At numerous factors in the course of the fantasy soccer season, accidents, bye weeks and breaking information could cause you to wish reinforcements on your fantasy lineup. Each Friday all through the 2025 NFL season, Matt Bowen will provide some late-week pickup choices to assist fill these holes, with an emphasis on deeper leagues.
Due to that, this column will focus totally on gamers rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues, with occasional exceptions.
Let’s get into Week 11 on the quarterback place, beginning with a quantity thrower who has put up massive numbers over the previous month, plus two signal-callers who present speeding upside. There are a few pass-catching working backs in right here as nicely, and a good finish seeing regular quantity. As at all times, we’ll finish with a protection, and this unit will get a stable matchup Monday night time.
Quarterbacks
Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (39.3% rostered; at Steelers)
I might persist with Flacco as a deeper-league play in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Within the Week 7 assembly with the Steelers, Flacco scored 25.98 factors, throwing for 342 yards and three touchdowns. In that sport, Mike Tomlin’s crew did not have a solution (or a matchup) for Ja’Marr Chase (16 receptions, 161 yards, one landing). Flacco has not less than 24 factors in every of his previous three begins, and he has averaged greater than 43 go makes an attempt per sport with the Bengals. He can ship when his crew is chasing factors late in video games.
Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders (14.7% rostered; at Dolphins)
Mariota had 18.72 factors within the Week 10 loss to the Detroit Lions, throwing for 2 scores and including 22 yards speeding on 5 carries. We all know Commanders offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury can arrange Mariota on designed carries, plus the decision sheet will characteristic extra unfold components to create manufacturing within the go sport. Let’s take the matchup in opposition to a Miami protection that ranks within the backside 10 versus opposing quarterbacks (19.5 PPG).
J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (48.5% rostered; vs. Bears)
McCarthy’s lack of throwing effectivity over his previous two begins (50.7% completion price, three interceptions) does create some pause right here. However the speeding totals give McCarthy a lift, and he will get a constructive matchup versus the Chicago Bears. McCarthy, who scored 22.22 factors within the Week 1 win over Chicago, has not less than 5 carries in every of his previous two video games, with a landing run in a single. Moreover, this Bears protection had some points defending the designed QB run ideas versus Jaxson Dart in Week 10. Plus, McCarthy may even have perimeter matchups to take advantage of with Justin Jefferson in opposition to Chicago’s secondary.
Vast receivers
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals (8.7% rostered; vs. 49ers)
With Marvin Harrison Jr. down (appendectomy), Wilson jumps into the No. 1 vast receiver position for the Cardinals. Wilson has sufficient velocity to get excessive, but it surely’s the route traits that enable him to work the intermediate ranges. He has averaged 6.1 targets per sport this season, and that quantity ought to elevate with Harrison out.
Tez Johnson, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (35.4% rostered; at Payments)
With Chris Godwin Jr. nonetheless out (fibula), Johnson is a viable choice with scoring upside. He had a career-best 20.2 factors within the Week 10 loss to the New England Patriots, catching 4 of 5 targets for 42 yards and two touchdowns. Johnson has not less than one landing in three of his previous 4 video games. He is a deep-ball glider who can even get unfastened after the catch. Let’s get him within the lineup versus Buffalo.
Christian Watson, Inexperienced Bay Packers (26.7% rostered; at Giants)
A vertical stretch choice for quarterback Jordan Love, Watson is averaging 23.5 yards per catch over his previous three video games, with 4 targets in every. There’s decrease quantity right here, so you might be taking part in the upside of the deep-ball throws. Watson is a boom-or-bust flier in Week 11 in opposition to a New York Giants protection that has given up the seventh-most factors to vast receivers this season.
Working backs
Devin Singletary, New York Giants (33.0% rostered; vs. Packers)
Tyrone Tracy Jr. paced the Giants’ backfield (14 carries, 71 yards) within the Week 10 loss to the Bears, however Singletary did produce 73 complete yards on 11 touches. Singletary did most of his work as a receiver, catching three passes for 53 yards. Sure, there may be some uncertainty with the Giants this week, as interim head coach Mike Kafka takes over and Jameis Winston will get the beginning at quarterback for an injured Dart (concussion). Nevertheless, Singletary’s pass-game utilization is intriguing sufficient to get him into deeper-league lineups.
Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans (37.3% rostered; vs. Texans)
I do not love this matchup versus the Houston Texans protection, however I will take the anticipated quantity for Spears, plus the receiving numbers, in a backfield cut up with Tony Pollard. Spears has not less than three receptions in every of his previous 4 video games, with seven or extra carries in his previous two. You may work with that, as a result of the working again choices are fairly slim in Week 11.
Tight finish
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (47.2% rostered; at Titans)
Schultz is on the harm report for his shoulder and has not practiced this week, so let’s regulate issues right here. If he is good to go for the Week 11 sport in opposition to the Titans, nevertheless, Schultz has fringe TE1 upside. Schultz scored 18.3 factors within the Week 10 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars with Davis Mills at quarterback, and he has had not less than 13 factors and 6 receptions in three of his previous 4 video games. There’s an excessive amount of quantity and manufacturing to go up right here.
D/ST
Dallas Cowboys (28.5% rostered; at Raiders)
The Cowboys’ protection has scored 13 or extra factors, with 4 or extra sacks, in two of the previous three video games. So, let’s take the matchup in Week 11 versus a Las Vegas Raiders offense that turns the ball over, whereas averaging solely 15.4 PPG (twenty ninth within the league). Bear in mind, quarterback Geno Smith has thrown not less than one interception in seven of 9 video games. There’s alternative right here for the Cowboys to money in on takeaways, too.