Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 11
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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.
Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.
Week 11 byes- Jacksonville Jaguars
- Miami Dolphins
- Seattle Seahawks
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images Sport / GettyMarcus Mariota, Falcons| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. CHI | 33% | $5 |
Mariota has been a solid fantasy streamer for most of the season.
In his second NFL stint as a full-time starter, the 29-year-old has been the QB13 in average fantasy points per game since Week 5.
Over the next two weeks, he gets a Bears defense that's lost its teeth since trading away Roquan Smith and Robert Quinn, as well as one of the top-10 easiest matchups for opposing passers in the Commanders.
With Mariota continuing to boost his fantasy lines thanks to his rushing production, he remains a quality replacement option.
Streaming options (if healthy): Carson Wentz at HOU (9% rostered)
Risky streaming options: Andy Dalton/Jameis Winston vs. LAR (15%/10% rostered), Kenny Pickett vs. CIN (12% rostered), Davis Mills vs. WAS (7% rostered)
Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Taylor Heinicke at HOU (13% rostered)
Dart-throw streaming options: Zach Wilson at NE (7% rostered), Jacoby Brissett at BUF (16% rostered), Ryan Tannehill at GB (13% rostered), Mac Jones vs. NYJ (13% rostered), Baker Mayfield at BAL (3% rostered), Matt Ryan vs. PHI (11% rostered)
Long-term stash options: Desmond Ridder (1% rostered)
Running backs
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / GettyIsiah Pacheco, Chiefs| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at LAC | 24% | $100 |
Pacheco makes yet another appearance in this section after playing a season-high 56% of the Chiefs' snaps in Week 10.
His emergence as Kansas City's lead back had been slowly coming to fruition over the last few games. It became fully evident against Tennessee as Jerick McKinnon stayed in his usual pass-catching role (38% snap share) while Clyde Edwards-Helaire was relegated to just four offensive plays (6% snap share).
The result was a 16-carry, 82-yard performance from Pacheco, whose final fantasy numbers were only diminished by a fumble.
In addition to an enticing matchup against the Chargers' run defense this week, the Chiefs also have one of the softest starts to the fantasy playoffs with the Texans (Week 15) and Seahawks (Week 16). Houston and Seattle are among the 10 friendliest opponents for fantasy backs.
At this point, time is running out, so there's no reason to be cautious with your waiver-wire dollars. This might be your last chance to acquire a starting running back in one of the league's best offenses and a strong fantasy RB2 the rest of the way.
Rachaad White, Buccaneers| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| on Bye | 44% | $79 |
White has been an obvious pickup for a while, with his playing time and touches creeping up week after week.
When Leonard Fournette suffered a hip pointer Sunday, it opened the door for the third-rounder to show the Bucs what he can offer as the lead back. White delivered 105 rushing yards on 22 carries, and it'll be difficult to put that kind of production back in the box.
Fournette hasn't topped 65 yards on the ground since Week 1, and the team desperately needs more explosive running plays.
However, despite missing part of this week's contest with the hip injury, Fournette is expected to be available when the team returns from its Week 12 bye. That limits White's fantasy outlook to the RB3/flex range in what should be more of a split backfield moving forward.
It's also possible Tampa Bay's coaching staff decides to make a change during the team's time off, giving White a potential post-bye week bump.
He's a must-add if you're in one of the 56% of fantasy leagues where he remains available.
Gus Edwards is at the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.
High-upside backups like Alexander Mattison (40% rostered) and Samaje Perine (5% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.
Flex options: Jaylen Warren vs. CIN (27% rostered), Jerick McKinnon at LAC (16% rostered), Latavius Murray vs. LV (26% rostered), Kyren Williams at NO (42% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell at IND (16% rostered)
Risky flex options: Chuba Hubbard at BAL (31% rostered), Dontrell Hilliard at GB (14% rostered), Rex Burkhead vs. WAS (6% rostered),
Dart-throw flex options: James Cook vs. CLE (18% rostered), Keaontay Ingram vs. SF (0% rostered), Matt Breida vs. DET (1% rostered), Ameer Abdullah at DEN (2% rostered), Justin Jackson at NYG (0% rostered)
Other backups to consider: Isaiah Spiller vs. KC (4% rostered), Zamir White at DEN (2% rostered), Hassan Haskins at GB (0% rostered), Justice Hill vs. CAR (2% rostered)
Injured-reserve stashes: Darrel Williams (2% rostered)
Bye-week stashes: JaMycal Hasty (4% rostered)
Wide receivers
Patrick McDermott / Getty Images Sport / GettyChristian Watson, Packers| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| vs. TEN | 9% | $39 |
Hopefully, you read Week 10's edition of Start, Sit, Stash, Quit and scooped up Watson before his four-catch, 107-yard, three-touchdown breakout against the Cowboys on Sunday.
