Here are this week’s top Waiver Wire players who are owned in less than 50% of Yahoo leagues. Our favorite players are broken down in Top Targets and the best secondary options are in our Going Deeper sections. We’ll also list any players at the top of each position who are above the 50% threshold — or are household names — and are still widely available for those who might be in smaller leagues.
Be sure to check out our weekly Waiver Wire podcast for more analysis. We’ll also have Streaming articles every Tuesday that focuses on the top quarterbacks, tight ends, and defenses for the upcoming week(s).
Note: The initial Waiver Wire article writeup will be posted every Monday evening, followed by in-depth updates Tuesday, and continued additions/updates Wednesday.
Teams on Bye in Week 10
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
Houston Texans
New York Giants
Hansen’s Top-15 Options
Note: For these rankings, John Hansen leans on players who are available in at least 40% of Yahoo leagues and who also saw a favorable development for their fantasy values last week. Some players are better long-term pickups, and some are better for just this week or the short term.
- Pat Freiermuth (Pit, 31%) — He’s the TE1 the last two weeks and showing major red zone savvy.
- Darnell Mooney (Chi, 45%) — My “breakout WR” choice for 2021 this summer, I had him as the WR31 and he’s currently the WR33 - and his QB’s play is just now starting to improve.
- Elijah Moore (NYJ, 16%) — We all love him, and we all saw why in Week 9. I’m not worried about Corey Davis returning as long as they stop using guys like Jeff Smith and Braxton Berrios.
- Logan Thomas (Was, 54%) — He may return in Week 10 and should resume dominating the snaps and TE targets. But his hamstring was still sore on 11/10, so may need another 1-2 weeks.
- Donovan Peoples-Jones (Cle, 12%) — Could still be volatile, but could also start making a big play every week. The arrow is clearly pointing up.
- Cole Kmet (Chi, 19%) — The TE9 the last two weeks with 14 targets (same as Travis Kelce).
- Rashod Bateman (Bal, 36%) — Continues to play a lot and look good in this pass-heavy offense.
- {Devonta Freeman (Bal, 19%) — Looked good again in Week 9, so he’s the best option for now and Lat Murray is likely out this week.
- Justin Fields (Chi, 22%) — Signs of life and actual production, as he’s the QB5 the last two weeks. Patty Mahomes is the QB22 in that span, FYI.
- Trey Lance (SF, 18%) — Big upside in December if things go relatively well, only a matter of time until he’s the starter.
- Jordan Howard (Phi, 12%) — I don’t think he can be trusted, but he is the RB15 the last two weeks with 3 TDs.
- Eno Benjamin (Ari, 0%) — Should have a chance to college 10+ touches and flirt with double-digit PPR points while Chase Edmunds is out, which could be multiple weeks if not three or more with IR a possibility.
- Tim Patrick (Den, 25%) — All he does is produce.
- Van Jefferson (LAR, 12%) — Massive number of snaps and routes and that should be the case the rest of the way.
- Jamal Agnew (Jax, 10%) — It’s not like Marvin Jones or Laviska Shenault did anything in Week 9, so Agnew may still be their best WR option.
Quarterbacks
Higher-owned Options
Carson Wentz (Ind, 61%), Matt Ryan (Atl, 55%)
Top Targets
Trey Lance (SF, 18%) — It could be Lance’s time if the 49ers lose to the Rams this week since San Francisco’s slim hopes of making noise in the NFC are dwindling with a 3-5 record. Lance did struggle in his first and only start against the Cardinals in Week 5, completing 15/29 passes for 192 yards and one INT. He added 16/89 rushing to finish 15.6 FP with a limited cast of receivers at his disposal. Lance should be viewed as a potential top-12 option when he starts because of his rushing upside, and he should show improvement in the passing game as he plays, especially with the likes of Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk at receiver. And especially if their running game continues to inject life into the offense. Lance is a player to stash right now for the stretch run if you’re not secure at quarterback.
Going Deeper
Teddy Bridgewater (Den, 26%) — It’s been a season of streaks for the Broncos after opening the season with three straight victories, which they followed with four straight losses. They’re back on a two-game winning streak after stunning the Cowboys thanks to 21.9 FP from Teddy, who was a QB1 for the week. He completed 19/28 passes for 249 yards (8.9 YPA) and one TD and he added a touchdown plunge from a yard out in their upset victory. Denver’s defense has become more vulnerable in recent weeks (they traded away Von Miller too), which could force Teddy to throw it a little more with competitive matchups (Phi, bye, LAC, @KC) coming up over the next month. Bridgewater also has his boy Jerry Jeudy back, which gives Teddy more hope for fantasy production in the future. There’s no shortage of weapons here, that’s for sure.
