Waiver Wire Watch: Week 10

Nov 09, 2020

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Even if your fantasy matchup in Week 9 wasn’t enjoyable (say, for instance, if you faced Dalvin Cook and Josh Allen), I hope you were at least able to enjoy some of the terrific games on the slate. Panthers-Chiefs, Chargers-Raiders, Cardinals-Dolphins, and Bills-Seahawks (to name a few) all delivered fantastic excitement and down-to-the-wire finishes. Football, and fantasy football, are supposed to be fun, after all. It’s important we remember that and try to enjoy it while it is here each year. Below I try to offer a wealth of players who could help secure you future wins, and thus more fun in the remaining fantasy football season.

Recommendations are based on a PPR-scoring, four-point passing touchdown, 12-team league, with ownership percentages coming from Yahoo. I try to mention when a player is a better streaming play (short-term/one-week starter) versus a long-term addition. Free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) suggestions are based on a $100 season-long budget. Lastly, the great John Paulsen will edit this article every week and adjust rankings and prices if necessary. Essentially, you’re getting two minds collaborating on this piece instead of one, so lucky you.

Now, with that out of the way, here are some players to target heading into Week 10.

BYES: Falcons, Cowboys, Chiefs, Jets

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Browns
Drew Lock, Broncos
Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins
Derek Carr, Raiders
Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers
Daniel Jones, Giants
Philip Rivers, Colts
Jake Luton, Jaguars
Nick Foles, Bears
Alex Smith, Washington
Nick Mullens, Saints

Baker Mayfield, Browns, 41% rostered ($5)

Mayfield managed just 12 completions for 122 yards in his last start, but that was in the Wind Bowl against the Raiders. The week prior, he threw five touchdowns and 297 yards in a win over the Bengals. Coming out of his bye, Mayfield gets a gift of a matchup against the Texans. The Texans have stopped exactly zero opposing offenses this year, and just gave sixth-round pick Jake Luton a 300-yard performance in his first career start. Quarterback is a little rough this week, but Mayfield is available in plenty of leagues and should offer a solid fantasy floor.

Drew Lock, Broncos, 20% rostered ($3)

Lock is a bit erratic in real life, but he’s been dynamite in fantasy of late, scoring three total touchdowns in each of his last two games while averaging over 280 passing yards in that span. Up next for Lock is a matchup with the Raiders, a team that has been vulnerable to downfield passing attacks so far this year. Lock comes with some risk, as his first two games back from injury saw him throw four interceptions to zero touchdowns. The hope is that Lock’s recent play is more indicative of what he’ll offer the rest of the way.

Tua Tagovailoa, Dolphins, 24% rostered ($3)

Tua looked much more like an NFL starter in his second start, completing 20 of 28 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns in a win over the Cardinals. He added 35 yards on the ground, too. Tua will look to build on this performance against a Chargers defense that remains exploitable through the air as it battles numerous injuries. There’s some risk given Tua’s relative inexperience, but early returns are encouraging for Miami’s young passer.

Derek Carr, Raiders, 42% rostered ($3)

Carr's yardage against the Chargers was on the low side (165), but he threw two-plus touchdowns for the sixth time in his last seven games, with the lone exception being the aforementioned Wind Bowl in Cleveland in Week 8. Up next are the Broncos (No. 21 in QB aFPA). the Chiefs (No. 4), the Falcons (No. 31) and the Jets (No. 18).

Teddy Bridgewater, Panthers, 41% rostered ($2)

On paper, the matchup against the Bucs isn't great, but Tampa just got shredded at home by Drew Brees and Co., so Bridgewater is playable in a pinch. Against the Chiefs, he threw for 310 yards and two touchdowns and added 19 yards and another score as a runner.

Daniel Jones, Giants, 30% rostered ($1)

Jones scored 20.7 points in his last matchup with the Eagles, who are No. 24 in QB aFPA, so he is streamable this week. He's not a safe play, but he offers sizable upside given his ability to run the ball.

Philip Rivers, Colts, 21% rostered ($1)

Rivers had a bad game against a good Ravens defense, but he threw three touchdowns in each of his two previous games (against the Bengals and the Lions). In Week 10, he faces the Titans, who just gave up 335/2 to Nick Foles and had the No. 25 QB aFPA heading into Week 9.

Jake Luton, Jaguars, 1% rostered ($1)

Luton performed well in his first start in the NFL after the Jaguars drafted him in the sixth round earlier this year. He completed 26-of-38 attempts for 304 yards with one touchdown and one interception. Luton should have plenty of chances to throw next week as the Jaguars try to keep pace with Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. The Packers defense isn’t exactly a stout unit, so Luton may be able to move the ball and put up some points. He’s a mid-tier streamer.

Nick Foles, Bears, 9% rostered ($1)

Foles is a risky fantasy start, even though the matchup is pretty solid. Foles has thrown multiple touchdowns in back-to-back weeks now, averaging 303.5 yards per game in that span. However, Foles managed just threw three touchdowns versus five interceptions in the four games prior to this mini stretch of production.

Other potential streamers: Alex Smith at Lions, Nick Mullens at Saints