Three of the top 10 Week 9 fantasy WRs were largely unrostered in fantasy football leagues. Each week, there are dozens of players on waivers who could help us win. Which mostly unrostered players should be added off the waiver wire ahead of Week 10?
Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Targets | QB, RB
If you need fantasy help (as most of us do), here are some players with short- and longer-term value, many of whom might be available in your leagues. Roster share is based on ESPN fantasy league data.
Carson Wentz, QB, Indianapolis Colts (51% available)
QB1s should not be available in more than half of leagues, especially in midseason. Carson Wentz had the third-most QB fantasy points per game in 2017 and was a solid QB1 as recently as 2019. Last year has proven to be an anomaly.
A healthy Wentz with an elite backfield and a high-functioning No. 1 receiver is all you need to get consistent streaming value and occasional top-five value. He’s exceeded 17 fantasy points in eight of nine games this year. Facing Jacksonville and Houston in two of the next four weeks, Wentz is a must-add in every league.
Kirk Cousins, QB, Minnesota Vikings (30% available)
Kirk Cousins is a lot like Wentz — but better. He’s historically underappreciated in fantasy circles, but he’s often been quite good. He’s scored 21+ fantasy points in five of eight contests. Unlike Wentz, Cousins has not one but two superb WR playmakers, one of the NFL’s top running backs, and an above-average TE. He’s currently the QB11, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he finishes among the top eight. He should be rostered in every league.
Justin Fields, QB, Chicago Bears (81% available)
We have to assume the worst games are behind Justin Fields. Rookie QBs often struggle. It’s no exaggeration to say Fields has one of the highest long-term upsides of any QB playing in the NFL today. After his Week 10 bye, Fields will get some favorable matchups against the Ravens and Lions. He should be a top waiver wire target in deep leagues if you’re in good shape at other core positions.
Ty Johnson, RB, New York Jets (80% available)
Last week, I recommended the surprisingly highly available Michael Carter. This week, I’m hyping his backfield teammate. Ty Johnson has taken his game to another level on the talent-depleted Jets.
While his TD rate is unsustainable (3 in the past four games), his 6-11 touches per contest — including sufficient attention in the passing game — make him a solid waiver add in very deep leagues, or in leagues where you’re desperate for a No. 2 RB who might get you 8+ points.
D’Onta Foreman, RB, Tennessee Titans (99% available)
Do not sleep on D’Onta Foreman. A few years ago, he was the heir-apparent to Lamar Miller in Houston. Injuries largely derailed his career. But no one has questioned his bell-cow abilities if given the opportunity.
On Sunday, he ran behind Adrian Peterson and Jeremy McNichols in a Titans backfield that’s been largely remade following Derrick Henry’s injury. I’m not buying the 36-year-old AP as a long-term solution, and McNichols is a role player. Foreman has the most upside if things break right.
Fantasy Football Week 10 Waiver Wire Targets | WR, TE
Need help at the pass-catching positions? Here’s who you could look to add at WR and TE as we head into Week 10.
Odell Beckham, Jr., WR, Free Agent (25% available)
I mentioned Odell Beckham Jr. in this column last week. With 6% of fantasy managers dropping him, I need to mention him again. It’s not that Beckham Jr. will return to WR1 or even WR2 glory. It’s that if he lands in the right spot, he could be a cheap fantasy streamer. At this stage of the season, there’s little to lose by stashing OBJ and seeing where he ends up.
T.Y. Hilton, WR, Indianapolis Colts (76% available)
Another nothing-to-lose option. Zach Pascal is capable of posting 8+ points in T.Y. Hilton’s absence. But a healthy Hilton would provide a little more upside. If you have an available injured reserve spot, there are far worse investments than rolling with Hilton on the chance he returns to WR3/4 production.
Tim Patrick, WR, Denver Broncos (76% available)
There’s chasing points, and there’s chasing talent. Tim Patrick led the Broncos in yardage last week and scored a touchdown. But I’ve been saying for three seasons that he deserves more reps. Whenever he starts, he’s a threat for WR4+ numbers. While Patrick won’t help you every week, he should be a bigger waiver target than his tiny rostership suggests.
Pat Freiermuth, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers (68% available)
Toward the end of Monday afternoon’s Pro Football Network “In the Mood” podcast with my colleague Tommy Garrett, I brought up Freiermuth, saying, “By the time some of you are listening to this tonight, he will have gotten 50 yards and a touchdown.”
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I’ve spent the past two weeks hyping Freiermuth on the podcast, the PFN website, the PFN newsletter, and on this page. With Ben Roethlisberger no longer able to throw deep, the uber-talented Freiermuth has been money in the bank. He is a no-brainer fantasy start. He should have been added off waivers two weeks ago in virtually every league.
Logan Thomas, TE, Washington Football Team (53% available)
Logan Thomas began this year as one of four offensive centerpieces on a team expected to make a run at respectability, if not the playoffs. Instead, Washington’s offense and defense have largely collapsed.
Losing Thomas to a multi-week hamstring injury in Week 4 didn’t help. On the verge of returning, he could provide a meaningful boost to an offense that has averaged only 11 points in their last three games. He has a good shot at replicating last year’s terrific fantasy numbers going forward.