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.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Quarterbacks

Justin Fields, Bears

We finally started to see some progress from Fields in his last couple of starts, when he finished as the QB4 against the San Francisco 49ers and QB10 versus the Pittsburgh Steelers.

A big part of his development has come from the Bears unleashing him as a runner. Fields has at least 38 rushing yards in each of his last four games.

He had a chance during the bye to evaluate his performance and prepare for the final stretch of the season, which begins with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 11. Baltimore has been one of the top-10 easiest matchups for fantasy quarterbacks.

The rookie then gets the Detroit Lions in Week 12, so he could be a streaming option for multiple weeks.

Cam Newton, Panthers

Even in limited action Sunday, Newton managed to have an impact on the game and showed what a positive force he can be for a talented Carolina Panthers offense.

Surrounded by the likes of Christian McCaffrey, D.J. Moore, and Robby Anderson, Newton has a chance to be a high-end QB2 in fantasy - with the odd QB1 performance when he adds to his stat line with a rushing score or two.

Ron Rivera and the Washington Football Team coaching staff know Newton better than anyone from their days together in Carolina. But the veteran QB should be able to have a solid fantasy outing against a defense that allowed the most fantasy points to his position entering Week 10.

Streaming options: Tua Tagovailoa at NYJ (23% rostered), Mac Jones at ATL (28% rostered), Daniel Jones at TB (30% rostered), Jimmy Garoppolo at JAX (25% rostered)

Streaming options (if healthy): Baker Mayfield vs. DET (39% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Tyrod Taylor at TEN (5% rostered), Trevor Siemian at PHI (4% rostered), Taylor Heinicke at CAR (16% rostered), Ben Roethlisberger at LAC (24% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Trey Lance (17% rostered), Taysom Hill (9% rostered)

Running backs

Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots

We're getting to the point in the season when bye weeks are almost over and you can start loading up your roster with high-end backup running backs.

If you read my Start, Sit, Stash, Quit column last Friday, you would have known why Stevenson was a must-add late last week when signs pointed to him getting the start.

He delivered with 114 yards from scrimmage and two trips to the end zone on 24 touches. It was also the third time the rookie posted double-digit fantasy points over his last four games, despite playing limited snaps prior to Week 10.

With the Patriots playing on a short week this Thursday, it's possible starter Damien Harris still isn't cleared from concussion protocol. If that happens, Stevenson will have another opportunity to make a case for a bigger workload down the stretch.

Even if Stevenson doesn't emerge as a difference-maker long term, this is the type of player you want to have on your roster in case his opportunity arrives.

D'Onta Foreman, Titans

There were two players highlighted as stash options in Start, Sit, Stash, Quit, and the other one last week was Foreman.

In the Tennessee Titans' first game without Derrick Henry, Foreman outplayed Adrian Peterson and Jeremy McNichols on his limited touches. That was enough reason to get him on your bench and see if he could eventually move up the depth chart.

Reports then trickled out Sunday morning that Foreman would see the most work of the trio this week, and that's exactly what happened. He received the most snaps and touches, resulting in 78 yards from scrimmage.

This is likely to remain a three-man committee, which limits everyone's ceiling for now. But the fact that Mike Vrabel and the Tennessee coaches already showed a willingness to feed Foreman makes him a priority pickup heading into a favorable matchup with the Houston Texans.

Wayne Gallman, Falcons

With Cordarrelle Patterson nursing a high-ankle injury that will likely keep him out for at least a couple of weeks, fantasy managers will scramble to add the Atlanta Falcons' backup RB.

But don't make the mistake of thinking that's Mike Davis. Though the veteran was the starter early in the year, his playing time has dwindled in recent weeks and he's failed to top 20 yards in three of the past four outings.

When Patterson went out Sunday, it was Gallman who handled the bulk of the touches, turning 16 attempts into 76 yards from scrimmage.

Gallman is the back to roster here if you want to get involved with a Falcons offense that's losing its best playmaker. He'll be a borderline RB2/RB3 for as long as Patterson is sidelined.

Devonta Freeman, J.D. McKissic, Alex Collins, Jordan Howard, and Alexander Mattison are over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

High-upside backups like Sony Michel (34% rostered), Chuba Hubbard (50% rostered), and Khalil Herbert (36% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.

Flex options: Eno Benjamin at SEA (18% rostered), Brandon Bolden at ATL (48% rostered), Jeff Wilson at JAX (20% rostered)

Risky flex options: Boston Scott vs. NO (32% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. MIA (19% rostered), Carlos Hyde vs. SF (20% rostered)

Risky flex options (if healthy): Jamaal Williams at CLE (41% rostered), Latavius Murray at CHI (28% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Rex Burkhead at TEN (0% rostered), David Johnson at TEN (23% rostered), Samaje Perine at LV (7% rostered), Salvon Ahmed at NYJ (3% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Ronald Jones vs. NYG (19% rostered), JaMycal Hasty at JAX (1% rostered), Ameer Abdullah vs. WAS (0% rostered), Larry Rountree vs. PIT (1% rostered), Matt Breida vs. IND (0% rostered)

Wide receivers

Robby Anderson, Panthers

It's a weak crop of waiver wire receivers this week, so we won't spend too much time on them.

