Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 11 pickups.
We’re inching closer to the fantasy playoffs, and four more teams are on a bye this week. That could make another team’s roster crunch become a dire situation. So keep your eyes open for players that shouldn’t be let go.
Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.
He’s opening his 21-day practice window this week after missing the entire season due to a torn ACL thus far. You’ll want to stash Omenihu if you have the space, because he made an immense impact in his first season with KC last year. He had seven sacks and two forced fumbles in 11 games. The Chiefs are in the bottom half of the league with 19 sacks, and his return will be a welcomed one.
The 25-year-old was all over the field on Monday Night Football. He had six tackles, a sack, and a pass defense. He logged a sack last week as well and has had six tackles in three straight years.
Walker was another player who stood out Monday night, grabbing his first INT of the season. He also had nine tackles after a 10-tackle performance in Week 9. His window of production is clearly open right now. Take advantage.
Campbell was second on the team with seven tackles in Week 10. It was the second straight week he had seven stops. His numbers have been spotty this season, but the 31-year-old is worth a look as a flex or depth candidate.
Alongside having one of the most football-playeresque last names, Rozeboom has been great the last two weeks. He had three tackles, an INT, and three pass defenses Monday night and 11 tackles last week. A hit-or-miss option, but he’s hitting right now.
After the team traded CB Marshon Lattimore, Amadi played in every defensive snap for the first time all season in Week 10. He answered the bell with nine tackles and a clutch pass defense near the end of the game. Amadi will continue to see more run.
After a “meh” start to the season, Rapp started to pick it up around Week 6. He has had seven-plus tackles in four of the last five games, and he had 10 in Week 9. He picked off a pass in Week 10 to go with seven stops. He’ll present a low ceiling and a high floor with tackles in fantasy.
The 27-year-old has been busy the last two weeks. He had seven tackles and two PDs in Week 9. Davis managed four tackles, two INTs, and two PDs in Week 10. He has a couple of good matchups against Jacksonville and Indianapolis upcoming.
Audric Estime is the top running back to target on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.
It looks like there’s been a changing of the guard in the Denver Broncos‘ backfield.
Broncos coach Sean Payton hinted last week that rookie Audric Estime could be more involved in the second half of the season, and that’s beginning to play out. Estime led the team’s backfield in snaps (26), carries (14) and rushing yards (53) on Sunday. Javonte Williams (one carry and two targets) seems to have been relegated to passing-down duties.
Estime could be Denver’s new RB1 going forward, and he should be considered a top priority on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.
Elsewhere on the waiver wire front, wide receiver Cedric Tillman (50%) should be rostered, Dawson Knox (1%) is a streaming tight end option and quarterback Bo Nix (50%) has quickly become fantasy-relevant.
Today, though, we’re focusing on the running back position. We’ve put together a quick list of 12 running backs to consider on the fantasy football waiver wire this week.
Fantasy Football Running Back Waiver Wire Targets
1. RB Audric Estime (1%): Estime’s efficiency (3.8 yards per carry) wasn’t great on Sunday, but Payton seems to be a big fan of the rookie, so his workload (14 carries) will likely trend up in the coming weeks.
2. RB Gus Edwards (21%): Edwards (10 carries for 55 yards) split time with J.K. Dobbins (15 carries for 50 yards) on Sunday. Playing in a run-heavy offense, both RBs could be fantasy-relevant going forward.
3. RB Tyler Allgeier (50%): Bijan Robinson remains the star, but Allgeier (11 carries for 59 yards) isn’t going away. Allgeier has standalone flex value and he’s an extremely important handcuff in case Robinson is ever unavailable.
4. RB Trey Benson (16%): James Conner (17 touches for 113 yards) and Benson (12 touches for 87 yards) were both productive on Sunday as the Cardinals cruised to a comfortable win over the Jets. That won’t happen every week, but Benson should be rostered. Note that Arizona has a bye in Week 11.
5. RB Tyjae Spears (42%): Spears (10 touches for 51 yards) wasn’t far behind Tony Pollard (13 touches for 63 yards) in Week 10. He’s worth a look in deeper leagues.
6. RB Braelon Allen (22%): Breece Hall is obviously the RB1, but Allen (seven carries and one target) remains involved. Allen could be a flex option if you’re desperate.
