RADIO
Assisting our famous waiver wire pickups list, and our weekly waiver wire columns by position, this column focuses on suggested waiver wire bidding percentages for fantasy football owners in leagues using a Free Agent Acquisition Budget (FAAB).
As a caveat, these prices do not by any means indicate how much these free agent players will go for. Each league values players differently and will continue to do so. These values are here to provide a baseline to understand roughly how much you should be targeting to spend on a particular player. You only have so much FAAB money, spend it as wisely as possible.
We've passed the halfway point of the regular season and are hitting the fantasy home stretch, meaning playoff pictures are coming into focus. Must-win scenarios are dictating several moves, and six teams on bye may call for aggression. Without further ado, here are our FAAB auction bidding recommendations for Week 10 below.
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FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Quarterbacks
Daniel Jones (QB, NYG) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
26% owned
Jones draws an ailing Jets team that just gave Miami its first victory of 2019. He tore apart the Lions for 322 yards and four touchdowns in Week 8 (on the road) and has a stocked cabinet of weapons to utilize. Mix in some rushing potential and he’s a solid stream before the G-men hit their bye, but the two fumbles against Dallas highlight a serious security problem. Sam Darnold is also 26% owned, but five touchdowns against nine interceptions since returning from injury is not okay, no matter the schedule. Mitch Trubisky (21%) against the lesser Lions is similar to Darnold. Great spots, poor arms.
Ryan Tannehill (QB, TEN) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
18% owned
Tannehill shredding the Buccaneers for three touchdowns was simply rolling over a horrid pass defense, but he’d looked good against the Chargers before that and battled against Carolina in Week 9 to deliver a top-five QB effort. He missed throws, but also had an unlucky interception and all told, wound up with 331 passing yards, 38 rush yards and two total TDs. More important, Tannehill will need to keep up with a Chiefs team that likely gets Patrick Mahomes back in Week 10 and has given up three-touchdown box scores to three of its last four QBs faced.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
6% owned
When in doubt, go with the desperate gunslinger with nothing to lose. Fitzpatrick absorbed some costly sacks against the Jets in Week 10, but emerged with 288 passing yards and three touchdowns. The Colts Defense is much better than the Jets, but Indy has an ailing Jacoby Brissett and the neutered offense could hinder the defense’s effectiveness and yield better field position for Miami. It stinks that Fitz will be without Preston Williams, but only the most desperate are digging this deep anyhow.
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Running Backs
Ronald Jones II (RB, TB) - FAAB Bid: 25-30%
40% owned
Jones remained involved throughout Tampa Bay’s 34-point show against Seattle, totaling 82 yards and a TD on 20 touches. He’s simply better than Peyton Barber right now, Bruce Arians has said as much, though Tampa remains pass-focused with two stud receivers and a poor defense that often leaves them in catch-up mode. Jones’ 53% snap count was a season-high mark and hopefully starts a meaningful second-half run.
Kalen Ballage (RB, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 10-12%
9% owned
If you thought Mark Walton was an uninspiring add, then how about the guy he beat out? Ballage played behind Kenyan Drake and Walton, but Drake is now a Cardinal and Walton is suspended for four games. Ballage has been limited to short-yard and goal-line opportunities, hence the two TDs, but that’s no excuse for the awful 2.0 YPC.
Darrell Henderson (RB, LAR) - FAAB Bid: 7-8%
25% owned
Prior to midweek injury reports coming out, we must remember Henderson played on 48% of the Rams’ snaps in Week 8. The other 52% was Todd Gurley, naturally. Henderson generated 13 touches throughout that game, but it was a 24-10 win against a weak Bengals squad that never really threatened them. It may not be 50/50 against the Steelers in Week 10, but don’t forget about the rookie with Gurley’s knee on shaky ground.
