Author: Paul Shapiro, Staff Writer
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another four teams off each week, some of this year’s top Fantasy performers won’t be available. The Week 10 slate will leave owners without members of the Chiefs, Eagles, Raiders and Ravens. And then, in Week 11, the final four byes go to the Panthers, Colts, 49ers, and Jets.
Despite a few rough outings, Eli Manning is a solid streaming option in weeks 10 and 11. AP Photo/Julio Cortez
With all those teams’ players on bye, turning to lesser-owned options with plus matchups is a great place to start. Let’s get you through these last two bye-filled weeks, and into your Fantasy playoffs, by plucking players off the waiver wire in Weeks 10 and 11.
Woods Well Worth Starting Nod For Weeks 10 and 11
I’m actually sad that Robert Woods put up the game he did on Sunday versus the Giants, as he was being highlighted in this column even before the two-touchdown outburst. Coming off three straight games of at least seven targets (with five receptions in each contest), Woods was laying in the weeds, awaiting that breakout game — and then it happened.
Woods should now be a clear waiver wire target with a run of plus matchups coming up. The Texans, the Rams’ Week 10 opponent, have given up more than 200 yards and two touchdowns to wide receivers over the past two weeks, moving Woods into the WR2/3 conversation. The Rams No. 2 will also be a flex option in Week 11 with Jared Goff playing like a man possessed and peppering Woods with an average of more than six targets per game.
Marqise Moves Into Weekly Flex Conversation
Another receiver coming off a big game is the Jaguars’, Marqise Lee.
Settling in as the Jags’ new No. 1 wideout, Lee caught 8-of-12 passes for 75 yards and a touchdown in Week 9 versus the Bengals. That’s the receiver’s third straight game with at least 72 yards, to go along with 28 total targets during that three-week span.
With another good matchup against the Chargers in Week 10, and the lowly Browns in Week 11, expect a couple of 70-yard outings for Lee, making him a flex play over the next two weeks.
Favorable Matchups Make Manning A Free Agent Find
That Eli Manning is part of a waiver column is strange to me. But, truth is, his Fantasy value was strongly cemented to that of Odell Beckham Jr. With Beckham done for the year, Manning’s production has predictably dropped off since Week 5, topping out last week at 220 yards and two touchdowns.
So why consider him as a streaming option this week and next? The answer: matchups versus two defenses that give up Top 10 Fantasy points to QBs this season.
First, the 49ers, who have allowed at least two touchdown passes in each of their last four games, and give up an average of 256.7 yards and 1.8 TDs per game on the year. And then, a Chiefs defense in Week 11 that surprisingly gives up an average of more than 270 yards per game and 1.8 TDs to opposing quarterbacks.
Since Manning already has two or more touchdowns in four of the Giants’ eight games this season, I’d look for more of the same against two below average pass defenses over the next two weeks. Look at Manning as a low-end QB1/high-end QB2 in both matchups.
Ebron Could Be Replacement For Top Tight Ends
Three of the Top 10 Fantasy tight ends are on bye in Week 10. There will be no Zach Ertz, no Travis Kelce, and no Jared Cook this coming weekend. This means Fantasy owners will be scouring the waiver wire looking for that one-week wonder to replace the aforementioned studs.
And as the saying goes, desperate times call for desperate measures. Go with Eric Ebron, a typical TE2 facing a Browns team that gives up the second-most points to opposing tight ends this season. That same Cleveland defense has allowed six touchdowns through eight games this year to tight ends, putting Ebron on the TE1 radar. I’m betting on 40 yards and a touchdown, making the Lions TE worth a start on Sunday.
Stash Woodhead For Future PPR Play
Danny Woodhead is on the road to recovery and is eyeing a Week 11 return against the Packers, a defense that gives up the sixth-most Fantasy points to running backs this season.
Despite returning to what has become a very crowded Ravens running back corps, Woodhead should be immediately re-inserted into as the team’s pass-catching back, making him an RB2/flex option in PPR leagues. If/when he is ever healthy, Woodhead is an absolute PPR monster out of the backfield — a receiver disguised in running back’s clothing.
Plus, the Ravens also have favorable running back matchups during the Fantasy playoffs, making Woodhead even more appetizing as a player to stash.
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