Waiver Wire Week 11
There weren’t many significant injuries this past week, but for the second week in a row there are four teams on bye (Cardinals, Buccaneers, Panthers, and Giants) so several players we have come to rely on will be unavailable. If you feel uninspired by your bench then it may be time to make a change. While there aren’t a lot of must-add or league-winning players on the waiver wire this week, there are several options who could help you in Week 11 and a few who might have staying power. Below are some of those names. Some of these players have already found fantasy success, while others look poised to do so. Regardless, all of them are great stashes for your squad, even if they don’t immediately start for you. Here are my waiver wire pickups for Week 11.
Bo Nix (QB)
Denver Broncos, 44% Rostered
Bo Nix is a top-ten fantasy quarterback and yet he is only rostered in 44% of fantasy leagues. It’s hard, if not impossible, to make a case for Nix being left on the waiver wire. Nix has been productive against some of the top defenses in the league, most recently putting up 16-22 fantasy points (depending on format) against the Kansas City Chiefs. He has also had 16 or more fantasy points in six straight games, scoring 20+ in four and even almost breaking the 40+ barrier once. Next to Jayden Daniels, Nix has been the most consistent rookie signal caller, providing a safe floor with immense upside. In Week 11, Nix draws a solid but exploitable Falcons defense that gives up the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. Then one week later, he will take on a vulnerable Raiders’ defense. If you need quarterback help, pick up Nix and reap the rewards for the next two weeks.
Audric Estime (RB)
Denver Broncos, 7% Rostered
It’s strange to recommend two players from a 5-5 team, but prior to this past week, head coach Sean Payton said they plan to get rookie running back Audric Estime more involved and he was good to his word. Against the Kansas City Chiefs, Estime received 14 carries. This was 13 more than the supposed starter Javonte Williams. Estime also played 45% of the snaps, compared to 29% for Williams. These opportunities only amounted to 6.7 half-PPR fantasy points, but brighter days could be ahead for Estime. The most telling part is that Payton chose to trust the rookie in an important divisional matchup. This could signal a solid workload moving forward. Estime isn’t someone you should pick up and play right away, given the volatility of the Broncos running back room. But he is my No. 1 running back target this week, and if he continues to see this level of work he should develop into a trustworthy flex option with RB2 upside.
Cam Akers (RB)
Minnesota Vikings, 20% Rostered
It may seem impossible, but Cam Akers is fantasy-relevant once again. Against the Jaguars, Akers carried the ball 13 times. This was largely due to Aaron Jones suffering a rib injury. The injury to Jones appears to be a minor one, but the Vikings will need Jones to be healthy for any playoff push they’re eyeing. This could lead to more work for Akers. Over the next two weeks, the Vikings will face the Tennessee Titans and Chicago Bears, both of which have trouble stopping the run. With many key matchups in December and January, Minnesota may give Jones a bit more rest in easier matchups. Akers’ resiliency to continuously overcome catastrophic injuries to find his way back to the field is an inspiration. He is now the backup to a marquee player who gets a lot of work and if something were to happen to Jones, Akers could have league-winner potential.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR)
New Orleans Saints, 2% Rostered
We’ve been here before. Marquez Valdes-Scantling has a breakout week, we all fall for it and pick him up off the waiver wire, only to see him recede into irrelevancy. But this time it should be different. Can we expect two touchdowns every week from MVS? Probably not. But with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed on the shelf, someone has to step up, and that someone could be MVS. While he only had three targets this past week, like Shaheed, MVS is always a threat for a deep shot to the endzone, especially with a quarterback like Derek Carr who likes to take shots downfield. We’ve seen Shaheed hit too many big plays with consistency to pass up on whoever steps into that role. This isn’t to say that MVS will become the focal point of the passing game. I expect Alvin Kamara to continue to be the center of this offense, but MVS is worth a pickup and can be used as a flex in the right matchups.
Ricky Pearsall (WR)
San Francisco 49ers, 55% Rostered
This past week the 49ers welcomed Christian McCaffrey back to the fold, and he immediately saw 19 touches and put up a top-twelve running back performance. Even brighter days are ahead for the consensus No. 1 fantasy pick, but that doesn’t mean there won’t be enough to go around for everyone else. It’s always difficult to trust rookies when it comes to fantasy, but in his first action with McCaffrey on the field, rookie wideout Ricky Pearsall was one of the biggest beneficiaries of San Francisco having all their weapons healthy. Pearsall caught four of six targets for 73 yards and a touchdown, including a 46-yard catch-and-run house call that showed off his explosive speed. Pearsall could find consistency hard to come by with so many weapons on the 49ers offense, but San Francisco has shown us they’re capable of supporting multiple fantasy-relevant players, and after what we saw from him against the Buccaneers, Pearsall should be owned in every league.
Dawson Knox (TE)
Buffalo Bills, 4% Rostered
Believe me, I’m as surprised as you are that I’m recommending you pick up Dawson Knox. Through 10 weeks he has hardly been involved in the Buffalo offense. But second-year tight end Dalton Kincaid left last week’s matchup with the Colts with a knee issue and his status is currently up in the air. If he’s out this week, Knox will step into a lead role and draw a Kansas City Chiefs defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position. The Bills were also down Keon Coleman and Amari Cooper against the Colts, and that could be the case again in Week 11. This is an important matchup for both teams. If the Bills are down three of their primary targets, Josh Allen is going to have to find production somewhere, and leaning on a familiar target who he trusts would make a lot of sense. With players like Trey McBride and Cade Otton on bye this week, Knox could be a top-seven option.
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