NFL Waiver Wire Week 10: Top Selections and Pickups to Target

Finding a useful player on the waiver wire is becoming considerably harder. The injuries are piling up, we’ve got another four teams on bye, and several backfields could look completely different by the time Week 10 kicks off. If you’re sitting in a playoff position, this is the point where every bench spot starts to matter. If you’re chasing a playoff place, you probably don’t have the luxury of waiting another fortnight for a speculative addition to pay off.

The Bears, Broncos, Eagles and Buccaneers are all off this week, which removes plenty of regular fantasy starters. The NFL trade deadline adds another complication, particularly in Indianapolis, where Jonathan Taylor’s future could decide whether Seth McGowan is a bench stash or one of the most valuable running backs available. There are also opportunities emerging in New England, New Orleans and Green Bay, although not all of those are guaranteed to last.

As always, I’m looking at the players who can actually help your fantasy team rather than blindly chasing last week’s touchdowns. Playing time, routes, targets, rushing opportunities and the situation around each player are far more useful than one decent box score.

This week’s FAAB recommendations are based on a standard $100 budget in competitive 12-team half-PPR leagues. Rostership figures are early-week Yahoo percentages, and all advanced statistical data is credited to FantasyPoints Data through Week 9.

Quarterbacks

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (33% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

Rodgers hasn’t exactly been a model of consistency this season. However, the matchup against Cincinnati is attractive enough to put him back into the streaming conversation. Pittsburgh’s passing game has struggled to build any momentum over its last two outings, although Rodgers did produce 292 passing yards and three touchdowns against this same Bengals defence in Week 3. With Michael Pittman potentially returning from injured reserve and Roman Wilson not far behind, the supporting cast could improve over the coming weeks.

The problem is that Pittsburgh has shown it is perfectly happy to lean on its running game when circumstances allow. Rodgers doesn’t offer the rushing production to rescue a poor passing performance, either. He’s a reasonable Week 10 option for managers missing a quarterback, particularly in deeper formats, but I wouldn’t be dropping a reliable starter to make room.

J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants (9% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 1 to 2%

The Giants have a Thursday night matchup against Washington, which puts McCarthy on the radar for managers struggling to find a second quarterback. His Week 9 performance against Philadelphia wasn’t particularly encouraging, with just 127 passing yards on 19 attempts, but this week’s opposition offers a considerably better opportunity to produce something useful.

There are still obvious concerns about his consistency, and the hip injury he picked up against the Eagles needs monitoring before Thursday. McCarthy is a Superflex or two-quarterback league addition rather than somebody I’d feel comfortable starting in a normal 12-team competition. The appeal is primarily his upcoming schedule and the possibility that he continues to develop with more starts.

Running backs

Corey Kiner, New England Patriots (4% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 12 to 18%

The Patriots’ running back situation has become a mess, and Kiner could be the biggest beneficiary. Rhamondre Stevenson suffered a knee injury against Green Bay and is expected to miss time, while TreVeyon Henderson remains unavailable. That leaves Kiner and Lan Larison competing for work in a backfield that suddenly has very little established experience available.

Kiner carried eight times for 55 yards and a touchdown in Week 9, taking his season totals to 50 carries for 244 yards. That’s 4.9 yards per attempt, although his receiving profile is far less encouraging. He’s been targeted just twice all season, and Larison is likely to handle a reasonable share of the passing-down work. Kiner isn’t automatically walking into Stevenson’s complete role, but a running back with a realistic path to 15 or more carries deserves attention this late in the year.

New England faces Detroit before its Week 11 bye, so the immediate matchup isn’t ideal. However, the possibility of Stevenson missing additional games makes Kiner more interesting than a simple one-week replacement. He’s one of my priority additions, especially for managers who need someone they can use immediately.

Audric Estimé, New Orleans Saints (24% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 6 to 10%

New Orleans made a significant change to its backfield before Week 9, and Estimé wasted little time making an impression. He finished with 15 carries for 72 yards and a touchdown against Cleveland, comfortably outworking Alvin Kamara on the ground. FantasyPoints Data recorded Estimé with a 47% share of the Saints’ rushing attempts, while Kamara continued to handle more of the receiving responsibilities.

That distinction matters. Estimé isn’t suddenly an every-down fantasy running back, and his lack of passing-game involvement limits his weekly floor. He ran 13 routes compared with Kamara’s 26, which makes him much more dependent on rushing volume and opportunities near the goal line.

The Saints face Carolina in Week 10, giving Estimé another attractive opportunity if Travis Etienne isn’t ready to return. Etienne’s availability is the obvious concern, and it would be foolish to spend heavily without checking his progress. For managers needing a temporary flex, though, Estimé offers a clearer immediate role than most of the speculative running backs still available.

Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts (32% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 3 to 5% Before a Trade, 15 to 25% if Taylor Leaves

McGowan is the most important name to monitor around the trade deadline. Indianapolis has been linked with a possible Jonathan Taylor departure, and any move involving its established starter would create a substantial opportunity for the rookie. McGowan has already shown enough to suggest he could handle a larger workload, rushing 43 times for 208 yards through Week 9 and scoring against Dallas.

The difficulty is separating what might happen from what has actually happened. Taylor remains the player controlling this backfield unless a deal is completed, and McGowan has only six targets all season. Even if Taylor leaves, the Colts’ offensive situation is hardly guaranteed to improve, particularly with other important players also mentioned in trade discussions.

I’d be adding McGowan before the deadline in leagues where I have room to gamble. If Taylor is traded and McGowan becomes the clear starter, his value changes dramatically and he immediately becomes one of the leading waiver claims. If Taylor stays, this is a relatively expensive handcuff with limited standalone value. Don’t spend lead-back money on a rumour.

Kaleb Johnson, Green Bay Packers (1% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 4 to 7%

Josh Jacobs’ fractured finger created an opportunity for Johnson, who responded with 14 carries for 68 yards and a touchdown against New England. Jacobs’ injury and reported surgery could keep him sidelined, although Green Bay’s Week 11 bye complicates how long his replacement might actually be useful.

Johnson is an appealing short-term pickup, but the Packers’ backfield isn’t guaranteed to belong to him. Pierre Strong was involved in Week 9, and MarShawn Lloyd’s availability will also influence the rotation. Johnson has only two targets across his six appearances this season, which makes him another running back who needs carries rather than receptions to produce.

For Week 10, he’s worth adding if the injury news points towards Jacobs missing Minnesota. I wouldn’t put him ahead of Kiner or Estimé without confirmation that his opportunity is going to last longer.

Emmett Johnson, Kansas City Chiefs (31% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

Not every useful waiver addition needs to go straight into your starting lineup. Johnson has established himself as an interesting alternative behind Kenneth Walker, and there’s more to his profile than the occasional touchdown. Across eight appearances, he’s caught 14 of 16 targets, showing a degree of receiving involvement that could become valuable if his responsibilities increase.

Walker remains Kansas City’s lead back, so Johnson isn’t somebody you should be starting without a change in circumstances. He’s a stash for managers who can afford to use a bench spot on a player with a realistic route to substantial playing time if an injury occurs.

Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (39% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

Black continues to be one of the more interesting running back handcuffs available. He’s carried 68 times for 303 yards this season, averaging just under 4.5 yards per attempt, and San Francisco has shown a willingness to give him some rushing opportunities even with Christian McCaffrey available.

The attraction is obvious. If McCaffrey misses time, Black could inherit a valuable role in an offence that has consistently created opportunities for its running backs. His lack of receiving involvement means he isn’t going to reproduce everything McCaffrey provides, but that doesn’t stop him being a potentially useful fantasy starter. He’s a bench addition rather than a player to force into Week 10 lineups.

Wide Receivers

DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (46% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 9 to 14%

Douglas is my favourite wide receiver addition this week because there’s more evidence behind his production than one fortunate touchdown. He caught five passes for 102 yards on nine targets against Green Bay, continuing a run in which he’s recorded at least 65 receiving yards and 16.6 PPR fantasy points in four of his last five games.

The Patriots have been dealing with injuries to A.J. Brown and Romeo Doubs, and Douglas has taken advantage of the additional opportunities. He’s now recorded 44 targets across 226 routes this season, averaging 1.92 yards per route run according to FantasyPoints Data. His role in the slot should also provide some stability when New England gets its other receivers back.

The obvious question is whether the recent production continues once the passing attack gets healthier. There will probably be weeks when his target share falls, but the combination of established playing time and recent production makes Douglas a considerably safer addition than many receivers coming off isolated big games. He’s a legitimate flex candidate rather than just another bench stash.

Tank Dell, Houston Texans (13% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 9 to 14%

If you were waiting for evidence that Dell could still make an impact after his serious knee injury, Week 9 provided it. He caught four passes for 105 yards and a touchdown against the Chargers, but the nine targets are the more interesting number. Dell was targeted regularly despite playing in a Houston receiving corps with several players competing for opportunities.

Across his two appearances this season, Dell has been targeted 10 times on just 26 routes. That has produced 5.69 yards per route run, which is an extraordinary figure and one that obviously won’t continue over a meaningful sample. The positive is that Dell is earning opportunities when he’s on the field and has already demonstrated he can turn those chances into explosive plays.

