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Chip Bayless FEATURED Football Latest 

Top Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 10

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By Chip Bayless (click Howie for more Chip)

 

 

 

1) Matthew Stafford

Because the Rams offensive line has been so horrific for much of the season which has in turn plummeted Stafford’s fantasy PPG outside the top-20 QBs, Stafford’s ownership percentage has dropped to just under 30% across ESPN leagues.

Although, this offense has looked completely different over the past two weeks since their top two receivers have gotten healthy while Stafford has played like the undisputed #1 pick he once was coming out of Georgia.

Over the past two weeks, Stafford has reminded NFL fans around the world that he is still an elite quarterback. His ability to literally curve passes over the top of and around defenders is unmatched, and his combination of arm strength and accuracy is some of the best the NFL has to offer outside of Patrick Mahomes.

With Nacua and and Kupp both getting open at insane rates and Stafford having the two weapons he has the most chemistry with healthy again, you can expect similar performances to what he’s put up the last two weeks.

Just like that, thanks to the health of his surrounding talent, Stafford has gone from unrosterable to a low-end QB1 who can be started immediately with high-QB1 upside if he keeps this performance up and keeps throwing at least 34 passes a game (like he has in back-to-back weeks now).



Right now, Stafford is currently:

  • Tied for 6th in red zone pass attempts (per FantasyPros)
  • 9th in passing success rate (per Pro Football Reference)
  • 10th in passing attempts
  • 11th in completions
  • 12th in passing yards

In each of his past two weeks Stafford has thrown at least 34 times, had 275+ passing yards, and has thrown at least two TDs.

Stafford has more scoring potential than the Rams early-season offensive line woes have allowed him to show on the fantasy stat sheet, as he’s not only sixth in pass attempts inside the red zone but he’s fifth in pass attempts inside the 10 yard line.

Despite his terrible start to the season due to missing his most-trusted targets and playing behind one of the worst offensive lines in football, today Stafford has the 10th-highest QBR.

He’s been incredibly clutch which helps the Rams confidence in him to execute certain play calls and throw at a high clip late in close games and is tied for second in game-winning drives (according to Pro Football Reference).

Los Angeles’ faith in their veteran passer isn’t unfounded, as Stafford does rank 10th in on-target throws this year.

If you can pick up Kelly Stafford’s cuck the Rams’ signal-caller, he’s worth immediate consideration like fancy chicken tenders at a wedding.

 

 

2) Demarcus Robinson

After being relatively quiet during the stretch of the season where the Rams were without their top-two wideouts, Robinson has gone off the past two weeks in a row with at least Kupp fully available in both games, scoring twice in each contest.

While Robinson’s season-high last week can be attributed to Puka Nacua’s early ejection, the key factor in Robinson making this list is the fact that the Rams’ offense as a whole in addition to Stafford have been playing with their hair on the fire the past few weeks after looking completely dead for much of the season.

The addition of Kupp and Nacua has made the Rams’ passing game so effective that the national media has completely forgotten about the Rams’ supposedly Swiss cheese offensive line.

ESPN is now playing highlights of Stafford throws rather than lamenting how no quarterback could be successful behind the Rams “banged up” line.

Robinson has been getting some volume lately courtesy of a more productive offense and a more decisive and confident Stafford. Robinson has accounted for 28% of all of the Rams’ air yards so far this season, a mark which sits at 27th when it comes to receivers.

He’s also scored at least 11.8 fantasy points and one TD in three of his past four weeks.

Demarcus Robinson ranks, in terms of 2024 WRs:

  • 3rd in burn % (per Opta Stats)
  • 3rd in average targeted air yards (per Next Gen Stats)
  • 7th in average target depth (per Opta Stats)
  • Tied for 13th in receiving TDs
  • 23rd in yards per catch (per ESPN)
  • 36th in total fantasy points (averaging 10.5 per game)

Robinson is a smooth runner (22nd in WR open rating according to ESPN Analytics) and has deceptive acceleration as he often finds himself gliding away from defenders as he ranks 19th among WRs in burns for touchdowns (per Opta Stats) and 27th in yards per touch (from Pro Football Reference).

His route-running skills and veteran savviness when it comes to dissecting zone coverage both show up on the stat sheet, as Next Gen Stats has Robinson ranked 23rd in average separation among WRs.


Even though Robinson will return to the Rams’ WR3 role, Nacua did come into the game with a knee issue so who knows how healthy he truly is or how much of a workload the Rams want him to have.

Additionally, his role as the Rams’ WR3 next week will likely be more productive than his role as the supposed WR1 during the stretch with Nacua and Kupp out when he disappointed managers because even a reduced role in an offense that’s about 100% more productive should yield better fantasy results.

In his last game, Robinson made several impressive catches including a one-handed touchdown grab. He’s a crispy route runner and has demonstrated clear chemistry with Stafford as the Rams’ QB has lofted him some perfect 50/50 balls in critical situations.

He’s been subtly putting up some highlight-reel plays for long gains as well, and right now he’s tied for 12th among all WRs in receptions for 30+ yards (reported by FantasyPros).

Robinson’s workload has been quietly significant all season too. He’s 24th in terms of this year’s receiver crop in total air yards and air yards per reception and 27th in red zone targets.

Finally, Robinson has the 14th-highest average WR snap count (per FantasyPros).

 

 

3) Ja’Tavion Sanders

If you’re like me and you are so desperate at TE that you started Tyler Conklin because Kittle was on a bye and Fant was out, Ja’Tavion Sanders is one of the few Panthers to keep an eye on as he’s actually been a startable tight end over his past four weeks.

Over that span Sanders has scored at least 9.9 fantasy points, caught at least four passes on at least five targets, and had at least 49 receiving yards in three of four games.


Part of what helps Sanders’ stock is the Panthers are flat-out bad at football, so they’re almost always playing from behind. Throw in the fact that they are almost completely devoid of playmakers and have zero target hogs, and its easy to see why Sanders has some upside and has gotten at least five targets in three of his past four weeks.

At the moment Sanders has accrued a few impressive TE rankings, including:

His efficiency isn’t bad either as he’s also 14th in yards per target among this year’s TE crop (according to Pro Football Reference) and is eighth in YAC per reception.

He’s made some spectacular grabs on jump balls in addition to plays that force you to question how someone so athletic started playing tight end in the first place, like this mind-blowing hurdle over seemingly several defenders:

Available in 99% of leagues, Sanders is perhaps the only free-agent tight end available this week who’s worth a claim considering even the likes of guys like Conklin and Fant are likely rostered in your league by now.

He’s definitely the most talented and athletic TE available at this late stage of the season, but as we know talent is only half the battle when it comes to fantasy prospects.

Hopefully Sanders can hold off Tommy Tremble for the starting TE job in Carolina thanks to his youth, draft pedigree, and recent production.

Whether its an aging ginger with zero grey in his hair and beard or a midget who might be the biggest draft bust of all time, when you combine Sanders’ current and expected role with the fact that the Panthers almost always have a pass-positive game script due to being outscored, its easy to see why Sanders’ potential should continue to yield at least low-end TE1/high-end TE2 fantasy results.

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