Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups Week 10
Is your fantasy team in need of new blood? Each week I’ll bring to you the best pickups to make ahead of the waiver deadline. All the players I list will be owned in fewer than 50 percent of leagues, with the ownership percentage coming from Yahoo.com.
Quarterbacks
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins (35% Owned): There are still some bye weeks upcoming, and even if your normal QB just has a tough matchup, Tannehill could surprise you. He has nice matchups in his next three weeks – at San Diego, at Los Angeles, home for San Francisco – and has been showing increased accuracy over his previous three tilts. He is not a stud QB, but he has shown he can go through explosive stretches; his upcoming opponents will be favorable.
Running Backs
Rob Kelley, Redskins (29% Owned): Kelley is supposedly the new early-down back in Washington. That may not amount to big-time production, but it’s a good offense in which Matt Jones was able to have some big games. At this point in the year any RB whom you can count on for steady work is worth owning.
Peyton Barber, Buccaneers (18% Owned): See Kelley, Rob. In all seriousness, Barber is going to get the work with Doug Martin, Charles Sims and Jacquizz Rodgers all injured. Barber didn’t do a ton vs. a pretty weak Falcons defense, and he’s unlikely to blow up vs. the Bears, but he could score a TD. These days, that ain’t bad.
James Starks, Packers (18% Owned): Starks is nearing a return, and when he’s ready, he’ll be their workhorse. Right now Green Bay is toggling between a practice squad runner (Don Jackson) and a wide receiver (Ty Montgomery) to mixed results. Starks isn’t Eddie Lacy, but he’s competent and offers extra values in leagues that reward receptions.
Bilal Powell, Jets (48% Owned): Powell, for the moment, is merely a stopgap-type player, best suited for a good team that just needs some depth. If Matt Forte were to get hurt, Powell becomes a very tasty option because of his power running and his pass-catching. As is, he is startable in deep leagues and can be expected to see 10-12 touches minimum in any given game.
Paul Perkins, Giants (6% Owned): Perkins is the Giants’ best back, and by owning him, you’re just waiting for the Giants’ coaching staff to trust him. Last week was a positive; Perkins was fed 11 times on the ground, and saw three targets in the passing game, all of which were caught. Perkins has the potential to blow up and be a game-changer down the stretch, but only if he is fully unleashed.
Chris Ivory, Jaguars (33% Owned): Ivory might be the hardest running back in the NFL to figure out in 2016. After seeing nine carries in the previous two games, he suddenly toted the rock 18 times, and picked up 104 yards. My gut says that Ivory is the Jaguars back to own, simply because he runs harder than T.J. Yeldon, is a better option at the goal line, and has the ability to catch passes. But good luck trusting him; the recommendation is to add him, and start him when desperate. If Yeldon goes down, Ivory is a stud.
Damien Williams, Dolphins (2% Owned): It seems established that Williams is the No. 2 behind Jay Ajayi, so this is purely on a handcuff basis, as the Dolphins have become a run-heavy offense.
Wide Receivers
Sammie Coates, Steelers (47% Owned): Coates just put up a doughnut while dropping a pass in the end zone vs. the Ravens. No one will be spending much FAAB money, if any, to add him. But you should spend a buck or two because you’re smart, Coates is talented, and Darrius Heyward-Bey is hurt. Coates remains a scary AF threat down the field, and he has juicy matchups with Dallas, Cleveland and Indianapolis on the horizon.
Brandon LaFell, Bengals (15% Owned): Unlike Coates, LaFell is decidedly NOT explosive. He is a guy who gets reliable targets from Andy Dalton, and can score a TD in any given game. Don’t count on him to be a weekly starter, but he’s just fine as a fill-in.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry, Chargers (28% Owned): Antonio Gates is experiencing a revival while Henry is missing time with a concussion, but Henry is the better player at this point in his career. When healthy, he will be the primary TE target for Philip Rivers, and right now, he’ll be dirt cheap.