The NFL has reached week eleven. How are everyone’s fantasy teams doing? Hopefully, all managers are steaming toward a playoff berth. Speaking of playoffs, they are only three more regular season matchups from arriving. What does every team need? Healthy, productive players, of course. Without question, there are a lot of teams that lack both. Fortunately, this fantasy football top waivers week eleven edition is here to help!

As there is little time to waste, let’s get right to it and remember that all ownership percentages are taken from ESPN. Additionally, recall that four teams, Jacksonville, Seattle, Miami and Tampa Bay are on bye this week.

Top Week Eleven Running Back Waiver Pickups

Jerick McKinnon, Kansas City Chiefs, 18.2% Owned

If a fantasy manager is looking for a running back that catches the football, let me introduce Jerick McKinnon. Clearly, McKinnon isn’t going to be winning a rushing title anytime soon with just one carry Sunday, but he has six receptions in each of his last two games. Even though the Chiefs have a crowded backfield room, McKinnon has shown he can be a winning addition to a fantasy lineup.

First, he has gotten more active in Kansas City’s offensive game plan with each passing week. He has increased his receiving yards in every contest since week four. In the last two games, McKinnon has 12 catches for 96 yards. Second, he has double digit fantasy points in each of his last two appearances.

The Chiefs have an offense that managers want to get exposed to, and McKinnon is the only player on the team that is readily available. If running back is a trouble spot, especially in PPR, McKinnon is a nice fantasy piece to add.

Kenyan Drake, Baltimore Ravens, 46.3% Owned

In a previous issue of the waiver wire pickup articles, Kenyan Drake was featured and makes a return appearance here. Of course, many fantasy managers are wanting to make a move on his backfield mate Gus Edwards. However, Edwards has been injured more than he has played this season, making Drake the safest of the two options. Drake hasn’t exactly been a slouch, either this season. As evidence, in his past two games, Drake has scored 16 and 24 fantasy points.

Just before the Raven’s bye week, Drake rushed for 93 yards and scored two touchdowns against the Saints. In his previous game against the Buccaneers, Drake averaged 8.9 yards per carry and also caught four passes, one for a touchdown. For those counting at home, Drake has three TDs in his last two games. No matter what happens with Edwards, Drake isn’t going away in the Ravens’ offense.

Drake probably isn’t available in a lot of leagues, but fantasy managers need to be diligent and check the wire just in case. If he is hanging around in waiver land, picking him up goes to the head of the class on the fantasy football top waiver week eleven edition.

Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers, 11.5% Owned

Without doubt, the Pittsburgh Steelers have been one of the biggest disappointments this season. That is especially true for those that entrusted an early draft selection on Najee Harris. Even though Harris made his first real impact in a game this season this Sunday, keep an eye on Jaylen Warren. In fact, Warren has been the much more consistent running back of the two, averaging 8.3 and 4.1 yards per carry in his last two games.

In fact, whenever Warren has gotten the football, he has made things happen. He has five games in which has averaged 4.1 or better yards per carry, including three games with at least six YPC. Further, Warren has scored double digits in fantasy points in his last two games. Pittsburgh has shown a willingness to use both players and as thin as the running back position is on the wire, Warren is definitely worth a claim this week.

Another Running Back to consider:

For those that have the roster space, consider Rachaad White (24% owned) from the Buccaneers. True, Tampa is on bye this week, but waiting until next week to pick up White may be a week too long. He out touched Leonard Fournette against the Seahawks in Germany Sunday and Fournette left the game with an injury. White certainly looks like the go to RB for Tampa down the stretch as he finished with 105 yards rushing. He could be a difference maker going into the fantasy playoffs.

Top Week Eleven Wide Receiver Waiver Pickups

Devin Duvernay, Baltimore Ravens, 43% Owned

There are few players that needed a bye more than Devin Duvernay. After coming off a huge game against Tampa Bay in week eight, Duvernay crashed back to Earth in spectacular fashion. While playing the Saints, Duvernay caught just one pass for five yards as he slid from 22 fantasy points to a single point in just one week’s time. Further, he hasn’t had at least 50 receiving yards since week five.

