The Pigskin Papers Waiver Wire - Week 10
A Bridge for your Bye Week Waters
(Posted November 9, 2021)
Welcome to the Week 10 Waiver Wire. The shelves are pretty bare and there aren’t a lot of impactful free agents to talk about this week. Still, there are players out there who can help fantasy managers work through the bye weeks, and the injuries, illnesses and other developments that are impacting player availability. By November we usually see a steady decline in the quality and number of impact players on the wire, and this week fits that pattern.
********Link to our Week 9 Fantasy Recap Column: https://www.thepigskinpapers.com/posts-1/pigskin-papers-postscript-week-9******
Every NFL team has now played either 8 or 9 games, so we are at the exact midpoint of the NFL season. The fantasy football season is past its midpoint though, because most fantasy leagues* play their playoffs in weeks 15-17. So if you’re sitting on FAAB dollars and a so-so record and need to make a big move, you’re going to need to do that in the next couple of weeks.
*I said “for most leagues”, because there are better and more fun ways to do fantasy football playoffs than the typical format, by aligning them with the NFL playoff weeks. I’ll spare you the rant - If you’re interested in learning more, see this piece that I wrote over the summer: https://www.thepigskinpapers.com/posts-1/three-of-the-dumbest-things-about-fantasy-football-and-how-to-fix-them-part-iii-1
On to the Week 10 Waiver Wire:
QB
Teddy Bridgewater has been up and down this year, along with the Broncos. He is the QB15 for the year, and with Fant expected back this week, he and his weapons are the healthiest they’ve been all year. You could do worse, and this week’s matchup with the Eagles is a decent one. Note: Denver’s bye is Week 11.
It’s really hard to know what to do with the Jets QB situation - now imagine being the actual Jets, and trying to figure it out. They’ve somehow managed to find 2 guys that nobody has ever heard of who at this time are better options than #2 overall pick Zach Wilson, and Wilson is probably out another 1-3 weeks. If you have the space and the need, I can’t argue against picking up Mike White - it sounds like he is going to be the starter for now, the Jets are going to be playing more garbage time football than almost anyone else through the second half of the season, and they have some offensive talent. The matchup this weekend (Bills) is one you want to avoid, though.
Derek Carr had a rough outing yesterday, and I don’t think DeSean Jackson can stretch the field the way Henry Ruggs did. But Carr has the easiest remaining schedule of any QB, from a fantasy perspective. He isn’t a bad stash and will have some good opportunities as a streamer.
RB
OK, fine, pick up Jordan Howard. I still think Boston Scott has the most value there until Miles Sanders returns, but they’re giving Howard a lot of work and one thing he has always been good at is converting at the goal line. If you’re desperate, he might be able to help you as a plug-in.
Lamar Jackson is the lead rusher in Baltimore this year and that’s probably not going to change, but for now Devonta Freeman seems to have the biggest role of the RBs. They’ve also got Bell and Lat Murray, once he is healthy, so I can’t recommend any of their RBs with confidence. But against Miami on Thursday night I think Freeman can help you out if you’re stuck this week, and maybe he has done enough to lead the backfield down the stretch.
Zach Moss exited Sunday’s game with a concussion (I’m not sure what the excuse is for the rest of the Buffalo offense), so if Devin Singletary is available, consider grabbing him.
More head injuries - Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson BOTH suffered head injuries in the 4th quarter, and neither returned. Monitor this one - Stevenson was having his best game of the year and getting more of the passing down work, so he is a decent add for depth assuming he is OK, and if Harris misses time, Stevenson would be a priority add. If they’re both going to miss time, then Brandon Bolden would be a high priority add, as the only healthy back that the coaching staff trusts.
UPDATES AFTER POSTING - (1) Nick Chubb tested positive for COVID on Tuesday, and is unlikely to play this week. Demetric Felton also tested positive. We already saw what D’Ernest Johnson can do, and he might be the only healthy option. It’s probably just for a week, but pick him up if you need him this week. (2) Alvin Kamara is dealing with some kind of injury - the Saints haven’t said much, but it’s worth noting that they brought in several RBs to look at. If Kamara misses any time, Mark Ingram is going to have good value - grab him and especially if you’re a Kamara owner.
WR:
Aiyuuuuk!
You’re going to hear the name Elijah Moore a lot this week - yes, he did have a breakout in week 9 with a line of 7-84-2, making him the WR1 of the week. I think he’s a fine pickup for WR depth, and to see if he can build some momentum, but temper your expectations. We don’t know who’s going to be the Jets QB this week, next week, or any week, and #1 WR Corey Davis missed this game. Here is the Week 2 receiving line for Moore, a second round pick in the 2021 NFL Draft: 7-114-1. Breakout, right? And by Moore, I mean Rondale Moore, who since that game hasn’t scored a TD, or had more than 5 catches or 60 yards in any game. Caveat Emptor.
Brandon Aiyuk is worth an add. He’s made noise in 2 straight, and with Deebo not 100%, he is definitely getting more looks. He was a complete bust for the first half of the season, but the road to redemption is perhaps underway.
Donovan Peoples-Jones has caught all of 15 passes all year, so he is hard to recommend other than for depth. But he is a big play threat and with Odell gone, he could get more looks going forward.
Will Fuller might be back this week, and with Devante Parker on IR, could be an intriguing player. That is, until he gets hurt again.
Russell Gage is hard to trust. But that’s true of just about everyone in today’s column. If you need WR depth, he is worth a look.
Michael Gallup will likely make his return this week. He won’t be a consistent producer, but is definitely worth adding for depth.
Rashod Bateman is doing fine. Nothing special, just fine. I don’t expect a ton from him, but there is opportunity for the rookie given how much the Ravens are throwing these days.
We want Moore
TE:
I’ve mentioned both Pat Friermuth and Logan Thomas each of the last 2 weeks - I like both as borderline top 10 TEs for the second half of the season, so if they’re still available, consider putting in a claim.
Dan Arnold was mentioned in this space last week, and he had another productive game (4-60). He’s been targeted 17 times the past 2 weeks, which is significant. He likely won’t give you big numbers, but TE is a wasteland and targets mean opportunity.
Good luck with your pickups. Be sure to check out our Week 9 Fantasy recap, posting later today.
DH
***This column (Waiver Wire) and the Weekly Fantasy Recap appear each Tuesday, and the Weekly Fantasy Preview each Thursday. Please bookmark the site and come back often. You can also follow on Social Media on Instagram (thepigskinpapers) and Twitter (@PigskinPapers). I appreciate your patronage and welcome your feedback. You can post in the comment boxes or email pigskinpapers@gmail.com.***
