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 will focus 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.
Quarterbacks
Higher-owned Options
Matthew Stafford (Det, 62%)
Top Targets
Taysom Hill (NO, 42%) — This is your last chance to grab Hill off of the waiver wire after he posted 25.4 FP in his first start as a quarterback in Week 11. He completed 18/23 passes for 233 yards and he added 10/51/2 rushing against the Falcons with Jameis Winston glued to the bench. The Saints placed Drew Brees on the injured reserve before Week 11, which means Hill will start at least two more games against the Broncos and the Falcons, with the potential to start more games in Weeks 14-16 (@Phi, KC, Min) if Brees needs more time to heal. Hill is locked in as a top-12 option for as long as he’s the starting quarterback because of his rushing production.
Teddy Bridgewater (Car, 40%) — Bridgewater will likely return to the lineup against the Vikings this week after he nearly played against the Lions in Week 12. Teddy went through a dry spell in Weeks 7-9, but he ran off a pair of 20+ FP performances in Weeks 9-10 before suffering his knee sprain. Bridgewater doesn’t have the best fantasy playoff schedule (@Min, bye, Den, @GB, @Was), but it’s certainly not a schedule to shy away from as a mid-range QB2.
Daniel Jones (NYG, 28%) — 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. Jones has an attackable schedule (@Cin, @Sea, Ari, Cle) 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 whom play 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 O-line is improving by the week so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Jones have some usable fantasy performances down the stretch.
Going Deeper
Derek Carr (LV, 36%) — Carr had attempted 25 or fewer passes in three straight games in Weeks 8-10, but he had to let it rip a little more against the Chiefs in Week 11. He completed 23/31 passes for 275 yards (8.7 YPA), three TDs, and one INT as he nearly outdueled Patrick Mahomes for a second time this season. Carr was playing a bit undermanned earlier in the season, but he now has a complete cast with Nelson Agholor and Henry Ruggs lining up with Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow. 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 in the fantasy playoffs (@Atl, @NYJ, Ind, LAC, Mia), and he’s firmly in the mid-QB2 range after snapping out of his cold spell last week.
Kirk Cousins (Min, 42%) — Cousins always scares you because he’s game script and TD-dependent, and it’s tough because effective working off their excellent running game, yet Dalvin Cook has been incredible and is capable of completely carrying the offense. Cousins, for example, attempted just 14 passes in their Week 8 victory over the Packers. But he has also strung together three straight performances with 18+ FP. He completed 22/30 passes for 314 yards and three TDs against the Cowboys in Week 11. Cousins has some beatable matchups over the next two weeks before his schedule takes a turn for the worse (Car, Jax, @TB, Chi, @NO). Cousins will be a boom-or-bust QB2 going forward, but at least he has a pair of big-time playmakers in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. Theilen is on the Covid-19 list as of 11/24, but there is time for him to be removed and cleared to play before Week 12.
Philip Rivers (Ind, 26%) — The Colts are airing it out more than they were early in the season with Rivers attempting 33+ passes in six straight games after he failed to reach 30+ attempts in three straight games from Weeks 2-4. The Colts rushing attack has been inconsistent so this offense has been on Rivers’ shoulders a little more than anticipated. He completed 24/36 passes for 288 yards, three TDs, and one INT against the Packers in Week 11, which gives him 22+ FP in three of his last five games. Rivers has been looking for a receiver to step up for him and rookie Michael Pittman has emerged as his best receiver. Rivers is in the midst of a fantasy-friendly schedule (Ten, @Hou, @LV, Hou, @Pit) if you need some help in two-QB formats.
Andy Dalton (Dal, 9%) — Dalton returned to the lineup in Week 11 after a three-week layoff for a concussion and for a stint on the COVID-19 list. He completed 22/32 passes for 203 yards, three touchdowns, and one INT in Dallas’ upset victory over the Vikings to climb right back into the NFC East title race. Dalton still has top-20 potential with an excellent supporting cast of receivers, and Dallas’ defense is going to have this offense playing in shootouts most weeks. His schedule is spotty in the fantasy playoffs (Was, @Bal, @Cin, SF, Phi), but Dalton is back on the radar as a streaming option.
