Waiver Wire Roto Wizard Waiver Wire Free Agents week 11 2022

Wir Sind In Deutschland!

After yet another snooze fest on Thursday Night Football where the Carolina Panthers defeated the hapless Atlanta Falcons 25-15, a shot of energy was needed to get me back in the mood for an all-day affair on Sunday. Enter the Germans!

The first NFL regular-season game in Germany was played Sunday morning at Bayern Munich's Allianz Arena, and the crowd was simply electric. I have been a big proponent of bringing the "brand" overseas, and a change of location away from England was a brilliant idea by Roger Goodell. Germany has been obsessed with "American Football" since the early 1980's, and the crowd showed their appreciation by poured their heart and soul into every play. Midway through the game, the nearly 70,000 people in attendance spontaneously broke out with singing "Country Roads" by John Denver in unison. I wasn't sure what sort of association the song had with the NFL (or heck, Germany as a whole) until I researched and found that it is a popular sing-along song at Oktoberfest events in Munich. Not sure why that song was selected as a drinking dirge, but it made for one very awesome (and hysterical) moment with two minutes left in the game.

German fans were treated to an entertaining contest between the Seattle Seahawks and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, with both teams trading body blows all game long. The Bucs defense managed to stave off a late-game comeback attempt by Geno Smith and Co., and with the victory Tampa Bay moves into sole possession of first place at 5-5 in the NFC South. After several weeks of subpar play due largely in part to injuries, the Buccaneers defense managed to hold Kenneth Walker to just 17 rushing yards on 10 attempts, and Seattle wasn't able to adapt. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett still produced decent enough numbers, but it was evident that the inability to have balanced play calling made a big difference.

On the injury front, Leonard Fournette was ruled out with a hip pointer a little after halftime, and in his stead Rachaad White (who also started the game over Fournette) exploded for 105 rushing yards on 22 carries. I've mentioned White as an upside handcuff stash since Week 3, and hopefully you were able to grab him off of the waiver wire. Tampa Bay has a bye in Week 11 which will allow Fournette to rest, but if he is unable to go, White makes a mid-range RB1 play against Cleveland in Week 12. White is currently rostered in about 25 percent of leagues (which is sure to rise, given that performance) and is my top recommendation on the week, even with the team not playing ahead.

This is another sparse week of waiver-wire recommendations, but there are a few players that caught my attention. Check out the full list below.

Quarterbacks

Players on bye in Week 11: Tom Brady. Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa, Geno Smith

Ryan Tannehill (7 percent rostered) - After being sidelined since Week 7 with an ankle injury, Tannehill returned against Denver and led the team to a 17-10 victory over a Broncos defense that allows the fewest points against quarterbacks in the league. Tannehill connected with Nick Westbrook-Ikhine for two touchdowns, and also benefitted from the return of Treylon Burks. The Titans offense still runs through Derrick Henry, but with Tannehill back under center they can take a more balanced approach if necessary. Tennessee squares off against Green Bay and Cincinnati the next two weeks, and it wouldn't surprise me if both opponents "sell out" to stop the run and force Tannehill to take a step up. With several top-tier starters on bye this week, he becomes an interesting player to consider.

Recommendation: Outside of Philadelphia in Week 13, the Titans schedule is ripe for the picking, and Fantasy managers struggling at the position can consider Tannehill an upside pickup through the playoffs. The return of Burks is a major boon, and I'd be willing to drop $3-$5 to stream Tannehill in 14-team leagues or larger if necessary.

Jameis Winston (6 percent rostered) - Yes, this is very much an "if you're absolutely desperate" recommendation. Winston hasn't sniffed the field since Week 5 due to injuries and being benched in favor of Andy Dalton, but I'd have to imagine that the New Orleans coaching staff is considering reverting the change. Dalton somehow found a way to lose against the Pittsburgh Steelers 20-10 on Sunday, and was just 17-of-27 passing for 174 yards for a touchdown and two interceptions. Both picks came in the fourth quarter, and were the turning point in the game. The Saints are attempting to compete for the NFC South title, and square off against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 11. Winston does have more aggressive downfield tendencies than Dalton, and isn't afraid to go full-blown "YOLO mode" if losing.

