“Handcuffing and stuffing” is a phrase we’ve used more than once on FantasyPros waiver podcast that we record every Monday. What it means is that the Thanksgiving season is the time to handcuff your running backs. Thanksgiving is still more than a week away, but if you want to handcuff your most valuable running back this week, you have our blessing.
Why wait until Thanksgiving to handcuff your running backs? Because handcuffing means dedicating two of your roster spots to the RB position on a single NFL team.
As the fantasy playoffs draw closer, getting the backup to a high-value running back makes sense because you don’t want an injury to completely wipe you out at a key position. The handcuff RB probably wouldn’t be as valuable as the star RB, but at least you would preserve some value in the event of an injury.
Early in the season, however, dedicating two roster spots to the RB position on a single NFL team is a suboptimal strategy. You’re better off spreading your bets around and trying to strike gold in a different backfield.
Let’s say you spent a top-three draft pick on Christian McCaffrey. Some fantasy managers believe that if you draft McCaffrey, you should also draft his primary backup, Elijah Mitchell. But Mitchell has no stand-alone value, and he would have been no more than an insurance policy for the first 10 weeks of the season.
Instead of drafting Mitchell, what if you had used that pick on, say, De’Von Achane? Or Kyren Williams? You would have hit on a highly productive RB whom you could start along with McCaffrey in the critical weeks ahead. Not that you necessarily would have struck gold with a pick that might have otherwise been spent on a handcuff, but it’s important that you give yourself that chance.
Now, handcuffing season is upon us. We promise we won’t cluck our tongues at you if you finally grab that backup to your stud RB.
Let’s see what else is available for waiver shoppers this week.
Grade: C-
Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.
- More Waiver Wire Advice
- Weekly Fantasy Football Expert Rankings
- Fantasy Football Start/Sit Advice
- Fantasy Football Trade Tools
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings
RUNNING BACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
Keaton Mitchell (BAL): 47% rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, @LAC, BYE
- True value: $16
- Desperate need: $25
- Budget-minded: $10
Analysis: Despite only garnering four touches in Baltimore’s shocking loss to Cleveland in Week 10, rookie Keaton Mitchell racked up 66 yards and a touchdown. The explosiveness continues to be on display, albeit still blotted out by Gus Edwards‘ heavy share of the backfield. Mitchell has usurped Justice Hill as the team’s preferred scatback, so don’t miss your last chance to find him on the wire.
Ty Chandler (MIN): 8% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, CHI, BYE
- True value: $13
- Desperate need: $21
- Budget-minded: $7
Analysis: I’ve been crowing for Chandler since the Vikings drafted him out of North Carolina in 2022. It appears head coach Kevin O’Connell may have finally realized that Chandler is better than Alexander Mattison. Chandler and Mattison both had eight carries when Mattison left the game with an apparent concussion. Minnesota is rolling right now with Joshua Dobbs at quarterback, and having a home run hitter like Chandler at RB is exactly what they need. I’m bidding aggressively to roster him wherever I don’t already have him stashed. Chandler could not have a better opportunity to smash than with the next two games versus Denver and Chicago.
Devin Singletary (HOU): 50% rostered
- Next Opponents: ARI, JAX, DEN
- True value: $10
- Desperate need: $17
- Budget-minded: $5
Analysis: It was a career performance for Devin Singletary on Sunday. Houston didn’t miss Dameon Pierce at all, giving the Florida Atlantic grad all 30 RB carries for 150 yards and a touchdown. Singletary paid homage to fellow Owl Alfred Morris with the home run swing celebration once he found the end zone. While I certainly don’t expect another monster game from the veteran back, the eventual return of Dameon Pierce does not necessarily mean Singletary isn’t a viable fantasy RB going forward. The Texans’ upcoming schedule is certainly favorable to RBs, so bid with some gusto.
Zach Charbonnet (SEA): 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: @LAR, SF, @DAL
- True value: $9
- Desperate need: $16
- Budget-minded: $5
Analysis: While I do believe the Seahawks will continue to feature both Kenneth Walker and Charbonnet, their next three games are all against stout run defenses. I still like the UCLA rookie to get enough action to warrant a weekly flex start. His four receptions in Week 10 were just as refreshing to see as his nearly eight yards per carry. Charbonnet is going to be the centerpiece of a bunch of championship fantasy teams.