7. RB Cam Akers (16%): Aaron Jones had an injury scare on Sunday before later returning to the game. Akers is worth adding in case Jones does end up missing any time. With Jones missing part of Sunday’s game, Akers got 14 touches for the Vikings in Week 10.
8. RB Ray Davis (19%): He’s just a handcuff behind James Cook at this point, but Davis proved earlier this season that he’s a capable fill-in option if called upon in Buffalo.
9. RB Blake Corum (16%): The Rams have been giving Kyren Williams a heavy workload, and Corum could be an extremely valuable handcuff down the stretch if Williams gets banged up.
10. RB Kenneth Gainwell (2%): Saquon Barkley steps aside when the Eagles have big leads, giving value to Gainwell and Will Shipley (1%) when Philly is a big favorite.
11. RB Keaton Mitchell (5%): The speedy running back returned to action in Week 10 and the Ravens now have a “three-headed monster” at running back. Mitchell is worth stashing, especially in deep leagues.
12. RB Jaylen Wright (5%): De’Von Achane remains the RB1 in Miami, but Wright might be taking the RB2 role away from Raheem Mostert. Wright got the second-most carries (five) on Monday. Mostert was targeted three times as a receiver out of the backfield but got no carries.
Bonus: RB Jaylen Warren (62%) is already rostered in most leagues, but double-check just to make sure he’s not still available in your league.
Roster percentages for players listed in this article were sourced from ESPN. For more fantasy coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.
Here are the top waiver-wire targets in fantasy football entering Week 11.
With the fantasy football season entering its second half, the waiver wire remains arguably the most important tool to make that push for the playoffs.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
A look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Joe Burrow
428-3
4
Jalen Hurts
202-56
4
Kyler Murray
266-21
3
Lamar Jackson
290-33
4
Brock Purdy
353-17
2
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Bijan Robinson
20-116
3-28
2
Chuba Hubbard
28-153
4-16
1
Chase Brown
13-42
9-52
1
James Conner
12-33
5-80
1
Rachaad White
10-31
6-39
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Ja’Marr Chase
11-264
3
M Valdes-Scantling
3-109
2
Calvin Ridley
5-84
2
George Pickens
5-91
1
Tylan Wallace
3-115
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Travis Kelce
8-64
1
Mark Andrews
6-68
1
Tanner Hudson
6-42
1
T.J. Hockenson
8-72
0
George Kittle
3-57
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Joey Slye
1
4
Tyler Bass
3
3
Jake Moody
2
3
Jake Elliott
4
2
Harrison Butker
1
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Eagles
3-5
0
Patriots
9-0
0
Bills
4-4
1
Vikings
3-3
0
Texans
0-5
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
Delightfully light.
RB Miles Sanders – Leg
RB Tank Bigsby – Ankle
RB Aaron Jones – Chest
TE Dalton Kincaid – Knee
TE Sam LaPorta – Shoulder
GM Jerry Jones – Microphone allergy
Chasing Ambulances
RB Miles Sanders – Carted from the field with what is expected to be a serious injury to his leg. His absence won’t mean much to the Panthers who should be bringing Jonathan Brooks into the active lineup very soon, and Chuba Hubbard has been very strong.
RB Tank Bigsby – Had to be helped from the field after the second drive of the game with an ankle injury. He was already questionable with an ankle injury entering the game. He later re-entered the game for one carry in the second quarter but then was not used. The ankle is an ongoing problem for Bigsby, who may not be fully healthy until after their Week 12 bye.
RB Aaron Jones – Took a massive hit to his right ribs and was in much pain. He was carted to the locker room. He later returned to the game and carried four times near the end of the game.
TE Dalton Kincaid – Twisted his knee in the second quarter, then returned for one third-quarter incompletion and then ruled out of the game. Dawson Knox steps up if Kincaid cannot play against the Chiefs this week, but expectations would be low.
TE Sam LaPorta – Left the game after scoring once, but injured his shoulder and did not return. There wasn’t much said about him in the late game on Sunday, so more information should be known on Monday.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
RB Cam Akers – Aaron Jones ran 17 times in the win over the Jaguars but was banged up for part of the game. Cam Akers handled 13 carries for 38 yards, while Ty Chandler ran just four times for 18 yards. The Vikings are comfortable leaning on Akers when they have to, and he is a must-add for the Jones owner. He could offer standalone fantasy value if Jones misses time.
