Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 10

Waiver Wire Targets 

• Shallow Leagues 
• 12-Team Leagues
• Deep Leagues
• Streaming Options
• Drop Candidates
• Grab This Guy

 

 

Shallow Leagues

Jonnu Smith, TE, Atlanta Falcons

Blind-bid recommendation: 5-15%

Smith probably shouldn’t be appearing in this article.

Why? Because he really shouldn’t still be available in more than 65% of leagues on Yahoo and Sleeper right now.

Sure, we know he offered weak production in weeks 7 and 8, while drawing just 4 total targets over that span. But he still entered Sunday as a top-12 PPR TE – and then exited with his biggest fantasy line of the year.

The 60-yard catch-and-run TD against the Vikings obviously made a huge difference. And that’s not the kind of play you can expect to happen again. But Smith sits 10th among TEs in receptions for the season.

He’s done much more good than bad through nine games. So if you dumped him after his last two quiet games … well, don’t do so next time he comes up short.

 

12-Team Leagues

Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Rostered: 4%
Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

We had Mitchell pegged as a stash back in Week 4.

The rookie is a terrific athlete who posted 86th-percentile or better finishes in the vertical, broad jump, 40-yard dash, and 10-yard split at the NFL Combine. It took a while for him to work into the offense following his preseason shoulder injury, but fantasy managers saw him take off on Sunday.

Gus Edwards (toe) didn’t play much in the second half vs. the Seahawks, which helped Mitchell to log 9 carries for 138 yards and a TD. HC John Harbaugh has since said, “Those three backs are gonna be all playing a lot.”

That committee – plus any designed carries that go to QB Lamar Jackson – could limit Mitchell’s viability for fantasy lineups. But the big-play speed makes him worth stashing while we see how Baltimore proceeds.

Jaleel McLaughlin, RB, Denver Broncos

Rostered: 29%
Blind-bid recommendation: 5-10%

RB Javonte Williams’ role grew in the two games before Denver’s Week 9 bye. That will make it tougher for McLaughlin to make sense for your weekly lineup. But it doesn’t mean you should quit on him if you have the roster space.

His mere 29% rostered rate heading into Week 10 tells us that plenty did. If that’s the case in your league, then consider whether stashing the speedy rookie makes sense for your team.

McLaughlin garnered just 7 and 6 opportunities in the two aforementioned weeks. That at least kept him ahead of teammate Samaje Perine (5 and 4, respectively).

Jamaal Williams, RB, New Orleans Saints

Rostered: 29%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Williams ended Week 9 with just 12 total yards on 6 touches. But he recorded a 42% snap rate and 31% route participation.

This is the most involvement Williams has seen in a game since injuring his hamstring vs. the Panthers in Week 2.

Kamara, meanwhile, has seen his playing time decrease for two straight games, following HC Dennis Allen saying that he wanted to balance work more among his RBs.

Allen reportedly downplayed Kamara’s mere 49% share against the Bears on Sunday, but that marked his smallest exposure since November 29, 2020.

That doesn’t make Williams a lineup option. But throw in rookie Kendre Miller’s ankle injury against Chicago, and you have a RB with role growth and contingent upside should Kamara go down at any point.

That makes Williams worth a cheap stash for plenty of fantasy teams.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Rostered: 5%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Otton posted a stellar 6-70-2 receiving line in Week 9 vs. the Texans.

It’s hard to imagine he ever sniffs those 23 PPR points again this season, but the second-year pass-catcher’s role has been growing lately.

Otton ranks 12th among TEs in target share (19.1%) over the past three weeks, averaging 5.0 receptions and 46.7 receiving yards over that span. He has registered a 90+% route participation rate in four of the past five games.

The Buccaneers will face a Titans defense in Week 10 that ranks 22nd in pass-defense DVOA.

Gerald Everett, TE, Los Angeles Chargers

Rostered: 30%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Need a TE replacement for the Week 10 byes?

For the year, Everett has just one game with more than 3 receptions. So he’s more one-week rental than TE solution.

This Sunday brings a matchup with the Lions, who rank 27th in adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position. And Detroit’s currently favored by 2, despite being on the road. So don’t be surprised if the Chargers are trailing.

Everett does rank eighth among TEs in targets inside the 10-yard line. And the Chargers rank second in red zone passing efficiency (69.2%).

Any overall improvement from Everett and/or the offense would be welcome with the 10th-easiest TE schedule remaining.

