RADIO
Welcome to Week 11 everyone. As we move closer to the fantasy playoffs, fantasy owners need to prepare for the final push and decide their strategy going into the stretch run. With Devonta Freeman (concussion) looking unlikely to play and Ezekiel Elliott's suspension officially underway, the biggest names to fill-in are running backs Tevin Coleman and Alfred Morris. But they are not available in your league anymore.
Let’s look around the league at who is worth a bid going into Week 11. The Colts, Jets, 49ers and Panthers are on bye this week, so fantasy owners will be looking to replace players like T.Y. Hilton, Cam Newton and Christian McCaffrey leading into this weekend. Each FAAB auction price recommendation will be based on a $100 FAAB budget, and all players listed have less than 50 percent ownership on Yahoo.
Once you're done here, be sure to read about even more Week 11 waiver wire analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all fantasy-relevant positions. Just click on any link: ALL - RB - WR - TE - QB - DEF
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FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs
Jamaal Williams (GB) - $10-15 (6% owned)
Green Bay's backfield was dropping like flies on Sunday, as both Aaron Jones (knee) and Ty Montgomery (ribs) left with injury and didn't return. Jones could be out up to six weeks, while Montgomery is in danger of missing Week 11.
Williams had a team-high 20 carries for 67 yards and also added one catch for seven yards in the 23-16 victory over Chicago. Before that, he hadn't carried the ball more than four times in a single game, and he's averaging only 3.3 yards per carry in 2017.
The rookie's short-term fantasy value will depend on Montgomery's status, but Williams is surely one of the top waiver additions this week, despite the fact that Brett Hundley's presence under center instead of Aaron Rodgers (collarbone) limits this offense's upside.
Samaje Perine (WAS) - $10-15 (7% owned)
Like Williams, Perine was forced into an expanded role when Rob Kelley (ankle, knee) went down in Week 10. Kelley is a candidate to go on Injured Reserve and miss the rest of the year, making Perine a hot-ticket waiver item.
The rookie Perine had nine carries for 35 yards and one reception for 25 yards in the loss to Minnesota, and he's expected to be the early-down back moving forward, with Chris Thompson continuing to be the lead pass catcher out of the backfield.
Temper expectations for Perine as more of a low-end RB2, though, as he is averaging just 3.2 yards per carry on 66 attempts this season.
Elijah McGuire (NYJ) - $5-10 (8% owned)
Veteran Matt Forte (knee) can't stay healthy and could miss more time. You shouldn't be surprised. What's more surprising is the fact that McGuire outsnapped Bilal Powell for the second straight week in the loss to Tampa, even with Forte inactive.
While Powell was more efficient on the ground (10 carries for 30 yards), McGuire dominated in the passing game, catching four passes for 36 yards. He also added eight carries for 22 yards. For however long Forte remains sidelined, McGuire should be Gang Green's third-down back, which makes him an RB3/flex option in PPR formats.
Rex Burkhead (NE) - $15-20 (11% owned)
Mike Gillislee was a healthy inactive Sunday night against Denver, confirming his move to fourth on the running back depth chart in New England. Burkhead was the beneficiary with a season-high 10 carries for 36 yards. He also caught three passes (most among Pats running backs) for an additional 27 yards and a touchdown.
Bill Belichick chose to attack the middle of the field against Denver, so this may have been a matchup-specific boost for Burkhead, but it's hard to argue that he's gaining steam as a preferred weapon in this offense. Game script and the combination of Dion Lewis and James White make Burkhead a volatile fantasy running back, but he has RB3/flex appeal heading into Week 11.
Danny Woodhead (BAL) - $15-20 (35% owned)
Woodhead may be a long-lost name in your league. He had one carry and caught three passes before injuring his hamstring Sept. 10, and he's been on IR ever since. But he's returning to practice this week and could be activated ahead of the Week 11 matchup with Green Bay.
There's a strong chance Woodhead is eased back into the offense given his lengthy injury history -- he's played in just three games since 2015 -- but he's also just two years removed from catching a career-high 80 passes with the Chargers. The pint-sized back could be a difference maker down the stretch in PPR leagues, and he should eventually become the team's top third-down option over Javorius Allen.
Also Consider: Rod Smith (DAL) - $5-10, T.J. Yeldon (JAC) - $3-5, Austin Ekeler (LAC) - $3-5
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers
Kenny Golladay (DET) - $10-15 (7% owned)
Golladay returned for the first time since Sept. 24 due to injury to post two catches on three targets for 64 yards in the Week 10 victory over Cleveland. It was only his fourth contest of his rookie season and his best performance since he caught four of seven targets for 69 yards and two scores in the season opener.
Disclaimer: Golladay was still soundly outsnapped by T.J. Jones in his return as Detroit looks to ease him back in. Even when fully healthy, Golladay will be fighting for the No. 3 role with Jones behind Marvin Jones and Golden Tate.