RB Chuba Hubbard – Playing in Munich, Germany, the Panthers opted to make the rookie Jonathan Brooks inactive again this week and that left Hubbard with 28 carries for 153 yards and one touchdown, plus four catches for 16 yards and the primary weapon in their second-consecutive win. The Panthers enter their bye and then host the Chiefs in Week 12. By this point, why bother with Brooks? Then again, what changed in Hubbard’s fourth NFL season?
QB Joe Flacco – The Colts are riding the veteran the rest of the way and facing the Bills. Joe Flacco passed for 272 yards and two scores. He used his wideouts almost exclusively. That involved Alec Pierce (4-81, TD), Josh Downs (7-72), and Adonai Mitchell (6-71) who all offered moderate fantasy points. There are no stars here, but three fantasy options for receivers. Flacco also threw three interceptions, but only two were his fault.
TE T.J. Hockenson – Finally returned from his 2023 knee injury in Week 9 but only managed three catches for 27 yards. Facing the Jaguars weak secondary, Hockenson rekindled pre-injury form when he led the offense with eight catches for 72 yards. That didn’t take long.
RB Javonte Williams / Audric Estime – The Broncos backfield has struggled to produce this season, and Javonte Williams has been the primary back. Until now. Williams had been used for 12 to 17 carries weekly, and Audric Estime and Jaleel McLaughlin shared the scraps. Facing the Chiefs, Williams was only given one first-quarter carry for five yards. McLaughlin only ran twice. But Estime carried 14 times for 53 yards. The trio will continue to exist, but the playcalling has swung to favor Estime, and he is the back of the future.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling – With the Saints already down three starting wideouts and suffering through their seven-game losing streak, they acquired MVS after the Bills released him after they traded for Amari Cooper. He only caught one pass in his debut last week, but MVS caught three against the Falcons for Week 10. They included a 40-yard touchdown, a 67-yard gain, and a 2-yard touchdown for a total of 109 yards and two scores. All three catches were within an eight-minute span in the second quarter.
Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images
RB Christian McCaffrey – After waiting just nine short weeks, McCaffrey owners got to click that START box for the first time and any points would be more than what McCaffrey offered in return for likely the first pick in a fantasy draft. He ran for 39 yards on 13 carries, while Jordan Mason owners only got one run for five yards. But McCaffrey offered six catches for 68 yards. His 19 touches were great to see in his first game back and he’ll face a weak Seattle run defense this week.
WR Jauan Jennings – Brandon Aiyuk is on injured reserve but Jennings returned after missing three games and took over the split end spot and led the 49ers with seven catches for 93 yards and was thrown 11 targets, four more than anyone else. Granted, it came against the weak Buccaneers secondary, but Jennings should figure in more for the stretch of the season as Aiyuk’s replacement. The rookie Ricky Pearsall (4-73, TD) also showed up in Week 10, making an impact from the slot.
WR Mike Williams – He was traded away by the Jets after they acquired Davante Adams and he was active on Sunday despite only having a few days with the Steelers. He only caught one pass – a beautiful 32-yard bomb thrown by Russell Wilson that provided the winning points with just two minutes left to play. That should accelerate his role in the game plan.
RB Gus Edwards – After landing on injured reserve in Week 5, Edwards was finally active for the Chargers again on Sunday. And he did exactly what no one wanted to see. He gained 55 yards on ten catches while J.K. Dobbins gained 50 yards on 15 runs. Edwards also was given several goal-line carries though none were successful. Kimani Vidal was inactive and it’s back to the maddening committee approach.
RB Tyjae Spears – Also out injured since Week 6, Spears returned against the Colts and ran six times for 27 yards, while Julius Chestnut returned to zero touches. Tony Pollard (9-44) was banged up coming into the game, so Spears was likely a little busier than usual.
QB Cooper Rush – The Cowboys are 0-4 at home and the first week of Cooper Rush shattered any hopes for the Cowboys, their fantasy players, and their season-ticket drive next spring. He completed just 13-of-34 for 45 yards and was later benched so that Trey Lance could go 4-of-6 for 21 yards and one interception. The fantasy fallout spread to Jake Ferguson (4-24) and CeeDee Lamb (6-21).
WR John Metchie – The Texans bumped him up the depth chart after Stefon Diggs was lost in Week 8 and Nico Collins was already on IR. Metchie only caught three passes for 29 yards in Week 8, and then failed to catch either of his passes in Week 9. That landed him back on most waiver wires. But against the Lions, Metchie led the Texans with five catches for 74 yards and the only passing score by C.J. Stroud. That’ll get him picked up, again, from the waiver wire at least for this week in Dallas.