Luke Musgrave, TE, Green Bay Packers

Rostered: 22%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Musgrave’s 4 targets in Week 9 fell in line with the rest of his season. But his 81% playing time was his most since Week 3. He also led the Packers in receiving yards (51) and scored a TD.

The usage hasn’t been a problem whenever he’s been healthy. And Musgrave’s shortened average target depth vs. the first three weeks should help his chances of connecting with struggling QB Jordan Love.

Mostly, we’re stashing an athletic, highly involved TE in an offense still searching for answers. WR Christian Watson’s latest injuries could enhance the potential opportunity.

Detroit Lions DST

Rostered: 31%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

The Lions’ defense has been awesome in 2023.

It ranks eighth in total DVOA, sixth in pass DVOA, and seventh in points allowed (153). If you’re looking for a DST to stream for the rest of the year, Detroit should cover you for at least most of the next seven weeks.

The remaining schedule ranks ninth-easiest for DSTs in adjusted fantasy points allowed – even better if you remove this week’s matchup with the Chargers. The Lions also get a trio of weak opponents (Bears, Broncos, Vikings) weeks 14-16.

Minnesota Vikings DST

Rostered: 24%
Blind-bid recommendation: 0-5%

The Vikings rank tied for sixth in the NFL in total turnovers (12) and 10th in total DST scoring (72 points) in 2023.

This has been a sneaky-good unit, and the rest of the season holds some enticing matchups.

This week against New Orleans is negative by the numbers, but there’s upside. Beyond that sit strong matchups with the Broncos and Bears.

If you have room to hold Minnesota through the Week 13 bye, then a Week 14 visit to the Raiders looks usable as well.

 

Deep Leagues

Joshua Dobbs, QB, Minnesota Vikings

Rostered: 17%
Blind-bid recommendation: 2-5%

Dobbs led Minnesota to a Week 9 victory despite joining the team last Wednesday. 

Dobbs showed difference-making fantasy potential with 66 yards and a score on the ground, adding 158 yards and two more scores passing.

"I thought what he did was remarkable," HC Kevin O'Connell said via ESPN. "But there's a lot of things that we'll coach him through and get him a little bit more comfortable in what we do."

Ultimately, Dobbs looks like the Vikings’ rest-of-season starter. Justin Jefferson could return as soon as this Sunday, and the team’s schedule looks fine for QBs going forward.

Ty Chandler, RB, Minnesota Vikings

Rostered: 1%
Blind-bid recommendation: 2-4%

We’ll see if the Vikings make a move at RB following Cam Akers’ season-ending injury. For now, Chandler sits behind Alexander Mattison on the depth chart.

He’ll still need to prove he’s anything more than a handcuff. But Chandler makes sense as a speculative add. Alexander Mattison has struggled most of the season and recently looked like he was in jeopardy of losing work to Akers.

The offense on whole looks shakier without QB Kirk Cousins, but the QB downgrade could shift even more importance to the RBs.

Noah Brown and Robert Woods, WR, Houston Texans

Rostered: 2%, 8%
Blind-bid recommendation: 2-4%

Nico Collins and Tank Dell project as Houston’s top two WRs going forward.

Given C.J. Stroud’s form, though, the WR3 could retain some deep-league value. We saw that in Week 9 when Brown enjoyed a career day: 6 catches, 153 yards, and 1 TD.

But will Brown remain in that role? Or will it be Woods, who’s aiming to return soon from a foot injury?

We’ll give the slight edge to Brown for now, simply because he’s the healthy guy coming off a huge game. The former Cowboy actually out-targeted Collins, 7 to 6.

Here’s some more optimism: Houston’s WR schedule turns up three straight positive matchups, followed by a slightly negative one vs. Denver.

Marvin Mims, WR, Denver Broncos

Rostered: 13%
Blind-bid recommendation: 1-3%

It might not happen at any point for Mims this season. But HC Sean Payton has at least come out of the Week 9 bye saying that he wants to get Mims more involved.

The rookie sits tied for just sixth on the team in targets and receptions so far but ranks third in receiving yards, averaging a strong 22.4 yards per catch.

He doesn't need to overtake Courtland Sutton or Jerry Jeudy to become fantasy relevant.

Consider stashing Mims this week if you have an available spot and could use a WR lottery ticket.

Darnell Mooney, WR, Chicago Bears

Rostered: 14%
Blind-bid recommendation: 1-3%

Mooney dropped a season-best 5-catch, 82-yard line Sunday at New Orleans. 

