Here are this week’s top Waiver Wire players who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Our favorite players are broken down in Top Targets and the best secondary options are in our Going Deeper sections. We’ll also list any players at the top of each position who are above the 50% threshold — or are household names — and are still widely available for those who might be in smaller leagues.
Be sure to check out our weekly Waiver Wire podcast and our Waiver Wire Livestream for more analysis. We’ll also have Streaming articles every Tuesday that focuses on the top quarterbacks, tight ends, and defenses for the upcoming week(s).
Note: The initial Waiver Wire article writeup will be posted every Monday night, followed by in-depth updates Tuesday, and continued additions/updates Wednesday.
Teams on Bye in Week 11
Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New York Giants, San Francisco 49ers
Quarterbacks
Higher-owned Options
Cam Newton (NE, 62%), Teddy Bridgewater (Car, 46%), Matthew Stafford (Det, 61%)
Top Targets
Jameis Winston (NO, 1%) — Drew Brees is dealing with multiple rib fractures on both sides of his chest and a collapsed lung coming out of Week 11, which allowed Winston to see his first major playing time with the Saints against the 49ers. HC Sean Payton didn’t ask Winston to do too much in their victory as he completed 6/10 passes for 63 yards in the final 30 minutes. Brees will likely do everything he can to play in the near future, but we’d expect Winston to make at least one start to let Brees heal. Payton at his Monday press conference declined to name his Week 11 starting QB, which is a reminder that Payton’s boy Taysom Hill is in the mix. Winston should be the main passer, though, and he’s in a prime spot to post solid fantasy production off of the waiver wire this week as he gets the start against a generous Falcons defense, and the Saints schedule is pretty attractive over the next month (Atl, @Den, @Atl, @Phi) if Winston is going to get multiple starts. Just keep expectations in check for Winston as Payton is likely to get Taysom a little more involved as a runner and more while Winston is at quarterback. Brees is seeking a second opinion on the injury, which isn’t a good sign, and IR, which would knock him out their next three games, is a possibility. UPDATED: 11/17
Going Deeper
Daniel Jones (NYG, 30%) — Danny Dimes has shown a pulse in the last month after an extremely slow start to the season. He topped 15+ FP just once in his first six games but he’s posted 18+ FP in three of his last four contests. Jones completed 21/28 passes for 244 yards against the Eagles in Week 10 and he added 9/64/1 rushing. He now has 60+ rushing yards in three of his last five games and this passing attack has been shown some signs of life since Sterling Shepard returned to the lineup. The Giants are on bye in Week 11 but he has an attackable schedule (@Cin, @Sea, Ari) if you’re looking for a low-end QB2 with some upside. Jones isn’t easy to trust, but neither are the guys below him in this report, most of which plays on teams that would love to limit their attempts. The Giants don’t handle Jones quite like that, and the vibes have actually been quite good for the Giants, who have taken to the new coaching staff. Even the OL is improving by the week.
Derek Carr (LV, 37%) — Carr has attempted 25 or fewer passes in each of the last three weeks to stunt his production after running off multiple TDs in five straight games in Weeks 2-7. He completed 16/25 passes for 154 yards without a touchdown or an interception against the Broncos in Week 10. Carr was playing a bit undermanned earlier in the season, but he now has a pretty complete cast with Nelson Agholor, Henry Ruggs, and Bryan Edwards lining up with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. With Ruggs on the field, Carr’s willingness to stand in the pocket for downfield plays has improved, and that’s one of his biggest negatives throughout his career. Carr has a very solid slate of matchups coming up (KC, @Atl, @NYJ, Ind), and he’s firmly in the mid-QB2 range despite his three-game cold streak. He may actually attempt more than 30+ passes the next two weeks to potentially snap out of his current fantasy funk.
Philip Rivers (Ind, 21%) — The Colts are airing it out more in recent weeks with Rivers attempting 33+ passes in five straight games after he failed to reach 30+ attempts in three straight games from Weeks 2-4. Jonathan Taylor and the Colts rushing attack has been way too inconsistent so this offense has been on Rivers’ shoulders a little more than anticipated in recent weeks. He completed 29/39 passes for 308 yards (7.9 YPA) and one TD in a pivotal win over the Titans in Week 10. Rivers has been looking for a receiver to step up for him and rookie Michael Pittman has quickly emerged as his go-to receiver. Rivers is in the midst of a fantasy-friendly schedule (GB, Ten, @Hou, @LV) if you need some help in two-QB formats.