Alex Smith (Was, 10%) — He may not be easy to trust but Smith is now the guy now for the WFT, and they project to have negative game scripts in most of their matchups (@Dal, @Pit, @SF, Sea, Car). Smith had thrown for 325+ yards in consecutive games in Weeks 9-10, but he came up small for fantasy in Week 11 (166/1 passing) with just 25 attempts in Washington’s easy victory over the Bengals. 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 while TE Logan Thomas has been solid.
Drew Lock (Den, 14%) — 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 has dried up the last two weeks as he completed 18/30 passes for 270 yards and one INT in a victory over the Dolphins in Week 11. But hey, at least they won a game. Lock’s supporting cast is starting to get healthier, but he needs to be helped a lot by his matchups. Unfortunately, his schedule isn’t great in the fantasy playoffs (NO, @KC, @Car, Buf, @LAC) so he’s going to have a lot more downside as a boom-or-bust QB2.
Jalen Hurts (Phi, 1%) — Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense are in the wilderness right now, and the next step for this offense could be a change at quarterback to try to spark this unit. HC Doug Pederson said after the game that he never considered benching Wentz for Hurts during their loss to the Browns. He reiterated that sentiment a day after the game, as well, but he could change his tune if Wentz stinks up the joint again against the Seahawks this week. Hurts would be a dual-threat option at the position, and his legs would certainly make him an appealing fantasy option if he were to get some starts down the stretch. Hurts could be worth a stash if you play in a competitive two-QB league just in case the Eagles make a switch at quarterback in the near future.
Tua Tagovailoa (Mia, 41%) — The Dolphins raced out to a 3-0 start with Tua under center, but the rookie didn’t play a major hand in their success during that stretch. The Dolphins needed him to be more than a game-manager in Week 11 against the Broncos, but he wasn’t ready to step up with just 83/1 passing through the first 50 minutes. HC Brian Flores turned to Ryan Fitzpatrick for a late-game spark, but the veteran QB couldn’t deliver a late victory. Miami will likely turn back to Tua this week against the Jets, but he’s certainly at risk of being pulled in the future. Tua has some fantasy-friendly matchups coming up (@NYJ, Cin, KC, NE, @LV), but he’s tough to completely trust in fantasy lineups since he could be pulled at any time and since he’s a limited player with a limited cast right now.
Baker Mayfield (Cle, 31%) — Mayfield has failed to reach nine FP in four of his last five games, but he’s played in miserable conditions in his last three 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 in the fantasy playoffs (@Jax, @Ten, Bal, @NYG, @NYJ) 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, 3%) — 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 six weeks after aggravating his high-ankle injury, 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 struggle.
Running Backs
Higher-owned Options
Wayne Gallman (NYG, 54%), Salvon Ahmed (MIa, 61%), Phillip Lindsay (Den, 55%), Latavius Murray (NO, 59%), Jamaal Williams (GB, 60%), Adrian Peterson (Det, 55%)
Top Targets
Gus Edwards (Bal, 28%) and Justice Hill (Bal, 0%) — Both Mark Ingram and J.K. Dobbins tested positive for COVID-19 before Week 12, which will leave this backfield in the hands of Edwards and Hill for at least this week against the Steelers and potentially longer depending on the lengths of their stays on the COVID-19 list. Edwards should see the bulk of the work as the early-down runner, and he ripped the Steelers for 16/87/1 rushing on 5.4 YPC in Week 8 with Ingram out of the lineup. Hill has been a disappointment through his first two seasons, but he’ll get a big opportunity to show what he can do as the team’s change-of-pace/passing back for as long as Dobbins and Ingram are out of the lineup. Edwards will be a plug-and-play RB2 this week while Hill will be on the RB3 radar against the Steelers.
