esque as he had 4 receptions for 74 yards on 6 targets in week 10. He’s far from exciting, but continues to provide a decent floor in PPR formats and he gets the Dolphins in Week 11. He’s not going to win you a week, but if you need a safe eight to twelve points he should get it done again. 

Darius Slayton (WR, NYG) 

Slayton shined in Week 10 after seeing a whopping 14 targets, which he turned into 121 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. He’s on a bye in Week 11, which means he may be a stash player if you have the space. Slayton has faced three bottom 10 teams in passing defense thus far (Tampa Bay, Detroit, New York Jets) and has had 24 targets in those three matchups with at least 80 yards receiving or a touchdown. You may want to keep an eye on Evan Engram and Sterling Shepard, but if they continue to miss time, Slayton faces the Eagles in Week 14 and the Dolphins in Week 15 who both are bottom 10 in passing defense. 

Mecole Hardman (WR, KC) 

Hardman had only 1 target in Week 10, but took it 63 yards for a touchdown. With Patrick Mahomes back it brings up the value of all Kansas City players, though Hardman is quite the boom or bust start. He might be a desperation play if your struggling with bye weeks, but you will just need to keep your fingers crossed that he takes one to the house. 

Jacob Hollister (TE, SEA) 

Hollister grabbed 8 of 10 targets for 62 yards and a touchdown. He’s now had 6 plus targets and a touchdown in his last two games. The Seahawks are on bye, but Hollister is worth a stash if you can hold onto him through his bye week. 

O.J. Howard (TE, TB) 

Howard took advantage of an Arizona defense that has seemed to avoid covering the tight end position. He finished the day with 4 receptions (7 targets) for 47 yards and a touchdown. What we do have to consider is if this was just a one and done or if Arians might now get Howard more involved. I feel like he is worth a speculative add, if you have the roster space, to see how involved he is in Week 11.

Tyler Eifert (TE, CIN) 

Tyler Eifert got into the endzone for the first time since Week 2 while catching 2 balls for 20 yards. Times are tough at tight end, but Eifert has appealing matchups the next two weeks as he gets Oakland and Pittsburgh who both have struggled against tight end at times. It won’t be fun starting Eifert, but outside a few, the tight end position is not fun for many. 

Playoff Streaming Defenses

Another possible stash candidate from the waiver wire is always defenses with good matchups when the fantasy playoffs occur. If you’re in the position, either headed towards playoffs or have the bench space, it’s always good to look ahead at possible defensive streamers. You may have missed a chance on picking up Baltimore as their ownership is now over 80% in both ESPN and Yahoo, but still have some decent options. 

Pittsburgh Steelers (72% Yahoo, 66% ESPN)

The Steelers defense has been playing pretty good football. The Steelers looked real good against the Rams and continue there schedule with the Browns, Bengals, Browns, Cardinals, Bills, and Jets to round out the season. This gives you a strong defense to start for the final six weeks of the fantasy season. 

Philadelphia Eagles (35% Yahoo, 37% ESPN) 

The Eagles were on a bye in Week 10, but get a nice stretch from Weeks 13 – 15 as they face the Dolphins, Giants, and Redskins. Their ownership will most likely come down after a Week 10 bye and with the Patriots and Seahawks on deck. You would need to pivot in Week 16, if that is your playoff championship, but the Eagles defense has been pretty good in plus matchups and is worth a look.