The Wire - Week 10
By Levi Ellis
If you want to be great at fantasy football then you have to put in the work and if you’re still alive in your league’s playoff race then you must keep working your waiver wire. If you’re out of the playoff race then you might as well play the spoiler and ruin someone else's dream of winning a championship. Regardless of whether you’re still playing for the dream or for the spoiler let’s take a look at this week’s waiver wire adds and drops brought to you by Dynasty Pros Football.
Week 10 Byes - Atlanta, Dallas, Kansas City & New York Jets
Quarterbacks
Drew Lock - 25/48 313 yards, 2 tds, 1 int, 7 carries 47 yards, 1 td - Lock had another good fantasy performance this past week and with all the weapons he has he could boom at any moment, just keep in mind he could also bust at any moment too. 5% of your remaining FAAB.
Tua Tagovailoa - 20/28 248 yards, 2 tds, 7 carries 35 yards - Tua took a major step forward this week and looked like a real NFL QB. On top of that the Dolphins are rolling and Brian Flores has coached this team up. Tua has an incredible matchup this week against the Los Angeles Chargers. 5% of your remaining FAAB.
Alex Smith - 24/32 325 yards, 1 td, 3 ints - Kyle Allen went down with a nasty ankle injury and now Smith is the starting QB. Smith has an enticing matchup against the Detroit Lions and I expect him to upgrade this Washington offense but let’s be fair, it won’t take much to show an upgrade. 5% of your remaining FAAB.
Nick Mullens - 22/35 291 yards, 1 td, 1 int - Mullens is the starting QB and the 49ers almost always field a potent offense. If you need QB help in a deep league you can look his way. 5% of your remaining FAAB.
Jake Luton 26/38 304 yards, 1 td, 1 int, 1 carry, 13 yards, 1 td - If you are desperate and I mean really desperate for a QB this week, Luton will most likely get another start with Minshew still healing from a thumb injury. To be fair though Luton actually wasn’t as bad as I thought he would be this past week. The Jaguars have the Packers coming up so Luton will face a tougher matchup. Minimum bid only and you still might be overpaying.
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake - It’s possible that Drake was dropped last week with his injury and him being on bye. If so, snatch him up right now as it has been reported his injury wasn’t nearly as bad as first reported and although we don’t know if he will be back this week or not, I would fully expect him to be back this week or next. Drake has loads of talent and had the most opportunities in this backfield prior to his injury. If the Cardinals figure out how to use him (just do what they did last year) then he will boom again. 90% of your remaining faab.
Cam Akers - 9 carries, 35 yards, 1 target, 1 catch, 19 yards - There’s still no official word on whether Henderson will be back this week but I assume he will. Akers is nothing but a stash at this point but he’s the type of talent that is worth stashing. Minimum bid only.
Matt Breida & DeAndre Washington - It’s not yet clear who will be the starting running back for the Dolphins until Gaskins is back but my money is on one of these two guys. Breida is more talented and has been on the team longer but the Dolphins did just trade away a draft pick to get Washington. You most likely won’t have to roster spots to give to pick up both guys so pick up one and cross your fingers. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Wayne Gallman - 14 carries, 68 yards, 1 td, 2 targets, 1 catch, 9 yards - It’s unclear on when Devonta Freeman will be back from injury and when he will resume as the starter but Gallman hasn’t disappointed when given the opportunity. Monitor Freeman’s health before placing your bid and if Freeman doesn’t appear ready to come back then consider Gallman. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
JD McKissic - 3 carries, 13 yards, 14 targets, 9 catches, 65 yards - Yes, you read that correctly, McKissic had 14 targets. The Football Team (still can’t get over this name) was playing from behind most of the game and apparently Alex Smith was Captain Checkdown this week so McKissic was eating. If this happens again next week then McKissic will be fantasy gold in PPR leagues plus tack on that it’s a revenge game for him against the Detroit Lions. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Jerick McKinnon - 12 carries, 52 yards, 1 td, 4 targets, 3 catches, 16 yards - Just when we thought we had the 49ers backfield figured out and that Hasty would be the primary ball carrier we see McKinnon once again regain this role. Prior to last week's games, McKinnon was dropped in a few leagues due to the report of “tired legs” and his recent lack of opportunities but he was given opportunities and he produced. I’m not ready to move on from McKinnon yet so ride this out for a few more weeks until Mostert is back. 25% of your remaining FAAB.
Zack Moss - 9 carries, 18 yards, 1 td, 2 targets, 2 catches, 30 yards - If Moss is available in your league then you need to grab him. His opportunities have fluctuated but his talent hasn’t. He’s a really good back and just needs more opportunities and that could happen anytime. 35% of your remaining FAAB.
Honorable Mentions:
Deejay Dallas - 7 carries, 31 yards, 1 td, 2 targets, 2 catches, 8 yards - Only if Carson is still out. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Duke Johnson - 16 carries, 41 yards, 1 td, 4 targets, 4 catches, 32 yards - Only if David Johnson is still out. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Ryan Nall - 4 targets, 4 catches, 35 yards, 1 td - Only if David Montgomery misses and monitor if Lamar Miller will be the starter instead. Minimum bid only.
Lamar Miller - Only if David Montgomery misses and if he gets promoted to the active roster. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Jordan Wilkins - 11 carries, 39 yards, 2 targets, 2 catches, -1 yards - Good matchup this week against the Titans. Just uncertainty around his role with both Taylor and Hines in this offense. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Kalen Ballage - 15 carries, 69 yards, 1 td, 3 targets, 2 catches, 15 yards - Can’t believe I even have him listed but he wasn’t terrible last week. Minimum bid only.
