RADIO
Michael Florio's sneaky fantasy football starts, pivot plays, and post-waiver waiver pickups for Week 11. Start 'em as under-the-radar fantasy sleepers.
After a bad week of injuries paired with the fact that there are four teams with many useful fantasy pieces on bye, this is a week where many fantasy managers are having to go a little deeper to find a starter. And before we even get into the pivot options, I just want to say – do not be the person that celebrates injuries. Think about the time and passion that you put into this fake game that we all love so much. Now up that by like 100 throughout your entire life. That is how much these players put into being out there on the field for us each Sunday. And on top of that, it may win or cost you a fantasy week, but it cost them their health and a whole lot of money. Celebrating injuries just makes you a bad guy.
Now back to the pivot options! The one saving grace from a week with a lot of injuries means a week with lots of replacement options. Some of the injuries have a direct backup that you can grab and plug into your lineup, but many do not. That is where you need to know who to grab off the waiver wire or elevate off your bench into your starting lineup.
And while there is no replacing Cooper Kupp the rest of the way, the goal now becomes to find the best replacement option each week to slot in his place. Some managers may have had depth or found a piece off the waiver wire like say, Christian Watson. If so, you just plug that player in. Many others are looking at their bench or wire and need a deeper option. As I said, you can’t replace him, but you can make the blow hurt a lot less if you plug in the right replacement option. That is where this article comes in!
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Quarterback Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If QB Kyler Murray doesn’t play, you can pivot to…
Marcus Mariota scored just under 18 fantasy points last week, largely because he rushed for 43 yards. That’s something he has done four times since Week 5 and 40 rushing yards is equivalent to 100 passing yards in fantasy. The Bears have allowed a ton of production on the ground, particularly on outside runs, which Mariota has fared well on this season. He is a top streaming option this week.
Daniel Jones topped 18 fantasy points last week as he threw for 197 yards and two scores while also rushing for 24 yards. Jones has now topped 18 fantasy points in two of his last three games. He has also rushed for at least 20 yards in all but one game. That is a free two points for Jones’ managers each week. This week, he is certainly in play against the Lions, who have allowed the most fantasy PPG to QBs, including allowing the top-scoring fantasy QB in two of their last three games.
Jimmy Garoppolo only scored 15.9 fantasy points last week against the Chargers, but that may lead to him being available on the waiver wire this week. Garoppolo tends to score around 16 and 18 fantasy points most weeks, which at least gives him a safe floor. He gets the Cardinals, who have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to QBs in the past month. Last season against Arizona, Garoppolo threw for 326 yards and two touchdowns. Plus, this isn’t so much trusting him as it is trusting his weapons and the system.
Running Back Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If RBs Ezekiel Elliott, Jamaal Williams, and Mark Ingram II don’t play, you can pivot to…
Isiah Pacheco and Jerick McKinnon are both in play this week against the Chargers. Last week, it was Pacheco that led the way with 57 percent of the snaps and 16 carries, going for 82 yards. He did lose a fumble which brought him down to 6.2 fantasy points. Or, the same number that McKinnon scored on catches alone. He finished with eight targets, six catches, and 58 total yards. The pass game usage is why I prefer him in PPR leagues, but this is a good week for both as the Chargers allow a ton of production to running backs. They’ve allowed the third most fantasy PPG to running backs all season.
Jaylen Warren played 43 percent of the snaps with nine carries and three targets finishing with 77 yards. Mike Tomlin and the Steelers had been saying he could see more work and we saw it come to fruition this past week. He does not bring much of a floor as he is running behind Najee Harris, but he is in play as a pivot option this week.
Trestan Ebner is the new backup running back in Chicago after Khalil Herbert landed on the IR with a hip injury. Ebner cannot be trusted to the extent that Herbert could, but there is an opportunity to be had here. Ebner is a good pass catcher and with David Montgomery struggling with efficiency, we could see the backup running back remain involved in this offense. Plus, they are facing the Falcons who have allowed a ton of production all season, especially on the ground.
