Waiver Wire Week 11: Examining Top Fantasy Football Pickups

Fantasy football is too kind to its owners as the playoffs inch closer.

Week 10 saw a number of names make major impacts despite lengthy idling periods on the wire, which gives owners in the thick of the playoff hunt and those looking for a way back in an equal opportunity to nab a productive contributor.

The trick is getting to the wire before everyone else, but if owners arm themselves with plenty of high-quality options, it becomes a moot point.

Below, let's expand the number of options each owner should consider on the wire this week through a deeper dive at the skill positions.

Quarterback

Mark Sanchez, Philadelphia Eagles (37.1 percent owned)

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Now would be the time to ride the Mark Sanchez train.

After an appearance in spot duty in Week 9 due to an injury to starter Nick Foles produced 12 points, Sanchez was worth a precautionary add.

After 21 more points as the starter in a win over the Carolina Panthers last Monday, Sanchez is now a must-own commodity. It is abundantly clear that the former USC star is a strong fit in coach Chip Kelly's scheme, as numbers provided by ESPN Stats & Info show:

Thanks to a number of talented weapons and a friendly scheme, Sanchez is almost worth a start each week. More quality production is necessary for him to earn must-start status, but it is hard to find a better available bench player at this point.

Honorable Mentions: Josh McCown, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Michael Vick, New York Jets

Running Back

Isaiah Crowell, Cleveland Browns (23.6 percent owned)

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A note from CBS Sports' Dane Brugler says it all when it comes to Cleveland Browns running back Isaiah Crowell:

Crowell is arguably the most talented back in Cleveland, but the team continues to justify its free-agent acquisition of Ben Tate by giving him touches and working in Terrance West just to keep things fresh.

Thanks to last Thursday's 12 carries for 41 yards and a score, good for 10 points, Crowell has now breached double digits four times this season. It was just the fourth time this season the coaching staff has decided to give him 11 or more carries.

That is the risk owners run with Crowell at this point. He can and will produce, but it is a matter of the staff wanting to use him. In that game last Thursday, West led the way in carries with 26, while Tate wound up behind Crowell at 10.

The good news is that Crowell is a RB2 in the coming weeks if he actually gets to play. Houston surrenders the 10th-most points to backs, and Atlanta surrenders the most. If the staff continues to ride its backfield to protect quarterback Brian Hoyer, Crowell should be productive for owners who take the dive.

Honorable Mentions: Carlos Hyde, San Francisco 49ers; Bryce Brown, Buffalo Bills; Theo Riddick, Detroit Lions

Wide Receiver

Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles (24.1 percent owned)

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It appears Sanchez has a clear No. 1 receiver. Apparently, his name is not Jeremy Maclin, either. 

No, the love over the course of the past two weeks has gone to Jordan Matthews, who scored 10 points in Week 9 and followed that up with seven catches for 138 yards and a pair of scores this past Monday, good for 25 points.

Per the man himself, Matthews feels more important with a new leader under center, as captured by Around The NFL:

Were this just a single-game outburst, there would be reason for pause. But Sanchez favored Matthews in the intermediate game during spot duty two weeks ago, too. In Monday's win, Matthews saw a game-high nine targets—two better than Maclin and three better than the next man on the list.

Matthews cannot be expected to score each week, but his opportunities with a new quarterback seem a lock to be bountiful. Given his skill after the catch, even the shortest of completions can morph into something bigger for owners who take the risk.

In a high-octane offense that births fantasy studs, Matthews seems to be the next big thing.

Honorable Mentions: John Brown, Arizona Cardinals; Jarvis Landry, Miami Dolphins; Preston Parker, New York Giants

Tight End

Mychal Rivera, Oakland Raiders (39.7 percent owned)

Over the course of the past few weeks, a fantasy stud has emerged in Oakland. 

Go figure, it comes at the most dangerous position of all.

Mychal Rivera is clearly a top target for rookie quarterback Derek Carr on each and every down, hence his ability to score eight, 15 and 12 points over the course of his last three games.

As Yahoo Sports' Scott Pianowski points out, owners should not shy away from Rivera due to a tough upcoming schedule:

It matters little how and when fantasy players produce—so long as they do. Rivera is a rookie quarterback's top target, especially when defenses are lax with the game in hand.

That is where brave owners stand to make a lot of headway at the position with Rivera.

Honorable Mentions: Austin Seferian-Jenkins, Tampa Bay Buccaneers; Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers

All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of 1 a.m. ET on Nov. 10. Statistics courtesy of ESPN.