Week 11 is now in the books. There are numerous storylines to track, but perhaps the most significant is the players turning it on in time for the byes. There were a lot of defensive fireworks in Week 11, so there are more than a few intriguing names on the waiver wire in leagues of all sizes. Let’s take a look at some of the names that may be worth some of your free agent budget.
Defensive Back
Jeremy Chinn (S – CAR): 14% rostered on Yahoo
Jeremy Chinn is back in the lineup for the Carolina Panthers,[ and hit his stride immediately, recording seven solos and three assists in Week 11. He was snapped up in most of the leagues he was dropped in prior to last week’s games, but the rostered percentage suggests that he is still available in far too many leagues. He should be among the top six or seven most rostered defensive back options. Locked in as a DB1 option for the rest of the season, Chinn is a weekly must-start. Treat him as an elite DB1 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Kyle Dugger (S – NE): 2% rostered on Yahoo
Kyle Dugger was excellent in Week 11, racking up four solos, three assists, one sack, two tackles for loss, and one pass defended. He is back to playing starter snaps and projects as a DB1 option the rest of the way due to his heavy box usage. Dugger should be rostered and started in all competitive leagues. Treat him as a low-end DB1 option for a neutral Week 12 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
Jordan Whitehead (S – NYJ): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Jordan Whitehead was productive in Week 11, tallying six solos and two tackles for loss. He has been inconsistent this season but has now put together strong outings in three of his last five contests. He offers solid DB3 value, and when he is clicking, he can produce high-end DB2-level performances. Treat him as a DB3 option for a neutral Week 12 matchup against the Chicago Bears.
Adrian Amos (S – GB): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Amos had his second straight strong game in Week 11, racking up six solos and four assists. He has produced at a DB2 level over the last two weeks and could make for a sneaky DB2 option down the stretch. The smart money is on him providing something more in line with DB3 value, but as the last two games have reminded us, Amos is indeed a DB2 when playing near the top of his game. Treat him as a DB2 option for a tasty Week 12 matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team relinquishing the fourth most fantasy points per game to the safety position.
Rodney McLeod (S – IND): 0% rostered on Yahoo
McLeod has been heating up as of late, most recently recording four solos, two assists, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. McLeod should be viewed as a DB3 option simply by virtue of his every down role, but now that he is actually producing at a relatively high level, he is safe to plug into lineups as a DB3/flex2 for Week 12. Add McLeod where needed.
Others to consider: John Johnson (S – CLE): 1%, Jayron Kearse (S – DAL): 4%, Will Harris (S/CB – DET): 1%, Darrick Forrest (S – WAS): 2%, Jimmie Ward (S – SF): 0%
Linebacker
Matt Milano (LB – BUF): 9% rostered on Yahoo
Matt Milano was excellent again, this time posting eight solos, four assists, one sack, three tackles for loss, and one fumble recovery against the Cleveland Browns. Milano continues to be inconsistent, but his peaks have been sensational this season, which has helped him bully his way into the weekly LB2 conversation. Treat him as just that for the Turkey Day matchup against the Detroit Lions.
Kaden Elliss (LB – NO): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Kaden Elliss was excellent in Week 11, racking up six solos, five assists, 1.5 sacks, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Elliss has played well enough that he has earned a role even when Pete Werner returns. With that said, as long as Werner is sidelined, Elliss offers high-end LB2 value. He has been producing at an LB1 level in his starts and needs to be rostered universally as long as Werner is nursing the ankle injury. Add the young linebacker wherever possible.
Quay Walker (LB – GB): 10% rostered on Yahoo
Quay Walker continued his excellent run in the full-time role for the Packers, racking up eight solos, four assists, 0.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. His Week 11 production was his best fantasy performance of the season and offers us a glimpse of his elite LB2 upside. Quay is an LB2 option for the rest of the season, even when De’Vondre Campbell returns, and should be rostered and started in all leagues in which you can start two or more linebackers per week. Treat him as a high-end LB2 option for a Week 12 matchup against a Philadelphia Eagles team surrendering the eighth-most fantasy points per game to the linebacker position.