Justin Fields (Chi, 22%) — He’s by no means a lock to produce, but Fields looked like a different player in Week 8 while completing 19/27 passes for 175 yards (6.5 YPA), one TD, and one INT with season-best 10/103/1 rushing. He did start off quite slow in Week 9 and padded his stats against a bend-but-don’t break zone defense in Pittsburgh, but Fields did run 8 times for 45 yards, which is essentially an added TD pass. Fields ended up with 291/1, so got it done again. Over the last two weeks, he’s the QB5 in fantasy points, and this is exactly what we expected from Fields this summer. Fields is still a limited passer at this stage of his career, but we’re definitely trending in the right direction, and it was also great to see him finally start connecting with Allen Robinson, plus TE Cole Kmet is coming on. They have a bye in Week 10, but then come back with a pair of matchups that look fantasy-friendly (vs. Bal, @Det). Fields could easily produce as a QB1 the rest of the way. UPDATED: 11/9/21
Baker Mayfield (Cle, 37%) — Mayfield is playing through a fracture in his non-throwing shoulder in addition to his torn labrum and, to make matters worse, he’s getting little help from his wide receivers most weeks. However, he’s coming off his best fantasy performance since Week 5, and it came in his first game in the post-Odell Beckham era. He completed 14/21 passes for 218 yards and two touchdowns in their blowout victory over the Bengals. Mayfield is tough to trust, but so are all the lower-end options, and Mayfield if healthy at least has a legit chance to get hot. In 2020, once OBJ was long gone, Baker was the QB10 in scoring the final seven games with 11 TD passes and 1 INT. Mayfield at worst is a desperation option in Superflex/two-QB formats (@NE, Det, @Bal, bye), and he could be a strong QB2 if his health improves.
Trevor Lawrence (Jax, 38%) — The first overall pick from last spring’s draft has struggled in his first two games back from Jacksonville’s Week 7 bye. The Jaguars posted the NFL’s biggest upset of the season with their 9-6 victory over the Bills as 16-point home underdogs in Week 9, but Lawrence had little to do with the result. He also suffered an ankle injury that looked serious, but he was able to return to the game. He completed 15/26 passes for 118 scoreless yards (4.5 YPA) for a season-low 5.1 FP. Lawrence has topped 18+ FP just once in his last seven games, and his receivers have been coming up small lately, but he’ll have a chance to put up better production with a friendlier upcoming schedule (@Ind, SF, Atl, @LAR).
Daniel Jones (NYG, 28%) — Jones was rolling to open his third season with 22+ FP in three of his first four starts, but that seems like a lifetime ago. He’s fallen below 18 FP in five straight games, and he’s been crushed by injuries to his top WRs. He completed 15/20 passes for 110 yards (5.5 YPA) and one touchdown and he added 4/17 rushing in a victory over the Raiders in Week 9. Jones is still a volatile low-end QB2 with some beatable matchups (bye, @TB, vs. Phi, @Mia) looming after their Week 10 bye, but expectations need to be lowered if his best playmakers continue to miss time.
Cam Newton (Car, 0%) — Cam’s going to be starting in 1-2 weeks, and while there’s some downside, his upside as a superflex/2QB option may be significant. Cam will actually have some nice receivers to work with, namely DJ Moore, and he’s already played with Christian McCaffrey. If OC Joe Brady has any game whatsoever, this should be a successful relationship with Cam producing in the 15-20 point range weekly. UPDATED: 11/11/21
Tua Tagovailoa (Mia, 34%) — Tua couldn’t play against the Texans in Week 9 because of a small fracture in the middle finger of his throwing hand, but the injury isn’t expected to be a long-term issue. Tua posted 22+ FP in his first two games back from a rib injury in Weeks 6-7, but he stumbled in a tough matchup against the Bills in Week 8. He completed 21/39 passes for 205 yards (5.3 YPA) and one INT, and he added 4/10/1 rushing for 16.2 FP. Tua is averaging 42.0 passes per game in his first three games back from his rib injury, and he’ll be a volume-based option as soon as he returns to the lineup (Bal, @NYJ, Car, NYG). The Dolphins play on Thursday Night Football this week, and it’s not looking good at all for Tua, so he’s off the grid for Week 10.
Mac Jones (NE, 30%) — Jones continues to play like a 5-year veteran, and the passing game has been more aggressive as of late. He’s played very well on film, but it hasn’t translated to much fantasy success with just one performance of 18+ FP in his first nine career games. He served as a game manager in a lopsided victory over the hopeless Sam Darnold-led Panthers, completing 12/18 passes for 139 yards, one TD, and one INT. Jones doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of rushing production, but he should at least play in some competitive upcoming games (Cle, @Atl, Ten, @Buf) where he’ll be forced to throw a little more. He’s still a low-end QB2 but he’s starting to move in the right direction.
Taylor Heinicke (Was, 10%) — After posting 21+ FP in his first three starts for Ryan Fitzpatrick (hip, IR), Heinicke has come crashing back to earth with fewer than 14 FP in three of his last four games. He completed 24/39 passes for 270 yards (6.9 YPA), one TD, and two INTs in Week 8, and he added just 1/10 rushing against the Broncos. Fitz was still on crutches before Week 8 and his return doesn’t appear imminent, so Heinie could find himself leading the offense for the foreseeable future (TB, @Car, Sea, @LV).