Wide Receiver Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If WRs Keenan Allen, Mike Williams, JuJu Smith-Schuster, Jerry Jeudy, Mecole Hardman, and Wan'Dale Robinson don’t play, you can pivot to…
Parris Campbell has at least nine targets in each of the last three games Matt Ryan started. In those three games, he has a 26 percent target share, 24 percent air yard share, and a team-high two end zone targets. Oh, and he’s scored a touchdown in all three with over 18 fantasy points in each. He is being overlooked because of the two duds with Sam Ehlinger, but those don’t matter as long as Matt Ryan is back in as the QB. Campbell is a strong pivot option this week.
George Pickens has been outproducing Diontae Johnson since Kenny Pickett took over, but the fantasy rostership numbers would make you think otherwise. Pickens didn’t get the big boost in targets in his first game without Chase Claypool, but that also was largely because they were playing with a lead throughout. Pickens always brings high upside and in a matchup like this week against Cincy where they could be chasing points, it's worth getting him in your starting lineup.
Allen Robinson and Van Jefferson are both in play after Cooper Kupp went down with an ankle injury last week. Allen Robinson would be the preferred option as he has been more involved as of late, but until we see it happen, both of these two are in play in deeper formats. The Rams play the Saints this week, who have allowed more production through the air than they have on the ground. Robinson has seen at least five targets in every game since Week 2. It’s not much, but volume is what we want when we are looking at backup options. Jefferson did score a touchdown last week, though. Both are worth rostering until someone takes over in Kupp’s absence, but if you are choosing, Robinson would be top billing.
Nico Collins is coming off his best game of the season where he saw a whopping 10 targets, catching five of them for 49 yards and a touchdown. He has now seen at least five targets in three of his last four games. Plus, he has a matchup this week against the Commanders, who have allowed a lot of production to receivers this season. If you are going a little deeper, he is a nice play this week.
Darius Slayton is the king of doing a lot with a little. He had just four targets and caught three for 95 yards and a touchdown. He has topped 50 yards in three straight games – with his yardage going up each week. He caught a touchdown in two of his last three games as well. He always brings a high ceiling, especially this week against the Lions. He is a strong pivot option.
Kendall Hinton is the new number-two receiver in Denver if Jerry Jeudy can’t play this week. While he is most known for being the emergency QB in a Covid game, Hinton made a splash last week. He was targeted five times, catching four of them for 62 yards. Now he gets a great matchup against the Raiders, who Russell Wilson had his best game of the year against. Hinton is only for deep leagues, but he is a pivot option for those in a pinch.
Tight End Pivot Options for Fantasy Football
If TEs Mark Andrews and David Njoku don’t play, you can pivot to…
Greg Dulcich disappointed last week but it just makes him more available on the waiver wire this week. Do not forget that he topped 11 fantasy points in his three prior games. Also, he gets the Raiders this week. Vegas has allowed 14.7 fantasy PPG to tight ends this season, the sixth-most in the NFL. And if Jeudy sits, that could mean even more volume.
Juwan Johnson had a very lucky touchdown two weeks ago to salvage his day. But last week, he saw seven targets, catching five of them for 44 yards and a touchdown. He now has a combined four touchdowns in his last four games. He has at least five targets in three of his last five games. When you are talking tight ends, anyone getting consistent volume constitutes as a pivot option. Johnson is a strong one this week.
Isaiah Likely is a must-play tight end if Mark Andrews sits. Even if Andrews suits up, Likely would be in play as a streaming option. The Ravens are very thin at receiver and could just use Likely as a receiver. At the very least, he could be one of their top targets. Likely does not bring the safest floor, but he is an upside shot worth taking for tight end needy teams.
Foster Moreau has been filling in the void for Darren Waller. Last week, he caught three of four targets for 43 yards and a score. He has seen at least four targets in every game this season and five or more in three of his last four games. He does not bring the highest ceiling, but consistent volume is enough to have him in play as a streaming option.
Make sure to follow Michael on Twitter, @MichaelFFlorio.
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