We've reached November, which means it's time to make the waiver-wire moves that will secure your team a spot in the fantasy playoffs about a month from now. Unfortunately, Sunday brought more major injury news. Jayden Daniels left the Commanders game with a gruesome injury to his left elbow, while emerging Packers star Tucker Kraft -- the fantasy TE1 entering Week 9 -- suffered a season-ending ACL tear. Also, some of the league's best offenses will be resting this week, with the Bengals, Chiefs, Cowboys and Titans as the teams on bye. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4 p.m. ET, so be sure to check back here for updates before finalizing your claims for the week.
With all of those things in mind, here are my suggestions for Week 10, starting with my top 15 players to prioritize on the waiver wire, regardless of position.
The only rule here: Players must be rostered in less than 60 percent of NFL.com leagues to be eligible for the list.
| Waiver Wire Priority Rankings | Next Opponent |
|---|---|
| 1) TE Colston Loveland, Bears | vs. Giants |
| 2) RB Kyle Monangai, Bears | vs. Giants |
| 3) WR Alec Pierce, Colts | vs. Falcons (Berlin) |
| 4) QB Sam Darnold, Seahawks | vs. Cardinals |
| 5) WR Troy Franklin, Broncos | vs. Raiders |
| 6) WR Tez Johnson, Buccaneers | vs. Patriots |
| 7) WR Parker Washington, Jaguars | at Texans |
| 8) QB Joe Flacco, Bengals | BYE |
| 9) WR Tory Horton, Seahawks | vs. Cardinals |
| 10) TE Mason Taylor, Jets | vs. Browns |
| 11) TE Harold Fannin Jr., Browns | at Jets |
| 12) WR Tre Tucker, Raiders | at Broncos |
| 13) WR Josh Downs, Colts | vs. Falcons (Berlin) |
| 14) RB Bam Knight, Cardinals | at Seahawks |
| 15) RB Devin Singletary, Giants | at Bears |
And now, here are my top five waiver priorities by position:
QUARTERBACKS
ROSTERED: 52%
ROSTERED: 27%
ROSTERED: 6%
ROSTERED: 7%
ROSTERED: 3%
Takeaways:
- I'll continue to bang the drum for Sam Darnold here. He has been the fantasy QB9 or better in three of his last four games, averaging nearly 21 fantasy PPG over that span. His Week 10 opponents, the Cardinals, will probably provide more resistance than he faced on Sunday against the Commanders, who allowed him to throw for 330 yards and four touchdowns, but he's still the top streaming option at his position. Arizona held him to 16 fantasy points back in Week 4, and that feels like the floor for him this time.
- I know Joe Flacco's Bengals are on a bye this week, but he's been plenty good enough to pick up anyway, finishing as the fantasy QB6 or better in each of the last three weeks. He leads the league in passing yards (1,254) and TD passes (11) since he joined Cincinnati in Week 6. Oh, and he just set the record for most passing yards in a single game by a quarterback 40 or older (470), crossing the 400-yard mark for the first time in his career. After the bye, the Bengals visit the Steelers, who have a defense the 18th-year veteran skewered back in Week 7. Maybe Flacco is elite.
- I'm not ready to declare the J.J. McCarthy breakout is here, but it was highly impressive to see him drop nearly 19 fantasy points against the Lions on the road in his first game back from injury. If you're in the deepest of leagues or find yourself in a desperate situation at quarterback this week, he could be worth a flier with decent matchups in the next couple weeks (vs. Ravens, vs. Bears).
RUNNING BACKS
ROSTERED: 57%
ROSTERED: 36%
ROSTERED: 0.9%
ROSTERED: 2%
ROSTERED: 20%
Takeaways:
- It's not clear if the groin injury that kept D’Andre Swift out in Week 9 will be a long-term issue, but regardless, he might have lost significant ground in the Bears' battle for snaps at running back. With Swift sidelined, Kyle Monangai went off against the Bengals' sieve-like defense on Sunday (198 scrimmage yards on 29 touches; 6.8 per). The rookie is the fantasy RB3 of Week 9 as of this writing. Chicago won't be seeing a defense as porous as Cincinnati's again in Week 10, but it will still be a favorable matchup for the team's running backs against the Giants. Monangai is a must-add if Swift misses another week and should be no worse than a flex option if Swift returns.
