Joe Serpico shares his top fantasy football waiver-wire pickups heading into Week 10.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars: The former No. 1 overall pick has not taken the next step many expected entering the year, but he has shown signs of life in recent weeks. Lawrence has finished as QB6 and QB7 the last two weeks, in large part because he has found the end zone as a runner in each game. A common theme for the next few weeks will be searching for bye week fill-ins, and while I am not crazy about the upcoming matchups against the Vikings and Lions, Lawrence is a solid streaming option.
Ray Davis, RB, Buffalo Bills: I added the handcuff portion to this weekly column for fantasy owners to keep tabs on their backup running backs. Davis is the type of player who needs to be rostered regardless. He is inexcusably available in more than 80 percent of fantasy leagues despite finishing as a RB2 or better in three of the last four weeks. If something were to happen to James Cook, Davis becomes a bonafide RB1. There is no reason he should still be this widely available.
Cedric Tillman, WR, Cleveland Browns: I said Tillman was a one-week wonder. I was wrong. Then I said Tillman should be rostered but should remain on the bench. Wrong again. Tillman is the WR1 in the last three weeks, averaging 18.7 points per game since the Amari Cooper trade. Even with a new quarterback injecting a pulse into the offense, the Browns are going to be trailing a lot this year. This production is sustainable, putting Tillman in the WR2 discussion the rest of the campaign.
Quentin Johnston, WR, San Diego Chargers: Johnston was one of my favorite targets this summer. When healthy, he has shown the big-play ability that made him a high draft pick. He missed two games with an ankle injury but led the Chargers with 118 yards and a touchdown in his return to action against the Browns on Sunday. There are 14 teams on a bye in the next three weeks, making Johnston a solid pickup for receiver-needy teams.
Xavier Legette, WR, Carolina Panthers: Before Diontae Johnson was traded to the Ravens, I highlighted Legette as a receiver to roster with more opportunities on the horizon. Legette was on the receiving end of another touchdown, his fourth in six games. The yardage totals aren’t spectacular — his season high is just 66 yards — but he’s a focal point for the Panthers in the red zone. Legette is a FLEX play when other options are on bye weeks.
Mike Gesicki, TE, Cincinnati Bengals: A carryover from last week, Gesicki finished Week 9 as TE1 with 100 receiving yards and two touchdowns. He has 12 receptions on 14 targets for 173 yards and the two scores the last two weeks. The Bengals have been without Tee Higgins in those games. Start him with confidence with Higgins out of the lineup, but ease your expectations when the star receiver returns to action.
Taysom Hill, TE, New Orleans Saints: I have said repeatedly in recent years that Hill is the ultimate boom-or-bust player. But with the receiving corps so banged up, Hill is going to get his share of touches near the end zone. In fact, he scored a touchdown against the Panthers on Sunday. He will frustrate you one week with just two points scored, and then there will be weeks when he is a top-five choice at tight end. With how unpredictable the tight end position has been this year, Hill is a risk worth taking.
Top Handcuffs (Rostered in less than 50 percent of leagues)
Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills
Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons
Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Braelon Allen, New York Jets
Antonio Gibson, New England Patriots
Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
Trey Sermon, Indianapolis Colts
Kimani Vidal, Los Angeles Chargers
Ty Chandler, Minnesota Vikings
Isaac Guerendo, San Francisco 49ers