RADIO
We're almost done with bye weeks, but Week 11 is another big one. Six teams will be on break which should again limit the number of waiver options available. It should but it won't, as this week will see several of the bottom dwellers in the league sitting out, namely the AFC East. This gives us a welcome reprieve from the litany of lightly-owned Jets players. I also promise to not include Alex Smith on this list ever again.
In this weekly waiver wire series, we provide a curated list of fantasy-viable players that are typically owned in less than half of all fantasy leagues, so that you can make an educated decision about who to add or claim that might be available in your league. This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of all eligible players that could be picked up, nor is it ranked in priority order - that's what our Lightning Round is for! These are also not all strict recommendations to add, simply a list of options. As always, it is up to you, the fantasy owner, to see who's available in your league and make the best-educated decision possible.
Let’s look around the league at the players who may be worth adding or bidding on as we move on to Week 10 of the 2018 NFL season. Be sure to also check out our other waiver wire articles, including FAAB auction bidding recommendations, for even more in-depth analysis an all positions heading into Week 10.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (35% owned)
Prescott has been up and down all season, both in reality and fantasy. He spared himself and his team a lot of grief by beating the Eagles on Sunday night, although his final stats weren't overwhelming at 270 passing yards with one touchdown. He ran for just 10 yards but a TD on the ground saved his day for those who started him in season-long leagues. The ceiling remains fairly low even with Amari Cooper on the field. A matchup with the defensively-challenged Falcons keeps him near the top of the QB streaming list in Week 11.
Marcus Mariota, Tennessee Titans (30% owned)
It's really hard putting much trust in Mariota, who averaged 181 passing yards per game entering Week 10. Back-to-back strong performances have revived his fantasy value, or at least hope that he can be a high-end QB2 rather than a complete disappointment. Mariota showed great moxie in beating the Patriots, although his final numbers weren't great at 228 yards with two scores. The reliance on the run game inside the red zone will always limit Mariota's upside, so he can't be considered more than a bye-week replacement for Brady owners.
Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars (22% owned)
Just when you thought Bortles wouldn't make his way back onto the fantasy radar, here he is after a 320-yard, two-touchdown game against the Colts. The return of Leonard Fournette made a big impact on the offense, but a potentially serious injury to center Brandon Linder, coupled with Cam Robinson's season-ending injury early in the season, should be cause for concern regarding the state of the O-line. The Jaguars will return home, licking their wounds from another close loss to a divisional opponent. This week they face the Steelers, who've given up their share of yardage on defense this year. Bortles has personally been terrible in his three starts vs Pittsburgh, averaging 166 passing yards with a 1/3 TD/INT ratio. It will take another batch of garbage time yardage in order to make Bortles a viable option this week. His mention here is a sign of how thin the QB waiver list is these days.
Eli Manning, New York Giants (17% owned)
Another QB you want to part of, Manning still warrants consideration for those needing a temporary fix. He gets the Bucs at home, which should equal fantasy gold (forget what Alex Smith did this week - he doesn't count). Manning will always have a decent floor based on the talent surrounding him, so if you lack the stomach to play Bortles or Mariota, you can play it safe with Manning.
Case Keenum, Denver Broncos (17% owned)
Coming off the bye, the Broncos will have to figure out how to get Courtland Sutton more involved and utilize the receivers they have now that Demaryius Thomas is in Houston. Their Week 11 opponent, the L.A. Chargers, allow an average of 254 passing yards per game at home, although that has come against some inferior opponents like the 49ers and Raiders. Keenum has come under fire for his performance lately, but he is averaging 30 more yards per game this season. It's the higher interception rate (10 INT in nine games) and lower TD% (3.3% in 2018 vs 4.6% in 2017) that have cost the Broncos games and limited his fantasy ceiling. Keenum has been better lately and finally finished a game with being picked in Week 9 so there is some hope that he can be a competent QB2 for superflex leagues.
Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens (7% owned)
Could the former Heisman winner finally get his chance to be more than a gimmick? Starter Joe Flacco has a hip issue that could keep him out of Week 11, which would put Jackson in position to start for the first time. We don't know what the offense will look like with Jackson behind center, although we can imagine he brings more upside than Flacco due to his running ability. It's not as if replacing Flacco is an issue for fantasy owners - he was barely owned to begin with. Still, Jackson is worth a speculative stash for those with bench space and a muddled QB situation based on his raw talent and a favorable home matchup with the Bengals, who were just skewered by the Saints to the tune of 51 points.