Tua Tagovailoa (Mia, 45%) — Miami’s strong defense has him playing more of a game-manager role, which is perfect for the rookie QB as he gets his feet wet. He improved to 3-0 with a victory over the Chargers in Week 10 as he completed 15/25 passes for 169 yards and two TDs. Tagovailoa did lose Preston Williams to a foot injury in Week 9 and he’s currently playing without his top back Myles Gaskin (knee, IR) so he’s not in the best situation to put up massive numbers with a limited cast. At least he showed the ability to run in Week 9, which will help his fantasy bottom line. He also has some fantasy-friendly matchups coming up ( @Den, @NYJ, Cin, KC) to give him some streaming appeal as a mid-QB2 in the coming weeks.
Kirk Cousins (Min, 31%) — Cousins has been teetering on the edge of disaster seemingly every week, especially since Dalvin Cook has turned into an absolute monster in recent weeks. Cousins attempted just 14 passes in their Week 8 victory over the Packers, but he bounced back with 220/3 passing on 20 attempts against the Lions in Week 9 and then in Week 10, against a tough Bears defense, the Vikings took to the air more and Cousins had a solid day with 292/2 with 36 attempts. The Vikings have more than a pulse after three consecutive divisional victories, and Cousins has some beatable matchups (Dal, Car, Jax, @TB) if he actually throws the rock. Cousins will be a boom-or-bust QB2 going forward, but with Justin Jefferson already proving to be a brilliant pick and with Irv Smith (inactive Week 10) emerging, he does have some high-end weapons to throw to in addition to Adam Thielen. UPDATED: 11/17
Alex Smith (Was, 5%) — He may not be easy to trust (few low-end QB options are), but Smith is now the guy now for the WFT and he’s thrown for 325+ yards the last two weeks. The bad news is that it took him 55 passes to produce just 16.0 FP against the Lions in Week 10 — he’s targeted RB J.D. McKissic a whopping 29 times over the last two weeks. Smith doesn’t have much to work with at receiver, but Terry McLaurin is a star and he does have pass-catching RBs to work with, and TE Logan Thomas has been decent. Smith has some beatable matchups against the Bengals and the Cowboys over the next two weeks if you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel for a QB2. It’s a good sign that HC Ron Rivera after Week 10 proclaimed Smith all the way back and a player he will consider heading into 2021.
Andy Dalton (Dal, 6%) — He’s feeling a lot better this week and has a good chance to return in Week 11. If he can stay on the field, he still has top-20 potential with an excellent supporting cast at receiver, and he has a very beatable matchup this week against the Vikings. His schedule is spotty after that (Was, Bal, Cin, SF, and Phi), but it’s not that bad. Dalton can be used as a streamer this week and in spots over the next month plus. UPDATED: 11/17
Drew Lock (Den, 23%) — Lock hasn’t played well since returning to the lineup off of his throwing shoulder injury, but he survived in Weeks 8-9 because of garbage-time production. Lock’s luck dried up against the Raiders in Week 10 as he completed 23/47 passes for 257 yards, one TD, and four INTs in an ugly 25-point loss. Lock’s supporting cast is starting to get healthier, but he needs to be helped a lot by his matchups. Unfortunately, his schedule is going to get much tougher the next couple of weeks (Mia, NO, @KC, @Car) so he’s going to have a lot more downside as a boom-or-bust QB2. He’s also dealing with a rib injury coming out of Week 10, which has his status up in the air for Denver’s showdown with the Dolphins this week.
Jake Luton (Jax, 4%) — Luton didn’t waste any time making waves in his first NFL start as he connected with D.J. Chark for a 73-yard touchdown on his second career throw in Week 9. The Jaguars have lost Luton’s first two starts by a combined six points as he completed 18/35 passes for 169 yards, one TD, and one INT in a four-point loss to the Packers in Week 10. Our Greg Cosell turned us onto Luton before the draft, and he’s shown a strong and fairly accurate arm in his first two starts. Luton has held his own and they’ll continue to give him starts going forward (Pit, Cle, @Min, Ten), and he’ll be in the low-end QB2 range as they are in “evaluation mode.”
Taysom Hill (NO, 1%) — Hill could be in line for a bigger role with news that Drew Brees is dealing with multiple rib fractures on both sides of his chest and a collapsed lung coming out of Week 11. Jameis Winston will lead the offense while Brees is out of the lineup as he did in the second half of Week 10, but Hill’s role as the Swiss Army knife is likely to be dialed up for as long as Winston is the quarterback, including this week against the Falcons.
