Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Optimus Staff

Published On: November 10th, 2025

Boy, it’s getting late early these days! What do you mean it’s 4:30 and it’s already getting dark? Don’t worry, you’ll get no ‘Winter is coming’ from us, although winter is very definitely coming, and it’s more than just the fading light and weaker rays of the sun that tell us so.

It’s Week 11, y’all. That light at the end of the tunnel? The fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching, and hopefully that light is the playoffs and not an oncoming train. Either way, we’ve got you covered. After all, you gotta stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.

As a reminder:

Cool. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the waiver wire adds for Week 11.

Week 11 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 28% | ESPN 11.5% | FAAB 2-3%

The sooner we come to terms with the fact that Jayden Daniels‘ season (at least for fantasy football purposes) is likely over, the better. While this is a terrible time of the season to lose your QB1, there are options. One of the better ones available is Daniels’ backup, veteran QB Marcus Mariota.

While it isn’t ideal to roll out a veteran backup this late in the season, you could do worse than Mariota. In four starts this season, he has 17 or more fantasy points in three of those games. Yes, two of those games were against weak defenses – Las Vegas in Week 3 and Atlanta in Week 4 – but there is more of the same coming for Mariota and the Commanders offense. Outside of a Week 13 post-bye match-up with Denver and a Week 16 contest against Philadelphia, Mariota faces a string of defenses in the bottom half of points allowed to QBs in fantasy football. 

It won’t necessarily be pretty, but Mariota is finding ways to be productive in fantasy football and is a solid option in 2QB and Superflex formats. He shouldn’t break the bank on the waiver wire either, with a few FAAB bucks likely getting him on your roster. 

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 8% | ESPN 1.2% | FAAB 5-7%

As bye weeks keep on keeping on, and injuries at every position stack up, we’re starting to reach a bit on the waiver wire to field a starting lineup. Is it ideal to grab rookie QB Tyler Shough as we get closer to the fantasy football playoffs? Of course not. But, much like Mariota, there are considerably worse options as we head into Week 11. 

While the situation for the New Orleans offense is bleak, Shough seems to be making the best of it. Sans veteran WR Rashid Shaheed, who was traded to Seattle this past Tuesday, the rookie signal caller led his team to a 17-7 victory over Carolina. The volume from Shough wasn’t eye-catching – he threw the ball 27 times – but his 282 yards and two passing TDs were good enough to land him as the overall QB12 heading into Monday night football.

To be clear, Shough is not an ideal solution for your fantasy football squad, but in a pinch, he could be a solid long-term addition. After the upcoming Week 11 bye, the Saints have a host of favorable matchups for Shough. They come out of the bye against Atlanta and Miami, then wrap up the fantasy season against Tampa Bay, Carolina, the New York Jets, and Tennessee. 

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 17.4% | FAAB 15-20%

To be clear, it remains as clear as mud exactly what is going on with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, outside of him landing on injured reserve (IR) last week with a mid-foot sprain. What we do know is that veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will be under center for the foreseeable future, with the team stating Murray is unlikely to start again if he does return. 

Whether that is good or bad for the Cardinals as a whole is still up in the air; however, if you’re a contending fantasy football manager in need of a QB, it’s fantastic news. Brissett, in his tenth NFL season and on his sixth NFL team, has been very good since taking the reins from Murray in Week 6. In that span, he has thrown for 1,118 yards, eight TDs and only one INT. In addition, has 82 rushing yards on 19 carries and a rushing TD. 

With Murray on the sidelines, Brissett has quietly been the overall QB11 since Week 6 in total points (85.7), and QB9 in fantasy points per game (FFPG) with 21.4. He’s likely to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week, and for good reason. Brissett has an opportunity to be a fringe QB1 tier asset for the rest of the season, and in a pinch, is a solid option even in 1QB formats as we strap down for the fantasy football playoffs. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 3.5% | FAAB 25%

I’ll be very honest – I didn’t expect to be writing about Sean Tucker today. Tucker has been one of my favorites over the past two years, and he just hasn’t had much of a chance thanks to the presence of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Now, all of a sudden, we’re in Week 11, Bucky Irving still has no timetable for return, and Tucker has out-rushed White two games in a row. What’s even more impressive to me is that Tucker broke the 50-yard threshold against New England. That’s something no other RB had done the entire year against the Patriots.

Now, Tucker is still only playing about a third of the total snaps, so it’s not like he’s taken over the backfield or anything. However, his schedule the rest of the way is very light, with a matchup against the leaky Bills defense on tap for Week 11. Last call is sounding, and attractive RB options are sparse to say the least. This is one of the few backfields in a potent offense that could shift over the second half of the season. This is why I recommend such a large chunk of FAAB.

Emari Demercado | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 18.5% | FAAB 5%

Life changes pretty fast in the NFL. One week, you’re a pariah, dropping the ball before you reach the goal line, and a couple of weeks later, you’re dancing your way back into fantasy managers’ good graces. Thus is the ballad of Emari Demercado. Let’s look at some facts.

