Week 10 of the NFL is set to begin, starting with a Thursday night matchup as the Washington Commanders take on the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium The team on a bye this week are Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Just like every week, injuries have once again thinned out fantasy lineups, so it's time to restock.
The trade deadline has come and gone, and I held off my waiver wire column until all moves were final. Some big names changed teams while others stayed put, and both parties shuffled fantasy values.
Below is my full waiver wire column going over the players, by position, that managers should target this week. I know some of these players may not be available in every league, so I solely look players rostered in less than 60 percent of leagues.
TOP WAIVER WIRE TARGETS
QBs
Drew Lock – Seattle Seahawks (Rostered: 8%): Lock is expected to be the Seahawks’ starting quarterback in Week 10 after the team announced Sam Darnold will miss another week with a quad injury. Lock is also dealing with an oblique injury he suffered during Week Nine against the Cardinals. He managed to guide Seattle to a win this past Sunday, finishing with 175 passing yards and one touchdown. Lock is a great streaming option with a matchup against the Raiders, who’ve allowed the most touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points to opposing QBs this season.
Aaron Rodgers – Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered: 33%): Rodgers is the second and last QB I would prioritize on this week’s waiver wire (the options are very slim). Despite a dud finish in the Steelers’ Week Eight win over the Browns, Rodgers can still be of use when he has favorable matchups. The 42-year-old is in line for a QB-friendly matchup in Week 10 against the Bengals, against whom he posted 292 passing yards and three touchdowns in their first meeting in Week Three. Cincinnati’s defense has been better at stopping the run, so expect Rodgers to be slinging the ball a good amount in this AFC North clash.
RBs
Corey Kiner – New England Patriots (Rostered: 6%): With both Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson expected to be sidelined, Kiner has an opportunity to be the lead back in New England. Kiner has averaged over 5.0 yards per carry in four of his last five games, and despite his lack of usage in the passing game, he managed 11.5 fantasy points last week in the blowout loss to the Packers. Kiner has a tough matchup ahead against the Lions, who’ve allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs this season. However, the volume Kiner is about to receive is worth adding to your roster.
Audric Estimé – New Orleans Saints (Rostered: 9%): The Saints’ running back room is like a game of musical chairs. One week it’s Travis Etienne, the next Alvin Kamara, then Kendre Miller, and now Estimé has the last chair, at the moment. Estimé led New Orleans with 15 carries and rushed for 72 yards and a touchdown. He is expected to be the Saints’ RB1 until Etienne can return from injured reserve, as he waits for his 21-day practice window to open. Estimé is an immediate plug-and-play option until the original RB1 is back.
Tyler Goodson – Dallas Cowboys (Rostered: 1%): Goodson is someone I want fantasy managers to stash or keep an eye on over these next couple of games. He looked efficient last week against the Colts, rushing for 77 yards on 12 carries even though he missed a portion of the game with a knee injury. Javonte Williams is obviously the top guy in the Cowboys’ backfield, but if he were to ever miss time, Goodson’s fantasy value would surge.
Emmett Johnson – Kansas City Chiefs (Rostered: 24%): Johnson continues to show how impactful he is as the Chiefs’ RB2 behind Kenneth Walker. After a 25-plus-point performance against the Broncos in Week Eight, he followed up by scoring his second consecutive touchdown against the Jets. While he may not be an every-week starter, Johnson is still a player who needs to be stashed in any and all leagues, as he is one of the most valuable handcuffs in fantasy.
Dylan Sampson – Cleveland Browns (Rostered: 19%): Sampson posted eight carries for 21 yards and caught three of six targets for 27 yards in Cleveland’s Week Nine overtime loss to the Saints. He finished with the second-most targets on the team, and he is expected to hold the role of the Browns’ receiving back. With the team likely to be behind in most games, Sampson’s fantasy value becomes very appealing. This week he has a matchup against the Texans, who’ve allowed 22.4 fantasy points per game to opposing RBs this season.