Recommendation: In 2-QB formats or deeper leagues, consider adding Winston as the bye weeks finish. New Orleans has two difficult matchups against the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Weeks 12-13, but as a streamer pivot one could do worse for the short-term. Spend the minimum if you need QB help.

Running Backs

Players on bye in Week 11: Leonard Fournette, Rachaad White, Travis Etienne, Jeff Wilson Jr., Raheem Mostert, Kenneth Walker

Jerick McKinnon (18 percent rostered) - Clyde Edwards-Helaire failed to record ONE touch in Week 10 against the Jacksonville Jaguars, and only played six percent of the snaps total. Isaiah Pacheco has failed to distinguish himself as Kansas City's leading rusher, leading McKinnon to see a sharp rise in snaps and targets within the passing game. With consecutive double-digit performances and 12 receptions for 96 yards over the last two games, McKinnon is worth looking at in deeper PPR formats. A committee approach will limit his overall upside, but with the Chiefs continuing to throw the ball early and often in competitive games, McKinnon can be viewed as a FLEX option. Kansas City faces the Los Angeles Chargers, Los Angeles Rams and Cincinnati Bengals over the next 3 weeks, so the schedule should be conducive for dump-off passes.

Recommendation: Consider adding McKinnon as a PPR FLEX in 12-team formats or larger while CEH turns into a total afterthought. Pacheco is sure to get the goal line work and short yardage opportunities over McKinnon, but his total snap share warrants a second look.

Jaylen Warren (11 percent rostered) - I've debated adding Warren to the column for a few weeks in a row, in large part due to Pittsburgh's unwillingness to split carries with Najee Harris. Following the Steelers bye in Week 9, reports came out that the team was willing to increase Warren's snap share - I was curious if those snaps would result in a dramatic spike in touches or not before endorsing him. Warren did set a season-high in carries (9) and averaged over 4.1 YPC, but Harris is still the clear-cut first option (he had 20 carries for 99 yards). The undrafted rookie from Oklahoma State will continue to mainly be an upside handcuff for Fantasy purposes, on a team that plays perpetually from behind in 2022. I doubt (barring an injury) that Warren is ever on the positive side of a 55:45 split with Harris, but he should be held onto as we approach the playoffs for his potential. He's in a similar tier as Tyler Allgeier or Kareem Hunt for the short-term.

Recommendation: Warren has broken the double-digit mark in PPR formats in three of the past five games, and is worth stashing as an upside handcuff in 12-team formats or larger. His role increased against New Orleans in Week 10, and it will be interesting to see if this is a short-term uptick or permanent upsurge. Spend $5 in FAAB as a bench back.

Wide Receivers

Players on bye in Week 11: Mike Evans, Chris Godwin, Julio Jones, Scotty Miller, Christian Kirk, Zay Jones, Marvin Jones Jr., Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett

Parris Campbell (23 percent rostered) - I won't sugarcoat things; this is an absolutely brutal bye week at the receiver position. Campbell is my top add at wideout, due in large part to new head coach Jeff Saturday's choice to reinstate Matt Ryan as the starter. Campbell suffered mightily when Sam Ehlinger was under center, and managed only four receptions for 58 yards total over Weeks 8-9. With Ryan back at the helm, Campbell tied for the team-lead with 9 targets in Week 10, catching 7 passes for 76 yards and a score against the Las Vegas Raiders. Campbell has already set career highs across the board in 2022, and will look to keep things going against the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 11. Expect Darius Slay to shadow Michael Pittman, making Campbell the obvious pivot for passing opportunities. Indianapolis WILL be playing from behind in this one.

Recommendation: Spend $5-$10 to acquire Campbell in shallower leagues where he might still be available. Matt Ryan under center is a MASSIVE boost to his value, and the return of Jonathan Taylor will result in defenses not being able to drop into dime coverage 24/7.