Trey Benson isn’t activated from IR yet. Even when, or if, he is, the Cardinals typically use one RB for 1st and 2nd down, and another for 3rd downs and two-minute drills. Since Benson’s injury, none of the Arizona RBs have separated themselves from the others, either. Jacoby Brissett, while he’s the starter for at least the next three games, is much more likely to check the ball down to his outlet than he is to run with it, unlike Kyler Murray. With all of those factors, Demercado has enough ‘juice’ as the kids say to turn a handful of touches into flex-worthy fantasy stats.

He’s not a great option, but it’s Week 11. All the great options are long gone. 

Week 11 Handcuff Who Matters:

Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 17% | ESPN 2% | FAAB 1-2%

We’ve seen a shift in Buffalo’s RB hierarchy over the first half of the season. Ray Davis, thought to be The Guy if starter James Cook went down, looks like he’s lost a little too much weight to maintain his power. As a result, he’s ceded that job to Ty Johnson. Johnson, who QB Josh Allen calls, “The best 3rd down RB in the NFL.” Now, is that accurate? Meh. But when your (2024) MVP QB makes that statement, we need to pay attention.

Buffalo’s offense is only effective in 2025 when they’re running the ball well. I know, that’s an odd statement to write, too. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. If Cook goes down, there will be a split between Davis and Johnson, but it’s reasonable to expect Johnson to get the lion’s share of the work. And on a team with aspirations like the Bills, that’s worth rostering as a hedge to a Cook injury.

Wide Receivers: 

Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 27.9% | FAAB 25-28%

Things keep getting worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ receiving corps, with news today that there is no timetable for the return of veteran WR Chris Godwin. Couple that with the extended absence of Mike Evans (collarbone), and pickings are getting thin for QB Baker Mayfield.

Enter rookie WR Tez Johnson. 

We know all too well that earning the trust of Mayfield leads to opportunities. It appears Johnson has done just that over the last few weeks. Through the first 4 weeks of the season, the rookie pass catcher saw three targets, making one catch for eight yards. However, since Week 5, Johnson’s snap share has steadily risen, peaking this past weekend at 83 percent.  

And with the rise in snap share has come a rise in opportunity, with 27 targets finding their way to Johnson in that same span. He’s turned that opportunity into 18 catches for 247 yards and four receiving TDs. 

With Godwin and Evans both unlikely to see the field any time soon, Johnson’s volume is unlikely to dip. Right now, he’s more than an adequate WR3/Flex option with a solid double-digit fantasy point floor and TD upside every week. However, his volume could escalate as the playoffs approach, and we could see Johnson round out 2025 as a viable WR2. Be prepared to spend a decent amount of your remaining FAAB if you want to get the Tampa Bay rookie on your fantasy roster.  

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 14.2% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

As I have said many times this season already, there is very little to be excited about in Cleveland right now. However, the return of WR Cedric Tillman from injured reserve (IR) is, at the very least, intriguing. 

Yes, this is a different offense than when Tillman was last active back in Week 4. Without veteran Joe Flacco, it’s an offense in desperate need of receiving options for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Outside of TEs David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin, and WR Jerry Jeudy, there hasn’t been much to work with. The third-year wideout only saw four targets in his return this past weekend, but that’s to be expected coming back from a hamstring injury. 

With matchups against Baltimore and Las Vegas on the horizon, we should expect an uptick in volume for Tillman. In Weeks 1 and 2, Tillman saw a snap share north of 85 percent in both games, with a total of 15 targets and two receiving TDs. At the very least, the Browns receiver figures to be a backend WR3/flex option most weeks for the rest of the 2025 season.

Tight Ends:

Theo Johnson, New York Giants | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 44.6% | FAAB 3% 

I’m a little conflicted recommending Theo, but it’s Week 11 and there are only so many options. First, the good numbers. Since Malik Nabers‘ injury, Theo Johnson has a 20% target share. In fact, his single-game low from that point onwards is 15%. Not bad, when you consider Dalton Kincaid has a 14.8% target share on the year. He may not have an amazing upside, but he clocks in tied for TE12 with Dalton Kincaid at 10.1 HPPG on a points-per-game basis. 

Now, the downside. So many statistics in football are difficult to isolate. For instance, is Johnson’s increased target share due to Malik Nabers’ injury, or is it due to now-ex HC Brian Daboll benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart? This matters because Dart is now in the concussion protocol, and Wilson may have to start this week. As a point of reference, Johnson has a 9.4% target share in 3+ games with Wilson, with a high of 12.2%. 

All this isn’t to say you shouldn’t nab Johnson if you need a TE, it’s simply to help you understand that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Especially when there’s a way to incorrectly attribute reasoning. So grab Johnson, but definitely lower expectations if Wilson is forced into a start. 

