By this point into the season, the waiver wire usually serves two purposes. For winning teams, it serves as a key element towards adding depth in anticipation of a potential playoff run. Assuming competitive teams have stacked rosters, waivers can also assist with filling out lineups during these rough bye weeks.
The waiver wire can also be a life preserver for struggling teams that are on the fringes of the playoffs. Lousy drafts, injuries, bad luck…lots of events can combine to torpedo a fantasy roster. It’s the owners who are willing to put in the work to overcome those obstacles that utilize the waiver wire for mere survival.
Regardless of which camp you’re in, it’s important to stay informed and to remain proactive. Using ownership data from our friends at Yahoo, here are some potential waiver wire options to target for Week 11.
Week 11 byes: Buffalo, Cleveland, Miami, New England, New York Jets, San Francisco
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Quarterbacks
Dak Prescott (DAL) 34% owned (8% FAAB)
After a rough start, Prescott has been much better over his past four games. Starting with the Cowboys’ Week 6 thrashing of the Jaguars vaunted defense, Prescott has averaged 276 total yards per game and accounted for two-plus touchdowns in all four games.
Prescott should keep the positive momentum going in Week 11 as Dallas travels to Atlanta to take on a scuffling Falcons’ secondary that allows the third-most fantasy points to opposing passers, including an NFL-high 21 touchdowns passes allowed so far in 2018.
The Falcons have also allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs, so that should allow for an extremely positive game plan for Prescott and company. Of course, it’s dangerous to assume Scott Linehan can take advantage in terms of designing a plan of attack, but Prescott is an enticing streaming option nonetheless.
Joe Flacco (BAL) 24% owned (5% FAAB)
Perhaps no quarterback needed a bye week more than Flacco, who was marred in a month-long slump after a fast start to the 2018 campaign. The Ravens dropped four-of-five prior to their Week 10 bye and Flacco averaged just 243 yards per game with four touchdowns and four interceptions over that span.
In addition to a well-needed week off to retool, Flacco and the Ravens have the perfect ‘get well’ matchup right out of the gate. Baltimore plays host to a Cincinnati defense that has allowed the most fantasy points to quarterbacks, including an NFL-worst 24 total touchdowns surrendered to the position.
Back in Week 2, Flacco put up a season-best 376 passing yards and two TD strikes against this secondary. In four road games this season, the Bengals are surrendering 335 total yards per game and have given up 13 total touchdowns to quarterbacks.
Ryan Tannehill (MIA) 3% owned (1% FAAB)
Don’t add Tannehill if you’re looking for a Week 11 streamer. The Dolphins are on their bye, so Tannehill isn’t going to do you any good this week. Tannehill is expected to return to the starting lineup following the bye and is worth a proactive add in two-QB leagues.
In terms of fantasy points per game, Tannehill ranks near the bottom, ahead of the rookies and Marcus Mariota. But he played much better than Brock Osweiler has in Tannehill’s place and should be an overall improvement for Miami’s offense. Miami’s next three games at Indianapolis and versus Buffalo and New England set up nicely for Tannehill to be a decent QB2 down the stretch.
Running Backs
Rashaad Penny (SEA) 14% owned (15% FAAB)
Before we all get too excited, consult rule 116B of your preseason fantasy football handbook: Never trust Pete Carroll. With Chris Carson (hip) inactive against the Rams, it was Penny, not Mike Davis, who had the breakout game. Penny rushed 12 times for 108 yards and scored his first NFL touchdown from 18 yards out.
But Penny was also out-snapped by Davis 39 to 27 and Davis also generated 80 yards on 15 touches. As good as Penny looked, he’s easily been well behind Seattle’s veteran running backs all season. With Carson likely back for Week 11, there’s no telling how Carroll will divvy the touches against the Packers.
It’s also a Thursday matchup for the Seahawks this week, which could easily affect how the club approaches the backfield touches. Penny finally flashed some of that talent that caused him to be a first-rounder and is certainly worth a priority waiver add but also proceed with caution.
Josh Adams (PHI) 13% owned (6% FAAB)
Adams continues to be a bigger piece of Philadelphia’s committee backfield. While Wendell Smallwood’s snaps have declined in each of the past four games, Adams’ snaps have increased. Adams led the Eagles in carries for the first time in Week 10, rushing seven times for 47 yards and displaying some burst against the Cowboys.
Doug Pederson isn’t likely to move away from this committee, but Adams is the player that appears to be trending up and also has the size to be a potential option in short-yardage situations.
D’Onta Foreman (HOU) 12% owned (4% FAAB)
Foreman hasn’t played in nearly a year but is expected to begin practicing as soon as this week. The Texans must feel comfortable about Foreman’s potential availability, as they released Tyler Ervin during the bye, which leaves Houston with only Lamar Miller and Alfred Blue in the backfield.