Baker Mayfield (Cle, 34%) — Mayfield has failed to reach eight FP in three of his last four games, but he’s played in absolutely miserable conditions in his last two games. Mayfield isn’t playing well enough to consistently put up fantasy production with his limited cast, but he at least has a good slate of games coming up (Phi, @Jax, @Ten, Bal) to give him some hope as a low-end QB2 if he can actually play in reasonable conditions one of these weeks.
Nick Mullens (SF, 5%) — The 49ers have been ravaged by injuries this season and it continued with Jimmy Garoppolo (high-ankle) and George Kittle (foot) each going down in Week 8 with potentially season-ending injuries. Jimmy G is expected to miss the next six weeks after aggravating his high-ankle injury in Week 8, but there’s a chance we don’t see him again this season. If Mullens or C.J. Beathard get the 49ers back into contention, HC Kyle Shanahan could stick with the quarterback that got them into that position. If the 49ers fall out of contention, Shanahan may not have the motivation to stick Garoppolo back into the fire with nothing to play for. Mullens completed 24/38 passes for 247 yards, one TD, and two INTs in a loss to the Saints in Week 10. We’ll see if Mullens remains the starting QB when they come out of their Week 11 bye, but for now, we’re still concerned about him potentially getting pulled in favor of Beathard if Mullens continues to
Running Backs
Higher-owned Options
Damien Harris (NE, 59%), Latavius Murray (NO, 59%)
Top Targets
Wayne Gallman (NYG, 50%) — We don’t typically write up players that are as heavily owned as Gallman is, but this is a friendly reminder that this is your last chance to grab Gallman. He’s posted 13+ FP in four straight games since Devonta Freeman first suffered his ankle injury, and we’re not going to see Freeman for at least the next two games after the Giants placed him on the injured reserve after he aggravated his ankle injury in practice last week. The Giants are on bye this week, but Gallman (a solid 59% of the snaps Week 10) will be a high-end RB2 for as long as Freeman is out of the lineup, including in a juicy matchup against the Bengals in Week 12. Even if Freeman does play again this season, Gallman should remain the lead option in this backfield if he continues to play like he has over the last month. Even the Giant OL is starting to really move people and open up some room for Gallman up the middle. The one downside is they don’t use him much in the passing game, but that could change any given week.
Salvon Ahmed (MIa, 5%) and Matt Breida (Mia, 23%) — Ahmed emerged as the top back while both Myles Gaskin and Breida are out of the lineup. He finished with 21/85/1 rushing while catching his only target for five yards against the Chargers in Week 10, and he played a surprising 79% of the snaps. Ahmed scored on a goal-line carry and he out-touched Patrick Laird 22 to 2. Gaskin and Breida will return to the lineup in the near future, but Ahmed could be a great plug-and-play option against the Broncos this week if they remain out of the lineup. Jordan Howard was released on 11/16, so Ahmed could remain in the lead runner role if Breida returns before Gaskin, with Breida likely working as a change-of-pace/passing option next Ahmed.
Tony Pollard (Dal, 21%) — Ezekiel Elliott struggled through a hamstring injury in Week 9 against the Steelers, averaging 2.8 YPC to bring his 2020 average to a career-low 3.8 YPC. Meanwhile, Pollard continues to look like he’s been shot out of a cannon when he gets the rock. He posted 9/57 rushing on a 32% snap share against the Steelers in Week 9 to bring his YPC average up to 4.4. Pollard has seen 8+ touches in five straight games so he’s built up some standalone fantasy value, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Zeke’s touches are scaled back if they fall out of contention by December. Pollard has the potential to be on some league-winning teams in Weeks 15-16 so now is the time to add him if he’s still sitting on your waiver wire.
La’Mical Perine (NYJ, 25%) — Perine is still competing with Frank Gore for snaps and touches, and touches were hard to come by in Week 9. He finished with 6/9 rushing and 2/19 receiving while playing 46% of the snaps against the Patriots. The Jets did use a fourth-round pick on him this spring, and apparently they have finally gained a clue. Reports are that they will commit to him as their lead back coming out of the bye and for the rest of the season in order to evaluate him. He’s very solid with “a higher-level sustaining skill set,” per Greg Cosell’s Draft Guide here on the site. He’s a solid receiver so it wouldn’t be a shock to see Perine settle in as a top-24 PPR option if they truly commit to him. Of course, these are the Jets, so they can’t be fully trusted, but Perine should get a healthy role starting now.
