Waiver Wire: Key additions to be had
Week 10 was bad for quarterbacks. And no, this has nothing to do with Eli Manning's poor performance (again). Four quarterbacks suffered injuries, which could lead to four new starters in Week 11.
Michael Vick, Jay Cutler and Alex Smith all suffered concussions, and Ben Roethlisberger injured his right shoulder. The good news is Manning is the only starting Fantasy option on a bye, but now every Vick and Roethlisberger owner is also looking for a replacement.
Of these injured quarterbacks, the only one with a backup worth using this week is Vick because Nick Foles has a tremendous matchup against the Redskins. We would consider adding him and using him as a starter if needed.
The other backup options -- Jason Campbell (Bears), Colin Kaepernick (49ers) and Byron Leftwich (Steelers) -- should not be started in most formats in Week 11 either because of a bad matchup or they just aren't trustworthy as Fantasy options.
Editor's note: Must add is for players worth adding in all leagues. Maybe add is for players worth adding in 14-team leagues or larger. Desperation add is for players worth adding only if you're, well, desperate. The ownership percentage listed is how many leagues that player was owned in the previous week for CBSSports.com.
Quarterbacks
Must add: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Bills (72 percent), Nick Foles, Eagles (10 percent)
Maybe add: Russell Wilson, Seahawks (42 percent), Sam Bradford, Rams (35 percent), Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (29 percent), Jake Locker, Titans (20 percent), Colin Kaepernick, 49ers (2 percent)
Desperation add: Tim Tebow, Jets (8 percent), Jason Campbell, Bears (1 percent), Byron Leftwich, Steelers (0 percent)
The breakdown: If you're stuck at quarterback this week with Manning on a bye (it feels like he's been on a bye for three weeks) or need to replace Vick or Roethlisberger, then your best bet of this group is likely Foles with his matchup with the Redskins. Josh Freeman in Week 4 is the only quarterback to face Washington this year without throwing for either 300 yards or multiple touchdowns. It's obviously risky to trust Foles in his first NFL start, but in a desperation situation he could come through after he had 219 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception in replacing Vick against the Cowboys. ... Fitzpatrick can be a spot starter as well with his matchup against the Dolphins, who have allowed multiple passing touchdowns in two of the past three games. He struggled against Miami in two games last year with 525 passing yards, two touchdowns and five interceptions against the Dolphins, but he's coming off a productive game with 22 Fantasy points at the Patriots, which is great momentum. ... The reason Wilson isn't a must add is his remaining schedule. He's been great at home (at least 20 Fantasy points in his past three games in Seattle) compared to on the road (only one game with more than 11 Fantasy points in five outings). His remaining schedule the next five weeks after a Week 11 bye has one home game in Week 14 against Arizona compared to road games at Miami, Chicago and Buffalo. ... Bradford could be used in two-quarterback leagues against the Jets, but he's risky in standard formats. The same goes for Tannehill at the Bills. They aren't the toughest matchups, but neither quarterback has been consistent all season. Look at Bradford over Tannehill because the return of Danny Amendola makes Bradford a different quarterback. ... Kaepernick could be a solid Fantasy quarterback, but his lone start could be Week 11 against the Bears, which won't be a good matchup. ... Locker has plenty of potential for the rest of the season, especially in two–quarterback leagues. He has favorable matchups ahead against Jacksonville in Week 12 and Indianapolis in Week 14. ... Keep Tebow on your radar in deeper formats, just in case the Jets realize that this team is going nowhere with Mark Sanchez. ... Roethlisberger was hurt Monday night against Kansas City, which could open the door for Leftwich to start in Week 12 against the Ravens. We'd stay away. The same goes for Campbell with his matchup at the 49ers.
Running backs
Must add: Daniel Thomas, Dolphins (65 percent), Marcel Reece, Raiders (48 percent), Mark Ingram, Saints (41 percent), Beanie Wells, Cardinals (38 percent), James Starks, Packers (26 percent), Chris Ivory, Saints (2 percent)
Maybe add: Danny Woodhead, Patriots (54 percent), Jacquizz Rodgers, Falcons (53 percent), Cedric Benson, Packers (35 percent), Ronnie Hillman, Broncos (29 percent)
Desperation add: Bernard Pierce, Ravens (9 percent), Justin Forsett, Texans (2 percent), Lance Dunbar, Cowboys (1 percent)
The breakdown: There are a lot of familiar names on this list because not much has changed from last week. I even left off the guys you know about already that you can add if needed like Joique Bell, Ronnie Brown, Kendall Hunter, Daryl Richardson and Shane Vereen since they didn't do much in Week 10 but can still be valuable reserves. ... For this week, Reece remains the best running back to add as long as Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson are out with high ankle sprains. Reece had 104 total yards against the Ravens in Week 10 and he has a great matchup against the Saints this week. ... In that same game, look for Ingram and Ivory to help carry the load with Darren Sproles (hand) out. Ivory scored for the second game in a row, and he had just seven carries for 72 yards. Ingram had more work with 16 carries for 67 yards, but add Ivory over Ingram because he's the more explosive runner. ... Add Starks if you need a bye-week replacement for Adrian Peterson, Marshawn Lynch, Chris Johnson or Ahmad Bradshaw. He should remain the starter for the Packers even in tandem with Alex Green, but he could be a flex option in deeper leagues. ... Wells, as we've been saying for weeks, should return in Week 12 from his toe injury. The same goes for Benson in Week 14 from his foot injury. Add Wells now to stash in case you need running back help starting next week, and Benson is worth adding if you want a potential option for the Fantasy playoffs. ... Fumble issues continue to plague Reggie Bush and Willis McGahee. While each will remain the starter, Thomas and Hillman could continue to see more action for the Dolphins and Broncos, respectively. Thomas has already taken playing time away from Bush for the past few weeks but has failed to do much with it. Still, he can be a flex option in Week 11 at Buffalo. ... Woodhead had a great game against the Bills with two touchdowns but aside from Stevan Ridley, the Patriots running backs are too inconsistent to trust as starting options. We would only consider Woodhead a flex in PPR leagues. ... Memo to the Falcons: Please give Rodgers more touches. You don't have to bench Michael Turner, but Rodgers might make the offense more explosive if he had more than just seven touches like he did against the Saints in Week 10 (he finished with 62 total yards).
