There's not much to target at the quarterback position off the waiver-wire for Week 11 of the fantasy football season. There are a few names to note at running back including a discussion about the backfield for the best offense in football. Kinda blah at wideout though there might be a few PPR options. At tight end a couple of names can be dismissed, but one deserves a second look.
*** Note: The number listed is not a dollar figure, instead it is a percentage. Therefore 20-25 means 20 to 25 percent of your budget. If you have $100 to spend go $20-25. If you have $1,000 to start you would be spending $200-250.
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QUARTERBACK
Josh McCown, Buccaneers
I'm not a fan, but McCown can move an offense when things are going well. He tossed the pigskin for 301 yards and two scores thank to a large total of 43 passes in Week 10. With Mike Evans and Vincent Jackson to throw to, and with the ability to use his legs (Josh actually led the Bucs with 39 rushing yards), he's a moderate QB2 option. That's it. Thank you, drive through.
Amount to Spend: 10-15
Drew Stanton, Cardinals
Carson Palmer is done for the year with a knee injury. Stanton will step in to an offense that is averaging 259 passing yards a week and has 15 scores in nine games. Can Stanton keep up that pace? Hell no. Look at his history. Just not happening. He's appeared in four games this season and hasn't thrown an interception, but he also has only three scores and has completed just 49.5 percent of his passes. He has nice weapons, but it won't be enough to make him anything other than a bottom level QB2.
Amount to Spend: 5-10
RUNNING BACK
C.J. Anderson / Montee Ball, Broncos
Here we go again. Ronnie Hillman is likely to miss two weeks with a mid-foot sprain in his right foot (there are still quotes from HC John Fox referring to Hillman as being day-to-day). Will he be able to return to the lead role with the Broncos? That's not at all certain. Not at all. Here's what we got. (1) Juwan Thompson is in the mix. He's also had only six carries for 14 yards the last two weeks. Not much interest here. (2) Ball is set to return from his groin issue in Week 11. He's lost weight, has looked sharp in practice, and there are plenty of positive vibes surrounding him. He's potentially the lead dog in the clubhouse once he proves he's healthy. (3) Anderson is a wrecking ball. Standing 5'8" and clocking in at 224 lbs, he's got the build to pound away. Boy did he do that in Week 10 as he carried the ball 13 times for 90 yards against the hapless Raiders. It was the 51 yard TD reception that really turned heads though (one of his four receptions for 73 yards). Running hard, displaying open field wiggle, and the vision to cut the run back all the way across the field, he really impressed. Look for Anderson to carry the majority of the load in Week 11, and then it's anyone's guess what will happen though if I would have to guess I would surmise that if Ball is healthy he will ultimately end up being the back you want to own.
Amount to Spend on Anderson: 25-30
Amount to Spend on Ball: 30-35
Bryce Brown, Bills
Fred Jackson made a surprise return to the field but it was clear from the start that his groin was nowhere near 100 percent. He ended up with three carries for 10 yards and four receptions for 39 yards. To support him Anthony Dixon had nine carries for 62 yards. However, Dixon is actually the direct backup to Jackson meaning that Brown is the new C.J. Spiller and the better add (note - that means Dixon's value recedes as Jackson's health improves). As for Brown, he carried the ball seven times for 35 yards and caught six balls for 65 yards. He also fumbled at the goaline, a continual issue for him (ball security), but the Bills kept him involved after the fumble showing faith in Brown (they still parsed out snaps in a nearly equal manner between Jackson 26 and Brown 27 with Dixon just behind at 22 snaps). Expect Brown to see 10 or so touches a week, and if Jackson is down potentially more.
Amount to Spend: 15-20
Bernard Pierce, Ravens
Justin Forsett ran for an average of 54 yards the last two games heading into Sunday. He ran for 112 yards in Week 10. He hadn't scored in four games. He scored twice in Week 10. So why am I mentioning Pierce? Because it looks like he, and not Lorenzo Taliaferro, is now the support back to own with the Ravens. Taliaferro carried the ball just three times for 10 yards in Week 10 while Pierce stepped forward to tote the pigskin eight times for 31 yards. Add Pierce for depth. He could get work at the goaline. Not remotely close to someone you can trust weekly of course. Oh, and the Ravens have a bye in Week 11 further dinging the value of Pierce.
Amount to Spend: 10-15
James Starks, Packers
The Packers whipped the Bears as badly as a dominatrix at a sex party Sunday night. Eddie Lacy did his thing with 50 rushing yards and three receptions for 68 yards (with a score). So Starks was the player who was heavily involved late in the 55-14 victory right? Not so much Starks picked up five carries for 10 yards as it was DuJuan Harris who saw the work (eight carries for 52 yards). Why? Probably because the game was so out of shape the Packers just wanted to get Harris some work. Starks is still the guy to own as the handcuff for Lacy. You can add Harris, but it's a fool's errand.