Rex Burkheard (NE, 24%) — New England’s backfield usage is always a fluid situation but it appears that Damien Harris and Burkhead are forming a strong one-two punch for Cam Newton. Burkhead saw double-digit touches for the second straight week with 6/31 rushing and 4/35/2 receiving on five targets against the Ravens in Week 10, giving him 15+ FP in consecutive games. He played only 20 snaps, 34%, but he made them count yet again in Week 10. Harris led this backfield with a 55% snap share while James White had just a 17% share. Sony Michel could throw his hat into the ring in the near future to further complicate this backfield, but Burkhead can be used with some confidence as an RB3 with New England’s current backfield arrangement.
Nyheim Hines (Ind, 39%) and Jordan Wilkins (Ind, 23%) — The Colts backfield has devolved into an ugly three-man committee with Jonathan Taylor playing like a rookie. Hines got the “hot-hand” treatment in Week 10 against the Titans as he posted 12/70/1 rushing and 5/45/1 receiving on 56% of the snaps. Taylor frustrated again with 7/12 rushing and 2/25 receiving on 24% of the snaps while Wilkins managed 8/28 rushing without a catch on 20% of the snaps. The Colts invested a second-round pick in Taylor and he gives this offense their best chance of reaching their full potential, but his mediocre play has opened the door for more snaps for Wilkins and Hines. HC Frank Reich is going to keep using the hot-hand approach going forward so Wilkins and Hines are very much in the mix. Hines has played the best in this backfield recently but just keep in mind that no one in this backfield is a lock to do a damn thing in any given week. And Wilkins has had one good game all year and 6 FP or fewer in every other game.
Going Deeper
Cam Akers (LAR, 26%) and Malcolm Brown (LAR, 25%) — Darrell Henderson played his way ahead of Brown and rookie Akers through the first eight weeks of the season, but the Rams emerged from their Week 9 bye with this backfield entrenched in an ugly three-man rotation. Akers (26% of the snaps) led the backfield with 10 carries for 38 yards against the Seahawks in Week 10, but it was Brown (8/51/2 scrimmage, 41% of the snaps) and Henderson (8/33/1 scrimmage, 33% of the snaps) who produced for fantasy thanks to three rushing touchdowns inside the 10-yard line. Henderson is still the best bet for production, but this backfield is going to need an injury for fantasy owners to use the remaining two healthy backs with some confidence.
Kalen Ballage (LAC, 19%) — This Chargers backfield has devolved into a complete mess for fantasy with Justin Jackson (knee) joining Austin Ekeler (hamstring) on the injured reserve. Ballage, of all players, has become the top option over the likes of Joshua Kelley and Troymaine Pope after posting 18/68 rushing and 5/34 receiving on six targets against the Dolphins with 73% of the snaps in Week 10. Ekeler tweeted last week that “the time draws near” so hopefully he can get back into the lineup soon to give us a reliable fantasy option in this backfield. Ballage is worth a look for the time being with a matchup with the Jets looming this week, but he’s liable to break your heart as soon as you show any trust in him.
Carlos Hyde (Sea, 0%) — Chris Carson (foot) may or may not be ready to return to the lineup on Thursday night against the Cardinals, and apparently Hyde may have a better chance to play, so Hyde looks like the best pickup (for this week only) out of him, Alex Collins, DeeJay Dallas, and Travis Homer. Collins vaulted ahead of Dallas in Week 10 with Homer (hand) leaving early as he posted 11/43/1 rushing and 1/4 receiving on two targets against the Rams. Carson owners who picked up Dallas may want to grab the long-term handcuff, which is clearly Hyde. This is a tough backfield to get a handle on, obviously. But when they are all healthy it’s Carson atop the depth chart followed by Hyde followed by an ugly RBBC with the other three. UPDATED: 11/17
Gus Edwards (Bal, 36%) — Mark Ingram returned to the lineup off of his ankle injury in Week 10, which returned Edwards to his third billing in this backfield with 23% of the snaps. He may have finished third in snaps but he played the best against the Patriots, easily pacing this backfield with 8/73 scrimmage compared to Ingram (7/29) and J.K. Dobbins (6/14). The Ravens coaching staff is clearly hesitant to relegate the veteran Ingram to a smaller role but that could change in the coming weeks with the Ravens suddenly fighting to make the playoffs.
