Week 10 Waiver Wire Watchlist

by Theo Gremminger · Waiver Wire

In sports, there is nothing like a good upset, and the NFL is no different. A neutral NFL fan, or even someone who likes to gamble, may have just loved this past weekend. But for fantasy football players, this weekend was carnage. A lot of teams most likely towards the top of your league’s standings took L’s, and some took them in embarrassingly low-scoring fashion.

The Week 9 shakeup saw stunning upsets and demoralizing individual scoring outputs from many of fantasy’s brightest stars. 

The week started with a bang. The Colts steamrolled the Jets in a 45-30 Thursday night romp. Jonathan Taylor had 34 PPR points, Michael Pittman continued his ascension into WR1 land, and we even saw a WR1 overall weekly finish for talented rookie WR Elijah Moore. Everyone (besides from some disappointed Michael Carter teams) ate. But by halftime of Sunday’s 1 PM slate of games, the buffet was closed.  

If you started Josh Allen or Patrick Mahomes, you lost. Matthew Stafford laid a Sunday night egg. Joe Burrow had one of his worst performances all season. Popular streamer Tua Tagovailoa was announced as out-and then was declared the backup (huh?) – during pregame warmups. Derek Carr also had a dud of a game. And that was only the QBs.

I had one team in which Ja’Marr Chase and CeeDee Lamb saw 22 combined targets- but only 12.9 PPR points. If you managed to start Olamide Zaccheaus and Malik Turner (who?) then congratulations, you had two of the top five WR scorers in whack Week 9.  

The Bills had 0 TDs. The Packers, Chiefs, and Rams had one each. 

On the injury front, we had some positives. Christian McCaffrey came back healthy and played about half the snaps for Carolina. Expect this number to rise sharply. George Kittle and David Montgomery also came off the IR this week. Let’s hope this continues.  

This week, four more teams are on bye weeks (Chicago, Cincinnati, New York Giants, and Houston). Weeks 11 and 12 will have only two teams on byes each, followed by two more four-team bye weeks. Make sure and check your rosters and plan accordingly. You will save a lot of FAAB $ by being a week ahead. 

Quarterbacks 

Note: If available, Justin Fields should be your top priority add at the QB position and displayed enough upside against the Steelers on the road to warrant stashing through Chicago’s Week 10 bye. 

Taysom Hill (Saints)

We talked about Taysom Hill last week, but the breakout performance was put on delay as the Saints leaned on Trevor Siemian in a 27-25 loss to Atlanta. I fully expect Hill to take over at some point and for Sean Payton and the Saints to utilize his rushing abilities to the fullest. If he sees a heavy QB workload, he immediately becomes a top 12 option.  

Derek Carr (Raiders)

Derek Carr and The Raiders struggled last week on the road in New York, and Carr could be on many waiver wires. This week he faces off against Kansas City in a massive home game.

Last year, Carr threw for 275 and 347 yards in his two wins over KC. He looks to make it three in a row this weekend. He is one of my favorite streamers this week.  

Running Backs

Devin Singletary (Bills)

Zack Moss went down with a concussion and could miss this week’s game at the Jets. Devin Singletary would step into an every-down role this week and be usable. After last week’s loss in Jacksonville, the Bills will look to put it on their division rivals.

Mark Ingram (Saints)

Mark Ingram‘s New Orleans homecoming is going surprisingly well fantasy wise. The Saints are keeping the load off of Alvin Kamara with a healthy dose of Ingram. This past weekend, he saw nine carries and also added five receptions. He saw an increase in usage from last week’s win over the Bucs.

The Saints are devoid of offensive playmakers, and Ingram should see double digit touches every game moving forward.  

Sony Michel (Rams)

Darrell Henderson was limited with an ankle injury this past weekend, and Sony Michel out-touched him in the second half against Tennessee. He found the end zone on a reception, and should be rostered in all formats as one of the best handcuff backs in football.

If Henderson were to miss time, Michel would be a top 15-18 RB for the week.

