NFL Waiver Wire: The Brock Osweiler Show

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget. This column will run every Tuesday to, hopefully, accommodate the various waiver schedules. I'll update it in the comments section during the week; please keep in mind a lot can change from Tuesday to Sunday.

QUARTERBACK

Secondary Options

Mark Sanchez, PHI - Sam Bradford is expected to miss at least this week, and possibly more, bringing the Sanchize into play. Last season in eight starts, Sanchez had four 300-yard games and another with 292 passing yards, throwing two touchdown passes in five games. The matchups are favorable starting this week, as he gets Tampa Bay at home and then goes on the road to play the Lions. A week of practice with the first string will help his prospects. FAAB: $8-12

Brock Osweiler, DEN - Peyton Manning injured and largely ineffective, Osweiler was named the starter Monday for Week 11. Osweiler was a average in relief of Manning on Sunday, going 14-for-24 for 146 yards with a touchdown and an interception. The matchup in Chicago is above average, and a timetable for Manning's return is uncertain. The Denver defense is still elite, and if the Broncos win this week they may hold out Peyton for another game to heal, looking ahead to the postseason. FAAB: $8-12

RUNNING BACK

Secondary Targets

Jay Ajayi, MIA - Ajayi has looked very good since returning from IR and is one of the better backups to stash in case of an injury to Lamar Miller, who has been a fantasy beast since the firing of Joe Philbin. Ajayi has done a nice job of spelling Miller with 11 carries for 89 yards and would be in line for the majority of the touches should anything happen to Miller. FAAB: $4-8

Jamize Olawale, OAK - Olawale appears to have quietly secured the backup role to Latavius Murray in Oakland after getting eight touches in the loss to the Vikings on Sunday. The rest of the backfield -- Marcel Reece and Taiwan Jones -- combined for only one touch and appear to have fallen out of favor. Olawale is more of a bruising running back at 240 pounds who will break tackles and run over people rather than make them miss in the open field. Like Ajayi, he's an injury away from having a significant role, though the Raiders could use Reece and Jones, too. Still, he looks like the handcuff or stash if you're fishing for a running back to put on your bench. FAAB: $3-6

WIDE RECEIVER

Primary Targets

Danny Amendola, NE - In a vacuum, here's the top waiver wire option of the week in most standard leagues. The loss of Julian Edelman puts Amendola in a more prominent role in the offense, and his play Sunday on the final drive likely was the difference between New England winning and losing. He made a couple of critical catches on the final drive, including the one that set up the game-winning field goal. Amendola should slide right into the Edelman role and be PPR gold in what is still arguably the league's best offense. Amendola finished Sunday's game with 10 catches for 79 yards on a season-high 11 targets. He should continue to see that kind of volume and is worth using whatever you have left in FAAB or the No. 1 waiver pick. Don't forget about Aaron Dobson in deeper leagues. FAAB: $30-40

Secondary Targets

Chris Givens, BAL - Given the injuries to the Ravens' wide receivers, Givens has been promoted to starter opposite Kamar Aiken. He's considered the deep threat and has the speed to help stretch or get behind defenses. Given finished Sunday with four grabs for only 37 yards but was a touchdown. The Ravens defense has given up plenty of points all season, so Joe Flacco will be forced to air it out quite a bit and use the few options he has at his disposal. FAAB: $3-6

Jared Abbrederis, GB - The University of Wisconsin product would be a lot more attractive this week had he not suffered a rib injury during the Packers' loss at home Sunday. Davante Adams didn't put up an impressive fantasy line despite getting 21 targets, and Abbrederis looked good catching his four passes on seven targets for 57 yards. The severity of his injury is uncertain, but if healthy he makes for a sneaky play this week. James Jones is showing us why other teams weren't interested in him, and the Packers could be looking to shake things up with some new faces in their offense given their recent play. FAAB: $3-6

TIGHT END

Secondary Targets

Zach Miller, CHI - It's hard to ignore Miller after his performance Sunday, his second in a row in which he's found the end zone. The Bears receivers outside of Alshon Jeffery aren't even average at best, and, therefore, Jay Cutler seems to be looking Miller's direction more these days. On his long touchdown run Miller wisely changed direction while running toward the end zone to throw off the faster secondary of the Rams, a play few tight ends have the upside to make. Martellus Bennett is still the preferred player between the two, but there may be enough targets for both to make each relevant. FAAB: $3-6