Best Handcuff Stashes
Alexander Mattison (Min, 37%) — Mattison is the top back when Dalvin Cook misses time like he did earlier this season with his groin injury. We did learn in Week 6, though, that OC Gary Kubiak will use Ameer Abdullah in passing situations so Mattison isn’t a bell-cow back when Cook is out of the lineup.
Brian Hill (Atl, 9%) — Hill has emerged ahead of Ito Smith as the #2 RB in this backfield behind Todd Gurley. The Falcons would likely use a committee between Hill and Smith if Gurley missed time, but Hill is the preferred handcuff for anyone looking to grab the backup to the mediocre Gurley.
Boston Scott (Phi, 31%) — Scott has worked as the top back in the three games that Miles Sanders has missed this season, averaging 14.3 touches and 75.0 scrimmage yards per game. Sanders has had some issues staying healthy so Sanders owners should pick up Scott if he’s been dropped.
Devontae Booker (LV, 3%) — Booker is the handcuff for the early-down work in Las Vegas if Josh Jacobs misses time, and he’s even starting to get more opportunities behind Jacobs with 24/149/3 rushing over the last three weeks.
Wide Receivers
Higher-owned Options
Jakobi Meyers (NE, 48%), Curtis Samuel (Car, 56%), Sterling Shepard (NYG, 50%), Corey Davis (Ten, 53%), Deebo Samuel (SF, 55%), Emmanuel Sanders (NO, 54%), Cole Beasley (Buf, 50%), T.Y. Hilton (Ind, 45%)
Top Targets
Michael Pittman (Ind, 9%) — Pittman might be turning into Philip Rivers’ go-to receiver as we head down the backstretch of the 2020 season. The rookie led the Colts in targets for the second straight week, even with T.Y. Hilton back in the lineup, as he posted 7/101 receiving on eight targets (20.5% share) and he added a 21-yard carry in Indy’s Week 10 victory over the Titans. Pittman also led the Colts WRs in snap share (81%) for the second straight week as he played 10 more snaps than the next closest receivers (Hilton and Zach Pascal). Pittman has a great chance to be peppered with weekly targets as the #1 receiver for Rivers for the rest of the season, and Phil has attempted 33+ passes in five straight games after a slow start to the year. Pittman needs to be owned in 12-team formats as an upside WR3.
Jalen Reagor (Phi, 26%) — Reagor returned to the lineup in Week 8 after a five-game absence after needing thumb surgery. It didn’t take him long to lead the team in target share as he posted 4/47 receiving on seven targets (18.9% share) against the Giants in Week 10. The Eagles are dying at WR with DeSean Jackson (ankle, IR) and Alshon Jeffery (Lisfranc) unable to stay or get healthy, and they’ve also been without Zach Ertz (ankle, IR) recently. Travis Fulgham has been a real success story in the first half of the season, but there’s certainly room for Reagor to challenge him to be the top option in this passing attack in the second half of the season — Fulgham had just an eight-yard catch in Week 10. Reagor is an upside add off the waiver wire with the potential to be a fantasy difference-maker down the stretch.
Sammy Watkins (KC, 38%) and Mecole Hardman (KC, 32%) — Watkins has missed the last four games with a hamstring injury, but he’ll likely return to the lineup in Week 11 when the Chiefs emerge from their bye. Watkins reached double-digit FP in three of his first five games this season. Hardman will go back to more of a secondary role, but he at least started to emerge a bit ahead of Demarcus Robinson the last couple of weeks to give him some hope for the final seven games of the season. Watkins will be the more consistent WR4 option going forward while Hardman will be a boom-or-bust WR5. Hardman was placed on the COVID-19 list last week so we’ll see about his status later this week.
Allen Lazard (GB, 42%) and Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB, 17%) — Lazard has been on the brink of returning from his September core-muscle surgery for three weeks, but the Packers medical staff is living up to their reputation as one of the most cautious groups in the league. MVS failed to reach double-digit in six games from Weeks 2-8, but he’s caught fire the last two weeks with 6/202/3 receiving on 10 targets. MVS tends to disappear for weeks at a time and Aaron Rodgers could certainly use the much more consistent Lazard at his disposal. Lazard posted 18+ FP in two of his first three games before needing surgery so he should be scooped as a WR4 option going forward if he’s been dropped. MVS is an all-or-nothing WR5 option going forward.