Others to consider: Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals (4% owned)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Frank Gore, Miami Dolphins (27% owned)
He keeps on keepin' on. Aside from the career rushing records he continues to set, Gore has shown that he can chip in a few points for standard-league owners on a weekly basis. Despite being massive underdogs on the road, Gore managed to post 102 total yards in Green Bay. More importantly, he out-carried Kenyan Drake 13-8 yet again and is the lead back, as much as Drake owners hate to acknowledge. The Dolphins finally have their bye week, so don't worry about adding Gore just yet unless you're parting ways with a low-end backup RB like Elijah McGuire, Chris Ivory, or Alfred Morris.
Giovani Bernard, Cincinnati Bengals (24% owned)
Bernard is back from injury and should resume his pass-catching role behind Joe Mixon in the backfield. Mixon's presence certainly limits Bernard's appeal but he could be more than a handcuff the rest of the way. With A.J. Green out for multiple weeks, Bernard should benefit as an outlet receiver. He only saw four touches in Week 10, as the Bengals were totally outmatched by the Saints and couldn't muster any offense. They have a potentially tougher matchup on the road facing Baltimore in Week 11, so this isn't a week to flex Bernard so much as add and hold.
Rashaad Penny, Seattle Seahawks (13% owned)
Is this the breakout we've been waiting for? With Chris Carson sidelined, Penny got more run than usual and immediately took advantage with a 38-yard run followed by an 18-yard touchdown. He finished with a career-best 108 rushing yards on just 12 carries and took more handoffs than Mike Davis. The team clearly wants Penny to reward their investment in him, so don't be surprised if his touches increase even if Carson returns. The worst-case scenario is that he's part of a three-man RBBC on a team that's a top-five rushing offense. Best case, he wins the RB1 job outright or Carson's injury keeps him out longer, allowing Penny to up his carry count beyond 15. He is now a top-priority add in all leagues given the dearth of quality running backs on waivers and the immense potential Penny flashed at the combine.
Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions (12% owned)
Riddick did what he always does - catch a few passes and take zero handoffs. His six receptions for 60 yards served PPR owners well even in a tough matchup with the Bears. At home with the struggling Panthers D on tap, Riddick could bring another decent floor as long as you realize his TD potential is severely capped.
Spencer Ware, Kansas City Chiefs (8% owned)
If you're into late-season handcuffing to hedge your bet and ensure you don't get screwed by a Week 14 injury to your RB1, Ware should be higher on the totem pole than some other RBs available on waivers based on his potential within this explosive offense. He barely averages four touches per game and has no value as long as Kareem Hunt is healthy but Hunt owners or those in super-deep leagues looking ahead could make Ware one to keep. If you believe in the #AllBenchRB strategy, he is an ideal waiver target.
Jacquizz Rodgers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (0% owned)
Did the Bucs just now remember they have Rodgers on the roster? He still hasn't registered double-digit touches in a game all season but in Week 10's loss to the Redskins, Rodgers caught all eight of his pass targets for 102 yards and was one yard shy of leading the team in receiving. Ronald Jones remains injured (and terrible) so there's a chance Rodgers continues to turn dump-offs into fantasy points. RB-starved owners in PPR leagues could add him in advance of next week's matchup with the Giants.
Others to consider: Jamaal Williams, Green Bay Packers (22% owned); Rex Burkhead, New England Patriots (20% owned); Josh Adams, Philadelphia Eagles (13% owned)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Chris Godwin, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (44% owned)
So many yards, so few points. The Bucs are a mess in many respects but they will keep putting up passing yards, which makes most of their receivers fantasy-relevant in any given week. Godwin was the main beneficiary in Week 10, racking up a team-high 103 yards on seven receptions. Godwin's production has been inconsistent, much like all Bucs WRs, so temper expectations because it could just as easily turn into an Adam Humphries game next week. Godwin's stature and heavier use in the red zone (he leads the team in RZ targets) give him a clear advantage over Humphries.