Bam Knight – Arizona Cardinals (Rostered: 7%): After missing Sunday’s game against the Seahawks, Knight has a chance to be cleared from concussion protocol as early as this week. If he’s cleared to return, he should be propelled into a lead-back role despite Tyler Allgeier still being active. To not sugarcoat it, Allgeier doesn’t look good running the ball unless it’s against the Cowboys. When Knight was playing, he looked more elusive and brought more juice to the running game for the Cardinals, who need any offensive weapons after losing Michael Wilson for the season and with Jeremiyah Love and Kendrick Bourne both placed on injured reserve.
WRs
Caleb Douglas – Miami Dolphins (Rostered: 27%): Douglas is slowly becoming the Dolphins’ WR1 after posting an encouraging season-high six receptions on eight targets against Detroit on Sunday. He also led the team in targets and routes run, which points to the potential for a more stable floor in fantasy. Since returning from his injury in Week Seven, the rookie has averaged 14.1 fantasy points per game. His recent value and production make the case that he is worth picking up and starting as an every-week flex moving forward.
DeMario Douglas – New England Patriots (Rostered: 57%): Now for the other Douglas, who has received a lot of praise after Week Nine. “Pop” Douglas finished with a season-high 102 yards on nine targets in a game where the Patriots were down by multiple scores throughout. Week 10 could call for another pass-heavy game script, with a matchup against the Lions on deck. Detroit has allowed the fourth-most passing yards and has surrendered 21.8 fantasy points per game to opposing WRs. Douglas’ value could drop if A.J. Brown does return, so it’s important to keep an eye on New England’s practice reports. Nonetheless, Douglas should be picked up and could be a WR2/flex if Brown is once again inactive.
Tank Dell – Houston Texans (Rostered: 24%): He’s back as if he never missed nearly two years of action. Dell looked like his old self in his second game back, catching four of nine targets for 105 yards and a touchdown on 22 routes run against the Chargers. If Dell is available on the waiver wire, you should put in a claim for him, as he is returning to the WR2 production he had before the injury. The 27-year-old has a flex-worthy matchup this week against the Browns, who have a beatable secondary.
Konata Mumpfield/Tutu Atwell – Los Angeles Rams (Rostered: 2% / 0%): Just like their tight end room, Mumpfield and Atwell are a dart throw. It is uncertain which wide receiver will help replace the production of Puka Nacua and Davante Adams in the offense. It might be an all-hands-on-deck effort from the receivers, or the Rams could start relying heavily on their backs, Kyren Williams and Blake Corum. Atwell has more rapport with Matthew Stafford over the years, but Mumpfield has had more usage this season in the Rams’ offense. Regardless, one of those two receivers will have to step up, and it starts in Week 10 with a favorable matchup against the Cardinals, who’ve allowed the second-most receiving touchdowns (11) this season.
Keenan Allen – San Francisco 49ers (Rostered: 46%): I originally was going to place Allen at the bottom of my column until the news broke Tuesday that he was being traded to the Niners. Allen was already a vital piece of the Colts’ offense as their short-range target, but now he will be part of a Kyle Shanahan-coached offense with Brock Purdy as his quarterback. This changes everything for his fantasy value. Despite his overall situation improving, he is no longer one of the most heavily relied-on players in an offense that already has Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle, Mike Evans and Deebo Samuel in the room. But on the bright side, and what intrigues me the most, he’s never had a coach like Shanahan. I imagine his floor staying the same as it was in Indy, but his ceiling is unknown for the time being. Regardless, he should be picked up if available in your league.
Jordyn Tyson – New Orleans Saints (Rostered: 39%): Tyson played his first NFL game on Sunday and, despite fumbling on his first career reception, still had a decent debut, finishing with four catches on five targets for 30 yards. Moving forward, his routes and targets are expected to continue to grow with Tyler Shough, who leads the league in pass attempts per game, as his QB. Tyson is in a great position to finish out the season on a high note. He has a good matchup in Week 10 against a depleted Panthers secondary, which has allowed 145.6 receiving yards per game to wideouts this season.