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

It hurts to see Dalton Kincaid go out with a hamstring issue, but it does open the door for a waiver wire darling in Dawson Knox. A 13.8% target share once Kincaid left the Week 9 game doesn’t sound exciting, but Buffalo was already in a hole and couldn’t get out of their own way. The Bills have been struggling to get their WRs involved in the passing game, and over the past two weeks, they’ve turned to their TEs more, to great effect.

The best thing Knox has going for him is his size, and his blocking prowess allows him to stay on the field. Buffalo’s had the most success passing out of their run-heavy formations, which utilize both Knox and rookie TE Jackson Hawes. Considering Buffalo’s pretty massive deficiencies on offense, it’s reasonable to expect them to lean into this strength over the next few games

Note: For all the same reasons, Jackson Hawes makes for a decent free play if you’re absolutely desperate. He doesn’t get a lot of work, often seeing only one target/game, but he always makes good on them, and without Kincaid, we could see that number trickle upward.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, you read that right. I’m recommending the Dallas Cowboys defense as a streaming option in Week 11 of this 2024 NFL season. It won’t happen again, but then again, they won’t play the Las Vegas Raiders again this season. 

This one really is as simple as the matchup. The Raiders have been atrocious on offense this season, and even the return of TE Brock Bowers hasn’t helped them. Last week against Denver, the Raiders’ offense gave up 13 fantasy points. Conversely, when Dallas has faced a bottom-tier offense, they’ve done well. In Week 9 against the Cardinals, they managed 13 fantasy points, and in Week 7, they logged 16 fantasy points against the Commanders.

You won’t want to carry the Cowboys defense past this week with matchups against Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota looming, but for a one-week streaming option, Dallas is a fine option in Week 11.      

Chicago Bears | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 15.3% | FAAB 0-1%

Heading into Week 11, the Chicago Bears’ defense has regained relevance in fantasy football, albeit for only a few weeks. 

This upcoming weekend brings a matchup with a hapless Minnesota offense led by second-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy. Time will tell if the former Wolverine will be a solid NFL QB, but for now, he’s making mistakes in droves and feeding fantasy football defenses points. He’s in luck, because Chicago gets at the QB and forces mistakes (21 sacks, seven recovered fumbles and 13 INTs in 9 games), and you can expect another mistake-laden affair from McCarthy and company.

If you need them for a second week, they host the sinking ship that is Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. The veteran QB has thrown four INTs over the last four games and has been sacked nine times. 

Whether you need them for one week or two, the Bears are a more than viable defensive streaming option and won’t cost much to roster this week. 

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 1% | ESPN 0.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Miami Dolphins might be a mystery, but their kicking situation is not. Since taking over full-time duties in Week 2, veteran Riley Patterson has been the overall K10. Week 11 brings a plus matchup for Patterson against Washington, who are giving up the sixth-most points (10.9 FPPG) to fantasy kickers. 

If you need a one-week rental, Patterson is a solid option and should be available at a low cost. If you’re tired of streaming, Patterson has been consistent regardless of match-up, averaging eight FPPG. Either way, rostering Patterson is an easy choice for kicker streamers heading into Week 11.    

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Boy, it’s getting late early these days! What do you mean it’s 4:30 and it’s already getting dark? Don’t worry, you’ll get no ‘Winter is coming’ from us, although winter is very definitely coming, and it’s more than just the fading light and weaker rays of the sun that tell us so.

It’s Week 11, y’all. That light at the end of the tunnel? The fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching, and hopefully that light is the playoffs and not an oncoming train. Either way, we’ve got you covered. After all, you gotta stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.

As a reminder:

Cool. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the waiver wire adds for Week 11.

Week 11 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 28% | ESPN 11.5% | FAAB 2-3%

The sooner we come to terms with the fact that Jayden Daniels‘ season (at least for fantasy football purposes) is likely over, the better. While this is a terrible time of the season to lose your QB1, there are options. One of the better ones available is Daniels’ backup, veteran QB Marcus Mariota.

While it isn’t ideal to roll out a veteran backup this late in the season, you could do worse than Mariota. In four starts this season, he has 17 or more fantasy points in three of those games. Yes, two of those games were against weak defenses – Las Vegas in Week 3 and Atlanta in Week 4 – but there is more of the same coming for Mariota and the Commanders offense. Outside of a Week 13 post-bye match-up with Denver and a Week 16 contest against Philadelphia, Mariota faces a string of defenses in the bottom half of points allowed to QBs in fantasy football. 

It won’t necessarily be pretty, but Mariota is finding ways to be productive in fantasy football and is a solid option in 2QB and Superflex formats. He shouldn’t break the bank on the waiver wire either, with a few FAAB bucks likely getting him on your roster. 

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 8% | ESPN 1.2% | FAAB 5-7%

As bye weeks keep on keeping on, and injuries at every position stack up, we’re starting to reach a bit on the waiver wire to field a starting lineup. Is it ideal to grab rookie QB Tyler Shough as we get closer to the fantasy football playoffs? Of course not. But, much like Mariota, there are considerably worse options as we head into Week 11. 

