10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Heading Into Week 10

With Week 9 almost behind us, we are nearing the home stretch of the fantasy football regular season -- for most leagues, the playoffs are just five weeks away!

There are four teams on a bye in Week 10 -- the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Philadelphia Eagles.

As you navigate the second half of the bye-week gauntlet, bench spots are at a premium, every win counts, and balancing short-term and long-term potential is important.

With that in mind, here are some of the best additions you can make to your squads heading into Week 10.

10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets

Quarterbacks

Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost their fourth game in a row on Sunday, but Baker Mayfield's season of fantasy success continued.

Against the Houston Texans, Mayfield completed 21 of 30 attempts for 265 yards, 2 touchdowns, and 0 interceptions. He has now thrown for at least 235 yards in four of his last five games and is averaging 1.6 touchdowns per game during that period.

Chris Godwin and Mike Evans accounted for just 103 of Mayfield's passing yards against Houston and none of his touchdowns. Instead, he demonstrated an efficient connection with tight end Cade Otton and wide receiver Trey Palmer, who combined for 9 catches on 13 targets for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Godwin and Evans provide Mayfield with consistent elite options in the passing game, if he has options he can trust beyond that duo, it raises his outlook moving forward.

In Week 10, Mayfield and Tampa Bay will face the Tennessee Titans. Tennessee's defense ranks eighth against the run this season, per numberFire's schedule-adjusted metrics, and 25th against the pass. Entering this weekend, Houston's defense ranked 24th against the pass in those same metrics.

Mayfield is set up for another successful Sunday. If Will Levis gets back on track against a Buccaneers' pass defense that ranks 23rd, per numberFire, there could also be elevated pass attempts for Mayfield in Week 10.

Kyler Murray, Cardinals

Kyler Murray was included in this piece last week, and if he's still available in your league, he's a high-priority addition heading into Week 10.

Murray is expected to make his season debut in Week 10 with the Arizona Cardinals facing the Atlanta Falcons at home.

After traveling with Arizona to Cleveland this weekend, Murray was not activated off injured reserve. His 21-day window practice window is set to close this week, and the expectation is that he will be elevated back to the active roster after practicing in full heading into Week 9.

When Murray has been available, he has been an elite signal-caller for fantasy football. He has averaged at least 17.5 fantasy points per game in all four seasons of his career and was averaging 17.8 fantasy points per game before his injury last season.

There are some risks with Murray -- the main one being that his rushing production may be limited as he works his way back. Even with that potential drawback, Murray is still likely to be the last quarterback available off the waiver wire this season with legitimate top-seven upside.

Against the Falcons in Week 10, Murray will probably project as a back-end QB1 or high-end QB2. He has upside for much more if he returns to his pre-injury form during the second half of the season.

Others to Consider:

Will Levis (at Tampa Bay), Derek Carr (at Minnesota), Joshua Dobbs (vs. New Orleans), Taylor Heinicke (at Arizona), Bryce Young (at Chicago)

Running Backs

Keaton Mitchell, Ravens

One week after Gus Edwards' dominant performance against the Cardinals in Week 8, the Baltimore Ravens' backfield looked different.

In a blowout win, Edwards played on just 19% of the snaps and handled 14% of the Ravens' rushing attempts, resulting in 5 carries for 52 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Justice Hill led the backfield in snaps (64%), rushing attempts (35%), and route participation (71%), but it was rookie Keaton Mitchell that stole the show.

In the third game of his career, Mitchell, an undrafted free agent, turned 9 carries into 138 rushing yards and a touchdown. His performance was highlighted by two explosive runs, one for a 40-yard touchdown and the other for 60 yards.

It remains to be seen how this backfield would operate in a more competitive environment. Edwards has been reliable, especially in short down and distance situations, and it seems unlikely that he would lose significant work.

That said, Mitchell's speed offers Baltimore something they were previously lacking, and he could carve out a larger role for himself in the second half of the season. There is plenty of uncertainty about how this backfield will shake out down the stretch, but Mitchell should be added to your bench while we figure out the answer.

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks

For the second week in a row, Zach Charbonnet had a significant role in the Seattle Seahawks' backfield.

