Fantasy: Waiver Wire - Week 11

Every Monday during the season, theScore's Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver-wire pickups.

Roster percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free-Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are based on a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 50% of leagues are considered.

Bye weeks

• Arizona Cardinals
• Carolina Panthers
• New York Giants
• Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Quarterbacks

Bo Nix, Broncos

Nix makes his third straight appearance in this space because he continues to produce strong fantasy results.

Even in a tough matchup with the Chiefs where he didn't do much with his legs, the rookie still threw for two touchdowns and currently sits at QB12 on the week prior to Monday Night Football.

The first-rounder has shown a high floor over the last six weeks, finishing as a top-20 QB in every outing while posting three top-10 fantasy performances.

With an easy schedule the rest of the way, Nix is a high-end QB2/streamer.

Justin Herbert and Geno Smith are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Streaming options: Russell Wilson vs. BAL (22% rostered), Drake Maye vs. LAR (13% rostered)

Risky streaming options: Jameis Winston at NO (8% rostered), Derek Carr vs. CLE (12% rostered)

Desperation streaming options: Joe Flacco at NYJ (11% rostered), Gardner Minshew at MIA (3% rostered), Cooper Rush vs. HOU (5% rostered), Will Levis vs. MIN (7% rostered), Mac Jones at DET (2% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Daniel Jones (21% rostered), Bryce Young (4% rostered)

Long-term stashes: Anthony Richardson (41% rostered), Drew Lock (0% rostered), Trey Lance (0% rostered), Tyrod Taylor (0% rostered)

Running backs

Audric Estime, Broncos

Sean Payton mentioned an increased role for Estime multiple times over the last couple weeks, but we finally saw it happen against the Chiefs.

The rookie played a team-high 45% of running back snaps and led the way with 14 carries for 53 yards on the ground. While he didn't find the end zone or catch a pass, the stat line was still notable since it came against one of the league's better run defenses. It also turned Javonte Williams (three touches, 29% snaps) and Jaleel McLaughlin (two touches, 12% snaps) into minor offensive contributors.

"I thought (Estime) ran well (Sunday). He gave us some juice as well. Just trying to find different roles, different ways to utilize these players. But I was encouraged and he'll continue to get more reps," Payton told Mike Klis of 9News.

Rookies often ascend in the second half of their debut campaigns and Estime appears to be doing that. He should be viewed as a fantasy RB3 with RB2 upside if he can continue to distance himself from his teammates.

High-upside backups

We'll use this space as a reminder about all the high-upside backups who should be rostered in most leagues, including:

• Zach Charbonnet (43% rostered)
• Braelon Allen (32% rostered)
• Ray Davis (30% rostered)
• Blake Corum (16% rostered)
• Trey Benson (18% rostered)
• Tyjae Spears (46% rostered)
• Tyler Allgeier (43% rostered)
• Cam Akers (14% rostered)
• Jaylen Wright (6% rostered)
• Roschon Johnson (11% rostered)
• Khalil Herbert (22% rostered)

Each of those backs is one injury away from a significant role in their respective offense, which could turn them into top-20 fantasy RBs.

Jaylen Warren is just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in all leagues.

Flex options: Gus Edwards vs. CIN (17% rostered)

Risky flex options: Jerome Ford at NO (34% rostered), Zamir White at MIA (26% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Jeremy McNichols at PHI (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Tyler Goodson at NYJ (2% rostered), Samaje Perine at BUF (5% rostered), Justice Hill at PIT (20% rostered), JaMycal Hasty vs. LAR (0% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if starter is out): Cordarrelle Patterson vs. BAL (0% rostered)

Other backups to roster: Dameon Pierce at DAL (3% rostered), Kenneth Gainwell (1% rostered), Sean Tucker (4% rostered), Keaton Mitchell (8% rostered), Isaac Guerendo (11% rostered), Chris Brooks (0% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: MarShawn Lloyd (5% rostered), Kendre Miller (3% rostered)

Wide receivers

Ricky Pearsall, 49ers

Pearsall's making his presence felt in the 49ers' offense after missing the first six games while recovering from a gunshot wound.