While the situation for the New Orleans offense is bleak, Shough seems to be making the best of it. Sans veteran WR Rashid Shaheed, who was traded to Seattle this past Tuesday, the rookie signal caller led his team to a 17-7 victory over Carolina. The volume from Shough wasn’t eye-catching – he threw the ball 27 times – but his 282 yards and two passing TDs were good enough to land him as the overall QB12 heading into Monday night football.

To be clear, Shough is not an ideal solution for your fantasy football squad, but in a pinch, he could be a solid long-term addition. After the upcoming Week 11 bye, the Saints have a host of favorable matchups for Shough. They come out of the bye against Atlanta and Miami, then wrap up the fantasy season against Tampa Bay, Carolina, the New York Jets, and Tennessee. 

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 17.4% | FAAB 15-20%

To be clear, it remains as clear as mud exactly what is going on with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, outside of him landing on injured reserve (IR) last week with a mid-foot sprain. What we do know is that veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will be under center for the foreseeable future, with the team stating Murray is unlikely to start again if he does return. 

Whether that is good or bad for the Cardinals as a whole is still up in the air; however, if you’re a contending fantasy football manager in need of a QB, it’s fantastic news. Brissett, in his tenth NFL season and on his sixth NFL team, has been very good since taking the reins from Murray in Week 6. In that span, he has thrown for 1,118 yards, eight TDs and only one INT. In addition, has 82 rushing yards on 19 carries and a rushing TD. 

With Murray on the sidelines, Brissett has quietly been the overall QB11 since Week 6 in total points (85.7), and QB9 in fantasy points per game (FFPG) with 21.4. He’s likely to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week, and for good reason. Brissett has an opportunity to be a fringe QB1 tier asset for the rest of the season, and in a pinch, is a solid option even in 1QB formats as we strap down for the fantasy football playoffs. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 3.5% | FAAB 25%

I’ll be very honest – I didn’t expect to be writing about Sean Tucker today. Tucker has been one of my favorites over the past two years, and he just hasn’t had much of a chance thanks to the presence of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Now, all of a sudden, we’re in Week 11, Bucky Irving still has no timetable for return, and Tucker has out-rushed White two games in a row. What’s even more impressive to me is that Tucker broke the 50-yard threshold against New England. That’s something no other RB had done the entire year against the Patriots.

Now, Tucker is still only playing about a third of the total snaps, so it’s not like he’s taken over the backfield or anything. However, his schedule the rest of the way is very light, with a matchup against the leaky Bills defense on tap for Week 11. Last call is sounding, and attractive RB options are sparse to say the least. This is one of the few backfields in a potent offense that could shift over the second half of the season. This is why I recommend such a large chunk of FAAB.

Emari Demercado | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 18.5% | FAAB 5%

Life changes pretty fast in the NFL. One week, you’re a pariah, dropping the ball before you reach the goal line, and a couple of weeks later, you’re dancing your way back into fantasy managers’ good graces. Thus is the ballad of Emari Demercado. Let’s look at some facts.

Trey Benson isn’t activated from IR yet. Even when, or if, he is, the Cardinals typically use one RB for 1st and 2nd down, and another for 3rd downs and two-minute drills. Since Benson’s injury, none of the Arizona RBs have separated themselves from the others, either. Jacoby Brissett, while he’s the starter for at least the next three games, is much more likely to check the ball down to his outlet than he is to run with it, unlike Kyler Murray. With all of those factors, Demercado has enough ‘juice’ as the kids say to turn a handful of touches into flex-worthy fantasy stats.

He’s not a great option, but it’s Week 11. All the great options are long gone. 

Week 11 Handcuff Who Matters:

Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 17% | ESPN 2% | FAAB 1-2%

We’ve seen a shift in Buffalo’s RB hierarchy over the first half of the season. Ray Davis, thought to be The Guy if starter James Cook went down, looks like he’s lost a little too much weight to maintain his power. As a result, he’s ceded that job to Ty Johnson. Johnson, who QB Josh Allen calls, “The best 3rd down RB in the NFL.” Now, is that accurate? Meh. But when your (2024) MVP QB makes that statement, we need to pay attention.

Buffalo’s offense is only effective in 2025 when they’re running the ball well. I know, that’s an odd statement to write, too. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. If Cook goes down, there will be a split between Davis and Johnson, but it’s reasonable to expect Johnson to get the lion’s share of the work. And on a team with aspirations like the Bills, that’s worth rostering as a hedge to a Cook injury.

Wide Receivers: 

Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 27.9% | FAAB 25-28%

Things keep getting worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ receiving corps, with news today that there is no timetable for the return of veteran WR Chris Godwin. Couple that with the extended absence of Mike Evans (collarbone), and pickings are getting thin for QB Baker Mayfield.

Enter rookie WR Tez Johnson. 