TEs
Darren Waller – Carolina Panthers (Rostered: 8%): Waller finished Week Nine with a monster game, catching eight of 10 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown. While his usual production is wildly inconsistent, he is still a viable option if you need to stream a tight end this week. He has a divisional matchup against the Saints, who’ve allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to the position.
Chig Okonkwo – Washington Commanders (Rostered: 14%): Despite Van Jefferson having an explosive game, along with good performances by Stefon Diggs and Antonio Williams, Okonkwo still finished with a team-high six receptions on seven targets. He also matched Williams with a team-high 34 routes run, and he has now scored double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four games. Okonkwo needs to be added in all PPR leagues, as he continues to be one of Jayden Daniels’ reliable options in Washington’s offense.
Colby Parkinson – Los Angeles Rams (Rostered: 3%): While most people have said Tyler Higbee should be picked up this week (as he should), people are sleeping on Parkinson. Since Week Six, Parkinson has had more targets, receptions and yards than Higbee. Regardless, both tight ends will need to be more involved with Puka Nacua and Davante Adams both out of the lineup for a while. Parkinson should at least be stashed on your roster while we wait and see what his production looks like moving forward.
D/STs
Baltimore Ravens (Rostered: 47%): The Ravens’ defense should be available in a good portion of leagues after being shredded by the Bengals, Bills and Jaguars in consecutive weeks. This week they should catch a break, as they take on an inferior Chargers offense. The Bolts have allowed 11.5 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses through their first eight games, and just last week they surrendered two takeaways and eight sacks to Houston.
Green Bay Packers (Rostered: 19%): The Packers surprised a lot of people with their dominant performance last week against Drake Maye and the Patriots, recording four sacks and four takeaways. In five of their last six games, they’ve scored eight or more fantasy points, and they’ve ranked in the top three in defensive EPA per play and pressure rate since Week Four. They take on the Vikings in Week 10, who are bottom 10 in scoring and sacks allowed. However, Minnesota picked up Kirk Cousins at the trade deadline on Tuesday, so the Vikings’ offense could show signs of improvement.
OTHER PLAYERS TO TARGET, STREAM, STASH OR KEEP AN EYE ON
QBs
J.J. McCarthy - New York Giants (Rostered: 33%)
Shedeur Sanders - Cleveland Browns (Rostered: 3%)
Fernando Mendoza - Las Vegas Raiders (Rostered: 3%)
RBs
Kaelon Black - San Francisco 49ers (Rostered: 37%)
Samaje Perine - Cincinnati Bengals (Rostered: 11%)
Mike Washington - Las Vegas Raiders (Rostered: 29%)
MarShawn Lloyd - Green Bay Packers (Rostered: 32%)
Kendre Miller - Dallas Cowboys (Rostered: 19%)
WRs
Ryan Flournoy - Dallas Cowboys (Rostered: 30%)
Pat Bryant - Denver Broncos (Rostered: 1%)
Jordan Watkins - San Francisco 49ers (Rostered: 0%)
Antonio Williams - Washington Commanders (Rostered: 21%)
Treylon Burks - Washington Commanders (Rostered: 9%)
Makai Lemon - Philadelphia Eagles (Rostered: 55%)
Omar Cooper Jr. - New York Jets (Rostered: 58%)
TEs
Tyler Higbee - Los Angeles Rams (Rostered: 10%)
Eli Raridon -New England Patriots (Rostered: 4%)
AJ Barner - Seattle Seahawks (Rostered: 7%)
Pat Freiermuth - Pittsburgh Steelers (Rostered: 41%)
D/STs
Buffalo Bills (Rostered: 34%)
Indianapolis Colts (Rostered: 2%)
Miami Dolphins (Rostered: 1%)