Tyjae Spears (TEN): 40% rostered
- Next Opponents: @JAX, CAR, IND
- True value: $8
- Desperate need: $15
- Budget-minded: $4
Analysis: Sunday saw another nine touches for Tulane rookie Tyjae Spears. He hauled in four receptions for the second consecutive game and ended up with 60 yards from scrimmage. Derrick Henry was completely bottled up, and Tennessee struggled on offense with Will Levis under center. With as many points as the Titans have been surrendering, frequently putting them into pass-heavy game scripts, Spears figures to remain a fringe flex starter or at worst a premium stash.
Leonard Fournette (BUF): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYJ, @PHI, BYE
- True value: $6
- Desperate need: $11
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Be patient. This is fantasy playoffs Lenny. Fournette is going to ball out for Buffalo once activated, and you’ll regret not landing him while he’s easy to afford. Latavius Murray was a huge swing and a miss by the Bills, and it won’t take long for Fournette to assume a large role filled with high-leverage opportunities.
Jaleel McLaughlin (DEN): 25% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, CLE, @HOU
- True value: $6
- Desperate need: $11
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: While last year was the year of seventh-round picks, 2023 has become a banner season for undrafted free-agent rookies. McLaughlin is very similar to Keaton Mitchell in that McLaughlin has already supplanted a veteran who began the season higher on the depth chart (Samaje Perine). McLaughlin has blinding speed and great open-field elusiveness. His role is similar to that of Tyjae Spears, meaning McLaughlin’s range of outcomes is between fringe flex starter and premium stash.
Ezekiel Elliott (NE): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @NYG, LAC
- True value: $3
- Desperate need: $6
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Don’t trip over yourself trying to add Ezekiel Elliott this week, but the former All-Pro RB is worthy of a sneaky pre-bye bid if you see him on waivers. Zeke looked spry in Week 10 with 88 scrimmage yards on 15 touches in a timeshare with Rhamondre Stevenson. The QB situation in New England is a putrid mess, but the running game has been solid in recent weeks.
Stash Candidates:
As expected, the Dallas Cowboys rotated Rico Dowdle in for quite a few snaps to relieve Tony Pollard in Sunday’s easy win over the Giants. Dowdle responded with 79 rushing yards on 12 attempts and a late touchdown plunge. He remains one of the most important handcuffs in fantasy.
Kenneth Gainwell is only considered a stash because most fantasy managers don’t realize how much of a role he has in Philadelphia. Gainwell sees a lot of action alongside D’Andre Swift but is very dependent on game flow. He has scored a touchdown in two of his last three games and would be a very intriguing player if Swift were to go down.
Similar to Dowdle, Elijah Mitchell backs up a bell cow RB. The difference between them is that Kyle Shanahan never lets Christian McCaffrey off the field. Mitchell carries no value unless CMC misses time, in which case he would require the Brinks truck in FAAB to acquire him.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Written by Derek Brown
Demario Douglas (NE): 36% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, @NYG, LAC
- True value: $9
- Desperate need: $14
- Budget-minded: $6
Analysis: Douglas has been a starter for New England since Week 7. In his first three games as a starter, he had a 78.4% route run rate, a 19.4% target share, 1.54 yards per route run, and a team-leading 22.7% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). There’s no dispute that Douglas is the Patriots’ WR1 moving forward, as he put an exclamation point on the end of that sentence in Week 10 with 2.89 yards per route run (84 receiving yards) and a 40% target share. Yes, you read that correctly. A 40% target share. After his Week 11 bye, Douglas has a middling matchup against the Giants, but after that, he should feast against the Chargers and Steelers, who have allowed the ninth-most and the 12th-most PPR points per target to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Douglas should be rostered. Pick him up NOW!