We know all too well that earning the trust of Mayfield leads to opportunities. It appears Johnson has done just that over the last few weeks. Through the first 4 weeks of the season, the rookie pass catcher saw three targets, making one catch for eight yards. However, since Week 5, Johnson’s snap share has steadily risen, peaking this past weekend at 83 percent.  

And with the rise in snap share has come a rise in opportunity, with 27 targets finding their way to Johnson in that same span. He’s turned that opportunity into 18 catches for 247 yards and four receiving TDs. 

With Godwin and Evans both unlikely to see the field any time soon, Johnson’s volume is unlikely to dip. Right now, he’s more than an adequate WR3/Flex option with a solid double-digit fantasy point floor and TD upside every week. However, his volume could escalate as the playoffs approach, and we could see Johnson round out 2025 as a viable WR2. Be prepared to spend a decent amount of your remaining FAAB if you want to get the Tampa Bay rookie on your fantasy roster.  

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 14.2% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

As I have said many times this season already, there is very little to be excited about in Cleveland right now. However, the return of WR Cedric Tillman from injured reserve (IR) is, at the very least, intriguing. 

Yes, this is a different offense than when Tillman was last active back in Week 4. Without veteran Joe Flacco, it’s an offense in desperate need of receiving options for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Outside of TEs David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin, and WR Jerry Jeudy, there hasn’t been much to work with. The third-year wideout only saw four targets in his return this past weekend, but that’s to be expected coming back from a hamstring injury. 

With matchups against Baltimore and Las Vegas on the horizon, we should expect an uptick in volume for Tillman. In Weeks 1 and 2, Tillman saw a snap share north of 85 percent in both games, with a total of 15 targets and two receiving TDs. At the very least, the Browns receiver figures to be a backend WR3/flex option most weeks for the rest of the 2025 season.

Tight Ends:

Theo Johnson, New York Giants | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 44.6% | FAAB 3% 

I’m a little conflicted recommending Theo, but it’s Week 11 and there are only so many options. First, the good numbers. Since Malik Nabers‘ injury, Theo Johnson has a 20% target share. In fact, his single-game low from that point onwards is 15%. Not bad, when you consider Dalton Kincaid has a 14.8% target share on the year. He may not have an amazing upside, but he clocks in tied for TE12 with Dalton Kincaid at 10.1 HPPG on a points-per-game basis. 

Now, the downside. So many statistics in football are difficult to isolate. For instance, is Johnson’s increased target share due to Malik Nabers’ injury, or is it due to now-ex HC Brian Daboll benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart? This matters because Dart is now in the concussion protocol, and Wilson may have to start this week. As a point of reference, Johnson has a 9.4% target share in 3+ games with Wilson, with a high of 12.2%. 

All this isn’t to say you shouldn’t nab Johnson if you need a TE, it’s simply to help you understand that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Especially when there’s a way to incorrectly attribute reasoning. So grab Johnson, but definitely lower expectations if Wilson is forced into a start. 

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

It hurts to see Dalton Kincaid go out with a hamstring issue, but it does open the door for a waiver wire darling in Dawson Knox. A 13.8% target share once Kincaid left the Week 9 game doesn’t sound exciting, but Buffalo was already in a hole and couldn’t get out of their own way. The Bills have been struggling to get their WRs involved in the passing game, and over the past two weeks, they’ve turned to their TEs more, to great effect.

The best thing Knox has going for him is his size, and his blocking prowess allows him to stay on the field. Buffalo’s had the most success passing out of their run-heavy formations, which utilize both Knox and rookie TE Jackson Hawes. Considering Buffalo’s pretty massive deficiencies on offense, it’s reasonable to expect them to lean into this strength over the next few games

Note: For all the same reasons, Jackson Hawes makes for a decent free play if you’re absolutely desperate. He doesn’t get a lot of work, often seeing only one target/game, but he always makes good on them, and without Kincaid, we could see that number trickle upward.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, you read that right. I’m recommending the Dallas Cowboys defense as a streaming option in Week 11 of this 2024 NFL season. It won’t happen again, but then again, they won’t play the Las Vegas Raiders again this season. 

This one really is as simple as the matchup. The Raiders have been atrocious on offense this season, and even the return of TE Brock Bowers hasn’t helped them. Last week against Denver, the Raiders’ offense gave up 13 fantasy points. Conversely, when Dallas has faced a bottom-tier offense, they’ve done well. In Week 9 against the Cardinals, they managed 13 fantasy points, and in Week 7, they logged 16 fantasy points against the Commanders.

You won’t want to carry the Cowboys defense past this week with matchups against Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota looming, but for a one-week streaming option, Dallas is a fine option in Week 11.      

Chicago Bears | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 15.3% | FAAB 0-1%

Heading into Week 11, the Chicago Bears’ defense has regained relevance in fantasy football, albeit for only a few weeks. 

This upcoming weekend brings a matchup with a hapless Minnesota offense led by second-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy. Time will tell if the former Wolverine will be a solid NFL QB, but for now, he’s making mistakes in droves and feeding fantasy football defenses points. He’s in luck, because Chicago gets at the QB and forces mistakes (21 sacks, seven recovered fumbles and 13 INTs in 9 games), and you can expect another mistake-laden affair from McCarthy and company.

