When you think of suffering and misery, all you can think is Buffalo sports. Whether it was Sunday’s miracle catch, Wide Right, the Music City Miracle (or robbery), or even the infamous “No Goal,” nothing quite compares. Unless you are looking at this week’s waiver wire expecting to find a game-breaker who will be the kind of pickup you brag about to folks at the bar. The Week 11 waiver wire is getting scant and looks more barren than Buffalo’s trophy case. That being said, much like hope springs eternal in Upstate New York, there is hope for your forlorn fantasy football season in the Week 11 FAAB (free agent acquisition budget).
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FAAB Week 11 Waiver Wire Guide
Mid-Tier Targets (25-40%)
Salvon Ahmed was talked about earlier this week and has been the talk of fantasy circles as a short-term fill-in option until Myles Gaskin returns. Ahmed looked like a more explosive back than Gaskin at times as he ran for 10+ yards three times Sunday. That explosiveness and ability to find the hole has Ahmed deserving of up to 35% of your Week 11 FAAB. The uncertainty of Gaskin’s return and how good he looked the past two weeks should have you excited to add him as a set and forget flex for the rest of the season.
The criteria for inclusion in the waiver wire column is typically fifty percent. Somehow Damien Harris has yet to cross that threshold despite three 100 yard games and four weeks with 14+ touches. He is absolutely dominating the running back rushes in New England and Cam Newton is opening up opportunities for him across the board. As defenses begin to key in on Cam near the goal-line this will certainly open things up for Harris to improve on his one touchdown so far. The past three weeks he has had at least one carry inside the ten yard line and will likely see more in the weeks ahead. On the off-chance that Harris is available in your league, go scoop him up now. Harris is the go-to guy at running back for the Patriots, an RB2 the rest of the season, and worth up to 40% of your FAAB
Steady Contributors (15-25%)
Sure, some of y’all read yesterday’s column, but some of y’all did not. Say it with me y’all, Michael Pittman Jr. will be a reliable WR2 the rest of the season. Sure, there is an argument to be made for the Colts’ offense to be a fantasy whack-a-mole. However, Pittman has been dominating snap and target share for them the past two weeks. The Colts did not pick Pittman in the second round to throw to not use him. He has led the Colts’ receiving corps in targets the past two weeks and figures to continue to do so down the stretch. Pittman has all the makings of a reliable WR2 worth 23% of your FAAB. He may be worth more in keeper or dynasty leagues if he is somehow still available.
Sometimes winning fantasy football championships is not about picking up the sexy, big-name player. Sometimes it is about picking up the under-the-radar, unheralded scrapper who just gets volume. Wayne Gallman has been the very definition of a grinder since he took over the New Jersey Giants’ lead back role in Week 7. Since then he has led the Giants’ in running back snaps each week and gotten 13+ touches each week. Additionally, he has found the endzone every week since Week 7. That kind of consistency and production is hard to pass up. Devonta Freeman was placed on IR so this is Gallman’s job now. If he is still available, drop 25% of your FAAB on him and slot him in as an RB2 each week.
Reliable Bargains (8-15%)
Fantasy Football is remarkably cyclical as Nyheim Hines reappears on everyone’s fantasy radars after a monster game. Sure he not seen as many touches in the running game, but he has been surprisingly consistent in the passing game. Hines has consistently been on the field for about a third of the Colts’ offensive snaps. Look to drop about 9% of your Week 11 FAAB.
Similarly to Hines, Rex Burkhead has consistently been on the field for New England. He has been on the field for 40% of more of the Patriots’ offensive stats in six of nine contests so far. He is getting right around ten touches per week and has the capability to convert his touches into touchdowns, six on the season. There is some boom-bust to Burkhead, but he seems to be worth taking a shot on with about 8% of your Week 11 FAAB.
