DFS Army’s Gthom goes over the the waiver wire targets for this week. These waiver wire targets are normally available in 50-percent of ESPN leagues.
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Nov 12, 2023; Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Baltimore Ravens running back Keaton Mitchell (34) rushes during the first half against the Cleveland Browns at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
QUARTERBACKS
Joshua Dobbs (MIN) – 17% Ownership
The public yells, “HE IS HIM” and why not? Dobbs has finished with 24 fantasy points in each of his last three games. Still widely available this week and he is facing off against soft opponents the next two weeks: at Denver in Week 11, then at home against Chicago in Week 12 before going on BYE in Week 13.
Matthew Stafford (LAR) – 31% Ownership
I get it, Stafford is far removed from his sexy fantasy days but he has value coming off of his BYE week IF he is healthy… Head coach Sean McVay expects Stafford to play. Stafford faces off against a beatable Seattle pass-defense in Week 11 and follows that with a trip to Arizona. Stafford can be streamed in both games and is widely available.
Jordan Love (GB) – 39% Ownership
Not in Love with this player but he is someone to target as a streamer in Week 11. Green Bay will be hosting the Chargers and they just surrendered 21 fantasy points to Lions’ quarterback, Jared Goff. There seems to be no end in sight for fixing this porous defense, they allow 20.2 fantasy points per game to the quarterback position and that is the fourth worst in the NFL.
RUNNING BACKS
Keaton Mitchell (BAL) – 23% Ownership
This rookie is for real, and he has the make up to be a league winning addition… The Ravens must choose to use him though. At this point of the fantasy season, blow a decent amount of FAAB on this kid because he is hyper-efficient over his last two games and there is a lot of usage he could absorb leading up to the fantasy playoffs. The elephant in the room is his putrid snap share: 18-percent in Week 9 and 24-percent in Week 10. Surely those numbers move up given he has an elite ability to succeed in space. He is averaging 14.3 YPC and 12.3 YPR… FEED THIS MAN!
Devin Singletary (HOU) – 50% Ownership
A tale of two weeks: Singletary failed as the featured back in Week 9 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers but dominated the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 10. 30 carries for 150 yards (5 YPC) and one touchdown is how he finished in Week 10. Singletary has been ascending on the depth chart prior to teammate Dameon Pierce’s injury, and Singletary may have supplanted Pierce as the RB1. Once Pierce gets healthy these two backs will share the workload. But Pierce did not practice leading up to Week 10, which means Singletary could have the backfield to himself against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 11.
Ty Chandler (MIN) – 3% Ownership
We talked last week how teammate Alexander Mattison may not retain his featured role since the coaching staff made personnel moves to prevent that from happening earlier this year (see Cam Akers trade). We saw this come to fruition as Chandler was splitting work with Mattison, even prior to Mattison’s injury which knocked him out of the game. Chandler finished with 15 carries and forty-five yards on the ground (3 YPC).
Since Mattison suffered a concussion, there is a real chance that Chandler gets the bulk of the workload in Week 11. Given the usage of this backfield prior to Mattison’s injury, Chandler may have carved out a fantasy relevant role in this offense. The matchups couldn’t be softer either, at Denver next week and against Chicago in Week 12.
Leonard Fournette (BUF) – 11% Ownership
Speculative short yardage back for the Bills who can catch passes. Fournette has never been an efficient back, he always succeeded on volume, so do not expect an every-week RB2. Lenny did not play in Buffalo’s Week 10 game against the Broncos so its unclear what Fournette’s timeline is.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Demario Douglas (NE) – 27% Ownership
Somehow still available in ESPN leagues and he should not be. Double-digit fantasy output in three of his last four games. This passing attack is a mess but Douglas has carved out a dependable FLEX-worthy role. He is on BYE in Week 11 but he faces three awful pass defenses once the Patriots return from BYE: Giants, Chargers and Pittsburgh. Likely will fly under the radar with him being on BYE.
Brandin Cooks (DAL) – 50% Ownership
It is amazing that Cooks was signed as a free agent by the Cowboys and it took them nine weeks to get him the ball more than four times within a single game. Nevertheless, Cooks finally flexed his fantasy ability with a monster 9/173/1 day against the New York Giants in Week 10. This passing offense is hot and they are facing easy defenses the next four weeks: at Carolina, Washington, Seattle and Philadelphia. Cooks could be a savor to WR2 needy teams. Expect Dallas to continue feeding Cooks as they desperately need a playmaker not named CeeDee Lamb.