If you need them for a second week, they host the sinking ship that is Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. The veteran QB has thrown four INTs over the last four games and has been sacked nine times. 

Whether you need them for one week or two, the Bears are a more than viable defensive streaming option and won’t cost much to roster this week. 

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 1% | ESPN 0.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Miami Dolphins might be a mystery, but their kicking situation is not. Since taking over full-time duties in Week 2, veteran Riley Patterson has been the overall K10. Week 11 brings a plus matchup for Patterson against Washington, who are giving up the sixth-most points (10.9 FPPG) to fantasy kickers. 

If you need a one-week rental, Patterson is a solid option and should be available at a low cost. If you’re tired of streaming, Patterson has been consistent regardless of match-up, averaging eight FPPG. Either way, rostering Patterson is an easy choice for kicker streamers heading into Week 11.    

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Boy, it’s getting late early these days! What do you mean it’s 4:30 and it’s already getting dark? Don’t worry, you’ll get no ‘Winter is coming’ from us, although winter is very definitely coming, and it’s more than just the fading light and weaker rays of the sun that tell us so.

It’s Week 11, y’all. That light at the end of the tunnel? The fantasy playoffs are quickly approaching, and hopefully that light is the playoffs and not an oncoming train. Either way, we’ve got you covered. After all, you gotta stay ready so you don’t have to get ready.

As a reminder:

Cool. Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s get into the waiver wire adds for Week 11.

Week 11 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

Quarterbacks:

* As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 28% | ESPN 11.5% | FAAB 2-3%

The sooner we come to terms with the fact that Jayden Daniels‘ season (at least for fantasy football purposes) is likely over, the better. While this is a terrible time of the season to lose your QB1, there are options. One of the better ones available is Daniels’ backup, veteran QB Marcus Mariota.

While it isn’t ideal to roll out a veteran backup this late in the season, you could do worse than Mariota. In four starts this season, he has 17 or more fantasy points in three of those games. Yes, two of those games were against weak defenses – Las Vegas in Week 3 and Atlanta in Week 4 – but there is more of the same coming for Mariota and the Commanders offense. Outside of a Week 13 post-bye match-up with Denver and a Week 16 contest against Philadelphia, Mariota faces a string of defenses in the bottom half of points allowed to QBs in fantasy football. 

It won’t necessarily be pretty, but Mariota is finding ways to be productive in fantasy football and is a solid option in 2QB and Superflex formats. He shouldn’t break the bank on the waiver wire either, with a few FAAB bucks likely getting him on your roster. 

Tyler Shough, New Orleans Saints | Sleeper 8% | ESPN 1.2% | FAAB 5-7%

As bye weeks keep on keeping on, and injuries at every position stack up, we’re starting to reach a bit on the waiver wire to field a starting lineup. Is it ideal to grab rookie QB Tyler Shough as we get closer to the fantasy football playoffs? Of course not. But, much like Mariota, there are considerably worse options as we head into Week 11. 

While the situation for the New Orleans offense is bleak, Shough seems to be making the best of it. Sans veteran WR Rashid Shaheed, who was traded to Seattle this past Tuesday, the rookie signal caller led his team to a 17-7 victory over Carolina. The volume from Shough wasn’t eye-catching – he threw the ball 27 times – but his 282 yards and two passing TDs were good enough to land him as the overall QB12 heading into Monday night football.

To be clear, Shough is not an ideal solution for your fantasy football squad, but in a pinch, he could be a solid long-term addition. After the upcoming Week 11 bye, the Saints have a host of favorable matchups for Shough. They come out of the bye against Atlanta and Miami, then wrap up the fantasy season against Tampa Bay, Carolina, the New York Jets, and Tennessee. 

Jacoby Brissett, Arizona Cardinals | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 17.4% | FAAB 15-20%

To be clear, it remains as clear as mud exactly what is going on with Cardinals QB Kyler Murray, outside of him landing on injured reserve (IR) last week with a mid-foot sprain. What we do know is that veteran QB Jacoby Brissett will be under center for the foreseeable future, with the team stating Murray is unlikely to start again if he does return. 

Whether that is good or bad for the Cardinals as a whole is still up in the air; however, if you’re a contending fantasy football manager in need of a QB, it’s fantastic news. Brissett, in his tenth NFL season and on his sixth NFL team, has been very good since taking the reins from Murray in Week 6. In that span, he has thrown for 1,118 yards, eight TDs and only one INT. In addition, has 82 rushing yards on 19 carries and a rushing TD. 

