Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 11

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Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.

Ownership percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. FAAB bids are set off a $100 budget. Only players owned in less than 60 percent of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Derek Carr, Raiders

Carr hasn't been a recommended streamer most weeks, but he took advantage of his two softer matchups this season. He turned in 285 yards and three touchdown passes against a banged-up Texans pass defense in Week 8, then threw for 289 yards and two scores versus the Lions in Week 9. Cincinnati, Oakland's Week 11 opponent, ranks top five in points allowed to opposing quarterbacks, making Carr an ideal bye-week replacement.

Sam Darnold, Jets

Can we trust Darnold and the Jets' offense? Absolutely not. But he did look capable in the win over the Giants and used his legs to rack up 25 yards and a score on the ground. The Redskins have taken the air out of the ball under Bill Callahan and that's hardly ideal for Darnold's fantasy production from a volume standpoint, but the young quarterback has the weapons to capitalize on another plus draw. Though he's a risky option, so are the other names listed below.

Other options: Kyle Allen vs. ATL (15% owned), Nick Foles at IND (21% owned), Ryan Tannehill on Bye (33% owned), Daniel Jones on Bye (37% owned), Mason Rudolph at CLE (10% owned), Baker Mayfield vs. PIT (53% owned), Mitch Trubisky at LAR (20% owned), Dwayne Haskins vs. NYJ (2% owned)

Running backs

Brian Hill, Falcons

It took longer than expected, but Hill finally popped back up on the fantasy radar after featuring in my deep sleepers offseason column alongside Ryan Tannehill, Preston Williams, and a few others who don't warrant mention. Hill generated 166 yards from scrimmage on 21 touches over the final four weeks of the 2018 campaign, and though he wasn't able to win the backup job out of camp, an injury to Ito Smith recently moved him up the depth chart. Now Devonta Freeman is dealing with a foot sprain, and Hill needs to be owned in all leagues while we await word on its severity. At 6-foot-1 and 219 pounds, Hill has the size to handle a full workload. In Week 11, he gets a Panthers defense that's given up 10 touchdowns to running backs over its last three outings, including four to Tevin Coleman and three to Aaron Jones.

Derrius Guice, Redskins

Guice and Adrian Peterson (53% owned) should both be rostered since we don't know exactly how the Redskins plan to deploy them. Given his injury history, it's hard to imagine Guice will get the monster workload Peterson has seen under the new regime; the sophomore still has to prove he can stay healthy for an extended stretch in the pros. Temper your expectations, but Guice is more versatile than Peterson at this stage of their respective careers, and his upcoming slate versus the Jets, Lions, Panthers, and Packers is enticing. Consider him a high-risk RB3 with RB2 upside if his body holds up.

Kalen Ballage, Dolphins

The last man standing in Miami, Ballage saw 24 touches Sunday. That's the good news. The bad news: Despite the massive workload, the Colts limited him to just 45 yards from scrimmage. Even so, the volume alone is a positive, and it should result in more production this week against a Bills team getting gashed by running backs lately. Buffalo has surrendered rushing stat lines of 20-116-0, 18-108-0, 23-96-1, 3-74-1, and 14-66-0 over the last month. Ballage's upside is capped in the Dolphins' offense, but he's worth a look for his fantasy playoff schedule, which contains the Jets, Giants, and Bengals from Weeks 14-16.

J.D. McKissic, Lions

One has to think the Lions will sign a back if Ty Johnson is unable to clear concussion protocol before Sunday, so don't invest too much in their current backfield options. The 5-foot-10, 195-pound McKissic doesn't profile as a lead ball carrier and teammate Paul Perkins (0% owned) has been the definition of pedestrian since entering the league. The only reason McKissic makes this list is his usage in the passing game: He has nine receptions for 59 yards and a touchdown in the last two weeks. Treat him as a desperation PPR flex until we have a better idea of who's suiting up for Detroit.

Other options: Raheem Mostert vs. ARI (4% owned), Alexander Mattison vs. DEN (29% owned), Tony Pollard at DET (13% owned), Duke Johnson at BAL (58% owned), Gus Edwards vs. HOU (9% owned), Rashaad Penny on Bye (5% owned), Ryquell Armstead at IND (1% owned), Rex Burkhead at PHI (8% owned), Nyheim Hines vs. JAX (18% owned), Darrel Williams at LAC (5% owned), Malcolm Brown vs. CHI (7% owned), Darrell Henderson vs. CHI (28% owned), Wayne Gallman on Bye (5% owned), Dion Lewis on Bye (10% owned), Jalen Richard vs. CIN (3% owned), DeAndre Washington vs. CIN (1% owned), Mike Davis vs. ATL (2% owned)

Wide receivers

DeVante Parker, Dede Westbrook, Will Fuller, Jamison Crowder, and Zach Pascal are around the 60% ownership mark and should be owned in almost all leagues.