The concern is playing time. Nico Collins remains central to the passing attack, and Houston continues rotating Xavier Hutchinson, Kayshon Boutte and Marvin Harrison Jr. Dell isn’t running enough routes to be treated as a guaranteed weekly starter yet. He’s still worth an aggressive claim because his ceiling is higher than most of the receivers available at this stage of the season.

Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (28% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 7 to 11%

Miami’s passing offence hasn’t given fantasy managers much reason for optimism, but Douglas is beginning to separate himself from the other receiving options. He caught six passes for 70 yards on eight targets against Detroit, continuing an encouraging run of involvement since returning from injury.

FantasyPoints Data has Douglas averaging 2.45 yards per route run with a 19.4% target share across his appearances this season. Those are useful figures for a rookie, particularly in an offence that ranks last in pass rate over expected. Miami simply isn’t throwing often enough for every receiver to thrive, so anybody capable of consistently earning targets becomes more interesting.

Douglas offers a more stable route to weekly opportunities than some of the touchdown-dependent receivers on the waiver wire. There will be frustrating games because of the offensive environment, but I would rather invest in a player establishing himself within his team’s passing game than chase somebody relying on one long reception every week.

Jordan Watkins, San Francisco 49ers (1% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 4 to 7%

San Francisco’s injury problems at wide receiver have given Watkins an opportunity, and he’s starting to make the most of it. He caught all four of his targets for 86 yards and a touchdown against Las Vegas, while his route participation climbed to 87% in Week 9. That level of involvement is much more interesting than the touchdown by itself.

With Deebo Samuel and Mike Evans dealing with injuries, Watkins could continue playing a prominent role, particularly with Dallas next on the schedule. The Cowboys present a favourable matchup for opposing receivers, and Brock Purdy gives Watkins a better chance of converting his opportunities than many other receivers competing for waiver claims.

This is still a situation-dependent addition. If the injured receivers return, Watkins’ role becomes considerably less secure. For managers trying to cover a Week 10 bye or injury, however, he’s worth targeting while the opportunity remains available.

Jakobi Meyers, Jacksonville Jaguars (45% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 4 to 6%

Meyers has been frustrating for fantasy managers this season, but there were some encouraging signs against Baltimore. He caught four passes for 65 yards on six targets, accounting for a 23% share of Jacksonville’s passing opportunities in a game where Trevor Lawrence didn’t need to throw particularly often.

The problem is that the Jaguars aren’t consistently providing enough passing volume to support every receiving option. Meyers can be a useful possession receiver and still finish with a disappointing fantasy total when Lawrence attempts fewer than 30 passes. There is also considerable competition for targets.

He’s worth rostering as a depth receiver, especially if the Jaguars’ receiving group changes at the deadline. I wouldn’t spend as much on Meyers as Douglas or Dell, but he’s a reasonable alternative for managers who need somebody with an established role.

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys (44% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

Flournoy had almost everything working in his favour against Indianapolis. George Pickens was unavailable, Dallas needed somebody to operate alongside CeeDee Lamb, and Flournoy ran a route on more than 97% of the team’s dropbacks. Unfortunately, that translated into only three targets and two receptions for 53 yards.

It’s an important reminder that being on the field doesn’t automatically make somebody a fantasy priority. Lamb dominated the receiving opportunities, while Flournoy was left trying to make the most of limited involvement. He has shown enough this season to warrant a roster spot, but his weekly ceiling remains heavily dependent on the availability of Lamb and Pickens.

Flournoy is somebody I’d add as insurance rather than a receiver I’m actively trying to start in Week 10. The playing time is encouraging, although the target distribution still needs to improve.

Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders (26% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 3 to 6%

Williams has taken on additional responsibility following Terry McLaurin’s injury, and his usage suggests Washington wants him involved. He’s recorded target shares of 26% and 18% over his last two games, even if the fantasy returns haven’t matched the opportunities. Through Week 9, FantasyPoints Data Suite credits him with 37 targets and 284 receiving yards.

There is a genuine opportunity for Williams to become more valuable over the second half of the season. Washington needs somebody to establish himself in the receiving group, and the rookie has been given enough playing time to make that possible. He’s not yet somebody I would trust as an automatic starter, but he’s worth adding before the better performances arrive rather than paying more once everybody notices.

Konata Mumpfield, Los Angeles Rams (1% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

The injuries to Puka Nacua and Davante Adams have left the Rams searching for receiving production, and Mumpfield could be one of the players given additional opportunities. He has already shown he can produce when the team’s established receivers are missing, including a productive Week 3 performance against Denver.

I’m less convinced about the immediate fantasy reliability. Los Angeles could lean more heavily on its tight ends and running backs, while Matthew Stafford’s passing attack has been inconsistent. Mumpfield is worth a speculative claim in deeper leagues, but I would be careful about assuming that every vacated target automatically finds its way to him.

