Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Note: This column will be updated tomorrow at the conclusion
of Week 11.
Carr was on bye Week 11, but gets the forgiving Falcons defense
next week. The Falcons are bottom-10 against QBs, although part
of that is allowing 3 rushing TDs to the position in their last
two games. They’ve still allowed the 5th-most passing TDs so Carr
should be able to find paydirt. Carr remains in the concussion
protocol as of Monday.
Love had a nice bounceback game against a beatable Chargers secondary,
going 322-2-0 passing. Up next, he gets a Lions team that is bottom-10
against QB, so if you have a shaky QB situation he could be in
line for a spot start. Love went 246-1-2 in a loss to Detroit
Week 4 so he should have a solid (if unspectacular) day on Thanksgiving.
Joshua Dobbs, MIN @ DEN: Dobbs had a solid day against a poorly
rated, but improving, Broncos pass defense. Dobbs went 221-1-1
through the air and 8-21-1 rushing in the loss, and he gets a
favorable matchup Week 12 against the Bears before a Week 13 bye.
With Kenneth Walker going down with an oblique injury in the
first quarter against the Rams, Charbonnet saw a starter’s workload.
He managed 15-47-0 and set career highs across the board receiving,
going 6-6-22-0. If Walker can’t go in a short week (Seahawks play
on Thursday), Charbonnet will again be in line for a heavy workload
against the 49ers’ top-10 defense against RBs, but one that has
allowed the 9th-most receptions to the position.
Dillon wasn’t particularly effective in Week 11, going 14-29-0
rushing and 4-4-32-0 receiving. However, with Aaron Jones going
out with a knee injury and 3rd stringer Emanuel Wilson dislocating
his shoulder, Dillon will most likely approach 20 touches again
versus a Lions defense that is top-10 against RBs but can give
up some receptions to the position.
Mitchell has looked explosive over the last three weeks and seems
to have taken over the RB2 role behind Gus Edwards. In Week 12
he’ll face a Chargers defense that is ranked 8th-worst against
RBs, and who have been gouged through the air by giving up the
3rd-most receptions and yards to the position.
Ty Chandler,
MIN @ DEN: Although Alexander Mattison ended up being activated,
Chandler still out-produced him despite fewer opportunities. Chandler
managed 10-73-0 on the ground and 4-4-37-0 through the air. With
Mattison failing to produce the Vikings have looked like a two-headed
committee, so Chandler will be serviceable again in Week 13 against
the Bears.
Devin Singletary, HOU vs ARI: Singletary did it again with Dameon
Pierce still out with an ankle injury. He took on a bellcow role
and delivered 22-112-1 rushing and 2-2-6-0 receiving. Next week
will be a tougher test against the Jaguars, and with Pierce perhaps
set to return, it’s probably back to committee for Singletary
who has nonetheless deserved more touches.
Darrell
Henderson, LAR vs SEA: Henderson saved his fantasy day by
punching in a TD, going 6-1-1 rushing while collecting 4 of 7
targets for 28 yards. With Kyren Williams expected to return in
Week 12, Henderson’s value will be in the tank. It was a good
run while it lasted.
Rico Dowdle,
DAL @ CAR: Dowdle managed only 8-23-0 rushing and 2-2-(-3)-0 receiving
in another blowout win by the Cowboys. At we know, he’s merely
a handcuff to Tony Pollard, and next week will be a tougher test
against the Commanders.
Tyjae Spears, TEN @ JAX: Spears managed 4-14-0 rushing and only
2-2-12-0 against a Jaguars defense that is susceptible to RBs
catching passes out of the backfield. Unfortunately, Will Levis
only had 17 attempts, spreading those amongst eight pass catchers,
so no one other than DeAndre Hopkins saw more than 2 targets.
It was a disappointing result given Levis had 39 attempts in his
two previous games and the Titans were in an early 27-0 hole.
As expected, Cooks was quiet against the Panthers, going 4-3-42-0
after going nuclear in Week 10. Now is the time to grab him, however,
as he faces three defenses ranked in the bottom-10 against WRs
(Washington, Seattle, Pittsburgh) in a row, so pick him up if
he’s been dropped.
