As we enter into the home stretch of the fantasy football season, managers are either looking to stay in the hunt or play spoiler for the rest of the league. Either way, the waiver wire is a vital part of the process.
There will be another four teams on a bye in Week 10 while another four will return from their week off.
Teams on a bye in Week 10 include the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams and Philadelphia Eagles.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo leagues, using the 75% rostered mark as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Priority Free Agents
1. RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore Ravens
The rookie had a breakout game in a blowout win, so it’s difficult to gauge what his role will look like. However, he was clearly the most explosive back in the room, posting a 9-138-1 rushing line. Mitchell won’t take over the backfield completely, but if he continues to work his way into a bigger role, it could mean big things for fantasy. His upside is what makes him the top add this week.
Availability: 96%
FAAB: 50%
2. QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals
Teams who already have a stud at quarterback can move Murray further down this list, but there are several managers likely needing more upside at the position. He’s probably already rostered, Murray will possess borderline QB1 value when he gets going, and it’s worth checking the wire for those of you in shallow leagues. The deadline for activation from the PUP list is Wednesday, so we should expect that to be the case.
Availability: 41%
FAAB: 30%
3. RB Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Warren has been on this list plenty over the course of the season. He’s coming off his best game, producing 11 carries for 88 rushing yards while adding three receptions for 25 receiving yards. He has standalone flex value with built-in upside if something happens to Najee Harris.
Availability: 35%
FAAB: 25%
4. WR Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
Just when we leave Dotson for dead, he starts showing some life. With double-digit PPR performances in each of his last two games and sporting at least an 18% target share in each of his last three, Dotson should be on our radar again. The Commanders are throwing at an extremely high rate, and Dotson appears to be coming back to form after a slow start. Consider him a WR3 option over the next four games before their bye week.
Availability: 35%
FAAB: 25%
5. WR Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs
Some managers may not be able to hold him through the bye week, which is why he’s included here. Rice led the wide receivers in snaps and was third in routes run in Week 9. Though he only saw two targets, he made the most of them by finding the end zone on one of them. His lack of work is frustrating, because he’s clearly the most productive option in the room, so betting on an expanded role coming out of the bye week could pay major dividends.
Availability: 30%
FAAB: 20%
6. WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Seattle was blown out, so it’s always difficult to gauge how the roles play out, but Smith-Njigba has now posted three consecutive outings with double-digit PPR points. The highly touted prospect also led the team in targets, but a portion of that came during garbage time. Still, Smith-Njigba is a good bet as a breakout candidate in the second half considering his talent and draft pedigree.
Availability: 42%
FAAB: 15%
7. WR Tank Dell, Houston Texans
Volatility will seemingly be a part of Dell’s game, but he deserves to be rostered. Not many players on the waiver wire have the skills or opportunities to post a 6-114-2 receiving line, so the rookie can be viewed as a boom/bust WR3 option moving forward, especially as C.J. Stroud continues to get more comfortable.
Availability: 52%
FAAB: 15%
8. WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Who knows what’s in store for Johnston during the second half, but he’s expected to see a bigger role with Joshua Palmer hitting the injured reserve list. He plays Monday night, so we’ll update this with any changes to his outlook, but this will be the opportunity for a first-round rookie to claim a role as the No. 2 receiver in a potent offense. That’s always a bet worth making, especially if it can be done on the cheap.
Availability: 68%
FAAB: 15%
9. TE Trey McBride, Arizona Cardinals
Arizona’s offense was, as expected, hindered with Clayton Tune start against a tough Cleveland Browns defense. It led to McBride posting just three receptions for 22 yards. However, Kyler Murray is expected back this week, and McBride posted the third-most routes run and second-most targets on the offense in Week 9. Teams needing tight end depth should look to McBride as a breakout option.
Availability: 37%
FAAB: 15%
10. RB Leonard Fournette, Buffalo Bills
It isn’t clear when Fournette will be called up from the practice squad, and it isn’t clear what his role will look like, but he has enough name value and career production to warrant a roster spot. While it likely will result in split with James Cook, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Fournette worked his way into an early-down/short-yardage role, which could be valuable considering the strength of the Bills offense. Don’t go crazy adding him, but Fournette does possess some upside for those who can afford potentially burning a bench spot for another week or two.