Ben Roethlisberger (Pit, 21%) — Big Ben’s career is clearly on its last legs, and he’s yet to reach 18+ FP in each of his first eight games. His play has ever so slightly improved in recent weeks, as he completed 22/34 passes for 266 yards (7.8 YPA) and one TD in a victory over the Browns in Week 8. In Week 9, he was the QB15 with 205/2 passing, so Big Ben is still hanging in there as a decent desperation play only in Superflex/two-QB leagues moving forward but the matchups upcoming (Det, @Jax, @Cin) do look quite good. UPDATED: 11/9/21
Jimmy Garoppolo (SF, 28%) — Jimmy G has posted his two best fantasy games of the season in Weeks 8-9, but a 14-point loss to the Cardinals could be the beginning of the end of Garoppolo’s time as the starter in 2021. With a full complement of weapons, Jimmy G completed 28/40 passes for 326 yards (8.2 YPA), two TDs, and one INT in their loss to Arizona. Jimmy G is a streaming option while he continues to make starts since he finally has Deebo Samuel, George Kittle, and Brandon Aiyuk at his disposal at once, but it could be Trey Lance’s time as the starter if the 49ers lose to the Rams this week. San Francisco’s slim hopes of making noise in the NFC are dwindling with a 3-5 record, and they should elect to give Lance all-important game reps if they slip any further below .500.
Tyrod Taylor (Hou, 6%) — Taylor finally returned to the starting lineup after a seven-week layoff for a hamstring injury, and he performed like someone who hasn’t played football in nearly two months. He completed 24/43 passes for 240 yards (5.6 YPA) with three INTs, and he added 3/23 rushing in Houston’s nine-point performance against the Dolphins. Taylor played well before his injury, totaling 40.1 FP in just six quarters of action, but his Week 9 performance was a good reminder that Taylor is a slightly above average starting quarterback leading an offense with limited weapons behind a terrible O-line. Taylor will be a low-end QB2 when the Texans return from their Week 10 bye even with a friendly schedule (bye, @Ten, NYJ, Ind).
Trevor Siemian (NO, 5%) and Taysom Hill (NO, 18%) — Jameis Winston is done for the season and the offense is now in the hands of Siemian for now and potentially Hill’s hands in the future. In true Sean Payton fashion, he went against expectations and started Siemian against the Falcons after he played well in relief of Winston in Week 8. Siemian completed 25/41 passes for 249 yards (6.0 YPA) and two TDs, and he played better than numbers would indicate with Saints’ receivers dropping several passes. Hill saw limited action in his first game back from a four-week layoff for a concussion, posting just 33 passing yards and four receiving yards. Siemian played well enough to earn more starts in the future (@Ten, @Phi, Buf, Dal), but this could turn into a messy two-QB situation with Hill likely to see more playing time in the future. Hill can be stashed for the time being just in case Siemian turns back into a backup QB in the near future, and it’s possible they go to Hill this week, since he should be able to practice all week.
Jared Goff (Det, 9%) — Goff now owns an 0-15 record without Sean McVay as his head coach, and he’s failed to reach 20+ FP in six straight games after doing it twice to open the season. He completed 25/34 passes for 222 scoreless yards (6.5 YPA) in an embarrassing loss to the Eagles in Week 8. Goff doesn’t make the players around him better and he’s currently working with the worst wide receivers in the league, so it’s not surprising he’s come crashing back to earth since the start of the season. He can only be considered as a desperation option in Superflex/two-QB formats in the upcoming weeks (@Pit, @Cle, Chi, Min).
