Week 10 fantasy pickups: Damien Williams plows way into our waiver plans

Each week throughout the NFL season, we identify six players to target on waiver wires, plus a lightly owned D/ST. All are available in a majority of Yahoo leagues and approved for immediate use. Add as needed.

Damien Williams, RB, Miami Dolphins, 33% owned

In Miami’s first game following the Jay Ajayi-to-Philly trade, Williams and Kenyan Drake shared the backfield snaps and touches. Drake out-gained Williams, 104 scrimmage yards to 61, but Damien hauled in six passes on as many targets, plus he delivered one of the week’s more impressive touchdowns…

Williams saw plenty of action in goal-to-go situations for the Dolphins last year, so Sunday night’s scoring chance was hardly a surprise. Don’t be surprised if he leads this team in touchdowns over the season’s second half. Williams played 30 snaps to Drake’s 37 against Oakland, and it’s worth noting he had a long gain erased by a Jarvis Landry holding penalty. At the moment, Drake is owned in a majority of Yahoo fantasy leagues while Williams is widely available. Both players should be rostered in competitive formats.

Schedule, next three weeks: at Car, TB, at NE

FAAB bid: $14 of $100 budget

Danny Woodhead, RB, Baltimore Ravens, 27%

This will serve as your final reminder that Woodhead is expected to return for Baltimore when first eligible in Week 11, following the team’s bye. He’s been sidelined by a hamstring issue since the opening drive of opening week, but you might recall he caught three balls for 33 yards before suffering the injury. When healthy, he remains a bankable PPR asset. Woodhead has missed 35 games over the past four seasons, however, so the injury risk attached to him is not trivial. Buck Allen has been a serviceable-if-not-spectacular placeholder for Woodhead this season, but his role is about to be substantially reduced. Add Woodhead throughout your PPR portfolio.

Schedule, next three weeks: bye, at GB, Hou

FAAB bid: $8

Robert Woods, WR, Los Angeles Rams, 33%

This may seem like a case in which we’re chasing last week’s touchdowns — never a good approach with receivers — but there’s plenty more to like with Woods. He’s drawn 40 targets over his last six games, averaging 65 receiving yards per week. Even if we ignore the two-TD performance against a not-at-all-competitive Giants defense in Week 9, we have to appreciate Woods’ consistent workload and PPR production. Somewhat quietly, he now leads a balanced Rams offense in targets (49), catches (31) and receiving yards (451). It makes little sense at this stage that Woods is unattached in so many leagues while Sammy Watkins (82 percent owned) and Cooper Kupp (55 percent) are long gone. Next week, L.A. faces a Houston defense that allows the fifth most fantasy points to opposing receivers.

Schedule, next three weeks: Hou, at Min, NO

FAAB bid: $7

Josh McCown, QB, New York Jets, 34%

Another messy bye-week is on deck, with Carson Wentz, Alex Smith and Derek Carr all unavailable to fantasy owners. At times like this, McCowns have a certain appeal. Josh is currently the ninth highest-scoring fantasy QB on the season, thanks to his 16 TDs (13 pass, 3 rush). He’s put together a streak of five straight multi-touchdown games, and we can expect sixth this week when the Jets travel to Raymond James Stadium. Tampa Bay has given up the sixth most fantasy points to opposing QBs thus far, allowing big performances by the likes of Case Keenum (369-3-0), Eli Manning (288-2-0) and Carson Palmer (283-3-10). McCown has a reasonable shot at a top-eight positional finish in Week 10.

Schedule, next three weeks: at TB, bye, Car

FAAB bid: $9

Devontae Booker, RB, Denver Broncos, 4%

Booker has worked his way into the backfield rotation for Denver, gaining 84 total yards on 17 touches in the past two weeks, forcing a three-man-committee. He actually played one more snap than starter C.J. Anderson on Sunday, and six more than Jamaal Charles. Don’t sleep on Booker simply because he may have disappointed you last year. His debut was delayed by a fractured wrist this season, but he’s passed the eye test over his first five games, averaging 4.6 YPC and 10.3 yards per catch. Anderson is coming off a notably poor game (9 carries, 13 yards), which doesn’t hurt Booker’s cause. We’ve reached the point at which Booker needs to be snagged in deeper formats,. He’ll face a user-friendly Patriots defense in Week 10.

Schedule, next three weeks: NE, Cin, at Oak

FAAB bid: $4

Thomas Rawls, RB, Seattle Seahawks, 12%

Seattle’s stated plan ahead of Week 9 was to lean on Eddie Lacy, but, as often happens in the NFL, injuries led to a rewrite of the game script. Lacy suffered a strained groin after carrying the ball six times for 20 yards. Rawls relieved him, rushing for 39 yards on nine totes. Lacy and Rawls are both still averaging less than 3.0 YPC on the season, and neither has demonstrated the ability to overcome a sub-standard run-blocking line. (Chris Carson still ranks well ahead of both in rushing, despite not having played a snap since October 1.) But if Lacy isn’t ready to go on Thursday night, which seems like a strong possibility, then Rawls should see 15-plus carries. A workload like that makes him a viable flex in any format.

Schedule, next three weeks: at Ari, Atl, at SF

FAAB bid: $6

Chicago Bears, D/ST, 5%

Chicago’s defense is coming off a bye, and currently ranks eighth in the NFL in yards-allowed (312.0 YPG) and ninth in sacks (23). This group has allowed just eight TD passes and only 6.9 yards per attempt. The Bears offense isn’t a clinic at all times, but the D has been a bright spot. Akiem Hicks has been a relentless destroyer of worlds.

On Sunday afternoon, Chicago will host a Brett Hundley-led offense coming off a short week. It’s an excellent spot to use an underrated D. Hundley enters Week 9 with a career completion percentage of 47.8, averaging just 3.8 Y/A. It’s tough to imagine him escaping Soldier Field without multiple giveaways.

Schedule, next three weeks: GB, Det, at Phi

FAAB bid: $1

Additional adds to consider: RB Matt Forte, RB Corey Clement, RB Rex Burkhead, QB Paxton Lynch, WR Dede Westbrook, WR Marqise Lee, WR Tyler Lockett, TE George Kittle, TE Charles Clay, TE Tyler Kroft

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