We're on to Week 10, which means we're more than halfway through the regular season of the NFL, and roughly two-thirds of the way through the fantasy football regular season.
We had a slew of injuries in Week 9, and we've had some other changes under center, either due to performance or injury. Watch the NFL trade deadline closely this week, as we could see some prominent names changing zip codes.
In Week 10, we have four teams on a bye, with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers resting.
We're going to list two to four players by position below, and they're listed from top to bottom, by priority. The top guys are high-priority options for every manager. Some of the others are more speculative OR if you
already have a winning roster but want some insurance policies for down the road.
Let's get started and find some replacements.
Ownership percentages courtesy of Yahoo.
QUARTERBACKS
Geno Smith, New York Jets (19% owned)
Smith saw his ownership percentage drop from 23% to 19% since Week 9. In his past four games, Smith has racked up 994 passing yards, six touchdowns and three picks, with a 2-point conversion, too. He is ninth in fantasy points among quarterbacks in the past four games, averaging 15.97 fantasy points in the period. That's better than Patrick Mahomes (15.1 FPPG) and Matthew Stafford (14.2 FPPG) during the same span. He has some nice weapons, including WR Garrett Wilson (when healthy), WR Omar Cooper Jr. and TE Kenyon Sadiq. If your primary option has a bye week or injury, Smith is a strong streaming option.
Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta Falcons (24% owned)
Penix is averaging 15.3 FPPG in the past four games, which isn't great, but he is still outscoring Carolina's Bryce Young in the same span, and the latter is a little more popular as an option off the waiver wire. It's going to be a tough stretch for Penix, so be mindful of that. He'll get the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 10, a bye in Week 11 and the Minnesota Vikings in Week 12. If he survives that, he'll have favorable December matchups against the very forgiving Detroit Lions defense in Week 13 and the Washington Commanders in Week 15. Penix also has WR Drake London at his disposal, along with RB Bijan Robinson and TE Kyle Pitts Jr. to dump it off to for short-yardage catches and plenty of YAC.
RUNNING BACKS
Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (31% owned)
Johnson saw his fantasy ownership skyrocket since Week 9, going from 19% to 31%. He actually leads all NFL running backs in receiving yards (163) across the past four games, and he has accomplished all of that with just nine receptions and 11 targets. He also has a rushing touchdown in the span, but as long as RB Kenneth Walker III remains healthy and available, Johnson's fantasy ceiling is a bit limited. That said, he is a potential lottery ticket in the fantasy playoffs, especially for those in PPR formats, should anything happen to K9.
Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts (33% owned)
McGowan could be the No. 1 running back soon, if the Colts elect to clean house and trade Jonathan Taylor at the NFL trade deadline. Even if Taylor sticks around, McGowan has some staying power, as he has managed 147 rushing yards and a touchdown on 26 totes in the past four games. A lot of that production came in Week 9, running six times for 45 yards and his first NFL touchdown with 10.7 fantasy points against the Dallas Cowboys. He is still available in two-thirds of all fantasy leagues, but expect that number to jump substantially if Taylor is moved, so act quickly.
Justice Hill, Baltimore Ravens (5% owned)
The New York Giants have been sniffing around the Baltimore Ravens, looking for help at running back. However, it appears former head coach John Harbaugh is looking to Hill, rather than future Hall of Famer Derrick Henry. Hill saw his most extensive action in Week 9 on Thursday Night Football, going for 85 rushing yards and a touchdown on nine carries, while adding three receptions and 16.7 fantasy points. He has at least three receptions in four consecutive games, and three or more targets in six in a row. Fantasy managers in PPR leagues already know about Hill all too well. If he goes to the Giants, he has a chance at a big opportunity working for his former coach, especially with Cam Skattebo (hamstring) nursing an injury, and Tyrone Tracy Jr. on the reserve/injured list. RB Devin Singletary ran 21 times in Week 9, but he amassed just 31 rushing yards. That was a bit alarming, and it's why Harbaugh is looking to a familiar face for potential help.
Corey Kiner, New England Patriots (5% owned)
Kiner has seen his usage remain rather steady recently, as RB TreVeyon Henderson (illness) has been on the shelf, and RB Rhamondre Stevenson (knee) left the Week 9 blowout loss to the Green Bay Packers in the second half due to a knee injury. Kiner may get a shot at his largest role of the season against the Detroit Lions in Germany on Sunday. He racked up eight runs for 55 yards and a touchdown, posting a season-high 11.5 fantasy points against the Pack, and he had six or more rushing attempts in four of the past five games, while reaching 52 rushing yards in three of the previous five outings. Kiner has proven he can get the job done when given the opportunity.
WIDE RECEIVERS
DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (46% owned)
Douglas has been good for 18 receptions for 287 yards and two touchdowns on 28 targets in the past four games, posting 47.7 fantasy points across the span. That's better than the likes of more heralded fantasy options like Michael Wilson (45.6 fantasy points), Rome Odunze (39.0), Tetairoa McMillan (40.0) and Drake London (36.9). There is some doubt about "Pop" for some reason, but he has 12.7 or more fantasy points in each of the past two games, including five grabs for 102 yards on nine targets in Week 9 against the Packers. He had 65+ receiving yards in four of the past five outings, while finding the end zone four times in the five-game span.
Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (30% owned)
If you don't like Pop, try the other prominent wideout with the last name of Douglas in the AFC East. Caleb Douglas went for six receptions and eight targets in Week 9 against the Lions, which were new career highs in his fledgling career, and finished with 70 receiving yards for the second time in the last three games. He is good for 43 or more receiving yards in each of his three outings since returning from the Reserve/Injured list. Douglas is the main target for Malik Willis, and the Miami offense has occasionally shown signs of life. Douglas could eventually emerge as a WR3 or flex fantasy option if he and Willis take a small step forward.
Tutu Atwell, Los Angeles Rams (0% owned)
Atwell is available in ALL fantasy leagues. He knows the offense well, and he and Konata Mumpfield could be the Rams' top options for Matthew Stafford for a week or two. That's because Puka Nacua (knee) is expected to land on the Reserve/Injured list due to sprains to his medial collateral and posterior cruciate ligaments, while also battling turf toe. It's a fluid situation, as Jordan Whittington is also in the mix. That said, Atwell's downfield speed could give him a leg up, and the potential to go from sparingly used to heavy workload without an issue.
TIGHT ENDS
Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders (22% owned)
I wasn't familiar with Okonkwo's game, but he has shown some tremendous ability to make spectacular catches, and he has some underrated speed. The Commanders need receiving help, as the wideouts have been banged up. Okonkwo had six catches for 57 yards on seven targets against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 9 - a benchmark he has reached in three of the past four outings. If he can pick up the pace in the red zone, Okonkwo could see his fantasy appeal rise rapidly.
Mason Taylor, New York Jets (2% owned)
Taylor's biggest issue is that Kenyon Sadiq is also in the mix for Gang Green. However, in the past four games, Taylor has racked up 13 catches for 125 yards and two touchdowns on 19 targets. If you look at the schedule the rest of the way, he has some favorable matchups, including a game in Miami in Week 12, a team he scored two touchdowns against in Week 7.
This article originally appeared on The Huddle: Waiver Wired - Week 10