Elijah Moore (CLE): 42% rostered
- Next Opponents: PIT, @DEN, @LAR
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Going into Week 10, Deshaun Watson had played four full games. In those four games, Moore had a 15.6% target share, 14.5% air-yard share, 0.78 yards per route run and a 13.1% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). Moore was pretty much left for dead on fantasy rosters. He didn’t have one week as a WR3 or higher. The best fantasy week he could muster until Week 10 was WR37 in Week 3. In Week 10, Moore finally flashed a pulse with a 20% target share, 44 receiving yards and a score. With Deshaun Watson looking closer to his yesteryear form in Week 10, Moore could be poised to stack some usable fantasy weeks moving forward with upcoming games against the Steelers, Broncos and Rams, who rank 12th, sixth and 14th in PPR points per target allowed to slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Noah Brown (HOU): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: ARI, JAX, DEN
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: HOLY SMOKES! Noah Brown has been on fire, with at least six grabs and 153 receiving yards in each of his last two games. These are bonkers numbers for a player who was an afterthought this offseason when he signed with the Texans. My bids for Brown might be stronger than the ones listed above, considering his recent performances and upcoming matchups, but the worry still exists that Brown will be sent to the bench once Houston’s WR room is fully healthy. Brown has cracked the starting lineup the last few weeks because of Robert Woods‘ absence and, in Week 10, because Nico Collins was out. If Collins is back next week, Brown will return to a backup role. If Collins remains out the next two weeks, Brown could continue to smash against Arizona and Jacksonville, who have allowed the ninth-most and 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Brandin Cooks (DAL): 38% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CAR, WAS, SEA
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Cooks evoked memories of prime Brandin Cooks in Week 10 with a 22.7% target share, 173 receiving yards and a touchdown. This was easily his best performance to date in a Dallas uniform. We’ll see if he can build upon it moving forward. If so, he could be a strong WR3 down the stretch. Cooks could continue to thrive with soft matchups incoming against Carolina and Washington.
Jayden Reed (GB): 21% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAC, @DET, KC
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Reed had another standout game in Week 10, finishing with 84 receiving yards and a touchdown. He’s currently (before Monday Night Football) the WR11 in weekly fantasy scoring. This isn’t his first game as a fantasy-viable receiver. Reed has had six games this season with at least 50 receiving yards or a score. Those are all positives to consider with Reed, but there’s also a downside. Reed played only 51% of the snaps in Wek 11 and drew only a 12.5% target share, which will get lost in translation, as Jordan Love threw the ball 40 times (only his third game with more than 40 passing attempts). The playing time and target volume are big-time concerns for Reed moving forward, as he played only 39% of the snaps in Week 9. With that said, while the floor is low, the ceiling is also high. Reed faces the Chargers and Lions in the next two weeks, who have allowed the ninth-most and the second-most PPR points per target to slot receivers. Reed could easily return WR2/3 value in both weeks.
Khalil Shakir (BUF): 17% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYJ, @PHI, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Shakir has been making the most of his newfound playing time. Since Week 8, Shakir has had a 68.5% route run rate, a 12.8% target share, an 18.2% air-yard share, 2.44 yards per route run and an 8% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). In his two games as a starter, he has finished as the WR24 and the WR32 in weekly scoring. Shakir’s upcoming matchups aren’t glittering, but he is tied to a top-five NFL quarterback. Josh Allen‘s cannon can neutralize plenty of tough secondaries.
Stash Candidates:
Zay Jones is a known commodity at this point. If (which is a big if) he is healthy, we know Trevor Lawrence‘s love for Jones in the red zone. The big question for Jones is when (or if) he will be healthy for the remainder of the season. If your roster needs wide receiver help but you are sitting pretty in the win column, stash Jones. He could be a stretch run difference-maker if his knee complies.
Jonathan Mingo is an interesting stash candidate if you have the bench room. With three games this season with at least seven targets, Mingo has been getting enough volume to make some noise if QB Bryce Young can get it together. After Mingo’s Week 11 date with Dallas, his schedule opens up a bit with games against the Titans and Buccaneers, whose secondaries have been WR-friendly.
A.T. Perry is a player I liked quite a bit as a prospect during this past NFL Draft cycle. His numbers popped in deeper metrics as a receiver who can not only beat zone coverage but also have success against man coverage. With Michael Thomas sustaining a knee injury in Week 10, Perry came off the bench to lead the New Orleans wide receivers in snaps and garner four targets. If Thomas misses time, Perry could become the WR2 in this offense.
Michael Wilson didn’t blow up with a monster game in Kyler Murray‘s first week back, but he did manage an 18.7% target share and nearly got into the end zone. Murray looked fantastic in his return. The arrow is pointing up for Wilson, so stash him now before the big game happens.
QUARTERBACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
Matthew Stafford (LAR): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: SEA, @ARI, CLE
- True value: $5
- Desperate need: $9
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Shame on me for believing the optimism in Sean McVay’s voice regarding Matthew Stafford‘s availability in Week 11. The next two games for Los Angeles after their bye are an appetizing opportunity to stream Stafford. Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua need their QB back.
Russell Wilson (DEN): 46% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, CLE, @HOU
- True value: $4
- Desperate need: $8
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: Part of Denver’s resurgence can be directly attributed to Wilson’s performance. The Broncos have only faced three teams in the bottom third of the league at defending QBs. Wilson has averaged more than 22 fantasy points in those games. Minnesota in Week 11 offers the first of those favorable matchups since Week 4, making Russ a great one-game fantasy rental.
