While I continue to petition the powers that be to turn off injuries, we had another spate of them in Week 9.
The most impactful for real football was the gruesome elbow injury to Jayden Daniels, and that will obviously ripple through the fantasy world, as well.
The injury to Tucker Kraft might be more devastating from a fantasy perspective, though, given how well he has played this year.
Let's dig into the fallout from both injuries along with the best waiver adds for Week 10.
As a reminder, recommended adds are available in at least 60% of ESPN leagues, and the watch list consists of players worth monitoring.
The deep cuts section for running backs and receivers highlights players who are rostered in fewer than 5% of ESPN leagues, for all you “not in my league” degens.
I will not list recommended FAAB percentages for every player because there is a much better resource for researching what you need to bid, thanks to our friends at FAABLab.
Finally, I will not be ranking kickers and defenses because, frankly, I don’t care about them and would like to see them disappear from the game.
With those caveats out of the way, let’s get to it.
Contents
Best Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Quarterback
- Marcus Mariota
- Aaron Rodgers
Best Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Running Back
- Emari Demercado
- Devin Singletary
- Terrell Jennings
- Chris Rodriguez Jr.
- Isaiah Davis
- Tank Bigsby
Best Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Wide Receiver
- Alec Pierce
- Parker Washington
- Darius Slayton
- Christian Watson
- Tez Johnson
- Kyle Williams
- Jordan Whittington
- Jack Bech
Best Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups: Tight Ends
- Colston Loveland
- Juwan Johnson
- Theo Johnson
- Luke Musgrave
Quarterback Waiver Targets, Week 10
1. Marcus Mariota, Commanders — Available in 94.8% of ESPN leagues
Unfortunately, we have had to add Mariota to this list too many times this year. While the previous starting stints were shorter term, it looks like Mariota will be helming Washington's offense for a long time, if not the rest of the season. Mariota did not find a ton of success against the Chiefs in his last start, but he still rushed for 28 yards in that game. He has averaged nearly 30 rushing yards per start this season, and he is the QB12 in fantasy points per dropback among all quarterbacks with at least 50 dropbacks.
2. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers — Available in 62.8% of ESPN leagues
Rodgers did not have as good a fantasy day as we hoped against the Colts, but he is in another spot that could push volume this week against the Chargers. Los Angeles has not allowed a ton of production to quarterbacks, but they also have not faced a tough slate of opposing passers. It is not a great week for streaming options, so let's chase an efficient quarterback who could be pushed for volume in a quietly okay game environment.
Watch List: J.J. McCarthy had a good fantasy day against the Lions, but he completed just 14 passes in that game. McCarthy has shown upside as a runner, and the on-paper matchup this week against the Ravens looks good. However, this is a different Ravens defense than earlier in the season. Since Week 6, the Ravens are third in points per drive allowed…Aaron Glenn declined to name a starting quarterback for this week, but it will likely be Justin Fields following his performance before the bye, leaving Tyrod Taylor on the wire…Geno Smith is coming off his best fantasy game of the season, but it is tough to chase that against the Broncos on a short week…Bryce Young does get an okay matchup, but he has still thrown for over 200 yards just once this season…Michael Penix put up his second multi-touchdown passing game of the season against the Patriots and does get a good matchup against the Colts in Berlin this week, although Indy did just trade for Sauce Gardner…The Cardinals named Jacoby Brissett the starter on Tuesday, which makes sense given what the offense has looked like with him at the helm. Still, this week's trip to Seattle is a tough matchup for those looking at streaming options…Trevor Lawrence got there with two rushing touchdowns in Week 9, but the matchup against the Texans this week makes it difficult to trust him.
Running Back Waiver Targets, Week 10
1. Emari Demercado, Cardinals — Available in 94.8% of ESPN leagues
This is a bad week for running back additions, so do not take Demercado's No. 1 ranking as a ringing endorsement of his fantasy upside. Still, he appeared to take over the “early down” role in Arizona on Monday night with Bam Knight moving back into the “passing down” role. Knight played 11 more snaps and ran 10 more routes, but Demercado turned 14 carries into 79 yards. Knight did get the goal-to-go touch, which is a concern, and this is always going to be a split backfield. This also sets up as more of a “passing down” week with a trip to Seattle on deck. Still, Demercado appears to be a viable threat for 10 touches every week, which makes him rosterable.