James White (NE, 40%) — White has been dropped in a ton of leagues since he failed to reach seven FP in a game in Weeks 7-10, but he has a pulse again after Rex Burkhead went down with what looked like a serious knee injury in Week 11. White finished with 6/64 receiving on a team-best nine targets (22.5% share) and he added 5/19 rushing with the Patriots playing from behind against the Texans. Sony Michel will likely be in the mix going forward, but this backfield should mostly feature Damien Harris and White most weeks going forward. White can be considered as an RB3 in a given week when it looks like the Patriots could have some negative game scripts, which could be the case in quite a few games down the stretch (Ari, @LAC, @LAR, @Mia, Buf).
Going Deeper
Tony Pollard (Dal, 19%) — Ezekiel Elliott did look better in Week 11, but he hasn’t looked like quite the same player he once was behind a decimated Cowboys O-line. Meanwhile, Pollard continues to look like he’s been shot out of a cannon when he gets the rock, including in Week 11 when he sparked a Cowboys victory over the Vikings. He broke off a 42-yard touchdown run as he finished with a solid 32% of the snaps with 5/60/1 rushing to raise his YPC average to 5.1 this season. Pollard had seen 8+ touches in five straight games before Week 11 so he’s built up some standalone fantasy value, and it wouldn’t be shocking if Pollard sees more touches next to Zeke down the stretch.
Frank Gore (NYJ, 10%) — The 37-year-old Gore just won’t go away and it looks like he could have a big role for the next couple of weeks after La’Mical Perine suffered an ankle injury and never returned in Week 11. Playing 58% of the snaps, Gore posted 15/61/1 rushing and 2/10 receiving against the Chargers with Perine missing most of the second half. Ty Johnson will also factor in beside Gore as a chance-of-pace/passing back for as long as Perine is out of the lineup. Gore will see plenty of touches but he won’t offer much upside as an RB3 playing in one of the league’s worst offenses at his advanced football age.
Kerryon Johnson (Det, 16%) — Rookie D’Andre Swift went into the concussion protocol in the middle of last week before their matchup with the Panthers. There is (barely) enough time for him to return in Week 12, but it’s going to be tight, so it’s not a lock that he will be be ready for their Thanksgiving game. Playing from behind, Johnson (70% of the snaps) had a bigger role behind Adrian Peterson (30%), but he did little just like the rest of this offense with just 6/17 rushing and 2/21 receiving on five targets. If Swift can’t play this week, Johnson is a viable desperation play in a great matchup with the Texans in Week 12, and he’s safer than Peterson due to his work in the passing game. UPDATED: 11/24
Malcolm Brown (LAR, 31%) and Cam Akers (LAR, 28%) — 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. In Week 11, there was no production to be had in this backfield, but all three backs had double-digit snap percentages. Akers caught a TD pass, but he was otherwise the odd man out with 17% followed by Brown at 38% and Henderson at 46%. Henderson is still the best bet for snaps and production, but this backfield is going to need an injury for fantasy owners to use the remaining two healthy backs with some confidence. UPDATED: 11/24
Best Handcuff Stashes
Alexander Mattison (Min, 33%) — 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.
Carlos Hyde (Sea, 46%) — Chris Carson is expected to return to the lineup in Week 12, and he’ll slide back into the lead role in this backfield. Hyde posted two big games against the Cardinals with Carson out or leaving early, and he’s clearly the back to own and play if Carson can’t play in the future.
Brian Hill (Atl, 7%) — 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, 29%) — 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, 10%) — 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 as they look to keep their second-year back fresh down the stretch.
Wide Receivers
Higher-owned Options
Corey Davis (Ten, 51%), Sterling Shepard (NYG, 46%), Deebo Samuel (SF, 53%), Jakobi Meyers (NE, 59%), Curtis Samuel (Car, 49%), Emmanuel Sanders (NO, 49%), Cole Beasley (Buf, 51%)
Top Targets
Michael Pittman (Ind, 44%) — Pittman might be turning into Philip Rivers’ go-to receiver as we head down the backstretch of the 2020 season. He has 55+ receiving yards in three straight games and 15+ FP in two straight contests after posting 3/66/1 receiving with a 45-yard touchdown against the Packers in Week 11. He did see just three targets with Rivers spreading the ball around as nine different receivers saw 2+ targets. 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 six straight games after a slow start to the year. Pittman needs to be owned in 12-team formats as an upside WR3.