Christian Watson (6 percent rostered) - I'll fully admit that I didn't expect Watson to play in this game, given that he was in the league's concussion protocol yet again. Able to pass all the mandatory steps, Watson became Aaron Rodgers' favorite target not-named Allen Lazard, leaping over Sammy Watkins and Samori Toure (who I touched on last week). Contrary to popular belief, Watson's inclusion in this list is not on account of his massive 4-107-3 day against Dallas, but rather his role opposite Lazard. Green Bay's defense has had a difficult time keeping opponents out of the end zone, and the Packers are often in a pass-first script. Despite low overall volume and a propensity for drops, Watson is worth considering for his overall upside (that we just saw). He is essentially what Marquez Valdes-Scantling was to this team in 2021 and earlier - a big-bodied wideout capable of splash plays that struggles with consistency. Watson won't need double-digit targets each week to remain relevant, but his point totals will be erratic.

Recommendation: I prefer to add Watson in non-PPR formats if possible, but beggars can't be choosers (as the line goes). Watson has the chance to bloom over the short term with both Romeo Doubs and Randall Cobb weeks away from returning. He's worth a $5-$7 bid in larger formats as a FLEX during bye weeks.

Tight Ends

Players on bye in Week 11: Cade Otton, Evan Engram, Mike Gesicki, Noah Fant

Foster Moreau (12 percent rostered) - Moreau's value shot through the roof after it was announced that Darren Waller was placed on injured reserve late last week. Serving as the primary tight end for Las Vegas, Moreau hauled in 3-of-4 targets for 43 yards and a score against Indianapolis, and he dropped the chance for another score late in the game. At a position riddled with inconsistency that is largely dependent upon touchdowns, Moreau is certainly worth a look. Moreau has the trust of David Carr, is familiar with the route tree, and will be relevant over a multi-week period. Outside of Davante Adams, the Raiders have few capable pass catchers. He will be a bigger part of this offense than people realize.

Recommendation: The tight end position rarely has waiver-wire eligible players that can contribute for a stretch of the season, and Moreau is an exception. He is worth every bit of a $5-$7 bid for a team that is struggling with consistency, and provides a PPR floor of about 5-8 points per week. Those guys don't grow on trees!

Harrison Bryant (2 percent rostered) - Bryant's inclusion on this list comes with a caveat - his upside is completely reliant upon the health of David Njoku. Njoku has been out with an ankle injury since Week 7, and failed to suit up for Cleveland even after the team's bye last week. In his absence this past week, Bryant caught all three of his targets for 15 yards and a score against Miami. Cleveland squares off against Buffalo and Tampa Bay the next two weeks, and both defenses are very difficult to run the ball against. I'd expect Jacoby Brissett to be under siege, leading to quick, short, throws. All of this leads to Bryant's endorsement. Keep an eye on practice reports and beat writer musings to see if Njoku suits up.

Recommendation: Bryant is a band-aid at the position on a week where multiple mid-range options are unavailable. Spend the minimal amount to add him if Njoku remains sidelined.

Defense/Special Teams

New Orleans - The Saints are perhaps the most obvious recommendation of the week, despite the squad being in the bottom-third of Fantasy points scored in 2022. Fresh off of a disappointing performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers, New Orleans will look to rebound at home against the Los Angeles Rams. Likely to be without their all-world receiver Cooper Kupp for the next several games, the Rams will struggle to generate offense (not like they were particularly successful doing so as-is).

Washington - At the time of writing, Philadelphia has not yet dismantled the Commanders on Monday Night Football, though I expect a poor performance). Washington squares off against Houston and the New York Giants over the next two games, and expects to have Chase Young return during that stretch. His presence will bolster the front line greatly. As both the Texans and Giants are largely one-dimensional offenses, I think the Commanders have a strong chance to have success limiting points allowed while generating turnovers.

Kickers

Nick Folk - In shallower formats or leagues that don't have deep benches, it is difficult for a squad to hold multiple kickers during bye weeks. Folk's rostership plummeted with the New England Patriots on bye, and he is available in almost 50 percent of standard-size leagues. The Pats square off against their arch-rival New York Jets in Week 11, and the last time that these teams played, Folks finished as the top scoring option on the week with 5 FGs. New England's offense is capable of moving the ball on the ground but struggles to punch it into the end zone at times.

Greg Zuerlein - Despite ranking sixth in points at the position, Zuerlein is only rostered in about 4 percent of leagues, making him a more available commodity than Folk. Like his counter-part, "Greg the Leg" is coming off of a bye and plays for a team that has a bevy of talent, but is inconsistent. You can tell what sort of game I expect this one to be.