Devonta Freeman (Ravens)

Devonta Freeman rushed 13 times for 79 yards and added a TD reception. Le’Veon Bell also saw some work, but Freeman looks like the back to roster for Baltimore moving forward. He can be used as an RB2 or Flex this week against the Dolphins.  

Jordan Howard (Eagles)

This week’s waiver wire watch list could be titled “old running backs who are fantasy relevant again.” Jordan Howard followed up a two TD game in Week 8 with another TD in Week 9. He led the Eagles RBs with 17 carries. We cannot rely on Nick Sirianni’s RB usage to stay consistent, but I will bet on him using the hot hand in Howard a lot this week in Denver.  

Eno Benjamin (Cardinals)

James Conner was one of the stars of Week 9, but Eno Benjamin should be an exciting add this week. Chase Edmonds went down with an ankle injury, and Benjamin stepped in behind Conner. With Edmonds set to miss, look for Benjamin to see the field for about a third of snaps.

Conner has dealt with injuries in the past, so expect the Cardinals not to overload him. Benjamin is a strong add, especially in deeper formats.

Brandon Bolden (Patriots)

Monitor head injuries to Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson. Both could miss and Brandon Bolden could see a large workload this week against Cleveland.  

Wide Receivers

Odell Beckham (TBD)

We should know Odell Beckham‘s destination of choice sometime Tuesday. Beckham should be motivated and he has the potential to help a team down the stretch. I have held onto OBJ and am looking forward to seeing where he lands.  

Elijah Moore (Jets)

We talked about Elijah Moore last week in this column as a player trending up. He did not disappoint with a massive game against Indianapolis catching seven passes for 84 yards and two TDs. If he is somehow available, be aggressive and go get him.

Moore could end the year with a strong finish and shoot up redraft boards heading into 2022. He is the most explosive player on The Jets and has big-time potential. 

Jamison Crowder (Jets)

Jamison Crowder has caught at least four passes in every game he has played this season, including 13 catches in his last two games combined.. He is a low ceiling floor play that can help you out in bye weeks and provide valuable depth.  

Rashod Bateman (Ravens)

I write about Rashod Bateman every week, but he is still available in some leagues. He saw a season-high eight targets this past weekend. A smash game is on the horizon and could be as early as this Thursday night against Miami.

Bateman is a future NFL star. If he is somehow available, make an aggressive FAAB bid. 

Tim Patrick (Broncos)

Tim Patrick caught four passes for 85 yards and a TD in Denver’s big win in Dallas. He provides WR depth and can be used as a flex in a pinch.  

DeSean Jackson (Raiders)

DeSean Jackson should step right into the Henry Ruggs role after signing with Las Vegas. He is worth monitoring as a cheap waiver wire add this week and could see a more significant role for the Raiders than some anticipate.  

Donovan Peoples-Jones (Browns)

Donovan Peoples-Jones found the end zone on a 60-yard bomb, finishing with two catches for 86 yards. He should see a weekly role as the deep threat in Cleveland’s low-volume passing attack. A healthy Nick Chubb opens up the defense on play-action, and DPJ should be the team’s biggest beneficiary. Consider him a WR4 with upside.  

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Tight Ends

Tyler Conklin (Vikings)

Tyler Conklin has had back-to-back five-catch games. This past weekend he tied for the Vikings lead in targets with seven. If you need a TE, he has become a reliable streamer with a consistent role in the Minnesota offense.  

Logan Thomas (Football Team)

Washington is coming off their bye, and Logan Thomas should be back from a hamstring injury. Thomas finished as a top-five TE last season, and if he was cut in any of your leagues, make him a priority this week in waivers. He should step back into an every-down role and be a big part of Washington’s offense.  

Pat Freiermuth (Steelers) 

It seems like I am contractually obligated to write about Pat Freiermuth every week, but he remains available in many leagues.

Freiermuth caught two TDs on Monday Night Football and is an ascending player. 

Dan Arnold (Jaguars)

If Dan Arnold is somehow still available in your league, go and grab him. Arnold has 15 targets the past two games and is a big part of the Jacksonville offense. He is a TE1 moving forward.