We’re stumbling into the second week of a hellish three-week stretch of byes.
There were four teams on bye in Week 10. In Week 12, we get a six-team bye-mageddon. In Week 11, there will be four teams idle: the Cardinals, Panthers, Giants and Buccaneers.
The good news is that there are finally some widely available running backs worth your attention. It appears we have a changing of the guard in the Denver backfield. An old friend in Los Angeles appears to be fantasy-relevant once again. And injuries to a couple of starters have put a handful of backups on our radar.
One running back who’s not widely available is Pittsburgh’s Jaylen Warren. The rule for inclusion in this column is rostership below 50% in Yahoo leagues. Warren is rostered in 51% of Yahoo leagues. With Steelers RB Najee Harris sustaining an ankle injury on Sunday, Warren should be snatched up in any league where he isn’t already on someone’s roster.
Let’s go shopping.
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Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Advice: Week 11
Rostership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues, Recommended FAAB bids are based on a $100 budget.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Rankings: Week 11
Note: Players chosen based upon having early-week consensus roster percent below 50%.
Week 11 Waiver Grade: B
RUNNING BACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
Audric Estime (DEN): 3% rostered
- Next Opponents: ATL, @LV, CLE
- True value: $17
- Desperate Need: $29
- Budget-minded: $11
Analysis: In a stunning departure from recent splits, Sean Payton made rookie Audric Estime the lead back in Denver’s narrow loss to the Chiefs on Sunday. The powerful runner from Notre Dame carried 14 times for 53 yards against a tough Kansas City run defense, while previous starter Javonte Williams only earned one rushing attempt. With Williams a product of the previous regime, Payton probably doesn’t feel especially committed to him. Estime is a top priority add with weekly RB2 upside.
Tyjae Spears (TEN): 46% rostered
- Next Opponents: MIN, @HOU, @WAS
- True value: $12
- Desperate Need: $19
- Budget-minded: $7
Analysis: The Titans are sure happy to have Spears healthy. Tony Pollard has handled bell-cow duties admirably, but his workload was sending him to a level of wear and tear Tennessee would prefer to avoid. Spears is a dynamic playmaker himself. He makes big plays as a rusher and receiver and, like Pollard, is more explosive and efficient as a running back in a two-man committee.
Gus Edwards (LAC): 17% rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, BAL, @ATL
- True value: $10
- Desperate Need: $17
- Budget-minded: $6
Analysis: The Gus Bus is out of the garage and back in the Chargers’ lineup. Jim Harbaugh’s team is 6-3 via a potent rushing attack and suffocating defense. Edwards paced Los Angeles in rushing yards in his first game off IR with 55 on 10 attempts. He was on the field for the Chargers’ two rushing touchdowns against Tennessee, but they went to Justin Herbert and Hassan Haskins. I’m adding Edwards to the top of my board this week because I believe the touchdowns are coming.
- Next Opponents: @TEN, @CHI, ARI
- True value: $6
- Desperate Need: $11
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Cam Akers is such an inspiration. His list of catastrophic injuries is extensive, but he has declined to respond to those who have written him off. He has officially usurped Ty Chandler on the Vikings depth chart behind off-injured Aaron Jones. Akers is just as versatile as he is resilient. He is positioned as a potential league-winning asset on a playoff-bound Minnesota team.
Khalil Herbert (CIN): 22% rostered
- Next Opponents: @LAC, BYE, PIT
- True value: $6
- Desperate Need: $11
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Adding a guy like Khalil Herbert is like reading into cryptic texts with a person you just started dating. The 11-toed running back from Virginia Tech was squeezed out in Chicago and arrived in Cincinnati to be Zack Moss‘ seat filler. Or so we thought. His first snap resulted in a fumble on the exchange from Joe Burrow. Herbert never touched the ball again. Part of me wonders if he’s really ghosted or if the Bengals will call on him more often as he acclimates to the offense. I tend to think that if he was supposed to replace Moss, the Bengals would’ve demonstrated that in his deployment. Either way, Herbert is a premium stash behind Chase Brown, who has earned his keep as the Bengals’ unquestioned horse but isn’t exactly built for the volume long term.
Tyler Allgeier (ATL): 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DEN, BYE, LAC
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: If we are to believe that Tyler Allgeier is roster-worthy, he needs to find the end zone more often. Bijan Robinson went nuclear on Sunday, but Allgeier still logged 11 carries for 59 yards and had multiple chances at the goal line. He was stuffed by the Saints each time. Still, Allgeier is a quality player in a good offense with a rock-solid role. He needs to be rostered and would garner a full FAAB dump if anything ever happened to Bijan.
