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Hayden's unexpected fantasy football performances, waiver wire sleepers, and trade targets for Week 11 (2024). Can these NFL players sustain Week 10's success?
Week 10 of the NFL regular season was an excellent one. The Chiefs blocked a last-second field goal attempt to survive against the Broncos and advance to 9-0. San Francisco and Pittsburgh both prevailed in close, crucial matchups, and the Panthers topped the Giants in an overtime bout in Munich.
No game was more exciting than the Thursday night matchup between Baltimore and Cincinnati, though. A slew of big plays characterized the 35-34 thriller won by the Ravens. No star shined brighter than Ja'Marr Chase; Chase posted a gaudy stat line of 11 catches for 264 yards and three touchdowns.
Several less-appreciated players also played well this week. Let's take a look at five of this week's unexpected boom performances, beginning with a pair from the TNF battle.
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Tylan Wallace, Baltimore Ravens
Ravens receiver Tylan Wallace had a very quiet first half of the season. Despite playing in each of the first nine weeks of the year, Wallace finished with zero catches in eight of them. With Baltimore's receiving room healthy and now including the recently acquired Diontae Johnson, expectations were minimal for Wallace entering Week 10.
Surprisingly, Wallace led the Ravens in receiving yards against the Bengals. Although he saw just three targets, he caught all three and totaled a career-high 115 yards. Much of that yardage came on a fourth-quarter 84-yard catch and run down the sideline to cut the Cincinnati lead to just one point.
TYLAN WALLACE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tune in on Amazon Prime! pic.twitter.com/tmqqT0Pxq6
— Baltimore Ravens (@Ravens) November 8, 2024
With 19.0 half-PPR points, Wallace currently stands as Week 10's WR4. Interestingly, he was also Baltimore's WR4 in terms of snaps played; all of Zay Flowers, Rashod Bateman, and Nelson Agholor saw more playing time, and Johnson should gradually be incorporated into the offense more as well.
Ultimately, Wallace should be left on waivers. His production largely feels like a fluke given his low snap and target shares, plus his lack of involvement in previous weeks. Fantasy managers searching for receiver help will not find it with Wallace, and they should instead look at other options.
Tanner Hudson, Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals tight end Tanner Hudson has been a fantasy afterthought this year. Entering Week 10, Hudson had just four catches for seven targets on the season. Mike Gesicki, Erick All Jr., and Drew Sample were more involved than him over the first nine weeks. The crowded TE room limited Hudson significantly.
On Thursday, things went differently. Hudson caught six of seven targets for 42 yards and a touchdown in the loss. With All on IR with a torn ACL and receiver Tee Higgins absent for the third straight game with a quad issue, Hudson saw more snaps and far more targets than he had been getting.
Tanner Hudson hauls in the TD from Joe Burrow! @Bengals take the lead.#CINvsBAL on Prime Video
Also streaming on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/rUef5ykpT7— NFL (@NFL) November 8, 2024
Hudson and his 13.3 half-PPR points stand as Week 10's TE4 through Sunday's games. He is unlikely to repeat this, though. Gesicki is clearly the team's top TE, and he had nine targets on Thursday. Sample will also continue to eat up snaps as he has each week despite his limited passing game involvement.
As with Tylan Wallace, fantasy managers should ignore Hudson on waivers this week. Even with All out for the season, Hudson should not be on fantasy rosters. There are plenty of other more appealing TE options, including Gesicki if available, out there to be picked up ahead of Week 11.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, New Orleans Saints
Saints receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling did not begin the season in New Orleans. After joining the Bills in the offseason, Valdes-Scantling got off to a slow start. He had just two catches in six games, and on October 15, he was waived by Buffalo. New Orleans proceeded to sign him on October 21.
In Week 9, Valdes-Scantling caught his lone target for five yards in his Saints debut. His Week 10 outing was much more explosive, though. Valdes-Scantling scored two touchdowns against the Falcons, with the longer of the two going for 40 yards. He also had a 67-yard reception that marked the longest play for either team.
Marquez Valdes-Scantling. Welcome to the DOME!
📺 FOX pic.twitter.com/QRmg5SRBZn
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 10, 2024
Valdes-Scantling's final stat line was three receptions on three targets for 109 yards and two scores. This amounted to 24.4 half-PPR points, giving him the week's tentative WR2 ranking. Valdes-Scantling led New Orleans's WRs in receptions, though RB Alvin Kamara had both more catches and targets.
With the New Orleans receiving corps severely depleted at the moment, Valdes-Scantling is worth a look on waivers. He may be a big-catch-dependent upside play, or he may carve out a substantial role soon with his new team. Either way, fantasy managers in need of receiver help should consider acquiring him.
Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts
Indianapolis receiver Alec Pierce has been extremely inconsistent this season. He opened the year with a three-catch, 125-yard performance, and four weeks later he posted a three-reception, 134-yard stat line. Pierce had struggled since that latter outing, however; he posted just six catches for 67 yards over the ensuing four games.
In Week 10, Pierce regained his footing. He matched his season high of seven targets, of which he caught four. Pierce picked up 81 yards with 10 coming on a garbage-time touchdown in the closing seconds. Teammates Josh Downs and Adonai Mitchell had more catches, but Pierce paced the squad in receiving yards.
Week Ten
Joe Flacco Passing TD (9)
to Alec Pierce (4) pic.twitter.com/aXXY6uWgSM— NFL TD Videos (@NFLTDVids) November 10, 2024
Pierce currently is the week's WR6 ahead of Monday Night Football. His 16.1 half-PPR points rank as his third-highest figure of the season. Notably, Michael Pittman Jr. missed this game with a back injury, contributing to the higher target number for Pierce. Pittman's situation is one to monitor.
Fantasy managers should search for Pierce on their waiver wires this week. He is far from a reliable fantasy option, but his upside makes him worth rostering. Pierce will be more valuable if Pittman continues to miss time, but he is a viable addition regardless of his teammate's status moving forward.
John Metchie III, Houston Texans
Houston wideout John Metchie III was robbed of his entire rookie season in 2022 due to leukemia. Upon his return in 2023, his action was limited. He never topped 25 receiving yards a year ago, nor did he find the end zone. His 2024 campaign began similarly, as through Week 9 Metchie had only 36 yards.
On Sunday Night Football, Metchie broke out. He caught five of his six targets and gained 74 yards in the process. He also made his first trip to the end zone as a pro to put the Texans up 16 before halftime. While Houston ultimately came up short, it was a great night for Metchie, his fans, and his fantasy managers.
WOW 🤯
📺: @SNFonNBC pic.twitter.com/MPkOoXvVoo
— Houston Texans (@HoustonTexans) November 11, 2024
Metchie finished the night as Week 10's WR8 with 15.9 half-PPR points. With star receivers Stefon Diggs (torn ACL) and Nico Collins (hamstring) unavailable, the Texans needed Metchie to step up in the way he did. Collins will be returning soon, but Metchie could remain a valuable contributor.
Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Metchie. It may be premature to add him after just one strong showing with Collins potentially back next week. However, Metchie is a candidate to emerge over the back half of the season. He will look to carry this momentum into next week's game at Dallas.
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