Waiver-wire news changes throughout the week as injuries and depth-chart shenanigans overtake us. So be sure to follow me on Twitter by clicking on the link next to my headshot at the bottom of the column, and I'll keep you updated as news warrants.
Let's get to the best fantasy roster additions heading into Week 11:
Standard ESPN league finds
I've been writing this column a long time, and I can't remember many more barren weeks than this one. I hesitate to recommend any "new" player who's owned in fewer than 50 percent of ESPN leagues as a "must-add." Are there plenty of guys you could think about adding speculatively? Sure. But none will be in the must-start category when my ranks come out Wednesday. So instead let's give you a streaming defense and move on:
Washington defense (owned in 16.6 percent of ESPN leagues): It's not fair! The Jacksonville Jaguars are off this week! I have to find someone else to pick on! All right, I'll pick on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. They're not completely inept on offense, but they feature an O-line that can relinquish sacks by the bushel in any given week. Certainly I don't trust Washington to make big stops in key situations or create many turnovers, but they get after the quarterback pretty well. They'd be my preferred streaming option this week.
Other solid waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Mark Sanchez, QB, Eagles (37.0 percent); Tre Mason, RB, Rams (45.7 percent); Jonas Gray, RB, Patriots (9.8 percent); Knile Davis, RB, Chiefs (40.2 percent); Andrew Hawkins, WR, Browns (49.3 percent); Owen Daniels, TE, Ravens (44.1 percent); Charles Clay, TE, Dolphins (26.8 percent); Jordan Reed, TE, Washington (40.6 percent).
Speculative standard-league finds
C.J. Anderson, RB, Denver Broncos (2.8 percent): Anderson produced 163 scrimmage yards in Week 10. Unfortunately, that's not enough to make him a must-start, because the Broncos' backfield situation is wacky. Montee Ball is expected to return for Sunday's tilt against the St. Louis Rams, Juwan Thompson (4.9 percent) could still be in the mix, and we have conflicting stories about how badly Ronnie Hillman injured his foot Sunday. You can absolutely feel free to speculate on Anderson: He's a squat, powerful guy who may not be a great athlete but showed against the Oakland Raiders that he can take advantage when completely uncovered, plus submitted a crazy weaving touchdown through the entire (inept) Oakland defense. But he's got a major skills overlap with Ball and Thompson. Are any of these guys particularly quick, a la Hillman? Nope. So we're left with a guessing game. You think it's frustrating having to bid for these guys? Imagine having to try to rank them.
Damien Williams, RB, Miami Dolphins (0.4 percent): Lamar Miller didn't look healthy in Week 10 and was limited to five carries on 11 snaps. Now he has to turn around in four days and play Thursday night against a wicked Buffalo Bills run defense? The fact that the Dolphins activated LaMichael James (0.1 percent) from their practice squad could be interpreted as evidence that Miller won't play, but if I were going to take a blind shot on someone else in this backfield it would be Williams. Certainly Daniel Thomas (1.3 percent) is the veteran here, but he fumbled in Week 10 and looked as lethargic as he usually does, while the rookie Williams had some nice moments. Of course, you'd rather use none of these players in Week 11.
Robert Griffin III, Washington (32.1 percent): I'm surprised RG III's ownership numbers are so low. (And yes, that's an accurate number: Our calculations now include only leagues that have been active in the past seven days.) Of course, he did miss six games with an ankle injury, and he didn't light it up in Week 9, but he's got that pedigree and that history. Put it this way: If I just lost Carson Palmer and Mark Sanchez wasn't available, I'd be looking at Griffin. No, he probably isn't as fast as he was two years ago, but he can still move some, and he's got weapons. At least he's got some upside.
Drew Stanton, Arizona Cardinals (0.1 percent): Stanton will be Palmer's replacement. He gets a rough matchup in Week 11, as the Detroit Lions come to town. Stanton isn't afraid to take shots: 21 of his 93 attempts so far this year have traveled 20-plus yards in the air; for frame of reference, Tony Romo has 33 such shots on 269 attempts. Unfortunately, on tape you quickly see that Stanton has accuracy issues, and those are reflected in his 2014 completion rate: 49.5 percent. He'll have to get better for the Cardinals to keep contending, but it's just really tough to become a more precise thrower midstream. He'll have good moments, but in general I don't expect this to go well for Stanton.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Minnesota Vikings (9.5 percent): Remember when the talking point everyone knew about Rudolph was that Norv Turner was going to make him a star? Yeah, I never bought that. But if you did, here's your chance to buy low. Rudolph is reportedly on the verge of returning from sports hernia surgery, though he's not a lock to play in Week 11. I don't mind him as a speculative add, mostly because the tight end position continues to be maddening (as it is every year). Rudolph could catch fire at some point. My guess, though, is that he'll join the vast TE middle class just in time to make your life miserable.
