Each week I’ll provide you with a rundown by position of key
waiver wire adds. We’ll evaluate not just breakouts based
on past performance, but also who could deliver this week based
on a soft matchup. Stats will be provided based on a 12-team PPR
league, with players less than 75% (preferably less than 50%) ownership
being considered.
Week 10 Byes: Cleveland, Green Bay, Las Vegas, Seattle
Rodgers had a nice day in a win over the Texans on Thursday Night
Football, throwing for 3 touchdowns. Up next he gets a Cardinals
team on the road that has allowed the 5th-most passing yards.
Tua was efficient in a loss against the Bills, completing 89%
of his passes for 231 yards and 2 TDs. Up next he faces a Rams
team that has allowed the 5th-most passing TDs.
Jones is coming off a solid game against the Commanders where
he threw for 2 TDs and went 7-54-1 rushing. Up next he gets a
Panthers defense that has allowed the 3rd-most passing TDs.
Bo Nix, DEN @BAL: Nix had a monster game against the Panthers
in Week 8 but couldn’t replicate it against the Ravens,
who have been getting torched by QBs this year. Despite getting
blown out, Nix couldn’t salvage his day with garbage-time
TDs, only managing a 223-0-1 passing line (although he added 36
rushing yards). Up next is a tough matchup against the undefeated
Chiefs on the road.
Derek Carr,
NO @ CAR: Carr returned after being out the last three weeks,
but he couldn’t manage a win against a Panthers team he crushed
in Week 1, going 236-1-0 passing. Up next is another favorable
matchup against the Falcons but the Saints fired their head coach
and could be with Chris Olave (concussion).
The highest-drafted RB in the 2024 class, Brooks has been on
IR to start the season after injuring his knee in his last collegiate
game. His 21-day practice window opened several weeks ago, and
he logged 3 full practices last week, so it is expected he’ll
make his NFL debut this week against the Giants. Chuba Hubbard
has been playing well, so Brooks may be eased into game action,
but now is the time to buy low before he starts to get more volume.
Allgeier is still the RB2 behind Bijan Robinson, but he managed
to get a TD against the Cowboys while going 6-18-1on the ground.
Up next is a Saints defense that he was able to gash for 80 yards
on 10 touches back in Week 4.
Pittsburgh is coming off a bye, but in Week 8 Warren split snaps
with Najee Harris and delivered a 9-46-0 rushing line and a 3-2-13-0
receiving line. He has yet to score a TD this year, but that may
change against a Commanders team that has allowed the 7th-most
rushing TDs to RBs.
Tyjae Spears, TEN vs NE: Spears was ruled out for the game against
the Patriots due to his nagging hamstring injury. He’ll
face a much tougher task if he can see the field this week against
the Chargers.
Tyrone Tracy Jr., NYG vs WAS: Tracy had a quiet day as the lead
back against the Commanders, going 16-66-0 on the ground and 1-1-3-0
through the air. He should bounce back in a big way against the
Panthers in Week 10.
Isaac Guerendo,
SF (bye): Guerendo was on bye this week, and injury reports need
to be monitored ahead of the 49ers’ Week 10 game. If Christian
McCaffrey isn’t ready to go or Jordan Mason is still healing his
ailing shoulder, Guerendo has shown he can deliver.
With Gabe Davis and Christian Kirk out, Parker Washington played
85.2% of snaps and was 2nd on the team in targets en route to
a 6-3-41-0 receiving line. Up next is a Vikings team that has
allowed the most fantasy points to opposing WRs. With Kirk done
for the year, Washington may have another big volume day especially
if Davis sits again.
Legette scored again, going 6-4-33-1 as the leading receiver
for the Panthers after Diontae Johnson was traded to the Ravens.
He’s now scored in three of his last four games. Up next he’ll
face a Giants defense that has allowed the 5th-most TDs to opposing
WRs.
Iosivas got the start with Tee Higgins out, and grabbed a 10-yard
touchdown while going 4-1-10-1 receiving. He’s only had 1 reception
(8 targets) in the last three games, but if Tee Higgins sits again
on a short week, Iosivas should see more involvement against a
Ravens defense that has been getting shredded by opposing WRs,
giving up the 2nd-most fantasy points.
Thielen has been on IR, nursing a hamstring injury for the past
six weeks. However, he’s been a limited practice participant
the last two weeks so it appears he’s getting close, and
the Panthers are fielding trade calls (most notably from the Steelers)
about their most experienced wideout. In his last game (Week 3),
Thielen posted a 5-3-40-1 line, so he still has some gas in the
tank. Whether he gets shipped to a contender or comes back for
the Panthers, Thielen could be worth a pickup.
