Let's take a look at fantasy football's most popular waiver wire options heading into Week 11! We can use the Predictive Analytics tool in the FantasySP Fantasy Assistant to help identify the top candidates. This tool predicts the Expected Waiver Interest (EWI) for every player, plus predicts their new rostership level following this week's waiver moves. Here are its current predictions for this week:
I honestly don't have too much to say about Chandler. But with an absolutely massive 91% Expected Waiver Interest (EWI), I couldn't start this article off with anyone else. But that 91% EWI points to exactly why I don't have too much to say about Chandler: It's just obvious. With done for the season and likely to miss Week 11 in the concussion protocol, Chandler is going to step into the lead role for the Vikings. Following Mattison's early exit in Week 10, Chandler played 72% of the Vikings' snaps, although was also involved for a few carries. Including his involvement prior to Mattison's injury, Chandler totaled 45 yards and a touchdown on 15 carries. He didn't see a single target, but he ran 11 routes to Nwangwu's one, so we can expect him to see some passing-game work going forward.
All of this adds up to Chandler being an absolute must-add, and a solid starting option in Week 11 against a Broncos run defense that allows 136.2 yards per game to opposing RBs. If he takes advantage of this opportunity, it's not impossible that he will earn a larger share of the Minnesota backfield going forward ... but I don't think it's likely he ever overtakes Mattison. Given that Mattison himself is just the Half-PPR RB27 despite having played in all 10 weeks and at times absolutely dominated this backfield, there is a very slim path to long-term relevance for Chandler. He's still the top pickup this week given the state of the RB position and the volume he will likely receive at least in Week 11, but that's about it.
, Buffalo Bills
Coming off a nine-carry, 68-yard, one-TD performance against the aforementioned terrible Broncos' run defense, Murray is the second-ranked skill position player with a 23% EWI. Normally, I would say this is a mistake. After all, Murray scored more Half-PPR fantasy points this week (13.9) than in the previous SIX weeks combined (12.6). There is zero reason to think this was anything more than a one-week blip as a result of a good matchup and 's fumble on the very first play of the game.
However, it was announced this morning that the Bills have fired their offensive coordinator Ken Dorsey. While the logic behind this move is debatable, it adds uncertainty to what the Bills' offense will look like going forward. At this stage of the season, we want to chase that uncertainty on waivers. There's a chance Murray's role is unchanged. There's a chance interim OC Joe Brady prefers to lean on James Cook or even activate from the Bills' practice squad. But there's also a chance that the Bills choose to lean more on their running game, perhaps even lining up under center more often. If they do that, they might just turn to the bigger veteran Murray more often. It's a long shot, but that's the stage of the season we are in. Murray is worth adding to see how his rule shakes out in the potentially new-look Bills offense.
, Dallas Cowboys
Like Murray, Dowdle boasts a 22% EWI following his most productive outing of the season. Prior to Week 10, the fourth-year back had mostly served as a replacement for late in blowouts, never cracking more than seven carries in a game. And while most of his work, including his first touchdown of the season, did come after the Cowboys had already put the Giants to bed, he was involved as early as the first drive. However, I don't see a path to standalone value for Dowdle at this point. He has been much more efficient than Pollard (how the tables turn) and could earn more touches, but I don't see this becoming even a 1A/1B situation.
With all that said, I have nothing against adding Dowdle this week. In fact, I already roster him in roughly half my Redraft leagues. Why? It's simple: He is one of the clearest handcuffs on an above-average offense. If Pollard were to miss time, Dowdle would instantly become a must-start player. We can see how Chandler has generated an absurd 91% EWI, and that's on an arguably worse offense with Mattison set to miss only one week. If Pollard were to suffer a season-ending injury (knock on wood he doesn't), Dowdle would be immensely more valuable than Chandler is right now, so he is certainly worth adding.
However, this doesn't mean you necessarily have to enter the bidding war for Dowdle. There are plenty of other running backs who fit this bill just as well if not better and are likely available on your waiver wire:
- , San Francisco 49ers (20.3% Rostered): God forbid anything were to happen to , we've already seen Mitchell produce RB2 numbers on an arguably worse version of this 49ers offense.
- , Tennessee Titans (59.6% Rostered): The rookie is rostered in more leagues because he is already producing occasionally, but he would immediately shoot up the ranks if were to miss time.
- , Philadelphia Eagles (24.8% Rostered): has a long history of injuries, and Gainwell would arguably be a fantasy RB1 as the lead back on the Eagles' offense.
I've gone on a tangent from Rico Dowdle, so I'll stop the list there, but there are plenty of other handcuffs worth considering. At this stage of the season, I recommend filling your bench with as many of these guys as you can. They are much more likely to win you a league than any fifth wide receiver, backup QB/TE, or second defense/kicker (please don't hold a second defense or kicker).