Jordan Love (GB): 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAC, @DET, KC
- True value: $3
- Desperate need: $6
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Love began this season with three 20-point fantasy performances. He hasn’t cracked that number since. That is likely to change in the next two games. The Chargers and Lions are both shootout games waiting to happen, and nobody denies Love’s penchant for big plays. It has been the long stretches of abysmal production and frequent instances of poor decision-making that have scared everyone off of Love in fantasy. Don’t be afraid to take an upside shot on Love for a couple of weeks.
Stash Candidates: N/A
Stream, don’t stash! Only add a QB off waivers to plug right in as a starter, saving those precious bench spots for sleeper cells at the skill positions.
TIGHT ENDS
Written by Derek Brown
Michael Mayer (LV): 10% rostered
- Next Opponents: @MIA, KC, BYE
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Mayer has been relatively quiet since his Week 6 breakout game, as the team has been in transition. The Raiders have transformed from a pass-happy squad to a run-centric offense, which isn’t great for every receiving option not named Davante Adams. Mayer saw an 18.5% target share in Week 10 and scored, but that target share only amounted to five targets. Mayer is a touchdown-or-bust streaming option at this point, but this week’s matchup offers reason to have hope and stream him. Miami has allowed the 12th-most fantasy points per game and the seventh-most receiving yards to tight ends.
Luke Musgrave (GB): 23% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAC, @DET, KC
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Musgrave has now stacked back-to-back games with at least 51 receiving yards. The target volume still isn’t great, as he has only averaged four targets over his last two games, but his upcoming matchups make him a lively streaming option. The Chargers and Lions have allowed the 10th-most and the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Tyler Conklin (NYJ): 11% rostered
- Next Opponents: @BUF, MIA, ATL
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Conklin is coming off arguably his best game of the season with seven grabs and 70 receiving yards, which are both season highs. Volume has been relatively stable for Conklin, as he now has four games this season with at least six targets. Even as a one-week streaming option, Conklin has some intrigue this week against Buffalo, who, since Week 5, has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Daniel Bellinger (NYG): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: @WAS, NE, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Bellinger makes this list as a deep league or desperation streaming option because of his Week 11 matchup. Yes, I know it’s gross, but hey, welcome to the TE position in 2023. Bellinger has had at least 34 receiving yards in each of his last two games. If you stack a touchdown on top of either of those weeks, he could have put up low-end TE1 numbers. Bellinger could be end zone dancing this week against the Commanders, who since Week 5 have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game and the most receiving touchdowns per game to tight ends.
Stash Candidates: None
DEFENSES
Detroit Lions: 30% rostered
- Next Opponents: CHI, GB, @NO
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The Detroit defense didn’t cover itself in glory with its lackluster performance in the Lions’ 41-38 win over the Chargers on Sunday. But Detroit went into that game ranked a respectable 14th in defensive fantasy scoring and eighth in defensive DVOA. The draw here is a Week 11 home matchup against the Bears, who had allowed 12.1 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses entering Week 10. Bears QB Justin Fields is likely to come back from a thumb injury this week. Field absorbed an NFL-high 55 sacks last season. So far this year, Bears quarterbacks have been sacked 30 times and have thrown 12 interceptions in 10 games. The Lions’ defense also has a playable Week 12 matchup against the Packers on Thanksgiving Day.
Miami Dolphins: 37% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, @NYJ, @WSH
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $3
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Miami defense is averaging a modest 6.2 fantasy points per game, but the Dolphins get an appealing home matchup against the Raiders this week. Las Vegas has turned to rookie fourth-round pick Aidan O’Connell at quarterback. In his first two NFL starts, O’Connell has thrown no touchdown passes and one interception while taking seven sacks. The Dolphins then have a nice Week 12 matchup against QB Zach Wilson and the Jets, followed by a playable Week 13 matchup against oft-sacked QB Sam Howell and the Commanders.
