Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: QB adds as Carson Palmer hurt, others on bye

NFL Week 10 is all but over, and the fantasy football playoffs are on the horizon. with just 2-3 weeks left of the fantasy regular season, it's crucial to make every waiver wire pickup count from here on out.

Remember, the Baltimore Ravens, Dallas Cowboys, Jacksonville Jaguars and New York Jets are all on bye weeks in Week 11. The Carolina Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers are off in Week 13, meaning that only six NFL teams still have a bye you have to worry about if they have one of your fantasy players.

Still, that list of teams include Ben Roethlisberger, Tony Romo and Cam Newton, QB 1s in fantasy football. There is however one major injury at QB this week that could affect your team after Cardinals QB Carson Palmer went down with a serious knee injury.

With all that said, here's a look at the best free agent QBs to pick up on the waiver wire.

Cardinals QB Drew Stanton

If you own Carson Palmer, you'll want to be adding Drew Stanton ASAP. Stanton has already filled in for Palmer when he was battling a nerve issue that cost him three games. Stanton's first start in Week 2 vs. the Giants wasn't much to speak of: A 14 of 29 performance for 167 yards and no scores, but in Week 3 vs. the 49ers, Stanton three for 244 yards and two scores.

The next week at Denver was a disaster, as he went 11 of 26 for 118 yards before missing most of the second half with a concussion. The Broncos defense has made many QBs look bad this year, so don't put too much stock into that. It is worth pointing out that Stanton threw a 48-yard TD in the fourth quarter of Arizona's Week 11 win over the Rams after Palmer was knocked out.

In the end, we don't have enough game action to decide if Stanton is or isn't a guy you can rely on week-to-week in fantasy football, but he's definitely a guy to add if you had Palmer, or if you need someone to start with your normal start on a bye.

Buccaneers QB Josh McCown

Here is where fantasy does not meet reality. McCown is not someone you ever want leading a competitive football team to playoff contention, but in fantasy, he's a quality option. He's coming off a 301-yard, 2-TD performance vs. the Falcons while also chipping in 39 yards on five carries.

With a three-game stretch vs. the Redskins, Bears and Bengals, McCown is another average real-life QB who's going to have an great fantasy game or two over the next month.

Jets QB Michael Vick

It was quite a week for Michael Vick, who became the first quarterback in NFL history to run for 6,000 career yards during a week 10 upset-win over the Steelers, Vick threw touchdown passes to T.J. Graham and Jace Amaro and was 10 of 18 for 132 yards and ran eight times for 39 yards. Head coach Rey Ryan announced that the veteran will start again against Buffalo after the bye week.

It's not ideal, but adding and starting Vick could be one of a few options you'll have in shallow leagues if you're starter is hurt or on a bye.

Browns QB Brian Hoyer

The Browns offense hasn't done much to speak of over the past month, but Brian Hoyer has remained consistent throughout. He threw for 198 yards in a week 10 win over Cincinnati in which he didn't throw for most of the latter parts of the game as Cleveland held a 3-score lead.

Prior to that, Hoyer threw for 575 yards and three scores while completing 65 percent of his passes in the previous two games. If you're in a league where your starter is either hurt or on a bye, Hoyer is a good fill-in for this week.

Rams QB Austin Davis

The Rams season appeared to be lost once Sam Bradford tore his ACL this preseason. But Austin Davis has been a suitable fill in for both S.t Louis and fantasy footballs.

Davis has thrown for 1,358 yards and 12 scores over his past seven games, but a three-game road trip against the 49ers, Chiefs and Cardinals has hurt his stats. However, not only does St. Louis play at home four of the next six games, but Davis will face the Raiders, Redskins, Cardinals and Giants over the course of the fantasy playoffs.

Davis isn't someone on whom you want to rely on a week-to-week basis, but if your regular starter is on his bye or dealing with an injury, he might be a nice fill-in for the time being.

Other names to watch:

Bills QB Kyle Orton

Titans QB Zach Mettenberger

Texans QB Ryan Mallett