Week 10 Waiver Wire Column - Add/Drop
Bobby Van Pelt of Break the Mold covers players that fantasy managers should target off waivers and drop from their team
ADD
Keaton Mitchell, RB, BAL
The rookie RB out of East Carolina made the most of his limited play time during garbage time Sunday, recording 138 yards and a touchdown on 9 carries (and 1 catch for -4 yards) — which saw him finish as RB5 on the week with 20.4 PPR points.
Gus Edwards’ recent performances have undoubtedly solidified him as the RB1 on Baltimore’s depth chart moving forward, but John Harbaugh’s postgame comments remarked that there will be a rotation going forward with the focus being on “who has the hot hand”. Mitchell’s performance and the latter comments on said production should encourage managers to take a flyer on him with most waivers being bone dry.
FAAB Budget: 6-8%
Noah Brown, WR, HOU
This waiver add is for my deeper league subscribers out there. Brown had a career game Sunday, as he totaled 6 catches (on 6 targets) for 153 yards and a touchdown — finishing with 27.3 PPR points and as WR3 on the week.
Brown has benefitted from Robert Woods’ injury-related absence by seeing an increase in snap share and route participation, both of which are hot commodities in the high passing volume Texans’ offense. He shouldn’t be considered a reliable option by fantasy managers, but Brown is a dart throw option for those in desperate need of a deep sleeper at WR.
Note: if Tank Dell is still available on waivers in your league, absolutely prioritize him over Brown.
FAAB Budget: 3-5%
Cade Otton, TE, TB
Otton had his best performance of the campaign in a barn burner game, as he caught 6 of 9 targets for 70 yards and 2 touchdowns (although one fumble lost) en route to 23.0 PPR points and a TE3 finish on the week.
Although production like this should not be expected from Otton again this season, he has proven to be a relatively reliable option for managers with the usual anemic state of the TE position this year. Those who have recently lost Dallas Goedert or Darren Waller to injury should especially look to target Otton as a replacement.
FAAB Budget: 5-7%
DROP
Treylon Burks, WR, TEN
After suffering a scary fall and having to be carted off the field, it was great news to hear that Treylon Burks was seen walking around the Titans’ locker room postgame and did not require any sort of hospitalization.
That being said, Burks has been a bit of a letdown this season for fantasy managers. The training camp acquisition of DeAndre Hopkins severely tanked his production profile in the offense, and his season has been marred by constant injuries hampering him left and right — which has led to him scoring more than 5.0 PPR points in only one contest. With the state of the Titans’ offense and their complete reliance on Hopkins for passing production, managers can look to other options with a more hopeful outlook on waivers.
Latavius Murray, RB, BUF
Murray has been spelling James Cook this season in a variable role depending on game script, but his value as a handcuff looks to be in jeopardy moving forward. Buffalo signed Leonard Fournette to their roster last week, a potentially negative sign for Murray as well the prospective return of Damien Harris on IR.
The Bills’ fantasy RB production in recent weeks has been average at best, with James Cook only averaging 9.52 PPR FPPG over Buffalo’s last 5 contests (and Murray averaging 3.02 PPR FPPG). Fantasy managers should be open to dropping Murray for other options on waivers, such as Fournette or others.
Michael Mayer, TE, LV
After finishing as the TE6 in Week 6 with 12.5 PPR points, Mayer had seemed to be asserting himself as a potentially reliable option at the position off waivers. However, since that game, the unfolding situation in Las Vegas has put a hold on the rookie TE’s production.
Josh McDaniels was fired after the Raiders’ MNF game against Detroit, with Mark Davis deciding that enough was enough with both him and Jimmy Garoppolo — who was swiftly benched for rookie QB Aidan O’Connell. The change at HC and QB didn’t change much for Mayer, who only recorded 2 catches for 11 yards on Sunday. Fantasy managers without other current options than him need to look to waivers for TEs who are much more reliable at the moment.
Other players to consider adding:
Will Levis, QB, TEN (3-5%)
Justice Hill, RB, BAL (4-6%)
Ty Chandler, RB, MIN (3-5%)
Tank Bigsby, RB, JAX (3-5%)
Darnell Mooney, WR, CHI (3-5%)
Alec Pierce, WR, IND (3-5%)
JuJu Smith-Schuester, WR, NE (3-5%)
Jonnu Smith, TE, ATL (3-5%)