Fantasy Football Week 10: Rankings, Projections and Waiver-Wire Tips

It's been a wacky and wonderful year for fantasy football so far in 2016. We've had some surprise breakout players—like Cleveland Browns receiver Terrelle Pryor and Dallas Cowboys rookie quarterback Dak Prescott—as well as some serious fantasy disappointments.

What the heck happened to Todd Gurley?

Hopefully, you've been able to navigate the swirling fantasy waters and are close to making a postseason run. If you are, it's time to close out the regular fantasy season with gusto.

Making a late fantasy push is never easy, of course, especially with those pesky bye weeks getting in the way. This week, there are four teams—the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders—watching the action from home.

We're here to help, though, with our projections for positional Week 10 rankings. We'll be ranking each position based on how we think players are going to fare, and we'll be examining some top waiver-wire targets for each skill position.

Our choices are based on factors like past performances, projected roles, matchups and injuries, where applicable. For our waiver-wire options, we'll be looking at players available in at least 40 percent of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Good luck!

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Matt Ryan, ATL	@ PHI
2	Aaron Rodgers, GB	@ TEN
3	Eli Manning, NYG	CIN
4	Philip Rivers, SD	MIA
5	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	DAL
6	Kirk Cousins, WAS	MIN
7	Marcus Mariota, TEN	GB
8	Dak Prescott, DAL	@ PIT
9	Jay Cutler, CHI	@ TB
10	Jameis Winston, TB	CHI

If you're a fan of streaming quarterbacks or are just looking for a bye-week fill-in, there are a couple of interesting waiver-wire options this week.

One is Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, who is currently available in over 96 percent of ESPN leagues. He is back in the starting lineup for Chicago and has rekindled his chemistry with wide receiver Alshon Jeffery.

In his first start back, Cutler sliced through the Minnesota Vikings defense for 252 yards and a touchdown. This week, he'll be going against a Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense that is rated just 24th in pass rush and 26th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan embarrassed that defense for 344 yards and four touchdowns in Week 9. Expect Cutler to have a strong day.

Another good streaming option is Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco. While Flacco hasn't had the best season of his career in 2016—his passer rating is just 76.0—he has one of the most enticing matchups of the week.

Flacco and the Ravens will host the Cleveland Browns, whose defense is the laughingstock of the NFL. Cleveland has allowed at least 25 points in every single game this season and is rated a mere 29th in overall defense by Pro Football Focus.

Don't expect the Browns to suddenly get good at stopping opposing quarterbacks in Week 10. If you need a fill-in, Flacco has the potential to be a good one.

Flacco is owned in only 26.3 percent of ESPN leagues.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	David Johnson, ARI	SF
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	DAL
3	Melvin Gordon, SD	MIA
4	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	@ PIT
5	DeMarco Murray, TEN	@ SD
6	Lamar Miller, HOU	@ JAX
7	LeGarrette Blount, NE	SEA
8	Matt Forte, NYJ	LA
9	Devonta Freeman, ATL	@ PHI
10	Charcandrick West, KC	@ CAR
11	Jordan Howard, CHI	@ TB
12	Jay Ajayi, MIA	@ SD
13	Terrance West, BAL	CLE
14	Mark Ingram, NO	DEN
15	Duke Johnson, CLE	@ BAL
16	James White, NE	SEA
17	Devontae Booker, DEN	@ NO
18	Jonathan Stewart, CAR	KC
19	Isaiah Crowell, CLE	@ BAL
20	Todd Gurley, LA	@ NYJ
21	Kapri Bibbs, DEN	@ NO
22	Tim Hightower, NO	DEN
23	Ty Montgomery, GB	@ TEN
24	Doug Martin, TB	CHI
25	Bilal Powell, NYJ	LA

There are some good running backs, like Theo Riddick and Frank Gore, on bye in Week 10. This means plenty of you will probably be looking for a one-week add or flex option.

One name to consider is New Orleans Saints running back Tim Hightower. While it appears Mark Ingram may have regained the starting job after rushing for 158 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 9, it feels like Hightower is going to maintain a role in the backfield.

Against the 49ers, Hightower got 23 carries for 83 yards and a score. If he and Ingram split carries moving forward, Hightower should be a solid flex option. He's currently available in roughly 60 percent of ESPN leagues.

If you're looking for a guy with potential for the remainder of the season, check out Denver Broncos running back Kapri Bibbs. The Colorado State product is a shifty change-of-pace back with the ability to break the big play.

He produced 36 yards rushing, 75 yards receiving and a touchdown Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

Bibbs is owned in only 4.4 percent of ESPN leagues.

While you're probably not going to find Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Doug Martin on the waiver wire—he's owned in nearly 82 percent of leagues—you might have him sitting on your bench.

Just keep in mind that he could make his return from a hamstring injury to face the Bears.