All of the above begs the question: why the recommendation? As stated, the Ravens are coming off their bye week. They have had time to get into sync during that time, as well as recover some healthy players. Secondly, he has Lamar Jackson as his quarterback.

Best of all, however, is the opponent, which in this case, is Carolina. The Panthers rank 27th in total defense, 24th against the pass and 29th against wide receivers in 2022. The fact that Carolina is next up should mean that Duvernay will return to the double-digit fantasy scorer he was in the first five weeks of the season and is certainly enough to include him here on this fantasy football top waivers week eleven edition.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers, 5.8% Owned

There were few players that needed a breakout week more than Christian Watson. Fortunately, the wait is over after Watson almost single handedly defeated the Cowboys with three touchdown catches in Sunday’s 31-28 overtime win. Prior to that game, Watson was known more for the passes he dropped than the ones that he caught. He erased that image with the biggest game, by far, by any Packer receiver this season.

Sunday, Watson was targeted eight times, which exceeded his total from the last four games combined. He turned those targets into four catches for 107 yards and the three TDs, which were the first of his professional career. The ground game was working for the Packers against the Cowboys, which opened up the passing game in a big way. Expect Green Bay to utilize that blueprint the rest of the way. starting this Thursday against Tennessee.

Without doubt, the receiving core has been a mixed back for the Packers before Sunday this year. With Romeo Doubs projected to miss several weeks with an ankle injury, Watson has the opportunity to stand tall coming down the stretch. There aren’t any other receivers on the wire that have three touchdowns in one game, which makes picking him up an easy decision for any fantasy manager. Get to the wire and make a claim this instant.

Darius Slaton, New York Giants, 4.6% Owned

It is almost beyond belief that a New York Giants wide receiver would make his way onto a fantasy football waiver pickup article. Even so, Darius Slayton deserves the recognition after his performance Sunday against the Houston Texans. In fact, over the past three games, there aren’t a lot of receivers who have been as consistent as Slaton. A lot of managers may look at that last sentence assured that it can’t possibly be true.

However, it certainly is the case. Slaton has scored in double figures in fantasy points every game in that span, scoring 14, 11 and 21. Slaton also did so in week five against the Packers. Further, Slaton has a TD catch in two of his last three games, including a spectacular 54-yarder in the third quarter against Houston.

All of that is great news, of course, but we haven’t even gotten to the best part. Facing the Giants in week eleven is the Detroit Lions. It has been well chronicled here (as well as below) just how sorry the Lions have been defensively this season. Playing them in the Meadowlands should give New York a real boost in their offense. Slaton is almost certainly available in all formats, making him a logical pickup from the wire this week.

Other Wide Receivers to Consider:

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans, 0.7% owned, had a huge game Sunday against the Broncos, grabbing two TD receptions. He was targeted eight times, which is more than the previous five weeks combined. I would prefer to see more consistency from him before adding him to the roster, but if the position is a problem, with the Packers next up on Thursday, another big game could be on the agenda for Westbrook-Ikhine.

It turns out that the Colts can, in fact, throw the football. With Matt Ryan back under center, the passing game was more than an afterthought for Indianapolis against the Raiders. Because that is the case, managers should cast a glance toward Parris Campbell (23% owned). He certainly looked like the receiver that was targeted 23 times in weeks six and seven as he pulled down seven of nine targets for 76 yards and a touchdown. He scored 20 fantasy points for the second time this season. Philadelphia is a tough matchup this week, but Campbell is worth considering if receiver is a roster issue.

Top Week Eleven Tight End Waiver Pickups

Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears, 38.8% Owned

After being a fantasy tease for such a long time, Cole Kmet is actually a player that belongs on rosters this season. The fact that the Atlanta Falcons play the Bears next is certainly icing on the cake. The Falcons are last in the entire NFL in total and pass defense this season. With his quarterback, Justin Fields, coming on like a hurricane, Kmet is certainly a tight end to grab off the wire this week and to keep on the roster the rest of the season.

Coming on like a freight train the past two weeks, Kmet has scored 21 and 26 fantasy points. In those games, he has nine catches in 13 targets for 115 yards. Those stats are certainly good enough alone to recommend adding a player. However, the good news doesn’t end there.