Cordarrelle Patterson (PIT): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: BAL, @CLE, @CIN
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: While I wouldn’t go sprinting to the wire to acquire Patterson, his annoying residency within Arthur Smith’s convoluted orbit is impossible to ignore. Najee Harris went down with an ankle injury on Sunday, and Jaylen Warren isn’t a three-down type of player. Patterson is on the mend from an ankle injury himself, but he is a bigger back with big-play ability that belies his age. The Steelers have a brutally difficult upcoming schedule, but Patterson should at least be in reserve.
Running Back Stash Candidates:
No matter how great Ray Davis looks, Buffalo is riding James Cook. Davis is a powerful player who should be on the field more than he is. Unfortunately, he is nothing more than a stash in case Cook goes down.
James Conner has been a huge contributor to winning fantasy rosters this season. His power and versatility are also going to keep Arizona in playoff contention. His one undesirable quality might be his inability to stay healthy. Trey Benson has looked sharp in spurts this season. The rookie from Florida State is dueling with Emari Demarcado for the trickle-down from Conner’s hearty workload. Benson is my pick as the preferred handcuff because he is more suited for similar volume should Conner miss time.
A team’s running game must be potent for fantasy managers to want to stash the third back in the rotation. Miami is exactly that. Raheem Mostert is back to scoring touchdowns, while it hasn’t affected De’Von Achane‘s RB1 upside in the slightest. Jaylen Wright can step in if either one misses game action and provide a similar home run threat. Since Mostert and Achane aren’t known for their durability, it’s best to make sure Wright lays in wait on our bench.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Written by Derek Brown
Ricky Pearsall (SF): 37% rostered
- Next Opponents: SEA, @GB, @BUF
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Brock Purdy was dealing in Week 10, and Pearsall had a surprisingly nice game. Pearsall played 64% of the 49ers’ offensive snaps while drawing a 16.6% target share and finishing with 73 receiving yards and a score. The majority of his yardage came on an impressive 46-yard reception for a touchdown. Pearsall not only has contingent upside if any of the 49ers’ skill players miss time, but he has a wonderful matchup this week that could propel him to WR3/flex consideration. Seattle has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers.
Elijah Moore (CLE): 8% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: If you had asked me at the beginning of the season if there were any way I would be typing up reasons to pick up Moore in Week 11 as a nice flex play, I would have told you, “Hell no.” But here we are. Since Jameis Winston assumed the starting QB role for the Browns, Moore has had a 23% target share, 1.49 yards per route run, and a 23.9% first-read share, with one top-24 wide receiver finish (WR22). Moore should help Winston have a nice revenge game against a Saints secondary that has allowed the 10th-most fantasy points per game and sixth-most receiving yards per game to opposing slot receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). Moore should also have flex viability in Week 12 against the Steelers, who since Week 5 have quietly allowed the 11th-most fantasy points per game to slot receivers.
Jalen Coker (CAR): 8% rostered
- Next Opponents: BYE, KC, TB
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Coker didn’t finish with a monster box score in Week 10, but there’s a ton to love here. He led the team with 41 receiving yards and a massive 32% target share. Yes, I know this is a Bryce Young-led passing offense, but Andy Dalton could return as the starter any week, which would raise the weekly floor and ceiling for Coker. If the talented rookie receiver continues to earn volume at this type of clip, the fantasy points will follow after the bye. Coker has two beautiful matchups coming out of the bye against the Chiefs and Bucs, who have allowed the second-most and third-most fantasy points per game to slot receivers, respectively (per Fantasy Points Data).
Mike Williams (PIT): 18% rostered
- Next Opponents: BAL, @CLE, @CIN
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Mike Wiliams only played nine snaps and ran seven routes in Week 10. He only drew one target but made it count with a 32-yard touchdown reception. Williams is a priority pickup this week, as his role will surely expand moving forward, and the incoming matchups are glorious. Over the next three weeks, he faces Baltimore (second-most), Cleveland (seventh-most), and Cincy (eighth-most), who all find themselves inside the top eight in fantasy points per game allowed to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Quentin Johnston (LAC): 41% rostered
- Next Opponents: CIN, BAL, @ATL
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Johnston can’t keep doing this, can he? While he only drew an 11.1% target share in Week 10, and Justin Herbert only threw the ball 18 times (thanks to Jim Harbaugh), Johnston still scored a touchdown and finished with 24 receiving yards. That was Johnston’s fourth game this season, in which he finished with at least 24 receiving yards and a score. He has five receiving touchdowns in seven games. Johnston could keep the train rolling in the next three games. Cincy (eighth-most), Baltimore (second-most), and Atlanta (11th-most) all sit inside the top 12 in fantasy points per game allowed to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).
