Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.
Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 11.
Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements
All the players in this article are rostered in fewer than 35% of ESPN leagues.
Jacoby Brissett (QB – ARI) vs. San Francisco 49ers | 23.1% Rostered
Many believe Kyler Murray has played his last game as a Cardinal, meaning Jacoby Brissett could be the starter for the rest of the season. While he has never been a fantasy star, the veteran has been outstanding in his four starts, averaging 279.5 passing yards, two touchdowns and 21.2 fantasy points per game, totaling at least two scores and 19.4 fantasy points in every contest. Furthermore, Brissett has been productive when Arizona has played in negative game script and while playing with a lead.
The 49ers’ defense has been obliterated by injuries, losing multiple stars to season-ending injuries. Therefore, it’s no surprise that their defense has been a fantasy goldmine for opposing quarterbacks lately. San Francisco has surrendered 279.2 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns and 22.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past six weeks, allowing at least two scores and 19.6 fantasy points in all but one contest. Last week, Matthew Stafford completed 66.7% of his pass attempts for 280 yards, four touchdowns and 26.9 fantasy points against the division rivals.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. (RB – WSH) vs. Miami Dolphins | 4.9% Rostered
Fantasy players couldn’t be more disappointed in Jacory Croskey-Merritt. The rookie was the star of training camp, shooting up draft boards in the preseason. Unfortunately, he is only the RB31 for the year, averaging 8.1 PPR fantasy points per game. More importantly, Chris Rodriguez Jr. has been more productive than Croskey-Merritt, replacing him as the Commanders’ starting running back. After playing 25% or fewer of the snaps in four consecutive games, the former Kentucky star has played 33% or more in back-to-back contests. Furthermore, Rodriguez has been a scoring machine lately.
Despite being part of a three-headed backfield, the veteran has averaged 5.5 rushing attempts and 6.9 fantasy points per game over the past month, finding the end zone in three of those contests. Furthermore, Rodriguez has averaged 9.1 fantasy points per game during the stretch when seeing at least three rushing attempts. Meanwhile, Miami has surrendered 24.6 fantasy points per game to running backs this season, the eighth-most in the NFL. They’ve given up a rushing touchdown and 21.1 fantasy points per game to running backs over the past month.
Jayden Higgins (WR – HOU) vs. Tennessee Titans | 19.1% Rostered
Houston won’t have C.J. Stroud for the second consecutive game on Sunday because of a concussion. However, Davis Mills proved he can take advantage of friendly matchups, totaling 292 passing yards, two touchdowns and 27.7 fantasy points last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. More importantly, he loved throwing to Jayden Higgins. The rookie had seven targets, the third-most on the team behind Nico Collins (15) and Dalton Schultz (11). Furthermore, he had five receptions for 42 receiving yards, a touchdown and 15.2 PPR fantasy points, setting career highs in every category.
Not only was the former Iowa State star productive last week, but Higgins has been a borderline must-start Flex option lately. The rookie has averaged 4.5 receptions on 7.5 targets for 38 receiving yards, a touchdown and 14.3 fantasy points per game in the two contests with more than one target over the past three weeks. Meanwhile, the Titans have surrendered 13.3 receptions for 184.3 receiving yards, 1.3 touchdowns and 39.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over their past three contests, allowing 34.8 points or more in every outing.
Malik Washington (WR – MIA) vs. Washington Commanders | 17.6% Rostered
While the majority of the Dolphins’ offense flows through Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane, Malik Washington has had an impact since the team lost Tyreek Hill to a season-ending knee injury. Furthermore, the former Virginia star has been a solid Flex option since Darren Waller went on injured reserve (IR) in Week 8. Washington has averaged three receptions on 3.7 targets for 31 receiving yards, 0.7 touchdowns and 10 PPR fantasy points over the past three weeks, scoring 9.3+ points twice, despite not having more than five targets in any contest.
More importantly, Washington has an excellent fantasy matchup on Sunday in Spain. The Commanders have surrendered 38.9 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year, the third-most in the NFL. Furthermore, their pass defense has more holes than Swiss cheese because of injuries. They’ve given up 14 receptions for 218.5 receiving yards, 1.8 touchdowns and 47.2 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past month, allowing at least 237 yards, two touchdowns and 52.7 fantasy points in back-to-back contests. Washington has top-30 upside because of the matchup.
Michael Wilson (WR – ARI) vs. San Francisco 49ers | 11.2% Rostered
The Cardinals’ wide receiver room got very thin very quickly. They lost Zay Jones to a season-ending torn Achilles last week. Furthermore, Marvin Harrison Jr. will at least miss Sunday’s matchup against the 49ers after undergoing surgery to address appendicitis on Wednesday. Therefore, Arizona only has three healthy wide receivers on the active roster, led by Michael Wilson. The former Stanford star has quietly played well since Jacoby Brissett took over under center, averaging 3.5 receptions on five targets for 44.8 receiving yards and eight PPR fantasy points per game.
Furthermore, the veteran has scored at least seven fantasy points in every game Brissett started despite seeing limited target volume behind Trey McBride and Harrison. However, Wilson should see an uptick in volume and production this week against a banged-up San Francisco defense. The 49ers have surrendered 16.3 receptions for 172 receiving yards, 1.7 touchdowns and 43.5 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past three weeks, allowing at two scores twice, including last week. Wilson should finish second on the team in targets behind McBride on Sunday.
Pat Freiermuth (TE – PIT) vs. Cincinnati Bengals | 7.9% Rostered
Pat Freiermuth is one of three Steelers tight ends who found the end zone in the Week 7 matchup against the Bengals. However, the former Penn State star led the way, scoring two of Aaron Rodgers‘ four touchdowns in the loss to the division rivals. More importantly, he has been a capable streaming option for fantasy players starting with the game against Cincinnati, averaging 3.5 receptions on 4.3 targets for 46 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns and 12.6 PPR fantasy points per contest over the past month, scoring 11.7 or more twice.
Meanwhile, the Bengals have surrendered 22.8 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, the most in the NFL, allowing 4.1 more than the next closest team. Furthermore, they have given at least 14 fantasy points to tight ends in all but one game. More importantly, tight ends have had their way against Cincinnati lately, averaging eight receptions for 109 receiving yards, 2.3 touchdowns and 32.9 fantasy points per game over their past three matchups, totaling 31.8+ points twice. Freiermuth is an excellent bye week replacement for Tyler Warren.
Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