Going Deeper
Tim Patrick (Den, 24%) — Patrick started to emerge earlier this season with 14+ FP in three straight games from Weeks 3-6 before suffering a hamstring injury. He returned to the lineup in Week 9 after a one-week absence, and although his snaps were a little low at 59%, he immediately went back to being a double-digit FP producer after posting 4/61 receiving on six targets against the Raiders in Week 10. Patrick will stick in the X receiver spot going forward with Courtland Sutton done for the year, and he’s the most-seasoned receiver for Drew Lock in his fourth season at 26 years old. He’s a good red-zone threat and he’s playing well enough to stick in the WR4 conversation. Patrick will duke it out with Jerry Jeudy and Noah Fant for the most targets each week.
Breshad Perriman (NYJ, 7%) — We saw what a healthy Perriman is capable of doing before the Jets’ bye as he torched the Patriots secondary for 5/101/2 receiving on seven targets in Week 9. Perriman did his best work of the season with Joe Flacco throwing him deep balls and we’ll see if he can keep the momentum going with Sam Darnold, but that won’t be coming out of the bye, since Darnold still needs to rest his throwing-shoulder injury. Perriman is tough to totally trust since he’s a walking injury report but he’s back on the radar as a boom-or-bust WR4 while he’s in the lineup. It wasn’t a shock to see him click with Flacco, since the duo played together for four years in Baltimore.
Josh Reynolds (LAR, 5%) — Reynolds has obviously emerged ahead of Van Jefferson in the #3 WR role in Los Angeles, and he’s quietly been a fantasy-relevant player with 44+ receiving yards in five straight games. He’s now seen 8+ targets in three straight games after posting a team-best 8/94 receiving on 10 targets (27% share) against the Seahawks. It probably didn’t hurt that Cooper Kupp was dealing with a wrist injury and saw his snaps drop to only 53%, whereas Reynolds was at 80% like Robert Woods. Even if Kupp’s okay, Reynolds can be considered as a starter in 14-team or larger leagues, and he’s now worth adding as a WR4/5 in 12-team formats.
Jakeem Grant (Mia, 5%) — The Dolphins traded Isaiah Ford before their Week 9 game and they’ll be without Preston Williams (foot, IR) for at least the next two weeks. Grant is the #2 WR for the time being behind DeVante Parker, and Jakeem led the Dolphins with 4/43/1 receiving on five targets and a healthy 76% of the snaps against the Chargers in Week 10. Grant has shown some game-breaking ability as a returner over the last couple of seasons and he’s getting a chance to show that ability as a receiver for the time being. He’s best in the slot, but he can play out
Rashard Higgins (Cle, 17%) — Higgins was a hot pickup after Odell Beckham’s season-ending knee injury in Week 7, but he bit the dust (1/14 receiving) with the rest of this Cleveland offense in ugly conditions in Week 8. Higgins, unfortunately, had to play in miserable conditions once again in Week 10, leading the team with 3/48 receiving on four targets (20% share) against the Texans. Higgins should still be considered with an ideal schedule coming up (Phi, Jax, Ten). He’s also shown plenty of chemistry with Baker Mayfield when he’s been given the chance to play over the last few seasons so he could turn into a serviceable WR4 in the second half of the season if he can actually play in normal conditions. But he will remain a little boom-or-bust because they’re very much against the forward pass in Cleveland.
K.J. Hamler (Den, 4%) — Hamler has managed to string together multiple healthy games in a row and his production is starting to pick up with 9+ FP in three consecutive games. He posted 4/50 receiving on a team-high 10 targets (21.3% share) against the Raiders in Week 10. The Broncos will continue to roll with a combination Tim Patrick, Jerry Jeudy, and Hamler in three-WR sets going forward. The speedy second-round pick has played both outside and more lately inside, and he’s a good stash in deeper leagues since the Broncos should continue to get him more involved going forward.
Gabriel Davis (Buf, 1%) — We’ve heard great things about the rookie Davis since the summer, and he’s flashed a couple different times in this potent Bills passing attack. Davis posted 4/70/1 receiving against the Seahawks in Week 9, and he could be in line for a big role going forward after John Brown suffered an ankle injury in Week 10. We wrote earlier this season that fantasy owners would be scrambling to add Davis if one of the Bills top receivers went down, and we’re at that point with Davis slotted in for a big role behind Stefon Diggs and Cole Beasley while Brown is out of the lineup. The Bills are on bye in Week 11 so there’s a chance Brown doesn’t miss any time so Davis isn’t a priority add this week unless we get word that Brown is looking at an extended absence.