- Breece Hall's name continues to float in trade chatter. Thankfully, we'll have clarity on whether he's staying with the Jets or moving elsewhere before the traditional fantasy waiver deadline, but if he is dealt, Isaiah Davis will be one of the most sought-after players on the wire. Same goes for the Titans' Tyjae Spears in the event that Tony Pollard is moved.
WIDE RECEIVERS
ROSTERED: 3%
ROSTERED: 31%
ROSTERED: 27%
ROSTERED: 3%
ROSTERED: 2%
Takeaways:
- Ja’Marr Chase and Jaxon Smith-Njigba are the only wide receivers with more receiving yards than Alec Pierce (330) since Week 6. Obviously, it will be tough for Pierce to keep pace with that elite duo, but he's at least in play as a flex option this week against the Falcons in Berlin. He leads the league with 20.1 air yards per target. That's 5.2 yards more than the next-closest player (min. 36 targets).
- The production relative to target volume undoubtedly continues to frustrate fantasy managers when it comes to Troy Franklin. I can't look away from that target volume, though. Only five players have seen more targets than Franklin in the past three weeks. Unfortunately, he's posted 13-plus points only once in that span. I'd still consider him as a flex option in Week 10, especially in a juicy matchup against the Raiders, who have been one of the league's most generous teams to opposing wide receivers.
- It's worth keeping an eye on Cooper Kupp's status after he missed Week 9 with a hamstring injury, but Tory Horton is making his case for a bigger role in the Seahawks' offense regardless. The rookie had a career day on Sunday, making four catches for 48 yards and two TDs. He's the fantasy WR7 of Week 9 as of this writing (20.8 fantasy points).
TIGHT ENDS
ROSTERED: 28%
ROSTERED: 4%
ROSTERED: 51%
ROSTERED: 6%
ROSTERED: 39%
Takeaways:
- The Colston Loveland breakthrough arrived in Week 9, with some help from a hapless Bengals defense. The rookie led the Bears with 118 yards and two touchdowns, including the high-drama game-winner, on six catches. We knew the potential was there, and it's looking like Chicago has finally unlocked it after a very quiet start to the season from the No. 10 overall pick. With Cole Kmet suffering a concussion on Sunday, Loveland could see a full workload again in Week 10 against the Giants.
- If you just lost Tucker Kraft and missed out on Colston Loveland in your league, Mason Taylor is probably the next-best upside play available to you at the position. The Jets were on bye in Week 9, but from Weeks 3-8, only two tight ends were targeted more than Taylor (39). The rookie has posted 14-plus fantasy points in two of his last four games.
DEFENSES
ROSTERED: 58%
ROSTERED: 42%
ROSTERED: 0.8%
ROSTERED: 28%
ROSTERED: 30%
Takeaways:
- I like the Seahawks' defense to stay hot against the Cardinals this week, no matter who is starting at quarterback for Jonathan Gannon. Seattle scored 11 fantasy points when it last played Arizona (Week 4) and is averaging almost 10 fantasy PPG in its last three contests. Mike Macdonald's relentless crew sacked the opposing QB nearly five times per game during that stretch.
- The Panthers' defense has been very up and down, but a matchup with the Saints is extremely enticing. New Orleans has allowed a top-seven fantasy defense in each of the last three weeks, and Carolina is coming off one of its better games, dealing the Packers a massive upset at Lambeau Field.
- We've seen some strange things this season, but a shootout developing between the Browns and Jets in Week 10 would still register as a surprise. Both teams rank in the bottom 10 in points per game, although they will be well-rested after enjoying a Week 9 bye, and New York's offense did wake up to the tune of 39 points in Week 8. That game was against the poor Bengals defense, though. The Browns have one of the league's stingiest units in yards allowed and feel like a safe play in what figures to be a low-wattage matchup.
