Happy Tuesday and welcome back to my weekly Waiver HUB! It’s time to hit the waiver wire and do what you can to improve your team moving forward. Mike Hubbard here, you can follow me on Twitter (@FantasyHubbard) for all things fantasy football throughout the season. Feel free to tweet me or message me with any comments or questions you might have regarding fantasy football.
Week 11 is in the books following a MNF blowout win for the 49ers. San Francisco took on the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico last night and cruised to a 38-10 win. Jimmy G threw for 4 TD passes, 2 for Kittle and 2 for Aiyuk. Cardinal’s receivers DeAndre Hopkins had 91 yards and Greg Dortch had 103 yards. 49ers look to stay hungry in a matchup with the Saints while the struggling Cardinals host the Chargers. Next week’s MNF game is a battle between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Indianapolis Colts. A couple of teams desperate for a win.
Week 12 kicks off on Thanksgiving with 3 games:
Bills @ Lions – 12:30 PM EST
Giants @ Cowboys – 4:30 PM EST
Patriots @ Vikings – 8:20 PM EST
Bills game might be lopsided but remember the Bills have lost 2 of their last 3 games in a tight division race. Give me all the Stefon Diggs and Amon-Ra St. Brown. Giants game is HUGE for fighting position in the stacked NFC East. Barkley had 81 rushing yards and 45 receiving yards with a rushing TD last time they played. The Patriots/Vikings game has the lowest line and over/under of the 3 games. I like TJ Hockenson in that one.
Regardless of your fantasy record you should always be ready to add and drop and be aware of waiver opportunities. Another week gone, another opportunity to make your team stronger and inch your way to that league trophy and an offseason of bragging rights.
Below are my top waiver wire priorities this week. Go get those hopefully available players to help your chances at a championship run. Good luck this week and remember to check back every week to stay informed on who you could target off waivers.
TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK
Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans
I think it’s safe to say that the rookie first round draft pick out of Arkansas had a breakout game on TNF in week 11. He looked great and comfortable catching 7 of his 8 targets for a new season high 111 receiving yards. Burks could grow into the WR1 role AJ Brown once had in Tennessee, but it’s not fair to try comparing them yet. Titans are a rush heavy team with Derrick Henry, but that opens up play action and shots down field. Burks will want to add on to this performance when they host the Bengals this weekend.
Quarterbacks
Taylor Heinicke – Washington Commanders
Heinicke has won 4 of his last 5 games played under center. His numbers have been far from eye popping, but he has a couple of great matchups approaching. First, he takes on Atlanta’s Defense and then gets a showdown with the Giants. Then he gets a BYE and another shot at the Giants. If you are in great need of a streamer at the QB position, I like Heinicke to show up in these games and start throwing more TDs.
Running Backs
James Cook – Buffalo Bills
If you have the roster room, go grab Cook. Rookie RB out of Georgia had his best game of the season in week 11 when he rushed for 86 yards on 11 carries. Cook’s opportunities have been growing and who knows where it will stop. Nyheim Hines is new to Buffalo and is a skilled RB, but he has just 1 rushing attempt since he joined the team. Cooks is clearly right behind Devin Singletary and the gap is closing. They could turn into a 2 headed attack in an already great offense. Bills get Lions in week 12 which should be a good game for the Bills offense. If they get to a large lead, I bet we will see a bunch more of Cook.
Samaje Perine – Cincinnati Bengals
Perine got his chance to shine Sunday when star RB Joe Mixon had to leave the game against the Steelers in the 3rd quarter and didn’t return. He is currently in concussion protocol so its paramount to follow his injury/game status. Perine had a casual 30 rushing yards on 11 attempts. More excitingly, he caught all 4 of his targets and 3 of them concluded with a TD. He finished with 52 receiving yards. He is now tied with Higgins for 2nd most receiving TDs on the year for Cinci and was 2nd in receiving yards for Cinci this past weekend. At the moment he is a stash RB until Mixon’s status is determined. Might go all the way and be a game time decision. Hopefully not, but I would love to have Perine on my bench ready to be put in if Mixon can’t go.
Cam Akers – LA Rams
Akers has had a weird season on and off the field for LA. In week 11 Cam tied his season high in rushing yards with 62. Darrel Henderson has rushed just 8 total times in the Rams last 2 games while Akers had a combined 20 attempts. Be aware of rookie Kyren Williams usage moving forward but it is Akers who is getting the most chances at success lately. Rams are a mess but I would pick him up if he is available, especially knowing he has taken over RB1 duties.
Wide Receivers
Demarcus Robinson – Baltimore Ravens
Robinson caught all 9 of his targets for 128 receiving yards this past weekend. He set season highs in targets, receptions, and receiving yards. Robinson has gotten a lot more playing time with Rashod Bateman out for the season. Devin Duvernay seems to have faded into the background so it’s mostly just Mark Andrews hogging targets and attention form Lamar Jackson. Ravens will still be a heavy rushing team, especially Lamar, but when he does drop back, I think Robinson will be his 2nd look after Andrews.
Donovan Peoples-Jones – Cleveland Browns
I feel like I’ve been writing about DPJ for many weeks now. The Browns WR has been solid all season with the exception of weeks 2 and 3. DPJ went 4 consecutive games with 70+ receiving yards leading up to week 11 but was held to 61 in Buffalo. 61 in Buffalo impresses me, not to mention he scored his 1st TD of the season. DPJ now has 4+ receptions in 7 consecutive games. The Browns go from Buffalo’s defense in week 11 and now get a home game against the Bucs. Luckily for him the Bucs don’t defend WRs like they do RBs. WRs Tyler Lockett and Marquise Goodwin both scored on the Bucs in week 11 which is a week after Cooper Kupp torched them for 127 receiving yards and a TD.
Treylon Burks – Tennessee Titans
SEE TOP PRIORITY OF THE WEEK TOP OF PAGE
Tight Ends
Logan Thomas – Washington Commanders
Thomas was 2nd on the team in targets in week 11 only to scary Terry. He did however lead the team in receptions with 5 and receiving yards with 65. Like I said with Heinicke above, Commanders face the Falcons and then get the Giants twice in 3 weeks. Thomas is familiar with the Giants and should be a big reliable target as long as he can stay healthy.
Juwan Johnson – New Orleans Saints
Johnson has scored 5 TDs in his last 5 games and has 40+ yards in 3 consecutive games. Saints clearly have found their favorite red zone target. Consistent TEs are hard to come by so his production is well worth an add to help your fantasy team. Be aware Juwan has a tough matchup this week facing the 49ers defense in SF.