Each week of the NFL season, we will identify fantasy football waiver-wire pickups specifically for those of you looking for streaming options in deeper formats (including IDP leagues). These are players available in a majority of ESPN fantasy leagues (or close) who have enticing matchups in the week ahead that make them worthy of consideration for your lineups.
While you might notice some overlap with Field Yates’ pickup column that publishes on Mondays, an important distinction is the options mentioned in this column are focused solely on this week’s matchup and not the players’ values for the remainder of the season.
Quarterback
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons at Cowboys (43.7% rostered)
There are few fantasy managers who get excited about Ryan. In the past seven games, he has averaged 19.7 fantasy points per game. With other offensive playmakers such as Kyle Pitts, Cordarrelle Patterson and Russell Gage, he can continue to succeed without Calvin Ridley. The Dallas Cowboys are allowing the seventh-most PPG to QBs this season, so Ryan is likely to exceed that average on Sunday, especially after watching Teddy Bridgewater’s performance against them last week in the same stadium.
Trevor Lawrence, QB, Jacksonville Jaguars at Colts (28.2%)
Fantasy managers haven’t been pleased with Lawrence’s past two games. He has thrown for just 356 yards, a touchdown, an interception and 17.74 fantasy points. It is worth noting that Week 9 was only the second time this season he has attempted fewer than 33 passes. While he did suffer a low ankle sprain…