That, of course, came alongside rookie backup Tyson Bagent. He’s expected to step aside this week (or at least next) for the return of Justin Fields (thumb).

We’d try not to use Mooney right away given the injury to Fields’ right thumb. He also draws a Carolina defense that's surrendered much more on the ground than through the air in Week 10. 

Still, the following two weeks (indoor matchups at Detroit and Minnesota) look like potential spots for Mooney's upside to show.

Jalen Tolbert, WR, Dallas Cowboys

Rostered: 0%
Blind-bid recommendation: 0-1%

You might think of Tolbert as Dallas' WR4, far from fantasy relevance. 

But if you’re in a deep league with deep lineup requirements, he’s a name to monitor down the stretch.

Tolbert ran only three fewer routes than Michael Gallup against the Eagles. He out-targeted Gallup by two and Brandin Cooks by three. 

The result? Three catches, 49 yards, and a score.

The South Alabama product was always billed as a raw prospect. Now in Year 2, it’s quite possible his role grows.

Juwan Johnson, TE, New Orleans Saints

Rostered: 10%
Blind-bid recommendation: 1-3%

Week 10 finds us without a couple of weekly starters at TE: Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert.

That doesn’t make Johnson locked-in spot starter, but he’s worth considering in a matchup with a Vikings squad that just allowed 9 catches, 156 yards, and 1 TD to Atlanta TEs.

Johnson’s Week 9 usage also shows strength. He led all Saints pass catchers in snaps (47) while sitting top 3 in routes and targets. Johnson added his first TD since Week 15 of last season.

Michael Mayer, TE, Las Vegas Raiders

Rostered: 12%
Blind-bid recommendation: 0-5%

We’re stashing Mayer because of his overall skill set and the opportunity for full-time snaps over the second half.

That just didn’t happen in the debut of interim HC Antonio Pierce.

The rookie ran a route on only 60% of Vegas' pass plays -- below the 80% threshold we like to see. He earned only 2 targets in a game the Raiders won in a blowout.

More favorable game scripts will arrive in future weeks, like Week 11 vs. Miami or Week 12 vs. Kansas City. But at this moment, Mayer’s more of a stash while we get a read on the new coaching staff.

Streaming Options

Taylor Heinicke, QB, Atlanta Falcons

If you’re in need of a streaming QB for Week 10 … eh, good luck. That we’re even mentioning Heinicke here should tell you that it’s ugly.

That said, Heinicke gets a nice matchup against a Cardinals D that ranks 31st in pass DVOA. They also sit tied with the Bears for sixth most favorable to QB scoring by our adjusted fantasy points allowed.

Arizona’s 2023 exploits include allowing useful fantasy weeks to Deshaun Watson and Geno Smith, as well as letting Daniel Jones finish as the QB1 in Week 2.

Heinicke has a shot to reach the top 12 in Week 10 scoring.

Indianapolis Colts DST

Try to ignore the pair of pick-sixes Colts CB Kenny Moore delivered in the win over Carolina. That’s not the kind of play we can project week to week.

But we can tell you that Indy will visit New England next, the fifth-best scoring matchup for fantasy defenses to date.

The Patriots have scored more than 17 points just twice in nine games and exceeded 20 points only once. That sets the floor high for the opposing fantasy defense.

Indy’s defense ranks among the worst in yards and points allowed for the year. But it also sits 11th in takeaways, including six over just the past three games.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers DST

Titans QB Will Levis has looked impressive through two games. He also:

• took four sacks in Thursday night’s loss to the Steelers
• tied for the sixth-highest turnover-worthy play rate among primary QBs in Week 9
• and piloted Tennessee to a mere 16 points at Pittsburgh

That doesn’t make the Bucs defense a lock to help your fantasy lineup in Week 10. But there’s certainly upside to playing this unit in the rookie QB’s second straight road start (assuming the Titans don’t go back to Ryan Tannehill this week).

 

Drop Candidates

These aren’t necessarily players you need to drop. They’re primarily less-obvious candidates who can be dumped for better options.

Bryce Young, QB, Carolina Panthers

Young delivered encouraging Week 8 signs coming out of the team’s bye. He erased them with a terrible outing in Sunday’s loss to the Colts. 

There simply hasn’t been enough positive to his fantasy production so far to make Young worth waiting on outside of superflex and 2-QB formats.