There’s still no definitive timetable for Foreman’s potential return, so he’s merely a speculative add for teams that have a spare roster spot. He flashed some solid ability down the stretch last season, so the door is open for a role if/when Foreman is healthy enough to take the field.
Elijah McGuire (NYJ) 18% owned (1% FAAB)
Not much went right for the Jets in Week 10 but McGuire has led New York’s backfield in snaps and total yards in each of his two games since being activated. McGuire, who is averaging 6.5 carries and three grabs each week, is doing an admirable job filling the Bilal Powell role for the Jets.
The Jets are off this week but have a schedule that sets up nicely for pass-catching backs starting in Week 12 against the Patriots. McGuire is worth a proactive, minimal bid for PPR fantasy leaguers looking for running back depth for the playoffs.
Wide Receivers
Anthony Miller (CHI) 13% owned (10% FAAB)
Miller has surpassed the 70% snap threshold in each of Chicago’s past three games. What’s interesting was that Miller hit that mark again in Week 10, even with Allen Robinson back in the lineup. 70% of Miller’s routes this season have come out of the slot, so when the Bears run three-wide sets, Miller is commanding plenty of targets.
The Bears actually employ three-wide sets 66% of the time, which is above average. Miller has corralled three-plus grabs in the past three games and just produced a career-best 122 receiving yards against the Lions.
Chicago has a tough matchup in Week 11 versus the Vikings, but after that, the schedule sets up nicely for Miller with games against those same Lions and the Rams in the next two weeks.
Josh Reynolds (LAR) 1% owned (10% FAAB)
Unfortunately, Cooper Kupp’s latest knee injury is of the season-ending variety. When Kupp missed Week 7 and 8 with his first injury, Reynolds played 86.3% of LA’s snaps, predominantly on the outside opposite of Brandin Cooks.
While Reynolds only contributed four catches in those two games with an expanded role, he did catch a pair of touchdowns, and he’s going to see a huge snap count moving forward for one of the NFL’s top offensive squads. Reynolds offers WR3/4 value on a week-to-week basis.
Willie Snead (BAL) 29% owned (6% FAAB)
Snead doesn’t have the highest ceiling, but he’s been a solid source of targets and receptions for the Ravens. Snead has recorded three-plus grabs in each of the Ravens’ nine games and surpassed 50 receiving yards in six out of the past eight contests.
Coming out of their bye, the Ravens also have a fantastic schedule down the stretch. After facing a Cincinnati secondary that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers, Baltimore then faces Oakland, Atlanta, Kansas City, and Tampa Bay. Snead should continue to be a reliable source for fantasy production for the remainder of the fantasy season.
Keke Coutee (HOU) 19% owned (5% FAAB)
The rookie slot receiver has been limited to just four games and is reportedly not planning to play until his hamstring is fully healed. Houston just had their bye, so the hope is that the extra week off moved Coutee one week closer to returning to the lineup.
Now that the Texans have Demaryius Thomas to fill in for Will Fuller, Coutee should see favorable coverage out of the slot. Houston has one of the easiest schedules in the league down the stretch, so Coutee should see plenty of opportunities to recapture the Week 1 and 2 magic.
Brandon Marshall (SEA) 7% owned (4% FAAB)
Marshall reportedly impressed last week when he was one of a handful of veteran wideouts to workout for the Saints. New Orleans ultimately elected to sign Dez Bryant, but Bryant’s season ended before he was able to take the field.
Now that he’s signed with the potent Saints, Marshall may be able to add some red zone presence to a receiving corps that is lacking in proven weapons behind Michael Thomas. Marshall doesn’t have a lot left in the tank, but he should add some much-needed depth and may finally be in position to be on his first team that garners a postseason victory.
Tight Ends
Jeff Heuerman (DEN) 5% owned (7% FAAB)
Over the past three weeks, Heuerman has been a top-10 fantasy tight end, hauling in 11-of-16 targets for 87 yards and a pair of touchdowns. And that has come in just two games as the Broncos were off last week.
Heuerman is seeing significant snaps and leads the Broncos with 12 red zone targets, which ranks fourth among all NFL tight ends. Prior to their Week 10 bye, Heuerman caught a career-high 10 balls against Houston, who has allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to tight ends. Over the next five games, the Broncos face the Steelers, Bengals, Browns, and Raiders, who all rank in the bottom 10 in terms of allowing fantasy points to the position.
Jonnu Smith (TEN) 1% owned (4% FAAB)
Filling in for Delaine Walker, Smith has played a whopping 81.5% of Tennessee’s snaps this season, but it wasn’t until recently that he started having much of a role in the passing game with the surging Titans’ offense. Smith has scored in back-to-back games and recorded multiple receptions in three straight.
For Week 11, the Titans travel to Indianapolis to take on a Colts defense that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.
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Jody Smith is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Jody, check out his archive and follow him @JodySmithNFL.
