Trying to get value out of the waiver wire week 10 is going to feel a lot like trying to build a house out of burnt timber. Week 9 laid waste to any idea of what the hell is going on in the NFL and left anyone trying to make sense of it feeling like this.
I mean, the Bills lost to the Jaguars 9-6. The Chiefs managed only 13 points against the Rodgers-less Packers. The Bengals got annihilated by the Browns. The Titans (!) without Derrick Henry completely shut down the Rams offense AND won the game 28-16. The Broncos absolutely manhandled the Cowboys. Tim Patrick had more fantasy points and receiving yards than CeeDee Lamb and Amari Cooper combined. This was the WTF week of all WTF weeks.
If you started Allen, Burrow, Stafford, Prescott, or Mahomes you likely got annihilated this week. Same with Chase, Adams, Lamb, Cooper, Hill, Samuel, Pitts, Andrews, etc etc.
So in addition to eyeing the waiver wire, you should be looking at taking advantage of owner frustration and trading for the players who severely underwhelmed this week. Unfortunately for me I already own most of them. On to the Waiver Wire for Week 10, but get those trade offers out.
Waiver Wire Quarterbacks Week 10
Justin Fields, 26% rostered, 100% FAAB
If you have anything left in your FAAB I would consider blowing it all on Fields this week. He should have had a terrible game and the Bears should have never been in this one, even though the Steelers suck. The Bears would have won this game except for an egregious taunting call late in the game, something that is already setting twitter conspiracy theories ablaze about refs betting on games. Fields is producing like a mid-level fantasy starter and with his rushing floor there is no way he should be sitting on waivers.
Trey Lance, 18% rostered, 80% FAAB
Nothing new to report here other than the Niners lost to the Cardinals (without Murray or Hopkins) and are 3-5. Their season is over and the only debate now is whether learning on the job would be good for Lance. I think it would. Expect a nice rushing floor and inconsistent passing.
Baker Mayfield, 37% rostered, 20% FAAB
Even in a blowout Mayfield couldn’t eclipse 250 yards. This team is just not built for passing. But if you are holding Daniel Jones or for some reason Sam Darnold he’s a clear improvement.
Drops: Darnold, Love, Daniel Jones
Waiver Wire Running Backs Week 10
D’Ernest Johnson, 40% rostered, 55% FAAB
News just came out Tuesday that Chubb has COVID and will need two negative tests prior to the Sunday game against New England to play. Demetric Felton also has entered the COVID protocol, meaning that if both backs miss the game D’Ernest is in for a week-winning workload.
Eno Benjamin, 1% rostered, 50% FAAB
Chase Edmonds is reportedly going to miss multiple weeks with the ankle injury that sidelined him this weekend, and Benjamin is likely to get 8-10 carries as the change of pace behind James Connor. The coach has been talking him up and he could be a multiple-week band-aid to injury ravaged running back rosters.
Jordan Howard, 15% rostered, 40% FAAB
Why not a spike game by Jordan Howard? It’s week 9, anything makes sense! 17 carries for 71 yards and a touchdown following a two touchdown game.
Jarrett Patterson, 2% rostered, 35% FAAB
The WFT is 2-6 and going nowhere, and Antonio Gibson has been playing hurt all season on a fractured shin. That is not going to get better just during a bye week, and Patterson got 11 carries to his 8 in week 8. He was my top RB pickup last week and the only reason he isn’t this week is we can’t ever count on rational coaching.
Rhamondre Stevenson, 6% rostered, 30% FAAB
If you haven’t already puked on the NE running back carousel this season it’s time to buy a ticket. Stevenson was the back who got the love last week in a run-fest and for a team that wants to win ugly, he makes a lot of sense. Therefore he will probably be a surprise inactive this week. But a better chip than most.
Drops: No one, hold onto running backs like grim death.
Waiver Wire Wide Receivers Week 10
Elijah Moore, 28% rostered, 100% FAAB
I would put Moore at the top of your queue or give him all your budget. This has been a breakout waiting to happen and as long as anyone but Zach Wilson is throwing the ball it could be for the rest of the season. Let’s face it, Wilson is already a bust. He had bust written all over him during the draft. He’s sucked all year. Two different journeyman have decisively outplayed him this year. Which means Moore should be good for the rest of the season and he has always had the talent. Top add this week.
Darnell Mooney, 44% rostered, 55% FAAB
If Fields can be trusted Mooney can too. He was involved in the running game (1 TD) and got decent targets (6-3-41-1). He has definitely achieved fantasy yo-yo status but worth a shot once again.
Donovan Peoples-Jones, 14% rostered, 15% FAAB
Really hard to trust this guy given the low passing attempts of the team and his low target share, but maybe without OBJ screwing with Mayfield’s head maybe the Browns passing game improves and maybe his targets increase. Realistically though all he will be is a deep threat receiving 2-3 deep targets a game, and he only has to catch one to be a WR3.
Drops: Nico Collins, Mecole Hardman, Jarvis Landry
Waiver Wire Tight Ends Week 10
Cole Kmet, 20% Rostered, 20% FAAB
It’s not often you can get a viable tight end in week 10 that’s more than a 1-week fill in, but Kmet appears to be just that. His chemistry with Fields has been increasing every week, and if Fields can average over 250 yards passing from here on out, Kmet should benefit weekly as there just aren’t a lot of options in Chicago. He’s seen no fewer than 6 targets his last 3 and saw 8 last week en route to 87 scoreless yards.
Evan Engram, 39% rostered, 15% FAAB
The Giants are an absolute mess but you can’t ignore a healthy target share and two touchdowns over his last two. Engram has the talent to be much more than he is, he just doesn’t have the drive or work ethic. Might be target-forced into some decent games down the stretch.
Donald Parham, 1% rostered, 10% FAAB
It’s very on-script for week 9 that Parham’s breakout game would be overshadowed by both Jared Cook and Stephen Anderson (?) but if you are desperate for a new name and would like someone with rest of season upside, he’s as good as any. Not nearly as good a bet as Kmet but potentially worth a flier.
Drops: Cook
Streaming DSTs for Week 10
Cleveland vs New England, 50% rostered, 5% FAAB
They took it to the Bengals but hell it was week 9, anything could have happened. Still, the Patriots do not have what one would call a dynamic offense and the Browns looked good Sunday.
Las Vegas vs Kansas City, 19% rostered, 5% FAAB
Yes, we have reached the point where we are targeting defenses playing KC. Vegas has been a consistently good defense all year, and they get a reeling Chiefs team at home in the Death Star. Crazy to say it, but they are a good play.