Washington Commanders: 21% rostered
- Next Opponents: NYG, @DAL, MIA
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Washington defense isn’t particularly good in fantasy or in real life, but Week 11 brings the Commanders a primo matchup against the Giants and their hapless, injury-depleted offense. With Daniel Jones done for the year with a torn ACL and Tyrod Taylor on IR with an injury to his ribs, the Giants have been forced to turn to undrafted rookie Tommy DeVito at quarterback. In his first NFL start, DeVito was sacked five times, intercepted once, and completed 14-of-27 passes for 86 yards and two touchdowns (one of which was a garbage-time special with 6 seconds left in the game) Sunday against the Cowboys. The matchup makes Washington a top-10 defense this week even though the Commanders traded away two of their best defenders, Montez Sweat and Chase Young, two weeks ago.
Jacksonville Jaguars: 20% rostered
- Next Opponents: TEN, @HOU, CIN
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The San Francisco offense made the Jacksonville defense look amateurish in Week 10, rolling up 34 points and 437 yards. But the Jaguars’ defense had gone into Week 10 ranked third in DVOA and tied for seventh in fantasy points per game. The Titans probably aren’t capable of marching up and down the field on the Jaguars the way the 49ers did, and rookie QB Will Levis is going to make his share of mistakes for Tennessee while he gets accustomed to processing NFL defenses. Levis was terrific in his first start, throwing four TD passes and no interceptions against the Falcons. But in two starts since then, Levis has been sacked eight times and has thrown two interceptions.
Minnesota Vikings: 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, CHI, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: QB Joshua Dobbs has been the headline-grabber for the Vikings the last two weeks, but defensive coordinator Brian Flores has been Minnesota’s unsung hero all season. The Vikings’ perennially soft defense is no longer a pushover. Minnesota entered Week 10 ranked 10th in defensive DVOA and 13th in defensive fantasy scoring. The Vikings get a decent Week 11 matchup against a Denver offense that has given up 8.3 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
Houston Texans: 5% rostered
- Next Opponents: ARI, JAX, DEN
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Texans’ up-and-coming defense sacked Joe Burrow four times and intercepted him twice Sunday in Houston’s 30-27 upset of Cincinnati. The Texans return home in Week 11 for a matchup against the Cardinals. Arizona’s offense has become more formidable now that QB Kyler Murray has returned from a torn ACL, but the Cardinals entered Week 10 having given up the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, and they gave up the 11th-most fantasy points to opposing defenses last year with Murray at quarterback for most of the season.
Stash Candidates: None.
KICKERS
Jake Moody (SF): 25% rostered
- Next Opponents: TB, @SEA, @PHI
- True value: $2
- Desperate need: $3
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: After enduring a case of the yips early in the season, Moody is a perfect 11-of-11 on field goals and 13-of-13 on extra points over his last four games. The San Francisco offense is a high-powered machine that should continue to give Moody ample scoring opportunities.
Nick Folk (TEN): 24% rostered
- Next Opponents: @JAX, CAR, IND
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Folk ranked sixth among kickers in fantasy points per game (10.0) going into Week 10. He’s kicked multiple field goals in 7-of-9 games and Folk hadn’t missed a kick all year until he failed to convert a 51-yard FG attempt Sunday against the Buccaneers. In the three games that rookie QB Will Levis has started for the Titans, Folk has kicked five field goals and five extra points. Folk is a solid Week 11 streaming option in a warm-weather game against the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
Will Lutz (DEN): 3% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, CLE, @HOU
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Lutz is averaging 7.3 fantasy points per game and has posted only one double-digit point total this season, but Lutz gets a friendly home matchup against the Vikings this week. Minnesota entered Week 9 having allowed a league-high 11.6 fantasy points per game to kickers.
Jason Sanders (MIA): 26% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, @NYJ, @WSH
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: You’d think being connected to Miami’s high-powered offense would be lucrative for a kicker. Not so for Sanders this year. He’s averaging 6.8 fantasy points per game and hasn’t produced a double-digit point total since Week 3. The Dolphins should be able to put up plenty of points this week in a home game against the Raiders. The question is whether Sanders can cash in. He’s kicked only three field goals in his last seven games (but he’s booted 30 extra points over that span).
Greg Joseph (MIN): 11% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, CHI, BYE
- True value: $1
- Desperate need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Vikings have been getting Joseph plenty of scoring opportunities. He’s had at least three FG attempts and two extra-point tries in each of his last five games. Joseph’s problem is that he doesn’t always cash in on his opportunities. He’s 14-of-20 on field goals and 24-of-26 on extra points this year. Joseph gets a nice Week 11 matchup against the Broncos, who were giving up 10.2 fantasy points per game to opposing kickers entering Week 10, second-most in the league.
Stash Candidates: None.