2. Devin Singletary, Giants — Available in 95.5% of ESPN leagues
We may have swung and missed on Tyrone Tracy last week. Singletary played more snaps (31 to 25) and touched the ball 2 more times than Tracy against the 49ers. He also got the 1 touch in a goal to go situation and played all 3 snaps. Tracy was the clear guy the week before, but as noted last week, he does have a history of being put into the doghouse. Tracy did suffer an injury in the second half, but the split was 7 touches to 5 for Singletary in the first half. At least for one week, this was a split backfield. That probably more hurts Tracy than makes Singletary a viable fantasy option, but in a weak running back group, it is worth adding Singletary to see what happens.
3. Terrell Jennings, Patriots — Available in 94.7% of ESPN leagues
Jennings got into the end zone and touched the ball 12 times in Week 9, but he seems like fantasy fool's gold. First, we don't know when Rhamondre Stevenson will be back. Second, he did not get the full Stevenson role. Jennings played just 17 snaps total for 51 for TreVeyon Henderson. Henderson ran 28 routes to just 4 for Jennings and still had 3 more carries than Jennings. If anything, the usage in Week 9 was a massive positive for Henderson.
4. Chris Rodriguez Jr, Commanders — Available in 99.3% of ESPN leagues
Rodriguez probably would have been higher, but the injury to Jayden Daniels takes some of the shine off the Commanders offense. Rodriguez played just 7 fewer snaps than Bill Croskey-Merritt in Week 9 and equaled him with 12 carries. He was also much more effective as a runner. We could see a change moving forward as the Commanders look for a spark.
5. Isaiah Davis, Jets — Available in 90.8% of ESPN leagues
We will know if Breece Hall gets traded by the end of the day on Tuesday, but Davis will remain a viable bench stash regardless of Hall's team. As the receiving back on a bad team, he should get a handful of weekly touches, and those should usually be more valuable catches. Davis also carries contingency value if something happens to Hall.
6. Tank Bigsby, Eagles — Available in 73.9% of ESPN leagues
It seems like Saquon Barkley is fine, but we don't really know at this point in the week, which keeps Bigsby on the radar. Bigsby also seemed to establish himself as the handcuff you want over Will Shipley if something happened to Barkley.
Watch List: Bhayshul Tuten did not get a post-bye bump, playing 5 fewer snaps than LeQuint Allen despite finding the end zone…Brian Robinson Jr, Blake Corum, Ray Davis, and Emanuel Wilson look like the best widely available handcuff options right now, though Corum gets enough touches per game to be a little more than that in deep leagues…Brashard Smith played just 10 snaps and touched the ball 3 times against the Bills. Even if Isiah Pacheco is not back after the bye, it should be the Kareem Hunt show…Quinshon Judkins practiced on Monday, leaving Jerome Ford and Dylan Sampson on the wire. That could change if Ford is traded at the deadline and lands somewhere interesting.
Deep Cuts: The injury to Ollie Gordon does not seem serious, but it could open up an opportunity for Jaylen Wright…The Bengals are on bye, but Samaje Perine left Week 9 with what appeared to be a nasty injury. Chase Brown just went back into workhorse mode with Perine out, but perhaps Tahj Brooks would get more involved coming out of the bye…Brittain Brown was the next man up behind Kyle Monangai with D'Andre Swift out, turning 5 carries into 37 yards and a touchdown…With Jaydon Blue a healthy scratch, Malik Davis stepped into the No. 2 role for the Cowboys.
