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Antonio D'Arcangelis | Archive | Email |
Staff Writer


Through The Wire - Week 11
11/13/17; Updated: 11/14/17

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Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business, but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious selections to help your team from week to week while you strive to collect fantasy wins, reach your league playoffs and win the elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp. While I’m a big proponent of making trades to bolster your roster, the waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players who can help your squad and may still be available in your league.

Feedback is always welcome, appreciated and encouraged. I’ll get to as many e-mails as I can.



Quarterbacks

Case Keenum/Teddy Bridgewater, MIN – The Vikings would be well advised to keep Keenum at quarterback after one of the best games of his career against Washington. The journeyman threw for 304-4-2, though the two INTs could be noted as a significant factor if and when the team decides to thrust Bridgewater (ostensibly more conservative in his approach) back into a starting role. Bridgewater was active Sunday but Keenum got the start and continued to play his gunslinger-type of game – making some excellent throws downfield along with a couple of awful picks back-to-back. It’s an interesting situation to monitor, as Keenum is owned in about 25-30 percent of competitive leagues while Bridgewater’s ownership rate is just under that. Whoever starts next week, it could be a high scoring affair against the Rams.

UPDATE: Despite Mike Zimmer’s noncommittal answers during a press conference Monday about the Week 11 starter, the Vikings will apparently stick with Keenum at quarterback to face the Rams. He’s worth a start in deeper formats.

Eli Manning, NYG – Manning had 273-2-0 in the loss to San Francisco, and while the matchup with the Chiefs puts him at risk for more turnovers, he should be able to pile up enough yardage to make him a viable QB2 if he can throw a couple TD passes in garbage time. He’s not an exciting option, but he could post adequate numbers if you’re desperate.

UPDATE: With some of the uncertainty surrounding the status of Philip Rivers (concussion) and the ineffectiveness of QB2s like Tyrod Taylor and Marcus Mariota, Manning is looking more and more like a viable option. He’s still a huge risk, but the Giants passing game is looking better with Sterling Shepard healthy.

Joe Flacco, BAL – Flacco is also in a good spot for production against the Packers, and he’s had the bye week to draw up some plays to expose their vulnerable secondary. He hasn’t thrown for more than 2 TDs in any of his nine games in 2017, and he’s good for at least one of those per season. This could be the week.

Other QBs to consider: Drew Stanton (ARI), Andy Dalton (CIN), Jimmy Garoppolo (SF)

UPDATES:

Jared Goff, LAR – Goff continues his stellar play and is now owned in about 98 percent of leagues. You missed your window to add him before he threw for 355-3-0 in Week 10, his second game in a row with at least 300 yards and three TDs.

Tyrod Taylor, BUF – Taylor was pulled in the fourth quarter with the game out of hand as Nathan Peterman made his regular season NFL debut. Taylor has been named the starting QB for next week and should have no problem eclipsing his abysmal Week 10 numbers (56-0-1 on 9-for-18 passing) in his matchup with the Chargers, but the Bills passing game is looking woeful at the moment.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, TB – Fitzpatrick got revenge with win but only passed for 187-1-1. He’ll be a much better option in Week 11 at Miami.

UPDATE: HC Dirk Koetter said he expects Jameis Winston (shoulder) to return this season, but that’s likely not going to happen for a few weeks. Fitzpatrick is a low-end QB2 with some upside and a lot of risk, even facing a Dolphins team that got shredded by the Panthers in Week 10 –but he’s worth a look in DFS as a contrarian value play.

Jay Cutler, MIA – UPDATE: Cutler threw for 213-2-1 against the Panthers Monday night and is firmly on the QB2 radar for Week 11 facing the struggling Bucs.

C.J. Beathard, SF – The 49ers are reportedly undecided as to who will start Week 12 after the 49ers Week 11 bye, but Beathard’s decent play against the Giants (288-2-1, rushing TD) complicated things as he contributed to his best fantasy numbers of the season and got the Niners their first win. Jimmy Garoppolo, as mentioned above, could also be worth a look if he gets the starting nod.

Austin Ekeler

Austin Ekeler saw 15 touches in Week 10 and was far more effecient than Melvin Gordon (21 touches).

Running Backs

Jamaal Williams, GB – With Ty Montgomery still nursing his rib injury and getting limited touches, and Aaron Jones (MCL) out 3-6 weeks, Williams (5-10 percent owned) projects to be a popular add on the waiver wire this week. He tallied 67 yards on 20 carries against the Bears in Week 10, though the matchup with Baltimore will be more difficult.

