Waiver Wire Watch: Week 10 Targets

Nov 04, 2019

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Week 10 poses a unique problem in fantasy football, as it’s the rare week where six teams are on bye. This limits the options for not only streaming positions (such as quarterback and tight end), but also spot starts and pickups in general. However, it does make investing in other potential high-upside players on byes more beneficial. As a result, there are a number of players listed below heading into their bye week, so keep an eye on that before blindly adding one of the recommendations below. With the fantasy playoffs approaching, it’s important to have an eye on the future as well.

Before we get into the meat of the article, there are a few house-keeping items to clear up. 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.

BYE WEEKS: Broncos, Texans, Jaguars, Patriots, Redskins, Eagles

Quarterbacks

1. Derek Carr

2. Daniel Jones

3. Sam Darnold

4. Kyle Allen

5. Ryan Fitzpatrick

6. Mitchell Trubisky

7. Nick Foles

Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders, 46% owned ($10)

Despite a lack of playmakers on the outside aside from Darren Waller, Carr is producing solid fantasy totals during a stretch of favorable matchups. Since the team’s bye, Carr has posted 15-plus fantasy points in every game, while also throwing multiple touchdown passes in every game as well. He now has to play the Chargers on a short week, but his offensive line is among the league’s best and should be up to the task of keeping Joey Bosa and Melvin Ingram in check. In a week where the rest of the streaming options come with a lot of risk, Carr leads the pack as the safest option with a decent floor as well.

Daniel Jones, New York Giants, 25% owned ($5)

Jones was off to a decent start on Monday night, but three turnovers (one interception, two lost fumbles) conspired to ruin what otherwise would have been a solid outing. Even though he finished with just 11.80 fantasy points (his fifth outing with fewer than 12.5 fantasy points in seven starts), he’s a great streaming target this week. Jones' other two starts were 28-plus fantasy point outings. The rookie is a total matchup-based play this season, and thankfully, the matchup is favorable this week. The Jets are imploding and are coming off a game where they allowed three first-half touchdowns to Ryan Fitzpatrick after allowing three touchdowns to Gardner Minshew the week before. Jones comes with plenty of risk, but the matchup is favorable in a week with little upside given so many teams on byes.

Sam Darnold, New York Jets, 26% owned ($3)

Darnold disappointed in a cushy matchup last week against the Dolphins (27-of-39, 260 yards, one touchdown, one interception), but he’s worth considering again this week if you’re in need of a quarterback. (Darnold had a second touchdown to Ryan Griffin overturned, so he could have had a bigger day.) Darnold is set to take on the Giants, one of the league’s worst secondaries for fantasy purposes. Heading into Week 9, the Giants had allowed six top-10 fantasy performances to quarterbacks in eight games. Darnold has as many fantasy performances above 15 points (one) as he does outings with negative points (one), so he’s a risky start in fantasy. However, the matchup is there for him to pad his stats and help you win your fantasy matchup.

Kyle Allen, Carolina Panthers, 8% owned ($3)

Allen was far from perfect in Week 9, but managed a decent performance against a tough Tennessee defense, throwing for 232 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception. He’ll have a much more favorable matchup next week when the Panthers travel to face the Packers. Prior to Week 9, four of the five past quarterbacks to face the Packers had thrown multiple touchdowns against them. Anyone who watched the Packers implosion against the Chargers will not think that Philip Rivers’ lack of touchdowns was a boost to the Packers defense – it was randomness. The Chargers carved up the Packers defense and the Panthers could do the same, making Allen one of the safer streaming choices this week.

Brian Hoyer, Indianapolis Colts, 0% owned ($1)

Owners in need of a cheap one- to three-week streamer should consider Hoyer, who is likely to start against the Dolphins with Jacoby Brissett reportedly dealing with an MCL sprain. Hoyer came in against the Steelers and completed 17 of 26 passes for 168 yards and three touchdowns. This week he had a dream matchup with the Dolphins. If Brissett is out a few weeks, then Hoyer would potentially face the Jaguars and Texans as well.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, Miami Dolphins, 6% owned ($1)

Fitzmagic took hold on Sunday, as the veteran completed 24-of-36 for 288 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Fitzpatrick has multiple touchdowns in each of his last two starts and faces a Colts defense that gave space to Mason Rudolph (191 yards, one touchdown). This isn’t a perfect matchup, but none are this week, so Fitzpatrick is worthy of streaming consideration. Fitzpatrick is building a rapport with Preston Williams and DeVante Parker, which makes streaming him slightly more palatable knowing he has a connection with his top two targets.

Mitchell Trubisky, Chicago Bears, 21% owned ($1)

Trubisky found himself in a streamable matchup this past week … and managed just 125 passing yards. He is in a similar situation this week when the Bears take on the Lions, so if you want to live dangerously Trubisky is your man. Derek Carr just carved up the Lions for 19.6 fantasy points (289 yards, two touchdowns), so the opportunity is there for Trubisky. The problem is balancing your belief in that upside against your doubts about Trubisky as a passer and Matt Nagy as a play-caller in 2019. Trubisky has thrown just two touchdowns in his last 110 attempts.

Nick Foles, Jacksonville Jaguars, 4% owned ($1)

Gardner Minshew had an extremely rough outing in London (two interceptions, two fumbles, no touchdowns), which potentially signals the end of his run. It was a fun run while it lasted, though. The Jaguars will make a decision on their starting quarterback over the bye, but Nick Foles is eligible to return to action in Week 11 if the Jags decide to give the keys back to the veteran. If you’re hurting at quarterback, Foles could be worth a stash now. He has a favorable late-season schedule during the fantasy playoffs with matchups against the Falcons, Raiders and Buccaneers.