All of our internal clocks, as well as most of the clocks in our house, are messed up thanks to the time change this past week. But we are, in fact, staring down Week 10 of the NFL season. Admittedly, I was a little shocked to write “Week 10 Waiver Wire.” So before we jump into waiver wire pickups, use this as a gentle reminder to enjoy and appreciate the season since we’re well over halfway to the fantasy playoffs and the end of the NFL regular season.
Teams on bye in Week 10: Kansas City Chiefs, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Philadelphia Eagles
As always, the players below are rostered in fewer than 50% of ESPN leagues.
Fantasy Football Waiver Wire: Week 10 Pickups (2023)
(Rostership percentages courtesy of ESPN)
Priority Adds
Kyler Murray (QB, Arizona Cardinals) | 35.7% Rostered
I wasn’t expecting to write about Kyler Murray because I thought he’d be stashed in well over 50% of fantasy leagues ahead of his presumed Week 10 return. Perhaps he wasn’t rostered, given the QB landscape and its surrounding injuries and bye weeks. That, however, is the exact reason to pick up and start Murray in Week 10. Murray has been QB4, QB3 and QB7 in fantasy points per game over the last three seasons.
There’s the potential that Murray doesn’t have as many designed runs as he gets ramped up. But ultimately, when the play breaks down, instinct will kick in and he’ll utilize his legs, which makes him a superior fantasy football option. The Cardinals take on the Falcons, Rams and Texans over the next three weeks. Murray has a real chance to be a difference-maker soon and is a must-add off the waiver wire heading into Week 10.
Trey McBride (TE, Arizona Cardinals) | 42.8% Rostered
Another Arizona Cardinal? Feels odd, but I’m keeping Trey McBride right here as a priority pickup despite the down week. Ultimately, the deck was stacked against McBride having a blow-up performance in Week 9. Joshua Dobbs was traded to the Minnesota Vikings this past week, and rookie QB Clayton Tune was forced into action against the staunch Cleveland Browns defense. McBride is a player whose roster percentage may actually decrease after waivers run. That’s a mistake, though. McBride will have the best QB he’s played with all season, the aforementioned Murray, and he is still my top TE pickup this week.
Plug-Ins
Quentin Johnston (WR, Los Angeles Chargers) | 31.4% Rostered
I’m writing this, as I always do, prior to “Monday Night Football.” So Quentin Johnston, please do not let me down here! The first-round selection has a clear-cut opportunity over the next four games as teammate Joshua Palmer was placed on Injured Reserve (IR). The Chargers take on the Jets tonight, followed by the Lions, Packers and Ravens over the next month.
In Week 8, Johnston had season-highs in nearly every statistical category: snap share, targets, receptions and yards. Regardless of what happens tonight, Johnston should be operating as the No. 2 WR for this team moving forward. The Chargers are third in pace of play, and Justin Herbert is also third in deep ball attempts. “QJ” is a player whose opportunity and role can grow down the stretch and into the fantasy playoffs, making him a great option to snag off the Week 10 waiver wire.
Taysom Hill (TE, New Orleans Saints) | 39.1% Rostered
Ah, Taysom Hill. He defies nearly every logical and statistical reason to play him in fantasy football. And yet, over the last month, he’s been an absolute monster at the TE position. Hell, if you could play him at QB on your platform, you’re probably even happy.
The list of tight ends I would play over Hill in Week 10 includes Mark Andrews, T.J. Hockenson, Sam LaPorta, Dalton Kincaid and maybe Dalton Schultz. That’s it. Hill simply sees too many opportunities in too many high-value situations for this New Orleans offense. Conversely, the Minnesota Vikings’ defense has been sneaky-good over the last month. They’ve allowed the 13th-most fantasy points to the TE position but the fifth-fewest to RBs. While I won’t project Hill for another 20-point week, he has a shot to be in the TE1 range once again. Ride him until the wheels fall off.
Romeo Doubs (WR, Green Bay Packers) | 45.3% Rostered
The Green Bay Packers are a team that feels like they have so much talent on their roster, but the offense never quite fires on all cylinders. Nonetheless, the Packers could find themselves once again without WR Christian Watson after he left Sunday’s contest to be evaluated for chest and back injuries, as well as a concussion. Should Watson miss time, Romeo Doubs may once again see an elevated role the way he did earlier this season. Doubs amassed 25 targets between Weeks 3 and 4 before Watson’s return, averaging 18.4 Points Per Reception (PPR) points in those contests. If Watson can’t play in Week 10, Doubs should be grabbed off the waiver wire in all formats and is worthy of a FLEX start.
Demario Douglas (WR, New England Patriots) | 21.9% Rostered
In his first action since WR Kendrick Bourne’s season ended, Demario Douglas was on the field for a season-high 83% of the New England Patriots’ snaps on Sunday. This translated to five catches for 55 yards on seven Mac Jones targets. While 55 yards won’t win you your week, it’s worth noting that Douglas appeared to be the first read on all of his receptions in Week 9. Douglas paced the Patriots in targets and yards while having only one fewer catch than Juju Smith-Schuster. Much like Johnston, Douglas has room for his role to grow within this offense down the back half of the season.
Stashes
Khalil Shakir (WR, Buffalo Bills) | 3.7% Rostered
Over the last two games, Khalil Shakir has a snap count of 65% and 71% for the Buffalo Bills. Shakir also had his two highest outputs for fantasy on the season in those games at 15.2 and 9.7 PPR points, respectively. Something has shifted in this Buffalo offense, leading to Shakir being on the field more and more, as his season-high snap share was only 39% before Week 8. Shakir finds most of his routes (about 64%) coming from the slot this season. We’ve seen this role pay dividends in this offense before with Cole Beasley. Shakir can likely be picked up off the Week 10 waiver wire for almost nothing and is worth at least a spot on your bench to see what happens to his role moving forward.
Thanks for reading my favorite fantasy football waiver wire Week 10 pickups. Looking for more fantasy football advice? Follow me on Twitter @ThatMattKelley.
*Photo Credit: Eric Hartline – USA TODAY Sports*