The 49ers were on bye, and Jennings missed the two previous games
with a hip injury. But, he appears to be healthy now, and he’s
2nd on the team in TDs and receptions and Brandon Aiyuk is out
for the year. Week 10 is a great matchup against the Buccaneers,
who have allowed the 6th-most points to opposing WRs.
McCloud grabbed all 3 targets for 28 yards and a touchdown in
a home win over the Cowboys. With Drake London leaving early with
a hip injury, reports will have to be monitored this week for
hints about whether he will play or not in Week 10. If he sits,
McCloud should see more volume against a Saints team that has
allowed the 5th-most yards and 6th-most receptions to WRs.
Smith has strung together four straight games of at least 6 targets,
and managed a solid 6-5-46-0 line against the Bills. Up next is
a great matchup against the Rams, who have allowed the 7th-most
points to opposing TEs.
Henry leads the Patriots in all receiving categories as the QB
security blanket, especially for new rookie starter Drake Maye.
Since Maye started four games ago, Henry has scored double-digit
PPR points three times, just missing the threshold in the other
game, and averaged 7 targets per game. Up next is another tough
matchup against the Bears, but Henry has been matchup-proof, as
three of his last four games were against bottom-10 defenses against
TEs.
Gesicki took advantage of Tee Higgins being out and Erick All
leaving the game with injury, going 6-5-100-2 against the Raiders.
With All likely done for the year (knee) and Higgins likely to
sit again on a short week, Gesicki could have another big game
against a dreadful Ravens secondary that has allowed the 4th-most
receptions and most yards to opposing TEs.
Cedric Tillman, CLE vs BAL: Tillman scored another touchdown,
catching 6-of-11 targets for 75 yards in a loss to the Chargers
where they trailed early on. The Browns are on bye this week,
but then they’ll come back to face the struggling Saints
in Week 11.
UPDATE:JuJu
Smith-Schuster, KC vs TB: JuJu ended up being out again for
Monday Night Football. He may return this week against a tough
Broncos defense but with DeAndre Hopkins taking over, he won’t
be a recommended option.
UPDATE:Jalen
McMillan, TB @ KC: McMillan did not play in Monday Night Football
due to a hamstring suffered in practice on Friday. He has a chance
to play against the 49ers in Week 10.
Josh Downs,
IND @ MIN: Downs had another decent day, leading the Colts in
yards, targets, and receptions in a loss to the Vikings. With
Joe Flacco starting for the foreseeable future, Downs’s high-volume
role should keep him as a fixture in PPR lineups.
Darius Slayton, NYG @ WAS: Slayton managed a 3-3-49-0 line against
the Commanders, as Daniel Jones threw both of his touchdowns to
TEs. Up next is a meeting against a Panthers team that has struggled
against the run, so the passing game will probably not be needed.
TE Noah Fant, SEA vs LAR: Fant ended up missing the game against
the Rams, as he was dealing with a groin injury and the Seahawks
wanted to get him an additional week of rest with the upcoming
bye. We will see if he’s good to go in Week 11 against the
49ers.
TE Zach Ertz, WAS @ NYG: Ertz managed to catch his only target
for 5 yards against the Commanders in his quietest game of the
season. Up next he gets a Steelers defense that has been middle-of-the-pack
against TEs.
Defense/ Special Teams
Bears vs NE
The Bears struggled in a road loss against the Cardinals, although
they managed 3 sacks and 2 turnovers. Things should get a bit
easier this week against the Patriots, who have allowed the 2nd-most
sacks and scored the 4th-fewest points against opposing defenses.
Falcons @ NO
The Falcons managed a win against the Cowboys, getting 3 sacks
in a nice conference win. They’ve won five of their last
six games and now get a struggling Saints team who they scored
2 defensive TDs against in Week 4.
Giants @ CAR
The Giants have struggled of late, losing their last four games
in a row, including their last game against the division-leading
Commanders where they couldn’t get a sack or turnover. That
should change this week against the hapless Panthers, who may
stick with Bryce Young after a win over the Saints, but who have
thrown the most interceptions in the league.
Other D/ST to consider: Panthers vs NYG
Last week’s waiver adds:
Bengals vs LV: The Bengals got 5 sacks and 2
fumble recoveries in a big home win against the Raiders. Up next
is a tough matchup against the Ravens where they won’t be
a recommended defense.
Saints @ CAR: The Saints didn’t come to
play against a Panthers team that was starting Bryce Young and
who they destroyed in Week 1. They only managed 1 sack and 1 interception
in a loss to the NFL’s worst team.
Commanders @ NYG: The Commanders managed 2 sacks
and a turnover against the struggling Giants in a close win on
the road. Up next is a much tougher matchup against the surging
Steelers.
