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Every Monday during the season, theScore’s Justin Boone runs down the recommended waiver wire pickups.
Rostered percentages are based on Yahoo leagues. Free Agent Budget (FAB) amounts are set off a $100 salary cap. Only players rostered in less than 60% of leagues are considered.
Quarterbacks
Chris Graythen / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Taysom Hill, Saints
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
at DEN
43%
$9
We were excited about Jameis Winston‘s fantasy potential in New Orleans’ offense, but Sean Payton named Hill the starter. Hill went on to finish as a top-12 fantasy quarterback Sunday, rewarding his coach’s faith and giving fantasy managers a new weekly starter at QB.
Hill passed for 233 yards while adding 51 yards and two scores on the ground against a Falcons defense that’s given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks.
Tougher matchups are on the way, but Hill’s rushing ability will keep him in the QB1 conversation for as long as he’s starting. Based on the latest reports on Drew Brees‘ health, this could be Hill’s job for several weeks.
Derek Carr, Raiders
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
at ATL
36%
$1
As we just mentioned, the Falcons are the easiest matchup for fantasy quarterbacks. This week’s beneficiary is Carr.
The Raiders passer is coming off a strong showing against the Chiefs, throwing for 275 yards and recording his seventh multi-touchdown game this season.
Carr should have no problem racking up stats in what’s projected to be the highest-scoring game of Week 12.
Streamer options: Daniel Jones at CIN (28% rostered), Andy Dalton vs. WAS (9% rostered), Baker Mayfield at JAX (31% rostered), Kirk Cousins vs. CAR (42% rostered), Philip Rivers vs. TEN (26% rostered), Alex Smith at DAL (10% rostered)
Injured streamer options (if healthy): Teddy Bridgewater at MIN (39% rostered), Gardner Minshew vs. CLE (13% rostered)
Running backs
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Gus Edwards, Ravens
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
at PIT
28%
$14
J.K. Dobbins and Mark Ingram were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Monday, making it impossible for them to get cleared for Thursday night’s matchup with the Steelers.
That leaves Edwards as the last man standing in what was once a three-man committee. Dobbins took a commanding lead in playing time (41 snaps) and production (85 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown) in Week 11, but he’ll now be forced to sit out while Edwards handles the bulk of the work.
Edwards has shown he can perform, whether down the stretch in 2018 or even more recently when he carried the ball 16 times for 87 yards and a score against this same Steelers defense back in Week 8.
Pittsburgh’s ability to stop the run has been greatly diminished by the loss of linebacker Devin Bush, so treat Edwards as an RB2 in what’s likely to be a one-week stint as the frontman in the Ravens’ backfield.
James White, Patriots
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
vs. ARI
40%
$9
White had seemingly been passed on the depth chart by Rex Burkhead after seeing under 30% of the snaps in three of his last four outings heading into Week 11.
However, with Burkhead suffering a torn ACL on Sunday, White was thrust back into a significant role. He led the backfield in snaps while totaling a season-high 83 yards from scrimmage and six catches.
Damien Harris remains the Patriots’ lead back, but White has returned to fantasy relevance as an RB3/flex option moving forward.
J.K. Dobbins, Zack Moss, Salvon Ahmed, Jamaal Williams, Latavius Murray, Wayne Gallman, and Phillip Lindsay are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.
High-upside backups Alexander Mattison (33% rostered), Boston Scott (29% rostered), Carlos Hyde (46% rostered), and Brian Hill (7% rostered) should be rostered in most leagues.
Flex options: Frank Gore vs. MIA (10% rostered), Adrian Peterson vs. HOU (54% rostered), Kerryon Johnson vs. HOU (16% rostered), Tony Pollard vs. WAS (19% rostered)
Risky flex options: Cam Akers vs. SF (31% rostered), Malcolm Brown vs. SF (28% rostered), Justice Hill at PIT (0% rostered), Jordan Wilkins vs. TEN (10% rostered), Devontae Booker at ATL (10% rostered), Ty Johnson vs. MIA (0% rostered)
Other backups to roster: Sony Michel vs. ARI (25% rostered), Benny Snell Jr. vs. BAL (5% rostered), Joshua Kelley at BUF (28% rostered), D’Onta Foreman at IND (0% rostered), Jeremy McNichols at IND (1% rostered), Samaje Perine vs. NYG (1% rostered), Devine Ozigbo vs. CLE (1% rostered)
Injury stashes: Tevin Coleman at LAR (18% rostered), Rashaad Penny at PHI (4% rostered)
Deeper stashes: Anthony McFarland Jr. vs. BAL (1% rostered), Darrel Williams at TB (2% rostered), Jordan Howard vs. SEA (17% rostered), Royce Freeman vs. NO (1% rostered)
Wide receivers
Andy Lyons / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Michael Pittman Jr., Colts
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
vs. TEN
44%
$19
Get ready to see some familiar names in the receiver section because it’s filled with players we recommended last week.
