The fantasy football playoffs are looming, and whether your team has a spot locked or is still in the thick of the race, help is still available in the form of waiver wire pickups. With that, let’s scour the waivers one more time and see some players that have the potential to bolster your lineup.
10. Teddy Bridgewater – Minnesota Vikings QB (2.5% owned in ESPN)
The Vikings won’t immediately hand the keys of their offense to Bridgewater whenever he comes back from his devastating knee injury last year. But, he’s worth a look for fantasy owners who are not too comfortable with their quarterbacks. Reports say that he’s going to be activated this week, and once he eventually makes his way back under center, he’ll find himself behind a better offensive line and with better talent around him than the last time he took a snap in an NFL game.
It’s not that crazy to think that Bridgewater will yank Case Keenum’s starting job right away. Stash him on your bench and see how he plays out in the coming few weeks if you have room to work with.
9. Curtis Samuel – Carolina Panthers WR (4.9% owned in ESPN)
Samuel was among those expected to benefit from the trade of Kelvin Benjamin to the Buffalo Bills last week, and though he posted just 23 receiving yards on three catches in Week 9’s 20-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons, it’s worth highlighting that he received a season-high tying five targets. With another week to get accustomed to a Benjamin-less offense, Samuel is projected to have an even bigger role as possibly the No. 2 Panthers receiver behind Devin Funchess moving forward.
8. Terrance Williams – Dallas Cowboys WR (7.1% owned in ESPN)
Dallas' No. 1 receiver Dez Bryant limped off the field in the third quarter of Sunday’s 28-17 home win over the Kansas City Chiefs, but Dallas’ offense remained fine thanks in part to a brilliant performance from Williams, who caught all nine targets and finished with 141 receiving yards. Williams hurt his knee near the end of the contest, but if he's active for next Sunday’s showdown with the Falcons and Bryant is declared to miss any time, the former Baylor Bear would be left with likely another heavy workload downfield.
7. George Kittle –San Francisco 49ers TE (9.9% owned in ESPN)
Kittle wasn’t to be mistaken for Gronk in Week 9 when he posted just 27 receiving yards on three receptions and five targets in a 20-10 loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but the tight end has a strong upside for Week 10’s matchup with the bumbling New York Giants. The Giants allow the most fantasy points to tight ends this season and have allowed opposing TEs to score TDs in each of their past eight games. He’s a great streaming option, especially for Travis Kelce owners who won’t have the Kansas City TE this week due to a bye.
6. Thomas Rawls –Seattle Seahawks RB (15.3% owned in ESPN)
Rawls was the busiest in the backfield among all Seattle running backs during Sunday’s 17-14 loss to the Washington Redskins, getting nine rushing attempts for 39 yards. The yardage leaves much to be desired, but considering that Eddie Lacy hurt his groin in that game and possibly could miss some time, Rawls is pictured to get the most carries in Week 10 against the Cardinals.
5. Damien Williams – Miami Dolphins RB (23.6% owned in ESPN)
Kenyan Drake had more carries in Week 9 and still has a cooler name than Damien Williams, but the Dolphins seemingly have a plan to involve Williams more following the departure of Jay Ajayi via a trade last week to the Philadelphia Eagles. While Williams only had 14 rushing yards on seven carries back in Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Oakland Raiders, he made a big impact in the passing game, pulling down six catches on six targets for 47 receiving yards and a touchdown. With increased participation, Williams could even threaten Drake’s current position as the de facto No. 1 tailback for the Dolphins.
4. Danny Woodhead – Baltimore Ravens RB (24.4% owned in ESPN)
Baltimore made it clear right from the get-go of this season that offseason acquisition Danny Woodhead would be its No. 1 running back this season, but the Ravens' plans were immediately spoiled by a hamstring injury to the 32-year-old veteran in Week 1. Woodhead landed on the IR, but his stint there is about to lapse, and he could be back in action as early as Week 11. Baltimore will give Woodhead his role back once he returns, especially given that neither Javorius Allen and Alex Collins has run with the starting job during the times that they had the opportunity to do so.
3. Robert Woods – Los Angeles Rams WR (26.2% owned in ESPN)
Woods is coming off a satisfying performance in last Sunday’s 51-17 decimation of the Giants, recording 70 receiving yards on 4-of-5 receptions to go with two touchdowns. Woods isn’t a WR1-type guy, but opportunities will keep coming his way as part of one of the most dynamic offenses in the NFL today. On the season, the former USC Trojan has 451 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He also received six targets in four of the Rams’ last five contests.
2. Corey Davis – Tennessee Titans WR (32.5% owned in ESPN)
Davis didn’t blow anyone’s mind away in his return from a hamstring injury, making just two receptions for 28 yards in a 23-20 win against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 9. On the bright side, Davis was second on the team in targets with five, so we could see how eager Tennessee was in integrating the wide receiver right away in his first appearance since Week 2. Titans quarterback Marcus Mariota has plenty of options, but Davis is among his priorities to feed the ball to.
1. Martavis Bryant – Pittsburgh Steelers WR (44% owned in ESPN)
Martavis Bryant. Remember him? Bryant has slid down the Steelers’ pecking order due to a combination of his own undoing and the splendid play of JuJu Smith-Schuster. Fantasy owners frustrated with the sudden decline of his usage on the Steelers’ offense have dropped him on the waiver wire like a bad habit, but if there’s a room on your roster, Bryant could be a worthwhile addition. He may have lost some of the confidence of Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, but not his talent and skills. It’s going to be difficult for the Steeles to keep him in the doghouse in the long run.
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