Running Backs
Higher-owned Options
J.D. McKissic (Was, 55%), Boston Scott (Phi, 63%), Nyheim Hines (IND, 53%), Jamaal Williams (Det, 50%), Alex Collins (Sea, 48%), Alexander Mattison (Min, 48%)
Top Targets
{Devonta Freeman (Bal, 19%) — Freeman continues to look the best out of Baltimore’s decrepit stable of running backs, especially Le’Veon Bell. In Week 9, Latavius Murray was out, so he’s presumably back in the mix when he returns. But Freeman has led the backfield in production in three straight games after posting a season-best 13/79 rushing and 2/4/1 receiving on three targets with 58% of the snaps in an overtime victory over the Vikings. Bell handled the rest of the work in this backfield with Murray (ankle) out of the lineup, posting a season-best 11/48/1 rushing on 23% of the snaps, and it was his first game with more than 20+ rushing yards. OC Greg Roman has been committed to rotating his ancient backfield to this point in the season, but Freeman’s recent performances could lead to more work in the future. Murray is likely out as of Wednesday night. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Mark Ingram (NO, 38%) — The once-dynamic duo of Ingram and Alvin Kamara is back together after a two-season hiatus. The Saints swung a deal with the Texans to bring Ingram, and they promptly signed him to a one-year, $2.8 million contract extension to keep him around through 2022. It’s a strong indication that the Saints have plans to use him as an early-down complement next to the still-dominant Kamara. Ingram played a decent 35% of the snaps and posted 9/43 rushing and 5/21 receiving against the Falcons in Week 9, which was his first double-digit FP performance since the season opener. Ingram is a good handcuff for Kamara, and he’s already carved out some standalone value with 14 touches in his second game with the Saints and 22 total opportunities Weeks 8-9. And he could be more, since Kamara is dealing with a mysterious injury and has prompted the team to work out some RBs this week and sign one. And Kamara was out of practice early in the week. If Kamara is out, then Ingram is obviously looking at 20+ touches. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Going Deeper
Jordan Howard (Phi, 12%) — Howard went from Philadelphia’s practice squad to being the team’s lead runner in a matter of two weeks. Playing 40% of the snaps, he led the Eagles with 17/71/1 rushing in a prime matchup against the Chargers in Week 9, while Boston Scott (44% of the snaps, 10/40 rushing) and Kenneth Gainwell (19% of the snaps, 2/3/1) finished well behind him. HC Nick Sirianni has been all over the map with his running back usage so far this season, and Howard could easily slide behind Scott next week if he doesn’t get the hot hand early in the game. Keep your expectations in check with any of these backs since this could devolve into an ugly committee while Miles Sanders is out for at least the next week, but Howard has played well in his first two games of the season and he’s actually the RB14 Weeks 8-9 with 29/128/3 rushing (0 targets).
Brandon Bolden (NE, 10%) and Rhamondre Stevenson (NE, 6%) — It continues to be a nightmare to handicap this backfield behind Damien Harris, but at least these two guys have a chance to contribute any given week, if desperate. The rookie Stevenson is back out of Bill Belichick’s doghouse, and he had his best game as a pro in Week 9 with 10/62 rushing and 2/44 receiving in a lopsided victory over the Panthers. Of course, he was only third on the team in snaps at 27%. Bolden led them in snaps at 47% and chipped in 8/54 rushing and 2/27 receiving with J.J. Taylor was inactive in Week 9. Bolden has a pulse in the deepest PPR formats while Stevenson is the best stash option behind Harris. He’s slowly building trust and warranting more touches from this coaching staff, so if he can push Bolden aside, he could be a legit RB3 option with 10+ FP potential every week. For Week 10, Damien Harris is in the concussion protocol, but so is Stevenson, and they were both out of practice early in the week, so it could be a big Bolden week. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Eno Benjamin (Ari, 0%) — Chase Edmonds left Week 9 in the first quarter with an ankle injury, which has been called a “high” sprain, so he’s expected to miss multiple weeks. That clearly opens the door for Benjamin, who got some scraps behind James Conner in Week 9, finishing with 9/39/1 rushing in the victory over the 49ers. He played 34% of the snaps with Edmunds logging just a single snap, but he should be up over 40% of the snaps (or more if they are behind) while Edmunds is out. Benjamin has some juice and versatility, and he was drafted by the Cardinals because he’s ideally running in a spread offense, which Arizona is. He has a chance to help you with 8-10 FPG the next two weeks (Car, @Sea).
Ty Johnson (NYJ, 4%) — The Jets have been rolling with Michael Carter as the lead back and Johnson as the passing in their backfield in their first three games out of their Week 6 bye, and Johnson has now produced 11+ FP in four straight games. Johnson finished with 4/21 rushing and 2/40/1 receiving on three targets, and he played a five-week high 42% of the snaps with the Jets chasing the Colts all game long. Johnson is worth an add if the Jets are going to roll with just a two-man backfield moving forward, and he’s going to be FLEX-worthy if these RBs are going to be more involved in the passing game in the second half of the season. Keep in mind that Tevin Coleman is expected to be available Week 10.
Carlos Hyde (Jax, 34%) — Hyde has been buried behind James Robinson in Jacksonville’s backfield since early in the season, but he was thrust into a bigger role in Week 9 with J-Rob missing for a heel injury. He handled a healthy 79% of the snaps and finished with 21/67 rushing (3.2 YPC) with a six-yard catch on two targets in Jacksonville’s upset victory over the Bills. Hyde is no longer dynamic at 31 years old, but he has a path to RB2 production with the chance for 15+ touches for as long as Robinson is out of the lineup. However, HC Urban Meyer said Monday (11/8) that Robinson has a chance to play this week, and Robinson was limited on Wednesday, so Hyde isn’t a priority add heading into a matchup with the Colts. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Jeff Wilson (SF, 32%) — Wilson is back on the active roster after having knee surgery this off-season, but he didn’t see a single snap in his first action. Wilson was active, though, unlike Trey Sermon, who was inactive. Elijah Mitchell continued to see most of the work with 8/36 rushing and a surprising 5/43 receiving, while JaMycal Hasty added 3/11 receiving. Wilson was the Niners’ most efficient and effective runner last season, averaging 3.0 yards after contact and a 46% success rate on his carries per SIS. Wilson is definitely worth a grab and a stash after a strong showing in 2020, especially with Mitchell popping up on San Francisco’s injury report quite a bit in the first half of the season.
