Chris Dell is the founder of BettingPredators.com, as well as the lead fantasy football and sports betting analyst on ESPN 97.5’s “Late Hits.” He’s also our new sports editor at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. In his new weekly “Post-Gazette Fantasy Football Favorites” column, Chris will break down his top fantasy players and strategies to win your leagues, in addition to some prop bets along the way. Please note: This article should be considered opinion, not gambling advice.

Welcome to the Week 11 edition of our “Post-Gazette Fantasy Fallout” series, which focuses on waiver wire targets, roster management and trade strategies to help win your leagues. Every week, we’ll take a deep dive into the waiver wire waters — and the often-murky trade market streets — to help you identify top players to add, drop, and consider for buying low and selling high.

Please note: League sizes, scoring formats, and waiver wire options vary wildly, so if you don’t see a player listed below that you’re considering adding or dropping (or including in a trade), feel free to send me an email (cdell@post-gazette.com) or send a comment or message on X/Twitter (@MaddJournalist). I’ve also included my complete list of FantasyPros waiver wire rankings at the bottom of this article, which includes players who cross our 25% ownership threshold.

DEEP LEAGUE ADDS

(must be owned in 25% or less of ESPN leagues)

Paul Zeise

Zeise is Right: The Buffalo Bills are a mess

RB. Keaton Mitchell, Ravens (20.4%)

Welcome back to our waiver wire party, Mr. Keaton Anthony Mitchell. The Ravens rookie turned in another scintillating performance on limited touches in Week 10. He now has a ridiculously unsustainable 200 yards on 14 touches in his past two games to go along with two touchdowns. As unsustainable as Mitchell’s current pace might be, it’s clearly evident of one thing: this kid Mitchell’s got juice for days.

Mitchell’s 99th percentile 40-yard dash at last year’s combine was certainly no fluke, and it’s only a matter of time before the Ravens reward him with a larger slice of their RB pie. Let’s not forget that Mitchell’s 7.2 yards-per-carry clip in college was in the nation’s top six percent, so even in a “limited” 10-or-so touch role, we could be looking at an immediate FLEX option in all fantasy scoring formats. He unequivocally should be owned in 100% of leagues. So for seemingly the 101st time: ADD KEATON MITCHELL NOW.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 25%

RB. Ty Chandler, Vikings (3.0%)

Alexander Mattison suffered a concussion in Week 10, leaving the Vikings backfield entirely on Ty Chandler’s shoulders. The second-year back didn’t necessarily light up the box score, but he did see 15 total touches in limited action and scored a rushing touchdown, good enough to make him the RB25 in half-PPR scoring formats on the week.

Chandler had never seen more than six carries in a game in his young career prior to this past Sunday, but keep in mind that he indeed possesses elite ball-carrying traits. His 4.38 40-yard dash ranked in the 98th percentile in 2022, and he also sported a 92nd percentile speed score in his class, per PlayerProfiler. The Vikings might not trust him just yet in pass-protection situations, but if he’s given the chance to lead this now-fragile backfield, we could be looking at an RB with elite athletic traits getting 15+ touches per game in an above-average Minnesota play-calling scheme. That alone is worth an aggressive waiver wire FAB bid if you’re desperate for running back depth.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 20%

RB. Rico Dowdle, Cowboys (3.8%)

It’s no secret any longer: Tony Pollard is struggling this season. Last year’s superstar back has dealt with both efficiency and (lack of) explosiveness issues in 2023, understandably due to the “tightrope” tibia/fibia surgery he required in the offseason. It’s possible Pollard eventually gets his groove back and becomes a key cog in the fantasy playoff stretch, sure. But at this point it’s also equally possible that this Cowboys backfield either becomes a 50-50 committee — or worse, for Pollard owners — shifts to a Rico Dowdle-led duo.

Dowdle has been the far more efficient back for Dallas this year, averaging 4.5 yards per carry to Pollard’s 3.9 and 8.1 yards per catch to Pollard’s 6.6, albeit on far fewer touches. The undrafted RB out of South Carolina isn’t the flashiest athlete on paper, but he still sports an impressive 89th percentile burst score, according to PlayerProfiler, and was rated as the ninth-most athletic rusher out of 39 qualifying backs in the 2020 class. Even if you don’t own Pollard, you should make it a priority to stash Dowdle on your bench. And if you already own Dowdle, see what you can get in return via trade for the frustrated Pollard owner.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 15%

RB. Latavius Murray, Bills (17.9%)

Another running back stash for the fantasy needy. Latavius definitely doesn’t possess the athletic upside of both Dowdle and Chandler above, but he does have the chance to co-lead this Buffalo Bills backfield moving forward, for better or worse.