Going Deeper
Tim Patrick (Den, 21%) — 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 and he’s back to posting serviceable WR4 production. Patrick has hit double-digit FP in three straight games after posting 5/119 receiving on eight targets against the Dolphins in Week 11 with a solid 83% of the snaps. Patrick is locked into the X receiver spot, 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.
Jalen Reagor (Phi, 29%) — Reagor returned to the lineup in Week 8 after a five-game absence after needing thumb surgery, and the rookie has been solid but not spectacular with Carson Wentz struggling. Playing a strong 93% of the snaps, he posted four catches for the second straight game in Week 11 against the Browns as he turned his WR-best five targets into 52 yards. The Eagles are dying at WR with DeSean Jackson (ankle, IR) and Alshon Jeffery (Lisfranc) unable to contribute, and they’ve also been without Zach Ertz (ankle, IR) recently. Travis Fulgham was a real success story in the first half of the season, but Reagor is challenging him to be the top option in this passing attack in the second half of the season. Over the last two weeks, Fulgham has only 1 catch for 8 yards in each game on 12 targets. Reagor is an upside add off the waiver wire, but he needs some help from his quarterback to break out in 2020.
Breshad Perriman (NYJ, 10%) — We’ve now seen what a healthy Perriman is capable of doing in his last two games playing with Joe Flacco. He scored on another deep ball from Flacco on his way 2/54/1 receiving on four targets against the Chargers in Week 11, when he played on a very healthy 98% of the snaps. Perriman has done his best work of the season with Flacco throwing him deep balls and we’ll see if he can keep the momentum going with Sam Darnold, who has missed time recently with a throwing-shoulder injury recently. 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 hasn’t been a shock to see him click with Flacco since the duo played together for four years in Baltimore, but we were told by several people that Perriman was great in the preseason, so there is hope if Darnold is back, which is likely.
Nelson Agholor (LV, 26%) — Agholor has revived his career in the desert, but he’s been a frustrating player to handicap as an all-or-nothing option over the last five weeks. Since Las Vegas’ Week 6 bye, Agholor has 55+ receiving yards and a touchdown in odd weeks and he has just an eight-yard catch on five targets combined in even weeks. This trend continued in Week 11, as Agholor went for 6/88/1 on 9 targets and 75% of the snaps. Darren Waller is the only receiver guaranteed to see targets in this passing attack every week, but Agholor has at least separated from the likes of Henry Ruggs and Hunter Renfrow as the #1 WR option for Derek Carr. Agholor is a safer bet to actually do something compared to Ruggs as a WR4.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB, 31%) and Allen Lazard (GB, 43%) — Lazard finally returned to the lineup for the first time since Week 3, but he failed to make any waves in a tough matchup with the Colts, posting just 2/18 receiving on four targets. MVS had a bigger day with 3/55 receiving on six targets, but he lost a pivotal fumble in overtime to hand the victory to the Colts. MVS failed to reach double-digit in six games from Weeks 2-8, but he’s playing well over the last three weeks with 9/257/3 receiving on 16 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’s snaps were somewhat limited at 60% in his first game back, but that number should rise. If so, he will be the steady WR4 option going forward while MVS will be a boom-or-bust WR4.
Josh Reynolds (LAR, 12%) — Reynolds has 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 going into Week 11. He had also seen 8+ targets in three straight games after posting a team-best 8/94 receiving on 10 targets (27% share) against the Seahawks in Week 10. In Week 11, he put up only 3/32, but he had a solid 6 targets and he played a strong 90% of the snaps. Reynolds took a backseat to Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, but his role is pretty stable as the #3 option in the Rams passing game. UPDATED: 11/24
Sammy Watkins (KC, 41%) — Watkins missed four games to a hamstring injury before picking up a calf injury in practice last week as he tried to return in Week 11. Watkins reached double-digit FP in three of his first five games this season, but he’s once again struggling to get on the field, which has been a theme throughout his career. He’s an upside WR4 option if he ever can get back on the field.