Downs was on bye Week 11, and after a few down weeks he’s
available in 50% of Yahoo leagues. In Week 12 he gets a Buccaneers
defense that is 5th-worst against WRs and has allowed the 3rd-most
receiving yards.
Douglas was also on by Week 11, but has seen his targets increase
steadily after Kendrick Bourne was injured and now is the WR1
in New England. In Week 12 he faces the Giants secondary that
is 4th-worst against WRs and has allowed the 2nd-most receptions
and yards to the position.
OBJ has strung together three double-digit fantasy performances
in a row, with his latest being a 7-4-116-0 day against the Bengals.
Up next, he gets a Chargers defense that has allowed the 3rd most
receiving TDs and 4th most yards to opposing WRs. With Mark Andrews
done for the year, it should open up more targets for Beckham
as he’s starting to find his stride.
With Mark Andrews suffering what appears to be a season-ending
ankle injury, Likely will step up into a TE role that is highly
targeted by Lamar Jackson. In two games without Andrews last year,
Likely went 18-9-127-1. He’s been quiet so far this year,
but figures to wake up against a Chargers defense ranked in the
bottom-5 in fantasy points, yards, and receptions allowed to TEs.
Fire Likely up as a TE1 this week and probably for the rest of
the season.
Thomas had a nice solid day, going 8-5-58-0 against the Giants,
making five-straight weeks with at least 5 targets and 4 receptions.
In Week 12, Thomas gets a matchup against the tough Cowboys defense,
but they have allowed the most TDs to opposing TEs so he might
be able to spike one.
Rashee Rice, KC vs PHI: TBD after Monday Night Football.
Jahan Dotson, WAS vs NYG: Dotson saved his day by spiking another
TD, going 4-3-23-1 receiving against a burnable Giants secondary.
Up next, he gets a very tough matchup against the Cowboys on Thanksgiving.
Brandin Cooks, DAL vs WAS: See above.
Noah Brown,
HOU vs ARI: Brown ended up being inactivated due to a knee injury
sustained in Week 10 against the Buccaneers. It appears he may
be out another week, and with Nico Collins back, he wouldn’t be
a recommended play anyway.
Trey McBride, ARI @ HOU: McBride had a nice day against the league-worst
(against TEs) Texans defense, going 7-5-43-0 receiving. McBride
has become a nice safety valve for Kyler Murray, as he was 2nd
on the team in both targets and receptions. He gets another juicy
matchuup against the Rams in Week 12.
Defense/ Special Teams
Broncos vs CLE
The Broncos have started to catch fire defensively, having created
12 turnovers in the last three games as Denver is amidst a four-game
winning streak. Up next, they face the Browns, who have given
up the 2nd-most interceptions and will be starting rookie QB Dorian
Thompson-Robinson who has 4 INTs (and 0 TDs) in two starts this
year.
Patriots @ NYG
The Patriots were on bye Week 11, but in Week 12 they get a Giants
team that has given up the most sacks to opposing defenses. The
Patriots haven’t created a ton of pressure, but that figures
to end this week as Bill Belichick schemes to stop rookie QB Tommy
DeVito.
Titans vs CAR
This week, Tennessee struggled to slow down a Jaguars team that
has won 6 of their last 7 games. In Week 12, however, the Titans
face a Panthers team that has allowed the 4th-most sacks, scored
the 4th-fewest points, and is tied for the league lead in defensive
TDs allowed.
Last week’s waiver adds:
Dolphins vs LV: The Raiders have given up the
most INTs and gave away 3 more to the Dolphins in Week 11. It
was a nice day overall for the Miami defense as they added 2 sacks
and only allowed 13 points. If you picked them up, ride them again
in Week 12 against the anemic Jets offense.
Lions vs CHI: With Justin Fields returning to
the field, the Lions had a surprisingly tough game against the
Bears, creating only 1 turnover and 2 sacks while giving up 26
points.
Vikings @ DEN: Minnesota snapped a five-game
winning streak against a surging Broncos team that was previously
handing out turnovers like candy during Halloween. This week the
Vikings only managed 2 sacks and 0 turnovers in a crushing defeat
in Denver. Next up is a similarly optimistic Bears team that has
been giving up plenty of points to opposing defenses but with
Justin Fields back will be more dangerous.