With Murray on the sidelines, Brissett has quietly been the overall QB11 since Week 6 in total points (85.7), and QB9 in fantasy points per game (FFPG) with 21.4. He’s likely to be a hot commodity on the waiver wire this week, and for good reason. Brissett has an opportunity to be a fringe QB1 tier asset for the rest of the season, and in a pinch, is a solid option even in 1QB formats as we strap down for the fantasy football playoffs. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Sean Tucker, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 3.5% | FAAB 25%

I’ll be very honest – I didn’t expect to be writing about Sean Tucker today. Tucker has been one of my favorites over the past two years, and he just hasn’t had much of a chance thanks to the presence of Bucky Irving and Rachaad White. Now, all of a sudden, we’re in Week 11, Bucky Irving still has no timetable for return, and Tucker has out-rushed White two games in a row. What’s even more impressive to me is that Tucker broke the 50-yard threshold against New England. That’s something no other RB had done the entire year against the Patriots.

Now, Tucker is still only playing about a third of the total snaps, so it’s not like he’s taken over the backfield or anything. However, his schedule the rest of the way is very light, with a matchup against the leaky Bills defense on tap for Week 11. Last call is sounding, and attractive RB options are sparse to say the least. This is one of the few backfields in a potent offense that could shift over the second half of the season. This is why I recommend such a large chunk of FAAB.

Emari Demercado | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 18.5% | FAAB 5%

Life changes pretty fast in the NFL. One week, you’re a pariah, dropping the ball before you reach the goal line, and a couple of weeks later, you’re dancing your way back into fantasy managers’ good graces. Thus is the ballad of Emari Demercado. Let’s look at some facts.

Trey Benson isn’t activated from IR yet. Even when, or if, he is, the Cardinals typically use one RB for 1st and 2nd down, and another for 3rd downs and two-minute drills. Since Benson’s injury, none of the Arizona RBs have separated themselves from the others, either. Jacoby Brissett, while he’s the starter for at least the next three games, is much more likely to check the ball down to his outlet than he is to run with it, unlike Kyler Murray. With all of those factors, Demercado has enough ‘juice’ as the kids say to turn a handful of touches into flex-worthy fantasy stats.

He’s not a great option, but it’s Week 11. All the great options are long gone. 

Week 11 Handcuff Who Matters:

Ty Johnson, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 17% | ESPN 2% | FAAB 1-2%

We’ve seen a shift in Buffalo’s RB hierarchy over the first half of the season. Ray Davis, thought to be The Guy if starter James Cook went down, looks like he’s lost a little too much weight to maintain his power. As a result, he’s ceded that job to Ty Johnson. Johnson, who QB Josh Allen calls, “The best 3rd down RB in the NFL.” Now, is that accurate? Meh. But when your (2024) MVP QB makes that statement, we need to pay attention.

Buffalo’s offense is only effective in 2025 when they’re running the ball well. I know, that’s an odd statement to write, too. But that doesn’t mean it isn’t true. If Cook goes down, there will be a split between Davis and Johnson, but it’s reasonable to expect Johnson to get the lion’s share of the work. And on a team with aspirations like the Bills, that’s worth rostering as a hedge to a Cook injury.

Wide Receivers: 

Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 27.9% | FAAB 25-28%

Things keep getting worse for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ receiving corps, with news today that there is no timetable for the return of veteran WR Chris Godwin. Couple that with the extended absence of Mike Evans (collarbone), and pickings are getting thin for QB Baker Mayfield.

Enter rookie WR Tez Johnson. 

We know all too well that earning the trust of Mayfield leads to opportunities. It appears Johnson has done just that over the last few weeks. Through the first 4 weeks of the season, the rookie pass catcher saw three targets, making one catch for eight yards. However, since Week 5, Johnson’s snap share has steadily risen, peaking this past weekend at 83 percent.  

And with the rise in snap share has come a rise in opportunity, with 27 targets finding their way to Johnson in that same span. He’s turned that opportunity into 18 catches for 247 yards and four receiving TDs. 

With Godwin and Evans both unlikely to see the field any time soon, Johnson’s volume is unlikely to dip. Right now, he’s more than an adequate WR3/Flex option with a solid double-digit fantasy point floor and TD upside every week. However, his volume could escalate as the playoffs approach, and we could see Johnson round out 2025 as a viable WR2. Be prepared to spend a decent amount of your remaining FAAB if you want to get the Tampa Bay rookie on your fantasy roster.  

Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 16% | ESPN 14.2% | FAAB 3-5%

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As I have said many times this season already, there is very little to be excited about in Cleveland right now. However, the return of WR Cedric Tillman from injured reserve (IR) is, at the very least, intriguing. 

Yes, this is a different offense than when Tillman was last active back in Week 4. Without veteran Joe Flacco, it’s an offense in desperate need of receiving options for rookie QB Dillon Gabriel. Outside of TEs David Njoku and rookie Harold Fannin, and WR Jerry Jeudy, there hasn’t been much to work with. The third-year wideout only saw four targets in his return this past weekend, but that’s to be expected coming back from a hamstring injury. 

With matchups against Baltimore and Las Vegas on the horizon, we should expect an uptick in volume for Tillman. In Weeks 1 and 2, Tillman saw a snap share north of 85 percent in both games, with a total of 15 targets and two receiving TDs. At the very least, the Browns receiver figures to be a backend WR3/flex option most weeks for the rest of the 2025 season.

