The weather is turning, teams are trudging through the remaining bye weeks, and the players we may someday label as 2022’s “second-half breakouts” and “league winners” are about to make their introduction. At this stage of the season, the standings are settled enough to have an idea if your team is desperately grasping slim playoff hopes, holding steady in the middle pack, or starting to plan for the stretch run. As the weeks tick up into the double digits, the games will increasingly start to feel more important (even if they count the same as Week 1), so bring in the reinforcements and let’s take care of business in Week 10.
Week 10 Byes: Bengals, Jets, Patriots, Ravens
Article Overview/ How to Use:
- Analysis: Highlight a variety of RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered on ESPN and/or Yahoo) who I feel could produce fantasy value, either that specific week as a replacement in your lineup or as a bench/ stash option.
- Ranking RBs, WRs, and TEs (< 65% rostered) in order. Please note that the players who are highlighted in the article are not always my top-ranked streamers. These rankings & notes could be useful for teams in deeper leagues or as a means to fill out your “Watch List”.
- List of Impact Backups or players who would gain significant fantasy value if the starter was inactive. These names would make excellent stash candidates, but likely not worthwhile streamers due to lack of usage as the backup.
- Although base rankings tend to skew toward 12-team, half-PPR leagues, I will provide clarifications if a player is best used in a specific scenario or league type.
- Recap the performances of the previous week’s highlighted players.
* Any players marked with an asterisk below have been featured in previous articles this season. If anyone discussed below is at risk of not playing or is relegated to a bench role late in the week, I will do my best to keep you all updated on Twitter (@BrandonMillerFB). All players below are under 65%-rostered as of 11/09/22.
Running Back
Rachaad White (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
White has been near the top of the impact backups list nearly all season and his recent increase in opportunities is another reason why. The rookie out of Arizona State turned in a modest 34 combined yards last week (eight carries for 27 yards and three catches for seven yards) while reaching a season-high 11 touches. The Bucs’ rushing offense is dead-last in the NFL (60.7 yards/game), so it is tough to imagine two RBs being consistent fantasy contributors this year. However, White’s ability to operate as a runner or receiver out of the backfield gives him the edge over other backups. Teams at the top of the standings should keep an eye on him in case he is dropped during Tampa Bay’s Week 11 bye.
Jaylen Warren* (RB, Pittsburgh Steelers)
Warren is this season’s first repeat feature in a week that is not the prettiest for RB streamers. Similar to White’s situation in Tampa Bay, Warren is a backup behind an incumbent starter whose role could grow in the second half. In Week 8, prior to the Steelers’ bye last week, Warren posted an efficient six carries for 50 yards and three catches for 25 yards. Mike Tomlin has hinted at giving the rookie more opportunities, which could either be a sign of a 2-6 team looking to see what they have for the future or as a motivational tactic for Najee Harris (3.3 yards/carry vs Warren’s 5.3). He is more of a “stash” than a “start” for Week 10, but now is the time to get him on your roster coming out of Pittsburgh’s time off.
RB Streamers (ranked): Jeff Wilson Jr* (67% ESPN, 72% Yahoo), Khalil Herbert* (63% ESPN, 76% Yahoo), Rachaad White*, Melvin Gordon III (63% ESPN, 72% Yahoo), Darrell Henderson Jr (55% ESPN, 68% Yahoo), Jaylen Warren*, Tyler Allgeier* (61% ESPN, 62% Yahoo), Brian Robinson Jr*, Isiah Pacheco*, Dontrell Hilliard*, Latavius Murray*, Deon Jackson, Chase Edmonds, Jerick McKinnon, Eno Benjamin, Alexander Mattison, Rex Burkhead, Chuba Hubbard (monitor ankle– stash), Nyheim Hines* (54% ESPN, 70% Yahoo), James Cook, Matt Breida, DeeJay Dallas, Kenneth Gainwell, Brandon Bolden, JaMycal Hasty, Gus Edwards (bye – stash, 48% ESPN, 64% Yahoo), Damien Harris (bye – 69% ESPN, 68% Yahoo), Samaje Perine* (bye), Kenyan Drake* (bye).
Wide Receiver
Terrace Marshall (WR, Carolina Panthers)
Carolina’s passing offense is bottom-five in the NFL in passing yards/game (184.6), so there is not much of the proverbial “pie” to go around. Regardless, Marshall has found a way to be productive each of the past two weeks, averaging 7.5 targets and 70 yards, plus a Week 9 touchdown. This week the Panthers’ pass-catchers will have a softer landing spot against a Falcons defense that has been generous to opposing WRs (second-most fantasy points allowed/game). He is a WR3 heading into Thursday night’s matchup; just make sure to slot him in at WR instead of Flex if you decide to take a shot on him in Week 10.
Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR, Cleveland Browns)
Although the Browns are more known for their rushing attack, Peoples-Jones has quietly averaged 6.2 targets over the last five weeks, registering 71 yards or more in four of those five games. He is averaging almost 14 yards per catch and could progress as an even more lethal deep threat if Deshaun Watson is able to regain form heading into the final weeks of the fantasy season. The Dolphins have found themselves in a few shootouts this season and currently have a bottom-ten unit against opposing WRs, so look for Peoples-Jones to continue his streak as a solid WR3 for Week 10.
