Week 10: Headlines, Injuries, & Waiver Wire Targets

Hello!

My teams are dead so I thought my time mourning would be better spent writing my thoughts on the fantasy football landscape. Maybe starting with my teams stink isn’t the best pitch for fantasy advice. I mean you started Travis Etienne this week, who are you to give anyone else tips? This isn’t how I wanted this to go. Sorry. Take it or leave it. Or don’t read it. I don’t blame you.

Headline Thoughts:

1. The Cowboys  – Do you prefer butter or jam? Either way, the Cowboys are toast. Am I saying that because I’m an Eagles fan? No. Is that why it’s #1? Yes. But listen! After a season riddled with injuries and an owner suddenly strapped for cash, even Cowboys fans will admit FOR ONCE, 2024 is not their year. The Falcons all but solidified that this week, as the Cowboys lose in Atlanta to fall to 3-5. Moreover, QB Dak Prescott left the game early with a hamstring injury. Initial reports are bad and it looks like Dak may end up on the IR this week. STOCK DOWN for all Cowboys, WR CeeDee Lamb especially, who is also banged up with a shoulder injury. The key takeaway is that Dak is droppable in all 1QB leagues. Cowboys aren’t playing for much the rest of the year, so there’s really no rush to bring back their freshly contract-extended quarterback. Oh, and their HC may not see Friday. Cooper Rush is their expected starter against an Eagles team on a 4-game heater. If I were them, ya see what Trey Lance has in him. Either way, Go Birds.

2. Trade Deadline  –  The election (the Presidential one) won’t be decided by 4pm, so if you are looking for something to get your mind off it, today is also Trade Deadline day. It’s the last chance NFL teams has to improve their roster with big fish this season. Lots of trades have gone down over the last two-ish weeks. For fantasy, a few big receivers like WR DeAndre Hopkins, WR Diontae Johnson, and WR Amari Cooper have new homes in Kansas City, Baltimore, and Buffalo, respectively. You’ll want to keep an eye on the headlines today to see if anyone on your roster gets moved OR if you have a buying opportunity on another player in your league, that is if their manager is “honk shoo” asleep at the wheel.  The rumor mill has been churning more on defensive players the past few days, which has no real impact on 95% of fantasy leagues. So unless you are an IDP degenerate (miss you Aidan), keep an eye on Jets WR Mike Williams, Giants WR Darius Slayton, and who knows? Maybe Panthers, prince who was promised, QB Bryce Young ends up a Raider. Can someone please get the Steelers a receiver? They’ve been through so much.

3. The Saints, Panthers, Browns, Jags, Titans, Raiders, Patriots, and Giants – Done. Dead. Season over. They are all likely “sellers” at the deadline, meaning they will be pivoting off starters for future draft picks. Jets probably cooked too. Sorry New York, at least you have the Yankees! They couldn’t squander a season in embarrassing fashion.

4. Lions, Eagles, Falcons, Ravens – Play everyone. Detroit RB duo David Montgomery (Knuckles) and Jahmyr Gibbs (Sonic) have both been hits this year. Don’t bench them. WR Amon-Ra St. Brown too, of course. RB Saquon Barkley is unbelievable. WR A.J. Brown got hurt left last week early but seems flukey. WR Devonta Smith has been putting up points and QB Jalen Hurts is a rushing touchdown merchant, so play them too. WR Drake London got banged up this week but is having a very solid breakout year. BR Bijan Robinson has looked like one of the best backs in the NFL these past few weeks. TE Kyle Pitts, I DON’T KNOW. DON’T ASK ME. RB Derrick Henry stays King. WR Zay Flowers has been absolutely balling out. QB Lamar Jackson is on his way to a second consecutive and third total MVP. Play them all. Give Diontae a beat though, Beth. I want to see how he looks in that offense before firing him up in fantasy. You can forgive his Week 9 target share. Guy’s been in Baltimore for less than a week. Let’s see how it plays out.

Fantasy-Relevant Injuries:

• WR Chris Olave, concussion –  I want to make a joke here about how the analytics bros love Chris Olave despite him always underperforming in fantasy. However, Olave suffered his fifth (I think) concussion this week and it didn’t look good. He’s a good guy as far as I know, so really thinking good thoughts for him. He’s gonna miss some time and with WR Rasheed Shaheed already on season-ending IR and QB Derek Carr playing putrid football, the New Orleans passing game looks bleak. Mason Tipton boys, we up? Yikes.