Samaje Perine, WAS – Perine should inherit the early-down carries with Rob Kelley likely out for a a couple weeks. Perine has yet to step up in the pros and show the explosiveness he did for Oklahoma last year, and he may not see as many touches as Chris Thompson does in Week 11 facing the Saints. But, if Kelley is still out in Week 12, I could see him breaking out in a big way against the lowly Giants.

Elijah McGuire, NYJ – Matt Forte could be out for some time and McGuire out-snapped and out-produced Bilal Powell in Week 10. He’s on a Week 11 bye but should be involved on the Jets return in a touch matchup with Carolina.

Austin Ekeler, SD – In a bizarre turn of events, the undrafted Ekeler got most of touches in crunch time for the Chargers over Melvin Gordon, totaling 119 yards on 19 looks (10 rushes for 42 yards; 5-77-2 receiving). He also lost a fumble with under two minutes remaining in the game that the Jaguars failed to capitalize. Still, Gordon’s ineffectiveness lately has been a concern and Ekeler (5-15 percent owned) has earned at least an uptick in snaps and touches moving forward.

Rex Burkhead, NE – Burkhead had 10 rushes for 36 yards and hauled in 3-27-1 on three targets and outsnapped Dion Lewis 36-21, with Lewis getting just one more touch on the day. This is still a three-headed committee with James White getting regular looks and Mike Gillislee inactive recently, but Burkhead continues to emerge as a viable flex option in 12-team leagues.

Other RBs to consider: Rod Smith (DAL), DeAndre Washington & Jalen Richard (OAK), Matt Breida (SF), Theo Riddick (DET), Charles Sims (TB), Andre Ellington (ARI)

UPDATES:

Matt Forte, NYG – Forte (knee) went from not practicing Monday but likely to play to missing the rest of the week and inactive on Sunday. Now, they’re saying he’s going to miss several weeks with swelling in what appears to be a significant issue. It’s shame, as he was coming off his best game of 2017.

Thomas Rawls, SEA – Rawls rushed 10 times for 27 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 10 win over the Cardinals, adding two receptions for 12 yards. He’s still Seattle’s best fantasy option at RB, though the ground game has suffered from poor offensive line play this season.

Danny Woodhead, BAL – The bye week gave Woodhead another week to get active in the Week 11 matchup against the Packers. Even if he doesn’t play this week, he’s a must add in all formats.

UPDATE: The Ravens are unsure if Woodhead (hamstring) will be ready to play Sunday, but he’s still worth a speculative add for possible contributions during the fantasy playoffs, especially in PPR leagues.

Rob Kelley, WAS – “Fat Rob” suffered a knee injury (MCL) and a high ankle sprain in Week 10 and could be looking at missing some action, as he was sporting a noticeable limp before heading to the locker room. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: Jay Gruden confirmed that Kelley will miss multiple games and mentioned injured reserve as a possibility – which would effectively end his season. Perine and Thompson both get big upgrades.

Latavius Murray, MIN – Murray had a really nice game even with The Vikings scoring several TDs through the air. He rushed the ball 17 times for 68 yards with a TD in the win over Washington.

UPDATE: The more I look at the matchup with the Rams, the more I think Week 11 will be a Jerick McKinnon game, but I’ve been wrong before. Perhaps Murray is best used as an RB3/flex play.

Corey Clement, PHI – The Eagles were on a Week 10 bye but Clement is expected to contribute against Dallas in Week 11.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Corey Davis, TEN – Davis had just 4-48-0 despite being targeted 10 times by Marcus Mariota in the game, and lost a fumble through the end zone on would have been a 19-yard TD reception. He’s got a great schedule the rest of the way (@PIT, @IND, HOU, @ARI, @SF, LAR) and could be a difference maker WR3 for owners in the fantasy playoffs despite his inconsistencies thus far.

Chester Rogers, IND – Rogers finished Week 10 with 6-104-1 on Sunday, catching all six balls thrown his way and shredding the Steelers secondary on a big TD reception that showed off his abilities after the catch. The second-year player’s value is on the upswing as he’s finally recovered from hamstring injury that kept him out the first six weeks. He’s universally available.

