Fantasy football waiver wire: 5 wide receivers to target for Week 10

The worst of the bye week apocalypse is almost behind us. Week 9 was the last time there will be six teams on bye this season and the whole thing will be over after Week 13. But we still have four teams to account for this week, and with the playoffs approaching, owners won’t have any margin for error.

This week’s bye teams are the Buffalo Bills, Indianapolis Colts, Detroit Lions, and Oakland Raiders. Those teams are loaded with top-tier fantasy receivers like Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree, T.Y. Hilton, Donte Moncrief, Marvin Jones, Golden Tate, and so on. That’s a lot of holes fantasy owners will have to fill in their lineups, so the waiver wire will be of particular importance this week. Let’s take a look at the top wire options at WR, owned in 50 percent or fewer of Yahoo! standard leagues.

Britt is stuck in a bad offense so his fantasy value is always going to be an iffy proposition, but he remains one of the most reliable weapons Case Keenum has to work with. Britt was headed for a dud against the Carolina Panthers before saving his stat line with a late touchdown grab, just his third of the year. Britt will be a useful fantasy option throughout the bye weeks and has a friendly matchup with the New York Jets this week.

Coming back from an ankle injury, Smith resumes his role as a high-volume, low-yardage player. He had four catches for just 47 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with 30 of those yards coming on one play. Smith doesn’t really get yards after the catch anymore, but he’s one of Joe Flacco’s favorite targets and gets plenty of short targets on third down. Smith will be on the PPR flex map when the Ravens face the Cleveland Browns. He had three catches for 64 yards when the Ravens last played the Browns in Week 2.

With Delanie Walker slowed by injuries, Matthews has emerged as one of Marcus Mariota’s top red zone targets. He has five touchdowns in his last five games and found the end zone once again on Sunday, to go along with six catches for 63 yards. Although the Titans still employ a run-heavy offense, they might have to adjust that strategy with DeMarco Murray and Derrick Henry both banged up. Matthews is a high-upside play against the Green Bay Packers’ middling defense.

Nelson has officially supplanted Michael Floyd on the depth chart over the bye week. He’s earned it after exploding for eight catches, 79 yards, and two touchdowns against the Carolina Panthers in Week 8, while Floyd is struggling with drops and general poor play. Larry Fitzgerald is also working through a high ankle sprain, so Nelson should get ample opportunities to make plays in the offense. He has great fantasy upside against a San Francisco 49ers offense that can’t stop anybody.

Patterson has been something of a whipping boy in the fantasy community the last couple years, but he’s actually getting some real opportunities in the Vikings offense this season. He had six catches for 45 yards against the Detroit Lions, seemingly earning the trust of Sam Bradford. Of course, Patterson would’ve had an even bigger day if he didn’t commit a signature dropped pass in the end zone. His fantasy floor is always going to be unpredictable, but Patterson has an appealing ceiling, especially if your league counts return yards. The Vikings will do battle with an ordinary Washington defense in Week 10.