Wide Receiver Waiver Targets, Week 10
1. Alec Pierce, Colts — Available in 88.2% of ESPN leagues
I had Pierce as my top add last week because I liked the matchup, and I fully expected to move him back down into the watch list this week. Well, it is not a great week for adds in general, and we have to pay attention to Pierce's usage. Since returning from injury in Week 6, he has a 23.2% target share while running a route on 90.5% of Indy's dropbacks. He has at least 48 yards in each of those games, and he is averaging 82.5 yards over that run. We have yet to get a touchdown, and there will likely be duds as we go. Still, Pierce is a big play threat getting reliable target volume in a good passing game. That is a solid fantasy resume.
2. Parker Washington, Jaguars — Available in 94.9% of ESPN leagues
Washington was looking like a lock No. 1 add this week, but the trade for Jakobi Meyers does put his role in the offense in some doubt. Still, Meyers is joining a new team in the middle of the year, Brian Thomas Jr. is reportedly dealing with a high-ankle sprain, and Washington has consistently earned targets when on the field, getting a look on 23% of his routes. That is the best rate on the Jaguars and 25th among receivers who have run at least 100 routes this season.
3. Darius Slayton, Giants — Available in 85.1% of ESPN leagues
Back healthy, Slayton has run a route on 82.9% of dropbacks the last two games and has a 22.2% target share. He had 42.9% of the team's air yards in Week 9 and profiles as the big play threat with Wan'Dale Robinson and newly acquired Ray-Ray McCloud playing the other two receiver spots. He also had the only 2 end zone targets for the Giants against the 49ers. He gets a great matchup against the Bears this week.
4. Christian Watson, Packers — Available in 74.4% of ESPN leagues
The Packers probably would have liked to ease Watson into action a little more coming off his injury, but they are facing an injury crisis among their pass catchers. Jayden Reed is on injured reserve, Dontayvion Wicks has been out, Matthew Golden picked up an injury in Week 9, and Tucker Kraft was lost for the season to a torn ACL. Watson ran a route on 78.9% of the dropbacks against the Panthers, and the Packers likely need him to play a big role for at least the next couple of weeks. Given his big play upside, that kind of playing time makes him a viable fantasy option.
5. Tez Johnson, Bucs — Available in 69.6% of ESPN leagues
It is tough to know what to do with Johnson because the Bucs should be healthier coming out of the bye, but he was a big part of a good passing game before that. In Weeks 7 and 8, Johnson ran a route on 81.5% of Tampa's dropbacks and earned a 22.7% target share. He totaled 9 catches for 101 yards and a touchdown in those two games. A healthier Emeka Egbuka and the potential return of Chris Godwin could hurt his role, but Johnson is worth adding to see how things shake out.
6. Kyle Williams, Patriots — Available in 98.9% of ESPN leagues
It does not seem like Kayshon Boutte‘s injury is a long-term concern, but hamstring injuries can linger. Mike Vrabel talked up Williams in the aftermath of that injury, and the rookie ran 20 routes against the Falcons, 7 more than DeMario Douglas, despite Douglas having a big game. Douglas' role has been pretty static this year. Williams is the upside play with Boutte sidelined.
7. Jordan Whittington, Rams — Available in 99.6% of ESPN leagues
It seems like Puka Nacua will be fine, but it is worth looking at Whittington in deep leagues. He was third on the team in route participation in Week 9 despite not getting targeted. Of course, the Rams leaned hard into the tight ends the last time Nacua was out, with Whittington finishing third on the team with 4 targets.
8. Jack Bech, Raiders — Available in 96.8% of ESPN leagues
The Bech train was derailed in a major way when he ran 0 routes in Week 9, but the Jakobi Meyers trade at least opens the opportunity for him to emerge. That said, Tre Tucker‘s role in the offense is secure, and the Raiders (for some reason despite going nowhere) played Tyler Lockett over Bech last week.
Watch List: Tory Horton was going to be a priority add this week, but the Seahawks changed that by trading for Rashid Shaheed, who should have a quick transition after playing for Klint Kubiak last year in New Orleans…Kendrick Bourne is still playing the snaps, which keeps him in the mix for fantasy, but he has 2, 4, and 2 targets the last three games…The Titans are on bye this week, and Calvin Ridley should be back after that. That is likely it for Chimere Dike and Elic Ayomanor as fantasy options in a bad passing game…With Nico Collins and Christian Kirk back, Jayden Higgins and Jaylin Noel faded back into obscurity. The Noel demotion is particularly upsetting, but it is what it is…Malik Washington‘s recent route participation has looked good. The passing game just is not good enough…Cedric Tillman should be back this week. Maybe it matters, but we have wasted enough FAAB dollars chasing a Browns receiver.