Darnell Mooney (Chi, 17%) and Anthony Miller (Chi, 20%) — Mooney has been operating as the #2 WR behind Allen Robinson, and he led the team in targets in Week 9 with 11 looks from Nick Foles. He turned his 21.2% target share into just 5/43 receiving against the Titans. Mooney had seen 5+ in each of the previous six weeks, but the entire offense was bogged down in Week 10 and Foles got hurt. Miller had also been trending upward with 13/132 receiving on 19 targets over his previous two games before coming off small in Week 10 (almost had a potential game-winning TD late, at least). They are on bye this week and Foles’ future is uncertain, so these guys are hardly must-haves. At this point, they may be better off if Mitchell Trubisky can heal up and get back in the starting lineup. That’s kinda sad, but true. UPDATED: 11/17
Keenan Cole (Jax, 23%) — Cole had been on the WR4 radar through the first six weeks of the season with double-digit FP in four of his first six games before hitting a wall with 3/18 receiving in two games between Weeks 7-9. He came back to life in Week 10 with 5/47/1 receiving on seven targets against the Packers, and he added a 91-yard punt return TD. Cole isn’t a priority add since rookie Laviska Shenault (hamstring) will be back in the lineup soo, while rookie Jake Luton is also going to be inconsistent. Cole also usually does nothing when expectations are raised and vice versa. Still, Cole continues to linger around for those looking for help in deeper formats.
Nelson Agholor (LV, 26%) — Agholor has revived his career in the desert, but he’s gone back to being inconsistent with just nine targets in his last three games. He finished with just an eight-yard catch on four targets in a blow-out victory over the Broncos in Week 10. Darren Waller is the only receiver guaranteed to see targets in this passing attack every week so Agholor has gone back to being a boom-or-bust option WR5 with Henry Ruggs and Bryan Edwards in the mix. At least he’s a way safer bet to actually do something compared to Ruggs and Edwards.
Marvin Hall (Det, 1%) — Hall is worth a look in deep formats as a dart-throw play for as long as Kenny Golladay is out of the lineup. He exploded for multiple big plays as Matthew Stafford’s top vertical threat while Golladay has been out of the lineup over the last two-plus games. He finished with 2/61/1 receiving on three targets against the Football Team in Week 10. Golladay hasn’t practiced since he injured his groin in Week 8 so Hall could have a prominent role for the next week or two (@Car, Hou).
Randall Cobb (Hou, 18%) — Cobb has seen a steady diet of targets in the middle of the field from Deshaun Watson most weeks. He’s disappointed in consecutive games but he had to play in miserable conditions in Cleveland in Week 10, posting 3/41 receiving on five targets. Cobb should stay active in this passing attack but he’s clearly the third-best option, at best, behind Will Fuller and Brandin Cooks. It’s also only a matter of time before Fuller and/or Cooks misses time with an injury, and his role would grow in that scenario.
Willie Snead (Bal, 1%) — Snead has become the #1 WR for Lamar Jackson over the last three weeks since the third-year QB can’t get on the same page with Marquise Brown this season. The veteran slot WR Snead has 4+ catches in three straight games out of their Week 8 bye, and he’s turned in 15+ FP in two of those three contests after posting 5/64/2 receiving against the Patriots in Week 10. Snead could easily go back to fantasy irrelevance, but he’s worth a look on the low-end in deeper formats since Lamar looks much more comfortable throwing in the intermediate to short areas of the field, especially between the hashes right now.
Tight Ends
Higher-owned Options
Jimmy Graham (Chi, 59%), Mike Gesicki (Mia, 65%)
Top Targets
Jordan Reed (SF, 19%) — San Francisco really needs Reed the rest of the season with George Kittle (foot, IR) potentially done for the year. Reed did little in his first game back off of the injured reserve in Week 9, but he got going in Week 10 with only 44% of the snaps but 5/62 receiving on six targets (15.4% share) against the Saints. Reed is never guaranteed to stay healthy for too long, but he’s always been productive for fantasy when he’s given a sizable role in a decent or better offense. He’s looked good in spots this year, and his snaps and role should grow as long as the 49ers remain competitive going forward. The 49ers are on bye this week but Reed is still a priority add at this extremely thin fantasy position since he could be a low-end TE1 option for as long as he stays healthy.
Logan Thomas (Was, 35%) — Thomas has seen at least four targets in every game this season, and he’s actually starting to produce with his targets since Dwayne Haskins left the lineup. He finished with 4/66 receiving on six targets (10.9% share) in a loss to the Lions in Week 10, but he still posted double-digit FP for the third time in his last four games. Alex Smith is going to limit Thomas’ upside but he clearly has a much better chance of coming through with Haskins out of the lineup if you’re looking for a TE2 with a serviceable fantasy floor.
