Week 9 is almost in the books and the NFL trade deadline is right around the corner. With rosters set to shake up one last time, these are the best players to come off the waiver wire before Week 10.
Central defender
Geno Smith, Jets
The Jets aren’t winning games, but Smith is playing incredible football. He is 13th in EPA per game and fourth in completion percentage above projections. The biggest problem lately has been the lack of passing volume. Smith hasn’t attempted more than 32 passes in a game since Week 3. That should change Sunday when he faces the Bills, who are giving up second down attempts every game this year.
Aaron Rodgers, Steelers
The Steelers are eighth in the NFL in passing attempts per game and Rodgers is 16th in yards per game. He has multiple hits in half of his appearances this year. Now he gets a mean shootout spot with the Bengals. Rodgers is one of the better streaming options this week.
Michael Penix, Falcons
It’s a really ugly waiver week at the quarterback position, so we’ll go back to the well with Penix. Even after the weak week, he sits at a respectable 16th in EPA per game. He takes a Chiefs defense that has been stingy on opposing quarterbacks this year, but not very efficient. The Chiefs are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing pass rushers. They rank just 14th in the EPA for allowable return. Penix is just a QB2 moving forward, but that’s about all you’ll find off the waiver wire these days.
Running back
Corey Kiner, Patriots
TreVeyon HendersonHis status is unknown as he is dealing with “unexplained neurological symptoms that required hospitalization for several days.” Rhamondre Stevenson is now injured, having suffered a knee injury in the Pats’ loss to the Packers. Both players’ statuses for Week 10 are up in the air. Kiner was already forcing a committee between the three when healthy. He now has the chance to consolidate with both players potentially out for an exciting game against the Lions.
Seth McGowan, Colts
Jonathan Taylor could remain a Colt, which would destroy any fantasy potential for McGowan. However, if he is traded, we’ll at least get an RB2 workload from Indy’s backup returner. The NFL trade deadline is Tuesday at 4pm ET, so we need to have a resolution to this situation before the waivers end. McGowan would be a complete send-off for FAAB purposes if Taylor is traded.
Kaleb Johnson, Packers
Josh Jacobs suffered a broken finger in the Packers’ win over the Patriots. It is hoped that he can deal with this issue, but this is not a guarantee. If he can’t, Johnson could be the next man up. He had 14 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown on Sunday. Marshawn Lloyd was especially out for week 9 and Chris Brooks is practicing but not yet activated by IR. There are a lot of moving parts here, and any of them could knock Johnson out of the RB3 mix.
Audric Estime, Saints
Travis Etienne is eligible to return from IR this week, so any Estime streaming potential can be put to bed with a single transaction. If Etienne doesn’t return, Estime is in line for another solid load. He went 15-of-22 for the Saints on Sunday, and that was after joining the team for the first time this year on Wednesday. His workload may increase with an extra week of practice.
Devin Singletary, Giants
Cam Tax House was reportedly pushing to play in Week 9. The Giants eventually cut him before kickoff. Singletary saw 21 carries and three targets. RESERVATION Greg Desrosiers without three carries and zero targets. Singletary, of course, turned his elite carry 39 yards scoreless. He’s a volume-based RB3 even when he sees every touch, and that may have been a one-week experience.
Emmet Johnson, Chiefs
Johnson’s receiving role disappeared in Week 9. He wasn’t targeted once and Kenneth Walker caught four balls for 41 yards and two scores. The good news is that Johnson ran the ball six times for 34 yards and a touchdown. Even more bad news: All six of his attempts came in the fourth quarter. Patrick Mahomes was still on the field, but Walker was done for the day when Johnson finally took the field. He is an intriguing spot on the bench, but nothing more.
Wide receiver
Caleb Douglas, Dolphins
Douglas’ catch looks complete after Week 9. The rookie saw 40 percent of Miami’s targets and a 61 percent of the aerial yards. His 34 percent of yardage on the season easily leads the team. Douglas is averaging a stellar 2.3 yards per run. Malik Washington is at a solid 1.6 YPRR while Chris Bell AND Kevin Coleman Jr. are both under one. Douglas saw WR1 usage on Sunday, and his play suggests that’s his receiving role.
Tank Dell, Texas
Everyone in Houston ate on Sunday. Dell posted his first 100-yard game since Week 9 of the 2024 season. Kayshon Boutte exploded for 125 yards and two touchdowns. Xavier Hutchinson scored. Nico Collins also got into the end zone, though it happened on a declining role. Dell recorded a team-high nine goals. He also led the way in passing yards with 133. The downside is that he only ran 55 percent of the routes available. We should expect his role – measured by routes – to increase as he gets back up to speed, but it may take some time. He’s still one of the best bets off the wire this week.
Jordan Watkins, 49
It sounds like Mike Evans AND Deebo Samuel both could miss another week, that is Brock Purdy‘s WR1 is on waivers in almost every fantasy league. Watkins led the 49ers with a route rate of 87 percent and a target percentage of 18 percent. Demarcus Robinson matched him in targets, but Watkins’ 30 percent share of the air space easily led the team’s waiting room. Both openings are in play as deep-cut FLEX options for Week 10.
Pat Bryant, Broncos
Jaylen Waddle suffered a concussion on Sunday. Both Bryant and Courtland Sutton—who is listed in just over half of Yahoo’s leagues—found the end zone in his absence. Sutton saw nine targets to Bryant’s five. The Broncos have a bye in Week 10, meaning Waddle shouldn’t miss any time with the concussion. While Sutton has targeted Bryant in Week 9, that could change after the break. Bryant is averaging 1.6 yards per route run this year compared to 1.0 for Sutton. Bryant is the second-best receiver on the team and is gaining steam in the team’s bye week. Sean Payton can finally handle it as a WR2 in Week 11.
Van Jefferson, Commanders
Jefferson deserves mention as he led the Commanders in every receiving category through a 5-58-1 receiving line. His seven targets and 88 rushing yards also led the team. He could be the team’s WR1 with Terry McLaurin out. He might as well turn into a pumpkin next week. I’d bet on the latter with my FAAB dollars and waiver upside, but if you’re really desperate for a WR5, he’s on the menu.
Tight end
Darren Waller, Panthers
Waller exploded for 90 yards and a touchdown on eight catches in Week 9. It was his first game with more than one catch since Week 4. However, he hit a season-high 67 percent. His previous season high came in Week 8 at 66 percent. Waller’s role, while not huge, appears to be growing. He’s functionally the team’s WR3, but fantasy managers can play him at tight end.
Chig Okonkwo, the commanders
McLaurin went down with a season-ending injury moments into Week 6. From that game onward, Okonkwo has a rate of 83 percent from the road on 22 percent of the Commanders’ goals. He has also seen a quarter of the team’s end zone looks. It’s not flashy, but it looks like a high-end TE2.
AJ Barner, Seahawks
Barner found the end zone twice Sunday, once on a punt and a second time through the air. He will be a popular name on waivers this week, but his role remained mediocre at best. He earned a 15 percent target share — one point above his season average — and ran just 66 percent of routes, which was actually a low for him. Barner is still nothing more than a ground-or-bust TE2.
