Fantasy Football 2024 Week 11 Waiver Wire Pickup Advice
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be rostered in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the roster percentages coming from Yahoo.com.
Immediately Useful
Quentin Johnston, WR, Chargers (41% Rostered): Johnston was a complete disaster as a rookie, but in 2024 it’s time to let that go and recognize that he’s a big play threat with a nose for the end zone playing for one of the top QBs in the NFL in Justin Herbert. Herbert’s been potent lately as his health has improved, and Johnston has benefitted, racking up 306 yards and five touchdowns on only 20 receptions. It sure is a dangerous, low-floor way to make your money, but at least the ceiling is provably high week to week this season, rather than theoretical as it was in his rookie campaign.
Xavier Legette, WR, Panthers (36% Rostered): Legette is not in a good offense whatsoever, but he is now the clear-cut top option in Carolina’s passing game, and while his yardage totals are usually low thanks to this low-output offense, he’s shown he can win contested catch opportunities and find the end zone with four touchdowns on the year. You can’t bank on consistently good games from him, but you can hang your hat on the facts that he will be on the field, and he will have a steady baseline of targets. Whether you can stomach how low-quality some of those targets are is up to you.
Ricky Pearsall, WR, 49ers (37% Rostered): Pearsall is finally integrated into the 49ers offense, and while expecting him to be Brandon Aiyuk would be absurd, he showed on Sunday that he has that role here and can churn out production. Pearsall had his best game yet, catching four passes for 73 yards and a long touchdown. Unlike Johnston and Legette, Pearsall’s volume from week-to-week is far from guaranteed. His ceiling is depressed by the embarrassment of riches that is the 49ers skill group, but Pearsall’s role seems clear, and it’s been a high upside one for years now. I actually believe Pearsall is the best overall player between he, Johnston and Legette, and he’s clearly operating in the best offense of the three.
Audric Estime, RB, Broncos (3% Rostered): Estime played on a season-high 45% of snaps vs. the Chiefs, and earned 14 carries, which became 53 yards. I’d beware of completely discarding Javonte Williams from consideration based on this usage, but it is absolutely alarming for those with stock in Williams. If you need help at RB, Estime could very well slide right into a FLEX role for you if this volume keeps up. But don’t go crazy, as this could be a one-week aberration.
Jerry Jeudy, WR, Browns (45% Rostered): Jeudy was undoubtedly kicked to the curb by many managers due to a bye week crunch, but it could be an opportunity for a manager to acquire reliable WR depth. Jeudy is no great shakes, and Jameis Winston proved in his most recent outing that he is not a magic elixir to cure the Browns offense. With that said, Winston’s a clear upgrade on Deshaun Watson, and Jeudy saw his targets go from six to eight to 11 in the last three weeks. With 70+ yards in back-to-back games before Cleveland’s bye, Jeudy is showing that he’s a floor play. Is that exciting? It’s not, but it’s useful.
Tyjae Spears, RB, Titans (46% Rostered): Spears cracked 50 scrimmage yards on Sunday for just the second time this year, and has been incredibly underwhelming all season as Tony Pollard has thoroughly outplayed him. With that said, Spears saw 17 opportunities (carries + targets) just two weeks ago, and has standalone FLEX value even with Pollard active. Should Pollard go down, Spears is a lead back with big play potential. You’d prefer to have him on the bench right now, but he can play in a pinch, and has huge injury upside.
Gus Edwards, RB, Chargers (17% Rostered): Edwards returned to action this week for the Chargers and immediately garnered 10 carries for 55 yards. This offense has not been quite as run-heavy as the perception is over the past few games, but they still pound the rock more than most offenses. Edwards is the second fiddle to J.K. Dobbins of course, but that still leaves room for him to have FLEX appeal and TD opportunity. Edwards would be a desperation FLEX, but still playable.
Hunter Henry, TE, Patriots (46% Rostered): It’ll occasionally be very ugly for Henry, because the New England offense stinks. But the truth is that he’s the primary pass-catching threat for the Pats, and rookie QB Drake Maye is an upgrade on Jacoby Brissett. Henry had gone for 40+ yards in four straight games before his dud Sunday vs. a very tough Bears D. That sounds like nothing, but for the position it’s really not awful. You can do worse than Henry, and people do every week just because they don’t want to use anyone from the Patriots.