Amount to Spend: 5-10
Damien Williams / Daniel Thomas / LaMichael James, Dolphins
Lamar Miller isn't at 100 percent, and it showed as his shoulder limited him to four carries for 10 yards in Week 10. Will he be 100 percent in time for Thursday's game against the Bills? Highly doubtful. That leaves room for Williams and Thomas to help out the offense out of the backfield (James was signed off the practice squad but he would be exceedingly forute to see five touches and bears no attention). Well, maybe just Williams. Thomas stinks. Just the way it is. Don't know why the Fish keep giving him the rock (Thomas carried the ball five times for 14 yards in Week 10. Sluggish, and he also lost a fumble. Williams is the back to target if you're looking for a shot in the arm to your squad). Williams garnered 37 yards on seven carries while catching three balls for another 27 yards and he's likely the goaline back if Miller is out or limited again. Oh, and the Lions are the opponent, a horrific matchup for runners.
Amount to Spend on Thomas: 5-10
Amount to Spend on Williams: 10-15
WIDE RECEIVER
Markus Wheaton, Steelers
Martavis Bryant had 143 yards and a score. He's a superstar. He also caught an 80-yard touchdown pass, on blown coverage, with less than 90 seconds to go in a loss to the Jets. Take out that one play and we're looking at three receptions for 63 yards for Bryant. The player everyone wants also had seven targets which just so happens to be the same number as --- Wheaton had in Week 10. Bryant is the big play threat, and the man to own if you had to choose, but Wheaton has averaged four receptions, 53 yards and 0.67 scores the last three weeks. Might not get any better though, so don't go on a bidding spree.
Amount to Spend: 10-15
Preston Parker, Giants
Have you seen this guys next tattoos? Who does that? Seems ugly/risky to me. As for the on the field... Preston blew up for seven receptions, 79 yards an a score in Week 10 against the Seahawks. It was the best game of the season for wideout. Let's be clear here though. He's still the third option out wide for the Giants. Even Sunday with his solid game he still saw just seven targets behind Odell Beckham Jr. (nine targets) and Rueben Randle (10). Larry Donnell has also seen consistent target love each week, all of which leaves Parker as a dicey pickup.
Amount to Spend: 15-20
Chris Hogan, Bills
I'll send you a bag of Juicy Fruit candy if you could honestly tell me that you knew Hogan had caught at least five passes in three of his last four games. The one time he didn't get there he caught one pass for one yard so it's not like there is no risk here even though Hogan has become a decent PPR weapon for the Kyle Orton led offense. Despite the recent run of five catch outings he's still only seen 19 targets in those three games so he's pretty much maxed out making him a PRR WR3 play in deep leagues at best, and that's stretching things thin.
Amount to Spend: 10-15
John Brown, Cardinals
Seems like I write about Brown every week, doesn't it? He caught five passes for 73 yards and a score in Week 10. In Bruce Arians offense Brown is running in the T.Y. Hilton role, and he certainly offers explosive play-making ability. However, with Palmer now down and out do you want to be trusting the third wideout for Drew Stanton to consistently produce? I've got a bridge to sell you if you said yes to that question.
Amount to Spend: 15-18
TIGHT END
Jared Cook, Rams
Finally. After seeing all his goaline work stolen by Lance Kendricks, Cook finally scored in Week 10. He also went for 84 yards. All thumbs up... until you note that he only caught two passes on three targets. He's also hauled in only five passes for 107 yards the past three games. Oh, and he has that one score all season long. Just no consistency making him a desperation play.
Amount to Spend: 5-10
Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Buccaneers
Five receptions on nine targets is an encouraging workload for ASJ. When one of those grabs goes for a touchdown dance, even more excitement is unleashed (even though he was penalized for the celebration). Rookie tight ends generally cannot be trusted, and it's not like he exploded with Josh McCown under center. ASJ has failed to hit 35 yards in three games but he has scored twice in those three contests.
Amount to Spend: 7-10
Mychal Rivera, Raiders
This is getting as serious as a cold sore on the mouth of your significant other who you got "down" with a few days back (where were those lips...?). Rivera, and I'm not backing off my previous statements that he's far from the most athletic player on the field, has been a huge key for the Raiders the last three games. The Raiders offense is dysfunctional, James Jones set an NFL record with the fewest yards ever for an eight reception game (20), but Rivera has emerged as a consistent option. He's scored three times the last two weeks, caught at least six passes each time out while seeing 28 targets. The bye weeks are almost done, but how can you ignore what he's doing and what it means for the final third of the fantasy season? The Chargers, the Week 11 opponent, allows the fewest points to tight ends in fantasy football.
Amount to Spend: 20-25
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