Thomason: Top Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups For Week 10
By Jack Thomason--
(CBS) Hopefully you've made it through the gauntlet of bye weeks. Each of the last two weeks saw six teams resting. We'll see just four teams resting in each of the next two weeks.
Just a heads up to any owners of Browns and Titans players, don't forget those players are off in Week 13, which is the beginning of the playoffs for a few and the final chance to make the dance for most. You want to make sure you have a leg up on the rest of your league mates.
Here are my top 10 waiver adds for 10- and 12-member leagues.
1. Tim Hightower (RB, New Orleans Saints) – Everyone was ready to bury Mark Ingram and yet he exploded for 158 rushing yards and added another 13 yards on two receptions with two touchdowns. That being said, it was against the worst run defense in football in the 49ers, and Hightower still logged 24 touches to Ingram's 17. Hightower scored too but averaged just 3.8 yards per carry. This situation looks like a time-share going forward and one that will favor the hot hand. Hightower will provide RB3/flex value in a high-powered offense and RB1 upside if anything happens to Ingram.
2. Peyton Barber (RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – Doug Martin is still nursing a hamstring injury and didn't practice Monday. Jacquizz Rodgers is out with a foot injury, and Antone Smith just went on injured reserve. There aren't many other options outside of the rookie Barber at this point. He's a talented back who should shoulder the load against the Bears next week. For that matter alone, he's worth a higher-priority addition, and we still aren't quite sure when Martin will return. There's so hope it's this week, but you can't pass on Barber.
3. Rob Kelley (RB, Washington Redskins) – An old=school bruiser, Kelley has been everything the coaches wanted in Matt Jones. He's physical, takes what's given to him, lowers his shoulder, fights for extra yards and doesn't turn the ball over. Coach Jay Gruden has already said Jones will have to work his way back into good graces, which means more work for Kelley going forward. After his 21-carry, 87-yard, one-touchdown performance in London, Kelley should have RB2/3 value until further notice. Washington does have a rough schedule though, so temper expectations.
4. Kapri Bibbs (RB, Denver Broncos) – There's a lot of talk surrounding Bibbs and him potentially taking over for Devontae Booker as the Broncos' starting running back. While he earned more playing time with an incredible 69-yard catch and run for a score, I wouldn't be so fast to say he's going to supplant Booker, who out-snapped and out-touched Bibbs by a wide margin. We just saw a similar situation pan out in New Orleans in a great matchup. The Broncos play the Saints next, and both Booker and Bibbs will have the opportunity to produce fantasy numbers. I'd expect this situation to turn more into a committee the way that we saw with Booker and C.J. Anderson prior to Anderson's injury.
5. James Starks (RB, Green Bay Packers) – The Packers offense struggled for the majority of Sunday's tilt with the Colts. Aaron Rodgers was second on the team in rushing yards and not far off from leading the team for a second week in a row. It's clear they're in need of a boost in that department, and that's where Starks comes in. He's likely to be their featured back moving forward, and he practiced most of last week. He should be ready to go for this week's game, and with most of us grasping for straws at the running back position, Starks is a legit RB2 candidate as Green Bay's primary back.
6. DuJuan Harris (RB, San Francisco 49ers) – Harris filled in admirably for an injured Carlos Hyde, playing 53 of 60 snaps and piling up 142 yards on 15 touches. Those numbers included a beautiful 47-yard score catch-and-run. Hyde has been known to deal with lingering injuries and currently has an AC joint sprain. It's clear Harris is the back to own behind him, so grab him and hope to continue to squeeze value out of him. Or deal him to the Hyde owner for a position you're in need of. The 49ers won't be playing the Saints every week, so it is a good sell-high opportunity.
7. Eric Ebron (TE, Detroit Lions) – Since coming back from injury, Ebron has been a safety valve for Matthew Stafford. He caught seven of eight passes thrown his way for 92 yards and the week before secured seven of 10 for 79 yards. In both weeks, he's been second on the team in targets. If you're in need of a tight end boost and have the roster space, now is the time to jump on him.
8. J.J. Nelson (WR, Arizona Cardinals) – With injuries to others, Nelson has seized opportunity. In Arizona's last two games, he's played the second-most snaps at receiver (87 percent) to Larry Fitzgerald and has racked up 167 yards and two touchdowns on 11 receptions and one rush. He's seen 19 targets over that span too. That production has earned him a starting job, according to coach Bruce Arians.
9. Kenny Britt (WR, Los Angeles Rams) – Britt may not be the household name that everyone loves, but he continues to produce and is a WR3 with upside every week. Britt saw six targets this past week and tallied 48 yards and a trip to pay dirt on his four receptions. This week, he gets a Jets secondary that has been burned by everyone.
10. Rishard Matthews (WR, Tennessee Titans) – When Matthews signed in Tennessee, some thought he was going to be a fantasy sleeper given Marcus Mariota's lack of weapons. It seems to be coming to fruition over the last couple of weeks. He has three touchdowns in the last two games and led the Titans in targets last week with 10. If you're in need of a receiver, Matthews is worth taking a flier on. He has a great schedule on the horizon with matchups against the Packers, Colts and Bears before a Week 13 bye.
Just missed: All stud running back handcuffs, Damien Williams, Antonio Andrews, Paul Perkins, C.J. Prosise, Taylor Gabriel, Dontrelle Inman, Eli Rogers, Lance Kendricks and Austin Hooper.
Jack Thomason is 670 The Score's fantasy football expert and co-host of "Chicago's Fantasy Football Today," which can be heard every Sunday during football season from 8-9 a.m. CT on WSCR-670 and 670thescore.com/listen. Follow him on Twitter @jthomason77 and feel free to ask fantasy questions.