J.D. McKissic (RB, DET) - FAAB Bid: 3-4%
12% owned
The Lions are best when the ball remains with Matthew Stafford, which makes McKissic a better target than Ty Johnson. Let alone that McKissic outperformed Johnson with 72 yards and a TD on seven touches. Johnson had half that, 36 yards, on 12 touches. Detroit faces the Bears next and Matt Patricia would be wise to incorporate the hot hand into that mix. Don’t rely on it, but bye-week beggars can’t be choosers.
Derrius Guice (RB, WAS) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
32% owned
Guice is still aiming for a Week 11 return after being placed on the IR following a Week 1 injury. Once again, Adrian Peterson was inactive in Week 1 and they have no long-term plans around the veteran, whereas Guice has little track record to analyze. Unfortunately, this assumes Washington does the logical thing. The schedule won't be easy, but facing the Giants in Week 16 may be a dream date depending on his progression after a month back in the saddle.
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Wide Receivers
Devante Parker (WR, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 20-25%
35% owned
Parker’s now scored in four of his last five games and has averaged eight targets in his last three games — same as Preston Williams, who is now out for the season. The Dolphins will have some “next man up” action, but Parker is the most established at this point, surely from a timing and chemistry standpoint with Ryan Fitzpatrick. Pay as necessary, with a bonus if you need a WR3 that should be a weekly fixture within my top-35 at the position.
Josh Reynolds (WR, LAR) - FAAB Bid: 10-12%
1% owned
Reynolds stepped into the Rams’ oft-deployed three-wide sets in Week 8 after Brandin Cooks left with a head injury. Reynolds’ 89% snap rate still trailed Robert Woods (98%) and Cooper Kupp (97%) but that’s beyond significant. Cooks had the bye week to recover, but the amount of head injuries is getting frightful and he has no timetable right now. All concussions are different and Reynolds becomes a top-40 WR for me as a starter.
Zach Pascal (WR, IND) - FAAB Bid: 5-6%
20% owned
Pascal brought five-of-six targets for 76 yards and a touchdown in Week 9, showing up as Indy’s best wideout with T.Y. Hilton out. It’s possible that the Colts’ defense and rushing game are enough to bowl over the Dolphins, but the scoring opportunities should be plentiful there. The positive prognosis on Jacoby Brissett’s knee sprain (that he’ll play in Week 10) are great for Pascal. Also, note Parris Campbell (3% owned) has upside going into Week 10’s date with Miami after totaling 80 yards on eight touches.
Hunter Renfrow (WR, OAK) - FAAB Bid: 3-4%
2% owned
Renfrow’s scored in back-to-back games now, looking more comfortable as Derek Carr’s safety valve. His past two games have seen 11 targets turn into 10 catches for 142 yards and two scores, as Houston and Detroit’s defenses have failed to corral the slot man. Oakland’s Thursday tilt against the Chargers isn’t a good look, but the Bengals matchup in Week 11 is cake.
Ted Ginn (WR, NO) - FAAB Bid: 3-4%
6% owned
Ginn is another stasher through his team’s bye week, as the Saints rest until Week 10 against Atlanta’s softer defense. The speedster caught two balls for 42 yards with Drew Brees back under center, with Brees’ willingness to throw deep giving Ginn life versus Teddy Bridgewater’s approach. Facing ATL, TB, CAR, and ATL again in the coming weeks brings three premium matchups to attack downfield.
Albert Wilson (WR, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
1% owned
I know plenty of you play in leagues where most top adds are owned already, but Wilson should offer some widely-available upside. Preston Williams’ season-ending injury not only opens the door for Parker to be Miami’s No. 1, but it bumps the rest of the hierarchy up a notch. Wilson’s athleticism carries more potential than Allen Hurns, though they’ve logged similar workloads since Miami’s Week 5 bye. Plus, Miami gave him a three-year, $24M contract that runs through the 2020 season.