Jerry Jeudy (CLE): 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: In Jameis Winston‘s two starts for the Browns, Jeudy has finished WR37 and WR25 in weekly fantasy scoring. In those games, he drew a 21.8% target share, 27.4% air-yard share and 23.9% first-read share, producing 76 receiving yards per game and 1.67 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). If you pick up Jeudy, do it with the mindset of starting him this week. His schedule the rest of the way sn’t pretty, but in Week 11, Jeudy has a wonderful matchup against a Saints secondary that has allowed the sixth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers.
Adonai Mitchell (IND): 6% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYJ, DET, @NE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Mitchell played well in his first game as a full-time receiver in the Colts’ offense. With Michael Pittman Jr. sidelined, Mitchell played 94% of the offensive snaps, finishing with a 17.1% target share and 71 scoreless receiving yards. He’s worth a pickup this week with an eye toward flexing him against the Lions or Patriots. Detroit has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). New England checks in with the 13th-most receiving yards per game allowed to boundary receivers.
Alec Pierce (IND): 15% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NYJ, DET, @NE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Pierce has been a diamond in the rough this season. He’s had a strong third year, holding off Adonai Mitchell all year. On Sunday, Pierce had his fourth game of the season with at least 56 receiving yards and a score. The difficult part with Pierce is that he has done this so randomly outside of his matchup with Jacksonville that it’s unlikely many fantasy GMs in managed leagues have benefited from his ceiling outings. While no one should be looking to play Pierce in Week 11 against the Jets, he then has two nice matchups against the Lions and Patriots. Detroit has allowed the ninth-most receiving yards per game to perimeter wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data). New England checks in with the 13th-most receiving yards per game allowed to boundary receivers.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (NO): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: CLE, BYE, LAR
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Valdes-Scantling made the most of his 12% target share and 57% snap rate in Week 10. He popped off with a vintage Valdes-Scantling boxscore, with three receptions for 109 receiving yards and two scores. He should be a starter in New Orleans moving forward with the Saints’ depleted WR depth chart. I wouldn’t go overboard with bids this week for Valdes-Scantling, but he does have nice matchups in his next two games, considering his skill set. The Browns and Rams have respectively allowed the fourth-most and sixth-most deep receiving yards this season (per Fantasy Points Data).
Demarcus Robinson (LAR): 38% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NE, PHI, @NO
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Robinson has been giving off 2023 vibes lately, as he has reverted to being a touchdown-scoring machine. Over the last two games, he has finished as the WR18 and WR5 in weekly fantasy scoring, with four receiving touchdowns. Since Week 8, Robinson has had a 15.4% target share, 26.8% air-yard share, 18.5% first-read share and 2.22 yards per route run (per Fantasy Points Data). He has juicy matchups in two of his next three games against the Patriots and Saints, giving him flex viability.
QUARTERBACKS
Written by Bo McBrayer
- Next Opponents: ATL, @LV, CLE
- True value: $5
- Desperate Need: $9
- Budget-minded: $3
Analysis: Lo and behold, my top streaming quarterback for Week 11 is Bo Nix again. The Broncos’ first-round pick draws an opportunistic but exploitable Falcons defense, and this game should be a fun one to watch. Nix has had one of the safest floors among quarterbacks this fantasy season, with plenty of upside in favorable matchups like this one. Not only will I start Nix this week, but he will stay locked in for Week 12 in Las Vegas.
Drake Maye (NE): 13% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, @MIA, IND
- True value: $4
- Desperate Need: $7
- Budget-minded: $2
Analysis: The pattern is clear on when to stream talented rookie Drake Maye. He struggled against elite pass defenses like the Bears and Jets, but was a fantasy revelation against malleable units like Houston and Jacksonville. The Rams are certainly not elite in the back end, so fire up the Patriots’ top draft pick this week. His rushing ability provides both a safe floor and exciting ceiling, while his gunslinger mentality on the field lends even more to the latter.