Josey Jewell (LB – DEN): 12% rostered on Yahoo
Jewell continues to stack the counting stats, this time tallying four solos, seven assists, one sack, one tackle for loss, and one pass defended. Jewell has been a stud when healthy this season, consistently providing LB1-level performances. Jewell is an LB1 when healthy and needs to be started and rostered universally. The LB1 in fantasy points per game, don’t hesitate to roll him out there as just that for a neutral Week 12 matchup against the Carolina Panthers.
Frankie Luvu (LB – CAR): 14% rostered on Yahoo
Luvu has been excellent this season and kept up the strong play in Week 11 by tallying six solos, four assists, one sack, and one tackle for loss. The LB5 in fantasy points per game, Luvu should be rostered and started in all league sizes as an LB1. Start him with confidence as an LB1 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against the Denver Broncos.
Others to consider: Krys Barnes (LB – GB): 0%, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (LB – CLE): 5%, Tyrel Dodson (LB – BUF): 0%, Alex Singleton (LB – DEN): 6%, Germaine Pratt (LB – CIN): 6%
Defensive Line
Jason Pierre-Paul (DE/LB – BAL): 0% rostered on Yahoo
JPP was excellent in Week 11, posting two solos, one sack, two tackles for loss, one interception, and one pass defended. He played just south of 60 percent of the snaps and should hover around 60-80 percent most weeks. The sack was just his second in six full games with the Ravens but could be a sign that he is finally getting his game legs under him. JPP should be rostered as a bench stash in all competitive leagues, especially those in which you can start three or more defensive linemen. Make the add where needed.
Leonard Floyd (DE/LB – LAR): 1% rostered on Yahoo
Leonard Floyd was excellent in Week 11, tallying three solos, two assists, two sacks, and two tackles for loss against the New Orleans Saints. He has been rolling lately and is up to five sacks in his last four games and should be started universally while he is cooking, even on providers where he is stuck with the LB-only designation. Fire him up as a DL2/LB3 option for a plus matchup against the Kansas City Chiefs.
Montez Sweat (DE – WAS): 11% rostered on Yahoo
Montez Sweat was at it again in Week 11, this time racking up three solos, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. Sweat is up to three sacks over his last two contests and could be regaining his form just in time for the return of Chase Young. Chase being back on the other side will help open things up for Sweat, who will no longer see as many double teams and schematic focus. Fire him up as an elite DL2 option for Week 12 and beyond. Add Sweat wherever available.
Carl Granderson (DE – NO): 0% rostered on Yahoo
Granderson stepped into a major role for the Saints with Cam Jordan and Marcus Davenport sidelined, playing 77 percent of the snaps to lead all edge rushers. He had a strong game as a result, racking up three solos, four assists, 1.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. Both Jordan and Davenport missed practice all week leading up to Week 11’s contest, and one or both could be sidelined again for Week 12, giving Granderson opportunity-based DL3 value. He proved that he can produce at an DL2 level when given the requisite snaps, so if he gets the tap to start again, he could be a strong option for those who may be dealing with the injury bug. Add Granderson, who is available in most leagues, where needed as a solid depth option that you can start in a pinch.
Trey Hendrickson (DE – CIN): 9% rostered on Yahoo
Trey was excellent in Week 11, recording four solos, one assist, two sacks, and two tackles for loss. He remains largely sack-dependent but is in the midst of a mini-hot streak, tallying 3.5 sacks in his last four outings. He has DL1 upside when he is on, but his lack of consistent tackle production keeps him as a DL2 option. Fire him up as a high-upside DL2 option for a plus Week 12 matchup against a Tennessee Titans team gifting the fourth most fantasy points per game to the defensive end position.
Others to consider: Arnold Ebiketie (DE/LB – CIN): 0%, Deatrich Wise (DE – NE): 10%, Jack Cominsky (DE – DET): 0%, Yannick Ngakoue (DE – IND): 2%, Carl Lawson (DE – NYJ): 0%
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Raju Byfield is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Raju, check out his profile and follow him @FantasyContext.