UPDATE: Rogers could be a sneaky waiver wire pickup during the Colts bye week, and he’s basically a fantasy unknown moving forward.

Dontrelle Inman & Josh Bellamy, CHI – Mitchell Trubisky is a fickle QB who seems to target different WRs each week, but this time around it was Inman (6-88-0 on eight targets) and Bellamy (2-57-1 on seven targets). With Zach Miller done for the season (and possibly career), you’ll be hearing more from these two in the coming weeks.

Allen Hurns, JAC – Hurns hauled in 7-70-0 on nine targets Sunday and is still available in about 35-40 percent of fantasy leagues. He’s best deployed in PPR leagues since he’s not as explosive as Marqise Lee, but the upcoming schedule is favorable (@CLE, @ARI, IND, SEA, HOU, @SF, @TEN). Editor’s note: Hurns is dealing with an ankle injury and isn’t expected to play in Week 11.

UPDATE: Hurns injured his ankle in Week 10 and is not expected to play this week against the Browns. Rookie Dede Westbrook is ready to come off IR, so we might see him fill in on a few snaps this week.

Cole Beasley, DAL – Beasley had just 2-23-0 in the Week 10 loss to Atlanta but the Cowboys would be remiss if they didn’t work more plays to get him the ball in the absence of playmaker Ezekiel Elliott. Aside from Dez Bryant and Jason Witten, he stands to gain from Elliott’s suspension as much as anyone. He’s owned in about 20-35 percent of leagues.

TE Jermaine Gresham, ARI – Owned in just 2-3 percent of fantasy leagues, Gresham has been targeted 10 times in the past two eek sand is coming off a 5-64-1 game against the Seahawks. He’s a TE2 with some upside in Week 11 facing the Texans.

Other WRs/TEs to consider: Marquise Goodwin (SF), Kenny Golladay (DET), Josh Doctson (WAS), Jaron Brown & J.J. Nelson (ARI), Terrance Williams (DAL), TE Jason Witten (DAL), TE Seth Devalve (CLE)

UPDATES:

Mohamed Sanu, ATL – Sanu had a quiet game with 3-29-0 on five targets against the Cowboys in Week 10, though he’s never been known for enormous upside. With DeVonta Freeman (concussion) likely to miss Week 11, the passing game could be expanded with the Seahawks secondary hurting and focused on stopping Julio Jones. Sanu could be primed for a nice under-the-radar bounce-back game.

Sammy Watkins & Robert Woods, LAR – Watkins was targeted just three times but managed 2-41-1 and Woods had another monster game with 8-171-2, including a 94-yard TD reception from Goff. Woods is looking more and more like a legitimate WR1 in this potent offense, though the entire passing game will face a much stiffer test against the Vikings ion Week 11.

TE Julius Thomas, MIA – UPDATE: Thomas caught just two passes for 8 yards on five targets, but one of them was for a 1-yard score. He remains a TD-dependent TE2 without much upside.

Marqise Lee, JAC – Lee was questionable with a knee injury but had a solid game in Week 10 with 6-55-1 and a 2XP. He’s a great red zone target and should be involved against the Browns, as he has 39 targets and 23-285-2 over his last four games. Lee is 60-75 owned but should be rostered in all formats.

UPDATE: The injury to Hurns could mean even more targets for the Jags’ best receiver.

TE Vernon Davis, WAS – Davis has stepped up in the wake of Jordan Reed’s latest injury woes and contributed 7-76-0 in Week 10. He’s already racked up 30-460-1 on 42 targets this season – excellent numbers for a fantasy TE afterthought heading into 2017 – and there’s still seven games left.

Corey Coleman and Josh Gordon, CLE – The Browns will get Coleman back first, and reports are that his hand is 100 percent healthy. His ownership is creeping up along with Gordon’s, but the former No.1 WR still has a way to go before he rejoins the team.

UPDATE: Cleveland Browns head coach Hue Jackson told the media on Monday that wide receiver Corey Coleman is “all systems go” for Week 11 against the vaunted Jags defense. It’s not a great matchup, so Coleman should be left on the bench until we see how much rust he has and get a better feel for his workload.

Zay Jones & Deonte Thompson, BUF – Jones (knee) ended up not practicing all week and was inactive Sunday, while Thompson had just one catch for 10 yards on four targets. The Bills passing game is a mess and WRs (with the exception of Kelvin Benjamin) should be avoided.