Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist for Week 10: Streaming targets, free agent sleepers include Taysom Hill, Derrick Gore, Elijah Moore

In Week 10, we get back all the studs in Tampa Bay, D’Andre Swift, DK Metcalf, and Terry McLaurin, among others, and there aren’t many highly valuable players taken away from us. With the Bears, Bengals, Giants, and Texans on bye, we’re only going to be dramatically affected by the losses of Burrow/Mixon/Chase. Brandin Cooks’ owners will have to live without him this week, though. That said, while we’re still in Week 9, we should look ahead at possible waiver wire pickups, free agents, and streamers, such as Taysom Hill, Derrick Gore, Elijah Moore, and Logan Thomas, before they potentially become hot adds on waivers.

Our Week 10 waiver watchlist can help get ahead on potential top streaming targets. We’ll continue to help you identify one-week solutions, but we’re not giving up on finding season-long value either. The waiver wire might be getting thin, but as injuries mount and bye weeks remove your fantasy studs from action, we have to prepare for all scenarios. Again, this is a mild week for byes, but other factors will inevitably leave you scrambling for alternate options.

WEEK 9 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start ’em, sit ’em

We know not all leagues have enough roster spots to really take advantage of “stashing players,” but for those in deeper leagues (or those who have players on IR or busts worth cutting), our week-ahead watchlist will be useful. Stashing a player or two on your bench when they’re still free agents can really pay off if those players have good games. If they don’t, they’re easy drops. Your spot in the waiver order is valuable, and you want to hold it as long as possible. At the very least, it’s good to have a list of names of players to watch on Sunday so you can monitor snap share and targets/touches, and it’s always smart to claim matchup-based streamers at positions like TE or D/ST before there’s competition for them.

WEEK 9 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Watchlist

Reminder: This list was put together in the lead-in to Week 9, looking forward to the players who could be popular waiver-wire targets ahead of Week 10. If you have a roster spot to play with, these are free-agent options you could grab early to beat the waiver buzz.

All these players are below 50-percent ownership on Yahoo unless otherwise specified. 

Week 10 Waiver Wire Watchlist: QB

Teams on a Week 10 bye: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Giants, Houston Texans

Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (42) @ IND in Week 10

Lawrence hasn’t even been dependable when the matchup is favorable, but in a week where streaming options are limited, he warrants consideration. Indianapolis has given up the 10th-most fantasy points per game (FPPG) to QBs.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins (40) vs. BAL

Baltimore is middle-of-the-pack against quarterbacks, but it’s not the almighty defense we often associate with the Ravens. Tua has attempted 42 passes per game since he returned from his ribs injury, so he can get it done with volume if nothing else.

Mac Jones, Patriots (28) vs. CLE

Again, it’s a tough week for streamers at QB, so Jones has to be considered, too. Cleveland is a bottom-eight team against fantasy QBs, and we’ve seen Jones be productive if the game script is favorable. Expect New England to be more willing to let it rip against a struggling Browns’ secondary.

Taysom Hill, Saints (19) @ TEN

Hill is the ultimate rushing quarterback. and Tennessee has given up the seventh-most FPPG to quarterbacks heading into Week 9. Hill doesn’t even need to succeed in the passing game to pay dividends for your fantasy roster, so he has one of the safest floors of all NFL quarterbacks — not just streamers. Assuming he keeps his starting job, he easily has QB1 potential the rest of the season.

Taylor Heinicke, Washington (12) vs. TB

Tampa Bay’s passing defense hasn’t been as bad in recent weeks, but they are still a bottom-12 team against fantasy QBs. Heinicke has a few QB1 games this season, and while he’s not our top streamer pick, he has to be considered, too.

WEEK 9 DFS LINEUPS: FanDuel | DraftKings | Yahoo

Week 10 Waiver Wire Watchlist: RB

Teams on a Week 10 bye: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Giants, Houston Texans

Jeremy McNichols (50); Adrian Peterson (42), Titans

Derrick Henry (foot) is out, so these two guys are obviously the next two in line to take on his role in the offense. Don’t expect either to take a workhorse role in the offense, but they can add value to your fantasy teams down the stretch. We prefer McNichols in PPR leagues and Peterson in standard leagues until further notice.

Boston Scott (44); Jordan Howard (8), Eagles

Kenneth Gainwell, who? Both Scott and Howard out-touched Gainwell in the first game without Miles Sanders (ankle) and each scored a pair of touchdowns. Moving forward, we have to assume they’re going to continue to be a priority of Gainwell.

Latavius Murray, Ravens (40)

You can also consider Devonta Freeman and Le’Veon Bell here, but Murray is the only guy we could see dominating touches at some point in this backfield when he returns from his ankle injury.

David Johnson (38); Phillip Lindsay (14), Texans

This offense flat-out stinks, but surely one of these guys will be valuable down the road, right? Whether one of them seizes the backfield in a workhorse role are act as a 1A, 1B tandem, someone has to get touches, and touches are hard to find on the waiver wire at this point in the season.

Mark Ingram, Saints (37); Derrick Gore, Chiefs (15); Ty Johnson, Jets (9)

We’ll see if Gore’s strong Week 8 was just a one-time thing, but consider this group of RBs as handcuffs with standalone value. Ingram got touches right away in his first game back in New Orleans and apparently the new offensive strategy in New York is flurrying Michael Carter and Johnson with targets.

Handcuffs — Alexander Mattison, Vikings (50); Sony Michel, Rams (34); Samaje Perine, Bengals (18)

You obviously can’t roster every single handcuff RB, but players like Mattison, Michel, and Perine are just one injury away from being workhorse backs and potential RB1s.