In fact, there is nothing but great news for those managers that started Kmet the past few weeks. He has five touchdowns in his last three games, four in his last two. Kmet has been an absolute dynamo and with the Falcons next, managers need to make a straight line to the wire and collect him before it is too late.

Hayden Hurst, Cincinatti Bengals, 48.8% Owned

Certainly, the bye weeks can be frustrating to deal with during a fantasy football season. However, they can also be used to great advantage. Hayden Hurst is an excellent example. He is coming off a bye week and has as good a matchup this coming weekend as you are likely to see, especially at the bones thin tight end position. When last seen, Hurst caught all five of his targets for 35 yards against the Panthers.

Of course, that is the game where Joe Mixon went absolutely bonkers and there was little reason for the Bengals to throw the football much in the second half. That won’t be the case this week, with the in the toilet defense the Pittsburgh Steelers will bring into the game. The Steelers are uncharacteristically 25th in total defense and even worse against the pass, as there are only three teams in the NFL worse than they are.

Hurst was targeted eight times the first time these two teams met, and the quarterback couldn’t stay upright. The Bengals offense is much better now than it was to begin the season. All of Cincinatti’s fantasy players will approach their ceilings against Pittsburgh, with Hurst included. If tight end is a problem, and only a few fantasy managers don’t have one, Hurst stands ready to solve any issues. If available, putting a claim in on him is highly recommended on this fantasy football top waivers week eleven edition.

Other Tight End to Consider:

If either of the above players are already on rosters, pivot over to Juwan Johnson of the Saints (8.2% owned). He has double digits in fantasy points in three of the last four weeks and is coming off a five catch in seven targets for 44 yards and a touchdown performance against Pittsburgh. The Rams are up next, and they are a team that has completely fallen apart this season and playing nothing like a defending Super Bowl champion. If needed, Johnson will heal a fantasy roster this week.

Top Week Eleven Quarterback Waiver Pickups

Jimmy Garoppolo, San Fransisco 49ers, 40.9% Owned

Stepping into the number one recommended quarterback slot on this fantasy football top waivers week eleven edition is none other than Jimmy Garoppolo. As with so many others, the next team on the schedule has a lot to do with the selection. In this case, that team is the Cardinals. Arizona has been a complete no-show when it comes to pass defense in 2022. They are ranked 29th in total defense and 30th against the pass.

In addition to Garoppolo, just about all 49er offense starters should be in fantasy lineups this week. The Chargers were able to keep Garoppolo under wraps for the most part as he completed 19 of 28 passes for 240 yards. He didn’t throw for a touchdown, but did run one in. That broke a streak of four consecutive games with two TD passes. Jimmy G has also gone consecutive games without an interception, which is key to his game.

With four teams on bye this week, and with such a generous opponent on deck, Garoppolo is clearly worth a waiver look.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 49% Owned

Firmly entering the hard to believe category, much like Slaton above, is the fact that Daniel Jones finds himself as a recommended waiver pickup for the second time this season. Similar to Garoppolo, the schedule has as much, if not more, reason to pick him up as the Lions are up next. Detroit is the 31st ranked defense this season and are 26th against the pass. In truth, there isn’t much more of a reason needed to get out there and snap Jones up.

Against the Texans, Jones didn’t have to throw the football much with only 17 attempts but made an impact when he did. He turned his 13 completions into 197 yards and two touchdowns without an interception. Jones has essentially played turnover free football this season, as he hasn’t thrown a pick since week three and has one lost fumble since week one.

When his rushing ability (five carries for 24 yards against Houston and has 10 or more carries in three games) is added in, his fantasy floor and ceiling are extremely high, especially for this next game. Jones is right around the 50 percent owned level, so if a QB is needed, there isn’t time to waste in adding him. Get over to the waiver bin before there is nothing left to pick up.

The Final Word

Thank you for joining me for this fantasy football top waivers week eleven edition! As always, I welcome any and all suggestions, comments and input from my readers. Let’s discuss! Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea. Please feel free to share this article. Tune in for the Belly Up Fantasy Live Preview Show every Sunday morning at 11 AM EST on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or BellyUpTV. Be sure to turn to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Fantasy for all the MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL happenings and the latest sports news! 

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