Mychal Rivera, TE, Oakland Raiders (39.7 percent): Speaking of the TE middle class ... I know Rivera's game log looks swell: three straight games with at least six catches and three total TDs. He's not just a lumbering checkdown artist, either, but a couple of the passes Derek Carr steered Rivera's way Sunday were intercepted, and his TD came with less than a minute remaining and the Raiders losing 41-10. You'll pardon me if I'm skeptical that consistent fantasy glory is in the offing. But again, I have no problem if you just want to change things up.
Bernard Pierce, RB, Baltimore Ravens (16.0 percent): How fun! Without telling anyone, the Ravens decided to punish Lorenzo Taliaferro for fumbling in Week 9. That meant Pierce was second in line for carries Sunday, behind Justin Forsett, and he received eight totes compared to three for Taliaferro, who to my eyes didn't see the field until Pierce nearly fumbled himself. So maybe now Pierce gets to spend a week in the doghouse. There's potential for a short-TD maker in this Ravens offense, but neither Pierce nor Taliaferro seems to be able to hold down the job for long.
Other speculative standard-league waiver adds, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins (45.4 percent); Isaiah Crowell, RB, Browns (23.7 percent); Bryce Brown, RB, Bills (6.3 percent); Charles Sims, RB, Buccaneers (26.5 percent); Anthony Dixon, RB, Bills (29.9 percent); Theo Riddick, RB, Lions (3.1 percent); Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers (21.0 percent); DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers (36.4 percent); Alfred Blue, RB, Texans (10.1 percent); Benny Cunningham, RB, Rams (9.5 percent); Jordan Matthews, WR, Eagles (24.0 percent); Allen Robinson, WR, Jaguars (45.7 percent); Davante Adams, WR, Packers (9.1 percent); Andre Holmes, WR, Raiders (22.5 percent); Markus Wheaton, WR, Steelers (17.1 percent); Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings (40.2 percent); Cecil Shorts, WR, Jaguars (28.2 percent); Kenny Britt, WR, Rams (10.3 percent); Jarvis Landry, WR, Dolphins (7.7 percent); Donte Moncrief, WR, Colts (3.5 percent).
Deeper-league finds
Carlos Hyde, RB, San Francisco 49ers (20.4 percent): Hyde had only one carry in regulation Sunday, a 9-yard TD that displayed everything observers are excited about. Then in overtime, as it became clear that Frank Gore was wearing down, Hyde moved the sticks with three rumbling, slashing runs. He's a future star. If you're a Gore owner, it makes a lot of sense to handcuff Hyde, and if you're in a really deep league, I don't mind stashing Hyde even if you don't own Gore.
Christine Michael, RB, Seattle Seahawks (2.5 percent): It appeared to me that for a quarter-and-a-half Sunday, the Seahawks were attempting to limit Marshawn Lynch's workload, which is a good idea for a guy who's got so much tread taken off his tires. Of Seattle's first eight carries, Lynch had four, Robert Turbin (2.6 percent) had three, and Michael had one. And then the New York Giants got a lead, Turbin lost a fumble, and Beast Mode went Beast Mode. But lost in the shuffle is the fact that Michael is running well. I'm not convinced Lynch really has a true handcuff; Turbin and Michael would probably split looks if Beast Mode powered down. But deep-leaguers are allowed to speculate that Turbin's fumble helps eke Michael ahead. Next season figures to be very interesting in this backfield.
Other solid waiver adds for deep-leaguers, about whom I've written in previous weeks: Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings (7.0 percent); Austin Davis, QB, Rams (9.1 percent); Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings (34.2 percent); Joseph Randle, RB, Cowboys (4.4 percent); Lance Dunbar, RB, Cowboys (2.1 percent); Antone Smith, RB Falcons (16.2 percent); Chris Polk, RB, Eagles (4.2 percent); Jonathan Grimes, RB, Texans (0.3 percent); Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers (34.2 percent); John Brown, WR, Cardinals (7.7 percent); Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars (17.7 percent); Jermaine Kearse, WR, Seahawks (6.8 percent); Austin Seferian-Jenkins, TE, Buccaneers (1.2 percent); Tim Wright, TE, Patriots (4.8 percent).