Fantasy football waiver wire: Each week in the NFL never ceases to surprise fantasy owners. As par for the course, some star players fell flat on their faces while other unheralded names exploded with game-winning performances in fantasy lineups.
Between the surprises, unfortunate injuries, and teams on their byes, here are some fantasy football waiver-wire pickups for Week 11.
Updated: Nov. 16, 4:05 PM EST
If your fantasy football roster is now looking like a piece of Swiss cheese due to NFL injuries and another bye week coming, then check out these Week 11 waiver wire players to target.
Related: NFL Week 11 schedule, predictions
Waiver wire quarterbacks
Jameis Winston, quarterback, New Orleans Saints
Winston tops the list of fantasy football waiver wire pickups heading into Week 11. With Drew Brees dealing with a rib injury, and his playing status unknown for Week 11, Winston could be called to duty.
If Winston does indeed start, fantasy owners who pick him up might be pleasantly surprised. The Saints face the Falcons in Week 11. To date, Atlanta has given up the second-most quarterback fantasy points.
Plus, the last time we checked, Wintson still has all of the top offensive weapons at his disposal that help Brees to succeed in fantasy each week.
P.J. Walker, quarterback, Carolina Panthers
Teddy Bridgewater gave all a good scare in Week 10 when he was sidelined with a knee injury. Fortunately, it’s just an MCL sprain and he has a chance to suit up in Week 11 when the Panthers host the Lions.
However, those in need of a potential replacement or starter if Bridgewater sits out, should snag Walker from the fantasy waiver wire. A top XFL quarterback early in 2020, Walker was signed as a backup to Bridgewater, and he could help in a pinch against a Lions defense that ranks within the bottom 10 against the pass.
Waiver wire running backs
Nyheim Hines, running back, Indianapolis Colts
Clearly, Jonathan Taylor is not the preferred running back in Indianapolis. Instead, Hines last received the majority of the work for the Colts. He racked up 115 total yards and scored twice in Week 10.
This makes him one of the top waiver wire running backs heading into Week 11. And should Indianapolis continue to roll with Hines as its workhorse, he is primed to succeed against Green Bay. The Packers are yielding an average of 25.5 fantasy points to running backs on the season.
Rex Burkhead, running back, New England Patriots
Those in deep need of filling a running back spot should give Burkhead a look on the Week 11 waiver wire. Not always an ideal fantasy start, Burkhead does have appeal heading into a Week 11 clash against that awful Texans run defense.
This is a defense giving away the second-most fantasy points to running backs on the season. Both Burkhead, and of course Damien Harris, make for nice fantasy starts who should plow their way through Houston in Week 11.
Waiver wire wide receivers
Breshad Perriman, wide receiver, New York Jets
Perriman makes for a nice waiver wire pickup in Week 11. Prior to his bye, Perriman was the apple of Joe Flacco’s eye. Those who actually had Perriman rostered, banked after he tallied 101 yards and scored two touchdowns.
He proved to be a valuable asset and one fantasy owners can sneak into their lineups for a Week 11 game against the Chargers. The Chargers should push for the Jets to rely on their passing game, which hopefully results in Perriman being a reliable fantasy start.
Top waiver wire pickups
Michael Pittman, wide receiver, Indianapolis Colts
Pittman will be a heavily targeted waiver wire wide receiver pickup heading into Week 11. This rookie has really been connecting with quarterback Philip Rivers as of late. He last stunned those who had the foresight to start him in fantasy, catching seven-of-eight targets for 101 yards in Week 10.
Next up for Pittman is a game against the Packers that will likely call for Rivers to keep slinging the pigskin to keep the Colts contending.
Updated: Nov. 10, 9:57 AM EST
NFL injury report: Latest updates on fantasy stars for Week 10
Jake Luton, quarterback, Jacksonville Jaguars
Luton was a fantasy sleeper candidate heading into Week 9 against the Houston Texans. Surprisingly enough, the rookie performed better than expected, by passing for 304 yards, while he scored two touchdowns.
Related: NFL world reacts to Luton’s TD on first play
Therefore, Luton makes for a hot waiver-wire Week 10 pickup, next playing Green Bay. This game script will likely force Luton and the Jags to be competitive through the air, playing catch up on the scoreboard with Aaron Rodgers. The matchup becomes even more appealing if Green Bay is without No. 1 cornerback Jaire Alexander, who is in the NFL’s concussion protocol.
Cam Sims, wide receiver, Washington Football Team
With the quarterback switch in Washington to Alex Smith, Sims came to fantasy relevance this past week. Sims garnered four targets that resulted in three catches for 110 yards. He showed nice chemistry with Smith, beating the New York Giants for several big plays. Heading into a Week 10 matchup against the Detroit Lions, Sims is a waiver-wire target. Even those in 2QB or super-flex leagues could look into Alex Smith.
NFL Week 10: Schedule and game-by-game predictions
Wayne Gallman, running back New York Giants
Gallman has had his two best games of the season over the past couple of weeks, racking up 139 yards and two touchdowns. For those in need of a healthy running back to fill a flex spot in Week 10, give Gallman a shot. The Giants face the Philadelphia Eagles this week, who allow 130 rushing yards per game to opponents.
Jerry Jeudy, wide receiver, Denver Broncos
Jeudy’s had some ups and downs, which may have him sitting on some waivers. If so, he’s a great Week 10 pickup. Quarterback Drew Lock has been on a roll and he and Jeudy have had quite the connection over their last two games. In this stretch, Jeudy was targeted 24 times and turned that into 198 yards and one touchdown.
In Week 10, the Broncos play the Las Vegas Raiders. It’s a tasty matchup given Las Vegas allows regularly allows big games, including 326 yards and two touchdowns through the air in Week 9.
Mike Davis, running back, Carolina Panthers
Some folks got hasty with the return of Christian McCaffrey and dumped Davis back to the waivers. With that said, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure.
McCaffrey is in danger of missing Week 10 after injuring his shoulder last playing the Chiefs on Sunday. This makes Davis the hottest waiver waiver pickups, should he be out there for the taking. Even if he isn’t, especially for McCaffrey shareholders, it might be worth grabbing the handcuff. It’s almost time for the fantasy playoffs and if McCaffrey goes down, there is no better waiver wire target.
Related: Need a fantasy football fix? The Fantasy Football Chick has all the answers. Click here.
Jakobi Meyers, wide receiver, New England Patriots
It’s time to add Meyers off of the Week 10 waiver wire after after his smashing “Monday Night Football” performance. Meyers and Cam Newton were in fabulous sync and the young receiver caught 85.7% of his 14 targets for a total of 12 catches for 169 yards.
Moving ahead, Meyers looks to be dialed in as Newton’s No. 1 guy and he is a must-pickup ahead of his Week 10 game, even against a tougher Baltimore defense. Meyers should be rostered in all formats.
Garrett Gilbert, quarterback, Dallas Cowboys
Gilbert stepped up in Week 9 and breathed some life into a lifeless Cowboys’ offense. He made his 2020 start and did a decent job attempting to fend off one of the NFL’s top defenses. Along the way, Gilbert passed for 243 yards and scored a touchdown. While he threw an interception, this offense looked better than it has in weeks. Given the options on the depth chart, Dallas might stick with him.
At the very least, Gilbert is worth a Week 10 waiver wire stash in the event the Cowboys turn to him again following their bye.