Anderson had his best fantasy performance of the season in the first game since Sam Darnold hit injured reserve. Four catches, 37 yards, and a touchdown is hardly a week-winning stat line, but it provides some hope that the veteran wideout can rediscover his form with a new quarterback under center.

His ceiling remains a boom-or-bust WR3, though, so don't spend much to get him.

Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns

Speaking of boom-or-bust WR3 options, Peoples-Jones is coming off his first disappointing fantasy day in a while.

His one-catch, 16-yard effort was a letdown after three straight strong performances:

• five catches, 70 yards (at Los Angeles Chargers)
• four catches, 101 yards, 2 TDs (versus Arizona Cardinals)
• two catches, 86 yards, TD (at Cincinnati Bengals)

However, it's not unexpected. As we outlined in this space last week, DPJ has serious volume concerns and that will lead to some lighter weeks.

Fortunately, a matchup with the Lions is an excellent get-right spot for everyone on the Cleveland Browns' offense.

Marcus Johnson, Titans

With Julio Jones on injured reserve, it was Johnson who stepped up with five receptions and 100 yards in Sunday's win over the New Orleans Saints.

The 27-year-old tied for the team lead in targets while playing the second-most snaps and running the second-most routes among Tennessee's wideouts, behind only A.J. Brown.

It might be a long shot to expect him to become a regular contributor on your fantasy squad, but it's worth a speculative add to see if he can continue to produce in this role.

Rashod Bateman, Michael Gallup, Kadarius Toney, Darnell Mooney, Kenny Golladay, Van Jefferson, Elijah Moore, and A.J. Green are close to or above the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Long-term upside stashes: Curtis Samuel (10% rostered), Will Fuller (25% rostered), Sterling Shepard (34% rostered)

Risky flex options: T.Y. Hilton at BUF (43% rostered), Kendrick Bourne at ATL (7% rostered), Bryan Edwards vs. CIN (18% rostered), Jamal Agnew vs. SF (9% rostered), Tre'Quan Smith at PHI (3% rostered), Marquez Callaway at PHI (34% rostered), Deonte Harris at PHI (19% rostered), James Washington at LAC (3% rostered), Russell Gage vs. NE (28% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Byron Pringle at CAR (0% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling at MIN (9% rostered), Allen Lazard at MIN (7% rostered), DeSean Jackson vs. CIN (11% rostered), Tyler Johnson vs. NYG (8% rostered), Nelson Agholor at ATL (21% rostered), Rondale Moore at SEA (27% rostered), Kalif Raymond at CLE (10% rostered), Amon-Ra St. Brown at CLE (6% rostered), Quez Watkins vs. NO (1% rostered), Albert Wilson at NYJ (0% rostered), DeAndre Carter at CAR (0% rostered), Randall Cobb at MIN (14% rostered), Ray-Ray McCloud at LAC (0% rostered), Isaiah Ford at NYJ (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Tim Patrick (33% rostered)

Other receivers to stash: Josh Reynolds at CLE (1% rostered), Gabriel Davis vs. IND (2% rostered), Josh Palmer vs. PIT (0% rostered)

Tight ends

Dan Arnold, Jaguars

Arnold makes yet another appearance in this space since fantasy managers aren't catching on to his value.

Over the last five games, Arnold has at least five targets in each contest and topped 60 yards four times. He's eighth among tight ends in fantasy points per game during that span.

Last week, we compared his emergence to what Logan Thomas did with Washington in 2020, and that seems only more accurate now with yet another quality outing under his belt.

This is likely your last chance to get him on your roster.

Logan Thomas is just over the 54% cutoff line but should be rostered in all leagues.

Streaming options: Tyler Conklin vs. GB (30% rostered), Cole Kmet vs. BAL (18% rostered)

Risky streamer options: Evan Engram at TB (32% rostered), Gerald Everett vs. ARI (20% rostered), Austin Hooper vs. DET (23% rostered), David Njoku vs. DET (8% rostered), C.J. Uzomah at LV (21% rostered), Mo Alie-Cox at BUF (8% rostered)

Dart-throw streamer options: Ryan Griffin vs. MIA (0% rostered), Adam Trautman at PHI (5% rostered), Geoff Swaim vs. HOU (0% rostered)

Defenses

Week 11 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Panthers DEF (30% rostered), Dolphins DEF (25% rostered)