Deep Cuts: Luther Burden likely will be back this week, but we have not seen the role bump…Dyami Brown could get a bigger role if Brian Thomas Jr. is forced to miss time, but Brown is dealing with an injury of his own…Terry McLaurin is not expected back this week, and Chris Moore did not do anything with his 28 routes in Week 9. There could be room for Treylon Burks to carve out a role…Calvin Austin is the No. 2 receiver in Pittsburgh and has done good stuff when targeted this year…AD Mitchell is worth a look in deep leagues after being traded to the Jets. He has talent, but a midseason move to a team that does not want to throw a ton is not the best fantasy layout.
Tight End Waiver Targets, Week 10
1. Colston Loveland, Bears — Available in 76.4% of ESPN leagues
Loveland obviously had the big play in the wildest game of the week, but it is the underlying numbers that make him a good add, especially with Cole Kmet once again dealing with injury. Over the last two games, Loveland has run a route on 77.6% of Chicago's dropbacks with a 17.4% target share. Picking him up is also betting on a first-round pick in the back half of his rookie season, which often works out.
2. Juwan Johnson, Saints — Available in 67.4% of ESPN leagues
Johnson had a lull, but he has bounced back in recent weeks including catching a touchdown against the Rams. He has run 53 targets with Tyler Shough at quarterback this season, commanding 10 targets and posting a 6-66-1 line on those attempts. He gets a good matchup this week against the Panthers, and the trade of Rashid Shaheed should solidify his spot in the target pecking order.
3. Theo Johnson, Giants — Available in 66.9% of ESPN leagues
Johnson has not been the most efficient player in the league this season, averaging just 0.89 yards per route run, but he continues to be a big part of the Giants' passing attack. He has been the target on 19.4% of Jaxson Dart‘s throws this season, and he leads the team with 3 end zone targets and 5 touchdowns on those plays.
4. Luke Musgrave, Packers — Available in 99.8% of ESPN leagues
Musgrave has to be on this list following the injury to Tucker Kraft, but I would guess I am much lower on him than the industry consensus because of how Kraft was scoring fantasy points. Among all tight ends who have run at least 100 routes this year, Kraft was easily first in yards after catch per reception at 10.8. Tyler Warren was second…at 7.5. 70.3% of Kraft's receiving yards were after the catch. He is an elite playmaker who can use that skill to make up for the fact that he was 20th among qualifying tight ends in routes per game. We have no evidence that Musgrave is that type of player. Perhaps there are enough targets to make it stick, especially if Musgrave can become a weapon in the red zone, and Green Bay does have some solid matchups the rest of the way. That is not the case this week against the Eagles, though. It will be tough to justify starting Musgrave in that matchup.
Watch List: Isaiah Likely had a solid game in Week 9, but his route participation rate was just 48.1%. It will be tough to be a consistent fantasy contributor on half of the dropbacks, especially on the Ravens…Mason Taylor should be second on the Jets in targets the rest of the way behind Garrett Wilson, but I don't want to chase him this week in a low-scoring environment against the Browns…With the Bucs likely to be healthier coming out of the bye, Cade Otton could fall back out of the target tree…Cooper Kupp missing another game would make A.J. Barner a more interesting streaming option. He tied a season-high with a 79.2% route rate in Week 9. Elijah Arroyo had the touchdown, but he ran just 11 routes total…I'm still invested in Terrance Ferguson as a deep league stash, but he ran just 10 routes in Week 9…The Greg Dulcich thing might be real. He was up to a 47.6% route participation in Week 9, and he caught all 5 of his targets for 49 yards…The Raiders could lean into 2TE sets following the Jakobi Meyers trade, potentially opening up Michael Mayer as a fantasy option even with Brock Bowers healthy.