That type of outrageous scoring efficiency is guaranteed to regress, but the fact that he proved to be a difference-maker while seeing eight targets is extremely promising for the rookie.
Before you get too ahead of yourself, though, just know Watson doesn't belong in the same conversation as this year's top first-year wideouts like Garrett Wilson and Chris Olave.
Watson projects to be more of a boom-or-bust field-stretcher - think Marquez Valdes-Scantling with a higher ceiling. That's enough to put him in the fantasy WR3/flex conversation for the rest of the season in an offense that's begging for a consistent pass-catching threat to emerge alongside Allen Lazard.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at BUF | 35% | $34 |
We're playing the hits in this week's waiver-wire column, with Pacheco, White, and now Peoples-Jones all getting writeups for the second consecutive week.
Peoples-Jones picked up where he left off after his bye week with a five-catch, 99-yard yard effort versus the Dolphins.
That makes it six straight games where he's gone over 50 yards, and four in a row with over 70.
When you factor in the upgrade that's coming at quarterback when Deshaun Watson returns in Week 13, Peoples-Jones has a chance to be a steady fantasy starter for the remainder of the season.
Consider him an underrated fantasy WR3 who's shockingly up for grabs in 65% of leagues.
Kadarius Toney is above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.
Flex options: Nico Collins vs. WAS (13% rostered), Van Jefferson at NO (7% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at LAC (41% rostered), Treylon Burks at GB (20% rostered), Jahan Dotson at HOU (22% rostered), Wan'Dale Robinson vs. DET (36% rostered), Darius Slayton vs. DET (6% rostered)
Risky flex options: Michael Gallup at MIN (42% rostered), Jarvis Landry vs. LAR (19% rostered), Terrace Marshall at BAL (19% rostered), Mack Hollins at DEN (26% rostered), Parris Campbell vs. PHI (18% rostered), Isaiah McKenzie vs. CLE (36% rostered), Robert Woods at GB (44% rostered)
Risky flex options (if healthy): Corey Davis at NE (12% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options: Kendall Hinton vs. LV (0% rostered), Demarcus Robinson vs. CAR (4% rostered), Alec Pierce vs. PHI (24% rostered), Damiere Byrd vs. CHI (1% rostered), Ben Skowronek at NO (0% rostered), Kalif Raymond at NYG (7% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at GB (0% rostered), Sammy Watkins vs. TEN (4% rostered), Chris Moore vs. WAS (1% rostered), Laviska Shenault at BAL (1% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): DeVante Parker vs. NYJ (15% rostered), Randall Cobb vs. TEN (3% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options (if Keenan Allen/Mike Williams are out): DeAndre Carter vs. KC (30% rostered)
Injured-reserve stashes: Odell Beckham Jr. (47% rostered), Jameson Williams (21% rostered)
Tight ends
Michael Owens / Getty Images Sport / GettyFoster Moreau, Raiders| Next Up | Rostered | FAB |
|---|---|---|
| at DEN | 17% | $7 |
The tight end options on the wire aren't the best this week, so keep that in mind when setting your waiver claims.
The good news is Moreau is a competent streamer candidate who came through with a touchdown in his first game with both Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow on injured reserve.
The bad news is that his usage was similar to the three previous games with Waller sidelined. In fact, Moreau actually received fewer targets this week than he had in those contests, meaning Renfrow's absence didn't improve his outlook.
Even so, Moreau has high-end TE2 fantasy appeal as long as the Raiders' offense doesn't completely fall apart.
Cole Kmet is above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.
Streamer options: Juwan Johnson vs. LAR (12% rostered), Hayden Hurst at PIT (48% rostered), Trey McBride vs. SF (0% rostered)
Streamer options (if starter out): Isaiah Likely vs. CAR (22% rostered)
Risky streamer options: Robert Tonyan vs. TEN (47% rostered), Hunter Henry vs. NYJ (27% rostered)
Dart-throw streamer options: Tyler Conklin at NE (14% rostered), Logan Thomas at HOU (6% rostered), Jordan Akins vs. WAS (0% rostered), Kylen Granson vs. PHI (0% rostered), Austin Hooper at GB (12% rostered), Tanner Hudson vs. DET (0% rostered), Tre' McKitty vs. KC (0% rostered)
DefensesWeek 11 streamers| Team | Next Up | Rostered |
|---|---|---|
| Jets | at NE | 20% |
| Bengals | at PIT | 27% |
| Texans | vs. WAS | 1% |
| Packers | vs. TEN | 43% |
Favorable upcoming schedules: Jets (20% rostered), Dolphins (43% rostered), Steelers (19% rostered)
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