Fantasy Football 101: Week 10 Pickups and Other Quick Hits

Week 9 is in the books and with just one bye week remaining, the roster juggling is almost over. After this week, your bench will be about matchups and injuries.  As repetitive as it sounds, the number one key at this point in the season is to evaluate your roster and determine what your top needs are.  Bye week fill-in, depth, or shake up the roster trade. Ultimately, your playoff prognosis will influence your roster moves. 

Here is a look at this week's waiver wire options.

Please note, list excludes recommendations from the past two weeks.

Click here to see last week's article

Note: To qualify as a pickup, a player must be owned in less than 40 percent of Yahoo leagues as of this writing (11/7). 

DEF: Detroit, Cleveland, KC

Quarterback:

Kevin Kolb, Philadelphia (owned: 34 percent) - No, Michael Vick did not get injured, but if he does, Kolb will be a top 10 QB and the type of player you can stash once the bye weeks are over.  A must-own for Vick owners.

Shaun Hill/Drew Stanton, Detroit (owned: 5 percent/0 percent) - With Matthew Stafford possibly out for the season, whomever the starter is will have the Lions playmakers including Megatron to work with. Remember, Hill was an effective fantasy starter earlier in the season.

Running Back: (not a great week for pickups)

Mike Goodson, Carolina (owned 3 percent) - With Jonathan Stewart going down with a concussion and DeAngelo Williams already hurt, Goodson is due to for an increased role.  He may not be a 20 carry a game guy but he has playmaking ability and is a capable receiver. Of course, he plays for Carolina's dreadful offense.

Jason Snelling, Atlanta (owned 31 percent) - Michael Turner did not get hurt but Snelling continues to get about 20 percent of the team's carries while playing an active role in the passing game (9 catches the past two weeks).  If Turner were to get hurt, Snelling could be a top 10 back.  A must-own for Turner owners at this point in the season. 

Wide Receiver:

Seyi Ajirotutu, San Diego (owned 4 percent ) - Has a bye this week, but any Chargers wideout with a chance at starting is worth owning.  Of course, Vincent Jackson (suspension), Malcolm Floyd and Legedu Naanee should all be returning soon, minimizing Ajirotutu's value.

Brandon Gibson, St. Louis (owned 1 percent) - The post-Mark Clayton era has not been kind to Rams receivers, but Gibson may be the most complete receiver among those remaining on the roster.  This is more of an upside play than a quality backup.

Mike Thomas, Jacksonville (owned 18 percent) - Mike Sims-Walker is the Jaguar receiver most people know but Thomas is the one who has caught four or more passes in six of eight games.  He's not a red zone threat though, making him a PPR only recommendation.

Jacoby Ford, Oakland (owned 2 percent) - With Louis Murphy and Zach Miller injured, Ford not Heyward-Bey (aka Stone Hands) was the Raider receiver who stepped up with a six catch 148 yard effort.  A classic burner in the Al Davis mold who could become an owner favorite very quickly.

Tight End:

David Thomas, New Orleans (owned 2 percent) - Even with a healthy Jeremy Shockey, Thomas has managed to catch three or more passes in seven of nine games.  If Shockey misses any time with his rib injury Thomas will be poised to take a larger role.

Joel Dressen, Houston (owned 2 percent) - After a five catch 66 yard effort, Dressen has proven himself a capable fill-in as long as Owen Daniels is out.

Randy McMichael, San Diego (owned 2 percent) - Caught two touchdowns filling in for Antonio Gates.  A player to watch if Gates continues to miss time. 

Defense:

St. Louis (owned 13 percent) - They may not have many big names, but coach Spagnuolo has built an aggressive unit which gets after the quarterback and creates turnovers.  Besides a trip to New Orleans in Week 14, the schedule is extremely fantasy-friendly down the stretch. 

Other thoughts:

- If you are struggling to figure out which defense to play, pick the one playing any NFC or AFC West team besides San Diego.

- Wide receiver Steve Johnson flies under the radar playing for Buffalo but he has established himself as a solid WR2/WR3 his second 145 yard+ game in the past three weeks.  The Bills have shifted to a spread style attack with Johnson leading the way. 

- Wes Welker has failed to break 36 yards in three weeks while being limited to four or fewer catches each week.

- Besides Larry Fitzgerald there is not a single Cardinal I feel confident starting and even he is a shell of his normal self due to poor quarterback play.

- Dynasty leaguers need to pay attention to Saints rookie Jimmy Graham.  He is incredibly raw but the talent is beginning to show. A breakout 2011 could be on the horizon. 

- The 2009 Ray Rice is back. Buy low if you still can.

- Dolphin WR Brian Hartline has quietly caught four or more passes in five of the last six games and is the one Dolphin receiver who is a threat to go vertical.  Don't be surprised if his role continues to grow in the 2nd half of the season.

- Do not be afraid to start any Chargers starting wide receiver.  The system and Philip Rivers is making average talents look extraordinary.  Keep this in mind when Vincent Jackson signs elsewhere next season.

- Hakeem Nicks has 100+ yards in four of the last five games and has established himself as a top five wideout.

- Michael Vick is healthy and one of the most dangerous players in all of fantasy football.  He also clicks with Desean Jackson.

Chris Maier is Senior Editor for nfldraft101.com.  He can be reached at [e-mail].  Follow me on twitter: nfldraft101.

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