Jaret Patterson (Was, 2%) — Antonio Gibson is playing through a stress fracture in his shin, but he did more work leading up to Week 8, which prompted some optimism. Unfortunately, he was limited to only 33% of the snaps in a close game. If the WTF decides to shut Gibson, then Patterson, a UDFA out of Buffalo, would take over as the team’s lead runner if Gibson is forced to miss time with J.D. McKissic working in passing situations while getting more opportunities as a runner. The rookie had just nine carries entering Week 8, but he left Denver 11/46 rushing on a season-best 23% snap share. Washington is sitting at just two wins coming out of their bye, and it wouldn’t be shocking if they pull the plug on Gibson in the near future if they fall completely out of contention.
Best Handcuff Stashes
Sony Michel (LAR, 35%) — Darrell Henderson is being used as a workhorse back most weeks, leaving Michel as a bench stash. He has RB1 upside with the potential for 20+ touches in any game that Henderson would miss in the future. Henderson did also leave their Week 9 game with an ankle injury but he did return.
Samaje Perine (Cin, 24%) — Perine is the primary handcuff for Joe Mixon, who already had an injury scare this season when he went down with an ankle injury. He’s also seeing some time playing behind Mixon on a weekly basis but it’s not quite enough to be fantasy relevant.
Marlon Mack (Ind, 30%) — Mack is nothing more than a decent handcuff for Jonathan Taylor. He’s not really a must-have due to the presence of Nyheim Hines, but Mack would certainly be in line for 12+ touches if JT’s out.
Rashad Penny (Sea, 20%) — Penny has yet to run for double-digit yardage in each of his first three games with a combined 15 carries for 24 yards for 1.6 YPC, and he’s been downgraded to the handcuff list because of Chris Carson’s return from IR. Penny is just a stash-and-hope guy, and you’re hoping for a lot of things to go his way., but things could certainly go south again quickly for the brittle Carson.
Wayne Gallman (Atl, 0%) — The Falcons are currently wasting weekly touches on Mike Davis, who is averaging a horrific 3.2 YPC through six games. There’s been no indication a change is coming soon, but HC Arthur Smith could give Gallman a chance to be the lead runner at some point in the near future if Davis doesn’t start performing better.
Peyton Barber (LV, 2%) — Barber is likely the top runner in Las Vegas if Josh Jacobs misses more time this season. Barber went off for 142/2 scrimmage back in Week 3 against the Dolphins when Jacobs sat out with foot/ankle injuries. This is a different regime running the show in Las Vegas now, and they don’t hate the (Kenyan) Drake like Jon Gruden did, so Barber shouldn’t be expected to average 19.5 touches per game as he did in Weeks 2-3 with Jacobs out.
Jermar Jefferson (Det, 0%) — The rookie has been an intriguing prospect since the summer when he flashed in their preseason games. Jefferson might even be worth starting if D’Andre Swift is out, but he showed with Jamaal Williams out in Week 8 that he has a chance if either of the top-2 RBs are out. Late in the season, they may be interested in playing him more to evaluate him. He’s got a lot of juice, plus he can handle volume, so he’s intriguing.
Anthony McFarland (Pit, 0%) — It would likely be a committee in Pittsburgh if Najee Harris missed time with Benny Snell, Kalen Ballage, and McFarland. Ballage may have the most upside, but McFarland was actually drafted by the Steelers last year, and they were planning on him having a role. He’s got great speed and some receiving chops.
