Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 10
A costly bye slate and more untimely injuries derailed a Week 9 that still had its share of headlines. Fantasy football managers are now less than a month from the playoffs. That makes the Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 10 the most important week to load up for that postseason run.
As always, FullTime Fantasy has you covered. Also, the byes this week are even worse than Week 9, making the fantasy football waiver wire: week 10 even more impactful.
Week 10 Byes: Kansas City, Los Angeles Rams, Miami, Philadelphia
FAAB denotes Free Agent Acquisition Budget
Tank Dell (WR) Houston Texans (25% FAAB) – If you’re in the FullTime Fantasy Discord, you added Dell weeks ago. However, if he is still available in any league you’re in, be prepared to pay a king’s ransom. Dell is coming off of an amazing performance. His third 20-plus point fantasy outing this season. We can’t expect that kind of production weekly, but Dell is being targeted at a higher rate than Nico Collins. C.J. Stroud implored the Texans to draft Dell and that connection has certainly paid off.
Keaton Mitchell (RB) Baltimore Ravens (12% FAAB) – Before Week 9, Mitchell had all of one touch in 2023. That was mostly the same on Sunday until the Ravens were attempting to run out the clock. Mitchell only played 14 second-half snaps but parlayed them into 11 touches, 143 yards, and a touchdown in garbage time. Undoubtedly, Mitchell has a top gear lacking with Baltimore’s other two backs. However, that doesn’t mean that Mitchell will suddenly start earning a role. He’s worth a healthy FAAB bid. But fantasy managers would be wise to temper expectations and proceed with caution.
Kyler Murray (QB) Arizona Cardinals (10% FAAB) – For several weeks we have recommended a proactive bid on Murray. Now, the price has gone up. Murray has been named Arizona’s starter for Week 10 and will debut at home against a Falcons defense allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. When healthy, Murray is a top-10 fantasy signal caller. And with a position that has been decimated by injuries, Murray should be a top priority in fantasy leagues.
Quentin Johnston (WR) Los Angeles Chargers (8% FAAB) – Even before the Chargers face the Jets, things are trending up for the maligned rookie. Josh Palmer was placed on IR, which leaves Johnston as the undisputed No. 2 wide receiver in the NFL’s No. 7 passing attack. Additionally, Johnston’s snap and target shares have been rising over the past month. After a slow start, there is a good chance that Johnston was banished to waiver by the manager who unwisely drafted him. Now is the time to capitalize.
Khalil Shakir (WR) Buffalo Bills (5% FAAB) – Shakir had another solid outing, playing 71% of snaps and drawing a 13% target share in Cincinnati. Buffalo has started using more three-wide sets with Dawson Knox on IR. This week, the Bills are at home in a ‘get right’ spot against an average Denver secondary. Shakir offers WR3/flex potential as a bye-week fill-in.
Josh Dobbs (QB) Minnesota Vikings (5% FAAB) – On a Sunday filled with headlines, Dobbs might be the most improbable. Dobbs had just arrived in Minnesota this week and didn’t attempt one pass to any of his new teammates. However, an injury to Jaren Hall forced Dobbs into the game. And the rest is legend. However, don’t expect this kind of production weekly. It’s a good story but Dobbs has finite time as a viable starter. View him as a decent QB2 in Superflex leagues. But counting on him to be a weekly starter is a risky strategy.
Zach Charbonnet (RB) Seattle Seahawks (5% FAAB) – Charbonnet has out-snapped Kenneth Walker in back-to-back weeks. Walker’s fantasy production has plummeted in four consecutive weeks, bottoming out at just 2.7 points in Baltimore. This is looking more and more like a potential committee backfield. And Charbonnet is the preferred option on passing downs.
Zay Jones (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars (7% FAAB) – A sneaky add, Jones has been limited to three games with a knee injury. However, he averaged six targets in those games and found the end zone in two. Jones is the clear-cut No. 3 wideout for the surging Jaguars and has a strong red-zone rapport with QB Trevor Lawrence. Jones still hasn’t returned to practice. But once he returns, Jones offers weekly WR3 upside.