Ray Fittipaldo

Tight end Pat Freiermuth expected to return to Steelers' lineup against Browns

The veteran Murray tallied 69 yards and a touchdown on 11 touches this past weekend, and with the Bills’ recent firing of OC Ken Dorsey, the level of uncertainty in this offense could surely be worth taking a gamble on. Any back who receives 10+ touches per game in this Bills scheme is worth considering, especially as the team continues to show week after week that it does not fully trust the young James Cook in either pass-blocking situations or most plays in the redzone.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 10%

D/ST. Detroit Lions/Minnesota Vikings

Fantasy defenses haven’t cracked the top section of this column often, but they deserve some love here ahead of Week 11. Specifically, I want to talk about two D/STs that aren’t just one-week rentals.

Yes, I’m fully aware that the Lions just put up a whopping negative -11 points in Weeks 8 and 10 combined, but those games both understandably came on the road against the L.A. Chargers offense and Baltimore Ravens. But let’s look at how they’ve done against everyone else.

Since Week 3, the Lions D/ST has scored at least seven points in every other matchup outside of the two above: 16 against Atlanta, 11 against Green Bay, and 14 against Las Vegas. They get the Bears in Weeks 11 and 14, sandwiched between a mouthwatering schedule of games against Jordan Love and Derek Carr. They also face Russell Wilson and the Vikings in Weeks 15 and Week 16. This could actually be a defense you pick up right now and start every single week with confidence through the fantasy football semifinals. A similar schedule is also upcoming for the Vikings, which face Denver, Chicago, Las Vegas in Weeks 11-14.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 10% each 

THE BEST OF THE REST

WR. Jayden Reed, Packers (15.1%)
Reed’s 186 receiving yards from Weeks 8-10 are more than what teammates Christian Watson (86) and Romeo Doubs (85) have combined. His 32.7 half-PPR fantasy points are nearly triple of Watson during that stretch as well, and he’s become a clear go-to target for Jordan Love.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 10%

WR. Trenton Irwin, Bengals (4.3%)
Irwin’s value only lasts as long as Tee Higgins (hamstring) remains out, which at this moment is yet to be determined. He had 54 yards and a touchdown in Week 10, and while the matchup vs. the Ravens in Week 11 is daunting on paper, he is one of the top WR insurance options right now.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 5%

WR. Jalen Guyton, Chargers (0.2%)
It’s been a war of wideout attrition in Los Angeles this season with the team losing both “Big Mike” Williams and Joshua Palmer to injured reserve, as well as the rookie Quentin Johnston struggling to acclimate his game to the NFL level. Enter Guyton, who saw two more targets in Week 10 than Johnston and also scored a TD. He has the speed to matter in fantasy circles as long the playing time holds up in this Chargers offense.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 5%

D/ST. Washington Commanders (20.3%)
The Commanders are a one-week rental against the Tommy DeVito-led New York Giants. If you’re desperate for a win and need a high-upside defense with the chance to score 20+ points, it’s more than reasonable to throw a few more shekels down than usual on this unit ahead of this game.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 5%

D/ST. Los Angeles Chargers (14.2%)
The Chargers aren’t just a one-week D/ST rental like Washington mentioned above. This unit has elite talent, starting with the likes of Joey Bosa and Khalil Mack. They play Baltimore in Week 12, which is probably a week we bench them. But the Chargers face turnover-prone Jordan Love this week, then face the Patriots, Broncos and Raiders in Weeks 13-15. There truly aren’t many friendlier D/ST stretches across the fantasy landscape.
Recommended FAAB bid: up to 5%

Honorable mention:

1. Zay Jones, Jaguars (21.5%)

2. Cade Otton, Bucs (23.1%)

3. Kyle Phillips, Titans (0.3%)

4. Jaguars D/ST (23.4%)

5. Broncos D/ST (2.6%)

6. Jaleel McLaughlin, Broncos (21.9%)

7. Elijah Mitchell, 49ers (17.9%)

8. Kenneth Gainwell, Eagles (16.3%)

9. Joshua Kelley, Chargers (13.7%)

10. Trayveon Williams, Bengals (0.8%)

11. Zamir White, Raiders (0.7%)

12. Leonard Fournette, Bills (10.6%)

13. Kene Nwangwu, Vikings (0.2%)

14. Michael Wilson, Cardinals (6.6%)

15. Jameson Williams, Lions (17.1%)

16. Desmond Ridder, Falcons (2.1%)

17. Jameis Winston, Saints (0.2%)

18. Gardner Minshew, Colts (8.9%)

19. Hunter Henry, Patriots (20.1%)

20. Trey Palmer, Bucs (0.7%)

21. Brandon Powell, Vikings (3.0%)

22. Emari Demercado, Cardinals (19.5%)

23. Tank Bigsby, Jaguars (5.6%)

24. Michael Mayer, Raiders (3.3%)

25. Luke Musgrave, Packers (17.0%)

26. Tyler Conklin, Jets (11.1%)

27. Tanner Hudson, Bengals (0.1%)

28. Greg Dulcich, Broncos (5.1%)

29. Jelani Woods, Colts (1.0%)

30. Isaiah Likely, Ravens (1.0%)

31. Noah Gray, Chiefs (0.1%)

32. Josh Oliver, Vikings (0.1%)

33. Rashod Bateman, Ravens (3.5%)

34. Jamaal Williams, Saints (24.6%)

35. D’Ernest Johnson, Jaguars (0.1%)

36. Ronnie Rivers, Rams (0.3%)

37. Eric Gray, Giants (0.1%)

38. Dyami Brown, Commanders (0.1%)

39. A.T. Perry, Saints (0.1%)

40. Dontayvion Wicks, Packers (0.2%)

TOP ADDS: SMALLER LEAGUES

(players owned between 25%-50%) 

1. Trey McBride, Cardinals (50.8%)

2. Noah Brown, Texans (27.1%)

3. Devin Singletary, Texans (50.8%)

4. Joshua Dobbs, Vikings (39.0%)

5. Demario Douglas, Patriots (27.0%)

6. Brandin Cooks, Cowboys (49.1%)

7. Josh Downs, Colts (49.1%)

8. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (31.4%)

9. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (33.2%)

10. Antonio Gibson, Commanders (43.7%)

11. Tyjae Spears, Titans (32.5%)

12. Michael Gallup, Cowboys (31.4%)

13. Rashid Shaheed, Saints (27.3%)

14. Odell Beckham Jr., Ravens (42.6%)

15. Elijah Moore, Browns (35.8%)

16. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (36.5%)

17. Rondale Moore, Cardinals (33.2%)

18. Will Levis, Titans (35.8%)

19. Jonnu Smith, Falcons (34.1%)

20. Roschon Johnson, Bears (30.4%)

21. Ezekiel Elliott, Patriots (36.1%)

22. Romeo Doubs, Packers (39.7%)

23. Dolphins D/ST (50.0%)

24. Jordan Love, Packers (44.6%)

25. Treylon Burks, Titans (28.8%)

INJURED RESERVE: IR STASHES

(must be listed “O” or IR” and owned 50% or less)

• Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (36.5%)

• Zay Jones, Jaguars (21.5%)

• Emari Demercado, Cardinals (19.5%)

• Greg Dulcich, Broncos (5.1%)

• Treylon Burks, Titans (28.8%)

Honorable Mention:

• Jelani Woods, Colts (1.0%)

MUST-CUTS: PLAYERS TO DROP

(must be owned in 25% or more of leagues)

• Dalvin Cook, Jets (33.0%)

• Curtis Samuel, Commanders (38.5%)

• K.J. Osborn, Vikings (40.2%)

• Miles Sanders, Panthers (69.1%)

• Joshua Palmer, Chargers (31.1%)

• DJ Chark Jr., Panthers (30.4%)

• Skyy Moore, Chiefs (29.8%)

• Derek Carr, Saints (28.6%)

• JuJu Smith-Schuster, Patriots (28.2%)

• Darnell Mooney, Bears (28.3%)

• Tutu Atwell, Rams (27.8%)

• Samaje Perine, Broncos (26.9%)

• Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins (26.1%)

• Zach Ertz, Cardinals (25.5%)

• Patriots D/ST (37.5%)

• Raiders D/ST (70.2%)

• Colts D/ST (33.9%)

• Darren Waller, Giants (73.9%)

• Michael Thomas, Saints (75.1%)

• Jerry Jeudy, Broncos (78.3%)

• Packers D/ST (31.2%)

• Falcons D/ST (36.0%)

• Eagles D/ST (62.8%)

• AJ Dillon, Packers (61.7%)

• Jahan Dotson, Commanders (70.3%)

WEEK 11 QB STREAMERS

(must be 50% owned or less)

1. Joshua Dobbs at Broncos

2. Will Levis at Jaguars

3. Jordan Love vs. Chargers

4. Matthew Stafford vs. Seahawks

5. Aidan O’Connell at Dolphins

WEEK 12 QB STASHES

(must be 50% owned or less)

• Joshua Dobbs vs. Bears

• Matthew Stafford at Cardinals

• Gardner Minshew vs. Bucs

• Will Levis vs. Panthers

• Jordan Love at Lions

WEEK 11 TE STREAMERS

(must be 50% owned or less)

1. Trey McBride at Texans

2. Luke Musgrave vs. Chargers

3. Michael Mayer at Dolphins

4. Chig Okonkwo at Jaguars

5. Tyler Conklin at Bills

6. Cade Otton at 49ers

7. Gerald Everett at Packers

8. Tyler Higbee vs. Seahawks

9. Donald Parham Jr. at Packers

10. Daniel Bellinger at Commanders

WEEK 12 TE STASHES

(must be 50% owned or less)