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 eight 4+ catches or a touchdown in four straight games. Playing a decent 58% of the snaps, he finished with 4/35 receiving on six targets against the Dolphins in Week 11, which gives him 26 targets over his last three games. 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.
Denzel Mims (NYJ, 5%) — The Jets have fielded a competent NFL offense in their last two games with both Mims and Breshad Perriman finally healthy on the perimeter together. The rookie posted 3/71 receiving on a team-best eight targets (29.1% share) against the Chargers in Week 11, playing a strong 90% of the snaps. Mims has now posted 42+ receiving yards in each of his first four NFL games with double-digit FP in his last two games. Mims is going to be tough to completely trust in a fantasy lineup down the stretch, but he’s certainly flashed since he’s been in the lineup. He’ll have a little more fantasy juice for as long as Joe Flacco is in the lineup.
Gabriel Davis (Buf, 1%) — We’ve heard great things about the rookie Davis since the summer, and he’s flashed a couple of 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 an increased role after John Brown suffered an ankle injury in Week 10, and although HC Sean McDermott called it a “tweak” last week, Brown wasn’t ready to practice early in the week heading into Week 12, so he could miss the game. If he’s ruled out later in the week, fantasy owners would be scrambling to add Davis, so if you can get him now you can avoid the rush. UPDATED: 11/24
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 week. 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 against the Chargers in Week 10. He struggled in Week 11 against the Broncos as he posted just 2/12 receiving on six targets from both Tua Tagovailoa and Ryan Fitzpatrick. 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, and he is clearly their #2 WR, so he has a chance any given week.
Rashard Higgins (Cle, 12%) — Higgins was a hot pickup after Odell Beckham’s season-ending knee injury in Week 7, but he’s been crushed by the Browns playing in three consecutive bad weather games in Weeks 8-11. He posted 3/65 receiving on four targets against the Eagles in Week 11, finishing behind only KhaDarel Hodge among the Cleveland receivers. The problem for Higgins is Hodge has been playing more snaps, and he led all Browns WRs in Week 11 with 72% (Higgins was at 60%). Higgins can be considered with an ideal schedule coming up (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 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.
Keke Coutee (Hou, 0%) — Randall Cobb suffered a toe injury in Week 11 that could land him on the injured reserve for at least the next three weeks. Coutee was the next man up in the slot for Deshaun Watson as he posted 2/10/1 receiving on four targets against the Patriots. Cobb was averaging 4.0/48.2 receiving on 5.1 targets per game in his first nine games of the season. Coutee is worth a look in deeper PPR formats since he’ll be a near full-time receiver playing with one of the league’s hottest QBs.
Russell Gage (Atl, 7%) and Olamide Zaccheaus (Atl, 0%) — Julio Jones aggravated his lingering hamstring injury in Week 11, which handcuffed the entire offense against the Saints. Gage led the Falcons with 12 targets (32.4% share) with Matt Ryan content to check it down short with New Orleans’ pass rush breathing down his neck all game long. Zaccheaus caught his only target for 10 yards, but he’s had some moments this season when Julio has been out of the lineup. Gage and Zaccheaus can be considered in the deepest of formats if Julio is going to miss some time for his hamstring injury.
Darnell Mooney (Chi, 9%) and Anthony Miller (Chi, 18%) — Mooney has been operating as the #2 WR behind Allen Robinson this season while Miller has been trending upward until this offense crashed and burned in Week 10 against the Vikings. The Bears offense is better off with the more mobile Mitchell Trubisky in the lineup as Foles looks like a statue in the pocket behind this bad O-line, but Mitch needs his shoulder to heal up before they can make the switch. The Bears could be forced to start Tyler Bray if both Trubisky and Foles (hip) can’t play in Week 12, and Mooney and Miller would be players to avoid in lineups against the Packers if that happens.
