Top early fantasy football waiver adds for Week 11

With NFL Week 10 almost in the books, now is the time for fantasy football managers everywhere to start preparing for the Week 11 waiver wire and figuring out who their top targets will be. Special shoutout to everyone who read last week’s article and added and started J.D. McKissic or Marquez Valdez-Scantling this week as both of them had HUGE Week 10s.

With most of the games this week complete, here is an early look at 10 players—all under 50% rostered—who you should be targeting and working hard to get onto your fantasy team for Week 11 (percent rostered in Yahoo leagues).

QB Alex Smith, Washington Football Team (5% rostered)

In his first start since his devastating leg injury, Smith threw the ball 55 times for 390 yards, following a Week 9 performance in which he threw for 325 yards and a touchdown. The touchdowns are here yet (they’ll come) but back-to-back 300+ yard games is nothing to scoff at, especially when Smith faces the Bengals and Cowboys defenses next. Plus, there might not be a better player to root for in the NFL right now, so why not also root for him on your fantasy team.

RB Wayne Gallman Jr., New York Giants (50% rostered)

With Devonta Freeman being placed on IR this week, the Giants’ backfield is unquestionably Gallman’s for at least the next three weeks. As well it should as he’s been balling out the last couple of weeks. Sunday against the Eagles, Gallman carried the ball 18 times for 53 yards and two touchdowns. He’s now scored at least a touchdown in each of his last four games. That’s a hell of a streak. Don’t forget about that as the Giants go on their bye this week.

RB Nyheim Hines, Indianapolis Colts (40% rostered)

With two HUGE games in the last three weeks, it’s hard to ignore the role Hines is starting regularly have in the Colts backfield. Yes, his fickleness might kill you, but he’s been playing too well not to be rostered and confidently started. Against the Titans he ran the ball 12 times for 70 yards and a touchdown PLUS five catches on six targets for 45 yards and a touchdown. The remainder of the Colts schedule is a running back’s dream—they play the Packers, Titans again, Texans, Raiders, Texans again, Steelers, and Jaguars—and Hines seems primed to be the back in Indy who’ll benefit the most from this schedule. Add him, place him in your starting lineup, and never look back.

RB Salvon Ahmed, Miami Dolphins (5% rostered)

Who knows exactly what the Dolphins backfield will look like in the weeks to come with so much turmoil and turnover at the running back position, but I gotta give love to the undrafted rookie Salvon Ahmed. After leading the Dolphins backfield in Week 9 in rushing, he took over lead duties against the Chargers Sunday, carrying the ball 21 times for 85 yards and a touchdown. Ahmed might not see the same number of touches in the future with Jordan Howard, Matt Breida all set to return at some point, but I’d recommend stashing him in deeper leagues just in case.

WR Sterling Shepard, New York Giants (50% rostered)

Shepard should be a must-add this week, especially in PPR leagues. Since stepping back on the field in Week 7, he’s seen at least six targets and at least six catches. Sunday against the Eagles, Shepard caught six of his six targets for 47 yards, his lowest fantasy output since returning in Week 7, but still good for double digit PPR points. After the Giants bye, they take on the Bengals, Seahawks, Cardinals and Browns; matchups Shepard should more than do well in given his reliably high target share.

WR Jalen Reagor, Philadelphia Eagles (26% rostered)

While the rookie didn’t put forward a huge fantasy outing against the Giants (7-4-47), it’s extremely encouraging to see him lead the Eagles in targets in just his second game back. It’s clear the offense is trying to get Reagor involved and get the ball into his hands. Targets equals opportunity and Reagor has a good opportunity to become a reliable WR2 in the next coming weeks as the Eagles face the Browns and Seahawks next.

WR Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars (23% rostered)

Welcome back to the fantasy world of the living Cole! After two tough weeks in which Cole was unable to top 12 receiving yards, he returned with a vengeance Sunday against the Packers, catching five of his seven targets for 47 yards and a touchdown. Don’t forget that before his two week slump, Cole was playing like a WR2, averaging six targets, 4.5 catches, 60 yards and half a touchdown a game (across six games). Let’s hope this marks Cole’s resurgence back into fantasy relevance and back into our hearts.

WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (17% rostered)

Last week I tackled MVS’s whole identity crisis that has drive fantasy managers mad this season and I left it at you should stash him and hope for the best. Well, we got his best yet again Sunday as MVS caught four of his six targets for 149 yards and a touchdown. We know he can ball down the field and as Aaron Rodgers has said many times, it all comes down to his confidence. I bet he’s feeling confident as hell right about now. Allen Lazard is still making his way back onto the field after his injury and even Davante Adams got a little banged up Sunday. It seems MVS is your typical boom or bust play, but when he booms, he booms big and for that reason alone he belongs on fantasy rosters.

WR Michal Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (7% rostered)

It’s been a slow build for Pittman after returning from injury in Week 8 but it seems he is finally healthy and clicking with Philip Rivers which is terrific news for the Colts and of course fantasy managers. Pittman broke out Thursday night, catching seven of eight for 101 yards plus a 21 yard rush. With the Colts offense looking to find it’s true number one, Pittman seems to have a great shot at claiming that title and with a cushy schedule remaining (just re-read Nyheim Hines’ blurb if you’ve forgotten) he’s primed to be a difference maker in the backend of the fantasy season.

WR Josh Reynolds, Los Angeles Rams (5% rostered)

Reynolds is coming off a stellar game against the Seahawks, in which he caught eight of his 10 targets for 94 yards, but he’s been low key balling out the last couple of weeks. In three out of his last four games, Reynolds has scored a touchdown or gone over 90 yards and in each of his last three games he’s seen at least eight targets. He’s becoming a more vital and productive member of the Rams passing attack and their big play, down the field threat. With games against the 49ers, Cardinals, Jet, and Seahawks again still on the schedule, Reynolds should be rostered in far more than five percent of leagues.