Russell Wilson (PIT): 22% rostered
- Next Opponents: BAL, @CLE, @CIN
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: The Steelers are for real. I was wrong about everything, but I’m acknowledging it now so we can still use their pieces to win. Russell Wilson has led Pittsburgh to three wins as a starter, rebounding from a bad performance versus the Giants with a decent one at Washington. Baltimore’s secondary is a wreck and will be even worse without safety Kyle Hamilton, who sustained an ankle injury last week. It’s not difficult to expect a 20-point fantasy performance from Russ this week, especially if Lamar Jackson and the Ravens offense click against the vaunted Steelers defense.
Jameis Winston (CLE): 8% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: I don’t love Cleveland’s post-bye schedule for Jameis Winston. I just love Winston. The veteran quarterback always delivers exciting game play, whether good or comically bad. While not my favorite Week 11 streaming option, he’s on the list of choices with the highest ceiling. The Saints are a run-funnel defense, but they aren’t world beaters without recently traded CB Marshon Lattimore.
TIGHT ENDS
Written by Derek Brown
Mike Gesicki (CIN): 45% rostered
- Next Opponents: @LAC, BYE, PIT
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Gesicki has been humming along the last three weeks with a 17.4% target share, a 20.5% first-read share and 2.18 yards per route run. He has averaged 15.8 PPR points per game (per Fantasy Points Data). Gesicki has effectively been operating as the Bengals’ WR2 with Tee Higgins out. While Gesicki will fall down the target pecking order when Higgins returns, he will remain a top-three target on a team with one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL tossing him the ball in a pass-happy offense. That will help him flirt with TE1 value weekly.
Jonnu Smith (MIA): 25% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, NE, @GB
- True value: $2
- Desperate Need: $4
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Since Week 8, Smith has had a 62.4% route share, a 17% target share, 1.76 yards per route run and a 20% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). He has two red-zone targets in those three games. Smith should flirt with TE1 value this week against a Raiders secondary that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Hunter Henry (NE): 46% rostered
- Next Opponents: LAR, @MIA, IND
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Just when we thought it was safe to wade into the Hunter Henry waters in fantasy, he hit us with a disappointing outing. Against the Bears in Week 10, Henry only had one reception for 14 yards after managing at least five receptions and 45 receiving yards in each of his three games prior to Week 10. Henry should bounce back in Week 11 against a Rams defense that has allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to tight ends.
Dawson Knox (BUF): 1% rostered
- Next Opponents: KC, BYE, SF
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Dalton Kincaid left last week’s matchup with the Colts with a knee issue. If he’s out this week, Knox will be Buffalo’s full-time tight end with a mouth-watering Week 11 matchup. The Bills were down Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper last week, and that easily could be the case in Week 11, which also helps Knox. He only drew three targets last week, finishing with two receptions for 40 yards. If Cooper and Coleman are out this week against the Chiefs, Knox is destined to see more targets. The Chiefs have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game and the most receiving yards per game to tight ends.
- Next Opponents: @PHI, DAL, TEN
- True value: $0
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Ertz didn’t blow the roof off Week 10, with four receptions for 31 yards, but he saw eight targets. Ertz has been consistent this season while flashing some upside when the matchup is right. He has at least four targets in every game this season except for two. He has also seen at least eight targets in three games this season. I wouldn’t look to stream Ertz against his former team in Week 11, but Dallas is a wonderful spot to consider him as a priority streaming option. Dallas has allowed the most yards per reception and the sixth-most TD catches (tied) to tight ends this season.
DEFENSES
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Houston Texans: 43% rostered
- Next Opponents: @DAL, TEN, @JAX
- True value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-minded: $1
Analysis: Going into Week 10, the Texans’ defense ranked No. 2 in DVOA, No. 5 in pressure rate and No. 6 in sacks. The Houston defense had scored at least nine fantasy points in three of its last four games. Now, the Texans are about to embark on a glorious three-week stretch of schedule that brings matchups against the Cowboys, Titans and Jaguars. The next three quarterbacks the Texans face are likely to be Trey Lance, Will Levis and Mac Jones. That sounds like a surefire recipe for heavy defensive scoring. Spend $3 to land the Texans this week and you won’t have to worry about finding another defense until the week of Thanksgiving.
Green Bay Packers: 29% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CHI, SF, MIA
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Packers have been a top-10 fantasy defense, averaging 8.9 fantasy points per game. Green Bay has forced 19 turnovers and notched 22 sacks in nine games. Week 11 brings a tasty matchup against a struggling Bears offense that could muster only 142 total yards Sunday in an embarrassing 19-3 home loss to the Patriots. Unfortunately, the Packers are a one-week play only since they have a tough matchup against the 49ers coming up in Week 12.