Justice Hill, RB, Baltimore Ravens

Wait a second. Didn’t this guy just lead the Ravens in carries on Sunday?

Yes. But the final five of Hill’s 13 attempts came on a final drive that found QB Tyler Huntley on the field in a lopsided victory. Before that, rookie RB Keaton Mitchell led Hill 9-8. And Baltimore clearly limited Gus Edwards’ work on purpose, likely to rest the toe issue that kept him out of last Wednesday’s practice.

HC John Harbaugh says all three will remain involved. But Hill’s had his chances. He’s averaging just 7.1 carries for 34.6 yards and 2.1 receptions for 9.6 yards per game since Week 2, the game after J.K. Dobbins went down.

Jeff Wilson Jr., RB, Miami Dolphins

You can keep stashing Wilson if you have the roster space. But he played less than Salvon Ahmed in Sunday’s loss to the Chiefs in Germany. So Wilson certainly isn’t a guy you need to keep – especially through the Week 10 bye. 

De’Von Achane will be eligible to return from IR in Week 11.

New York Giants WRs

This group has been barely worth any fantasy attention even when the QB was someone we have all heard of. 

Tommy DeVito fared better in Week 9 than his first time out, when HC Brian Daboll wouldn’t even let him throw the ball (7 attempts among 50 snaps played). 

But DeVito’s still just an undrafted rookie who averaged just 6.9 yards per pass attempt across his college career and never reached 20 TD passes in a season.

Darren Waller, TE, New York Giants

If you have an IR slot (and no one more important to put there), feel free to keep Waller stashed. Using a regular roster spot on him seems like a mistake at this point, though. 

He’ll minimally miss another three games, with a Week 13 bye following. Are you going to feel comfy starting Waller in his first game back in Week 14? Probably not. 

So now you’re holding him to maybe start a disappointing performer in the fantasy playoffs … if you get there. 

Time to move on.

Tutu Atwell, WR, Los Angeles Rams

Atwell remains rostered in 32% of Yahoo leagues and 31% on Sleeper. That shouldn’t be the case.

Check the per-game averages in four contests without Cooper Kupp:

• 8.8 targets
• 5.5 receptions
• 67.5 yards

And now five games with Kupp back:

• 3.8 targets
• 2.0 receptions
• 20.8 yards

Sure, he has also scored 2 TDs over the latter span. But he hasn’t finished a Kupp game with more than 31 yards. There’s nothing worth clinging to here, unless you play in an especially deep league.

JuJu Smith-Schuster, WR, New England Patriots

Whoa! Seven targets to tie for the team lead vs. Washington clearly shows he’s back to significant involvement, right? Not so fast.

Smith-Schuster ranked just fifth among Patriots WRs and TEs in routes for the game. That included running 12 fewer routes than Jalen Reagor. (Yep, that Jalen Reagor.)

Smith-Schuster did tead the team in receptions and post a decent 51 receiving yards. But if the third wideout on this New England team makes a difference for your fantasy team … then you’re in rough shape.

Jameson Williams, WR, Detroit Lions

If you really want to keep Williams stashed in case something changes after the Week 9 bye, then go for it. But don’t forget what happened during the bye.

Detroit traded for WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, a young downfield threat. You know, the exact role that Williams has filled to date … when he has made it onto the field.

The DPJ trade tells us the Lions feel they needed a 2023 upgrade in that area. There’s room for Williams to become a factor in 2024. But we’re not betting on a meaningful fantasy role this season.

 

Grab This Guy

Rondale Moore, WR, Cardinals

Rostered: 8%
Blind-bid recommendation: 3-5%

Moore ranks as the PPR WR66 through nine games. He has topped 8 PPR points only twice.

It’s a far cry from last year, when the undersized speedster managed the following per-game averages across seven healthy games:

• 8.0 targets
• 5.6 catches
• 59.1 yards
• 0.14 TDs

So why take an optimistic attitude? It’s all about the return of Kyler Murray, who’s on track to start Week 10 vs. Atlanta.

Murray’s rushing skills might not flash immediately, but we expect him to mark a clear upgrade on Josh Dobbs’ passing. Murray’s career Pro Football Focus passing grade of 72.2 places him well ahead of Dobbs (58.9).

Moore’s target volume might also get a boost. Michael Wilson (shoulder) missed a full week of practice last week before sitting out the Cleveland matchup. 

Even when the rookie returns, Moore should slide back into a more predictable short-range role for Murray.