• QB Dak Prescott, hamstring – Covered this above. I’m hearing 4 weeks at least. Cowboys fans will fall back in love with QB Cooper Rush if he wins a game at any point. Don’t be like them. Don’t play Cooper Rush.

• WR CeeDee Lamb, shoulder – MRI-pending, this is an AC joint sprain. Sounds like Lamb is a go this week hosting the Eagles, but with Rush throwing the ball, my expectations are limited for him in fantasy. If he’s on your team though, you drafted him in the first round, and should play him with the benefit of the doubt.

• WR A.J. Brown, knee – Considered day-to-day as of Monday. It’s an MCL issue I heard, which would hinder his game more than most making horizontal moves across the field, but the Eagles don’t seem too worried, so you shouldn’t be either.

• WR Drake London, hip – Also day-to-day. London has been a nice hit for anyone who grabbed him in the fourth or fifth round this year, so I am glad to hear it isn’t more serious. Fingers crossed he’s back this week!

• C Joel Embiid, some bullshit – No explanation from the team as to what is going on here and he just pushed a reporter after a game. Down horrendous right now. He’s still not playing, so you can sit him.

• TE Isaiah Likely, hamstring – Questionable right now but don’t play Likely if he’s healthy either. If he’s still on rosters in week 10, managers probably stopped playing after week 2. Look elsewhere.

• WR Keon Coleman, idk – MRI-pending. Ted can probably tell us more. I like Keon for what it’s worth.

• QB Caleb Williams, ankle – This happened on the last play of the game. He’s fine, health-wise. Fantasy-wise, he’s been a mess and the Bears have a BRUTAL schedule ahead. 2025 very well might be Caleb season but it doesn’t look like he’s quite found it yet.

• TE Erick All, knee  – You’ve probably never heard of him, but I like him and he got hurt and that made me sad. It’s an ACL tear, so he’s down for the year.

• WR Darius Slayton, concussion – Slayton had some good work earlier this year while rookie star WR Malik Nabers missed time. I’m not interested in him for fantasy unless he gets moved at the trade deadline but if you play in a deeper league, he might be a buy. If someone sees the Q next to his name and thinks that means he’s bad, I disagree with that at least. Concussion protocol for now.

• RB Brian Robinson, hamstring – Don’t know much about this one. He was a surprise inactive on Sunday morning, which leads me to believe he did have a chance to play and therefore, shouldn’t be out long. Keep an eye on it if you have a BRob share. Commanders skill players might all be must-starts too. Forgot about them. If Robinson does miss more time, fire up RB Austin Ekeler with confidence.

• RB Zack Moss, neck – This is a sad one. Moss has been around the league and can never seem to get over the hump as a bell cow guy in the NFL. He’s only 26 so it’s not a career-ending, but early reports say Moss is done for the year. Bengals RB Chase Brown has shined in his absence and it looks like they just traded for Bears committee RB Khalil Herbert. Sucks for Moss.

• QB Patrick Mahomes, ankle – He gets hurt and then makes the best plays you’ve ever seen and the Chief beat bad teams by 2 points. If you drafted Mahomes, he’s been underwhelming this season to say the least. But if you believe and want to play him, he should be healthy and out there against the Broncos this week.

Returning from Injury:

• RB Christian McCaffrey - WE BACK BOYS! YAAAHOOOOO!!! If you’re new to football, you’ll want to watch the San Francisco 49ers down the stretch. This guy is crazy.

• WR Nico Collins – Please for the love of god, go buy him if it’s at all possible. He’s a stud and without Texans WR Stefon Diggs for the rest of the year, QB C.J. Stroud needs him real bad. He’s a start ASAP.

• WR DK Metcalf – Having a very nice season so far! OK DK! Happy to have him back for one of my lineups.

• RB Keaton Mitchell – A Ravens backup RB here who has shown some talent in the past. “There’s a chance,” he plays in Week 10, but both his floor and ceiling are capped by King Henry and Lamar leading the rushing game. He’s not a starter for fantasy.

• WR Tee Higgins – ???? Literally flip a coin any day and you’ll predict as well as anyone what is up with Tee Higgins. He’s currently playing on the franchise tag, auditioning for other teams to sign him this offseason, but can’t stay on the field for one reason or another. Outside chance he gets moved a the deadline if the Bengals are sick of it, but he’s a stud when he plays and they still have some playoff aspirations. Tee is annoying. I’ll say he comes back but don’t be surprised if he’s out in Week 11, back in 12 and 13, out in 14, on a paid vacation in 15 and is WR #1 overall in Week 16.

