NFL Waiver Wire: Week 10 Deep Dive

The waiver wire remains as key as ever heading into Week 10 as we're definitely now in the make-or-break point of the fantasy season, but the options have gotten pretty slim. It's been well established how devastating injuries have been this season, and plenty of us will be scrambling for replacement options while in need of a key win or two with four teams (the Falcons, Cowboys, Jets and Chiefs) on bye. 

This Thursday article is our second waiver wire piece of the week, intended to give a broad overview of players worth fantasy consideration. Every Monday, Kevin Payne's first edition of the Waiver Wire series summarizes the top names.

For add/drop, start/sit, or any other questions relating to fantasy, just comment below or hit me up on Twitter (@ivilloth). 

The list below includes players rostered in no more than 50 percent of Yahoo leagues and is listed in order of preference based on half-point per reception scoring and a 12-team league. Depending on your league's scoring and roster settings, certain players might warrant higher consideration than what is listed. Each player's listed roster percentage is based on Tuesday's Yahoo statistics, to give a general sense of availability for a given week.

QUARTERBACK

Drew Lock at Raiders (34 percent) - Lock delivered the best fantasy performance of his young career in Week 9 and rewarded anyone who grabbed him off waivers early. He's now produced back-to-back games as a QB1 while the Raiders have allowed multi-TD games to opposing quarterbacks in four of their last five contests. 

Nick Foles vs. Vikings (11 percent) - It's hard to bet on Chicago's offense, but Foles is coming off a 335-yard, two-score performance against the Titans. He's tossed multiple TDs in back-to-back contests and 260+ yards in three straight, with Minnesota's secondary having proven more than generous to opposing quarterbacks.

Baker Mayfield vs. Texans (32 percent) - Mayfield is coming off a bye and gets a favorable matchup against the Texans, which alone is enough to put him on the streaming radar. His upside is debatable given that Odell Beckham (torn ACL) is out of the lineup. Mayfield has only thrown for more than 200 yards on three occasions this season and has only thrown over two TDs in one game. 

Alex Smith at Lions (1 percent) - Smith offers a more than realistic shot at holding onto the Washington starting job for the rest of the year, though it would make sense for the team to take another look at Dwayne Haskins (1 percent) at some point. The veteran hasn't necessarily looked electric in limited action this year, but he's putting together an incredible comeback story, and will get favorable matchups the next three weeks against the Lions, Bengals and Cowboys. Terry McLaurin - who Smith has wisely been willing to hyper-target - should dominate those defenses. 

Jake Luton vs. Packers (3 percent) - Luton looked solid in his first NFL action by putting up between 20-25 fantasy points against the Texans, depending on scoring format. A 13-yard rushing score bolstered his fantasy total, but Luton also looked lethal through the air when targeting DJ Chark as the two combined for 146 yards and a touchdown. Gardner Minshew (thumb) should be out Week 10 and Luton could get the benefit of having Laviska Shenault (hamstring) back in the lineup, while Green Bay's secondary could be operating without both Kevin King (quadriceps) and Jaire Alexander (concussion).

RUNNING BACK

Duke Johnson at Browns (17 percent)  - Johnson didn't excel against a Jacksonville run defense that's looked vulnerable this season, as his 16 carries for 41 yards extrapolate to just 2.6 YPC. However, he did score while adding four catches for 32 yards. If the other Johnson (David) can't go this week while dealing with a concussion, Duke will more than likely inherit a near every-down role. When the incumbent does return - which could be as soon as this week - Duke stands to return to a backup role and may not be someone on which to spend enormous amounts of FAAB. 

Matt Breida vs. Chargers (25 percent) - Breida wasn't able to suit up last weekend due to a hamstring injury, but he's now resumed practicing on a limited basis. He was operating as the No. 2 tailback for Miami when healthy and his skillset is most similar to that of Myles Gaskin (knee), so if healthy it wouldn't be surprising to see Breida start for the Dolphins.

Kalen Ballage at Dolphins (2 percent) - Justin Jackson (knee) leaving Sunday's game early didn't just tank plenty of DFS lineups, it paved the way for Ballage to lead the Chargers' backfield and look good doing it by racking up a rushing score and 84 scrimmage yards. If he continues to receive most of LAC's carries with a revenge game on tap against the Dolphins, Ballage will be on the fantasy radar as an RB3/4. In leagues deep enough that Joshua Kelley (41 percent) is still worth rostering, Troymaine Pope (1 percent) could also be worth a shot.