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Wide receivers
Must add: Darrius Heyward-Bey, Raiders (63 percent), Cecil Shorts, Jaguars (61 percent), Golden Tate, Seahawks (40 percent), Donald Jones, Bills (13 percent)
Maybe add: Donnie Avery, Colts (39 percent), Andrew Hawkins, Bengals (37 percent), Brandon Stokley, Broncos (24 percent), Laurent Robinson, Jaguars (9 percent), Michael Floyd, Cardinals (8 percent), Danario Alexander, Chargers (3 percent)
Desperation add: Emmanuel Sanders, Steelers (29 percent), Alshon Jeffery, Bears (18 percent), Brian Quick, Rams (3 percent), Mohamed Sanu, Bengals (2 percent), Jarius Wright, Vikings (0 percent), Riley Cooper, Eagles (0 percent)
The breakdown: Heyward-Bey should be added in all leagues. He has at least seven Fantasy points in each of his past four games with two touchdowns over that span. He gets the Saints this week at home and is worth starting in all formats. ... Shorts has a difficult matchup in Week 11 at Houston, but he has double digits in Fantasy points in three of his past four games. He should be on every roster going forward, especially with matchups against Tennessee in Week 12, Buffalo in Week 13 and Miami in Week 15. Robinson has 24 targets the past two games, although he has just nine Fantasy points to show for it. He's worth keeping an eye on, especially with those favorable matchups ahead. ... Tate, like Wilson, is better at home than on the road, but he's also worth owning in all leagues since he has six touchdowns on the season, including one at Carolina in Week 5. ... Jones has at least six Fantasy points in his past three games with 24 targets over that span and faces a suspect Miami secondary on Thursday. ... Avery, like Jones, has the chance for a big Week 12 with his matchup at New England. Jones just had six catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Patriots, which bodes well for Avery. ... Alexander has given Philip Rivers a quality weapon with eight catches for 195 yards and a touchdown the past two games and he has proven to be a decent receiver when healthy. In deeper leagues, add him now. ... Floyd has 18 targets the past two games and has come away with 10 catches for 116 yards over that span. Owners in dynasty leagues should take notice. ... Hawkins scored in Week 10, which was his first touchdown since Week 3. Maybe he can build off this performance, but he's someone to monitor. ... Every now and then Stokley finds the end zone, as he has four touchdowns on the season and three in his past five games. In deeper formats, he could be worth adding with the hope he scores on a more regular basis. ... Jeffery is someone to monitor for when he returns from his broken hand, which should be soon.
Tight ends
Must add: Dustin Keller, Jets (61 percent), Scott Chandler, Bills (64 percent), Dwayne Allen, Colts (25 percent)
Maybe add: Jared Cook, Titans (61 percent), Dennis Pitta, Ravens (41 percent), Logan Paulsen, Redskins (8 percent)
Desperation add: Dallas Clark, Buccaneers (12 percent), Tony Moeaki, Chiefs (2 percent)
The breakdown: Despite his poor game at Seattle with just three catches for 47 yards, I still have faith in Keller. Don't give up on him just yet. ... Chandler scored in Week 10 against the Patriots, which was his first touchdown since Week 4. He faces the Dolphins in Week 11 and he had five catches for 71 yards in one meeting with Miami last year. ... Allen has a favorable matchup against the Patriots in Week 11. New England has allowed either 60 receiving yards or a touchdown to seven of nine tight ends this season. ... Cook scored against the Dolphins in Week 10, which was his first touchdown since Week 5. He is a matchup-based tight end going forward. ... Pitta scored in Week 10 against Oakland, which was his first touchdown since Week 3. Hopefully he can build on this performance, but he has a tough matchup in Week 11 at Pittsburgh. ... Paulsen is someone to monitor because he has 13 catches for 178 yards on 20 targets the past three games. He has done well with Fred Davis (Achilles) out.
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