D.J. Moore, Carolina Panthers (43% owned)
Moore remains involved in the Panthers offense, seeing five targets and one rush attempt on Thursday night. That only translated to 25 scrimmage yards, however, while Jarius Wright and Curtis Samuel also eat into Moore's touches. Moore is the more talented player and maintains some appeal this week against the Lions, especially if CB Darius Slay is unable to play again.
Maurice Harris, Washington Redskins (37% owned)
On absolutely nobody's radar before the season, the third-year UDFA out of Cal is pretty much the best WR in Washington these days. Jamison Crowder hasn't played for weeks and Paul Richardson is out for the season. Josh Doctson did come away with a score in Week 10 but he's got a 20% lower catch rate than Harris and has seen six fewer targets in the last two games. Harris didn't have the big game some expected against Tampa Bay, catching five passes for 52 yards. He gets a tougher matchup with Houston in Week 11 but still has some appeal as long as Crowder and Chris Thompson remain out.
Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (34% owned)
Westbrook didn't come away with a big day despite a team-high 10 targets, catching five passes for 30 yards. It was Donte Moncrief who stole the show, torching his former team for an 80-yard TD. Westbrook has a bit more appeal for full PPR leagues although he hasn't crossed the 50-yard mark since Week 5. The Jags could be forced to pass more than they'd like with the Steelers coming to town, so Westbrook remains a low-end flex option.
John Ross, Cincinnati Bengals (22% owned)
Without A.J. Green, Ross will have to be used as more than a deep threat. In fact, he caught a two-yard TD early in the game against New Orleans, giving him another unexpected red zone target. It'll be hard to trust him on the road against the Ravens this week but his lethal speed gives him the upside that few other receivers have.
Anthony Miller, Chicago Bears (13% owned)
The rookie put up his best game of the year, going for 122 yards and a touchdown on five receptions. The return of Allen Robinson seemed to help, not hurt, his value. Miller has now seen at least six targets in four straight games and looks to have replaced Taylor Gabriel as the No. 2 target in this dynamic offense. In a crucial divisional showdown with the Vikings next week, Miller should face stiffer coverage and may not deliver as well as he did this past week.
Donte Moncrief, Jacksonville Jaguars (10% owned)
We clearly weren't prepared for the Moncrief revenge game. He torched his former team for an 80-yard touchdown early on, finishing with three catches for 98 yards. He has become the leading receiver in Jacksonville, for whatever that's worth, and is providing the value we expected from Keelan Cole this season. Moncrief will be a boom-bust play on a weekly basis, so proceed with caution if trusting him in your lineup.
Josh Doctson, Washington Redskins (10% owned)
Doctson will continue to play a larger role with the various injuries to the Washington receiving corps. He's mostly touchdown-dependent based on his low reception totals, averaging just around three catches per game. He has scored in consecutive weeks, however, and faces a Texans team ranked 21st in pass defense. Consider him a flex play in standard or half-PPR leagues.
Zay Jones, Buffalo Bills (1% owned)
The Bills-Jets game showed what an abomination the Jets are at the moment and also makes us wonder even more how Nathan Peterman is still on the active roster. With journeyman Matt Barkley as the latest QB pulled off the street to start for Buffalo, he actually completed 15 passes for 232 yards. Jones was the main recipient, catching eight balls for 93 yards and a TD. While no Buffalo receiver has been worth owning, much less starting this season, when a player gets more than half of the targets from a new quarterback, we should pay attention. Sadly, the Bills are on bye this week so Jones is just a stash candidate in PPR leagues of 14 or more teams.
Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams (1% owned)
With the confirmation that Cooper Kupp tore his ACL as feared, many owners will now pivot to Reynolds as the WR3 on one of the best offenses in the NFL. He'll clearly see an uptick in snaps and targets, but that shouldn't automatically thrust him into your starting lineup. In the two full games Kupp missed in Weeks 7-8 this year, Reynolds brought in a total of four catches for 61 yards on six targets. In Week 6, when Kupp saw just one target and was a non-factor, Reynolds managed one catch for -2 yards. His value lies strictly in the red zone, as he could benefit standard-league owners if he can replicate his two-TD performance from Week 8. While Kupp owners will likely spend their remaining budget on his replacement, he can't be expected to approach Kupp's level of production. Don't drop a superior player to grab Reynolds just because of his team situation. The Rams still have their bye coming in Week 12 as well.