Willie Snead (Bal, 4%) — Snead has become the #1 WR for Lamar Jackson over the last four weeks since the third-year QB can’t get on the same page with Marquise Brown this season. The veteran slot WR Snead had 4+ catches in three straight games in Weeks 8-10, and he matched Mark Andrews with a team-best seven targets (24% share) in Week 11, with a strong 74% of the snaps. Unfortunately, Snead finished with just 3/23 receiving with Lamar overshooting him on a deep ball in the first half. 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.
Damiere Byrd (NE, 2%) — Byrd is the shot-play receiver in one of the league’s weaker passing attacks so he’s capable of popping for a couple of big games, but he’s never going to be a consistent option. The passing attack has been more stable of late since Jakobi Meyers entered the lineup, which has helped Byrd pop for 5+ catches and 65+ yards in two of his last three games. He also didn’t see a target in the other game in that span so he’s a boom-or-bust option in deeper formats. Perhaps, when the Pats are up against a team that will travel a corner to slow down Myers, Byrd has a better chance.
Tight Ends
Higher-owned Options
Zach Ertz (Phi, 55%), Tyler Higbee (LAR, 56%), Robert Tonyan (GB, 47%), Logan Thomas (Was, 54%), Mike Gesicki (Mia, 61%)
Top Targets
Jordan Reed (SF, 15%) — 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 5/62 receiving on six targets (15.4% share) against the Saints. He ran 22 routes compared to Ross Dwelley’s 18 routes so this is a committee, but Mullens clearly liked targeting him since Reed saw a target on 33.3% of his routes in Week 10. 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. Reed should strongly be considered at a thin fantasy position since he could be a low-end TE1 option for as long as he stays healthy.
Going Deeper
Dalton Schultz (Dal, 21%) — Schultz is still hanging around after a couple of solid performances in his last three games with three different quarterbacks. He scored the game-winning touchdown against the Vikings in Week 11 as he finished with 4/25/1 receiving on six targets (18.8% share). Schultz will be a high-end TE2 in PPR formats as long as he continues to get serviceable QB play from Andy Dalton.
Zach Ertz (Phi, 0%) — We’re told Ertz has a good chance to be activated this week, or at the latest heading into Week 13. The offense is broken and they use a lot of different receivers, but it’s possible Ertz gets 5+ targets right away, since he could help fix what ails them. He’s not someone to count on, but he’s viable if you’re desperate. UPDATED: 11/24
Jordan Akins (Hou, 2%) — Slot WR Randall Cobb (toe) and Kenny Stills (leg) picked up injuries and they were quickly ruled out in Week 11, which opened up a bigger role for Akins against the Patriots. He took advantage with 5/83 receiving on six targets. Deshaun Watson is playing about as well as any QB in the league right now so it’s smart to grab pieces of this passing attack since they have a non-existent running game without David Johnson (concussion, IR). Akins will continue to battle with Darren Fells and Pharaoh Brown for tight end targets in this passing attack, but he’s the best bet to do something with his targets. It also looks like Cobb could end up on the injured reserve, which will help Akins’ chances of being a weekly feature in this passing attack. We do have to keep an eye on 2019 third-rounder Kahale Warring, who was activated from IR on 11/23.
Will Dissly (Sea, 1%) — Greg Olsen ruptured his left plantar fascia in Week 11, which could be the last time that we see Olsen take the field since he’s flirted with retirement in recent seasons. Dissly is the next man up in Seattle as he saw a position-best 65% of the snaps, ahead of Jacob Hollister at 20%. Dissly caught his only target for 10 yards against the Cardinals in Week 11, but he should still be considered going forward if you’re dying for help at tight end, like so many are. Dissly is a more speculative add/stash in case he gets a bigger role in this passing attack now that Olsen has been taken out of the picture. It’s likely that Dissly and Hollister cannibalize each other going forward, but we’ve seen Dissly be a fantasy stud when he’s been given a meaningful role as a receiver. Of course, he’s had two catastrophic leg injuries in his first two seasons so he might not be the same player we once saw, but there are much worse bets to make at a thin fantasy TE position.