Huddle player of the week
Syndication: The Enquirer
Ja’Marr Chase (CIN) – This was not the week to face Chase in your fantasy league. Chase could practically build a career just facing the Ravens. In Week 5, he caught ten passes for 193 yards and two touchdowns. In Week 10, he racked up an astounding 264 yards and three touchdowns on 11 catches. That’s 55 points in a PPR league for those of you who did not go against him. In his eight games not playing the Ravens, Chase totaled 45 catches for 524 yards and five touchdowns. In two games versus Baltimore, he had 21 receptions for 457 yards and five scores.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Check out the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football entering Week 10.
With the fantasy football season entering its second half, the waiver wire remains arguably the most important tool to make that push for the playoffs.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Looking back at the injuries, stars and free agents from Week 9
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Joe Burrow
251-11
5
Jalen Hurts
230-67
3
Geno Smith
363-16
3
Daniel Jones
174-54
3
Josh Allen
235-7
3
Running Backs
Yards
TD
Saquon Barkley
27-159
3-40
2
De’Von Achane
12-63
8-58
2
Alvin Kamara
29-155
6-60
0
Chase Brown
27-120
5-37
1
Derrick Henry
23-106
1-27
2
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
J. Smith-Njigba
7-180
2
Garrett Wilson
9-90
2
Zay Flowers
5-127
2
Demarcus Robinson
6-94
2
Courtland Sutton
7-122
1
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Mike Gesicki
5-100
2
Brock Bowers
5-45
1
Jake Ferguson
7-71
0
Theo Johnson
3-51
1
Trey McBride
3-35
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Evan McPherson
5
2
Justin Tucker
5
2
Tyler Bass
1
3
Blake Grupe
1
3
Austin Siebert
3
2
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Rams
7-3
1
Chargers
6-3
0
Cardinals
6-0
0
Jets
8-1
0
Jaguars
3-1
1
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Dak Prescott – Hamstring
WR Chris Olave – Concussion
WR Drake London – Hip
WR Cedrick Wilson – Shoulder
WR Jaylen Waddle – Ankle
WR Puka Nacua – Ejected
WR A.J. Brown – Knee
Chasing Ambulances
QB Dak Prescott– He appeared to have injured his throwing hand but then they ruled him out with a hamstring injury. He’ll have an MRI on his leg on Monday, but he said that he “felt something that he never felt before,” which sounds concerning.
WR Chris Olave– He was carted from the field on a backboard and sent to the hospital for evaluation. He was later released but will enter the NFL concussion protocol, and there was nothing that seemed “mild” about that hit. This could end up more than just one week.
WR Drake London – Caught a touchdown in the win over the Cowboys but landed on his hip. He rode a stationary bike on the sideline but was ruled out. He’ll be evaluated on Monday, but initial speculation is that it is not a very serious injury.
WR Jaylen Waddle – Had a Bills defender blocked into him step on his ankle and seemed to be in much pain initially. He later returned to the game, so he apparently was no worse for the injury.
WR A.J. Brown – Was initially evaluated for a concussion but was cleared, only to be later ruled out with a knee injury. It did not seem bad, and there is speculation that he was held out more as a precaution, but more will be known after Monday.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QB Cooper Rush/Trey Lance – The Cowboys may be without Dak Prescott, depending on further news about his hamstring. Cooper Rush entered the loss to the Falcons and finished the game with 115 yards and a score. The Cowboys face the Eagles, but at 3-5, the game has lost much of the luster. Barring more information, the fear is that the Cowboys could try both quarterbacks during the game.
WR Darnell Mooney – After Drake London left the win over the Cowboys, Mooney took over as the primary receiver and led the Falcons with five catches for 88 yards and a score. He fielded nine targets – six more than any other Atlanta wideout. Notable, too, was Kyle Pitts reverting back to only one catch for 11 yards. Mooney was already fantasy-relevant for next week but becomes a must-start if he is the top receiver against the Jaguars.
QB Derek Carr – Faced the weak Panthers’ defense in his first game back from injured reserve but only passed for 236 yards and one score. This was one of their softest matchups of the year, but it was a surprise that the top receivers were Alvin Kamara (6-60) and Taysom Hill (4-41). Kamara also ran for 155 yards on 29 rushes to handle the bulk of all offense. But it was still disappointing to see that no wideouts stepped up after Chris Olave was lost.