Others worth consideration: Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals (34% owned); Cole Beasley, Dallas Cowboys (26% owned); Devante Parker, Miami Dolphins (20% owned)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Ricky Seals-Jones, Arizona Cardinals (17% owned)
Ricky Seals-Jones saw a season-high nine targets in Week 10, catching five for 51 yards. He's hauled in just one TD on the season, which makes him hard to love in standard leagues. A home game against the Raiders could make him more intriguing though, as they are a bottom-10 pass defense.
Nick Vannett, Seattle Seahawks (5% owned)
It appears the return of Ed Dickson was nothing more than a red herring. Since Dickson came off IR to post 54 yards and a TD in his first game back, it's been Vannett who has taken the reins as the primary pass-catching tight end. Vannett only caught one pass against the Rams but it went for a touchdown - his second in consecutive weeks. Russell Wilson has spread the ball around so much in the red zone, it's hard to trust anyone on a weekly basis. Keep Vannett in mind as a streamer, as it could be another high-scoring game when the Pack comes to town.
Jeff Heuerman, Denver Broncos (4% owned)
The Broncos were off in Week 10, so let's not forget that Heuerman is fresh off a 10-catch, 83-yard game. With DT gone, there's a chance Heuerman keeps seeing more targets than expected. He could be a priority among those looking to replace Gronk, perhaps even beyond this week.
Jonnu Smith, Tennessee Titans (1% owned)
10 weeks after Delanie Walker's season-ending injury, Tennessee may finally have decided to see what they have in Smith by actually throwing him the ball. He hadn't seen more than three targets or produced more than 33 yards in a game all season and didn't come away with much more, catching three balls for 45 yards and a TD. Successful as they've been the last couple of weeks, this is far from a high-flying offense and there is a clear limit on Smith's potential. That said, he has touchdowns in consecutive weeks and has shown some playmaking ability. He's worth a look in standard leagues as a TE2.
Jaylen Samuels, Pittsburgh Steelers (1% owned)
Now that we sort of know that Le'Veon Bell probably isn't coming back this year, it might be safe to view Samuels as a high-end handcuff. Samuels didn't even register a touch until Week 8 but he saw five carries and four targets on Thursday against the Panthers and scored his first NFL touchdown. As the rare player who qualifies at RB and TE, his versatility could be valuable if he ever sees extended playing time. He's simply one to monitor unless you're in a 16-team league with a spot to spare.
Others worth consideration: C.J. Uzomah, Cincinnati Bengals (22% 0wned); Dallas Goedert, Philadelphia Eagles (6% owned)
Defenses - Waiver Wire Options
Washington Redskins (37% owned)
How are the Redskins 6-3? It must be largely due to their defense because their offense is certainly nothing to write home about. The Skins came into Week 10 as the eighth-ranked overall defense. While they gave up a boatload of yards, 501 to be exact, they only yielded three points. Aside from two huge outliers against the Saints (43 points in Week 5) and Falcons (38 points in Week 9), they've not allowed more than 21 points to an opponent otherwise. Their Week 11 opponent, Houston, is no slouch but Deshaun Watson has thrown seven INT this season and been sacked a staggering 30 times. With the home crowd on their side, Washington figures to be a fairly safe DST to stream.
Indianapolis Colts (32% owned)
The beginning of the Colts' favorable schedule didn't go quite as planned, as they wound up allowing 320 yards to Blake Bortles and 26 points to the struggling Jags. The key fumble recovery at the end of the game to seal their close victory was the only turnover of the game and there was nary a sack to speak of. A home game versus the Titans looked a lot more promising two weeks ago, but after a nearly flawless victory over the Patriots, we may need to rethink things. The Titans have allowed sacks in bunches and are far from a dominant offense but be cautious when employing them this weekend.
Arizona Cardinals (12% owned)
Holding the Chiefs to 26 points in Arrowhead is a small victory for this defense that has been dissected by opponents all year. They didn't turn Mahomes over, but managed five sacks on the day. The only reason they're even on the radar this week is the matchup with the Raiders. The Fightin' Grudens have managed a total of nine points and have allowed 11 sacks in the last two games. Arizona doesn't get many turnovers, with six INT and six fumble recoveries on the year, but they figure to be a fairly high-floor play if you're scouring the deeper end of the wire.
More Waiver Wire Adds and Pickups
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