The eventful trade deadline that wrapped up last Tuesday had the most transactions in NFL history. Teams acquired new running backs (see Jeff Wilson Jr.), linebackers (see Chase Edmonds), wide receivers (see Justin Fields), draft picks, and more. These players and teams got right back to business in Week 9, and all other players and teams not on bye followed suit. Now that the smoke has cleared, we have a better idea of how to navigate waiver wire pickups in fantasy football before Week 10.
The trade deadline boosted some teams’ stock and some individual players’ stock. As always, waiver wire pickups are there to help fantasy football managers’ teams’ stock. Here are players that have increased value because they got traded to a new team, one of their teammates got traded to a new team (see James Mitchell), they have a new teammate, or on their own merit.
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 10: Running backs
1. Jeff Wilson Jr., Dolphins
You may remember me writing about Jeff Wilson, Jr. after Week 2. He was in the post title, after all. Well, the 49ers traded running back Jeff Wilson Jr. to the Miami Dolphins for a 5th-round draft pick. The running back is now reunited with Dolphins head coach Mike McDaniel. McDaniel was the 49ers’ run game coordinator in 2017-2021 and offensive coordinator in 2021. McDaniel now has two former 49ers running backs Raheem Mostert and Jeff Wilson Jr.
Still available in 61.6% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Wilson split snaps 50/50 with Mostert. They both finished with 11 touches, despite Wilson joining the team midweek. Wilson also finished the day with pay dirt. This may be a sign of more to come. He is worth rostering in all formats.
2. Chase Edmonds, Broncos
Many were focused on the picks in the Miami-Denver trade that sent the Broncos outside linebacker to the Dolphins. The Broncos sent the linebacker and their 2025 5th round pick and are receiving the Dolphins’ 2023 1st round pick and 2024 4th round pick. What people may not have noticed or remembered, is the Broncos also received running back Chase Edmonds from the Dolphins.
Still available in 59.5% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Chase Edmonds gets a second chance in Denver after falling behind Raheem Mostert on the depth chart in Miami. Since Javonte Williams suffered a torn ACL in Week 4, the Broncos have started Melvin Gordon, benched him, and started him again. They’ve also signed Latavius Murray and Marlon Mack from other team’s practice squads. Needless to say, they don’t know what they want/need in their backfield. Maybe Edmonds impresses and finds a steady role? He is worth a flier, especially in PPR leagues.
3. Jaylen Warren, Steelers
The Steelers starting running back, Najee Harris, has been a disappointment in the NFL and fantasy football this season. He hasn’t gained 100 total scrimmage yards in 2022 and has only finished as a top-20 fantasy football RB (PPR) two times in 8 games.
Only rostered in 4.5% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Jaylen Warren is the clear #2 behind Najee Harris. In Week 8 (before the bye week), Warren outgained Harris on the ground and had as many yards as him through the air. He is worth stashing in deep PPR leagues in case he sees more usage over Harris.
If he’s still available, Darrell Henderson Jr.
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 10: Wide Receivers
1. Odell Beckham Jr., Free Agent
The only reason Odell Beckham Jr. wasn’t signed during the offseason and isn’t currently on an NFL roster is that he suffered a torn ACL while helping the Rams win Super Bowl LVI against the Bengals. Fortunately for OBJ and teams interested, he is expected to be fully medically cleared by the end of this week.
Only rostered in 18.4% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, OBJ is going to be a hot commodity in the NFL and fantasy football in the coming days/weeks. The Bills, Cowboys, Giants, Packers, and Rams are all rumored to be interested in the one-hand-catching superstar. Down the stretch of the 2021-2022 season, he showed he can be serviceable to a contender. Add him to your contending fantasy football team in all formats.
2. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Browns
Donovan Peoples-Jones is one of three second-timers on this list. You may remember me writing about DPJ after Week 6. Unlike Jeff Wilson Jr., DPJ is still a Brown. That’s good, though, because he and interim starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett have chemistry. In 8 weeks, DPJ has 4 games with 70 yards or more.
Still only rostered in 93.6% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, the clear number 2 receiver sees a healthy amount of targets. With David Njoku out, DPJ is likely to see even more targets. Also, he will surely benefit when soon-to-be starting quarterback Deshaun Watson is under the helm. He is worth rostering in deep leagues and streaming in PPR leagues.
3. Darius Slayton, Giants
The Giants’ wide receiver room has been a revolving door of injured players, practice squad players, and underperformers. This isn’t a knock on them. They’ve still been finding ways to win games. But right when it seems like one of their wide receivers may be worth rostering in fantasy (you may remember me writing about Sterling Shepard after Week 3), something changes. Luckily, Darius Slayton has scored double-digit FPTS in three of his last four games played.
Available in nearly 99% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Slayton has been the beneficiary of more playing time and targets while his teammates have been forced to miss time with injuries. This includes wide receivers and a tight end. He is worth rostering in deep leagues and streaming in PPR leagues.
If he’s still available, Jarvis Landry (injury stash)
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 10: Quarterbacks
1. Justin Fields, Bears
You may remember me writing about Justin Fields after Week 6. After finishing as QB8 that week, he has since finished as QB5 in Week 7, QB5 in Week 8, and QB1 in Week 9. He did so by scoring 4 total touchdowns and rushing for 178 yards, a new regular season record for quarterbacks (yes, that includes Michael Vick and Lamar Jackson). His sudden emergence over the past few weeks may be one of the reasons why the new front office chose to build around him, and traded away a 2023 2nd-round pick in exchange for Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Chase Claypool.
Still available in 39% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, this may be your last chance to pick up Fields. With his rushing upside, he is likely a top-10 fantasy football quarterback for the rest of the season. With a negative game script due to defensive woes, he does everything he can on offense to help his team win, which is the kind of player that can help your fantasy team win. He is a priority add in all formats and worth starting in one-QB and two-QB leagues
If he’s still available, Daniel Jones, Giants
If he’s recently become available, Jimmy Garoppolo
Fantasy Football waiver wire, Week 10: Tight Ends
1. Cade Otton, Buccaneers
You may remember me writing about Cade Otton after Week 6, as well. I promise that’s the last time you’ll hear me say that… this week. I’m only taking victory laps because I want to point out the players that have been fantasy relevant for several weeks now. Cade Otton is no exception. In a position that is shallow, the Buccaneers’ tight end has had 5 targets or more in his last three games. Adding a touchdown in Week 9 (a game-winner, at that), that’s a volume you can count on.
Still available in nearly 99% of NFL.com fantasy leagues, Cade Otton has been a trustworthy target for Tom Brady. I’m not ready to throw around the term “Baby Gronk,” a term that fans, analysts, and everything in between throw around when TB12 throws to a new tight end, but he has been coming up for the QB in crucial moments.
He has gained Brady’s trust, and fellow tight end Cameron Brate returning from his neck injury won’t change that fact. He is worth rostering in all formats, especially PPR and TE Premium leagues.
If he’s still available, Noah Fant, Seahawks