Week 9 is going to go down as the strangest week of this fantasy football season. I hope so, at least, or else we are in for even more bizarre happenings across the league. Looking back at the Week 9 betting odds, you will see that there were at least six prominent upsets. Before I dive into the waiver wire for Week 10, just take a second to look at the wide receiver rankings from this past week.
Cooper Kupp, the overall WR1 this season, lands at sixth amongst players who are sitting in the top-10 for the first time this season, and likely their careers. You may notice, however, that Elijah Moore, Brandon Aiyuk, and Tim Patrick, all in the top-10 for Week 9, made my waiver wire column ahead of last week. Furthermore, pivoting to tight end, both of my recommendations, Pat Freiermuth and Cole Kmet, both have a top-5 finish to celebrate, with Freiermuth leading the position in Week 9 points.
I’m not taking this opportunity to say I knew who would shine in Week 9. I certainly did not. Rather, my purpose here is to point out that there is still value on the waiver wire this late in the season. The players who came up big last week I recommended because there were signs of them trending up making them worth considering on the waiver wire, if available.
If you got them, great. If you started them, even better. Now, let’s do it again.
WEEK 9 BYES: CHI, CIN, HOU, NYG
Below, we’ll look at players at each position, who are on 50% or less of most fantasy football rosters, that could be considered on the Week 10 waiver wire.
Check back throughout the week for more fantasy football fun for Week 10: Waiver Wire | FAAB Guide | Start & Sit | Loves & Hates | Stock Watch | Sleepers & Streamers | D/ST Streamers
Week 10 Waiver Wire Rankings
Running Back
Devonta Freeman, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens rank fifth in team rushing attempts through nine weeks. The four teams with more rushing attempts haven’t had their bye yet. Baltimore continues to be a run-first team and will likely finish as the league leader in attempts. Devonta Freeman looks like the current lead back ahead of Week 10.
Of course, Lamar Jackson is going to produce as a runner. In fact, in their Week 9 comeback overtime win, Jackson rushed 21 times for 120 yards. As far as the running back share goes, Freeman carried the ball 13 times to Le’Veon Bell’s 11. More importantly, Freeman dominated the snap count playing 58% of the snaps to Bell’s 23%.
Freeman also saw three targets, although he wasn’t too effective as a pass catcher. The main takeaway here is that Freeman looks like he’s on the field the most on a team with the biggest run-heavy approach. I would look at Freeman on the waiver wire before Bell, but both have value. Bell did find the end zone and averaged 4.4 yards per carry.
Latavius Murray doesn’t look like he’s going to suit up in Week 10, so put a claim in for Freeman if you’re in a pinch. Baltimore will need to establish the run in a Thursday night matchup in Miami on short rest.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots
It’s been a while, but the rookie is back on the waiver wire list. As a big Rhamondre fan, his season has been less than ideal. It seems like he’s either about to break out or Bill Belichick is making him a healthy scratch for the week ahead.
That is all in the past now. It finally looks like it’s time to pick up him. If not based on his own merit then simply because the group of running backs available on the waiver wire is more scarce than ever.
In Week 9, Patriots lead back, Damien Harris, suffered an apparent head injury. Before that, he saw just 45% of the running back carries for New England, his lowest share yet. Meanwhile, on just 17 snaps, Stevenson carried the ball 10 times and caught both of his two targets. He logged 106 all purpose yards and set up an easy rushing score for Harris.
Stevenson, himself, unfortunately suffered a head injury. I don’t expect him to miss time, but do worry Harris could as he’s finished almost every game this season with some injury designation. If Harris sits, Stevenson should lead this backfield in touches. That will come in handy if you need a fill-in for a bye-week back, such as Joe Mixon, Saquon Barkley, or David Montgomery.
Carlos Hyde, Jacksonville Jaguars
Carlos Hyde continues to be a volume-based option at running back as long as James Robinson is out with a foot injury. In Week 9, Hyde carried the ball 21 times, but could only manage 67 rushing yards. It’s worth mentioning the Buffalo Bills, the Jags’ Week 9 opponent, are a top-tier rushing defense.
Things won’t get much easier for Hyde who’s got the Colts on deck who are in the top-half of run defenses this season. Still, it’s clear Hyde is the only reliable option at running back for Jacksonville for the time being. Plucking him off of the waiver wire and plugging him into your Week 10 lineup is the move if you’re banking on heavy volume and hoping for a touchdown.
Other Running Backs to Consider
Your Fantasy Team’s Starting Running Back’s Handcuff should start to taking priority as Week 10 approaches. Especially if you’re in the playoff hunt, securing these handcuffs now is a more valuable move than rolling the dice on any of the above or other players. You don’t want to see your starter go down in the fantasy playoffs knowing his handcuff could’ve been added weeks ago. Some obvious names to consider are Alexander Mattison, Tony Pollard, AJ Dillon, and Nyheim Hines.
I’ll continue to hammer this point as the fantasy playoffs loom.
Wide Receivers
Rashod Bateman, Baltimore Ravens
Bateman is at the top of this week’s wide receiver waiver wire rankings and for good reason. He’s been mentioned a few times already, but ahead of Week 10 is probably the last chance to get him on your roster.
