Dorial Green-Beckham is beginning to flash his natural ability

The season has taken its toll on players and injuries are mounting. It’s no revelation that football is a physical sport and that is why fantasy players have the term “handcuff” stashed in their dictionary. Much like last week when DeAngelo Williams was surprisingly available, there are a few names this week who should have a much higher ownership percentage, but don’t. Injuries to Dion Lewis, Eddie Lacy, Latavius Murray and LeSean McCoy on Sunday show us how quickly things can change. While Lewis may have the most severe injury from Week 9 (torn ACL), that doesn’t change the fact that this week brings several viable options to claim off the waivers.

To help with figuring out who you should go after, we’ve asked our featured experts to rank the top waiver options that are readily available (based on Yahoo ownership) and discuss their thoughts on who they especially like as a waiver claim. We also understand there may be a specific question relating to “who should I pick up in New England?”, so we’ve asked the experts to chime in on that topic as well.

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Featured Pros

Matthew Hill – Fantasy Team Advice
Nick Raducanu – ProjectRoto
Joe Bond – Fantasy Six Pack
Phil Alexander – Footballguys
Mike Tagliere – Pro Football Focus

Waiver Wire Rankings (Standard Scoring)

Week 10 Waiver Wire Advice

Each expert was asked to share the reasoning behind their waiver rankings as well as who they like they like as a pickup in New England. Here’s what the experts had to say.

Q1: Should owners target James White or Brandon Bolden and what % of their FAAB budgets should be spent on either one of them?

Phil Alexander – Footballguys
“I’m not too excited about White or Bolden as replacements. White has averaged 3.3 yards per rush and 6.3 yards per catch in his brief NFL career, while Bolden has averaged 2.94 yards per rush and seven yards per catch over the last two seasons. For context, Lewis was averaging 4.8 yards per rush and 10.8 yards per catch this season. The Patriots won’t stop utilizing their running backs out of the backfield, but it’s far more likely they emphasize LeGarrette Blount and the power running game going forward than it would be for either White or Bolden to inherit Lewis’ full workload. Of the two, I’d prioritize adding James White. Bolden scored a receiving touchdown last week, but was only active because he’s better on special teams than White. When Lewis sat out in Week 7, it was White who saw 64% of the Patriots backfield snaps and five targets in the passing game. Unless I’m desperate at running back, I wouldn’t go over 10%-20% of my FAAB budget on either player.”

Mike Tagliere – Pro Football Focus
“When Lewis went down on Sunday, fantasy football players had their eyes glued to the screen, waiting to see who they could look forward to as the next waiver wire pickup. It was Brandon Bolden that replaced him on the field, and racked up 39 yards and a touchdown, but there is more to it than that. Savvy fantasy players will take a look at the fact that Bolden had played just six snaps since Week 1 where he started the game. It will likely be James White, who has played 69 snaps in that same period to replace Lewis in the passing game. He is the one that filled Lewis’ slot in Week 7 when he played 43/67 snaps (Lewis was a planned inactive for that game) and was targeted five times. It just so happens that White was inactive last week, which is why Bolden got the snaps.”

Nick Raducanu – ProjectRoto
“James White and Brandon Bolden will be popular adds, but I think we all need to realize that neither player is even close to what Dion Lewis is. I’d probably take a look at Bolden before White, but I think it’s just as likely the Patriots bring in a player like Travaris Cadet (who was with the team during the preseason). LeGarrette Blount is also likely to see a bigger workload, so whoever inherits Lewis’ role won’t be as big a part of the offense as Lewis was. Bolden is worth a flier, in my opinion, but I wouldn’t break the bank here (maybe something like 10-15% of my FAAB).”

Matthew Hill – Fantasy Team Advice
“In week seven, with Dion Lewis out, James White assumed the role of the passing-down back. The results were not all that exciting, as he posted a receiving line of three catches for twenty-six yards. This came on a day where Tom Brady threw the ball 54 times. I see week seven as an indicator of things to come as the Patriots will likely spread the ball around more and give more carries to Blount with Lewis out. Both White and Bolden are worthy of a roster spot, but I would hesitate to spend more than 10% of my budget on either one.”

Joe Bond – Fantasy Six Pack
“Just remember the last time Dion Lewis was out, they healthy scratched Brandon Bolden. James White still did not do much that game as Brady threw the ball 54 times, but he fits into the role Lewis was playing very well. I wouldn’t go all crazy with my FAAB though because it’s still the Pats and who knows what they are thinking with their running game from week to week.”

Q2: Give us your thoughts on another waiver wire target (or two) you especially like as a pickup.

Phil Alexander – Footballguys
“If Karlos Williams was dropped in your league while he was dealing with a concussion, stop what you’re doing and start tapping feverishly on the add button. Williams has been an absolute monster this season, averaging 6.6 yards per rush, with five touchdowns through five games. The only running back in the league averaging a touchdown on a higher percentage of his rush attempts is David Johnson (minimum 25 carries). LeSean McCoy banged up his shoulder in Week 9 and has been dealing with hamstring injuries since the preseason. Williams doesn’t need an injury to McCoy to warrant flex consideration, but if he were ever to get the Buffalo backfield to himself, he’d instantly become a league-tilting RB1. Empty your wallet to get him.”

Nick Raducanu – ProjectRoto
“It’s pretty hard to ignore what Karlos Williams has done this season. He missed a few weeks with a concussion, but he picked up right where he left off in his return, and just kept scoring touchdowns (he has at least one in each of the five games he’s played this season). There’s a good chance he starts this Thursday with LeSean McCoy banged up (shoulder), but he’ll have a tough matchup against the Jets so this week might be a wash for Williams. Beyond that, however, he’s getting enough carries (despite being McCoy’s backup) to warrant a spot on any fantasy roster and is even worth a start in a flex spot in most leagues. The rookie has a nose for the end zone and is being used enough to be started in confidence.”

Joe Bond – Fantasy Six Pack
“Even with LeSean McCoy healthy, for most of the game, Karlos Williams was still able to produce. This kid is for real and needs to be owned in all leagues, especially given McCoy is already injured again and could miss time. Even if McCoy wasn’t hurt, this is a run-first offense and Williams is going to be involved plenty.”

Mike Tagliere – Pro Football Focus
“It was kind of shocking to see James Starks under 50 percent owned in Yahoo leagues, especially considering how bad Eddie Lacy has played this year. Starks has looked every bit better and appeared to seal his fate into the starting lineup after Lacy coughed up a fumble. Starks needs to be owned, but the other player that I’m trying to get on all my teams is Dorial Green-Beckham. After taking over as the interim head coach, one of the first things Mike Mularkey said was that Green-Beckham was going to be more involved. His snaps have been going up each and every week, and it translated to 10 targets against the Saints in Week 9. At 6’6″ with 4.4 wheels, he is a size-speed freak that could be set up for a huge late season run. He may not be last year’s Odell Beckham, but he could be the closest thing to him.”

Matthew Hill – Fantasy Team Advice
“When Steve Smith missed week five, Kamar Aiken was targeted nine times as Joe Flacco’s clear go-to receiver (Marlon Brown was the second-most targeted wide receiver with four). While not an elite talent, Aiken is a safe bet to once again take over as the focal point of the Ravens’ passing attack, and should offer a high weekly floor, especially in PPR leagues.”

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Thanks to the experts for ranking their top waiver pickups for Week 9. For more advice from them, please follow them on Twitter.