Greeting Fantasy football enthusiasts! As we delve into Week 11 of the NFL season, the landscape is reaching its climax. Injuries, standout performances, and evolving team dynamics continue to shape the narrative, emphasizing the significance of the waiver wire for fantasy managers. This week, we dissect compelling options across positions to fortify your roster. Whether you're eyeing immediate impact or long-term potential, this comprehensive guide covers quarterbacks with QB1 potential, underrated wide receivers, and strategic defensive choices.
Quarterbacks:
Jordan Love (Green Bay Packers - QB)
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love has been a bit of an enigma this year. Love began the year with three 20-fantasy point performances, but hasn’t cracked that number since. He’s also been hit-or-miss since Week 2, and at one point, was having to answer questions about losing his starting job. However, this past week he made amends after completing 21 of 40 passes for 289 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions. This was his best fantasy performance since Week 4, and the arrow is starting to point up once again. No one denies Love’s penchant for big plays, and he should have that opportunity in the next two weeks, as the Packers take on both the Chargers and Lions, two shootouts waiting to happen. Even though in the past Love has been terrible from a production standpoint, don’t be scared off. Astute fantasy managers in need of QB help should take a shot and see what happens.
Russell Wilson (Denver Broncos - QB)
Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson has helped lead a bit of a resurgence to the Denver offense over the past few weeks. Despite the inconsistency of the Denver passing game, Wilson has surprisingly been decent. Coach Sean Payton has helped revitalize his career a bit, and even though he hasn’t been great, he’s definitely been a serviceable fantasy option at the QB position. Denver has only faced three teams in the bottom third of the league at defending QB’s on the year, and Russell has averaged more than 22 fantasy points in each of those games, indicating he still has the ability to get the job done. In Week 11, the Broncos take on the first of those favorable matchups since Week 4, making Wilson at the least a very good one-week rental streaming option.
Running Backs:
Ty Chandler (Minnesota Vikings - RB)
In Week 10, Minnesota Viking running back Ty Chandler ended up with eight carries for 27 yards and one reception after starter Alexander Mattison left the game with a concussion. He also had one touchdown called back due to a holding penalty. It’s clear Chandler is a talented back, perhaps even more so than Mattison. With Mattison out for the foreseeable future, Chandler now has an opportunity to take over the starting gig for Minnesota and not look back. The Vikings are rolling right now from an offensive standpoint and face off against two weaker defenses in the Broncos and Bears over the next few weeks. At this time of the year, anytime a starting RB is available on a waiver wire, he’s worth a pickup, and Chandler is no exception. Go…get….him.
Keaton Mitchell (Baltimore Ravens - RB)
Well…that was a surprise. A week after going HAM and basically taking over the starting RB role in Baltimore, running back Keaton Mitchell only had four carries in the team’s loss to Cleveland. The amazing thing though is Mitchell still racked up 66 yards and a touchdown, as the explosiveness continues to be on display. Gus Edwards is now the only thing standing between Keaton and the starting gig in the Raven’s running game. If he continues to show this amount of skill and talent, it’s only a matter of time before he usurps Edwards, as he’s already passed incumbent Justice Hill on the depth chart. Don’t miss what could potentially be your last chance to get him on the wire.
Wide Receivers:
Demario Douglas (New England Patriots - WR)
New England Patriots receiver Demario Douglas has been a starter since Week 7. In his first three games, he had a 78.4% route run rate, a 19.4% target share, & a 1.54 yards per route run rate, which are very good numbers. It’s now clear that Douglas has become the Patriots WR1 moving forward. In Week 10 alone, Douglas had 2.89 yards per route run (84 receiving yards) and a whopping 40% target share (that’s insanely good!). In Week 11, the Patriots are on bye, but then have average to great matchups in Weeks 12-14, where they face the Giants, Chargers, & Steelers, at least two of which Douglas should have a field day against. Fantasy managers in need of a WR3 with upside need to go get him now before the hype gets even bigger.