Russell Wilson, QB, Steelers (22% Rostered): Wilson has thrown for 250+ yards in two of his first three games for Pittsburgh, and on Sunday he fell below that mark but accounted for three passing touchdowns. He arrives at his production in a different manner than he did in his prime, but Wilson has embraced the idea of chucking the ball downfield as much as possible to George Pickens, which is usually a good idea! He also now has Mike Williams, who is essentially a Pickens prototype. This style of play can absolutely lead to duds, but his upcoming schedule – vs. Baltimore, at Cleveland, at Cincinnati – is pretty juicy.
Bo Nix, QB, Broncos (33% Rostered): We’re all skeptical, but Nix has really turned in some solid efforts this season, including four multi-passing touchdown games, as well as five games with 35+ rushing yards. I wouldn’t fully trust it, but his next three games are vs. Atlanta, at Las Vegas and vs. Cleveland. He should be able to put up some numbers, and is probably a better play than real-life superstars like Patrick Mahomes and C.J. Stroud who look better on paper but aren’t getting it done for us.
Jonnu Smith, TE, Dolphins (26% Rostered): Smith’s performance on Monday night was in line with most of his recent games. It’s fine. The Dolphins have a lot of options for Smith to compete with, so volume isn’t a sell. But Smith does seem pretty locked in for 3-4 catches and 40ish yards per game, which isn’t nothing at TE, and he has the physical talent to break off the occasional big play.
Speculative/Deep Cuts
Rashod Bateman, WR, Ravens (29% Rostered): Bateman saw eight targets vs. Cincinnati, going for six receptions, 54 yards and a touchdown. That’s not the norm for him, but Bateman’s job in Baltimore is to get targeted down the field and make big plays. Sometimes, maybe most times, those targets will turn into useless fantasy outings. But he’s pretty safe at this point to not goose you, and he’s got a defined role in the highest-scoring offense in football. He’s playable.
Joshua Palmer, WR, Chargers (15% Rostered): Palmer is a big play guy like Johnston, but he’s become the more extreme of the two in this offense. He has three games of 60+ yards on the season but only one game with five targets. Herbert’s an elite passer, so if you’re very desperate or in a very deep league, he has high upside as a dart throw. But the overwhelmingly likely outcome with Palmer is one or two chunk plays and you have to pray they end in the painted area.
Alec Pierce, WR, Colts (15% Rostered): Pierce drew seven targets on Sunday, a season-high, that turned into four catches, 84 yards and a garbage time TD. Don’t be fooled, Pierce is a one-trick pony. And while he’s good at the trick, taking deep shots from Joe Flacco is not a great recipe for fantasy success. Hope for a TD in the deepest of leagues, because without it you’re likely to be disappointed.
Demarcus Robinson, WR, Rams (39% Rostered): Robinson returned to Earth Monday night, reeling in just one of his five targets for 23 yards. Robinson, like Pierce and Palmer, is a player whom you hope catches a deep shot for a score. Without it, it’s a hole in your lineup. But Robinson is on the field a bunch, giving him a bit of a boost.
Zach Ertz, TE, Commanders (33% Rostered): After a horrific showing vs. the Giants, Ertz returned to form, drawing eight targets and putting up four receptions for 31 yards. That’s what he does, and in deep formats, it has value. Ertz has four or more receptions in four of his last five games. If he gets a TD, he’s basically a lock for a Top 10 performance. Definitely boring, definitely low-ceiling, but you definitely can do worse.
Pure Handcuffs
Tyler Allgeier, RB, Falcons (43% Rostered
Trey Benson, RB, Cardinals (18% Rostered)
Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seahawks (43% Rostered)
Braelon Allen, RB, Jets (32% Rostered)
Cam Akers, RB, Vikings (14% Rostered)
Khalil Herbert, RB, Bengals (22% Rostered)