We see it every season — players added off waivers this time of year can often wind up starting and leading fantasy football owners to championships. There are several “league-winner” contenders among our top Week 11 fantasy waiver wire pickups and free agent adds, including RBs Rachaad White and Isiah Pacheco, TE Cole Kmet, and WRs Kadarius Toney and Christian Watson.
While those players top our full free agent list, there are plenty more under-the-radar contributors at running back (Latavius Murray), wide receiver (Darius Slayton, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Donovan Peoples-Jones, Nick Westbrook-Ikhine), and tight end (Foster Moreau, Isaiah Likely). However, the bulk of the list remains streamer suggestions for QB, WR, TE, and D/ST. Four teams (Dolphins, Seahawks, Buccaneers, Jaguars) are on bye in Week 11, so more than a few fantasy owners will be looking for fill-ins. The streamer suggestions are organized by position and can be found at the end of the list.
White and Pacheco are both worth high waiver claims. Even though we like White more overall, you can make a case for Pacheco deserving a higher claim because White has a bye next week. Either way, you’ll have to spend up to get them. None of the rest are worth high claims in 10-team leagues, and even in 12-team leagues, you probably don’t want to use top-five priority (though you might have to for Watson). As much as we like the ceilings of some of these players, we worry about their consistency.
MORE WEEK 11 PICKUPS: Full waiver list
That said, it’s likely that a few will get claimed depending on how deep and competitive your league is. Watson, Peoples-Jones, Kmet, Toney, Valdes-Scantling, and Murray could easily get claimed, and at the very least, you should be ready to act early in free agency if you want any of them. That also goes for this week’s top streamers (Daniel Jones, Robert Tonyan, Terrace Marshall Jr, etc.), who generally aren’t worth waiver claims but will require quick and immediate action on Wednesday.
Top fantasy football waiver wire pickups for Week 11
Unless otherwise noted, only players owned in fewer than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues are considered.
Rachaad White, RB, Buccaneers. White had been trending up for a few weeks, but he really broke out in Week 10 with 22 carries and 105 yards. Leonard Fournette was still heavily involved (14 carries, 57 yards, TD) before exiting in the fourth quarter because of a hip injury, but it’s clear the Bucs want to get White more touches. That should continue after Tampa’s Week 11 bye, and White will return to another highly favorable matchup in Week 12 against Cleveland. He will be at least a flex throughout the bye weeks, and he’s a must-start RB1/2 if Fournette remains out.
Isiah Pacheco, RB, Chiefs. Things tend to change quickly in the Andy Reid RB universe, but after seeing Pacheco rack up 16 rushes and 82 yards in Week 10 and Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Jerick McKinnon combine for one carry, it doesn’t appear that there’s much of a committee here. Pacheco even shook off a key early fumble en route to his best game of the season, so it’s reasonable to expect more of the same going forward. A highly favorable matchup next week against the Chargers has Pacheco in the RB2 tier.
MORE WEEK 11 PICKUPS: Full waiver list
Kadarius Toney, WR, Chiefs. Toney’s role is still evolving with the Chiefs, but he looked right at home in Week 10, catching four-of-five targets for 57 yards and a TD. He also added 33 yards on two runs. He was undoubtedly helped by Mecole Hardman (abdomen) being out, but Toney will continue to have upside in Kansas City’s high-powered offense. Grab him for the stretch run just in case he sees more opportunities. With JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion) also hurt, Toney has some flex appeal next week against the Chargers.
Christian Watson, WR, Packers. Watson is far from a “consistent” player, but he showed his big-play potential with a 58-yard TD and a 39-yard TD against the Cowboys. All told, Watson saw a season-high eight targets, catching four for 107 yards and three touchdowns. With Romeo Doubs (ankle) on the shelf for at least the next few weeks, Watson has a chance to see more consistent targets. He’s worth a WR3/flex spot in a favorable matchup next week against Tennessee’s 30th-ranked pass defense, and he could continue to have flex value moving forward.
Cole Kmet, TE, Bears. After two more TDs in Week 10, Kmet is clearly on the every-week radar at TE. He posted a season-high 74 yards on four catches (seven targets) against the Lions, continuing an upward trend that started in Week 8. He’s now scored five times in the past three games, and he has a favorable Week 11 matchup against a Falcons’ defense that entered Week 10 allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to TEs. He did limp off the field late against the Lions with what looked like a thigh or knee issue, so monitor that, but as long as he’s healthy, Kmet is a solid start in all formats.
For more waiver/free agent suggestions, including a host of potential streaming options, check out our full Week 11 list.
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