NFL Waiver Wire: Week 11 Pickups

Week 10 is now in the books and we probably know less that what we knew heading into the week. Both the Bills and Cowboys bounced back, there was a tie and the Buccaneers couldn't beat the Washington Football Team despite coming off a bye. Tampa Bay is now 2-3 on the road this season and Tom Brady fortunately gets an Eli Manning-less Giants team this Monday night. (Has my disdain for Brady come out clearly enough?)

I've written this column for the last 10-plus years and can't recall a time I didn't have anyone in the "Primary Targets" section. The waiver wire is pretty thin this week, and in a vacuum, I'd probably recommend saving your FAAB or top waiver claim. There are only two teams with a bye, nine early games and three "late" games. I have no explanation why the NFL is doing that instead of something like Week 14, which has four byes and a more evenly split Sunday schedule. As always, if I missed someone you have a question about, hit up the comments.

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

QUARTERBACK

SECONDARY TARGETS

Cam Newton, CAR - I have to think it won't take too long for Cam to catch up with the offense, and his biggest fantasy asset anyway has always been his ability as goal-line back. Give the 5-5 Panthers credit for making a playoff push after losing Sam Darnold to injury. I don't think you can trust Cam every week, but with Washington, Miami, Tampa Bay and Atlanta still on the schedule, he can be streamed in for those games. FAAB: $4-$8

Daniel Jones, NYG - I've written about Jones multiple times this season based on matchups. This week he gets Tampa Bay, which ranks 25th against quarterbacks. The Giants will need to air it out and should be healthier at wide receiver coming out of a bye. At minimum, Kenny Golladay and Kadarius Toney will be close to completely healthy, and Evan Engram has finally shown himself to be a solid red-zone target (touchdowns in back-to-back games). FAAB: $3-$6

HAIL MARY

Case Keenum, CLE - I'm guessing it's rare that a team wins 41-16 one week and then loses 45-7 the next. At some point I have to think the Browns shut down Baker Mayfield and look to next season, especially since they are last in their division. I wouldn't trust Keenum in a standard 12-team league, but in leagues that start two quarterbacks or a super-flex spot, Keenum has value. FAAB: $2-$4

RUNNING BACK

SECONDARY TARGETS

Rhamondre Stevenson, NE - It's unclear if Damien Harris will be back for this week's game against the Falcons. Let's assume Harris will be out and Stevenson will be the main running back for the Patriots. He doesn't have a lot of mileage on him and averages a respectable 4.3 yards per carry. Stevenson is capable of handling a full workload, can catch passes out of the backfield and faces a team this week that's 30th against the position. FAAB: $4-$8

D'Onta Foreman, TEN - I'm starting to think there's something with this Titans team since it keeps winning without Derrick Henry and Julio Jones healthy. Foreman has looked like the flash to Henry's thunder and in PPR formats; I prefer him over Adrian Peterson. The schedule plays out nicely as he'll only have one top-10 team (Pittsburgh) against the position the rest of the season. FAAB: $3-$6

HAIL MARY

Wayne Gallman, ATL - It doesn't look like Cordarrelle Patterson will play this week (and maybe next) and Mike Davis has been largely ineffective with a 3.3 yards per carry average. Davis hasn't rushed for more than 53 yards in any game this season, so it makes sense that the Falcons are looking at Gallman. Gallman had 16 touches against the Cowboys, and outside of Buffalo, Carolina and New Orleans, it's a nice schedule the rest of the season. FAAB $2-$4

Jamal Agnew, JAC - I flew to Jacksonville and watched the Jaguars somehow beat my beloved Buffalo Bills and noticed Agnew, who really hadn't been on my radar. In a small sample he's averaged 18.2 yards per carry this season. The Jaguars seem to be making an effort to get the ball in his hands on offense. He's not going to be a volume guy but is capable of making big plays. If your league counts return yards, bump him up. FAAB: $2-$4

WIDE RECEIVER

SECONDARY TARGETS

Marcus Johnson, TEN - Julio Jones is on IR and the Titans needed to find someone to complement A.J. Brown. There's a favorable schedule ahead for Johnson facing the Texans twice as well as Miami, Jacksonville and Pittsburgh. Wide receivers don't suddenly emerge at age 27, but he will see  softer coverage playing opposite of Brown. FAAB: $2-$4

Ray-Ray McCloud, PIT - Kevin is a really boring name, so I'm considering changing my name to something cool like Ray-Ray. McCloud is going to get more opportunities with Chase Claypool banged up with a toe injury. Like the aforementioned Johnson, McCloud is going to see easy coverage with Diontae Johnson and Najee Harris being the focal points of defenses.  Claypool hasn't been ruled out this week and the Chargers aren't a great matchup, otherwise McCloud would be higher than this. FAAB: $2-$4

TIGHT END

SECONDARY TARGETS

Evan Engram, NYG - It appears there's a rapport between Daniel Jones and Engram as the latter has shown he can catch a pass without dropping the ball. Engram has a fantastic schedule, facing teams who are 24th or worse against the position in five of his next six games. Look for Engram to provide fantasy value as good red-zone target; any additional yardage is just gravy. FAAB: $4-$8

DEFENSE

San Francisco - The 49ers might have gotten their mojo back, as I didn't see them holding the Rams to only 10 points. They are 48 percent rostered in Yahoo league,s so it's a coin toss as to whether they're available. They go to Jacksonville this week, a team that's scored only 30 points in its last three games. FAAB: $2-$4