Waiver Wire Targets:

• WR Cedrick Tillman – The Browns season was cooked even before controversial franchise(?) QB Deshaun Watson went down with an Achilles tear. Then, in came gun-slinging, hype man, former first overall draft pick QB Jameis Winston and out to Buffalo went WR Amari Cooper. Suddenly, you have a quarterback who has never been afraid to force a pass and the #1 receiver role open for the taking. That role seems to be filled by sophomore dawg out of Tennessee, Cedrick Tillman. He should have been added last week, but if he’s still out there, he could be a league winning add, and a rare one this late in the season. I actually like WR Elijah More and respect WR Jerry Jeudy’s draft capital in that offense as well, but Tillman looks like the guy in our small sample size. Browns are on a bye this week so if he is rostered, someone may drop him. Go get him.

• TE David Njoku – This is the Browns tight end, recently returned from injury. He should have been added two weeks ago, but if he’s out there, he’s definitely startable for all reasons above. Browns are on a bye this week but after that, he’s a go. I would say “let David cook,” but if you know, you know.

• RB Tyrone Tracey – The Giants have something here. Another who should have been added already but if you’re in a shallow or less-than-active league and need an RB bye week fill-in, look no further. Tyrone has taken that backfield from RB Devin Singleterry. This Iowa receiver turned Purdue running back is your man.

• RB Johnathon Brooks – This Panthers rookie back is a bit of a gamble, but if you have a spot on your bench, he’s worth stashing. He was the 46th overall pick and the highest-drafted running back in 2024 despite suffering an ACL tear in his last year at Texas. He is on track to make his NFL debut in Week 10. Panthers RB Chuba Hubbard has been a very nice player thus far, so I think what’s most likely is a carries split, hurting both of their fantasy value. We’ll see though! Nothing wrong with adding him just in case.

• WR Xavier Legette – Another Panther here. He’s been a fringe roster-able guy in my very shallow ESPN league, so maybe he’s out there in yours too. As a result of the Panthers selling both WR Diontae Johnson and WR Johnathon Mingo in the last week, that #1 target role appears to belong to XL. The bottom line is the Panthers will be losing games, forced to throw the ball, and someone has to catch it. Legette has proven to be a decent talent this season.

• WR Jalen Coker – Same as Legette, another Panthers rook, looking to make a name for himself in this vacated passing game. He’s got some really strong film out there as an Undrafted Free Agent out of Holy Cross. Including him here because it’s hard not to root for him but only a discussion in deep leagues though.

• RB Audric Estime – Broncos rookie back up for RB Javonte Williams. HC Sean Peyton mentioned he may see more work, but this is more a conditional add if Williams were to go down. Deep leagues only.

• RB Trey Benson – He’s not a super high priority ass but another rookie behind Cardinals RB James Conner. I didn’t include in the injury report because I don’t have any details, but Conner did also get roughed up in their game against the Bears this week. He finished the game, but when he missed that time, Trey Benson snuck into the endzone for a touchdown. He was the second highest drafted RB this year behind Brooks and definitely has the talent. Conner is just a beast, so it’s been hard for him to get on the field. Monitor the situation, but if he’s out there in deeper leagues, Benson is worth a roster spot.

• TE Mike Gesicki – This one is also kind of gross. Big Mike has had back-to-back nice weeks but I think it’s more of a vacated target thing than anything else. Tee Higgins injured. Erick All injured. Rookie WR Jermaine Burton got benched for oversleeping (and then went to the game in pajamas, can’t make it up). If Higgins is out again this week, you could do worse than Gesicki as a TE streamer.

• QB Drake Maye – I know I said the Patriots season is over. And it is. But imagine if they started Drake Maye in week 1. He’s really fun to watch and has been up-and-down decent so far in fantasy. If he’s out there in a 2QB league, he’s a must add. If you need a high-upside QB to stream in your 1QB league, I like Maye. Lower floor than average, higher ceiling.

Who am I missing? What else do you want covered in future issues? Did I spell anyone’s name wrong? I have a lot of time on the train these days so let me know your thoughts. Thanks for reading! 😊