WEEK 9 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker

Week 10 Waiver Wire Watchlist: WR

Teams on a Week 10 bye: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Giants, Houston Texans

Hunter Renfrow, Raiders (50); Bryan Edwards (18)

Henry Ruggs III will not play again this season (if ever again), so by default, Edwards should start to receive more targets in this high-volume passing attack. Renfrow remains a high-floor, low-ceiling guy.

Mecole Hardman, Chiefs (45); Darnell Mooney, Bears (45)

You can’t rely on Hardman or Mooney, but the targets are coming their way and can be put in lineups as boom-or-bust plays any given week.

Michael Gallup, Cowboys (45); Will Fuller, Dolphins (28)

Gallup (hamstring) and Fuller (finger) are high-upside flex considerations when they return from their respective injuries, which could be any time soon for either of them.

Marquez Callaway, Saints (38); T.Y Hilton, Colts (37); Rashod Bateman, Ravens (33); Russell Gage, Falcons (15); Tajae Sharpe, Falcons (2)

We’ve identified Callaway (@ TEN), Hilton (vs. JAX), Bateman (@ MIA), Gage (@ DAL), and Sharpe (@ DAL) as streaming options for Week 10 thanks to favorable matchups. Sharpe is primarily a deep league option, but the rest of them can be considered depending on the health of Hilton (concussion).

Tim Patrick, Broncos (27)

Against Washington, it was Tim Patrick who led Broncos WRs in yards despite the return of Jerry Jeudy (ankle). We might see Patrick’s role start to diminish as Jeudy settles back in, but we should monitor his situation in case it doesn’t play out that way.

Jamison Crowder, Jets (21); Elijah Moore, Jets (19)

Crowder is similar to Hunter Renfrow, as he’s not going to “wow” you, but he gets a steady stream of targets and has a safe enough floor to not lose you your fantasy matchup. Elijah Moore is starting to be involved in the offense, as he’s drawn six targets in each of his last two games, but we’ll have to see if he’s still a factor when Corey Davis (hip) returns to the lineup.

Van Jefferson, Rams (20)

Jefferson has 13 targets in the past two games, and with DeSean Jackson out the door after being released, Jefferson locks up the No. 3 WR role in arguably the best offense in the league. That said, Cooper Kupp dominates targets like we only see from Davante Adams, so there might not be consistent production here. Regardless, he’s worth keeping an eye on.

Darius Slayton (10), Giants

Sterling Shepard (quad) can’t seem to stay healthy, so by default, Slayton is worth stashing. His value might be decreased when Kenny Golladay (knee) finally returns, though.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (9); Allen Lazard (7), Packers

Davante Adams is a target hog who leaves mere scraps for other Packers’ WRs, but these guys are playable in favorable matchups. Lazard has the higher floor, but MVS has the higher ceiling with his deep-threat acumen.

Week 10 Waiver Wire Watchlist: TE

Teams on a Week 10 bye: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Giants, Houston Texans

Logan Thomas, Washington (53) vs. TB in Week 10

Thomas is worth grabbing, as he should be ready for Week 10 against Tampa Bay. He’s been out for several weeks with a hamstring injury, but we know his upside is somewhere in the top six of all tight ends. Washington desperately needs playmakers, and Tampa Bay gives up the 11th-most fantasy points to TEs, so you can start him right away.

Tyler Conklin, Vikings (29) @ LAC

Los Angeles has given up five receiving touchdowns to tight ends and the team allows the third-most fantasy points to the TE position. Conklin has flashed in some spots this year, so he deserves consideration with favorable matchups.

Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (23) vs. DET

Detroit is statically decent against tight ends, but Freiermuth looks like he’ll draw targets in bunches moving forward. Since JuJu Smith-Schuster suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, Freiermuth has drawn 14 targets in two games and caught one touchdown. We not only like him this week, but his season-long outlook looks strong in PPR leagues.

Dan Arnold, Jaguars (16) @ IND

Indianapolis allows the eighth-most fantasy points to TEs heading into Week 9, and Arnold has totaled 23 targets over the past three games. He, like Freiermuth, could become a decent PPR option moving forward. The matchup with the Colts should get his season-long outlook started off strong.

Mo Alie-Cox, Colts (14) vs. JAX

Alie-Cox is a touchdown-or-bust option, but Jacksonville has allowed four touchdowns to tight ends this season and is the seventh-worst defense against fantasy TEs. Alie-Cox is primarily attractive in standard leagues if your back is against the wall at tight end.

Week 10 defense streamers and sleepers

Teams on a Week 10 bye: Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, New York Giants Giants, Houston Texans

Green Bay Packers DST (31) vs. SEA in Week 10

If Russell Wilson (finger) plays, consider this option removed from consideration, but Green Bay’s defense has been a lot better than people expected. If Geno Smith is at QB, we can expect an inefficient and turnover-prone offense on the other side of the ball.

Las Vegas Raiders DST (14) vs. KC

It may seem crazy to start a fantasy defense against Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, but Mahomes leads the league in interceptions (10) and Kansas City has failed to score 21 points in three of the past four games. Las Vegas has a strong enough pass rush to bother Mahomes, which has been the key to limiting his production and the entire offense.

Tennessee Titans DST (9) vs. NO

We’ll see how this offense looks led by Taysom Hill, but New Orleans is currently just ahead of Chicago, Miami, and Houston in offensive yards per game. It even trails the Jets. That said, we shouldn’t expect an offensive outburst against an opportunistic Titans defense. Kevin Byard is second in the league in interceptions (4), and Harold Landry is tied with T.J. Watt for second in the league in sacks (8.5).

Philadelphia Eagles DST (8) @ DEN

You can consider this a boom-or-bust defense. Despite the struggles at times, the Eagles defense ranks 12th in FPPG, and Denver is a bottom-10 team in fantasy points allowed to D/STs. It’s a tough week for streamers at multiple positions, so Philly has to be considered.