Wide Receivers
Higher-owned Options
Brandon Aiyuk (SF, 60%), Michael Gallup (Dal, 49%), AJ Green (Ari, 50%), Kenny Golladay (NYG, 59%), Laviska Shenault (Jax, 52%), Mecole Hardman (KC, 48%)
Top Targets
Darnell Mooney (Chi, 45%) — Still available in more than 50% of Yahoo! Leagues, and with a 25% target share on the season, it’s been obvious that Mooney is the #1 WR in Chicago, and Justin Fields has shown serious signs of life Week 8-9. Mooney didn’t have a catch in Week 8 heading into the fourth quarter, but he ended the week as the WR6 despite only 3/41 on 6 targets, thanks to his 2 TDs (one rushing). Mooney is now the WR33 on the season and that’s almost exactly where we had him ranked in the preseason (ADP or WR46), yet Mooney is where he is with the QB playing being mostly subpar. But things are improving there, so Mooney may even have a crack at a top-20 finish, thanks also to some solid matchups starting Week 11 (vs. Bal, at Det. vs. Ari, at GB, vs. Min, at Sea, and vs. NYG). UPDATED: 11/9/21
Elijah Moore (NYJ, 16%) — Moore generated plenty of buzz this summer but he fell off the radar because of a preseason quad injury and an early-season concussion. The second-round pick finally looks poised to make some noise in the second half of the season with three straight games with double-digit FP coming out of their Week 6 bye. Moore had his breakthrough performance against the Colts on national TV, posting 7/84/2 receiving on eight targets (15% share) while playing seven-week high 60% of the snaps. We said last week that his Week 8 performance could be a catalyst for better things to come in the second half of the season, and it looks like it might be coming to fruition. New York still has one of the league’s worst quarterback situations with Zach Wilson and they’ve been rotating their WRs way too much for our liking, but the Jets would be foolish to put the toothpaste back in the tube after Week 9. The rookie is explosive both as a route-runner and with the ball in his hands, and it’s time to add him in all formats since he needs to be a weekly staple of this struggling Jets’ offense the rest of the season. The good news for Week 10 is that Mike White is the early favorite to start at QB. The bad news is it’s a bad matchup against the Bills. But Moore can certainly haul in 5-6 balls, and they have nice matchups against Mia, Hou, and Phi after this week. Corey Davis, we should mention, is expected to play in Week 10, but they are lining Moore up everywhere, so Davis being back isn’t a deal-breaker at all.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (Cle, 12%) — DPJ>OBJ. The Browns cut ties with the disgruntled Odell Beckham, which has elevated People-Jones into a starting role next to Jarvis Landry. DPJ returned to the lineup after a two-week absence for a groin injury, and he immediately posted more FP (16.6) than Beckham posted at any point to open the year. He played only 60% of the snaps but still hung 2/86/1 receiving on three targets against the Bengals thanks to a 60-yard touchdown. DPJ now has 12+ FP in each of his last three healthy contests, and his role has a chance to grow in the future with OBJ out of the picture. They do love him and were very high on him this summer, and DPJ is showing why.
Going Deeper
Rashod Bateman (Bal, 36%) — Bateman, a first-round pick in the spring, saw his first NFL action in Week 6, and he’s immediately jumped into the #2 WR role with Sammy Watkins (hamstring) out of the lineup. Bateman saw a career-high eight targets (20% share) for 5/52 receiving with 66% of the snaps in Baltimore’s Week 9 victory over the Vikings. Bateman has established himself as the #3 receiver behind established ballers Mark Andrews and Marquise Brown, but the Ravens are morphing into more of a passing team than we’ve ever seen with Lamar Jackson at quarterback. We’ll see how the Ravens plan to deploy these WRs with Watkins returning to the lineup this week, but Bateman should have a chance to get 10+ PPR points every week with upside for more. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Van Jefferson (LAR, 12%) — Jefferson is officially a full-time starter on the 3-WR heavy Rams now that DeSean Jackson is gone. Jefferson responded to the D-Jax drama with consecutive games with 11+ FP after posting 3/88 receiving on six targets against the Texans in Week 8. In Week 9, Jefferson played a whopping 96% of the snaps with 7 targets and 3/41, and multiple chances to score. Jefferson isn’t a safe bet to produce behind target hounds Cooper Kupp and Robert Woods, but he has the chance to go off at any point playing in this potent offense.
Tim Patrick (Den, 25%) — Patrick still has some fantasy life even with Jerry Jeudy back in the fold the last two weeks, leading the Broncos in receiving yards in both Weeks 8-9. He finished with 4/85/1 receiving on five targets (18% share) against the Cowboys in Week 9, scoring on a 44-yard pass from Teddy Bridgewater. He even out-snapped Jeudy 48 47. Patrick is now averaging 15.0 YPR with four touchdowns so he’s coming up with big plays despite the limited volume available in this passing attack.
Jamal Agnew (Jax, 10%) — Agnew quietly snuck into fantasy relevance as Jacksonville’s new slot WR with double-digit FP in three straight games in Weeks 5-8 after the Jaguars lost D.J. Chark (ankle, IR) for the season. He predictably came back to earth in a tough matchup with the Bills in Week 9, posting just 3/27 receiving on five targets (18% share), and his snaps were at a 4-week low of 54%. Agnew should stay active most weeks with Laviska Shenault, who had one fewer target than Agnew despite playing 15 more snaps. Let’s see what happens the next 1-2 weeks, but for now Agnew is arguably their safest WR for fantasy, since Marvin Jones has been under 35 receiving yards in three of his last four games. Jones’ play may have prompted the team to sign veteran John Brown to their practice squad this week.
Tyler Johnson (TB, 1%) — Johnson is a player to remember if Antonio Brown (heel) is unable to play in Week 10, which seems likely. Per HC Bruce Arians, AB was still in a walking boot on Monday. Johnson posted 5/65 receiving on six targets against the Saints in Week 8, and Tampa Bay has a juicy matchup against Washington in Week 10 coming out of their bye. The FT has been bad at covering slot receivers this year.
