Targeting weekly waiver picks is a completely subjective business,
but this column hopes to point out some obvious and not-so-obvious
selections to help your team from week to week while you strive
for that elusive title that your friends say is out of your grasp.
The waiver wire can be an almost limitless resource when it comes
to discovering fantasy value in strange places. Each week, I’ll
highlight some of the popular (and not-so-popular) players that
might be available in 12-team PPR leagues. I’ll also provide
a brief update on the players I covered the previous week.
Week 10 Byes: Baltimore, Cincinnati, New England, N.Y. Jets
Quarterbacks
Justin Fields, CHI vs. Detroit – Just in case he’s
still available, it’s time to add Fields, who’s looking
much like a fantast QB1 over his last three games. He’s
almost 75% owned now so there’s not much more to be said.
Daniel Jones, NYG vs. Houston – Jones (who was on a Week
9 bye) will see his latent value improve if the Giants happen
to add a certain free agent WR in the coming days (more on that
later), but he could fare well vs. Houston despite the G-Men’s
recent personnel issues.
Andy Dalton,
NO at Pittsburgh – I’ve espoused the character and talent of Dalton
for many years in this column, as he does offer decent upside
on occasion. Week 10’s matchup against the Steelers and their
challenged pass defense is one of those times. We’ll update after
Monday night’s matchup with Baltimore.
Update: Not much going on
during MNF, but he should fare better against the Steelers in
Week 10.
Baker Mayfield,
CAR vs. Atlanta – The matchup offers upside if he gets the start
in Week 10, and he looked okay in garbage time.
Update: It appears Mayfield will head back to the bench in Week
10 as P.J. Walker is expected to start.
Other QBs to consider (Week 10 opponents in parentheses):
Jacoby Brissett,
CLE (@MIA); Sam
Ehlinger, IND (@LV)
UPDATE (players recommended last week):
Trevor Lawrence, JAC – Another okay performance for Lawrence
(235-1-0 passing; six carries for 53 rushing yards, fumble) as
the Jags pulled off a win over the Raiders. Week 10 vs. KC could
go either way.
Marcus Mariota,
ATL – Mariota had his second-worst fantasy performance of 2022
in Week 9 as he completed 12 of 23 passes for 129 yards with no
TDs or INTs in the loss to the Chargers. He rushed five times
for 24 yards, but this was not a helpful outing for fantasy owners.
Running Backs
Jeff Wilson,
MIA vs. Cleveland – Wilson stepped into a monster role in his
first game with Miami, receiving about equal time with Raheem
Mostert and looking spry in his 12 touches (nine carries for 51
rushing yards; 3-21-1 receiving). He’s a great add if anyone dropped
him or he’s still available in 12-team leagues.
Deon Jackson, IND at Las Vegas – Sunday was a disappointment
for the Colts, and Jackson was mediocre; he rushed the ball 11
times for 23 yards in the 26-3 loss to the Patriots and missed
time with a knee injury. He added two receptions on three targets
for 13 yards but should be a much better play in Week 10 against
the Raiders if he’s the lead back once again.
Kylin Hill,
GB vs. Dallas – Hill would assume some percentage of snaps should
Aaron Jones miss time with the ankle injury that saw him leave
Sunday’s loss to Detroit. On a short week, that means we’ll know
relatively soon what sort of role he’ll play – including some
pass-catching and change-of-pace work for Green Bay when AJ Dillon
needs a spell. He’s a deep-league PPR flex option.
Update: Hill’s fantasy stock has diminished since Aaron
Jones is expected to play on Thursday.
Other RBs to consider (Week 10 opponents in parentheses):
Isaiah Spiller,
LAC (@SF); Zack
Moss, IND (@LV); Gus
Edwards, BAL (BYE); Kyren
Williams, LAR (IR – could be activated for Week 10 vs. ARI)
UPDATE (players recommended last week):
Kenyan Drake,
BAL – Update: Drake had an impressive 93 rushing yards and two
scores on Monday night in the win over New Orleans. He doesn’t
have any kind of stronghold on the starter’s gig and his
value could plummet in future weeks, but Week 9 was a huge get
for fantasy owners who plugged him in.
Khalil Herbert, CHI – Herbert struggled to find running
room against the stingy Miami defense in Week 9 after posting
70+ scrimmage yards in three straight games. His usage and subsequent
fantasy value is tough to predict given the presence of David
Montgomery and Fields’ rushing ability, but he’s worth
rostering still.
Caleb Huntley,
ATL – After a Week 8 where he rushed 16 times for 91 yards during
the win over the Panthers, Huntley was second fiddle to Tyler
Allgeier in Week 9 and went for just 34 rushing yards on seven
carries.
Chase Edmonds, DEN – The Broncos were on a bye, so we’ll
have to stay tuned to see how Edmonds’ usage shakes out
at Tennessee.
Wide Receivers / Tight Ends
Odell Beckham
Jr., FA – There are some scenarios where Beckham lacks immediate
value even if he joins a team as early as this week but stashing
him could be a shrewd move for owners without pressing roster
concerns. On the other hand, a couple of possible landing spots
for the talented veteran WR (NYG, DAL, GB) could have instant
results.
Update:George
Pickens, PIT vs. New Orleans – Moving Chase Claypool to Chicago
should result in more opportunities for Pickens down field, and
the rookie’s big-play ability coupled with his numbers in the
five weeks before the Week 9 bye make him a high-upside, moderate-floor
addition in any format.
Terrace Marshall Jr., CAR vs. Atlanta – Marshall had been
on the uptick in value the previous few weeks, but on Sunday vs.
the Bengals he played 44 of 48 offensive snaps and finished with
3-51-1 on six targets. His garbage time rapport with Baker Mayfield
could be a portent of things to come and the Week 10 matchup is
a good one.
TE Cole Kmet, CHI vs. Detroit – As Fields develops into
a complete QB, he’s looking the way of his TE more and more,
evident by Kmet’s receiving line in Week 9 (5-41-2 on six
targets; 9 rushing yards). He’s shaping up to be a low-end
TE1 moving forward.
Chase Claypool, CHI – Claypool hauled in just two passes
for 13 yards and rushed once for four yards in the 35-32 loss
to the Dolphins on Sunday. Even on short notice after his acquisition,
Claypool tied for second in targets on the team with Kmet. He
and the other WRs may not all produce consistently each week,
but the upside is there.
Devin Duvernay,
BAL – Update: Duvernay busted with just one catch n one target
Monday night. He’s on a bye in Week 10.
TE Evan Engram, JAC – Engram was a huge bust in Week 9
with just one catch for 7 yards. Not good.
Rondale Moore, ARI – The target volume is there for Moore,
who finished with 8-69 on 10 targets Sunday. The Cards offense
isn’t their problem, so he should continue to flourish.
Romeo Doubs,
GB – This was tough to watch, as Doubs got in just one catch before
an ankle injury saw him leave the game in Week 9. He was spotted
using crutches and wearing a walking boot on his right foot after
the loss at Detroit.
Update: Doubs has a high ankle sprain and will miss several (4-6)
weeks of action.
Darnell Mooney, CHI – Mooney had his best game of 2022
with 7-43-1 on eight targets from Fields. This Chicago offense
is looking better every week, and Mooney is one of the higher-upside
options.