Jimmy Graham (Chi, 41%) — Graham, like all the receivers with the Bears, was crushed by Nick Foles’ pitiful performance in Week 10 as he failed to register a catch on two targets. Graham was wide open for a red-zone touchdown against the Vikings but Foles sailed the pass over his head. The Bears QB situation is up in the air for Week 12 against the Packers with Foles (hip) and Mitch Trubisky (shoulder) dealing with injuries, which means the Bears could be down to Tyler Bray. Graham is a touchdown-or-bust TE2 option no matter who is at quarterback.
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Wil Lutz (NO, 98%) Younghoe Koo (Atl, 73%)
Top Targets
Jason Sanders (Mia, 68%) - Sanders is coming off a quiet two field goal two extra point road loss in Denver. Fantasy owners will look at his first game against the Jets and see a 24-0 blowout in which he had one field goal and three extra points. Do not sleep on this game. Miami is on the road and their offense is sputtering enough for them to bench their QB in Week 10 (he will start here). This could lead to more opportunities for Sanders.
Daniel Carlson (LV, 50%) - Carlson is our pick of the week. Atlanta is allowing over 27 points a game to opponents in their ten games and over 28 points per home game this year. Carlson has converted multiple field goals in eight of his ten outings and four of his five road games in 2020.
Rodrigo Blankenship (Ind, 46%) - Two weeks ago, Blankenship converted both of his field goal attempts (one from the bonus range) and all four of his extra points against the Titans. He is coming off a game in which he converted four of five attempts. He hit the crossbar on his lone miss from 50 yards out.
Going Deeper
Ka’imi Fairbairn (Hou, 20%) - Fairbairn has attempted two or more field goals in three of his last four games and in six of his ten outings this year. His Thanksgiving Day game in Detroit is a favorable contest that could allow him to achieve his seventh multiple field goal game in 2020.
Cody Parkey (Cle, 1%) - Parkey once again makes our waiver wire list. He has attempted three field goals in two of his last three games. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has allowed four multiple field goal attempted outings in five home games this year. We gave you a heads up that Chris Boswell would get two or three chances last week (he made two of three attempts) and Parkey should get the same opportunities this week.
Defense/Special Teams
Higher-owned Options
Rams (SF, 63%)
Top Targets
Seahawks (Sea, 27%) — Up until recently, Seattle suffered from a serious lack of pass rush. Even with a capable secondary and the best MLB in the game, you just can’t give an NFL quarterback all day in the pocket. So Pete Carroll set off to fix that, and fix it he did. Acquiring Jamal Adams and recently picking up Carlos Dunlap had been key moves. But underrated maneuvers include blitzing Bobby Wagner more (the aforementioned best MLB in the game), and coaxing run-stuffer Damon Harrison out of retirement. This re-tooled defense held Kyler Murray to just 21 points, while sacking him 3 times. After sacking a QB 3 times only once over the first seven weeks, Seattle now has at least 3 sacks in each of its last four games. The defense is tightening up just in time for their best run of the season: @Phi, NYG, NYJ, @ Was.
Going Deeper
Cowboys (Dal, 13%) — What was once the laughing stock of the NFL has quietly turned into a respectable D. The return of Leighton Vander Esch, the safety switch to involve Donovan Wilson more, and the heating up of DeMarcus Lawrence has steadied the D in Big D considerably. After being torched by an average of 33 points per game through Week 6, Dallas has averaged 22 PA over the last month, including holding undefeated Pittsburgh to 24 points. They’ll have to navigate Baltimore in Week 13, but the rest of their schedule is looking good: Was, @Bal, @Cin, SF, Phi, @NYG. Outside of Baltimore, their remaining opponents are all in the top-10 for DST FPG. And Baltimore isn’t as scary as they’ve been (16th in FPG to DSTs).