{Russell Gage (Atl, 16%) and Olamide Zaccheaus (Atl, 1%) — Calvin Ridley is indefinitely stepping away from football to focus on his mental health, which leaves the Falcons extremely thin at WR for as long as he’s away from the team. Gage went from not seeing a target in Week 8 to leading the team with eight targets (27% share) in Week 9, which he turned into 7/64 receiving on 89% of the snaps. After topping out at 32 yards in a game in the first eight weeks of the season, Zaccheaus (49% of the snaps) came out of nowhere to post 3/58/2 receiving on three targets against the Saints. This passing game is going to struggle moving forward without Ridley drawing attention, but these WRs have a chance to be active for as long as he’s out of the lineup.
Jamison Crowder (NYJ, 25%) — Crowder is worth a look if you need some cheap PPR help since he has 4+ catches in each of the last five games. Even with a healthy number of catches, he’s fallen below nine FP in three of his last five games because of his career-worst 8.6 YPR average. Crowder could also see his role reduced in the near future with rookie Elijah Moore ready to take on a bigger role and with Corey Davis (hip) likely returning to the lineup in Week 10. Crowder’s stock is slowly falling but he still has a pulse in PPR formats for the time being.
Marquez Callaway (NO, 34%) and Deonte Harris (NO, 15%) — Your fantasy team probably isn’t going anywhere if you’re using a Saints WR on a regular basis, but Harris and Callaway are the best options they have after it came out that Michael Thomas (ankle, IR) is done for the season. Harris has seen 7+ targets in consecutive games since Trevor Siemian stepped into the lineup, and he posted a team-best eight targets (19% share) for 6/52 receiving against the Falcons. Of course, he played only 30% of the snaps. Callaway was at 79% and has 3+ catches in four straight games after posting 3/25/1 receiving on six targets in Week 9. Siemian has surprisingly given some life to these WRs if you’re looking for help in deeper formats.
Zach Pascal (Ind, 5%) — Pascal is back in business with Parris Campbell set to miss significant time with a serious foot injury. T.Y. Hilton also can’t stay after leaving in the fourth quarter of Week 8 t for a concussion, and Hilton was still in the protocol early in the week heading into Week 10. Pascal finished with a respectable 4/58 receiving on a team-high seven targets (23% share) against the Jets in Week 9. Pascal gets manufactured touches and looks in the red zone out of the slot, and Carson Wentz doesn’t have a reliable second option behind Michael Pittman.
DeSean Jackson (LV, 4%) — It didn’t take D-Jax long to land with a new team, inking a deal with a Raiders’ squad desperate for deep speed. He should see an immediate bump in playing time after being a part-time player for the Rams through the first eight weeks of the season. He’ll likely rotate with Zay Jones and Bryan Edwards on the perimeter, and he should get a couple of chances per game to make plays downfield if you’re looking for help in deep non-PPR formats.
Tight Ends
Higher-owned Options
None of note.
Top Targets
Logan Thomas (Was, 54%) — If you’re hurting at TE, Thomas is a player to add this week if he’s been dropped in your leagues. Thomas posted 9.5+ FP in each of his first three games, and he’ll be in the low-end TE1 conversation as long as the Football Team doesn’t use a TE committee with Thomas and RSJ moving forward. He was initially given a four-week timeline to recover from his Week 4 injury so he could be ready to return to the lineup in Week 10. However, his hamstring was reportedly still sore early this week, so he may need another 1-2 weeks. UPDATED: 11/10/21
Pat Freiermuth (Pit, 31%) — As we’ve stated here for weeks, the rookie is a future star and he’s finally spreading his wings a bit with 12+ FP and six targets in each of Pittsburgh’s last three games. He had his best two games as a pro with Eric Ebron (hamstring) inactive in Weeks 8-9, posting 9/87/3 on 13 targets. Freiermuth said two weeks ago that Ben Roethlisberger was starting to trust him more, and now fantasy managers are as well because he’s the TE1 in fantasy the last two weeks by a wide margin (his 35.7 PFG the last two weeks is 10 points more than the #2 guy (who is actually freakin’ Geoff Swaim). He may not stick as a no-doubt TE1 option as long as Ebron is hanging around, but Freiermuth is clearly a strong starter if you need him. UPDATED: 11/9/21
Cole Kmet (Chi, 19%) — The Bears’ passing game has shown clear improvement over the last two weeks, and Kmet has been showing signs of life for a month. He had yet to hit double-digit FP this season heading into Week 9, but he got there against the Steelers on MNF with 6/87 on 8 targets, including some nice downfield throws from Justin Fields. Kmet now has a strong 9/111 on 14 targets the last two weeks to place as the TE9. The second-year TE not only has a pulse again, but he actually has a solid ceiling to go along with a palatable floor. He’s the top-12/TE1 convo now in PPR leagues. UPDATED: 11/9/21
Going Deeper
Dan Arnold (Jax, 27%) — Arnold has been fairly active since being traded to the Jaguars before Week 4, and he’s led the Jaguars in receiving yards in each of the last two weeks. He played a four-week low of 57% of the snaps, but posted 4/60 receiving on seven targets in a tough matchup against the Bills in Week 9, which gives him double-digit FP in three of his first four games with the Jaguars. Arnold, a former college WR and hurdler, can line up all over the formation and he can produce at all levels of the field. His role should grow a bit in this receiver-needy offense after D.J. Chark went down with a season-ending ankle injury in Week 4. He’s now seen 5+ targets in his first four games with the Jaguars so he’s developing into a high-end TE2.