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Tight Ends
Jack Doyle (TE, IND) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
25% owned
Doyle hauled in a touchdown from Brian Hoyer in Week 9 and was targeted four times against Eric Ebron’s two. Doyle also had a 77% snap count against Ebron’s 34%. You won’t love leaning on Indy’s offense with Jacoby Brissett on one good leg, but T.Y. Hilton’s injury elevates Doyle/Ebron as playmakers and their playing the Dolphins.
O.J. Howard (TE, TB) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
35% owned
Howard is a 2019 bust posterchild thus far but is “ready to roll” in Week 10 per Bruce Arians. This is a do-or-die matchup, as Cameron Brate (ribs) and Antony Auclair (toe) are hobbled and the Bucs face a Cardinals Defense that has yielded a hilarious 64-810-9 line to opposing TEs so far. Tampa’s offense goes through Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, and Ronald Jones II is emerging, but Howard’s matchup alone makes him a solid TE2 dart. Arizona’s up-tempo offense and Tampa’s horrid defense may yield quite the shootout.
Noah Fant (TE, DEN) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
12% owned
Regardless of Fant’s bye in Week 10, he’s seen increased usage since Emmanuel Sanders left town and Brandon Allen may be an upgrade over Joe Flacco. Fant’s inconsistent hands may frustrate fantasy players, but that 75-yard touchdown against Cleveland shows the athleticism once he secures the ball. He’s Denver’s second-best receiver behind Courtland Sutton and could be a weekly top-12 TE down the stretch.
Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
26% owned
Goedert (4-39-0) slid behind Zach Ertz (9-103-1) in Week 9, but still saw five targets in Philly’s 22-14 victory over the Bears. Miles Sanders and Jordan Howard offer a slick 1-2 punch at RB, but Alshon Jeffery is fading and DeSean Jackson is now out for the season. Nelson Agholor is inconsistent at best and no one else behind him has stepped up. The aerial attack will go through Ertz and Goedert without D-Jax to stretch the field. Scoop Dallas up if he’s cut during the Eagles’ Week 10 bye ahead of a Week 11 clash with the Patriots, who Baltimore just picked apart with TE-heavy packages.
Mike Gesicki (TE, MIA) - FAAB Bid: 2-3%
4% owned
No Mark Walton or Preston Williams should leave ample room for Mike Gesicki to emerge alongside DeVante Parker. Gesicki steamrolled the Jets Defense, connecting on all six of his targets for 95 yards. I respect the risk-takers who need an RB and go for Kalen Ballage, but Gesicki should be this offense's second-best option now. Williams had led all Miami receivers with nine red-zone opportunities, three of which came in Week 9, which may shift right over to the six-foot-six Gesicki.
Jacob Hollister (TE, SEA) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
0% owned
Hollister turned six targets into four catches, 37 yards and two scores in a 40-34 shootout victory over Tampa Bay. This continues a trend of TEs sinking the Bucs and Hollister isn’t a premier play for Week 10 against San Francisco, but it’s promising to see his usage with Will Dissly on the IR.
FAAB Waiver Wire Bids - Defense/Special Teams
Indianapolis Colts D/ST (vs. MIA) - FAAB Bid: 1-2%
36% owned
Doesn’t matter; playing Dolphins. Yes, if Jacoby Brissett is limited by the knee sprain then that puts more weight on the defense’s shoulders, but Miami is as mistake-prone as they come. And they just lost Preston Williams and Mark Walton, meaning the current chemistry that led to their first win of 2019 is disrupted. Now with minimal rushing threats and a turnover-happy Ryan Fitzpatrick missing his top weapon, target away with the Colts defense at home.
New York Giants D/ST (at NYJ) - FAAB Bid: 0-1%
3% owned
The Metlife Bowl brings a Giants Defense that has quietly generated lots of pressure against a shaken Sam Darnold. Outside of two ugly, sackless games against Dallas, Big Blue has averaged over three sacks per game with 12 turnovers generated and three TDs in their last seven games. Let's hope they can bounce back, but there aren't many stellar options with six bye-week teams.