Pittman has clearly asserted himself as the Colts’ top receiving option. In addition to posting stat lines of 4-56-0, 7-101-0, and 3-66-1 over his last three games, the rookie led the receiving corps in snaps by a wide margin this past week.
If he’s still available in your league, Pittman is a WR3 with WR2 upside for the rest of the season.
Tim Patrick, Broncos
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
vs. NO
21%
$14
Patrick is about to set a record for most consecutive appearances in my waiver wire column, yet he somehow still remains available in 79% of leagues.
Let’s once again remind everyone about Patrick’s weekly production since Courtland Sutton went down. Here are Patrick’s stat lines over the last seven games:
4-43-1
6-113-1
4-101-0
3-44-0
4-29-1
4-61-0
5-119-0
Patrick is now a top-30 receiver in fantasy points per game since Week 3, and he’s just patiently waiting for you to realize his value. Unless you’re stacked at wideout, go and give this guy a home on your roster as a WR3/flex.
Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers, Sterling Shepard, Corey Davis, Curtis Samuel,and Cole Beasley are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.
Flex options: Allen Lazard vs CHI (42% rostered), Jalen Reagor vs. SEA (28% rostered), Breshad Perriman vs. MIA (11% rostered), Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. CHI (31% rostered), Denzel Mims vs. MIA (5% rostered), Emmanuel Sanders at DEN (49% rostered), Nelson Agholor at ATL (20% rostered)
Risky flex options: Sammy Watkins at TB (41% rostered), Keelan Cole vs. CLE (28% rostered), K.J. Hamler vs. NO (6% rostered), Josh Reynolds vs. SF (12% rostered), Damiere Byrd vs. ARI (2% rostered), Darnell Mooney at GB (8% rostered), Keke Coutee at DET (0% rostered), Rashard Higgins at JAX (12% rostered), Henry Ruggs, at ATL (31% rostered), Russell Gage vs. LV (7% rostered)
Dart-throw flex options: Marvin Hall vs. HOU (2% rostered), Khadarel Hodge at JAX (0% rostered), Gabriel Davis vs. LAC (1% rostered), Hunter Renfrow at ATL (19% rostered), Anthony Miller at GB (18% rostered), Michael Gallup vs. WAS (44% rostered), Zach Pascal vs. TEN (7% rostered), Jakeem Grant at NYJ (9% rostered), Steven Sims Jr. at DAL (2% rostered), Demarcus Robinson at TB (2% rostered), N’Keal Harry vs. ARI (8% rostered), Tre’Quan Smith at DEN (12% rostered), David Moore at PHI (5% rostered), Willie Snead at PIT (4% rostered), Chris Conley vs. CLE (1% rostered)
Injury stashes: Laviska Shenault vs. CLE (17% rostered), Julian Edelman vs. ARI (28% rostered)
Deep bench stashes: Auden Tate vs. NYG (1% rostered), Cam Sims at DAL (1% rostered), Jalen Guyton at BUF (1% rostered), Dez Bryant at PIT (9% rostered)
Tight ends
Stacy Revere / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Robert Tonyan, Packers
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
vs. CHI
46%
$2
Tonyan is coming off a five-catch, 44-yard, one-touchdown performance against the Colts.
Though his target share is likely to be more volatile now that the Packers’ receiving corps is back to full health, he has a favorable matchup with the Bears.
Chicago’s defense has been strong this year, but it’s giving up the ninth-most fantasy points to tight ends, making Tonyan a solid streamer in Week 12.
Dalton Schultz, Cowboys
Next Up
Rostered
FAB
vs. WAS
21%
$1
Schultz‘s numbers dipped to unplayable fantasy levels after Dak Prescott was lost for the season. Fortunately, he’s had a resurgence in the last few weeks with stat lines of 6-53-0, 4-48-0, and 4-25-1.
Washington is the eighth-best matchup for fantasy tight ends, so Schultz can be played with confidence as a streamer this week.
Austin Hooper, Logan Thomas, and Mike Gesicki are around the 60% rostered mark and should be rostered in almost all leagues.
Streamer options: Jordan Reed at LAR (15% rostered), Jordan Kins at DET (2% rostered), Jimmy Graham at GB (38% rostered), Irv Smith Jr. vs. CAR (8% rostered), Trey Burton at TEN (17% rostered)
Risky streamer options: Jacob Hollister at PHI (0% rostered), Will Dissly at PHI (1% rostered), Chris Herndon vs. MIA (13% rostered), Tyler Eifert vs. CLE (5% rostered)
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