Wide Receivers
Curtis Samuel - 9 targets, 9 catches, 105 yards, 1 td, 3 carries, 13 yards - I feel like we have known all along that Samuel had this type of talent we just haven’t seen the Panthers consistently use him in a defined role. Are we seeing this now? CMC was even back for this game and they still gave him three carries. I’ve been reluctant to believe in Samuel to this point but we just can’t ignore him anymore. If you can go get this guy then do it. 35% of your remaining FAAB.
John Brown - 11 targets, 8 catches, 99 yards - If he isn’t owned pick him up now. This offense is scoring a lot of points and he has a connection with Allen. Just keep in mind he was playing against the worst pass defense in the league last week. 25% of your remaining FAAB.
Allen Lazard - Lazard should be back from his injury this week and if the Packers do not add a WR before the trade deadline he will have a big role in the offense again. Although I thought this last week too and he wasn’t back so keep a close eye on his situation. 20% of your remaining FAAB.
Richie James - 13 targets, 9 catches, 184 yards, 1 td - I don’t think you can count on this type of production from James moving forward but you also can’t ignore it. Keep an eye to see if both Bourne and Aiyuk are back for this week which is expected. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
Nelson Agholor - 3 targets, 2 catches, 55 yards, 1 td - This guy just keeps producing and this was even with both Ruggs and Edwards in the lineup. It was only three targets but he made them count. 15% of your remaining FAAB.
KJ Hamler 10 targets, 6 catches, 75 yards, 1 carry, 15 yards - Hamler appears to be earning a larger target volume in this offense and he is the type of player that can break one loose at any point. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Honorable Mentions:
David Moore - 6 targets, 4 catches, 71 yards, 1 td - If DK or Lockett were to ever get hurt there would be a bidding war over David Moore so add him now if you have the roster space. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Gabriel Davis - 5 targets, 4 catches, 70 yards, 1 td - When you see the Bills may have a shootout then grab Davis and play him. Minimum bid only.
Alshon Jeffery - Yes he may actually play this year but until I see him on the field I will proceed with caution. I also don’t expect him to be all that good anymore. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Chris Conley - 8 targets, 7 catches, 52 yards - Conley appears to have a connection with Luton since he got 8 targets last week and we know the Jags will be playing from behind quite a bit. Minimum bid only.
Darnell Mooney - 11 targets, 5 catches, 43 yards - Mooney continues to be productive in PPR leagues. Minimum bid only.
Danny Amendola - 10 targets, 7 catches, 77 yards - He has value until Golladay returns from injury. Minimum bid only.
Colts WRs (Michael Pittman, Zach Pascal & Marcus Johnson) - It’s hard to know which guy to pick up but all three seem to be involved especially when Hilton is out. Minimum bid only.
Austin Mack 5 targets, 4 catches, 72 yards - Not sure what to expect from Mack just yet but I can think of plenty of times I didn’t grab the unknown player to later watch them grow up to be superstars (Adam Thielen, Victor Cruz, Adrian Foster, and the list goes on and on). Stash him if you can and see what happens. Minimum bid only.
Cam Sims - 4 targets, 3 catches, 110 yards - Washington can’t throw to JD McKissic on every single play can they? Minimum bid only.
Tight Ends
Jimmy Graham - 6 targets, 6 catches, 55 yards, 1 td - The old man continues to get it done this year. I’ll have to say that I thought this guy was a waste of a roster space even in the real NFL but he’s proving me wrong each week. Minimum bid only.
Eric Ebron - 6 targets, 3 catches, 22 yards, 1 td - Ebron does it again. He gets a decent target share in this stacked offense and he scored another td. He’s still a guy worth streaming. Minimum bid only.
Irv Smith - 4 targets, 2 catches, 10 yards, 2 tds - I love that Smith is getting more involved in this offense. That is when they don’t give the ball to Cook which doesn’t seem to be very often. Minimum bid only.
Evan Engram - 10 targets, 5 catches, 48 yards, 1 td - Engram continues to get plenty of targets; he just doesn’t seem to cash in on them very often. Minimum bid only.\
Honorable Mentions:
Jordan Reed & Ross Dwelley - Someone in San Francisco has to catch the ball so it might as well be one of the TEs. I fully expect Reed to bounce back but I seriously doubt he can stay healthy for the remainder of the year. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Robert Tonyan - 1 target, 1 catch, 5 yards - Tonyan had a disappointing week but I think the Packers are committed to him being a part of the offense. 10% of your remaining FAAB.
Adam Trautman - 3 targets, 3 catches, 39 yards, 1 td - Trautman was one of my favorite rookie TEs this year. I’m not sure he is ready to be consistently involved in the offense but keep an eye on this one because the sky's the limit with his talent and Sean Payton’s offense.
Players to Drop (redraft leagues)
TY Hilton - He’s just not good
Phillip Rivers - Ditto
Jack Doyle - He’s just not involved
Tevin Coleman - Can’t stay healthy
James Washington - Only one ball to go around
Mecole Hardman - On bye this week and Watkins expected back
DeMarcus Robinson - On bye this week and Watkins expected back
Greg Olsen - Please tell me you weren’t holding onto him
Dawson Knox - Digging deep here. He isn’t involved in the offense
Kenny Stills - For our deep league readers
Keelan Cole - Watch him break out this week
Kyle Rudolph - Boring
Kyle Allen - Did you see the replay
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