Admin November 10, 2024
Brian Burns: Growing as a player post-trade from Carolina to NY Giants
Brian Burns spent his first five NFL seasons with the Carolina Panthers before he was traded to the NY Giants in March.
Week 10 might have been one of the weirdest weeks of NFL football we’ve seen all season. The Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings, and San Francisco 49ers all tried their hardest to lose their respective games, yet all three managed to escape with undeserved victories. Meanwhile, teams like the Atlanta Falcons and Washington Commanders, each of whom played solidly, both lost.
In addition to odd results, there were also numerous performances that could’ve helped your fantasy teams. Those results may have been unexpected this week, but they won’t be unexpected moving forward. There are no more excuses. If you leave these players off your rosters in Week 11, your inevitable defeat will be on you.
Here are eight players to add to your rosters ahead of Week 11.
Players to add for Week 11:
*All roster numbers are provided via Yahoo
- TE Mike Gesicki, CIN (Rostered in 45% of leagues)
Gesicki did not have a good game against Baltimore. Four receptions, 30 yards, zero touchdowns. Gross. Furthermore, Gesicki was outshined by fellow tight end Tanner Hudson, who corralled six catches for 42 yards and a score.
However, Gesicki was still used a lot in the team’s loss to Baltimore. He tallied nine targets on the day, third-most on the team, behind Chase Brown and Ja’Marr Chase. Four receptions is very few for how often Gesicki was looked at. So long as Tee Higgins remains out, Gesicki should bounce-back and offer a very safe floor at the tight end position.
- RB Audric Estime, DEN (Rostered in 3% of leagues)
It has been impossible to diagnose the Broncos’ backfield this year. It was Williams, then it was McLaughlin, then it was back to Williams. Now, following Week 10, it appears Audric Estime may get the bulk of the work moving forward.
Estime totaled 14 carries against Kansas City. McLaughlin and Williams had three combined. Not only did Estime get used a lot, but he was surprisingly efficient, even against a stout Kansas City run defense. Estime is not someone you should start with confidence next week, given how often Sean Payton flips and flops with his running backs, but he’s definitely worth eyeing moving forward.
- RB Jaylen Warren, PIT (Rostered in 51% of leagues)
While most of Warren’s work against Washington came after Najee Harris was injured, Warren was efficient when he was given the opportunities.
Warren has long been a more efficient back than Harris, and while Harris won’t lose his starting role, Warren does have the explosiveness and pass-catching prowess to pop off any given week. Furthermore, if Harris’ injury develops into missed time moving forward, Warren immediately jumps into RB1 territory.
- WR Ricky Pearsall, SF (Rostered in 37% of leagues)
Much of Pearsall’s value came on a 46-yard touchdown pass. That’s true, but regardless, Pearsall has now put together two straight weeks with double-digit PPR points. He earned six targets, which was as many as Deebo Samuel. He also recorded two of his four receptions on the 49ers’ final drive when they needed points to seal the game, meaning Purdy and the 49ers trust him to make plays in clutch moments.
Pearsall was drafted in the first round for a reason. He’s a monster against man coverage, and he should only get better as the season continues. That said, the 49ers have a very tough stretch of games coming up, and Pearsall could end up drawing several tough CB matchups.
- WR Adonai Mitchell, IND (Rostered in
When Joe Flacco was named the Colts’ starting quarterback two weeks ago, everyone talked about Josh Downs. With Flacco at quarterback, Downs was immediately vaulted to the top of everyone’s trade targets and waiver claims. However, everyone missed how big this was for Adonai Mitchell as well.
Mitchell did not receive much attention against Minnesota, with only one target and one catch, but his connection with Joe Flacco re-emerged against Buffalo this week as Mitchell went for six catches and 71 yards. Mitchell has now had at least six targets in two of the four games that Flacco has started for Indianapolis.
- QB Bo Nix, DEN (Rostered in 33% of leagues)
How is a top-ten fantasy quarterback only rostered in a third of leagues? It doesn’t make sense. Even against one of the NFL’s top defenses, Nix still put up 16 fantasy points. He’s had 14 or more in six straight games. He’s had 20 or more in three of those games. He’s providing a very safe floor and immense upside considering his rushing ability.
- WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling (Rostered in 1% of leauges)
Should we expect two touchdowns from MVS every week? No. Not at all, but with Chris Olave and Rashid Shaheed out for New Orleans, the Saints need to pass the ball to somebody. MVS has always been a deep threat, and Derek Carr has always loved to air it out. We’ve seen too many big Shaheed games to pass up on the top deep threat in the Saints’ offense.
- WR Jalen Coker (Rostered in
While the Carolina Panthers are undoubtedly an atrocious team, they are so bad that they have to throw the ball a lot. With Diontae Johnson now in Baltimore and Adam Thielen still sidelined, there has to be a receiver who will emerge as Bryce Young’s top target. Coker appears to be that man. He tallied eight targets in the team’s win against the Giants, and while that only amounted to three receptions, Coker is being looked at at least. In fact, he’s being looked at more than anyone else in Carolina. No other wide receiver tallied more than four targets on the day.