Top Players to Add in Week 10
A great draft makes a great team, but leagues are won and lost on the waiver wire. Injuries happen, and stars emerge from the ashes. Successfully navigating the waters of the waiver wire will lead to a winning season. Here are my top five targets, as well as some others receiving votes, to help you win through the wire this week.
An important thing to consider: there could be players rostered in over 50% of leagues that are available on waivers. Be vigilant; watch your league’s Free Agency pool and look for players who were given up too early.
Some relevant fantasy teams are on bye in Week 10 including the Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, Kansas City Chiefs, and the Philadelphia Eagles.
1. Keaton Mitchell – In the ever-revolving door of the Baltimore Ravens backfield there’s a new sheriff in town; this time, it’s Keaton Mitchell. The rookie didn’t lead this backfield in carries, that distinction went to Justice Hill and his 13 carries for 40 yards, but Mitchell did the most with his carries, rushing 9 times for 138 yards and a touchdown. It was his first game with carries this year. While this backfield continues to be a three-headed monster, Mitchell looked the best while running this week. Gus Edwards will continue to get his volume in the red zone and will hold value that way, but Mitchell appears to be the hot hand going forward. Aside from his diminutive size, the only knock on Mitchell is the matchup this week as the Cleveland Browns allow the fifth-fewest points per game to opposing running backs.
2. Tank Dell – It has been a while since Tank Dell last finished in the Top 10; it was back in Week 3 when he finished as WR7. This Dell had an extra long boot time since then but made up for it in spades. This week Dell had 11 targets (season high), six catches for 114 yards, and two touchdowns (career high). Dell was a hot free agency commodity earlier in the year, but his slowdown in production may have caused him to be dropped in your league. Given fellow rookie C. J. Stroud‘s unprecedented hot streak, Tank Dell is worth a re-add in most leagues, as the Houston Texans matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals should be an offensive shoot-out.
3. Tyler Allgeier – For the third time in five weeks Tyler Allgeier had more carries than Bijan Robinson. While Allgeier had fewer yards than Bijan, he managed to find the end zone for the first time this season. This backfield continues to be split, but while we’re still in bye weeks, I see a lot of value in Allgeier. Until the Atlanta Falcons show they are committed to Robinson as a three-down back, Allgeier will remain in the mix and therefore worthy of a roster spot. This week the Falcons square off against the Arizona Cardinals, who allow the third-most fantasy points to opposing running backs.
4. Quentin Johnston – This was written before Monday Night Football, so take this with a grain of salt. With Joshua Palmer going on IR, I expect the rookie Quentin Johnston to get his lion’s share now or never. Johnston finally broke double digits last week (Week 8) against the Chicago Bears, when he finished with five catches on six targets for 50 yards. The Bears are without a doubt a softer opponent than the New York Jets, who allow the fewest points to wide receivers in fantasy, but it was a positive sign of things to come. Week 8 also saw Johnston’s highest snap count: 48 offensive plays, resulting in a 70 percent snap share.
5. Zach Charbonnet – For the second week in a row the wine man, Zach Charbonnet, led the Seahawks’ backfield in snaps (27 to Kenneth Walker III’s 24). The rushing attempts continued to favor Walker 9 to 4, but Walker’s production and snap count are a big red flag. Charbonnet was in my top two last week and if it wasn’t for voter fatigue by the committee (me) he would be the number one guy this week. Getting Walker’s handcuff before any potential news breaks is a huge advantage. Walker has now rushed in single digits twice for consecutive games, before that Walker had six straight games with double-digit carries. The Seahawks are already past their bye so Walker has no built-in rest in the schedule. Raise a glass to Charbonnet; he’s the guy with the highest upside that’s available in most leagues.
Others Receiving Votes
Devin Singletary, HOU (48% ESPN, 50% Yahoo) – Another victim of voter fatigue from the committee (me), Devin Singletary was a top-four option for me last week and would be in the top five again in a more just society. With regular starter Dameon Pierce sidelined with an ankle injury, Singletary played 54 snaps, his highest total of the year. While his 26 yards on 13 carries leaves something to be desired, his two touchdowns were a testament to the upside that comes with his volume. The Texans play at Cincinnati this week, and the Bengals are fairly average against running backs this year.
JuJu Smith-Schuster, NE (30% ESPN, 19% Yahoo) – There always seems to be one New England Patriots wide receiver worth talking about on the waiver wire, and this week I’m focusing on JuJu Smith-Schuster. JuJu has come a long way from his knee being ready to explode, as this week he saw seven targets, tying his season-high set in Week 1. He managed to snare six of those for 51 yards, both season-highs. While the Patriots are in dead last in the AFC and Mac Jones isn’t inspiring confidence there seems to be at least one startable wide receiver in New England every week. Next week, the Patriots face the Indianapolis Colts before enjoying a bye in Week 11.
Streaming Positions
Tight End
Jonnu Smith, ATL (27% ESPN, 28% Yahoo) – The number one tight end in Atlanta continues to be Jonnu Smith. Society will have you believe that it’s Kyle Pitts, but look at the facts: Smith has outpaced Pitts in snaps in three of the last five weeks. The exceptions: Week 6, when Pitts had 46 to Smith’s 45, and in Week 9 when they both had 39. This week Smith had six targets to five for Pitts. Finally, Smith has more touchdowns than Pitts has this year (2 to 1). If a team’s clear-cut, bonafide TE1 was available in over 72% of leagues that would catch some eyes. That’s what should be happening here…wake up, sheeple!
Cade Otton, TB (7% ESPN, 5% Yahoo) – With nine targets Cade Otton led the team last week. He also found the end zone twice after having only one touchdown all season before today. This isn’t going to happen every week from someone who has four weekly finishes in the top 17 and also three such finishes as TE32 or lower, but he’s a fun dart throw this week against the Titans.
Quarterback
Joshua Dobbs, MIN (17% ESPN, 17% Yahoo) – The Passtronaut is inevitable. Joshua Dobbs came in off the bench to deliver a top-five performance. Keep in mind that 158 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 66 rushing yards, and a rushing touchdown is an impressive performance from someone who has been in the building for less than a week. Imagine what he can do after a full week of practice when the Vikings host the Saints. With Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes, and Tua Tagovailoa all on bye this week Dobbs is my number-one fill-in.
Baker Mayfield, TB (44% ESPN, 48% Yahoo) – Lost in the C. J. Stroud hype train was Baker Mayfield’s participation in a shootout that was the Houston Texans versus the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last week. Baker threw for 265 yards and two touchdowns for a finish of QB7 (before MNF). Baker and the Buccs face the Tennessee Titans next week at home.
Kyler Murray, ARI (36% ESPN, 59% Yahoo) – Keeping it short and sweet on Kyler Murray since we’ve mentioned him a lot over the last few weeks. The time is coming when he will not be such an easy pickup. His entry cost is a bench spot which I know can be hard to come by in these trying times, but if you have questions at quarterback Murray has tremendous upside. Last year Murray finished as QB10 or higher in seven of ten games, the outliers being finishes of QB22, QB12, and QB14.
Defense
Chicago Bears (2%) face the Carolina Panthers on Thursday Night Football. The Panthers allow the second-most points to fantasy defenses (14.78).
Las Vegas Raiders (38%) face the New York Jets, who give up the third-most points to fantasy defenses (14.10). Picture Maxx Crosby. Now, picture him sacking Zach Wilson, because that will probably happen…perhaps more than just once or twice.
Featured image by Justin Paradis (@JustParaDesigns on Twitter/X)