NFL Waiver Wire: Week 10 Pickups

Buckle up for this week as Week 10 marks the first and only time we'll see six teams on bye. Therefore the waiver wire should be more important than usual and there are definitely some players worth targeting this week. 

This column is geared toward "standard" 12-team leagues and based upon a $100 free-agent budget. Please, please adjust for your league based on both the number of teams (I'm in a 24-team league, for example) and budget.

QUARTERBACK

SECONDARY TARGET

Brian Hoyer, IND - It's amazing how good backup quarterbacks have performed this season; many have worked their way as to viable fantasy options on a weekly basis. While Jacoby Brissett hasn't been ruled out yet this week, common sense would suggest the Colts let him sit a game considering their opponent is the hapless Dolphins. While the Dolphins are coming off a win, they have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Hoyer is one of the most experienced backups in the league and should put together a good performance, especially if he gets a week of practice with the first team. FAAB: $4-$8

RUNNING BACK

PRIMARY TARGETS

Ronald Jones, TB - Finally, Jones has won the starting job after averaging 4.1 yards per carry to Peyton Barber's 3.3 mark. Jones has been the more explosive running back this season and out-touched Barber 20 to four in Sunday's loss at Seattle in his first career start. Coach Bruce Arians said Sunday Jones will continue to start. It's rare to find a running back who'll get that many touches every week sitting on the waiver wire, but he's owned in just 40 percent of Yahoo leagues. Feel free to cut bait with Barber if you've been holding onto him. FAAB: $25-$50, blow your FAAB here if you're desperate

Kareem Hunt, CLE - He'll be back this week and apparently have an immediate role. He's an explosive running back and arguably the best backup at the position in the league. The Browns took the PR hit (but oddly cut Jermaine Whitehead, likely due to poor tackling in addition to his inflammatory Tweets) with Hunt so they likely will use him.  FAAB: $10-$15

SECONDARY TARGETS

Kalen Ballage, MIA - It seems like a waste of PEDs for Mark Walton, who was suspended four games Monday, considering he only averaged 3.8 yards per carry this season. Ballage has been even worse, sporting 2.0 yards per carry. That said, Ballage should be the main ball carrier, and maybe more touches will help him work into a rhythm that results in fantasy production. He'll get the work at the goal line at 6-foot-2, 231, not that Miami is there often. FAAB: $4-$8

Trey Edmunds, PIT - With James Conner and Benny Snell out, most expected a big amount of carries for Jaylen Samuels of the Pittsburgh Steelers. However, it was Trey Edmunds who got the most carries Sunday, finishing with 12 carries for 78 yards. Samuels did his damage in the passing game and there are reports Conner will miss this week as well.  Therefore, it seems Edmunds would be in line as the main ball carrier once again against the Rams. FAAB: $4-$8

HAIL MARY

Jay Ajayi, Alfred Morris, Free Agents - Look, the Dolphins, Lions, Redskins could be auditioning running backs this week who could walk into a starting role. While Ajayi and Morris might be unlikely signees, I try to keep no stone unturned, especially in deeper leagues. FAAB: $1-$2

Tony Pollard, DAL - He got four touches Monday night and looked shifty as Booger described him. He's flying under the radar as a player to have on your bench who could win your fantasy title should anything happen to Ezekiel Elliot. Get him as insurance. FAAB: $1-$2 (Have him at least on your bench.)

WIDE RECEIVER

PRIMARY TARGET

DeVante Parker, MIA - Is there a lot to get excited about in the Miami offense? No, but someone has to catch passes and someone has to run the ball. Parker has flown a little under the radar this season but has double-digit fantasy points in four of his last five games. With Preston Williams nursing a knee injury, Parker should be the clear-cut No. 1 wide receiver for the Dolphins and has the pedigree to fill that role. FAAB: $15-$25

Zach Pascal, IND - Reports have T.Y. Hilton missing another 2-3 weeks, putting Pascal as the No. 1 wide receiver for the Colts in the interim. Pascal delivered on Sunday with a 6-5-76-1 line, and it's important to note the touchdown came with Hoyer in the game, not Brissett. He played a season-high 67 snaps Sunday and this week faces a Dolphins defense without top corner Xavien Howard. FAAB: $10-$15

TIGHT END

SECONDARY TARGET

Noah Fant, DEN - Fant had a very nice 75-yard score in the Broncos' victory over the Browns Sunday and is one of the fastest tight ends in the league. Also working in his favor as a waiver add is that the position has been extremely thin this season with only 6-7 sure-fire starters on a weekly basis. Working against Fant is that he has a bye this week and only cracked double-digit fantasy points once this season before Sunday's outburst. FAAB: $4-$8