Alexander Mattison at Bears (35 percent) - For the exact same reason that Chase Edmonds and Duke Johnson are no longer available, Mattison is worth grabbing early. He'd stand to inherit an every-down role in an elite rushing attack if anything were to happen to Dalvin Cook, and there simply aren't many handcuffs with that guarantee. To a lesser extent, Tony Pollard (23 percent) and Brian Hill (10 percent) belong in the same category. 

Jordan Wilkins at Titans (24 percent) - Wilkins has now led the Colts in rushing attempts in back-to-back weeks with 31 combined rushes over that span. He may very well lead Indianapolis' backfield in carries again on Thursday against the Titans, a team allowing roughly 120 yards per contest to opposing RBs.

Wayne Gallman vs. Eagles (27 percent) - By virtue of scoring in three straight games, Gallman has been productive as a starter for the Giants. He's seen double-digit opportunities in each of those games and should continue to be a Flex-worthy option against the Eagles as long as Devonta Freeman (ankle) is ruled out again.

La'Mical Perine Bye (27 percent) - Perine is a fairly high-upside stash, since his playing time could skyrocket down the stretch if he gets more proficient as a pass protector. But as long as he's in essentially a 50/50 timeshare with Frank Gore (13 percent), he won't be worth starting outside of deep leagues. 

Nyheim Hines at Titans (38 percent) - Hines has essentially been a boom-or-bust fantasy option this season and has been unable to exceed 10 fantasy points if you take out his pair of two-touchdown games. His 28 catches do rank eighth in the league at the RB position, but it hasn't been quite enough to return consistent PPR value. 

Rex Burkhead vs. Ravens (25 percent) - Burkhead's value this week depends almost entirely on whether or not New England will have Damien Harris (chest) available. Harris has clearly led the backfield recently, but Burkhead will have fair TD-upside as a Flex option if he's out. 

DeeJay Dallas at Rams (37 percent) - Dallas now has two touchdowns in as many starts, but it seems fairly probable that at least one of Chris Carson (foot) or Carlos Hyde (hamstring) will be back this week. Travis Homer (21 percent) was more efficient, as his 80 scrimmage yards on nine plays substantially outproduced Dallas' 39 yards with the same amount of touches.

Cordarrelle Patterson vs. Vikings (5 percent) - Patterson's appeal is largely predicated on whether your platform lists him as a WR or RB. But if David Montgomery (concussion) misses a game, the special-teams ace could earn substantial backfield work. Ryan Nall (1 percent) and Artavis Pierce (0 percent) will also be candidates for increased roles, with the former the likeliest to get actual touches in a sans-Montgomery situation. 

Salvon Ahmed vs. Chargers (1 percent) - Ahmed looked like Miami's best RB against the Cardinals with both Matt Breida (hamstring) and Myles Gaskin (knee) inactive, and he led the team's backfield in both snaps and yardage. Jordan Howard (27 percent) retained his grip on the short-yardage work, which resulted in him scoring the Dolphins' only rushing TD.

Bryce Love at Lions (1 percent) - Love resumed practicing Monday, so there's hope he could return for the Football Team soon. Of course, he was also a healthy scratch for the first three games of the season. Love could offer tremendous upside if he's able to return to his 2,000-plus rushing-yard Stanford form, but at this point it's not even guaranteed he gets on the field in the NFL. J.D. McKissic (58 percent) is the guy to go after in this backfield if he's still on waivers.

WIDE RECEIVER

T.Y. Hilton at Titans (47 percent) - Hilton has been disappointing this season to say the least, but he's supposedly now healthy after having missed last week's game against Baltimore due to a groin injury. Thursday's game against the Titans will provide as good an opportunity as any for Hilton to score his first touchdown of the year.

Jakobi Meyers vs. Ravens (14 percent) - Meyers did everything short of score against the Jets on Monday night with 12 catches for a whopping 169 yards. He appears to have locked himself in as Cam Newton's top target, and he also managed 60 and 58 yards the previous two weeks. But next week, he'll face a tough matchup against the Ravens.

