RADIO
Like it or not, you are probably going to have to dip your toe into the waiver wire this week because there are six teams on bye. Some shouldn't affect your roster in any way (Broncos, Redskins) while others could force you to stream at one or more positions (Texans, Patriots). There is always help on the horizon if you look in the right place. Just don't expect much at the running back position these days...
Each week, we will advise you which players to consider picking up on waivers that are owned in approximately 35% or fewer of Yahoo leagues so that you can make an educated decision about how to improve your fantasy football team. This list is not meant to be exclusive of all add-worthy players. For a more comprehensive list, check out our weekly Waiver Wire Lightning Round by position, ordered by priority. If higher-owned players not listed here are available in your league, feel free to treat them as higher-priority pickups.
As always, keep checking back here for updated waiver recommendations and always keep tabs on our NFL Player News feed. Be sure to also check out our weekly rankings and analysis columns, with in-depth analysis for all options heading into Week 10.
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Quarterbacks - Waiver Wire Options
Sam Darnold, New York Jets - 26% owned
This isn't the performance we were hoping for as the Jets supposedly began the easy part of their schedule. Instead, it could just be that they are giving their opponents an easy win. Darnold was outplayed by former Jets QB Ryan Fitzpatrick and wound up with just 260 yards and one TD against one of the worst pass defenses against the league. A return home to face the Giants could bring better results but we need to see some proof that this offense is even capable of gelling before inserting Darnold as a starter.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants - 25% owned
Daniel Jones is starting to look like the better option between the two New York quarterbacks, contrary to many preseason expectations. Jones' rookie year has been highlighted by a pair of huge performances with a string of mediocre outings sandwiched in between. This seems like a good chance to put together a run of good games but even as pathetic as the Jets are, their pass defense hasn't been too bad. He's a marginal streaming consideration.
Ryan Tannehill, Tennessee Titans - 18% owned
A tougher road matchup resulted in a loss for the first time as the Titans' starter. He padded his subpar numbers with some garbage time yardage (deja vu for Dolphins fans) and a meaningless rushing touchdown, so it wasn't a lost day altogether. A home game against the Chiefs should give him the chance to excel once again.
Others to consider: Mason Rudolph, Pittsburgh Steelers (11% owned); Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins (6% owned)
Running Backs - Waiver Wire Options
Ronald Jones II, Tampa Bay Buccaneers - 39% owned
We have to cheat a little here because the RB waiver wire situation is just that bad. Jones is still under half-owned in fantasy leagues because he had pulled a disappearing act since Week 4 when he was starting to look like a viable option. His 67 rushing yards against the Seahawks represent the third-highest total of the season and aren't much to write home about. He did score his third rushing touchdown and out-touched Peyton Barber 20-4. Jones will continue to be a boom-bust flex consideration but might be worth playing in Week 10 as he faces Arizona in a heavy bye week.
Derrius Guice, Washington Redskins - 32% owned
Now is the time to find those late-season stashes that could pay off coming playoff time. According to coach Bill Callahan, Guice could be ready to play in Week 11. That means you need to add him now before word gets out of his return next week. It's a gamble for sure, as Guice has a total of 10 carries in his NFL career (for 18 yards), is coming off a torn meniscus and plays for a terrible team. Don't expect an RB1 any time this season but Guice could bring Flex value in the last couple of weeks.
J.D. McKissic, Detroit Lions - 12% owned
Honestly, the Lions' backfield is probably one to avoid completely. Ty Johnson is technically the stater but he hasn't rushed for more than 30 yards in a game all year and is averaging 3.5 yards per carry. McKissic has gotten almost as many touches and at least was able to turn in a touchdown, along with a couple of catches. If things remain status quo heading to Week 10, McKissic seems to have a higher floor. It's a road game in Chicago though, so that floor could be fairly low.
Kalen Ballage, Miami Dolphins - 10% owned
Through no prowess of his own, Ballage is now the starter de facto in Miami's backfield. He's been as underwhelming as possible, averaging two yards per carry on the year without reaching even 20 rushing yards in a game all year. He's also shown hands of stone that would make Jordan Howard blush, catching four of his 12 targets including some ugly drops. Yet here he is, fantasy relevant by default because of Mark Walton's four-game suspension. The Dolphins will surely sign a free agent to fill his roster spot but Ballage should see his usage increase and is likely to be the goal-line back, assuming the Dolphins reach the red zone at all.
Jay Ajayi, Free Agent - 10% owned
If you don't have much confidence in Ty Johnson or McKissic and don't think the Lions do either, you may buy into the rumors that Ajayi could sign with Detroit now that Tra Carson is on IR. I'm as skeptical as the next man that Ajayi can come in to be an effective RB but in this especially-thin waiver wire week, he could be worth a look. He has a career average of 4.5 yards per carry and could step into a starting role right away.
Trey Edmunds, Pittsburgh Steelers - 1% owned
Jaylen Samuels led the way in the Steelers' recent win with 83 total yards and a whopping 13 receptions but Edmunds was the more effective rusher by far with 73 yards on 12 carries. James Conner's health will determine whether Edmunds has any value whatsoever, so keep an eye on this situation before acting.
Others to consider: Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (33% owned); Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens (4% owned)
Wide Receivers - Waiver Wire Options
Devante Parker, Miami Dolphins - 35% owned
Why can we never stop talking about Parker? Always on the fringe of being fantasy-relevant, he has quietly become consistent and has finally found a way to parlay his lanky frame into red-zone gold. Parker has scored in four of the last five games and has gone over 50 receiving yards in all but two games this year. Parker won't ever live up to his draft stock but maybe he can finally be an asset in the fantasy world. He may have no choice but to see a deluge of targets with Preston Williams out for the remainder of the year.
Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills - 29% owned
Three straight games with a touchdown. It's four straight games under 50 yards with three catches or less too. That's not what we would expect for Beasley but he's become more of a red-zone threat than a target hog. There could well be a touchdown in his future when the Bills take on the Browns this coming week.
Zach Pascal, Indianapolis Colts - 19% owned
TY Hilton's unfortunate practice injury (calf) will leave him out for another week or two, so Pascal assumes the role as top target for... Brian Hoyer? Jacoby Brissett's more-unfortunate injury, which is suspected to be to his MCL, puts a damper on Pascal's rising value but the Dolphins are up next in a home matchup that should still bring WR3 value for Pascal.
N'Keal Harry, New England Patriots - 18% owned
He was activated off IR but the rookie first-rounder didn't make an appearance in Week 9. Perhaps he'll finally debut in Week 11 but even so, there's no way to know how involved he would be. Harry is a speculative stash in deep leagues but might be best left alone for now.
Olabisi Johnson, Minnesota Vikings - 3% owned
Bisi Johnson only came away with four yards on the day but he did score a touchdown for the second time in three games. He almost had another score in the corner of the end zone and is being targeted at the goal-line consistently. If Adam Thielen misses next week, Johnson has some deep-league appeal.
Andy Isabella / Keesean Johnson, Arizona Cardinals - 1% owned
Surely one of these receivers can find the end zone against the lowly Bucs secondary next week. Take your pick guessing who. Isabella has barely played this year but maybe his monster 88-yard score will inspire the team to increase his snap count. Johnson has been involved from the beginning but could see his spot taken if Isabella steps in.
Keelan Cole, Jacksonville Jaguars - 0% owned
Just when we think we know what's what in Jacksonville, Dede Westbrook sits out and Keelan Cole makes it three games in a row with an appearance on the stat sheet. He had scored a touchdown with limited yardage the previous two games but this week he led the team with 80 yards. The Jags are on break and have a QB decision to make, so keep Cole in the back of your mind or stash him in 16-team leagues.
Others to consider: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (27% owned); Demaryius Thomas, New York Jets (13% owned); Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (12% owned); Danny Amendola, Detroit Lions (9% owned); Chester Rogers, Indianapolis Colts (0% owned)
Tight Ends - Waiver Wire Options
Kyle Rudolph, Minnesota Vikings - 31% owned
Adam Thielen is hurt again so Rudolph enters the streaming radar again. He scored a touchdown in Week 9, which makes two scores in the past three weeks. It's actually a nice matchup coming up, as the Cowboys have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends this year. It might be touchdown or bust for Rudolph but that's the case with most TE streamers regardless.
Noah Fant, Denver Broncos - 12% owned
Now we know the problem - Fant just needed a change at QB. In his first game with Brandon Allen behind center, Fant went off for a career-high 115 yards and a touchdown. Most of that came on one play of course but Fant showed off the athleticism that made him the 20th overall pick in this year's draft. The Broncos are on bye this week, so Fant is, unfortunately, nothing more than a stash in deep leagues where you can afford to own a second tight end.
Mike Gesicki, Miami Dolphins - 4% owned
Is Gesicki finally ready to experience a second-year breakout? He produced a career-best six receptions and 95 yards against the Jets. His previous high was 51 yards. which came three weeks ago. If Fitzmagic remains the QB in Miami, his upside is high enough to make him intriguing, especially with Preston Williams gone for the year. The Colts are bottom-10 versus tight ends so don't be shocked if he replicates this week's numbers.
Ryan Griffin, New York Jets - 3% owned
While Chris Herndon IV was officially active, he didn't see the field. Meanwhile, Griffin nearly scored his fourth touchdown of the year but had it called back after a booth review. Griffin still wound up with a nice day, catching six passes for 50 yards. He's emerging as a weekly starter in 14-team leagues as long as Herndon is sidelined. Beware that the Giants next week seems like an ideal matchup but they are the fourth-toughest against the tight end.
Jacob Hollister, Seattle Seahawks - 0% owned
The next Will Dissly is here! OK, maybe it's a bit premature for that but it was interesting to see Hollister hit paydirt twice and end up as the third-leading receiver for Seattle in Week 9. A little-known UDFA out of Wyoming, Hollister had eight career receptions before this year. Of course, he was behind some guy named Gronk in New England, but it still took an injury and a trade to give him a path to targets in Seattle this year. Don't get carried away after one game but keep an eye on Hollister in deep leagues to see if he remains involved in the offense.
Others to consider: Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts (25% owned); Irv Smith Jr., Minnesota Vikings (2% owned); Foster Moreau, Oakland Raiders (0% owned)
Team Defense - Waiver Wire Options
Indianapolis Colts Defense - 33% owned
A near-weekly favorite of this column, the Colts DST will never light up the scoreboard but they are a solid source of points in favorable matchups. Needless to say, getting a home contest with the Dolphins is a favorable one indeed. Although the Phins didn't turn the ball over in Week 9, let's chalk that up to the Jets being the Jets and finding a way to be worse than the worst team in the league. Indy should be good for a turnover or two plus a handful of sacks.
Detroit Lions Defense - 7% owned
There hasn't been a lot of defense in Detroit lately but there's been even less offense in Chicago. The Bears have totaled 55 points in their last three games and don't seem to have much of anything figured out. This is a play for leagues where points against count heavier than turnovers.
New York Giants Defense - 3% owned
The bye-week desperation special of this week is the Giants, who have yet to get decimated by the Cowboys this week. Fortunately, they get the Jets in Week 10 in a "road" game that should feel somewhat comfortable for them. Sam Darnold only threw one pick to the Dolphins but that still makes four games in a row with at least one INT and eight in the last three games.
More Waiver Wire Pickups and Advice
