NFL Waiver Wire: Week 11 Pickups

Week 10 will go down in the history books as the week of the kicker. A 61-yarder was made (which had the distance to be a record-breaking kick) and several kickers were accurate from beyond 50 yards. The Cardinals beat my Bills on a last-second miracle and the Ravens got upset on Sunday night football. We found out Monday that Drew Brees will miss multiple weeks and a running back option has emerged in Miami. Let's get down to business.

This columns is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

Quarterback

PRIMARY TARGETS

Jameis Winston, NO - Not sure about you, but when doctors are cautioning Drew Bees to be "especially careful"  with his lung injury, that seems to me like it will require more than a two-week absence. We all know what we have in Winston: a player who will take downfield risks. The good news is that can result in big plays. The bad news is that will also result in interceptions, and he's very capable of multiple interceptions. I'm not thrilled with the presence of Taysom Hill, who almost certainly will be used more than he was with Brees. Winston should improve the values of Michael Thomas and Tre'Quan Smith as there's better arm strength with Winston than Brees. It doesn't hurt that he'll get the Falcons twice in the next three weeks. FAAB: $4-$8

HAIL MARY

Brett Rypien, DEN - Drew Lock also suffered a rib injury Sunday, and given the way he played the Broncos might want him to sit out a game or two. That would give Rypien a chance to show what he can do with a talented group of receivers to target. The Dolphins are his opponent this week, and while their defense has played great this season, they rank 23rd against the pass. Watch the player notes this week for updates on Lock. FAAB: $1-$2

Running Back

PRIMARY TARGETS

Salvon Ahmed, MIA - It's rare to find a running back at this point of the season who is handed a full workload out of the blue. Matt Breida is banged up, Jordan Howard has worn out his welcome, DeAndre Washington is more of a third-down guy and the Dolphins know what they have in Patrick Laird. Yes, Matt Breida could be back soon, but it makes sense for the Dolphins to ride the hot hand. Ahmed could be a league-winning difference; don't hesitate to be aggressive. This is a good spot to use the top waiver-wire pick you've probably been saving. FAAB: $20-$40

Kalen Ballage, LAC - Apparently Ballage wasn't a one-week wonder as the Chargers gave him 23 touches Sunday, which he parlayed into 102 yards from scrimmage. Austin Ekeler posted a video of himself running, and it appears he'll be back sometime in the near future. However, Ballage has done enough to carve out a role even after Ekeler returns. It would make sense if the Chargers used Ballage as the early down back given his size and used Ekeler as a change-of-pace back. FAAB: $10-$20

Nyheim Hines, IND - While I realize Hines had a huge game last Thursday, I think (generally speaking) fantasy managers need to pump the brakes. Jonathan Taylor and Jordan Wilkins aren't going anywhere and will get their touches each week. Hines hasn't even averaged 4.0 yards per carry in any of his three professional seasons and has had 3.8 fantasy points (.5 PPR) or fewer in five of his nine games this season. He will continue to be used as the pass-catching back, so there's more value with him in full-point PPR. FAAB: $6-$12

Wide Receivers

PRIMARY TARGET

Michael Pittman, IND -  Pittman has a ton of upside with prototypical No. 1 wide receiver size and speed. He made his biggest splash of the season last Thursday night, finishing with nine touches for 122 yards. He got eight targets from Philip Rivers after getting seven the week before. It seems like Pittman should be the top target as T.Y. Hilton has done little this season, and Pittman's pedigree is better than Zach Pascal's.  FAAB: $10-$20

SECONDARY TARGET

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, GB - It's tough to ignore him given what he's done the last two games, but there are some red flags with Valdes-Scantling. Since Week 1, he's had a lot of duds from a fantasy perspective before the last two weeks. On the positive side, he's killed it  the last two weeks and has seemingly gone into the circle of trust with Aaron Rodgers. Allen Lazard should be back soon, clouding this recommendation, but maybe there's something here with the guy who is 6-foot-4 and fast. FAAB: $3-$6 

Tight End

SECONDARY TARGET

Logan Thomas, WAS - He's had at least four targets in every game this season and has had six in his last two with Alex Smith at the helm. Smith has shown a penchant throughout his career to throw safe, short passes, which is what Thomas usually runs. Cincinnati is 31st in the league against tight ends, so if you do DFS, think about him. FAAB: $3-$6

HAIL MARY

Dalton Schultz, DAL - Andy Dalton should be back under center this week, which isn't a bad thing. There has to be a ton of attention to the Dallas receivers as well as Ezekiel Elliott, making Schultz under the radar for opponents. Tight end has been a mess this season, so there are definitely worse options. FAAB: $1-$2

Defense

HAIL MARY

Los Angeles Chargers - Don't love them in a general sense, but the Chargers face the Jets this week. While they've had a week off, the Jets have to travel across the country and face a team that should be motivated after dropping three consecutive games. FAAB: $1-$2