Waiver Wire Week 11: Reviewing Top Pickups and Drops Likely Available

As we head toward Week 11, many fantasy football managers will be eyeing a spot in the playoffs. Many more will be looking to the waiver wire for support in their postseason pursuits too, as injuries, the reserve/COVID-19 list and bye weeks continue to make an impact.

The latest big-time injury involves New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who has five fractured ribs and a collapsed lung, according to ESPN's Ed Werder.

The 41-year-old is likely to be out multiple weeks, while the Buffalo Bills, Chicago Bears, New York Giants and San Francisco 49ers will all be on bye in Week 11.

Here, we'll examine some of the top fill-ins to target on the waiver wire, along with a few players who can safely be dropped to make room for them. All choices are based on points-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Week 11 Adds and Drops

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Add

Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Miami Dolphins

Jameis Winston, QB, New Orleans Saints

Andy Dalton, QB, Dallas Cowboys

Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Salvon Ahmed, RB, Miami Dolphins

Rex Burkhead, RB, New England Patriots

Michael Pittman Jr., WR, Indianapolis Colts

Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Football Team

Dalton Schultz, TE, Dallas Cowboys

Drop

Baker Mayfield, QB, Cleveland Browns

Nick Mullens, QB, San Francisco 49ers

J.K. Dobbins, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Justin Jackson, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

Devin Singletary, RB, Buffalo Bills

Phillip Lindsay, RB, Denver Broncos

Jarvis Landry, WR, Cleveland Browns

A.J. Green, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

Austin Hooper, TE, Cleveland Browns

Add: Nyheim Hines, RB, Indianapolis Colts

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All season long, the Indianapolis Colts have ridden the hot hand at running back. In Week 11, the hot hand will belong to receiving back Nyheim Hines.

"I said, 'Leave him in. We'll give him a break when he needs a break, but let's ride it,'" head coach Frank Reich told reporters.

Against the Tennessee Titans, Hines racked up 115 scrimmage yards to go with two touchdowns. He caught five passes and has now caught multiple passes in every game this season save for one. He's also found the end zone in two of the last three weeks.

While there's no guarantee that the Colts won't find Jonathan Taylor or Jordan Wilkins to be the hot hand against the Green Bay Packers in Week 11, Hines has enough PPR upside to be a relatively safe play. He should also be available, as he's rostered in just 41 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Drop: Joshua Kelley, RB, Los Angeles Chargers

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Even with Austin Ekeler still out and Justin Jackson on injured reserve, Los Angeles Chargers rookie Joshua Kelley failed to make an impact in Week 10. He logged just 21 rushing yards, while Kalen Ballage took over the backfield against the Miami Dolphins.

Ballage rushed for 68 yards and caught five passes for 34 yards, and it's looking like he will be L.A.'s lead back for the immediate future. He rushed for 69 yards and a touchdown in Week 9 while adding 15 yards on two receptions.

While Kelley may have some value this week against a bad New York Jets defense, Ballage should again make him largely fantasy irrelevant. And this may be the last week when Kelley has any real value at all.

Ekeler is getting close to returning, and he hinted at this early last week on social media.

The Athletic's Daniel Popper believes Ekeler will make his return in Week 12. Once he comes back, Kelley should become a prime cut candidate.

It's safe to dump the 22-year-old ahead of Ekeler's return to grab a better back such as Hines or New England Patriots utility man Rex Burkhead.

Jalen Reagor, WR, Philadelphia Eagles

Adam Hunger/Associated Press

It certainly feels like Philadelphia Eagles rookie Jalen Reagor is close to having the sort of breakout game fellow first-year wideouts like Michael Pittman Jr. and Justin Jefferson have already had. He caught his first touchdown pass in Week 9 and then caught four passes for 47 yards on Sunday.

What's noteworthy is that the 21-year-old has been targeted at least six times in each of the past two weeks. Philadelphia is clearly eager to get him going.

Reagor's breakout game could come this week against the Cleveland Browns. While Cleveland kept Houston Texans quarterback Deshaun Watson mostly in check on Sunday, it was heavily aided by windy and wet conditions. For the year, the team ranks just 21st in pass defense and 20th in points allowed. 

The Eagles will need quarterback Carson Wentz to right the ship, of course, but the Browns could provide the opportunity to do that. Reagor is rostered in 26 percent of Yahoo leagues and 24 percent of ESPN leagues.

Yahoo and ESPN roster percentages from FantasyPros. Advanced statistics from Pro Football Reference.