• Alec Pierce reaches 115 receiving yards: The Indianapolis Colts’ deep-threat wide receiver has been among the top waiver-wire options at wide receiver for more than a month, and his numbers keep improving.

• Keep an eye on the trade deadline: The NFL’s trade deadline is Tuesday. This article will be updated if a trade impacts who you should be adding off the waiver wire.

• Unlock your edge with PFF+: Access Premium Stats, dominate fantasy with in-season tools and projections and make smarter bets with the new PFF Player Prop Tool. Get 25% off your PFF+ annual subscription with code PFFFANTASYPODCAST25.

Another week of the 2025 NFL season is just about in the books. Here are the players you should be targeting in your fantasy football leagues, including options for smaller leagues and deeper leagues, as well as players to avoid.

Jump to a position group:

QB | RB | WR | TE

QUARTERBACKS

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals (Rostered in 32.8% of leagues on ESPN)

• League Size: 10
• Time Frame: Short Term, Long Term

Flacco completed 31 of 47 passes for 470 yards, four touchdowns and two interceptions in the Bengals’ shoot-out loss in Week 9. He has averaged 25.5 fantasy points per game since becoming the team’s starter in Week 6. Flacco is still available in leagues because there was some concern about him not playing in Week 9 due to injury and because the Bengals have a bye next week.

In Week 11, they face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. The Steelers caused the Indianapolis Colts a lot of problems this week, but Daniel Jones still racked up 342 passing yards. Three of their following five games are against opponents in the top quarter of the league in allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks. There are two rough matchups in there, and there is a chance Joe Burrow is back by the fantasy championship round. However, Flacco should be viable for your fantasy starting lineup for four of the last eight weeks of the fantasy football season.

• League Size: 10, 12, 14
• Time Frame: Week 10, Long Term

McCarthy made his third NFL start, playing well at the beginning of the game and doing enough to get the Vikings the victory over the Lions. He completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards, two touchdowns and an interception. He also ran nine times for 12 yards and a touchdown. He accomplished that despite facing a Lions defense with the second-highest PFF grade in the NFL.

Each of the Vikings‘ next eight opponents is in the top 17 at allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks. Their three opponents in Weeks 14-16 are all in the top four at allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks. Ideally, McCarthy will build on his momentum from this game.

He also has the best matchup among waiver-wire quarterbacks next week, facing the Baltimore Ravens. While the Ravens’ offense has started to play better, McCarthy is still the best desperation play of the week. However, he is listed here primarily with the hope that he can be a league-winner during the fantasy playoffs, more so than for his Week 10 potential.