"We’re hopeful that after these three days off that maybe he has a shot at Chicago," Buccaneers head coach Dirk Koetter told Alex Marvez and Gil Brandt on SiriusXM NFL Radio. "But hamstrings seem to linger a little bit. We’ll have to wait and see."

The Bears are rated 13th in run defense by Pro Football Focus.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	A.J. Green, CIN	@ NYG
2	Antonio Brown, PIT	DAL
3	Julio Jones, ATL	@ PHI
4	Mike Evans, TB	CHI
5	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	SF
6	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	CIN
7	Steve Smith, BAL	CLE
8	Brandin Cooks, NO	DEN
9	Demaryius Thomas, DEN	@ NO
10	Jarvis Landry, MIA	@ SD
11	Terrelle Pryor, CLE	@ BAL
12	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	@ NO
13	Jamison Crowder, WAS	MIN
14	Davante Adams, GB	@ TEN
15	Mike Wallace, BAL	CLE
16	Travis Benjamin, SD	MIA
17	Kelvin Benjamin, CAR	KC
18	Quincy Enunwa, NYJ	LA
19	DeAndre Hopkins, HOU	@ JAX
20	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	@ TB
21	Stefon Diggs, MIN	@ WAS
22	Brandon Marshall, NYJ	LA
23	Cole Beasley, DAL	@ PIT
24	Kenny Britt, LA	@ NYJ
25	Corey Coleman, CLE	@ BAL

If he's available in your league, you should go grab Washington Redskins receiver Jamison Crowder. The Duke product has become a veritable PPR star and has 40 receptions for 498 yards and four touchdowns already this season.

But he is currently owned in only 53.1 percent of ESPN leagues.

Another surprising waiver-wire possibility is Dallas Cowboys wideout Cole Beasley, who is owned in 55.9 percent of ESPN leagues. Beasley has become one of Prescott's favorite targets and has amassed 43 receptions for 499 yards and four touchdowns.

If you're looking for a receiver you might have a better chance of landing, consider Buccaneers wideout Adam Humphries.

Humphries has recorded eight receptions for 104 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks, and it seems like he has established himself as Tampa's No. 2 receiver. He'll draw the Bears this week, and Chicago is rated a pedestrian 16th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

Humphries is currently available in nearly 95 percent of ESPN leagues.

If you want to snag a guy who might have upside down the stretch, consider Percy Harvin, who is owned in 7.0 percent of ESPN Leagues.

Harvin recently decided to end his retirement and rejoin the Bills. According to CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora, Harvin is expected to play Monday against the Seattle Seahawks:

The Bills are on bye in Week 10, but that doesn't mean you can't stash Harvin for a postseason run.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Rob Gronkowski, NE	SEA
2	Jordan Reed, WAS	MIN
3	Zach Miller, CHI	@ TB
4	Greg Olsen, CAR	KC
5	Martellus Bennett, NE	SEA
6	Jimmy Graham, SEA	@ NE
7	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	@ WAS
8	Coby Fleener, NO	DEN
9	Dennis Pitta, BAL	CLE
10	Delanie Walker, TEN	GB

It's usually difficult to find a starting-caliber tight end on the waiver wire, but when you're faced with a bye-week dilemma, you're often left with little choice.

This week, you might want to look at Buccaneers tight end Cameron Brate. While he isn't an especially consistent option, Brate has had some solid fantasy outings. He has scored a touchdown in each of his past two games and is coming off a five-catch, 43-yard performance.

As mentioned above, the Buccaneers are going up against a decidedly average Bears coverage unit.

Brate is currently available in nearly 60 percent of ESPN leagues.

If you're looking for an upside add, consider Atlanta Falcons tight end Austin Hooper. The rookie has stepped up in the absence of Jacob Tamme—87 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks—and he should remain in the offensive game plan moving forward.

Hooper is available in roughly 87 percent of ESPN leagues.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Opponent
1	Matt Bryant, ATL	@ PHI
2	Cairo Santos, KC	@ CAR
3	Josh Lambo, SD	MIA
4	Phil Dawson, SF	@ ARI
5	Nick Folk, NYJ	LA
6	Wil Lutz, NO	DEN
7	Caleb Sturgis, PHI	ATL
8	Justin Tucker, BAL	CLE
9	Mason Crosby, GB	@ TEN
10	Graham Gano, CAR	KC

Defense/Special Teams

Rank	Team	Opponent
1	Baltimore Ravens	CLE
2	Kansas City Chiefs	@ CAR
3	Carolina Panthers	KC
4	Houston Texans	@ JAX
5	Arizona Cardinals	SF
6	San Diego Chargers	MIA
7	New England Patriots	SEA
8	NY Giants	CIN
9	NY Jets	LA
10	Los Angeles Rams	NYJ