RADIO
Michael Florio's fantasy football sneaky starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 11 of 2025. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
Four weeks. That is all you have left to get your team into the fantasy playoffs. Or perhaps to secure a bye. Either way, the fantasy football season has reached the home stretch.
The good news is that there are only two teams on bye. One is the Saints, so lineups are not being crushed by byes. The unfortunate part is that injuries continue to pile up. If you are a fantasy manager trying to survive some injuries and make a run, there is hope. There are a lot of good streaming options this week!
Each week, this article provides sneaky starts and pivot options to help you optimize your lineups!
Editor's Note: The FFPC Baby Gorilla Tournament is now open, featuring a $100,000 grand prize and a $675,450 total prize pool! This 12-team, Tight End Premium contest uses a 20-round draft format, with the overall winners determined by total points scored during Weeks 15–17. Get $25 to use toward your first entry by signing up through our link. Grab your team now! Sign Up Now!
Sneaky Starts and Pivot Options for Week 11
Joe Flacco has done his best Joe Burrow impression since becoming a Bengal. He has averaged 24.9 fantasy PPG, and in those four weeks, he led the NFL in passing yards per game and touchdowns. In Week 7, he threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns, going for 26 fantasy points against the Steelers. In the year, Pittsburgh has allowed the seventh-most fantasy PPG to QBs.
Jacoby Brissett has averaged 21.2 fantasy PPG in his four starts. That is more than Baker Mayfield, Dak Prescott, Justin Herbert, and many others. Brissett has brought a safe floor with over 19 and multiple passing TDs in every game. He gets the Niners this week, who have allowed five of the last six QBs who faced them to top 19 fantasy points. The last two went over 26.
The @NFLFantasy playoffs are right around the corner 👀@MichaelFFlorio shares his Week 11 waiver wire targets with @MikeGarafolo on The Insiders 🎯 pic.twitter.com/kAjsqObOw9
— NFL Network (@nflnetwork) November 12, 2025
Aaron Rodgers threw for 249 yards and four touchdowns, finishing with 22.56 fantasy points against the Bengals in Week 7. Cincinnati has allowed the second-most fantasy PPG to QBs this season. Only three QBs failed to score 19-plus fantasy points against it. They are Jordan Love, Carson Wentz, and, ironically, Joe Flacco.
Tua Tagovailoa is a sneaky option this week due to the matchup against the Commanders. Washington has allowed the most passing yards and touchdowns and the third-most fantasy PPG to QBs. The Dolphins offense has been clicking more as of late as well.
J.J. McCarthy’s best fantasy game to date came against the Bears in Week 1. In that one, he threw two touchdowns and ran for one, good for 22 fantasy points. The Bears have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to QBs and have been lit up in recent weeks.
RJ Harvey would be a bench elevation to starting lineups everywhere if J.K. Dobbins is out this week. The explosive Harvey has already been featured in the pass game and the red zone. If he were to become the lead ball-carrier, he would be a fantasy RB2 with weekly RB1 upside. It is a tough matchup, but I would roll the dice.
RJ Harvey as the lead back would be the best fantasy situation in this backfield (imo) https://t.co/Zd5yM90pop
— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 11, 2025
Sean Tucker is in play if Bucky Irving does not suit up this week. Buffalo has allowed the fifth-most rushing yards and the most TDs to RBs. What I especially care about is that it allows explosive runs at the fourth-highest rate. In the last two games, 19 percent of Tucker’s carries have been explosive runs. He brings HR hitting upside in this one if given the chance.
The Cardinals backfield is always tricky. Right now, though, Emari Demercado has been getting the bulk of the work. He is the top option if Trey Benson is not activated. If he is, both of them become low-floor flex plays with some upside. The 49ers defense is so banged up and has struggled both against the run and in keeping points off the scoreboard.
Tyler Allgeier brings a low floor, but as the preferred red-zone option for the Falcons, he is always a threat to score a touchdown. Or two, as we saw last week. He now has six rushing TDs on the year, compared to Bijan Robinson’s two. He is a deeper league option in a favorable matchup this week.
Christian Watson brings a very high ceiling in this one. The Giants have allowed the third-most yards to receivers in general and specifically on deep passes. They play man coverage at the second-highest rate. Guess who leads the Packers in yards on deep passes and against man coverage (not counting Tucker Kraft) since returning? Watson! This is a great week for him to go boom.
— Christian Watson (@ChristianW2017) November 11, 2025
Tez Johnson has stepped up in a big way for the Bucs. He has topped nine fantasy points in five straight games, with over 15 in two. He has scored four touchdowns in his last four games. Johnson clearly has the trust of Baker Mayfield, and that could especially come in handy in a game the Bucs could have to throw often. He brings a safe floor and clear upside in what could be a very high-scoring game.
Greg Dortch and Michael Wilson are both in play this week, as Marvin Harrison Jr. is out. While Wilson has been playing over Dortch this season, he is not my preferred option of the two. I suspect Wilson will bounce back outside more now, and Dortch will handle the majority of slot snaps. The 49ers have allowed the second-most yards and touchdowns to slot receivers this season.
Significant injury news: Arizona Cardinals coach Jonathan Gannon says Marvin Harrison Jr. will miss time due to an appendicitis
The Cards have 3 healthy WRs on the active roster in Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch & Xavier Weaver @PHNX_Cardinals pic.twitter.com/tYfFZNIx97
— Bo Brack (@BoBrack) November 12, 2025
Darius Slayton may bring a low floor, but certainly a high ceiling in this one. The Giants are smartly going with Jameis Winston this week. It may not always be the best football, but it is always fun with Winston. He certainly is not afraid to air it out, and Slayton is the go-to deep target for the Giants.
Dalton Schultz had a season-high 11 targets and his 18.6 PPR points last week were his second-best game of the season. Schultz has eight-plus PPR points in all but one game since Week 3. He’s topped 13 in three of his last four and went over 18 in two of those. That is TE1 production. Schultz remains in play this week.
Cade Otton had 12 targets last week. He has averaged 12.2 fantasy PPG since Week 5, with over 10 in all but one game in that span. That is a very safe floor. The Bills may be the toughest matchup on paper for tight ends, but given the usage and that this could be a game the Bucs have to throw, he remains in play.
Dawson Knox is in play with Dalton Kincaid sidelined. He has chemistry with Josh Allen, especially in the red/end zone. With the Bills struggling to get consistent production from their receivers, they have featured the tight end at a high rate. I like Knox’s chances of scoring a TD in what could be a high-scoring matchup.
Noah Fant has averaged 10 fantasy PPG with Joe Flacco. He scored a touchdown and went for 14.4 fantasy points against the Steelers in Week 7. They have allowed the fifth-most fantasy PPG and eighth-most yards to tight ends this season.
Pat Freiermuth went off for 111 yards and two touchdowns in his Week 7 matchup against the Bengals. For the year, the Bengals have allowed the most fantasy PPG, touchdowns, and the second-most yards to tight ends. Given his history of success in this matchup and how badly Cincinnati struggles against tight ends, the Muth is a streaming option this week.
Make sure to follow Michael on X, @MichaelFFlorio.
More Fantasy Football Analysis
Download Our Free News & Alerts Mobile App
Like what you see? Download our updated fantasy football app for iPhone and Android with 24x7 player news, injury alerts, rankings, starts/sits & more. All free!