Bateman’s played in just three NFL games, but has accounted for the second-highest snap count at wide receiver in all three of those games for Baltimore, behind only Marquis “Hollywood” Brown. Even better, Bateman’s seen 6, 6, and 8 targets in each of those games. I know I’ve mentioned this team has a run-first mentality, but when Lamar is throwing, Bateman is clearly becoming one of his favorite targets.
Van Jefferson, Los Angeles Rams
What a disastrous game Sunday night for the Los Angeles Rams. Not only did Matthew Stafford look uncomfortable, but he dug the Rams into a deep hole early with two crucial turnovers in less than a minute. That left the Rams with no other choice than to throw the ball to keep up with the Titans.
With that, both Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods were on the field for 100% of the snaps. Interestingly, though, Van Jefferson played 96% of the snaps and received seven targets, including a few in the end zone. Following DeSean Jackson’s release earlier in the week, it’s clear Jefferson is a deep threat for this team. He needs to be added everywhere and would be a must-start in all formats should anything happen to Kupp or Woods.
Elijah Moore, New York Jets
I wrote last week that Moore is likely the next rookie breakout to emerge. I did not expect him to finish as the top fantasy wide receiver of Week 9. He absolutely exploded in prime time on Thursday night hauling in seven of his eight targets for 84 yards and two scores.
It’s so hard to gauge what exactly plays the biggest role in Moore’s breakout. He’s now had three different Jets quarterbacks throwing to him in just six games played as a rookie. Notably, Moore is second in snaps and targets amongst all other Jets, behind just Corey Davis, who missed Week 9 with a hip injury.
I would feel much better if Moore could string together some consistent production. That could be tough to do this week against Buffalo. He’s a top waiver wire add ahead of Week 10 regardless and worth flex consideration on a game-by-game basis.
Russell Gage, Atlanta Falcons
I know Olamide Zaccheaus just had a WR4 finish in Week 9. It was awesome! I love to see players standout more than usual and help their team secure the win. Zaccheaus just isn’t a player I’m interested in moving forward; Russell Gage is.
Depending on what level of competition you’re going up against, some manager out there may see Zaccheaus’ 20.8 PPR points and put in a waiver wire claim for him ahead of Week 10. Don’t be that manager. Instead, if you’re going to add an Atlanta Falcon to your roster, look at Gage who saw eight targets and is undoubtedly the top receiver in snaps played without Calvin Ridley.
Zaccheaus is a more or less a big-play waiting to happen. If you want more consistent production to bank on each week, Gage is your guy. The Falcons are currently a playoff team. Matt Ryan will look to use Gage down the stretch to keep the team in the hunt.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
Donovan Peoples-Jones leads the Cleveland Browns receivers in snaps this season, even with two games missed. His season stats are a bit inflated by two big plays: One being a 60-yard touchdown from this past weekend and the other an end of the first half 57-yard Hail Mary touchdown in Week 6. Still, Peoples-Jones may just emerge as the top pass catcher in Cleveland if he continues to develop a rapport with Baker Mayfield. I would add DPJ in 12-team leagues off of the waiver wire if there’s room on your bench.
Michael Gallup is coming back from a longer than ideal stint on the Injured Reserve. It’s a contract year for Gallup. His flash of potential in Week 1 with seven quick targets was short-lived as he suffered a calf injury that kept him from finishing the game. After this weekend, Dallas’ offense may have turned people off, but sometimes it’s just a bad day at the office. If Gallup can squeeze back in and receive a similar target share, then he’s a must add off of the waiver wire. Just make sure you think hard about who you drop if Gallup’s rest of the season potential is something you covet.
Tight End
Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers
Move over, Kyle Pitts, or at least, make some room. Freiermuth’s rookie breakout at the tight end position is real. This is the absolute most available Freiermuth will be for the remainder of the fantasy football season. So, evaluate your tight end starter and depth then consider if making Pittsburgh Pat your top waiver wire add ahead of Week 10.
If his TE1 finish in Week 9 wasn’t enough, then consider the following: More than half (20) of Freirmuth’s targets this season (33) have come in his last three games. On top of that, he’s logged 16 of his 27 receptions, 145 of his 245 receiving yards, and three of his four touchdowns in that same span. Ben Roethelisberger’s arm isn’t what it used to be. Freiermuth is capitalizing as a reliable short-field pass catching option for Big Ben. Don’t let someone else cash in on this waiver wire diamond in the ruff this late in the season.
Quarterback
Justin Fields, Chicago Bears
Don’t look now, but Justin Fields is the overall QB3 the last two weeks. This is extremely bittersweet for me because I invested so much in Fields early on this season expecting quick results. As a fan of the game, I’m just happy he’s finally flashing what I, and many others, hoped for on Day 1. Unfortunately for fantasy football purposes, adding him ahead of Week 10 means stashing him on the bench during his Bye.
Still, it appears the Bears are willing to let Fields operate freely utilizing his dual-threat ability as a runner and passer. He has as many rushing attempts in his last two games as he did in his first three starts. While mixing in designed runs, Fields has also improved as a passer with a clear chemistry between he and receiver, Darnell Mooney, and tight end, Cole Kmet.
Coming out of the bye in Week 11, there’s no reason Fields can’t continue to develop and rack up fantasy points as teams make their playoff push. He should definitely be added and started in 2QB leagues. Depending on the team, I like Fields as a starter in most 12-team and possibly 10-team leagues with one QB moving forward. If you can afford to, I would keep a backup on your bench just in case.
Week 10 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Kicker | D/ST | PPR | Flex
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