TE Ja’Tavion Sanders – The Carolina rookie is still far too inconsistent to merit a fantasy start, but he’s had two games with five catches before this week and led the team with four catches for 87 yards in the win over the Saints. When he whiffs, it can be a one-catch dud but he is improving. With Diontae Johnson gone, the Panthers have to redistribute the passes, and for one week, Sanders did the most.
QB Desmond Ridder – The Raiders already traded Davante Adams away andthey never had a highly-rated quarterback. Now Gardner Minshew has been benched mid-game again. Ridder entered the game near the end of the third quarter and completed 11-of-16 for 74 yards and one score. The Raiders go onto their bye for Week 9 and need to figure out how to be at least competitive in games.
TE Mike Gesicki – The Bengals tight end already caught seven passes for 73 yards in Week 8 when Tee Higgins was out. For Week 9, he again helped cover for the missing Higgins with a team-best five catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns as the top fantasy tight end for the weekend. With rumors of Higgins being on a trading block, Gesicki’s role may continue to be used more.
WR Quentin Johnston – The first-round pick of 2023 hasn’t met expectations and never managed more than 52 yards in any game this season. In Week 9, he led the Chargers with four catches for 118 yards and one score. It was his career-first 100-yard performance but Ladd McConkey had two more targets (5 vs. 7) and gained 64 yards on five catches. Justin Herbert passed for 282 yards and two scores on the road versus an above-average defense. Johnston finally turned in stats worthy of that high draft pick.
WR Jaxon Smith-Njigba – Speaking of 2023 first-round wideouts, Smith-Njigba struggled through a disappointing rookie season and hasn’t done that much this year. But he just reached a career-high, by a large margin, when he ended the overtime loss to the Rams with seven catches for 180 yards and two scores. Tyler Lockett (3-63, TD) was next best and all others were meaningless. DK Metcalf was out and Smith-Njigba took advantage.
WR Puka Nacua – He was limited to only one catch for 11 yards in the win over the Seahawks because he ran a deep route that was intercepted. A defender continued to block Nacua beyond the end of the play, and well beyond the point that caused him to choose violence, and he punched the defender, which led to a disqualification.He was already questionable coming into the game with his knee bothering him again but he was still active. Hopefully, the visiting Dolphins won’t set him off again. In other news, Cooper Kupp caught 11 passes for 104 yards.
RB Cam Akers – He was traded to the Vikings, and against the Colts he carried for 46 yards on six rushes, ripping several chunk plays. Aaron Jones was the lead rusher with 21 carries for 64 yards, but the Vikings are ready if they need to replace him. Akers looked so good that he might take a few more touches from Jones than originally thought.
WR Demarcus Robinson – After trudging through the season with sub-10-point fantasy scores, the Rams receiver scored twice in Week 8 on his two catches for 35 yards. On Week 9 Sunday, he had a career-best fantasy performance when Puka Nacua was out and the Rams threw him nine targets to catch six for 94 yards and two touchdowns in the overtime win at the Seahawks. Robinson never scored more than four touchdowns in any of his seven previous seasons, and just logged four in the last two weeks.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Saquon Barkley (PHI) – Imagine what could have been had Barkley been drafted by the Eagles instead of languishing in New York for six years running behind a terrible line on a team with no other weapons that concerned the defense. Barkley just ran for 159 yards and a score on 27 rushes in the win over the Jaguars, and added three receptions for 40 yards and a second touchdown.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 9 pickups.
After a full slate in Week 8, bye weeks are back in action in Week 9 with Pittsburgh and San Francisco taking a seat. So bait your hook, and let’s get ready to reel in some IDPs.
Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.
The 28-year-old Key is annually a fringe IDP option with spurts of brilliance and disappearance. He’s on the former right now with three sacks in the last two games. He had six tackles and a forced fumble to boot last week. He’ll be chasing around New England Patriots this week.
If he has DL eligibility, that’s a major plus. The 2021 second-rounder has sacks in three straight games and has combined for five sacks during the stretch. He also contributed four, three, and seven tackles in each game. Ojulari has two good matchups against Washington and Carolina before his Week 11 bye.