FOOL’S GOLD
Beckham has scored a touchdown in each of his last two games. However, he’s topped 50 yards only once this season, and his 40-yard touchdown was his only reception in Week 10. OBJ is averaging 4.4 targets a game, and he had a 33% snap share Sunday vs. the Browns. He’s simply not seeing enough snaps or target volume to be fantasy-viable.
With Tee Higgins out with a hamstring injury in Week 10, Trenton Irwin joined Ja’Marr Chase and Tyler Boyd in three-receiver sets. Irwin had 2-54-1, including a 32-yard TD catch, but he was targeted only four times on Joe Burrow‘s 40 pass attempts. Even if Higgins misses Cincinnati’s Thursday-night game in Week 11, Irwin wouldn’t be a very appealing start against a tough Baltimore defense.
DROP RECOMMENDATIONS
Droppable:
Patriots head coach Bill Belichick benched Mac Jones late in the Patriots’ discouraging 10-6 loss to the Colts Sunday in Germany. Jones completed 15-of-20 passes for 170 yards with no touchdowns, one interception and five sacks. Bailey Zappe finished the game for New England and threw an interception of his own on the Patriots’ final possession. It’s unclear who’ll start at quarterback for the Pats in Week 11, but even if Belichick reinserts Jones, the risk of another benching would make him an unappealing option. Jones is averaging 11.8 fantasy points per game.
K.J. Osborn missed Week 9 after sustaining a concussion in Week 9. He cleared concussion protocol last week, but the Vikings held him out anyway. The recommendation to drop Osborn isn’t injury-related, though. Justin Jefferson should be back from a hamstring injury soon, and TE T.J. Hockenson and rookie WR Jordan Addison have been drawing ample targets. There just aren’t enough targets left to keep Osborn rosterable.
Droppable with a chance of regret:
The Ravens have gone from a two-man backfield with Gus Edwards and Justice Hill to a messy three-man backfield with Edwards, Hill and speedy rookie Keaton Mitchell. In the Ravens’ loss to the Browns on Sunday, Edwards played 28 of Baltimore’s 54 offensive snaps, Hill played 14 and Mitchell 13. Mitchell has scored long touchdowns in each of his last two games, and his penchant for big plays could marginalize Hill even further. You probably won’t regret dropping Hill to make room for a player with greater potential.
Quentin Johnston scored his first NFL touchdown on Sunday, but he still hasn’t been able to carve out a meaningful role for himself even with Chargers WRs Mike Williams and Josh Palmer both hurt. Johnston had 4-34-1 on four targets against the Lions. WR Jaylen Guyton out-targeted Johnston 6-4 on Sunday – not an encouraging sign for QJ stakeholders hoping for a breakthrough. It seems unlikely we’ll see a breakthrough before the fantasy season ends a month and a half from now.
Miles Sanders‘ snap shares have been below 40% in three straight games, as he’s fallen behind Chuba Hubba on the Panthers’ depth chart. Sanders had just two carries and two targets last week in the Panthers’ Thursday-night loss to the Bears. It’s possible the Panthers recalibrate the division of labor in their backfield at some point, but even if they increase Sanders’ workload, the Carolina backfield just hasn’t generated much fantasy value this year.
Don’t drop yet:
The roller-coaster season continues for Jahan Dotson. The Commanders’ second-year receiver had 43 or fewer receiving yards in each of his first seven games. In Weeks 8-9, he had 12-177-2 on 18 targets and was WR4 in fantasy scoring (0.5 PPR) over that span. But Dotson went cold again in Week 10, with two targets and zero catches against Seattle. Dotson played more snaps and ran more routes than any other Washington receiver, so it’s not as if his role was being reduced. It’s fine if you don’t want to start Dotson in Week 11, but don’t cut him yet.
The frustration of Calvin Ridley investors is palpable. A consensus top-20 receiver during fantasy draft season, Ridley entered Week 9 as the WR39 in fantasy scoring and had 2-20-0 on three targets against the 49ers in Week 10. Ridley hasn’t strung together two good games all season. But Ridley has fared better when Jaguars WR Zay Jones has played. Jones has been dealing with a knee injury but could be back in Week 11. Hang onto Ridley and see if Jones’ return gives Ridley’s fantasy stock a needed boost.
Christian Watson has produced 37 or fewer receiving yards in five of his six games this season. He had 2-23-0 against the Steelers on Sunday, but he drew a team-high seven targets. Watson is an uber-talented young receiver, and we remain convinced that he’ll perk up eventually.
Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts | SoundCloud | iHeartRadio