WR Streamers (ranked): Rondale Moore* (67% ESPN, 72% Yahoo), Darnell Mooney (73% ESPN, 69% Yahoo), George Pickens*, Mecole Hardman, Allen Robinson II* (64% ESPN, 63% Yahoo), Donovan Peoples-Jones*, Zay Jones*, Terrace Marshall*, Chase Claypool (stash – 72% ESPN, 69% Yahoo), K.J. Osborn* (if Thielen is inactive), Michael Gallup*, Wan’Dale Robinson*, Drake London (76% ESPN, 63% Yahoo), Alec Pierce*, Mack Hollins, Parris Campbell, Robert Woods*, Nico Collins, DeAndre Carter, Darius Slayton, Olamide Zaccheaus, Isaiah McKenzie*, Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Hunter Renfrow, Kadarius Toney (stash), Jahan Dotson (monitor status – stash), Garrett Wilson (bye – stash, 76% ESPN, 65% Yahoo), Devin Duvernay* (bye, 63% Yahoo), Corey Davis (bye).
Tight End
Greg Dulcich (TE, Denver Broncos)
Dulcich was ramping up heading into Denver’s Week 9 bye, posting receiving totals of 44, 55, and 87 yards since making his debut in Week 6. He appears to be healthy after missing time to begin the season and is among the top TEs to speculate on outside of the top five. In an offense that has struggled to find its footing for most of the season, either from injuries, inconsistent play, or otherwise, Dulich has looked like a bright spot. If your team has been shuffling through TEs in recent weeks or needs a bye/injury replacement, he might end up sticking on your roster for the rest of the season.
TE Streamers (ranked): Greg Dulcich*, Taysom Hill* (55% ESPN, 67% Yahoo), Evan Engram, Cade Otton, Cole Kmet, Dawson Knox (61% ESPN, 73% Yahoo), Mike Gesicki, Robert Tonyan, Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Logan Thomas, Will Dissly, Hayden Hurst* (bye), Tyler Conklin* (bye), Isaiah Likely (bye).
Impact Backups/ Injury Stashes
Although this article’s primary focus is to rank and discuss RB/WR/TEs who are fantasy-relevant and 65%-rostered or less, I also believe it is extremely important to plan ahead by stocking your roster with contingency options if/when adversity strikes. Not many things in the fantasy sports universe are worse than having a successful regular season undone by gut-wrenching injury luck. That said, below is my list of Top Impact Backups and Injury Stashes, in order, regardless of position.
Top Impact Backups: Alexander Mattison, Khalil Herbert, Rachaad White, Kadarius Toney (lots of raw talent, but may take some time to acclimate to the Chiefs’ offense), Chuba Hubbard (likely “1B” to D’Onta Foreman “1A”), Chase Edmonds, Jaylen Warren*, Nyheim Hines* (54% ESPN, 69% Yahoo), Isiah Pacheco*, Samaje Perine, Kyren Williams, Dontrell Hilliard*, Deon Jackson, Sony Michel, Matt Breida, JaMycal Hasty, Eno Benjamin.
Graduated (add if available): D’Onta Foreman*, Jeff Wilson Jr*, Khalil Herbert* (63% ESPN, 76% Yahoo), Michael Carter.
Top Injury Stashes: Gus Edwards (expected back after Week 10 bye), Kyren Williams, Elijah Mitchell, Treylon Burks (may have been on the verge of a breakout pre-injury), Jameson Williams (talented rookie who will now have less competition for targets in Detroit).
Looking Back
Accountability is everything, so here is a quick look back at last week’s recommendations
Isiah Pacheco (RB, Kansas City Chiefs): Pacheco led the Chiefs RBs in carries (five for just five yards) while Patrick Mahomes led the team in rushing with six carries for 63 yards and a touchdown. This is a situation to avoid in starting lineups, but Pacheco should be rostered for now.
Jeff Wilson Jr (RB, Miami Dolphins): Wilson tied Raheem Mostert for the lead in carries (nine) and produced an efficient 51 yards along with three catches for 21 yards and a score. Sunday’s showing is a great sign that Wilson will split touches in this backfield, at minimum.
Allen Robinson II (WR, Los Angeles Rams): Robinson fell back to below-average numbers in Week 9, snagging three-of-five targets for 24 yards. He will have a regular in the Rams’ passing game; how much that is worth, I am not sure, but he is a risky play.
K.J. Osborn (WR, Minnesota Vikings): Adam Thielen (knee bruise) was able to overcome his ailment to make the start on Sunday, rendering Osborn to his usual low-usage role. He should only be considered in lineups if one of the top two WRs misses time, which could be as early as this week after Thielen sustained another injury; this time to his ankle.
Hayden Hurst (TE, Cincinnati Bengals): It was a pretty standard week for Hurst as he caught all five targets for 35 yards.
Make sure to check out our weekly priority waiver wire adds article and waiver wire podcast for more insights on who you should be submitting claims for heading into each Wednesday; it is a great way to get a head start on acquiring players often discussed in this article. Good luck in Week 10!
(Photo by Dannie Walls/Icon Sportswire)