Juju Smith-Schuster (WR) New England Patriots (4% FAAB) – Smith-Schuster only played 23 snaps in Week 9. However, he made an impact. He caught 6-of-7 targets for 51 yards. Although he’s behind Demario Douglas (7% FAAB), Smith-Schuster is the most accomplished receiver in New England. Fantasy managers who fail to land Douglas should view Smith-Schuster as a less expensive contingency option.
Cade Otton (TE) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3% FAAB) – No tight end has played a higher percentage of their team’s snaps than Otton’s 97.1%. However, that hasn’t necessarily translated to the stat sheets. Otton’s best game of the season just happened in Houston, where he set season-best numbers in catches, yards, and fantasy points. But before that, he had scored less than 10 fantasy points in four of five games. The extensive playing time makes Otton an appealing add. However, don’t overpay after Week 9’s breakout performance.
Carson Wentz (QB) Los Angeles Rams (3% FAAB) – I recommended adding Wentz for $0-$1 last week. Now, he’s signed a deal with the Rams. But the real concern is what that means about Matthew Stafford’s thumb.
Justin Watson (WR) Kansas City Chiefs (2% FAAB) – Something has been off with Kansas City’s offense all season and that makes it difficult to rely on any of the Chiefs’ wide receivers. Last week, Watson led the club with five targets. Also, Watson played the second-most snaps. He’s primarily been used as the deep threat, but if Watson starts being utilized on more intermediate routes he can be a quality fantasy depth piece. Taylor Heinicke (4% FAAB), who Dobbs beat on Sunday, is in the same boat as a high-risk streaming option.
Noah Brown (WR) Houston Texans (2% FAAB) – Brown took advantage of C.J. Stroud’s historic day by posting a career-best 6/153/1 line. However, it is always wise to be proactive and not reactive. Thus, we suggest a modest bid. Brown will be relegated back to WR4 duties once Robert Woods (6% FAAB) returns, which is expected to happen this week. Brown saw only four targets in the first five games of the season when Woods was healthy. Let someone else blow their FAAB budge chasing yesterday’s highlights.
Cedric Tillman (WR) Cleveland Browns (2% FAAB) – Although he drew only one target, Tillman appears to be Cleveland’s No. 3 wideout after the club traded Donovan Peoples-Jones to Detroit last week. Tillman was in on 74% of the Browns’ snaps on Sunday. That was more than Elijah Moore.
Ty Chandler (RB) Minnesota Vikings (2% FAAB) – Cam Akers suffered another Achilles injury and is out for the season. It is possible the Vikings will bring in a veteran free agent. But, for now, Chandler is the team’s RB2. Minnesota has shown a propensity for using multiple backs, so Chandler could see himself earning 5-10 touches a week.
Alec Pierce (WR) Indianapolis Colts (1% FAAB) – Pierce played all 61 snaps for the Cotls and Isaiah McKenzie (1% FAAB) saw an increased snap share once Josh Downs exited Week 9 with a knee injury. If Downs is out, both players could be worth a look in deep leagues.
Cedrick Wilson (WR) Miami Dolphins (1% FAAB) – It looks like Wilson is now Miami’s No. 3 wideout. He was in on over 65% of Miami’s snaps in Germany and commanded a 15.2% target share. Additionally, Wilson hauled in a touchdown. He isn’t one to plug in every game, but Wilson can be a flex play in weeks where Miami is facing a lesser defense at home. Wilson and the Dolphins are off this week but do get the Raiders at home in Week 11.
Trishton Jackson (WR) Minnesota Vikings (1% FAAB) – After K.J. Osborn was carted off the field, Jackson came in and played 71% of Minnesota’s snaps. If Osborn sits in Week 10, Jackson would play significant snaps against the Saints.
Jack Stoll (TE) Philadelphia Eagles (1% FAAB) – Dallas Goedert will miss time with a fractured arm. Stoll is in line to take over as Philadelphia’s starter. But don’t kid yourself. He’s little more than a desperation pick-up in deep leagues. Most likely the Eagles will scheme tight ends out of their offense, leaving few targets for Still or Albert Okwuegbunam (1% FAAB) when they emerge from the bye.
Tommy DeVito (QB) New York Giants (0% FAAB) – The Giants are now down to their third quarterback. And, just in time to face the Dallas Cowboys’ defense fresh off a loss. Only managers in the deepest of Supeflex leagues who have their signal caller on bye can consider DeVito as a desperation play.
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Thanks for reading our Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 10.