With Brandon Aiyuk out for the season, the rookie's posted double-digit fantasy points in back-to-back games sandwiched around the team's bye.

He caught four passes for 38 yards and added another 39 yards on a run in Week 8. This past week was more conventional production: four receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.

It's a very promising start for the first-rounder; his only knock is a crowded offense that could make it tough to see consistent targets.

Regardless, investing in the unknown upside of talented rookies is normally a smart fantasy move. Pearsall should be viewed as a WR4/flex with the potential to develop more.

Jauan Jennings, Cedric Tillman, Romeo Doubs, Wan'Dale Robinson, and Keon Coleman are just over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

WR4/flex options (if starter is out): Adonai Mitchell at NYJ (6% rostered), Alec Pierce at NYJ (15% rostered)

Flex options: Quentin Johnston vs. CIN (41% rostered), Jerry Jeudy at NO (45% rostered), Elijah Moore at NO (8% rostered), Christian Watson at CHI (42% rostered), Rashod Bateman at PIT (29% rostered)

Risky flex options: Mike Williams vs. BAL (18% rostered), DeMario Douglas vs. LAR (26% rostered), Keenan Allen vs. GB (4% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at NE (39% rostered), Noah Brown at PHI (13% rostered)

Risky flex options (if starter is out): Mack Hollins vs. KC (1% rostered), Curtis Samuel vs. KC (9% rostered), John Metchie at DAL (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options: Dontayvion Wicks at CHI (22% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. CLE (1% rostered), Gabe Davis at DET (18% rostered), Ja'Lynn Polk vs. LAR (4% rostered), Kayshon Boutte vs. LAR (1% rostered), Joshua Palmer vs. CIN (15% rostered), Andrei Iosivas at LAC (4% rostered), Jalen Tolbert vs. HOU (21% rostered), Nick Westbrook-Ikhine vs. MIN (6% rostered), Devaughn Vele vs. ATL (1% rostered)

Dart-throw flex options (if healthy): Cedrick Wilson Jr. vs. CLE (0% rostered), JuJu Smith-Schuster at BUF (11% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Xavier Legette (36% rostered), Jalen Coker (8% rostered), Adam Thielen (23% rostered), Sterling Shepard (11% rostered)

Injured-reserve stashes: Brandin Cooks (11% rostered)

Tight ends

Dawson Knox, Bills

Dalton Kincaid injured his knee Sunday and was eventually ruled out after attempting to return to the game with a brace.

Head coach Sean McDermott said the team will see how his knee progresses over the next couple days before making a decision on whether he'll play against the Chiefs this week.

The Bills have a bye coming up in Week 12, so the possibility of Kincaid sitting out seems heightened.

In that scenario, Knox becomes an intriguing fantasy streamer against a Kansas City defense that's allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season.

Taysom Hill, Mike Gesicki, and Hunter Henry are near or over the 50% rostered mark but should be rostered in most leagues.

Risky streaming options: Zach Ertz at PHI (33% rostered), Jonnu Smith vs. LV (25% rostered)

Risky streaming options (if starter is out): Grant Calcaterra vs. WAS (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options: Will Dissly vs. CIN (2% rostered), Tanner Hudson at LAC (0% rostered), Tyler Conklin vs. IND (17% rostered), Juwan Johnson vs. CLE (4% rostered), Davis Allen at NE (0% rostered)

Dart-throw streaming options (if healthy): Noah Fant st SF (22% rostered), Isaiah Likely at PIT (29% rostered),

Dart-throw streaming options (if starter is out): AJ Barner at SF (0% rostered)

Bye-week stashes: Ja'Tavion Sanders (3% rostered), Theo Johnson (2% rostered)

Defenses

Week 11 streamers

Favorable upcoming schedules: Texans DEF (44% rostered), Dolphins DEF (29% rostered), Commanders DEF (28% rostered)

Find positional rankings, additional analysis, and subscribe to push notifications in the NFL Fantasy News section.