It was a great week of fantasy football with some absolute monster performances. Jonathan Taylor is reminding us all why he was the number one overall pick a couple of years ago. On the other hand, A.J. Brown continues to be boom or bust. I’m sure we’ll see a cryptic tweet by this afternoon, as it seems the relationship between him and Jalen Hurts is seriously fractured. While we saw some stars shine, the week was also marked by a few key injuries that could shake up fantasy lineups.
Some notable injuries this week include Garrett Wilson and Dalton Kincaid, who are both dealing with knee issues. Jaxson Dart was ruled out with a concussion, and Davante Adams appears to have an oblique injury. Now that we have that all wrapped up, let’s jump into the waivers!
For additional potential Week 11 pickups, check out ASL's Chris Hexter's Injuries & Opportunities - Week 11 or ASL Founder Leonard LaPadula's Streamers For The Desperate - Week 11.
Quarterbacks
Marcus Mariota (14% Rostered, Yahoo)
The guy just keeps getting it done, and he’s going to have to with Jayden Daniels likely out for the season. This week, Mariota went 16-for-22 for 213 yards and two touchdowns, adding another 22 yards on the ground. He looked comfortable running the offense and continues to show great command and poise in the pocket. Something I really like about the Commanders—and Mariota in particular—is that they rank 4th in receiver target separation, which means his weapons are consistently getting open and making his job easier. With rumors that "Scary Terry" (McLaurin) could return next week against a very favorable Miami matchup, it’s full steam ahead on the Mariota train. Given his recent play and a top-10 remaining schedule for fantasy quarterbacks, I’d feel confident starting Mariota in almost any matchup moving forward. Go pick him up anywhere you need a QB, because the upside is real.
Jacoby Brissett (20% Rostered, Yahoo)
The offense looks better. Sorry, Kyler Murray, but it seems like they made the right decision putting him on IR. The team probably isn’t going to win many more games, but the offense looks much more efficient. Three straight weeks with over 18 points is very valuable for fantasy, especially for someone you can grab off the wire. Over the next two weeks, he faces San Francisco and Jacksonville, two matchups that aren’t scaring anyone. The Cardinals are likely going to be playing from behind in most games, which means Brissett will have to push the ball downfield with Marv (Harrison Jr.). He’s also outperformed his PFF projections for total points in every one of his starts this year. Brissett has thrown for more than 235 yards in four of his last five games. If you’re in need of some spot starts, I still think it depends on the matchup, but you could do a lot worse.
Running Backs
Emanuel Wilson (7% Rostered, Yahoo)
If anything happens to Josh Jacobs, I truly think he has superstar potential. Every time I see him carry the ball, the kid just has juice. I know an undrafted free agent isn’t the most exciting thing in the world, but he’s got something special. I went back and watched his Fort Valley State highlights, and he was absolutely electric. He’s not someone you can start right now, but his attempts are starting to increase. Green Bay also has one of the top-10 easiest schedules for running backs moving forward, and the Packers are running the ball at a top-five rate in the NFL. I know he barely got any opportunity on Monday Night Football, but that game against Philly was weird and I think we can throw it out. If you have Josh Jacobs, having Wilson should be a no-brainer, and if you’ve got an open spot on your roster, he’s worth picking up.
Tyler Allgeier (33% Rostered, Yahoo)
He’s the most valuable handcuff in the NFL, and for good reason. The Falcons rely heavily on the run, and whether Bijan Robinson is there or not, that’s not going to change. He has come up in this article a few times because, in the right matchups, you can use him as a desperate flex option. With games against Carolina, New Orleans, and the struggling Jets, he should be rostered in almost all formats and league sizes. Allgeier ranks in the top 20 among all NFL backs in breakaway runs, which is impressive considering he is only averaging 7.4 attempts per game. The Falcons are also one of those teams that may be on the playoff bubble, which means Allgeier will continue to get touches. The schedule in the South is still fairly open, giving him plenty of opportunities to shine. If you need someone to spot start with massive upside, go ahead and throw in a claim.
Receivers
Alec Pierce (42% Rostered, Yahoo)
I tried to tell you last week. Alec Pierce is not just a legit fantasy wide receiver, but an overall great player. On Sunday, when the lights were bright, he delivered with four receptions for 84 yards and a touchdown. Pierce now ranks first in the NFL in deep target share, and I don’t see that changing with the way Daniel Jones is playing. He is also top 10 in explosive rating. These are all excellent underlying metrics when looking for true breakout difference makers, especially as your fantasy playoff run approaches. He goes on bye this week, but for everyone reading this, that’s actually a good thing. People in your league may drop him or not have room to pick him up. Take advantage, because next year I could see him going in the fifth round of fantasy drafts.
Tez Johnson (32% Rostered, Yahoo)
The Oregon speedster is showing why he had so much prospect hype. He had four receptions for 42 yards and two touchdowns, and even though they lost, Tampa still looks in control offensively. With Mike Evans out for the season and Chris Godwin’s injury seeming worse than initially thought, Tez has fully stepped up as Baker Mayfield’s WR2. I’ll admit, a couple of weeks ago I was wrong. I thought Cade Otten would soak up these targets, but Johnson has played himself into fantasy relevancy. As long as it’s just him and Emeka running routes, he’s a valuable flex option. Another thing in his favor is that it doesn’t look like Bucky Irving is coming back anytime soon. Pick him up wherever you need spot starts, as I expect Tampa will have to throw against the Bills and Rams over the next two weeks.
Tight Ends
Theo Johnson (42% Rostered, Yahoo)
Theo Johnson is a freak athlete. With Brian Daboll fired, I think the interim coach is going to lean on the tight end position, especially given the wide receiver situation in New York. They need a big, physical target, and Johnson can provide exactly that. People forget that he was the player Tyler Warren sat behind at Penn State. He can block at an elite level and also has excellent route-running skills. He currently ranks fourth among all tight ends in red-zone target share. The tight end landscape is as thin as it has ever been, but you could do a lot worse than Theo Johnson.
Dalton Schultz (34% Rostered, Yahoo)
Schultz has always been a great player, and the Texans are starting to realize they can rely on him to win games. The 29-year-old had seven receptions for 53 yards and a touchdown this week on 11 targets. In today’s tight end landscape, 11 targets is almost unheard of. Stroud still has not passed concussion protocol, and if Davis Mills remains the starter, Schultz is an automatic start. Even if C.J. Stroud plays, he’s still worth considering as a strong start. The Texans have a top-10 remaining schedule for tight ends. Jayden Higgins hasn’t broken out as expected, and Nico Collins can’t catch every ball. Start Schultz with confidence moving forward.
