Waiver Wire Pickups: Week 10 (Fantasy Football)

Can you believe that we have already reached the tenth week of the season? That is as many weeks as you have fingers (well, hopefully). Now, you might be wondering, what makes Week 10 stand out from the rest? To put it simply, this upcoming week carries the most consequential and significant weight of the season when it comes to bye weeks. The Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles are all taking a break from action to recharge this week. This means that fantasy football teams worldwide will be missing the star power of players like Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle, Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and many more. If you are fortunate enough not to be affected by these absences, great! But if you find yourself in a bit of a bind, fear not. The waiver wire is here to save the day, and now is the time to make the most of this invaluable resource. So, without further ado, allow me to introduce you to some ideal bye-week replacements and top pickups for Week 10.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings
• Weekly Waivers Episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast

Running Backs

Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens – Keaton Mitchell had generated considerable buzz during the offseason, particularly within dynasty circles. Despite battling injuries for the majority of the season, the undrafted rookie from East Carolina has always possessed the potential to provide intriguing fantasy value, mainly because of his exceptional speed. In a commanding Week 9 victory against the Seattle Seahawks, Mitchell capitalized on his limited opportunities, delivering a performance reminiscent of De’Von Achane’s success this season. The speedy rookie turned nine carries into 138 yards, including a particularly explosive 40-yard touchdown run. On the other side of the backfield, Gus Edwards has continued to impress, accumulating 196 rushing yards on 38 carries and scoring five touchdowns over the last three weeks. However, in this last game, he had only five carries. Justice Hill received the most rushing opportunities with 13 but was the least impressive among the trio. The hope is that Mitchell left a lasting impression on his coaching staff in Week 9, potentially earning a consistent role in the offense moving forward. He aims to fill the role of the lightning to Edwards’ thunder, a position currently held by Hill. Mitchell possesses electrifying speed, similar to Achane, and has the potential for explosiveness on any given week. In a year that running backs are in high demand but low supply, Mitchell appears to be a speculative yet high-priority addition this week. Recommended FAAB: 0-10%.

Zach Charbonnet, RB, Seattle Seahawks – For the second consecutive week, rookie running back Zach Charbonnet has taken the lead in the Seattle Seahawks’ backfield opportunities. Despite being second on the depth chart behind Kenneth Walker, Charbonnet has shown flashes of his potential in limited chances. In a Week 8 win against the Cleveland Browns, he made the most of his increased playing time, rushing for 53 yards on five carries and catching both of his targets for an additional 11 yards. In Week 9, his production was less remarkable, but the fact that he continued to receive more playing time is significant. He managed only 16 rushing yards on nine carries and caught a pass for a one-yard gain. With that said, the entire Seattle offense struggled mightily in this game. It remains to be seen whether Walker will reclaim his starting role once he is fully healthy. However, Charbonnet might continue to earn more opportunities moving forward, making him a player worth adding to rosters in all leagues. Recommended FAAB: 10-20%.

Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Commanders – Many hopeful drafters had their eyes set on Antonio Gibson as a draft day steal with post-hype potential heading into the season. To the disappointment of them all, Gibson has struggled and fallen short of fantasy managers’ expectations under the Eric Bieniemy regime. Although Brian Robinson Jr. has been the primary force in the backfield for most of the season, Gibson has recently displayed signs of resurgence that are worth monitoring. In a Week 9 victory over the New England Patriots, Gibson turned six carries into a respectable 34 yards. More significantly, he also hauled in all five of his targets, adding 42 receiving yards to his performance. Notably, he has now seen five targets in consecutive games and has caught them all. In fantasy football, we covet running backs who see above-average opportunities in the passing game. If Gibson can continue to expand his role and capitalize on increased opportunities going forward, he could evolve into a viable starter at a position that has been notoriously challenging to fill in your starting lineup. For now, he merits consideration as a speculative addition in deeper leagues and can serve as a valuable bye-week replacement. Recommended FAAB: 0-10%.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Wide Receivers

Tank Dell, WR, Houston Texans – Rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud has just shattered Andrew Luck’s record for the most passing yards in a single game, earning every bit of praise for his remarkable performance. However, for us fantasy football players, it is imperative to shift the spotlight toward his favorite target, Tank Dell. We have been advocating for Dell’s acquisition from the waiver wire since the conclusion of Week 2, featuring him in several articles along the way, so hopefully, he’s already gracing your rosters. In Week 9, the elusive rookie could do no wrong. Aside from securing the game-winning touchdown in dramatic fashion, Dell reeled in six of 11 targets for 114 yards and two touchdowns. Notably, this marks the second time in his young career that he has exceeded 100 receiving yards in a game. If he happens to be available in your leagues, he is undoubtedly the top pickup of the week and can be immediately inserted into your starting lineup for the highly anticipated upcoming matchup against the Cincinnati Bengals. In deeper leagues, his teammate Noah Brown also warrants consideration. He now boasts consecutive games with five or more targets and registered the highest receiving yardage in this game with 153. Recommended FAAB: 0-25%.

