Zero Dollar Bidding: Waiver Wire Look Ahead Week 10
by Alan Seslowsky

Each week this column will provide you with sneaky zero dollar pickups you can add to your roster today, that may be of great value down the road. The idea is to identify players that have a plausible path to be the high-priced free agent heading toward the fantasy playoffs. The bottom of your fantasy roster should always be used to cycle through high upside pickups that can easily be cut to speculate on another player.

Each year when we head into week 10, your team falls into one of four categories:

1. Fighting to get a bye (first or second place)
2. Playoff-bound
3. Every point & win counts, fringe playoff team
4. Two wins or less; your season is mostly over

The first three should start switching their waiver wire strategy. Instead of holding backup QB and TEs you should populate your bench with backup RBs. Even WRs with upside are expendable this time of year. Unless a WR is going to hit your starting lineup, they can be on the chopping block if need be. Zero bidding week 10 is all about identifying what RBs are one injury away from a top 15 ranking in the next couple of weeks.

 

DeAndre Washington (RB Miami Dolphins 2% rostered)

The 2020 NFL trade deadline was absent of splashy trades. Sharp fantasy football players took notice of RB DeAndre Washington moving from Kansas City’s depth chart over to Miami’s RB room. The two teams exchanged a sixth and seventh-round pick as compensation. Let’s not forget that DeAndre Washington was one of those end of the roster RBs that helped people win fantasy championships in 2019. Over the last month of 2019, Washington averaged over 16 PPR points. He walks into Miami at an interesting time. Myles Gaskin, who has been the most productive RB in Miami year to date is injured. Matt Breida has not been able to stay healthy enough to make starts, and Jordan Howard is nothing more than a single-digit touch, TD dependent desperation play. There is a plausible path for Washington to get playing time this week and show he is a more dynamic player than Gaskin was this year. Add to it that rookie QB, Tua Tagovailoa, already flashed big-time upside, and we could once again be looking at Washington as a player that helps us win it all in 2020. He makes for the ideal zero dollar bid player. Add him now. 

 

The Tennessee Backups D’Onta Foreman (0% rostered) & Jeremy McNichols (1% rostered) 

Derrick Henry has been indestructible. He hasn’t missed a game in over four years. It is reasonable to ask yourself if that means the streak will continue or is his injury luck about to run out? Either way, it is a sharp fantasy football move to add one of these RBs to your roster, in the event tragedy strikes. The same way you buy car insurance. You hope you never have to use it, but if an accident happens at least you are mostly covered. 

Foreman logged five carries for the second consecutive week, this time receiving more work than Jeremy McNichols. It’s not entirely clear that Foreman has surpassed McNichols, however, as McNichols was on the field for 29 percent of offensive snaps in contrast to Foreman’s 15 percent rate. Also worth considering is that Darrynton Evans is eligible to be activated from the injured reserve as early as the team’s Week 10 matchup against the Colts and could end up as the team’s preferred backup. 

 

High Upside ‘Cuffs (more than 30% rostered)

Boston Scott (RB Eagles, 38% rostered) In The last month of 2019, Scott finished as the RB7. Miles Sanders is close to returning, but should Sanders have an injury down the stretch, Scott has a good chance to help you hold the line in your fantasy playoffs. 

Alexander Mattison (RB, Vikings, 30% rostered) The big Mattison reveal was supposed to be in week 6 when starter Dalvin Cook was out. Mattison busted with a four-point fantasy day, but it could be explained away from a game script perspective. There is a chance he was dropped in your league based on his roster percentage. If he is available, go get him.