The elder statesman of the bunch, the 35-year-old vet had a season-high nine tackles against the Los Angeles Chargers last week. He has been pretty hit-or-miss and could have been drafted and dumped. He has two great matchups in the Carolina Panthers and Atlanta Falcons upcoming.
This one is contingent on Quay Walker‘s (concussion) status, but Wilson came in last week and recorded nine tackles in his stead. In Week 7, he had six tackles, two sacks, and a pass defense. The Packers face the Detroit Lions before a bye in Week 10.
The Pats have been playing musical linebackers, and Elliss is at the head of the table right now. He has nine tackles in each of the last two games, and he included a sack and a pass defense last week.
Jackson was a rotational player until he played every snap against the Cleveland Browns. He had 10 tackles and a pass defense. He had eight tackles the week before. If he continues to have this kind of runway, he’s a great pickup this late in the year.
Murray’s role has increased significantly. He played at least 80% of the team’s snaps over the last five weeks. He started last week and picked up seven tackles and three pass defenses. Murray has the New York Jets on tap this week.
Martin has been hit or miss as the Commanders have been using three safeties. He hit the nail on the head with 11 tackles in Week 8. He has three good matchups against the Giants, Pittsburgh and Philadelphia upcoming to see if he can build on it.
Here are the top waiver wire targets in fantasy football for Week 9.
With the fantasy football season entering its second half, the waiver wire remains arguably the most important tool to make that push for the playoffs.
We’ll be taking a look at the top available players rostered in Yahoo, using the 75% rostered mark (at least 25% availability) as the threshold. If you have any questions about prioritizing a certain player over another, don’t be afraid to hit me up on X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11). Your questions and comments are always welcome!
We also will be taking a look at some deeper players to stash and the top streaming options for the upcoming week.
Fantasy football waiver wire recommendations refer to 12-team league formats, unless specifically stated.
Check back for any updates throughout Monday and Tuesday as more injury news becomes available.
Tunnel Vision – a look back at Sunday for fantasy free agents, injuries and notable performances.
SUNDAY SALUTES
Quarterbacks
Pass-Rush
TD
Jalen Hurts
236-37
4
Bo Nix
284-4
4
Kirk Cousins
276-13
4
Trevor Lawrence
308-10
3
Matthew Stafford
279-(-4)
4
Running Backs
Yards
TD
James Cook
17-111
3-22
2
De’Von Achane
10-97
6-50
1
Josh Jacobs
25-127
1-(-2)
2
Rhamondre Stevenson
20-48
3-17
2
Joe Mixon
25-102
1
Wide Receivers
Yards
TD
Ladd McConkey
6-111
2
Cedric Tillman
7-99
2
Calvin Ridley
10-143
0
Marvin Harrison Jr.
6-111
1
CeeDee Lamb
13-146
2
Tight Ends
Yards
TD
Cade Otton
9-81
2
Kyle Pitts
4-91
2
Travis Kelce
10-90
1
Trey McBride
9-124
0
George Kittle
6-128
1
Placekickers
XP
FG
Jake Elliott
4
3
Brandon McManus
3
3
Austin Siebert
0
4
Ka’imi Fairbairn
2
3
Dustin Hopkins
2
3
Defense
Sack – TO
TD
Lions
1-4
1
Broncos
2-2
0
Bills
1-2
0
Texans
5-2
0
Chiefs
5-1
0
Bumps, Bruises and Bowouts
QB Drake Maye – Concussion
QB Jordan Love – Groin
RB Rico Dowdle – Illness
RB Kendre Miller – Hamstring
RB Jordan Mason – Shoulder
WR Sterling Shepard – Hamstring
WR Stefon Diggs – Knee
WR Gabe Davis – Shoulder
WR Brian Thomas Jr. – Chest
WR Christian Kirk – Shoulder
WR Deebo Samuel – Ribs
Chasing Ambulances
QB Drake Maye – Left the win over the Jets during the second quarter and did not return. He was listed as a head injury but is expected to have suffered a concussion. Jacoby Brissett wasn’t that productive but did not lose the ball. Maye could miss Week 9 at the Titans, and Brissett would again replace him.
QB Jordan Love – Injured his groin in the second quarter and did not return. Love had previously injured his knee this season and he seemed to have re-injured his left knee in the first quarter but continued to play. He came out with a groin injury after getting shoved on a pass attempt. Malik Willis replaced him, but the Packers lost. This injury could not be timed worse – the Packers play the Lions this week.