Going Deeper
Dalton Schultz (Dal, 17%) — Schultz is still hanging around after a couple of solid performances with the likes of Ben DiNucci and Garrett Gilbert in Weeks 8-9. He posted 10/103 receiving on 15 targets against the Eagles and the Steelers. Schultz will be a low-end PPR option when the Cowboys this week against the Vikings, and he could get Andy Dalton (COVID-19 list) back to give him a little more hope for the rest of the season. Schultz has a chance to be fantasy relevant with capable QB play from Dalton and/or Gilbert.
Taysom Hill (NO, 1%) — Hill is listed as a tight end in ESPN leagues so we’ll list him here in our Waiver Wire report since he has a much better chance of being fantasy relevant at the TE position. Drew Brees is dealing with multiple rib fractures on both sides of his chest and a collapsed lung coming out of Week 11, so he’s likely to miss at least this week to heal. Jameis Winston will lead the offense while Brees is out of the lineup as he did in the second half of Week 10, but Hill’s role as the Swiss Army knife is likely to be dialed up for as long as Winston is the quarterback, including this week against the Falcons.
Kyle Rudolph (Min, 5%) — The Vikings ruled Irv Smith out early for their Week 10 showdown with the Bears, which should leave Rudolph in a spot to potentially contribute for fantasy. If Smith is ruled out in Week 11, Rudolph is a viable streaming option in a good matchup with the Cowboys this week if you’re dying for tight end help. He was quite decent in Week 10, hauling in 5 balls for 63 yards on 6 targets. UPDATED: 11/17
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Wil Lutz (NO, 99%) Harrison Butker (KC, 79%)
Top Targets
Rodrigo Blankenship (Ind, 45%) - In half of his four home games this year, Blankenship has attempted three or more field goals. This game has the makings of plenty of points scored by both teams. That bodes well for Blankenship, who is coming off a multiple field goal outing.
Jason Myers (Sea, 38%) - Myers set a team record last week with a 61-yard field goal conversion. His confidence is soaring and the Seahawks face a huge division rivalry game in front of a national audience. Plus, Seattle is averaging nearly 35 points per home game this year. We expect another nail-biting shootout in the Pacific Northwest.
Joey Slye (Car, 53%) - If there is anyone we are going to take a risk on this week, it should be Slye. Carolina has a good matchup at home against Detroit. If QB Teddy Bridgewater is not available due to a knee injury, then the Panthers offense could sputter often. Wishful thinking is the offense sputters in Detroit territory. This means field goal attempts for Slye.
Going Deeper
Chris Boswell (Pit, 33%) - Steelers travel to Jacksonville in Week 11. The Jaguars are giving up just 22 points per game on average but 28 points per game at home. In their four home games, Jacksonville has allowed three multiple field goal outings to opponents. Boswell could easily get two or three field goal attempts in this one.
Cody Parkey (Cle, 1%) - Parkey only had one field goal in Week 10, but much of that was weather-related. The weather is forecasted to be much better next Sunday and the Browns offense should be able to move the ball on Philadelphia. This means two or three possible opportunities for field goals
Defense/Special Teams
Higher-owned Options
Chiefs (KC, 66%)
Top Targets
Dolphins (Mia, 58%) — I hope you snagged Miami last week and got to enjoy the 2 sacks and INT they had against Justin Herbert and the Chargers, while allowing 21 points. Now, their schedule gets cake-like (@ DEN, @NYJ, Cin). If they kept the Rams, Cardinals, and Chargers in check, imagine what they’ll do to the Broncos, Jets, and Bengals.
Going Deeper
Vikings (Min, 55%) — This Vikings D has held its old against some potent offenses so far, including Seattle (27 PA) and Green Bay (22 PA), while also holding down Houston (23 PA) and Detroit (20 PA). Mike Zimmer is getting a lot out of a Danielle Hunter-less pass rush and some inexperienced corners. Having elite MLB Eric Kendricks and one of the best safety duos in the league (Harrison Smith and Anthony Harris) can do a lot to contain offenses. This isn’t a big turnover unit, but if points and yards allowed matter in your league, consider Minnesota and their upcoming schedule: Dallas, the possibly CMC-less and Teddy B-less Carolina, and Jacksonville.
