More injuries impacted NFL fantasy owners this week. Among the top injury news is Los Angeles Rams wide receiver Puka Nacua most likely headed to injured reserve, leaving a gap on a lot of fantasy rosters that the waiver wire can help address. Also, if you had Arizona Cardinals receiver, Michael Wilson, in your starting lineup, he is out for the season due to a neck injury.
Bye weeks also continue to factor into the equation with the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers all on bye this week, causing a lot of holes across multiple positions in fantasy.
Luckily, there are also some under-the-radar prospects who are available on most fantasy rosters. So, here is a look at the top five waiver wire pickups in
fantasy football after Week 9 of the NFL season.
RB Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints
Rostered in 9.2% of ESPN leagues
The New Orleans Saints recognized a pressing need at running back and decided to pick up Audric Estime just five days before their game against the Cleveland Browns. In his Saints debut, he emerged as their top running back with 15 attempts for 72 yards and a touchdown. Cleveland has a mediocre run defense, the team he is facing on Sunday, the Carolina Panthers, have a bad run defense. In fact, they allow the second-most fantasy points to running backs so far this season. Especially if you have a running back on bye this week, Estime is a great pickup.
WR DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots
Rostered in 57.1% of ESPN leagues
AJ Brown cannot seem to stay healthy to save his life and even when he was on the field for the Patriots, there was clearly not chemistry between him and quarterback Drake Maye. But Maye has demonstrated chemistry with DeMario Douglas, who is coming off a game with nine receptions for 102 yards. It was his first 100-yard game of the season. With Brown’s health in question for next week’s game against the Detroit Lions, who are giving up a lot of points to wide receivers, Douglas seems poised to have a breakout performance.
TE Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders
Rostered in 13.7% of ESPN leagues
It is hard to read the Washington Commanders. Since Terry McLaurin’s season-ending injury, the Commanders have looked to different players to step up and replace his production. Last week against the Los Angeles Rams, one of those players was Chig Okonkwo, who finished the game with six receptions for 57 yards. He also had one of the most impressive catches of the week during that game. Okonkwo is earning the trust of quarterback Jayden Daniels. So, despite his tough matchup on Thursday Night Football against the New York Giants, Okonkwo has the potential to put up some decent numbers, especially for fantasy owners whose tight end is on bye.
WR Omar Cooper Jr., New York Jets
Rostered in 58.2% of ESPN leagues
After being shut out against the Las Vegas Raiders, Jets rookie receiver Omar Cooper Jr. got back involved during their game against the Kansas City Chiefs with 11 targets for eight receptions and 58 yards. They play the Buffalo Bills next and with the Jets most likely playing from behind, Copper has a good chance to get a lot of targets once again.
WR KC Concepcion, Cleveland Browns
Rostered in 61.4% of ESPN leagues
KC Concepcion has been hot-and-cold this season. He exploded against the Tennessee Titans a few weeks ago with eight receptions for 129 yards, and then was almost a non-factor the next week against the Pittsburgh Steelers. But this past week against the Saints, Concepcion finally had his first touchdown in the NFL. It remains to be seen who will be the quarterback for the Browns on Sunday when they take on the Houston Texans. But both DeShaun Watson and Shedeur Sanders seem to be looking his way, so it should not matter either way.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: 5 waiver wire pickups in NFL fantasy football in Week 10