Dontrelle Inman (CHI) - $5-10 (2% owned)
In his first action since being traded over from the Chargers, Inman made an immediate impact, catching a team-high six passes for 88 yards in the loss to Green Bay. He may be the team's No. 1 receiving option the rest of the year, but that's not saying a whole lot. The Bears have been hiding quarterback Mitch Trubisky as much as possible, so Inman's ceiling is incredibly low.
Bruce Ellington (HOU) - $5-10 (0% owned)
Ellington caught a season-high four passes on eight targets for 41 yards and his second touchdown of the season in Week 10, and it was likely aided by the injury to Will Fuller (rib). Fuller could need to miss a game or two, which would elevate Ellington to No. 2 across from DeAndre Hopkins.
There is short-term value to be had in deeper leagues, especially considering the fact that Ellington has been targeted 16 times in Tom Savage's two starts filling in for DeShaun Watson (knee). Savage has looked pretty awful, though, making Ellington merely a boom-or-bust WR4/5.
Brandon LaFell (CIN) - $5-10 (3% owned)
Cincy's cushy Week 10 matchup with Tennessee likely had more to do with LaFell's breakout than anything. He caught a season-high six passes on 10 targets (first game with double-digit targets) for 95 yards and his second TD of 2017.
Before that performance, LaFell hadn't registered more than five catches or 44 yards in a game with the Bengals offense mainly running through A.J. Green and rookie Joe Mixon. His presence as the team's No. 2 wideout means something in deeper leagues, but he's set for another dud in Week 11 against Denver's strong secondary.
Also Consider: Russell Shepard (CAR) - $1-2, Louis Murphy (SF) - $1-2
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends
Martellus Bennett (NE) - $5-10 (33% owned)
Bennett was a free-agent bust for the Packers, and they subsequently released him last week amid claims he failed to disclose his torn rotator cuff. Given his success with New England in their Super Bowl run last year (55 catches, 701 yards and career-high seven TDs), the Pats scooped him up off waivers.
Although Bennett barely played in the Sunday night blowout of Denver, he did have three catches for 38 yards and is an upgrade over backup Dwayne Allen. Fantasy owners must remember that most of Bennett's damage in 2016 came with Rob Gronkowski injured. As long as Gronk stays healthy from here on out, Bennett will be sparingly used and only has TE2 appeal.
Jermaine Gresham (ARI) - $5-10 (1% owned)
Nobody has benefited more in Arizona with Drew Stanton under center than Gresham. The 29-year-old now has back-to-back games with touchdowns since Stanton took over for the injured Carson Palmer (arm), and the tight end has been targeted 10 times the last two weeks. He managed a season-high five catches for 64 yards last Thursday and lands on the low-end streaming radar at the position moving forward.
Also Consider: Adam Shaheen (CHI) - $3-5, Richard Rodgers, Lance Kendricks (GB) - $1-2
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks
Case Keenum (MIN) - $3-5 (17% owned)
Keenum has been good but not great for the Vikes with Sam Bradford and Teddy Bridgewater rehabbing knee injuries. It's only a matter of time before Bridgewater is making starts in 2017, but Keenum bought himself at least another start after going 21-for-29 for 304 yards and a season-high four touchdowns on 72.4 percent completion rate in the 38-30 win over Washington.
He's shown to be a good fit for Minnesota's offensive scheme and has really developed chemistry with Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. You could certainly do worse as your second signal caller in two-QB leagues, and Keenum may have to air it out in what could be a shootout this weekend against the high-flying Rams.
DeShone Kizer (CLE) - $3-5 (3% owned)
Kizer had one of his best games as a pro in the loss to Detroit, throwing for 232 yards with a touchdown and interception on 21 of 37 passing. The winless Browns basically have no choice but to play out the string and let Kizer learn on the job.
While he'll be one to avoid against Jacksonville's top-ranked defense in Week 11, Kizer is showing signs of improvement and will get top wideout Corey Coleman (hand) back this weekend. To finish out the year, Kizer has attackable matchups in the Bengals, Chargers, Packers, Ravens and Bears.
Also Consider: Blaine Gabbert (ARI) - $1-2, Scott Tolzien (IND) - $1-2
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Defense
New Orleans Saints - $1-3 (49% owned)
We've nudged you to pick up New Orleans' improved defense in recent weeks, so you no longer have any excuses. After 10 weeks, they rank fifth in fantasy points after just holding Buffalo to 10 total points. As a unit, the Saints also rank in the top 10 in yards allowed per game (312.3), passing yards allowed per game (201.4), points per game (18.3) and interceptions (10).
Arizona Cardinals - $1-3 (47% owned)
The Cardinals have underwhelmed for much of the year in total defense and have only nine takeaways, but they'll receive a boost in Week 11 in a streaming opportunity against a Houston offense with turnover-happy Tom Savage at the helm. Receiver Will Fuller (rib) could also sit this one out.
Also Consider: Cincinnati Bengals - $1, Atlanta Falcons - $1