• Trey McBride vs. Rams

• Pat Freiermuth at Bengals

• Cade Otton at Colts

• Luke Musgrave at Lions

• Hunter Henry at Giants

• Tyler Conklin vs. Dolphins

• Chig Okonkwo vs. Panthers

• Michael Mayer vs. Chiefs

• Tyler Higbee at Cardinals

• Jonnu Smith vs. Saints

Honorable Mention:

• Juwan Johnson at Falcons 

WEEK 11 D/ST STREAMERS

(must be 50% owned or less)

1. Dolphins vs. Raiders

2. Lions vs. Bears

3. Commanders vs. Giants

4. Chargers at Packers

5. Vikings at Broncos

Honorable Mention:

• Jaguars vs. Titans

WEEK 12 D/ST STASHES

(must be 50% owned or less)

• Dolphins at Jets

• Patriots at Giants

• Vikings vs. Bears

• Lions vs. Packers

• Titans vs. Panthers

• Falcons vs. Saints

• Broncos vs. Browns

• Colts vs. Bucs

• Bucs at Colts

• Giants vs. Patriots

Honorable Mention:

• Bengals vs. Steelers

WEEK 11 KICKER STREAMERS

(must be 50% owned or less)

• Nick Folk, TEN

• Dustin Hopkins, CLE

• Jake Moody, SF

• Jason Meyers, SEA

• Brandon McManus, JAX

• Riley Patterson, DET

• Jason Sanders, MIA

• Matt Prater, ARI

• Greg Joseph, MIN

• Joey Slye, WAS

Honorable mention:

• Matthew Ammendola, HOU

TOP BUYS (TRADE FOR)

To qualify for this “buy-low” list: 

• WRs must be ranked outside the top 20

• RBs must be ranked outside the top 15

• QBs/TEs must be ranked outside the top 10

QB/TE “BUY” TRADE TARGETS

1. Joe Burrow QB17

2. Kyler Murray QB42

3. Trey McBride TE16

4. Dalton Kincaid TE11

5. Jared Goff QB12

6. Justin Fields QB24

7. Deshaun Watson QB29

8. Geno Smith QB19

9. Evan Engram TE13

10. Kyle Pitts TE17

Honorable Mention:

• Pat Freiermuth TE42

RB “BUY” TRADE TARGETS

1. Austin Ekeler RB25

2. David Montgomery RB22

3. Jonathan Taylor RB32

4. De’Von Achane RB24

5. Kyren Williams RB19

6. Isiah Pacheco RB20

7. Javonte Williams RB30

8. Jerome Ford RB21

9. James Conner RB38

10. Aaron Jones RB35

11. Joe Mixon RB16

12. James Cook RB17

13. Tony Pollard RB23

14. Jaylen Warren RB28

15. Najee Harris 29

16. Kareem Hunt RB34

17. Rico Dowdle RB53

18. Zach Charbonnet RB57

19. Keaton Mitchell RB58

20. Ty Chandler RB71

WR “BUY” TRADE TARGETS

1. Justin Jefferson WR33

2. Cooper Kupp WR58

3. Jaylen Waddle WR32

4. DK Metcalf WR37

5. Deebo Samuel WR46

6. Tank Dell WR21

7. Tee Higgins WR56

8. Christian Kirk WR22

9. Tyler Lockett WR24

10. DeVonta Smith WR25

11. Terry McLaurin WR26

12. DeAndre Hopkins WR27

13. Calvin Ridley WR42

14. Noah Brown WR55

15. Josh Downs WR36

16. Drake London WR41

17. Gabriel Davis WR28

18. Demario Douglas WR61

19. Marquise Brown WR29

20. Brandin Cooks WR52

Honorable Mention:

• Diontae Johnson WR64

TOP SELLS (TRADE AWAY)

To qualify for this “sell-high” list: 

• WRs must be ranked inside the top 20

• RBs must be ranked inside the top 15

• QBs/TEs must be ranked inside the top 10

QB/TE “SELL” IN TRADES

• Tua Tagovailoa QB10

• Joshua Dobbs QB7

• Justin Herbert QB4

• Sam Howell QB3

• Cole Kmet TE5

Honorable Mention:

• Taysom Hill TE7

RB/WR “SELL” IN TRADES

• Gus Edwards RB13

• Zack Moss RB7

• Raheem Mostert RB2

• Jakobi Meyers WR17

• Adam Thielen WR11

Honorable Mention:

• DJ Moore WR8

Chris Dell: cdell@post-gazette.com and Twitter @MaddJournalist

First Published: November 14, 2023, 10:15 p.m.
Updated: November 14, 2023, 10:23 p.m.