Tight Ends

Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders (22% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 4 to 7%

Okonkwo has quietly become a useful part of Washington’s passing game, particularly with Terry McLaurin unavailable. He caught six passes for 57 yards on seven targets against the Rams and has now produced double-digit PPR fantasy points in three of his last four games.

His route participation has improved, and he’s competing for targets in an offence that no longer has an established dominant wide receiver. That makes Okonkwo an attractive option for managers streaming tight ends, particularly with the Giants and Bengals coming up. He doesn’t need a touchdown every week to offer something useful, which is more than can be said for plenty of players at the position.

Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (7% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 4%

Waller reminded fantasy managers of his upside with eight receptions for 90 yards on 10 targets against Denver. It was comfortably his most productive outing of the season, and the receiving involvement was encouraging given Carolina’s limited options elsewhere.

The problem is trusting it to happen again. Waller played only around 53% of the snaps, and the Panthers continue using multiple tight ends. He’s an interesting option for managers looking for a high-upside performance rather than a dependable weekly floor. If you’re desperate at the position, there are certainly worse gambles.

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (32% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 1 to 3%

Freiermuth remains a frustrating fantasy option because his weekly target volume can disappear, but Pittsburgh is finding ways to involve him near the end zone. He’s scored four receiving touchdowns and added a rushing touchdown this season, although the latter isn’t something we should expect every week.

The matchup against Cincinnati gives him some streaming appeal, particularly if you’re covering an injury or bye. I prefer Okonkwo for a more reliable receiving role and Waller for a possible ceiling performance, but Freiermuth is an acceptable option if those players have already been claimed.

Kickers

Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers

Suggested FAAB: 1%

Boswell is a reasonable streaming option with Pittsburgh facing Cincinnati. The matchup gives the Steelers opportunities to move the ball, and a quarterback who hasn’t consistently converted drives into touchdowns can still create useful field-goal chances.

I wouldn’t spend meaningful FAAB on any kicker at this stage of the season. If Boswell is available and you need somebody for Week 10, he’s worth considering without sacrificing a more valuable bench player.

Defence/Special Teams

Baltimore Ravens (38% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 2 to 3%

Baltimore is my preferred defensive streamer this week, largely because of the matchup rather than anything the Ravens have produced recently. The Chargers surrendered eight sacks against Houston in Week 9, while Justin Herbert is dealing with a finger injury and an offensive line that has struggled badly throughout the season.

Even an inconsistent defence can produce a strong fantasy score when facing an offence allowing regular pressure and turnovers. Baltimore doesn’t need to become an elite defensive unit overnight. It needs to take advantage of a Chargers team that has made life far too easy for opposing fantasy defences.

Green Bay Packers (26% Rostered)

Suggested FAAB: 1 to 2%

Green Bay has become a useful defensive option after a slow start, and the Week 10 matchup against Minnesota gives it another opportunity. The Vikings’ quarterback situation remains uncertain, which makes this an attractive fixture for managers looking to attack a struggling passing attack.

The Packers have produced a respectable run of defensive fantasy scores over the last several weeks, so this isn’t entirely dependent on Minnesota making mistakes. I’d still prefer Baltimore for this particular week, but Green Bay is a perfectly reasonable alternative.

Notable Stashes

Dylan Sampson continues to offer some receiving involvement in Cleveland, while Chris Rodriguez Jr. remains worth considering as a contingency option behind Bhayshul Tuten in Jacksonville. Neither is somebody I would automatically start, but both have routes to additional fantasy value if their circumstances change.

Terrance Ferguson is another player worth monitoring in Los Angeles. His hamstring problem makes him difficult to trust immediately, although the Rams’ injuries at wide receiver could create a substantial role once he’s healthy. Tyler Higbee is the more immediate alternative for managers desperate for tight end help.

I would also be careful about chasing Kayshon Boutte’s Week 9 performance. His production against the Chargers was excellent, but he ran only 14 routes in Houston’s heavily rotated receiving corps. That isn’t a strong foundation for expecting consistent weekly fantasy returns.

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There are a few different ways to approach this week’s waivers. Douglas offers the most convincing combination of recent production and an established receiving role, while Kiner could provide immediate rushing volume if New England’s injuries continue to keep its regular starters sidelined. Dell is the upside play, although his target earning has been far more impressive than his actual playing time so far.

At this point of the fantasy season, I want every bench player to have a purpose. That might be covering an injury this week, protecting an important starter or giving you somebody capable of becoming much more valuable before the playoffs arrive. What I don’t want is a bench full of players who need three separate things to happen just to get five targets.