Jahan Dotson, WR, Washington Commanders – Despite a slow start to the year, Jahan Dotson has been demonstrating that his talent can overcome the early obstacles he has faced this season. In the third consecutive week, Dotson has received eight or more targets and found the end zone in back-to-back games. In the recent victory over the New England Patriots, the sophomore wide receiver hauled in four of his eight targets, accumulating 69 yards (nice) and a touchdown. Notably, he was the most targeted player on the team in this game, establishing himself as a reasonably reliable option moving forward. After posting just 183 receiving yards and one touchdown through the first seven games of the season, Dotson has surged with 177 yards and two touchdowns in his last two outings. The upcoming Week 10 matchup against the Seattle Seahawks will be the next test to see if he can maintain this impressive streak to finish the season. Recommended FAAB: 0-15%.

Demario Douglas, WR, New England Patriots – In last week’s edition of this article, we highlighted several reasons to consider adding Demario Douglas to your fantasy rosters. In Week 10, Douglas demonstrated why he can be a viable WR1 option for the New England Patriots. He secured five of his seven targets for 55 yards, leading the team in receiving yards for the day. This marks his third consecutive game with six or more targets. Due to his increased importance and involvement in the offense, Douglas holds particular appeal in PPR leagues. However, his dynamic speed also makes him a potential big-play threat every week. It is worth noting that he has yet to find the end zone this season, and most of his current limitations in that department can be attributed to the Patriots’ offensive struggles led by Mac Jones. Despite these potential constraints, Douglas is currently a respectable streaming option and has a favorable matchup against the Indianapolis Colts this weekend in Frankfurt. Recommended FAAB: 0-10%.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Tight Ends

Dalton Schultz, TE, Houston Texans  – Did anyone call for a doctor? After a slow start to the season, Dalton Schultz seems to have found the remedy with his new team. He has now finished as TE6 or better in four of his last five games, scoring four touchdowns during this span. To put this into further context, this is as many touchdowns as Travis Kelce has this season. In Week 10, Schultz took his recent dominance to new heights, delivering the best performance of his career. The veteran tight end hauled in ten of his eleven targets for 130 yards and a touchdown. He has quickly developed chemistry with rookie quarterback C.J. Stroud, creating a beautiful connection for fantasy purposes. Schultz, in my view, is the top tight end pickup of the week, especially considering his upcoming schedule. In Week 10, Schultz and the Texans will face the Cincinnati Bengals, one of the most favorable matchups for the tight end position, having just allowed Dalton Kincaid to catch ten passes for 81 yards against them. Schultz aims to be the next tight end named “Dalton” to wreak havoc on this defense. Recommended FAAB: 5-10%.

Cade Otton, TE, Tampa Bay Buccaneers – When it comes to streaming tight ends, volume is key. Few players at the tight end position have quietly impressed more this season than Cade Otton. While he might not be the flashiest name to consider starting each week, he has steadily delivered a productive season and most importantly, is always on the field. Notably, his usage has been on the rise in recent weeks, with six or more targets in his last three games. In a Week 9 matchup against the Houston Texans, Otton hauled in six receptions out of nine targets for 70 yards and two touchdowns. While it is challenging to anticipate such high production consistently, he has established himself as a crucial target in the offense and a favorite of Baker Mayfield. With Travis Kelce and Dallas Goedert unavailable for your lineups this week, Otton presents an intriguing option as a replacement in your starting lineup in deeper leagues. Recommended FAAB: 0-0%.

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings

Quarterbacks

Team DEF/ST

• Complete Waiver Wire Rankings
• Weekly Waivers Episode of The Fantasy Footballers Podcast

Final Thoughts

The next couple of weeks are some of the most crucial and influential of the season. As we enter the double-digit mark of matchups this season, time is dwindling for securing your playoff spot. It is crucial to focus on winning the immediate matchup at hand rather than getting too caught up in future scenarios. Conversely, if you find yourself leading your league with minimal losses, it may be strategic to consider rostering insurance running backs to your starters and planning for players with favorable playoff schedules. When you find yourself in this favorable scenario, sometimes the best offense is to start shifting your focus toward establishing a stout defense. Winning fantasy football championships is not solely about maintaining the best regular season record. It often comes down to the team that hits their peak at the right time. Make the most of the waiver wire in the weeks ahead, and together, we can strive to reach the top of your league. Instead of dwelling on “if” or “when,” let’s focus on the present, particularly Week 10.