Fantasy football strategy, rankings, and podcasts

For months in the offseason, we as fantasy football team managers think about who we may pick up in next year’s drafts, which sleeper picks could come through to lead someone to a championship and what lingering injury concerns could come back during a season to haunt a player. Well, we’re here now – just a couple weeks shy of the fantasy playoffs (for most of us), and the players that you snipe from the waiver wire in the coming weeks may just put you down in the annals of fantasy history as a league champion.

Guys who should already be owned: CJ Prosise (SEA – 37%), Robert Kelley (WAS – 48%), Sammy Watkins (BUF – 38%), Jamison Crowder (WAS – 66%), Rishard Matthews (TEN – 55%), Eric Ebron (DET – 58%), Julius Thomas (JAX – 58%)

Note: all waiver picks listed here will have only been owned in 35% or less of Yahoo! leagues at the time of publication.

Week 11 Waiver Wire Quarterback (QB) Pickups:

Joe Flacco (BAL) – 31% owned – Dallas has not been great against the pass this year (20^th as of Week 11), and have let in 15 touchdowns and 263 yards per game over the course of the season. Flacco has been up and down this year but is just coming off a great game against the Browns (31/40, 296 passing yards, 3 TDs). Play at your own risk, but upside for Flacco is 20+, easy.

Honorable mention: Alex Smith (KC – 25%) – Terrible outing last week but should have some success against Tampa Bay at home

Week 11 Waiver Wire Running Back (RB) Pickups:

James Starks (GB) – 29% owned – Starks has just come back from injury to a strange backfield and it looks like he’ll be taking over for the time being. Going up against a Redskins’ defense that allows 225 rushing yards per game and 13 TDs so far this year, Starks is a plus play for this week and going forward.

Kenneth Dixon (BAL) – 20% owned – Dixon is quickly becoming the passing down back on the Ravens, and was able to put up 80 all-purpose yards on 6 rushes and 5 receptions in week 10. Trending up, Dixon should continue to split time with Terrance West, but West has an awful average YPC over the past few weeks (2.73 over 4 games) so Dixon may find his way to starting before the year’s end.

Honorable mentions: Jeremy Langford (CHI – 26%), Kapri Bibbs (TB – 29%)

Week 11 Waiver Wire Wide Receiver (WR) Pickups:

Cameron Meredith (CHI) – 34% owned – Oh, Chicago Bears. With Alshon Jeffery suspended for 4 games the Bears don’t really have a go-to receiver. Cameron Meredith excelled for a short time earlier this year with Brian Hoyer at quarterback and is still developing chemistry with Cutler. A risk, but someone has to step up in Chicago!

Eli Rogers (PIT) – 11% owned – Rogers had some great plays earlier this season but was lost in the shuffle and in jury issues that have affect the Steelers over the past several weeks. He has now been involved in the game plan once more, however, with 15 targets over the past 2 weeks for 20+ points in standard scoring leagues. With Coates and Wheaton still nursing injuries, Rogers should be a staple of the offense and a good matchup dependent flex play. Week 11 is Cleveland. Start him up!

Honorable mentions: Kendall Wright (TEN – 13% owned), Tyreek Hill (KC – 17% owned)

Week 11 Waiver Wire Tight End (TE) Pickups:

Vernon Davis (WAS) – 6% owned – Jordan Reed is the #1 guy in Washington, but Vernon Davis has been picking up steam lately, catching 14 passes over the last 3 games for a total of 238 yards. The Packers are giving up the 7^th most points to the tight end position.

Honorable mention: Ladarius Green (PIT – 10% owned)

Defenses to target for Week 11:

Miami (@LA), Pittsburgh (@CLE), Detroit (vs. JAX)