Week 10 Waiver Wire: Highlighting Top Fantasy Playmakers to Add

The NFL fantasy waiver wire isn't as stocked with talent entering Week 10, because most owners have smartened up and grabbed most of the playmakers worth deploying in their lineups.

However, a select few skill position players remain who could turn out to be clutch sleepers for those keeping an eye out and digging deep for fantasy depth.

Insurance against injuries is always good to have, what with how violent professional football tends to be. Expectations have to be curbed when scouring the waiver wire as it is, but there are some names to keep an eye on as the second half of the season unfolds.

Here is a look at some emerging youngsters on offense whose expanding roles could lead to greater success than might be anticipated at the moment.

Running Back: Jonas Gray, New England Patriots

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Even with Shane Vereen as the established pass-catching back, Gray has managed to carve out a prominent role in the Patriots' explosive offense.

A lot of the damage New England inflicts on opponents will continue to be at the hands of Tom Brady and the passing attack. What can't be overlooked is that the Pats need to run the ball as the weather gets worse.

Pro Football Focus fantasy expert Michael Clay weighed in on how New England should become more balanced on offense moving forward:

Based on his comments following Week 9's win over Denver, it appears Gray is buying into the Patriot Way, per The Boston Globe's Michael Whitmer:

"

More and more, week by week, I'm starting to feel more comfortable. The main thing I'm focusing on is trying to be consistent and trying to be dependable. There weren't a whole lot of running lanes out there last week, but got to grind it out. There’s going to be some games like that, and you want to make sure you don’t have a lot of negative runs. You just want to be consistent, that's it.

"

Gray has 29 carries in the past two games, far more than Vereen's 16, and the more heralded New England ball-carrier has five fewer total touches than Gray has rushing attempts.

If Brady and Co. keep lighting up the scoreboard or getting into the scoring zone, it will be Gray who will garner those short-yardage attempts and bleeding the clock late on the ground. That makes him a marketable fantasy pickup, and he's currently owned in just 17.2 percent of fantasy leagues.

As Gray begins to get more comfortable, his production should only improve. With the Patriots on a Week 10 bye, fantasy owners might be sleeping on Gray. Now is a great time to pounce.

Wide Receiver: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

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A 56.2 ownership percentage means Beckham can be had on the waiver wire in certain leagues. Rueben Randle has disappointed throughout the year and hasn't stepped up since Victor Cruz was ruled out for the season.

After missing extended time in training camp and being out to start his regular rookie campaign, Beckham has risen to the occasion, with three double-digit fantasy outings in four games. The first two were aided by touchdowns, but Beckham didn't need a trip to the end zone to showcase his special talents on Monday night.

Beckham racked up eight receptions for 156 yards, including an electric 59-yard reception and several grabs that showcased the LSU product's tremendous hands. 

Detractors will argue that the Indianapolis Colts' massive lead at MetLife Stadium allowed Beckham to thrive in garbage time.

Bear in mind, though, that Giants quarterback Eli Manning has had multiple years to get on the same page with Randle and hasn't. Manning targeted Preston Parker six times in Week 9, too, yet Parker had just one catch for seven yards.

The former Super Bowl MVP QB was impressed with Beckham's performance:

Sam Monson of Pro Football Focus describes the skills Beckham has that should mold him into a star:

A lack of viable alternatives in New York's passing game and Beckham's continued improvement should increase his role in the offense for the rest of the year.

Fantasy owners fortunate to have Beckham available in their leagues should acquire him immediately. A pro-style background at LSU under Cam Cameron's complex system will only aid Beckham as he keeps developing chemistry with Manning and living up to his first-round draft hype.

Tight End: Mychal Rivera, Oakland Raiders

Yours truly doesn't believe the Raiders will lose every game, but they will be playing from behind a lot. With the NFL's worst rushing attack and a leaky run defense, Oakland is going to put the ball in the hands of rookie QB Derek Carr and hope for the best.

For those fantasy enthusiasts strapped at tight end, taking a flier on Mychal Rivera is a worthwhile tactic to deploy. Over the past two games, Rivera has had 15 catches on 20 targets for 121 yards and two touchdowns.

Even before Rivera hauled in the two scores in Week 9 versus Seattle's vaunted defense, Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Olson discussed how much upside Rivera still has to explore, via ESPN.com's Bill Williamson:

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I think Mychal is a young player that is still getting better. A lot of high expectations for him, you try to remember that he's a developing player. He wasn't a ready-made player when he got here. I think last year as a rookie, he got better during the season as a rookie. I think he had a good offseason. By no means right now is he a guy that’s anywhere near where he is going to be in this league.

"

Carr has a mostly unimpressive receiving corps, with the exception of former Green Bay standout James Jones. The signal-caller's increased reliance on a capable pass-catcher in Rivera who will often be matched up with linebackers suggests this emerging Raiders connection will continue to produce.

Week 10 sees Oakland play host to the Denver Broncos, a sensational offense coming off a tough loss on the road at New England. Peyton Manning and Co. will be eager for redemption, so the Raiders will go to the air in the hopes of keeping up.

That attempt will be in vain, as it will in the majority of Oakland's remaining games, but Rivera and Carr will grow together and reward the faith of fantasy owners needing a dark-horse flex or TE1 play.