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Don’t be scared, your beloved Matt is on a break and will return soon. I’m the placeholder.
As I type this, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are visiting the Kansas City Chiefs to wrap up an entertaining Week 9 slate of games. My favorites of the games? It’s hard not to like typing the words “Bryce Young leads the Panthers on a game-winning drive against the Saints” if we are remotely empathetic. And I saw some glee on social media that the result was the last straw for the Saints brass and they let go of head coach Dennis Allen on Monday.
And sometimes a division rivalry game doesn’t disappoint as the Miami Dolphins visited the Buffalo Bills in this week’s “last team with the ball wins the game” which was a one-possession game without and had a tying score with 1:38 left and a winning score with 0:05 left.
“Bandages and Rubber Bands” refers to us keeping our teams together through bye weeks and injuries, which for the purpose of this column (and only for this purpose) is a relatively good thing. Teams on bye this week are the Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders, and Seattle Seahawks.
I will take the liberty with the borrowed space to look through the lens of a 10-team Yahoo! league I belong to that has only two of the “factory” settings changed: passing touchdowns are changed from 4 to 6 points each and interceptions thrown are changed from -1 to -2 points each. May Matt be merciful upon his return.
Do not forget the @Razzball NFL team of writers will be hosting our Sunday Morning Start/Sit podcast every week starting two hours before kickoff all the way up to the official start of the early games. Bobby – @BobbyLaMarco, Sky – @SkyGuasco, Derek – @Derek_Favret, and Matt – @stiles08, will be answering all your questions to help you win your weekly matchups. Come for the analysis and stay for the laughs!
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WAIVERS
ADD OF THE WEEK: Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers, 44% rostered
This is a 1-QB league add because he won’t be available in 2-QB leagues. If you were holding Dak Prescott or are looking for a bye replacement for Jordan Love, this is one of the guys I’d consider first if he’s available. Herbert has thrown for at least 279 yards in three straight games and has 2 touchdown passes in each of the last two games. He’s only thrown for one interception on the season. And his schedule is very favorable heading into the fantasy playoffs: from Weeks 10-15, they have Tennessee (16th fantasy ranked defense against QBs), Cincinnati (28th), Baltimore (30th), at Atlanta (24th), at Kansas City (15th), and Tampa Bay (31st).
Quarterbacks (1-QB)
Aaron Rodgers – 43% rostered He flashed his Packers form in the second half against Houston and is at Arizona (26h vs quarterbacks) and vs Indianapolis (21st) heading into their bye – the kind of streamer I like.
Trevor Lawrence – 48% rostered I’m not crazy about this either, but one of the overlooked things about Lawrence is he does come with some rushing upside. The yardage hasn’t been there, but he has three rushing touchdowns in the last two games. The Jags have Minnesota (23rd against QBs) and at Detroit (12th) heading into their bye.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options
Bo Nix – 34% rostered The only reason I don’t like Nix more at this point is volatility and the upcoming schedule is a bit more difficult than Herbert’s, Rodgers’, or Lawrence’s, but I love the floor his rushing upside gives.
Daniel Jones – 11% rostered Other than the bye in Week 11, schedules do not get much easier than Jones’: at Carolina (29th vs. QBs), bye, Tampa Bay (31st), and at Dallas (27th).
2-QB Bonus
Mason Rudolph – 1% rostered Matt’s right; this is likely the only starter available in 2-QB leagues.
Running Backs
This is the desert of positions.
Ray Davis – 21% rostered I’ll say this from a ten-team waiver wire: most of the guys available are, at best, either an injury away from relevance or are getting enough touches that you hope they pop a long play to make inserting them in a lineup worth it – upcoming schedules are irrelevant. Davis did the latter yesterday, taking a short pass and breaking it for a 63-yard TD for the Bills against the Dolphins.
Tyler Allgeier – 39% rostered One of the best of this group, Allgeier has 82 touches in 9 games. The fact that he is rostered in 39% of leagues is a testament to how barren the position is.