Elijah Moore (CLE) – 36% Ownership
Moore has been a player that Fantasy Bros have wanted to work out since his New York Jets days. Greener pastures were thought to be had when Moore landed in Cleveland prior to this season, but it has not worked out leading up to Week 10; only one game with double-digit fantasy points in his first eight contests. Then Moore went 5/44/1 against the Ravens in Week 10 when quarterback Deshaun Watson put together a solid second-half.
Moore is interesting but starting him feels hard to do at this point. Cleveland will continue to be a run-the-ball and play defense team, which could take away from Moore’s fantasy ceiling. Moore would be a WR3/FLEX player going forward if this usage holds up.
Noah Brown (HOU) – 25% Ownership
He is coming off games where he finished as the WR2 and WR7 overall (prior to Monday Night Football) during the last two weeks, respectively. These last two games have been about Brown stepping up due to injuries at the receiver position, but he has MORE than delivered. Brown will likely be the WR3, at best, for this team, but that is not guaranteed either. Teammate Robert Woods will be battling for that spot as well.
You would hope the team continues to feature Brown because he is more explosive than Woods. By doing that, they can also continue building the young nucleolus of their team: Brown is 27 years old compared to Woods who is 31. Brown is worth hanging onto despite the Houston receiving core getting healthy again. Should injuries continue for this wide receiver room, Brown is an easy plug-and-play.
Trenton Irwin (CIN) – 4% Ownership
When teammate Tee Higgins is out, Irwin shows up for fantasy as a plug-and-play receiver. In Week 10, Irwin was the WR25 overall which is similar to his Week 5 performance, where Irwin was the WR22 while Higgins was sidelined. This offense has been much better for fantasy of late, but they are running up against a tough Ravens’ defense in Week 11. Irwin is playable in PPR formats but his Week 11 match up is awful, proceed with caution.
Jayden Reed (GB) – 15% Ownership
Reed carries PPR value at the flex position each week. He has finished with double-digit fantasy points in five-of-eight games, and he has four touchdowns on the season as well. Never going to be a dominant fixture within your fantasy team, but he can get the job done. Reed is not so great within standard leagues of fantasy football, make sure you are getting points per reception if you sign him to your roster.
Quentin Johnston (LAC) – 33% Ownership
He has finished with decent fantasy outcomes in two of his last three games, but they are not pretty. In a game with 79 points scored, and two starting receivers on IR, Johnston only mustered up four receptions for thirty-four yards and a single touchdown… Talk about gross. Holding Johnston seems to be the move because he is on the field a ton, but it is hard to start him with any confidence.
Khalil Shakir (BUF) – 8% Ownership
Shakir’s usage has been more consistent since tight end Dawson Knox went down with an injury. After two consecutive weeks of fantasy production, Shakir only scored 3.4-PPR points against the Broncos in Week 10. The Buffalo offense seems to have temporarily lost their identity and their dominance. Shakir becomes less valuable the more this offense suffers.
TIGHT ENDS
Trey McBride (ARI) – 50% Ownership
Just sign the dude to your fantasy team. Since being thrusted into the TE1 role in Week 9, McBride has been great: TE1, TE27 and TE2 overall, respectively. That TE27 performance was against one of the leagues best defenses and Arizona had a backup quarterback playing too. Now that quarterback Kyler Murray is back, and Murray passed the eye-test too, this offense has taken a step up. With the tight end landscape being a dumpster fire each year, McBride has league winning upside. Blow some FAAB if you need to acquire him.
Tyler Conklin (NYJ) – 11% Ownership
We have seen in the past that Conklin can get peppered with targets. In his last two games he has seen 13 targets and turned that into 13 receptions for 146 yards. He has finished with double-digit PPR points in consecutive contests and has achieved that mark in three of his last five games. Conklin only has four red zone targets this season so he should only be considered in PPR formats.
Luke Musgrave (GB) – 17% Ownership
Musgrave set career marks with 64 yards receiving in Week 10. He continues to be a low-end tight end that plays a ton of snaps and gets plays called to him, but can leave you with little on the scoreboard. The issue is there’s not a ton of usage around the goal line and there is not enough volume for Musgrave to be a regular fantasy fixture.
Michael Mayer (LV) – 3% Ownership
He continues to be on the field a lot for this Raiders offense, which has improved since removing their former head coach. He scored his first touchdown in Week 10 as well. Mayer is going to be a fantasy player that can always underwhelm but he has a shot at delivering on value. Hard to start, but can be if you are streaming in a pinch.
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