NFL

10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 10

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Shaun Draughn

ESPN Ownership: 3%
Yahoo Ownership: 1%

Recommending Shaun Draughn, as you would probably have imagined, comes with a few caveats. First, the running back role unquestionably belongs to Carlos Hyde in San Francisco. But the 49ers are just not going to make the playoffs, with likely evidence of their recognition of that fact provided when they dealt Vernon Davis away to Denver early last week. This realization provides the 49ers with ample reason to be as cautious as possible when allowing Hyde to return to the playing field after suffering a stress fracture in his foot.

The 49ers have a bye in Week 10, so Hyde may very well be ready to go in Week 11. However, should he not be able to go, or should the 49ers want to ease him back in, it appears that Draughn will be the primary beneficiary of his absence. In his stead against the Falcons, Draughn got 16 carries for 58 yards, and even reeled in 4 catches for 38 yards, putting up a fairly productive 13.8 PPR fantasy points against the eighth-ranked Falcons' run defense. He certainly wasn't efficient with his touches, garnering a pitiful -0.20 Rushing NEP per rush, but real football productivity and fantasy football productivity sometimes align and sometimes don't.

In Draughn's case they don't, or at the very least, don't seem to. But if the 49ers want to be extra careful with Hyde given his injured foot and their current woes, Draughn may be a sneaky waiver wire add despite his lack of efficiency. Add him if you have dead weight on your bench and can't get your hands on Starks or Williams.