C.J.Uzomah (Cin, 37%) — Uzomah has failed to find the end zone in consecutive games after scoring four TDs in a four-game span in Week 4-7. He still has 3+ catches in five of his last six games after posting 4/24 receiving on five targets in a loss to the Browns in Week 9 (64% of the snaps). He’s been the TE1 twice in nine tries this season if you’re looking for a streaming TE with some upside.
Tyler Conklin (Min, 38%) — Conklin has a fantasy pulse at a weak position since he gets weekly targets while seeing a large snap share. He’s posted exactly seven targets and five catches in each of his last two games after posting 5/45 receiving on 87% of the snaps against the Ravens in Week 9. Conklin is competing for 4-6 targets with K.J. Osborn most weeks so he’s a streaming option in games that could produce more passing volume.
Evan Engram (NYG, 40%) — Engram has looked sluggish this season, but he’s posted double-digit FP in three consecutive games so he’s got some life. He did look better in Week 9, especially on his TD, and caught all three of his targets for 3/38/1 receiving against the Raiders in Week 9, which gave him touchdowns in two consecutive games. Engram was at 87% of the snaps. He is averaging by far a career-low 8.6 YPR through the first half of the season so he’s going to need volume and/or touchdowns to come through for fantasy in the future.
Mo Alie-Cox (Ind, 8%) — Alie-Cox is a touchdown-or-bust option at the position, and he failed to find the end zone in Weeks 8-9 after scoring four TDs in a four-game span in Weeks 4-7. He has just a 28-yard catch in the last two weeks on five targets while Jack Doyle sniped a pair of goal-line scores, but Alie-Cox at least saw a 61% snap share and he ran routes on 64% of Carson Wentz’s dropbacks in Week 9.
Place Kickers
Higher-owned Options
Nick Folk (NE, 68%) - Folk has been dealing with a plant leg knee issue for most of the season. He has been limited in practices every week and is normally questionable leading up to game time. Strangely enough, 10-15 Patriot players are questionable every week, so take this with a grain of salt. The proof is in the pudding. Folk has two or more field goal attempts in all but one game this year. He has converted on 7 of 8 field goal attempts in his last three games combined and nine of his 21 converted field goals have been from the bonus range.
Top Targets
Mason Crosby (GB, 52%) - We listed Crosby here last week with the notion he would get two or more opportunities to kick a field goal and that is exactly what he did. Unfortunately, the wind was nasty in Kansas City and he missed on both attempts. Those were costly misses in a 13-7 loss. So expect Crosby to be more focused at Lambeau Field where he has at least two attempts in each of his last two home games. There is a consistency issue with Crosby, but he also has big upside in a bounce back game.
Going Deeper
Dustin Hopkins (LAC, 12%) - When Washington released Hopkins on October 20th, the Chargers wasted no time signing him and for good reason. In his last four games, Hopkins has converted on multiple field goals in three of them. He does have a tendency to miss extra points as he has missed on three of 17 attempts this year.
Defense/Special Teams
Higher-owned Options
Browns (Cle, 50%) — The Browns haven’t allowed more than 16 points in since Week Six against Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. They haven't allowed more than 21 points in six of their last eight games. Beyond their ability to keep offenses in check, Myles Garrett leads a vicious D-line that has yet to go sackless in a game, and has the 2nd-most QB takedowns in the league (27). Next up is NE, Det, and Bal before their Week 13 bye.
Top Targets
Broncos (Den, 47%) — If you need a longer-term option, Denver’s not your guy; their bye is next week (Week 11). But they do have a good matchup in Week 10 when they host the Eagles. Most teams see a dropoff when their top three LBs get injured and they trade away a future hall-of-fame edge rusher. But ever since they put in Baron Browning and traded for Kenny Young, the Broncos D hasn’t given up more than 17 points and has 8 sacks and 3 INTs. It’s a grab-and-go move, but one that could pay off handsomely for this week.
Going Deeper
Titans (Ten, 9%) — After the beat down they put on Matthew Stafford and the Rams (15 PA, 5 sacks, 2 INTs, 1 TD), the Titans D will now finish in the top 5 for the fourth time in five weeks. Boosted by 3 defensive TDs during that stretch, they’re also averaging 3 sacks, 1.5 INTs, and 1 FR per game during this stretch. They face NO, Hou, and NE before their Week 13 bye.