Darius Slayton, Giants

The Giants' 2019 fifth-round pick has flashed several times throughout his rookie campaign, and he had three touchdowns entering Week 10. Even with Sterling Shepard and Evan Engram sitting out, no one projected Slayton to go off for 10 catches, 121 yards, and two scores on 14 targets against the Jets. Shepard's status for the remainder of the season is in doubt, and Engram could miss at least one more game - perhaps several - setting Slayton up as a WR4 with upside in the right matchups.

Diontae Johnson/James Washington, Steelers

There are plenty of intriguing wide receivers on the open market this week. Unfortunately, not one of them has a season-altering outlook. At this stage of the fantasy season, running backs tend to make the biggest impacts, which is why you should be loading up your bench with high-upside backup runners. Johnson and Washington have both had solid performances with Mason Rudolph at the helm, but they're best viewed as volatile flex plays.

Auden Tate, Bengals

Tate put up at least 50 yards in five of six contests prior to the Bengals' bye, but future expectations were muted by A.J. Green's looming return, which never happened. With Green sidelined indefinitely, Tate continued to be a full-time player in a tough date with the Ravens' revamped secondary. Though his three-catch, 36-yard afternoon against Baltimore was disappointing, there's reason to go back to him as a potential WR3 this week against the Raiders. Oakland's given up four 100-yard performances to opposing wideouts in the last four weeks.

Phillip Dorsett, Patriots

Our sample size of the Patriots' receiving corps with Mohamed Sanu in the lineup is very limited, so it's a situation that needs monitoring. Sanu's 10-reception, 81-yard, one-touchdown game against the Ravens isn't something we can confidently project moving forward. That said, it does appear Sanu and Dorsett will be playing nearly every snap alongside Julian Edelman, making both worthy fantasy starters.

Other options: Josh Reynolds vs. CHI (10% owned), Deebo Samuel vs. ARI (14% owned), Randall Cobb at DET (10% owned), Demaryius Thomas at WAS (8% owned), Cole Beasley at MIA (32% owned), Hunter Renfrow at CIN (10% owned), Mecole Hardman at LAC (27% owned), Andy Isabella at SF (1% owned), Olabisi Johnson vs. DEN (2% owned), Russell Gage at CAR (2% owned), Allen Lazard on Bye (8% owned)

Tight ends

TJ Hockenson, Jason Witten, and Vance McDonald are around the 60% ownership mark and are worth consideration as streamers this week, if available.

Dallas Goedert, Eagles

Goedert has a tough matchup this week, but his presence on this list is due mostly to his value over the remainder of the season. The Eagles have wisely increased Goedert's usage alongside Zach Ertz, and Philadelphia's offense will be forced to rely on its two talented tight ends with DeSean Jackson out of the picture. Goedert also offers top-five upside if something happens to Ertz.

Noah Fant, Broncos

The Emmanuel Sanders trade has turned Fant into the de facto No. 2 receiver in the Broncos' offense, as the rookie has seen 12 targets over his last two games. His three-catch, 115-yard, one-touchdown performance prior to Denver's bye should make fantasy owners take notice, though his schedule doesn't do him any favors: The Broncos face the Vikings, Bills, and Texans in three of their next four contests.

Darren Fells, Texans

Fells has seen his snaps and routes run increase as the season's progressed, leading to at least 50 yards or a touchdown in three of his last five appearances. Sadly, he's still splitting targets with fellow tight end Jordan Akins, forcing Fells' fantasy owners to rely on his red-zone production. The veteran is a high-end TE2 who, like most tight ends outside the top tier, requires a touchdown to pay off.

Other options: O.J. Howard vs. NO (40% owned), Jack Doyle vs. JAX (52% owned), Ryan Griffin at WAS (3% owned), Jacob Hollister on Bye (7% owned), Kyle Rudolph vs. DEN (34% owned), Irv Smith Jr. vs. DEN (2% owned), Tyler Eifert at OAK (8% owned), Dawson Knox at MIA (5% owned)