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options
Emari Demercado – 0% rostered/Trey Benson – 16% rostered These are preemptive as a hedge for James Conner. Demercado showed how deadly he can be from long distance, and Benson housed one from in close after Conner did much of the work.
Check the Pool to See if Someone Dropped Them
Tyjae Spears – 44% rostered
Jerome Ford – 40% rostered Each is likely to have a role when they return from injury.
Wide Receivers
Demarcus Robinson – 12% rostered I admit I scoffed a bit when someone asked during the 2023 season if Demarcus Robinson was a must-add. He then scored TDs in four straight games and had a 10 target, 6 reception, 92 receiving yard day in a fifth. Well, don’t look now, but he’s scored 4 TDs in the last two games and 5 TDs in the last four. The volume will be on and off, although he benefited nicely from Puka Nacua’s ejection yesterday, hauling in 6 of 9 targets for 94 yards. Aside from Miami in Week 10 (2nd against WRs), they’re at New England (22nd), home for Philadelphia (25th), and at New Orleans (23rd). This is a cheap add that could pay off big.
Honorable Mention/(Also) Cheaper Options:
Darius Slayton – 16% rostered The low floor is dangerous, but Slayton has scored 63.80 PPR points over his last five games. The schedule, outside the Week 11 bye is nice: at Carolina (19th against WRs) in Germany, bye, vs. Tampa Bay (26th), and at Dallas (12th).
Elijah Moore – 14% rostered This one is deep, but Elijah Moore has had 21 targets in Winston’s two starts. I am a firm believer in opportunities, but I’ll get it if your league is not deep enough to consider Moore.
Xavier Legette – 27% rostered Someone will benefit from Diontae Johnson’s departure and Adam Thielen’s return from IR. If you want to flip a coin and it lands on Jalen Coker, mazel tov. But I’ll bet on the first-round pick. Matchups loom with the Giants (16th vs. WRs), then the bye, then Kansas City (7th) before sweet matchups with Tampa Bay (26th) and at Philadelphia (25th). One note: keep an eye on his hand injury this week.
Situations to Keep an Eye on
Drake London went down with a hip pointer and an oblique injury. If London misses time, I find the other options on their roster or practice squad uninspiring. Darnell Mooney may get a slight bump.
Chris Olave had his second concussion in a short period. There is nothing good about that, and I would be surprised if he’s back before their bye. This team was already decimated by injuries. I might consider Mason Tipton or Cedrick Wilson (who also went out with an injury Sunday), but I wouldn’t be surprised to see one or both of Equanimeous St. Brown and Dante Pettis elevated from the practice squad as reinforcements.
Tight Ends
Hunter Henry – 36% rostered Why is this guy on waiver wires? He’s TE 8 in PPR leagues. I know it’s the Patriots, I just don’t care. Give me the points. Even the schedule is decent now: at Chicago (12th vs. TEs), vs. the Rams (30th) in Foxboro, at Miami (7th), and vs. Indianapolis (29th).
Honorable Mention/Cheaper Options
Zach Ertz – 39% rostered He has a low floor. He also has 4 double-digit point games in PPR.
Jonnu Smith – 9% rostered He has 27 targets in his last 4 games and a nice schedule the next four weeks
Ja’Tavion Sanders – 1% rostered At least worth a watch: two 10+ point PPR games plus a 9.90 point game in his last four. Great matchups in Weeks 12 and 13.
Oh, and I told my editor I would mention that Jake Moody is likely available on waivers coming out of the 49ers’ bye week if you’re looking for a kicker.
This is me quoting Matt: “Remember, you do NOT have to make a move each week. You do not have to force trades. If you look at your roster and a hole does not immediately jump out to you, then maybe your team is good to go for Week 10. If you see a hole (injury, bye, underperformance), then start looking at options to make your team better.”
Since you are here, check out more fantasy goodness at Razzball. Follow me on Twitter/X @crewser128 and Matt @stiles08. Like and subscribe for more fantasy football content on YouTube @RazzballFantasy. Don’t forget to drop a comment or question down below.