Tight Ends:

Theo Johnson, New York Giants | Sleeper 31% | ESPN 44.6% | FAAB 3% 

I’m a little conflicted recommending Theo, but it’s Week 11 and there are only so many options. First, the good numbers. Since Malik Nabers‘ injury, Theo Johnson has a 20% target share. In fact, his single-game low from that point onwards is 15%. Not bad, when you consider Dalton Kincaid has a 14.8% target share on the year. He may not have an amazing upside, but he clocks in tied for TE12 with Dalton Kincaid at 10.1 HPPG on a points-per-game basis. 

Now, the downside. So many statistics in football are difficult to isolate. For instance, is Johnson’s increased target share due to Malik Nabers’ injury, or is it due to now-ex HC Brian Daboll benching Russell Wilson for Jaxson Dart? This matters because Dart is now in the concussion protocol, and Wilson may have to start this week. As a point of reference, Johnson has a 9.4% target share in 3+ games with Wilson, with a high of 12.2%. 

All this isn’t to say you shouldn’t nab Johnson if you need a TE, it’s simply to help you understand that past performance is no guarantee of future results. Especially when there’s a way to incorrectly attribute reasoning. So grab Johnson, but definitely lower expectations if Wilson is forced into a start. 

Dawson Knox, Buffalo Bills | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | FAAB 3-5%

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It hurts to see Dalton Kincaid go out with a hamstring issue, but it does open the door for a waiver wire darling in Dawson Knox. A 13.8% target share once Kincaid left the Week 9 game doesn’t sound exciting, but Buffalo was already in a hole and couldn’t get out of their own way. The Bills have been struggling to get their WRs involved in the passing game, and over the past two weeks, they’ve turned to their TEs more, to great effect.

The best thing Knox has going for him is his size, and his blocking prowess allows him to stay on the field. Buffalo’s had the most success passing out of their run-heavy formations, which utilize both Knox and rookie TE Jackson Hawes. Considering Buffalo’s pretty massive deficiencies on offense, it’s reasonable to expect them to lean into this strength over the next few games

Note: For all the same reasons, Jackson Hawes makes for a decent free play if you’re absolutely desperate. He doesn’t get a lot of work, often seeing only one target/game, but he always makes good on them, and without Kincaid, we could see that number trickle upward.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Dallas Cowboys | Sleeper 5% | ESPN 4% | FAAB 0-1%

Yes, you read that right. I’m recommending the Dallas Cowboys defense as a streaming option in Week 11 of this 2024 NFL season. It won’t happen again, but then again, they won’t play the Las Vegas Raiders again this season. 

This one really is as simple as the matchup. The Raiders have been atrocious on offense this season, and even the return of TE Brock Bowers hasn’t helped them. Last week against Denver, the Raiders’ offense gave up 13 fantasy points. Conversely, when Dallas has faced a bottom-tier offense, they’ve done well. In Week 9 against the Cardinals, they managed 13 fantasy points, and in Week 7, they logged 16 fantasy points against the Commanders.

You won’t want to carry the Cowboys defense past this week with matchups against Philadelphia, Detroit and Minnesota looming, but for a one-week streaming option, Dallas is a fine option in Week 11.      

Chicago Bears | Sleeper 24% | ESPN 15.3% | FAAB 0-1%

Heading into Week 11, the Chicago Bears’ defense has regained relevance in fantasy football, albeit for only a few weeks. 

This upcoming weekend brings a matchup with a hapless Minnesota offense led by second-year signal caller J.J. McCarthy. Time will tell if the former Wolverine will be a solid NFL QB, but for now, he’s making mistakes in droves and feeding fantasy football defenses points. He’s in luck, because Chicago gets at the QB and forces mistakes (21 sacks, seven recovered fumbles and 13 INTs in 9 games), and you can expect another mistake-laden affair from McCarthy and company.

If you need them for a second week, they host the sinking ship that is Aaron Rodgers and the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 12. The veteran QB has thrown four INTs over the last four games and has been sacked nine times. 

Whether you need them for one week or two, the Bears are a more than viable defensive streaming option and won’t cost much to roster this week. 

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Miami Dolphins | Sleeper 1% | ESPN 0.6% | FAAB 0-1%

The Miami Dolphins might be a mystery, but their kicking situation is not. Since taking over full-time duties in Week 2, veteran Riley Patterson has been the overall K10. Week 11 brings a plus matchup for Patterson against Washington, who are giving up the sixth-most points (10.9 FPPG) to fantasy kickers. 

If you need a one-week rental, Patterson is a solid option and should be available at a low cost. If you’re tired of streaming, Patterson has been consistent regardless of match-up, averaging eight FPPG. Either way, rostering Patterson is an easy choice for kicker streamers heading into Week 11.    

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

By Published On: November 10th, 2025

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