NFL Waiver Wire: Week 10 Pickups

Week 9 was a lot of fun. The Bills and Seahawks went up and down the field, Christian McCaffrey almost led an upset over the Chiefs and Garrett Gilbert almost won despite being a 14.5-point underdog. The Jets almost won! 

There's not a ton of good options on the waiver wire this week, and in most cases, I wouldn't use the top waiver priority, hoping for a better option in the coming weeks. That said, let's look at who's out there.

This columns is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and remaining budget.

Quarterback

PRIMARY TARGETS

Baker Mayfield, CLE - He should be off the COVID-19 list by mid-week, just in time to participate in a few practices. Mayfield is rostered in roughly a third of fantasy leagues and has a nice schedule on the horizon. He gets the Texans at home this week and then has favorable matchups in the upcoming three weeks against the Jaguars and Titans. Before the "weather" game Week 8, he had a great performance in Cincinnati and appeared to play better with Odell Beckham off the field. He's a great option if you have Patrick Mahomes or Matt Ryan. FAAB: $5-$10

SECONDARY TARGETS

Alex Smith, WAS - If Smith has even a modicum of success the rest of this season he should win comeback player of the year. It's amazing to even see him back on the field. While everything wasn't unicorns and rainbows for him Sunday, he'll get to practice with the first team this week. He wisely threw to Terry McLaurin and wasn't afraid to check down the ball to J.D. McKissic. FAAB: $3-$6

HAIL MARY

Jake Luton, JAC - He doesn't get to play the Texans every week, but his 8.0 YPA is a respectable number. Luton also had a 13-yard rushing score Sunday, adding that dimension to his value. There'll be a tough decision to make once Gardner Minshew is back, so Luton's shelf life might only be one more game. He's an option if one of your starters, like Joe Flacco, is on bye this week. FAAB: $3-$6

Running Back

PRIMARY TARGETS

Duke Johnson, HOU - It remains to be seen if David Johnson will play this week, but there's a lot of upside taking a chance on Duke if David is out. This could the right spot to use your top waiver wire priority if you're desperate for running back help. Johnson isn't suited for early down work but would be in line for 15-plus touches if David is out. The other side of the coin could be that David is out of the concussion protocol and returns as the lead back against the Browns this week, forcing Johnson to his usual backup role. FAAB: $5-$10

SECONDARY TARGETS

Kalen Ballage, LAC - The Chargers' backfield has been a mess this season with injuries. Justin Jackson leaving the game early Sunday gave Ballage an opportunity to take the bulk of the workload. He finished with 84 yards from scrimmage and tallied a rushing touchdown. The hesitation with this recommendation is that the other, more talented running backs could be back soon and take the starting spot. Ballage's whopping 1.8 yards per carry last season (74 carries) doesn't instill a lot of confidence either. Still, he might retain the most touches for the Chargers, putting him on the fantasy radar. FAAB: $4-$8

Wide Receivers

PRIMARY TARGETS

Jakobi Meyers, NE - I talked about him last week, but he's still 88 percent available on Yahoo. The last two games he has 24 targets, which he turned into 16 catches for 227 yards. He's a sharp route runner, has the confidence of Cam Newton and it's a matter when, not if, he starts turning these targets into touchdowns. I'm just going to say it — he's better than a healthy Julian Edelman. FAAB: $8-$16

SECONDARY TARGETS

Darnell Mooney, CHI - He's rostered in only 14 percent of Yahoo leagues. He runs a lot of deep routes, usually gets about five targets a game and got a team-high 11 targets Sunday. The downside is that Nick Foles and the Bears passing game shouldn't be trusted on a weekly basis. However, you could do worse for a bye-week substitute and the deep routes he runs gives him a high ceiling. FAAB: $3-$6

HAIL MARY

Michael Pittman, IND - T.Y. Hilton is having a disappointing season, though it appears he'll be back in uniform this week. Pittman had a season-high seven targets and a 4-56 line is decent when you're facing the Baltimore Ravens. Outside of Green Bay, the Colts have a soft schedule for the rest of the season with every team they face being 18th or worse against the wide receiver position from a fantasy standpoint. FAAB: $2-$4

Richie James, SF - It seems like the San Francisco/Green Bay game was played weeks ago but alas, it was less than a week ago. With all of the injuries and COVID-19 concerns, James was the "next man up" and delivered with a 13-9-184-1 line, vastly outproducing teammate Trent Taylor. The bad news is that Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne could be back this week, returning James to a limited role. FAAB: $2-$4

Olamide Zaccheaus, ATL - He's on bye this week and there's a good probability that Calvin Ridley will return Week 11 from his foot injury. However, Zaccheaus had 127 yards in a two-game stretch  earlier this season, so he has upside.  The schedule coming out of the bye is favorable; he gets the Saints twice, sandwiched around the Raiders. FAAB: $1-$2

Tight End

HAIL MARY

Irv Smith, MIN - Smith was a goal-line target Sunday and snatched two of his four targets for touchdowns. He's been averaging about four targets the last four games and seems a more important fantasy option than Kyle Rudolph as this point. Rudolph has taken more of a blocking role this season, which has benefitted Smith's fantasy prospects. FAAB: $1-$2

Defense

SECONDARY TARGETS

Philadelphia Eagles - They're 48 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, so they may not be available in some leagues. They get the Giants this week and have had an extra week to prepare. Look for Danny Dimes to turn the ball over multiple times in this one. FAAB: $3-$6