Curtis Samuel vs. Buccaneers (48 percent) - Samuel has scored four times in three contests while notching above 15 fantasy points per game. His usage seems to have come at the expense of DJ Moore, but there aren't any signs of that slowing down soon as the nine targets he saw Week 9 marked his highest haul of the season. 

Michael Pittman at Titans (7 percent) - Pittman hasn't yet produced a decent fantasy game, but his 56 yards last week were a career-high and looks fully back after missing the previous four weeks with a serious lower-leg injury. T.Y. Hilton looks like he'll also suit up Thursday but has been inefficient while playing through injuries lately, so it's possible Pittman gets to show what he can do as a top target against a poor secondary. 

Jalen Reagor at Giants (34 percent) - Reagor has been solid while on the field, and scored the last we saw him. Philadelphia's receiving corps is still somewhat undefined as the team hasn't yet had all its top options healthy this year, but Reagor should have a realistic shot at emerging as the top option. Alshon Jeffery (10 percent) should also make his debut this weekend, but the veteran doesn't boast quite as attractive a fantasy upside. 

Darnell Mooney vs. Vikings (13 percent) - Despite only accounting for 43 yards without a score against Tennessee last week, he did draw a career-high 11 targets. It's very difficult to trust any Chicago weapon other than Allen Robinson, but Mooney has established himself as the No. 2 receiver and Minnesota's secondary has been generous. 

Denzel Mims Bye (5 percent) - Mims is quickly becoming a mainstay of New York's passing game, and his eight targets and 62 yards against the Patriots on Monday were both career-high marks. His eight targets led the Jets, though Breshad Perriman and Jamison Crowder still seem locked atop the depth chart. 

Breshad Perriman Bye (8 percent) - Perriman had been unstartable all season until Monday's game against the Patriots when he went 5-of-7 for 101 yards and two scores after just having been cleared from a concussion. As long as Perriman is healthy, he should continue to function as the Jets' top big-play threat, but it's not easy to justify holding him through a bye. 

KJ Hamler at Raiders (3 percent) - Hamler's 10 targets in Week 9 were a career high and turned them into an impressive six catches for 75 yards. He also managed to score the previous game, so things are certainly trending up for the rookie second-rounder. Hamler is a big-play threat any day, and will now get the benefit of a favorable matchup against the Raiders. 

Richie James at Saints (3 percent) - James made the most of his opportunities with a decimated 49ers receiver corps last Thursday by connecting with Nick Mullens for 184 yards and a score on nine catches - certainly impressive for someone with 295 career yards to their name at that point. However, it remains to be seen whether Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kendrick Bourne will be back this week. 

Jakeem Grant vs. Chargers (3 percent) - Grant is the favorite to immediately benefit from Preston Williams (foot) being placed on IR and likely slots into the starting lineup across from DeVante Parker for at least the next three games. He's got the speed to make noise with YAC if given decent volume.

Olamide Zaccheaus Bye (0 percent) - Zaccheaus was the lucky WR to fill in for an injured Calvin Ridley (foot) in Week 9, and that led to him seeing four catches for 103 yards and one score. It seems likely Ridley will be back in action Week 11, but if not Zaccheaus could be in consideration as a Flex play. 

TIGHT END

Trey Burton at Titans (20 percent) - Burton could earn the chance to serve as Indy's clear top tight end this Thursday given that Jack Doyle (concussion) has been ruled out and Mo Alie-Cox (knee) is questionable. He's scored three times in as many recent games, although the Ravens limited him to just one catch on four targets last week. 

Logan Thomas at Lions (34 percent) - Thomas is rarely valuable if he doesn't score - which has only happened three times this season - but has drawn at least four targets every single week. Washington's offense isn't high-octane enough where it presents many desirable fantasy assets other than Terry McLaurin, but the amount of usage Thomas receives is enough to make him a solid streaming option. 

Irv Smith Jr. at Bears (9 percent) - Smith saw four targets last week, two of which went for touchdowns. Those were the second-year pro's only scores of the year, but he's now grabbed at least four targets in three of his last four games. The Bears, on the other side, have allowed a score to opposing tight ends in three straight weeks. 

Tyler Eifert at Packers (5 percent) - Eifert's 48 yards in Week 9 marked his highest total of the season, but has regularly drawn a fair amount of targets per game and rookie QB Jake Luton both appeared more competent than expected while willing to look his way. But against a tough Packers defense, Eifert is only a desperation flex.