Los Angeles Rams: 21% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NE, PHI, @NO
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Rams’ defense has been hot, producing 10, 17, 6 and 22 fantasy points in its last four games prior to a Monday-night matchup against the Dolphins in Week 10. The Rams forced eight turnovers and recorded 14 sacks over that four-game stretch. They get a Week 11 matchup against the Patriots and rookie QB Drake Maye, who’s thrown five interceptions and has taken 14 sacks so far this season.
Miami Dolphins: 28% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, NE, @GB
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Never mind that Miami is a bottom-five defense in terms of both DVOA and fantasy scoring. If you want a streaming defense for Week 11 that you can get for $1 (or for a zero-dollar bid if your league allows them), hold your nose and grab the Dolphins. They’ll be facing the hapless Raiders, who have given up 11.2 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses.
Cleveland Browns 39% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Browns’ defense hasn’t been especially good this season, ranking 17th in weighted DVOA and 20th in fantasy points per game going into their bye. But the Browns have a favorable matchup against a Saints defense that entered Week 10 having allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses. Cleveland could take advantage of a New Orleans offense that has been ravaged by injuries at the WR position. The concern is that the Saints will take a run-heavy approach, which could mean fewer sack and interception opportunities.
New Orleans Saints: 34% rostered
- Next Opponents: CLE, BYE, LAR
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The New Orleans defense played competently on Sunday, holding a good Atlanta offense to 17 points and getting three sacks and an interception against Falcons QB Kirk Cousins. Now, the Saints get a date with the Browns and QB Jameis Winston, who in his most recent start threw three interceptions and took six sacks against the Chargers.
KICKERS
Written by Pat Fitzmaurice
Jason Sanders (MIA): 44% rostered
- Next Opponents: LV, NE, @GB
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Dolphins QB Tua Tagovailoa‘s return from a concussion has made Sanders a viable fantasy kicker once again. Sanders had two field goals and three extra points in each of Tua’s first two games back. This week, Sanders will be facing the Raiders, who are giving up 10.9 fantasy points per game to kickers.
Jake Bates (DET): 39% rostered
- Next Opponents: JAX, @IND, CHI
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: As we’ve noted before, the problem with using Bates is your kicker is that Lions head coach Dan Campbell is extremely aggressive when it comes to going for it on fourth down, which costs his kickers FG opportunities. But the Detroit offense is so good that Bates has been kicking a ton of extra points (30 in the Lions’ first eight games). Bates is a perfect 14-of-14 on field goals and hit two long ones Sunday night against the Texans (although both kicks just barely snuck inside the uprights). He gets a friendly Week 11 matchup against the Jaguars, who are giving up 26.4 points per game.
Brandon McManus (GB): 3% rostered
- Next Opponents: @CHI, SF, MIA
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $0
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The Packers had been plagued by kicker woes for years, but McManus seems to have brought stability to the position. He had his first missed kick as a Packer in Week 9, but wet conditions may have contributed to the errant 46-yarder. McManus is 5-of-6 on field goals (with a couple of last-second game-winners) and 6-of-6 on extra points in his three games with Green Bay. The Packers visit Chicago this Sunday for a matchup with a Bears squad that has lost three straight games and seems to be collapsing.
Dustin Hopkins (CLE): 14% rostered
- Next Opponents: @NO, PIT, @DEN
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: The usually reliable Hopkins has missed three field goal attempts and one extra point in his last four games. But Hopkins gets a favorable Week 11 dome matchup against the Saints, who were giving up 11.6 fantasy points per game to kickers entering Week 11. Hopkins is tied to a Browns offense that has come to life with Jameis Winston replacing the injured Deshaun Watson at QB and with the return of RB Nick Chubb from injury.
- Next Opponents: ATL, @LV, CLE
- True value: $1
- Desperate Need: $1
- Budget-minded: $0
Analysis: Yes, we’re recommending Lutz even though he missed two field goals against the Chiefs on Sunday, including a blocked 35-yarder at the final gun that would have given the Broncos a win. In fairness, Lutz had only missed one other kick all season before his nightmarish Sunday in Kansas City. This week, he draws an excellent matchup against the Falcons, who have given up the most fantasy points to kickers this season.
FOOL’S GOLD
Mack Hollins has nine catches for 116 yards and a touchdown over his last two games. But wrist injuries to Bills WRs Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman have thrust Hollins into a larger role. That role figures to be reduced this week against the Chiefs if Cooper returns.