Noah Brown (Houston Texans - WR)
Houston Texans receiver Noah Brown has been one of the main beneficiaries of rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud’s elite play. He’s had at least six receptions and 153 receiving yards in each of his last two games. These numbers are crazy good when he was considered nothing more than an afterthought this offseason. While his success might be short-lived when Nico Collins and Robert Woods return, Brown still has the potential to be fantasy relevant over the next two weeks. The Texans take on Arizona and Jacksonville, two teams who have been awful against opposing receivers on the year. This Texan offense is something all astute fantasy managers should want a piece of at the moment, and Brown is included in that. A solid WR3/flex play in most leagues.
Jonathan Mingo (Carolina Panthers - WR)
Carolina Panthers rookie wide-out Jonathan Mingo is an interesting stash candidate for those managers with the bench room. Drafted early in the 2nd round by Carolina in this past NFL draft, Mingo has been getting enough volume to make some noise. He’s received at least seven targets in three games this season, and with defenses continuing to focus on stopping veteran Adam Thielen, the potential is there for Mingo to finish the year strong if quarterback Bryce Young can get it together. His matchup in Week 11 isn’t great, as he goes up against a very good defense in the Dallas Cowboys. After that however, the Panthers face-off against the Titans and Buccaneers, two teams who have been generous to opposing receivers. Fantasy managers with the extra bench space should take a gamble and see what happens.
Tight Ends:
Michael Mayer (Las Vegas Raiders - TE)
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Michael Mayer has been relatively quiet since his Week 6 breakout game, as the team has been in flux due to coaching/scheme changes. Under the new regime, Las Vegas has switched to more of a run-centric offense, which isn’t great for receiving options other than Davante Adams. In Week 10, Mayer saw an 18.5% target share and did score his first career touchdown, but only received five targets. In Week 11, he has the potential to be a solid streaming option, as the Raiders go up against a Miami team who has been mediocre against opposing tight ends. Managers with the bench space should consider stashing Mayer, as he could have a few more breakout games to close out the year.
Tyler Conklin (New York Jets - TE)
Tyler Conklin quietly is stringing together a solid season, with steadily increasing involvement in the Jets’ passing game. For fantasy managers seeking tight end consistency, Conklin becomes a viable option. As the volume has been relatively stable, Conklin's role could prove valuable down the stretch. He’s also coming off arguably his best game of the season, as quarterback Zach Wilson continues to look his way as a viable check-down option. In Week 11, Conklin and the Jets will face-off against the Bills, who surprisingly have been middle-of-the pack against opposing tight ends. This could make Conklin a reliable streaming option, as the volume figures to be there even if the production is inconsistent. He’s another solid bench stash and streaming option for managers in need of help at the tight end position.
Defense/Special Teams:
Washington Commanders
While the Commanders defense isn’t particularly good for fantasy purposes, they do have a bit of a juicy one-week matchup in Week 11 when they take on the New York Giants. With rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito at quarterback for the G-Men, the potential is there for Washington to provide very good and meaningful fantasy stats. Even though they no longer have their top two defenders in Montez Sweat and Chase Young (who were traded two weeks ago), this matchup against New York will most likely make some of their backup defenders look good. Managers in need of a streaming defense for Week 11 could do worse.
Houston Texans
While the Houston offense gets most of the attention these days (and rightly so), their defense is surprisingly solid. This up-and-coming unit sacked Joe Burrow four times and intercepted him twice in their 30-27 upset win. With the Arizona Cardinals on the docket for Week 11, the Texans defense has a good chance at providing solid fantasy production yet again. Despite the Cardinals offense receiving a major boost with the return of quarterback Kyler Murray (knee), the Houston defense should still feast, as the Arizona offensive line remains a bit of a mess. This is an underrated defensive unit that could continue to do well for the remainder of the fantasy season, and one that astute managers should seriously consider moving forward.
In summary, Week 11 is a pivotal juncture to shape your fantasy roster for playoff success. Strategic waiver wire decisions can be the key to securing victory in the crucial weeks ahead. Whether targeting immediate impact or long-term potential, assessing your team's needs and securing the right players can propel you toward fantasy football glory. Best of luck!