WR Sterling Shepard – Injured his hamstring after three catches in the loss to the Falcons. He later returned to the game after receiving treatment but the Buccaneers wideouts are still sorting out what they have to work with.
WR Stefon Diggs – The Texans were already without Nico Collins, and then Diggs pulled up lame with a non-contact injury to his knee during the second quarter. That is never good. An MRI will be performed to determine the exact injury and severity, but first glance suggested that he would miss time with the same knee that he’d injured twice before and missed time after those.
WR Brian Thomas Jr. – Injured his chest on his third-quarter touchdown catch and did not return to the game. It did not initially appear to be severe, but he’ll be further examined to determine the extent of his injury.
WR Christian Kirk – The Jaguars lost both starting wideouts in the loss to the Packers. Christian Kirk had caught two passes for 59 yards and was injured on a deep incompletion in the fourth quarter. He landed hard on his left shoulder and was in a lot of pain. He immediately grabbed his collarbone and then went straight into the locker room. Kirk was rumored to be the subject of a potential trade to the Steelers, but that’s likely no longer a consideration.
RB Jordan Mason – The 49ers tailback was forced from the game with a shoulder injury in the first half and while he was never listed as out, he did not play again while the 49ers just turned to Isaac Guerendo instead. Mason injured his shoulder earlier this year but played through it. The 49ers head onto their bye week, and Christian McCaffrey might actually show up by then. His health is worth tracking since McCaffrey may not return to an immediate full load whenever he returns.
WR Deebo Samuel – He was unable to finish Week 7 because of his pneumonia but was active and turned in four catches for 71 yards in the win over the Cowboys. He left the game late with a rib injury. He heads onto his bye week, so his health will be assessed for Week 10 during their time off.
Free Agents, Flops and Other Notables
QB Jameis Winston – With Deshaun Watson lost for the year, Winston was handed the reins of the Browns and he had the good fortune of playing one of the worst secondaries in the NFL of the Ravens. Winston threw for 334 yards and three touchdowns, even though Watson’s high-game was just 196 yards and two touchdowns. He’ll go against a Top-10 defense of the Chargers next week, but it will be another home game.
WR Cedric Tillman – The Browns traded Amari Cooper away, and Cedric Tillman stepped up as his replacement. Tillman caught eight passes for 81 yards last week versus the Bengals, and on Sunday, he led the Browns with seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. Elijah Moore (8-85) also had his best game of the season, but again, they faced the No. 32 defense versus fantasy wideouts.
WR Calvin Ridley – The first week without DeAndre Hopkins saw the Titans face the No. 29 defense versus fantasy wideouts and that showed up with Ridley gathering 15 targets to catch 10 for 143 yards. That was more yardage than his last five games combined. His previous high on receptions was just four. The Titans play the Patriots this week, and while their defense is at least marginally better than the Lions, Ridley has instantly become the primary target on every pass play. No other receiver managed more than three catches or 39 yards.
WR John Metchie – Stefon Diggs was injured near the end of the third quarter and his backup Metchie entered the game and caught three of his four targets for 29 yards. Diggs plays the important slot role, and his injury seems likely to make him miss time. If he does, Metchie will join Tank Dell and Xavier Hutchinson as the starting wideouts for their trip to play at the Jets this week. Hutchinson replaced Nico Collins but only caught one pass for 19 yards.
WR Parker Washington – The Jaguars had injuries to Brian Thomas Jr. (chest), Christian Kirk (shoulder), and Gabe Davis (shoulder) all left the loss to the Packers with injuries. That is all of the starting wideouts. Washington (3-46) replaces Kirk as the backup slot receiver. Depending on what happens with the three injured starters this week, Washington may end up as the primary wideout at the Eagles.
QB Tua Tagovailoa – He’s back but went against the No. 29 defense versus quarterbacks and only managed 234 passing yards and one score. He brought Tyreek Hill back to life (6-72), but no other receivers gained more than 45 yards. Probably rust.
TE Kyle Pitts – Maybe it was National Tight End Week, but Pitts turned in a career-best performance when he caught four passes for 91 yards and his first two-touchdown game.