Bengals TE Tanner Hudson had 6-42-1 on seven targets against the Ravens last Thursday night. Cincinnati uses multiple tight ends, and a season-ending injury to rookie TE Erick All might mean more snaps for Hudson. However, WR Tee Higgins‘ impending return from a quad injury will take targets away from the Bengals’ tight ends, and the only one worth rostering is Mike Gesicki.
There were a lot of thrilling moments from the Ravens’ wild 35-34 win over the Bengals last Thursday, including Tylan Wallace‘s 84-yard catch-and-run TD down the sideline. Wallace finished with three catches for 115 yards, but don’t expect an encore from a No. 5 receiver who’s lodged behind Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, Diontae Johnson and Nelson Agholor on the Baltimore depth chart.
DROP RECOMMENDATIONS
Droppable:
Trevor Lawrence is going to miss multiple weeks with an AC joint sprain that could potentially be season-ending. Lawrence was barely rosterable in 1QB leagues anyway and can now be dropped without hesitation.
The ascension of rookie Audric Estime in the Denver backfield robs Jaleel McLaughlin of what little fantasy appeal he may have had. At best, McLaughlin is now a third wheel behind Estime and Javonte Williams.
Dak Prescott will miss the rest of the season with a severe hamstring injury.
Devin Singletary is now backing up Giants rookie sensation Tyrone Tracy, who had another 100-yard rushing game Sunday against the Panthers. With the Giants heading into a bye week, Exchange Singletary for a more useful contributor.
Over his last three games, Bears QB Caleb Williams has completed 48-of-95 passes for 468 yards, with no touchdowns. He’s completed 50.2% of his throws over that stretch and has averaged 4.9 yards per pass attempt. Chicago’s bad, injury-plagued offensive line is part of the problem, but Williams hasn’t been able to get on the same page with veteran WRs Keenan Allen and D.J. Moore. The Bears’ season is in a death spiral. Caleb should be jettisoned in 1QB leagues.
Droppable with a chance of regret:
You hereby have our blessing to drop any and all Chicago Bears pass catchers. Yup, all of them. Bears WRs D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze have all disappointed this season, and TE Cole Kmet has only produced sporadically. Allen will probably be in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday. Moore has been a terrific NFL receiver for years. Odunze is a top-10 draft pick with a bright future. Kmet has been a useful fantasy asset in recent years. But the Bears’ passing game simply isn’t working with rookie Caleb Williams at quarterback and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron calling the plays. The problems are too deep and too numerous to be quickly fixed. Spare yourself additional suffering and bail out now.
Look, we realize you’ve been sitting on Jonathan Brooks for a long time. You’re a bit like Horton, the dutiful elephant from the Dr. Seuss book “Horton Hatches the Egg.” You’ve sat on that egg a long time in anticipation of the hatching. We regret to inform you that the true hatching of Jonathan Brooks probably won’t happen until 2025. Brooks is coming off a torn ACL, and the Panthers have slow-rolled his return. Even when the Panthers finally activate him for a game, it seems unlikely the team will give him a significant workload. Chuba Hubbard has been terrific as Carolina’s lead back and just got a contract extension. The Panthers have no reason to risk Brooks’ health when they’re not playoff-bound. Expect Brooks to get just a small taste of action in 2024 before a more exciting rollout in 2025. There’s really no reason to keep sitting on that egg, Horton.
Remember how excited we were about Xavier Worthy after he scored two touchdowns in the Chiefs win over the Ravens in the Thursday-night season-opener? What a red herring THAT turned out to be. In eight games since that exciting debut, Worthy has had 18-200-2 on 40 targets. He has exceeded 50 receiving yards only once all season and hasn’t added much value as a runner after wowing us with that 21-yard TD run in Week 1. And the wild thing is that injuries have seemingly given Worthy every opportunity to become an important contributor for the Chiefs. Marquise “Hollywood” Brown was lost for the year before the season even started. Rashee Rice sustained a season-ending injury early on. JuJu Smith-Schuster got hurt. It doesn’t appear that Worthy is ready to take on a significant role for the Chiefs.
Don’t drop yet:
Audric Estime seems to have taken over as the Broncos’ primary early-down back. He out-snapped Javonte Williams 26-16 on Sunday and out-carried Javonte 14-1. But Javonte still led Denver’s RBs in routes run (10) and targets (2), so it’s possible he’ll be the Broncos’ primary pass-catching back going forward. That role has value, since Sean Payton’s offenses generally funnel a lot of targets to running backs. It’s also possible Estime won’t continue to dominate carries to the extent he did in Week 10. It’s at least worth holding Javonte until the dust settles.
