Week ten of the 2021 NFL season is in the books and all of those players who started hot for you made sure to break your heart. Didn’t count out touchdown Tom? When he had no problems checking out. Mike Williams? More like Yikes Williams! (I’m so sorry) Turns out, guys who start out hot don’t stay hot. Except for Paul Rudd. So if your starters are starting to run out of gas, there is no better place to look than the waiver wire! If I don’t mention someone whom you think I should be talking about, just know there are many reasons why I overlooked them. Maybe they are owned in most leagues. Maybe they are so bad I don’t even consider them. Maybe it’s because your opinions cannot be trusted. After all, you are here. So let us examine the best week eleven waiver wire players for your championship run…
Week Eleven Waiver Wire Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears (22% rostered)
This is probably your last chance to grab a guy I’ve been beating the drum for all season as a player who will break out in the second half. In his last two games, Justin Fields has been a top-ten fantasy quarterback. Every fantasy football season, there is a quarterback that breaks out in the second half of the season and Fields has a lot of the traits that you look for. Fields plays on a team that is always playing from behind at halftime. Fields excels at getting yards on the ground. Most importantly of all, he has all the tools of a guy who can be an elite player. This is probably your last chance to add Fields before everyone figures out what I’ve been saying for months.
Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers (15% rostered)
If you don’t have the stones to grab Justin Fields, may I suggest old man Justin Fields a.k.a. Cam Newton. I will admit that the only reason I am bringing him up is that I think it is hilarious that some people are considering picking him up off the waiver wire. Yes, Cam had 2 touchdowns, but he also only had 22 yards. I don’t know what about the last few years of football that would make you want to grab Cam Newton, but the best I could come up with is that he isn’t Sam Darnold.
Week Eleven Waiver Wire Running Backs
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots (31% rostered)
Last week, I mentioned that Brandon Bolden could have value due to attrition with the injuries to Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. Unfortunately for Bolden, Stevenson played and he balled out. With 114 all-purpose yards and 2 touchdowns, Stevenson was one of the best backs in week ten. With New England playing on Thursday night, there is a chance that Harris doesn’t play against the Falcons. If Harris is inactive, Stevenson might be one of the best waiver wire deals of week eleven.
Boston Scott/Jordan Howard, Philadelphia Eagles (34%/43% rostered)
I’m gonna be honest, I don’t really know what to tell you about the Eagles backfield. Right now, it is a three-way timeshare with nobody clearly in front. Jordan Howard had 38% of the team snaps, while Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell had 31% each. Boston Scott had 105 all-purpose yards, while Jordan Howard had 83 rushing yards. The only thing I am sure of is that I don’t want Kenneth Gainwell.
D’Onta Foreman, Tennessee Titans (3% rostered)
This is another backfield that ended up being a mess. D’Onta Foreman had 78 all-purpose yards in week ten, but he still found himself in a three-way split for snaps. Foreman had 35% of the team snaps to Adrian Peterson’s 33%. Even Jeremy McNichols saw 27% of the team snaps, even if he only got 7 touches. The problem with burning a waiver on Foreman is we don’t know really know who the favorite back in Tennessee will be.
Week Eleven Waiver Wire Wide Receivers
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens (42% rostered)
One of the few bright spots for the Ravens on Thursday night was Rashod Bateman. Bateman had 6 catches for 80 yards. Bateman saw 55% of the team’s snaps at wide receiver, compared to Sammy Watkins’ 32%. Bateman also looked significantly better than Watkins. The only concern with Bateman is opportunities. He is the clear number three receiving option behind Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown. The Ravens are a run-first team and as talented as Rashod Bateman is, the opportunities for long-term success just might not be there.
Marcus Johnson, Tennessee Titans (1% rostered)
Marcus Johnson is a very interesting lottery pick for the waiver wire. In week ten, Johnson had 5 catches for 100 yards and 1 touchdown. Johnson led the team in targets and saw 63% of the team’s snaps at wide receiver, making him the clear number two option. With Julio Jones and Derrick Henry on Injured Reserve, Johnson could be an interesting flier at wide receiver on the hottest team in football.
Jamal Agnew, Jacksonville Jaguars (9% rostered)
Jamal Agnew had 0 targets for 0 receptions and 0 yards, yet somehow managed to finish the week as the number eleven wide receiver in week ten. His 3 carries for 79 yards and 1 touchdown this past week are part of what makes him an intriguing flier. On the one hand, Jamal Agnew has seen his role with the Jaguars steadily increase as the season goes on. On the other hand, his increased role is still on the Jaguars. Agnew is the third receiver and essentially a gadget player on a mediocre team. I have a hard time imagining Agnew’s role expanding to a point where I feel comfortable trusting him enough to start him.
Elijah Moore, New York Jets (45% rostered)
After saying why I don’t trust Jamal Agnew, I am now going to tell you why those rules don’t apply to Elijah Moore. In week ten, Moore had 3 catches for 44 yards and 1 touchdown. In his last three games, Moore has finished as a top 24 wide receiver all three weeks. Moore has double-digit points in all those games, including a number one finish. The big difference between Agnew and Moore for me is that Moore has the better draft pedigree and a much softer schedule the rest of the season. In his last eight games, Elijah Moore will have four top-ten matchups. Perhaps most important of all, I predicted him to be a breakout rookie and I could not possibly be wrong. So pick up Elijah Moore. It’s science.
Week Eleven Waiver Wire Tight Ends
Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars (27% rostered)
In week ten, Dan Arnold had 5 catches for 67 yards and wrapped it all up with a 2 point conversion! Dan Arnold might be one of the best-kept secrets in fantasy football. (Unless you pay attention to Football Absurdity’s DFS For Cheapskates Twitch stream, then you know all about him.) Over the past four weeks, Dan Arnold’s averages put him sixth in targets, sixth in yards, and seventh in receptions. Unfortunately, he plays for the Jaguars, so there are no touchdowns in that stretch. However, the usage indicates that he is due for one soon if Jacksonville ever finds its way into the red zone. A tight end who can put up low-end TE1 numbers without being touchdown-dependent can be a valuable asset because it provides you a solid floor. I still wouldn’t burn a waiver on him. I mean, he is a tight end, and thus worthless. But once he clears, have at it!