Buccaneer wideouts – Mike Evans and Chris Godwin were gone, and yet Baker Mayfield still passed for 330 yards and three touchdowns in the close loss to the Falcons. There was no standout replacement for the two star receivers. Rakim Jarrett (3-58), Sterling Shepard (3-18), Jalen McMillan (4-35), Trey Palmer (2-29), and Ryan Miller (3-19) were all involved. And that was every active wideout that the Bucs had on their roster. And still, not one of them with any real fantasy value. Mayfield tried them all.
WR Ladd McConkey – He’ll be a hot property on the waiver wire after logging six passes for 111 yards and two touchdowns in the win over the Saints. Realize he only averaged 44 yards per game coming into this week, but he also just bought some confidence from Justin Herbert.
QB Bryce Young – Yes, the Panthers lost 28-14 to the Broncos, but Young threw for 224 yards and two scores. That may not sound like much, but his first four starts contained no passing scores and never more than 161 passing yards. That was also more than what Andy Dalton did in any game other than his first start.
WR Jakobi Meyers – He was questionable coming into the game buthe caught a team-high six passes for 52 yards and a touchdown. In the post-Adams world, Meyers stepped up as the new primary wideout.
RB D’Andre Swift – He had scored in the last three games entering Week 8. Swift made it four straight and ran for a season-best 129 yards on 18 carries in the loss to the Commanders. For the last month, Swift has handled at least 21 touches in every game and is one of the busiest running backs in the league. Swift a workhorse? Go figure.
National Tight End Day – Not only did the day set the NFL record for tight end touchdowns (16) and tight end catches (177), butthe “holiday” was invented by George Kittle, who was also the top tight end on the day with six catches for 128 yards and a score.
RB Isaac Guerendo – The rookie stepped in for the injured Jordan Mason and rolled up 85 yards on 14 carries (6.1 YPC) with a touchdown against the visiting Cowboys and even added three receptions for 17 yards. He looked great and picked up chunks of yardage. The 49ers go on their bye, and Christian McCaffrey may be back in Week 10. But Guerendo did himself a favor by creating confidence whenever they need to turn to him again.
Huddle player of the week
Credit: Neville E. Guard-Imagn Images
WR CeeDee Lamb – The Cowboys dropped below .500 with their loss to the 49ers, but at least Lamb finished with 17 targets for 13 receptions, 146 yards and both Dallas touchdowns. His scores came in the final eight minutes of the contest and nearly made a game of it. He got paid this year, he disappointed to start the season but he should have been thrown every pass on Sunday night.
Salute!
Drama 101 – Somebody has to laugh, somebody has to cry
Check your waiver wire for these IDP Week 8 pickups.
We’re just about to the halfway point of the season, and all teams are in action this week. That means the waiver wire will should have fruitful candidates to pluck.
Each week, we’ll highlight diamonds in the rough or some players that just need to be rostered in more leagues on the defensive side of the ball. Keep in mind your scoring system and roster restraints when heading to the waiver wire to grab these IDPs.
The 2019 first-round pick has been living in other teams’ backfield. Over the last three weeks, he has 6 sacks. Lawrence did have five tackles last week, but that was his high mark on the year. He’ll need to keep reaching the quarterback to have value, but he’s doing exactly that.
The 30-year-old was all over the field in Week 7, and he has been great for two straight weeks now. He had a sack and a pick-six last week and had two sacks in Week 6. He’s worth riding the wave with.
The Bills lost MLB Terrel Bernard last week with an ankle injury that was serious enough to rule him out for the game. Spector stepped in and made six tackles. Bank on Bernard missing more time in what has been an injury-riddled year. Spector is the play.
The Texans have a couple of nicked-up linebackers, and the 31-year-old has balled out the last two weeks. He had eight tackles in Week 6 and nine tackles, an INT, and two PDs in Week 7.
He stepped in for E.J. Speed last week on the edge, and, um … he corralled the opposition for 19 tackles! Speed’s status will obviously dictate his staying power, but you can’t overlook that performance.
The rookie already receives bonus points for sporting the name of a solid glass of bourbon on a campfire-like fall evening. He had 10 tackles in Week 5, four tackles, and a forced fumble in Week 6 with nine tackles in Week 7. He’ll have a runway to continue padding stats.
The third-year, undrafted man led the team with seven tackles in Week 7. He had eight tackles the week before. In Week 4, IPM made six tackles and a sack. He provides a solid option with a low ceiling and high floor.
The former Oregon product has tallied eight tackles for three consecutive weeks. Lenoir has a pass defense in four straight games and picked off his first pass last week. He’s worthy of a pickup.
