The fantasy playoffs are only a couple weeks away. The bye has been in full effect. Owners are scrambling to fill their squad with worthy replacements in their stars' absences. The Bills, Lions, Colts, and Raiders all have the week off.

Here is a look at the surprise target grabbers from Week 9, and a look at possible breakout options for Week 10 based on the usage they are seeing in the passing game. You can ask me more waiver wire and game day questions on Twitter @DemetriRafto.

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Surprise Week 9 Target Grabbers

Lance Kendricks - (TE, LA)

After two straight seven-reception weeks, Lance Kendricks has inserted himself into the Los Angeles Rams' offense. Kendricks was targeted a career-high 12 times and reeled in 90 yards; his most since December of 2012. Amidst the production, Kendricks dropped a crucial, routine catch on third-and-goal in the fourth quarter that would have inched the Rams closer to coming back against the Carolina Panthers. The team settled for a field goal and the loss.

Kendricks, despite the impressive showing, remains a matchup-based option. The Rams head to New York to face a Jets squad that has allowed the 12th most fantasy points to tight ends and 272.2 passing yards per contest, according to Yahoo! Sports. Kendricks has found the end zone only once this season yet could accumulate enough receptions and yards against a spiraling Jets defense to be a useful play this weekend.

 

Albert Wilson - (WR, KC) 

Albert Wilson tied a career-high with eight targets on Sunday, although he reeled in only three for 42 yards. One of those three went for a touchdown, his third in a professional uniform. Wilson could see another boost in target volume if Jeremy Maclin misses more time. Maclin went down with a groin injury early in Kansas City's win against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The issues with trusting Wilson are that he's unestablished and still remains behind Tyreek Hill and Chris Conley on the depth chart. Hill is a guy you want to target more than Wilson when looking for bye week replacements off of the waiver wire.

 

Quinton Patton - (WR, SF) 

Quinton Patton is another wideout that had an inaugural showing on Sunday. Patton finished Week 9's shootout versus the New Orleans Saints with a career-high six receptions on a career-tying nine targets for 109 yards; his most in four professional seasons. He still has not found the end zone and has scored only one touchdown in his career, but looked to be favored by Colin Kaepernick as the team played catchup against the Saints.

Patton has emerged as the best option in the pedestrian group of receivers in San Fransisco, but heads into a difficult matchup against an Arizona Cardinals club that has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season, according to Yahoo! Sports. He can remain on the wire, unless you're in need of a desperation punt.

 

Possible Week 10 Breakout Options

Cameron Meredith - (WR, CHI)

Jay Cutler returns, wins one game, against the Minnesota Vikings, and suddenly makes Chicago players relevant to fantasy again. The value of Zach Miller and Alshon Jeffery has remained steady throughout the season, but someone like Cameron Meredith has shown bursts of brilliance followed by moments of nonexistence.

Meredith exploded for noteworthy showings in Week 5 and Week 6, accumulating 20 receptions on 27 targets for 243 yards and a touchdown. In two games since, Meredith has reeled in only two catches on four targets for 36 yards. He didn't seem to mesh too well with Cutler in Chicago's win before their bye, but heads into a favorable matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. According to Yahoo! Sports, the Bucs have surrendered the third-most fantasy points to receivers, while they have already relinquished 18 touchdowns through the air. Meredith is a punt, but has enough upside to stir some appeal around his name. With all the attention likely pinned to Jeffery on Sunday, Meredith should see a ton of one-on-one matchups.

 

Marqise Lee - (WR, JAX)

It's difficult to trust a receiver on the Jacksonville Jaguars that doesn't answer to the first name of Allen. But Marqise Lee has been a bit of a surprise for fantasy so far. While only owned in 4% of Yahoo! leagues, Lee has put up some solid points for PPR leagues on three separate occasions. Against a stingy Kansas City defense last week, Lee posted four catches on eight targets for an impressive 84 yards.

It doesn't get any easier for the struggling Jaguars as they host a Houston Texans squad that has allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to wideouts this season. But with Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns tightly covered, Lee could find plenty of openings to reel in enough catches to make him a worthy punt on Sunday.

 

Zach Ertz - (TE, PHI) 

After a solid season debut where he reeled in six of seven targets for 58 yards, Ertz missed the following two weeks with an injury. Following Philadelphia's bye, Ertz returned to the field but was unable to reassert himself into the Eagles' offense, catching only nine passes over a four-week span.

Week 9 proved to be a turnaround showing for Ertz, posting eight catches on eight targets for 97 yards, ushering his name back into waiver-wire-pickup consideration. Still likely owned in over 50% of leagues, Ertz is a streaming option against an Atlanta Falcons team that has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this season and currently own the 31st ranked pass defense in the league.

 

Other Options: Austin Hooper (TE, ATL) @PHI, Jalin Marshall (WR, NYJ) vs LA, Vernon Davis (TE, WAS) vs MIN