The Buffalo Bills lost a heartbreaker on Sunday. There, obligatory Bills reference out of the way. Cole Beasley has been an absolute monster for the Bills passing attack this year. He has had double digit catches twice and surpassed 100 yards three times. He is currently 16th in wide receiver yardage and has Josh Allen’s trust. With defenses keying in on Stefon Diggs, Beasley has been carving up the underneath. Drop up to 15% of your FAAB on him and be willing to do more in PPR leagues as John Brown is most likely going to miss time.
Each year we think “this is the year that tight end gains depth.” Just like every year before we are all wrong. Logan Thomas has been a surprisingly consistent option in Washington in real life and fake football. Thomas has been targeted at least four times each week, has three touchdowns and is always on the field. Alex Smith seems to trust him and that bodes well for a productive future for the former college quarterback. If you need a reliable tight end option, drop up to 11% of your Week 11 FAAB on Thomas.
Speculative Fliers (<10%)
The Rams’ committee approach is destroying fantasy managers. Darrell Henderson seemed to be emerging as the guy, then Malcolm Brown comes in and vultures two touchdowns. Even stranger is a larger workload for Cam Akers. That being said, Brown has touchdown dependent flex-value and can be had for 6% of your FAAB.
The Seattle Seahawks are still letting Russ cook. However, Pete Carroll still likes to run the ball and Alex Collins has his trust right now at back. Collins ran the ball 11 times for 43 yards and touchdown last week. He also out-snapped Deejay Dallas 32 to 22. Collins seems like the guy for the short-term until Chris Carson or Carlos Hyde return so put up 4% of your FAAB for a one week fill-in.
The weekly raving about Keelan Cole is back! My dad and I spent a solid 15 minutes Sunday on how Cole deserves to be on a better offense than Jacksonville. The Owensboro Flash had two touchdowns Sunday and showcased his speed and moves on a highlight-reel punt return. If you need a WR3, Cole is your man and can be on your roster for up to 8% of your FAAB.
The news broke Monday that Drew Brees will likely miss time. That means it is Jameis Winston’s time to shine in NOLA. The Saints brought Winston in on a bargain-basement contract and now get the chance to turn him loose with a bevy of offensive weapons, a genius coach, and LASIK! Winston will certainly be an interesting fantasy option. If he can push the ball down field like in the past, that could turn this Saints’ offense into something special. If you are just looking for an upside-play, drop up to 10% of your FAAB on Winston.
Jakeem Grant – 4% of FAAB
No Bid/Free Agency Targets
The XFL rides again! PJ Walker could be in line for his first NFL start this Sunday if Teddy Bridgewater’s knee sprain causes him to miss time. Walker is an accurate quarterback who is not afraid to sling it all over. Add in some mobility and he has a nice opportunity to produce as a one week fill-in.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling has been the definition of a boom-bust player and has some opportunities coming up to boom again. If you need a flex play with a massive ceiling, MVS should be available after the Week 11 FAAB run.
Tight end has been shallow and inconsistent this year. So in classic 2020 fashion Jordan Reed is back in vogue as a fantasy option. Reed has been consistently targeted by the 49ers when Kittle is out and looks like he will keep getting work. Scoop him up as a free agent after the initial FAAB run.
Dalton Schultz has had some big weeks and some bad weeks. With Andy Dalton coming back into the fold, Schultz has an opportunity to carve out some consistency. If you are needy at the tight end position you could do worse than Schultz.
With the Bills on bye it is a reach to add any Buffalo player this week. That being said, Gabriel Davis could be an interesting option if John Brown’s leg injury looks bad and will cause him to miss extended time. Davis has been productive in spurts for the Bills and is an interesting end-of-bench stash for the rest of the season.
Similarly to Davis, Rashard Higgins has interesting value as an end-of-bench stash for the rest of the season. With OBJ out, the Browns have shifted their focus to a run-first attack. However, Higgins is seeing consistent work and is worth a stash and occasional flex dart-throw start.
The Dolphins DST has quietly established themselves as DST07 on the season. Heading into Week 11 against a floundering Broncos’ offense Miami looks like a great streaming DST option. Pick them up after the Week 11 FAAB run as a free agent.
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