Availability: 69%
FAAB: 15%
11. WR Demario Douglas, New England Patriots
The rookie wideout led the Patriots receivers in snaps, routes run, targets, and receiving yards in Week 9. He’s posted at least a 16% target share in each of his last three games and while the Patriots offense has plenty of issues, rookies tend to break out at a higher rate during the second half. We shouldn’t expect Douglas to become some superstar, but there’s a path to relevancy as a WR3 option with a favorable schedule coming out of their Week 11 bye.
Availability: 65%
FAAB: 10%
12. RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers
Hubbard hasn’t been all that efficient with his touches in three games as the starter, but it’s difficult to deny his workload. Averaging 19.7 opportunities per game during that stretch, Hubbard is a volume-based, fringe RB2 option. He needs to be rostered simply on his workload, even if the matchups coming up aren’t all that exciting.
Availability: 30%
FAAB: 10%
13. RB D’Onta Foreman, Chicago Bears
Foreman has done a fine job stepping in as the early-down back during the absence of Khalil Herbert, who is eligible to return from the injured reserve list in Week 10. Whether that happens remains to be seen considering the Bears play Thursday night. Foreman has certainly worked his way into a role, and it’s likely to be a three-way committee when Herbert does return. But as long as there are only two main backs in the rotation, Foreman has flex value.
Availability: 43%
FAAB: 5%
Grab-n-Stash
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
It isn’t clear whether Levis will be the starter moving forward, but he clearly adds more juice to the passing attack. I’m not totally sold on him being a consistent fantasy option at quarterback, but he at least shows upside.
Availability: 55%
FAAB: 5%
RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Johnson saw a reduced role in Week 9, so he’s more of a stash for managers who can afford it. His receiving chops give him a path to carving out a role in the second half, but the expected return of Khalil Herbert will muddy the outlook.
Availability: 57%
FAAB: 3%
RB Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks
The rookie again led the backfield in snaps and routes run, but that’s more likely due to the game script. Charbonnet is more like a high-valued handcuff right now in the event something happens to Kenneth Walker III.
Availability: 55%
FAAB: 3%
When a player goes off for a 6-153-1 receiving line, we at least have to take notice. It was likely a product of C.J. Stroud‘s big day, but it’s intriguing to see Brown have this kind of boom potential.
Availability: 98%
FAAB: 1%
WR Cedric Tillman, Cleveland Browns
Tillman probably shouldn’t be rostered yet, but it was interesting to see him jump all the way to the No. 2 wide receiver role immediately after Donovan Peoples-Jones was traded away.
Availability: 100%
FAAB: 0%
Streamers of the Week
QB Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: Assuming Heinicke is still the starter, the Cardinals have allowed the eighth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and 16.3 fantasy points per game over their last five.
Availability: 89%
QB Will Levis, Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Again, assuming Levis is the starter, he could find himself in a favorable matchup as the Bucs have allowed 26.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over their last four.
Availability: 55%
QB/TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings: With four consecutive weekly finishes inside the top 10, Hill is approaching stash value. For now, we’ll stream him against a middling Vikings defense.
Availability: 36%
TE Jonnu Smith, Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: Though Arizona has been solid against tight ends over the last month or so, Smith will continue to be heavily involved as a receiver in Atlanta’s offense.
Availability: 72%
Indianapolis Colts D/ST at New England Patriots: In this Germany game, the Colts defense takes on a Patriots offense allowing the most fantasy points per game over the last five weeks.
Availability: 86%
Chicago Bears D/ST vs. Carolina Panthers: Though Chicago’s defense isn’t an exciting option, the Panthers offense lacks explosiveness while ranking 31st in yards per play and 27th in points per game.
Availability: 98%
PK Jason Myers, Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders: Seattle’s offense is still searching for its identity, but they should have no issues moving the ball against a struggling Washington defense. That means ample opportunities for Myers.
Availability: 61%
PK Riley Patterson, Detroit Lions at Los Angeles Chargers: Fresh off the bye week, Detroit will visit the West Coast in what could be an explosive matchup with the Chargers.
Availability: 81%
