Key Points
With only two teams on bye, fewer key fantasy absences this week.
Cade Otton, Tyler Lockett, and Houston D/ST highlighted as top Week 11 waiver additions.
Injuries create opportunities; monitor Dalton Kincaid, Chris Rodriguez Jr., Kayshon Boutte, and C.J. Stroud for late waiver options.
Check back through Wednesday night for updates.
Week 11 features only two teams on bye, the Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints. Fortunately, this will make fielding fantasy lineups that much easier. All told, it’s shaping up to be extremely quiet week for mining free-agent gems.
That means we’ll be without these noteworthy fantasy options:
QB: Daniel Jones
RB: Jonathan Taylor, Alvin Kamara
WR: Michael Pittman Jr., Josh Downs, Alec Pierce, Chris Olave
TE: Tyler Warren, Juwan Johnson
PK: N/A
DST: Colts
Losing Taylor will sting more than any other player absence this week, though we’ll also feel it with the losses of Jones, Pittman, Olave, Warren, and Johnson. Everyone else is easily replaceable and not a regular lineup fixture.
Injuries of concern suffered in Week 10:
Buffalo Bills TE Dalton Kincaid (hamstring)
Los Angeles Rams WR Davante Adams (back)
New York Giants QB Jaxson Dart (concussion)
New York Jets WR Garrett Wilson (knee)
Working the waiver wire is an absolute must for fantasy football success, and we have done the work so you don’t have to stress out! Whether it is identifying the diamonds in the rough or highlighting more obvious targets, we have your back all season long!
Positional trends are developing, player injuries have created opportunities, and bye weeks are upon us. We’ve uncovered the hidden gems and highlight other must-have free agents for Week 11 and beyond.
References to “conventional/tradition” league sizes point to those with 12 teams, 16-player rosters. Recommendations are based on performance, point-per-reception (PPR) scoring, unless stated otherwise, and availability percentage will vary based on league host. All percentages represent availability, and the FAAB value is the recommended percentage of budget to allocate.
The Top Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 11
All players in this section are must-add free agents, regardless of your league’s scoring or size.
TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 48% | FAAB: 5-7%
In the last five games, Otton has drawn at least five targets and four-plus grabs. The veteran has yet to catch a TD pass in 2025, and 80% of his outings in that stretch saw him post 10 or more in point-per-reception scoring. As long as the Buccaneers’ battered receiving corps remains on the mend, Otton figures to maintain a rather sturdy floor. The next four matchup profiles — Buffalo Bills (31st), Los Angeles Rams (22nd), Arizona Cardinals (8th), and New Orleans Saints (14th) — suggest Otton could have a mixed run as we head into the fantasy postseason. Yet, he warrants a roster spot until further notice.
It would be wise to snag these guys for a rainy day, if you have the roster space.
WR Tyler Lockett, Las Vegas Raiders | 67% | FAAB: 3-5%
Is he cooked? Maybe, but Lockett became a larger part of the offense one game after Vegas traded Jakobi Meyers, and there’s a role to be filled. The veteran saw six targets come his way, resulting in a modest 5-44-0 line, and the upcoming matchup vs. the Dallas Cowboys on Monday Night Football will be telling if Lockett’s reunion with Geno Smith and Pete Carroll is worthy of fantasy respect down the stretch.
RB Jeremy McNichols, Washington Commanders | 83% | FAAB: 1-2%
If Chris Rodriguez Jr. is unable to play in Week 11 after exiting Sunday with a shoulder injury, McNichols could be a flier vs. Miami for desperate owners in PPR formats, but this is admittedly a stretch. At least the matchup is stellar!
WR Mack Hollins, New England Patriots | 92% | FAAB: 1-2%
The Pats were without Kayshon Boutte (hamstring) in Week 10, leading to Hollins stepping up. This recommendation only stands if Boutte can’t go once again. Hollins snagged six of 10 targets for 106 scoreless yards filling in for Boutte vs. Tampa Bay. The New York Jets are up next on a short week, which points to Boutte resting, so Hollins is worth a few speculative bucks to find out.
Looking for a one-week rental to cover an injury, a bye week, or to exploit a matchup? These players belong on your short list of targets.
D/ST Houston Texans at Tennessee Titans | 46% | FAAB: 1-2%
The Titans come out of their bye week as the second-best matchup to exploit entering Week 10 play. No team gave up more sacks, and Houston’s pass rush should have no trouble getting home. In the Week 4 meeting, the Titans permitted only two sacks to the Texans and turned it over just once. After tallying five total sacks in the prior three games combined, this defense finally broke through in Week 10 to the tune of five quarterback takedowns, a pair of turnovers, and a defensive touchdown.
PK Younghoe Koo, New York Giants vs. Green Bay Packers | 96% | FAAB: 0-1%
Koo filled in for the injured Graham Gano (neck) and kicked a pair of field goals as well as two extra points in Week 10. While recovering from a herniated disk in his neck, Gano’s status for the upcoming contest is unclear. Be prepared to pounce on Koo should there be an opportunity to kick against the Packers. Green Bay allowed 19 field-goal attempts through its first eight games, and the matchup was 30.7% more favorable than league average through the first nine weeks.
Fantasy Watch List
Anyone in this section may not necessarily be worth adding just yet, depending on your league size and scope, but gamers should take notice and be ready to pounce.
QB Davis Mills, Houston Texans | 99%
Mills acquitted himself well against Jacksonville with C.J. Stroud in the concussion protocol. Should Stroud be out again, Mills facing the Tennessee Titans (13th-weakest defense of QBs) is appealing enough for a flier play.
TE Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | 95%
We’ll monitor the status of Dalton Kincaid and adjust accordingly should Knox be worthy of a waiver claim. Hamstring injuries tend to take time, so anyone with early waivers or a shortage at the position should bump him up into the speculative add category.