After only playing more than 29% of the Seahawks' snaps once through his first five games, Charbonnet has now cleared the 55% mark in back-to-back weeks, handling 31% of the team's rushing attempts both times. He also maintained a small lead over Kenneth Walker III in route participation, he saw one lone target to Walker's two.

Last week, Charbonnet's elevated utilization could have been due to Walker's calf injury. This week erased those concerns. Walker never appeared on the injury report, practicing in full each day.

Neither Charbonnet nor Walker were effective with the carries they did see, combining for just 24 yards on 13 total carries. There are also larger concerns about the state of Seattle's offense as a whole, which has averaged just 15.0 points per game since their bye in Week 5.

That trend might reverse in a big way in Week 10 with Seattle facing Washington at home. Following their moves at the trade deadline, the Commanders' already struggling defense is even more vulnerable in both phases of the game.

As it stands, Charbonnet is a second-round rookie with a growing role in an offense that has been impactful in the past. If he is available, he remains a high-priority bench stash.

D'Onta Foreman, Bears

Entering Week 8, the assumption was that rookie Roschon Johnson, who impressed on limited touches earlier in the season, would begin to command a larger role with Khalil Herbert on injured reserve. In his first game back, Johnson played 37% of the snaps, handled 21% of the Chicago Bears' carries, and had an 11% target share with 33% route participation.

In Week 9, instead of expanding his role, he took a step back in nearly every category. Johnson played on just 28% of the snaps, handled 7% of the rushing attempts, and had an 8% target share with 35% route participation.

D'Onta Foreman operated as the clear lead back, playing on 60% of the snaps and handling 74% of the rushing attempts with little involvement in the passing game. The result? 20 carries for 83 yards compared to Johnson's 2 carries for 6 yards.

Short term, Foreman's outlook is complicated by the expected return of Herbert in Week 10. Long term, he has consistently been productive with his opportunities and may have a role moving forward. He is worth a bench spot while we see how Chicago's backfield will operate with Herbert back in action.

Others to Consider:

Devin Singletary(vs. Tampa Bay), Kenneth Gainwell (bye), Elijah Mitchell (at Jacksonville), Trayveon Williams (vs. Houston), Rico Dowdle (vs. New York Giants), Joshua Kelley (vs. Detroit)

Wide Receivers

Demario Douglas, Patriots

Douglas was included in this piece last week and, if he is still available in your league, remains a good addition heading into Week 10.

Douglas backed up his breakout Week 8 performance with another solid game against Washington in Week 9. He recorded an 83% route participation, was targeted on 18% of his routes, and commanded a 17% target share. He tied for the team lead in targets (7) and led New England in receiving yards (55), finishing second in receptions (5) behind only JuJu Smith-Schuster.

In a New England Patriots' offense severely lacking in playmakers, Douglas continues to provide some explosive ability. DeVante Parker could return this week, but Douglas has done enough to remain the focal point of New England's passing game moving forward. In some weeks, that role may not amount to much, but in Week 10, it could.

Facing the Colts in Germany on Sunday, New England will have another chance to find some success against a weak pass defense. Indianapolis' pass defense ranks 26th, per numberFire.

On a week with several elite wide receivers on byes, Douglas can provide you with a solid option -- especially in full-point PPR leagues.

Quentin Johnston, Chargers

To this point, Quentin Johnston's rookie season has been underwhelming -- to say the least. Despite Mike Williams suffering a season-ending knee injury, Johnston has still only earned 21 targets this season, catching 12 of them for 114 yards and 0 touchdowns.

Following Josh Palmer's placement on injured reserve on Sunday, Johnston will have another opportunity to step into a larger role and display the skills that made him the second wide receiver selected in April's draft.

With Palmer dealing with a knee injury in Week 8, Johnston put together the best performance of his career, catching five of six targets for 50 yards -- career-highs in all three categories. He carries some momentum into the Los Angeles Chargers' Week 9 primetime game against a formidable New York Jets' pass defense that ranks seventh, per numberFire.

Even if Johnston struggles in primetime, he should be added in all leagues for his potential during the second half of the season. Despite his struggles to this point, injuries have opened up another window, and he should have no shortage of opportunities to make an impact while Palmer remains on injured reserve.

Michael Wilson, Cardinals

Michael Wilson sat out Arizona's 27-0 loss to the Browns with a shoulder injury. When he returns, he will be rejoining a Cardinals' offense that is drastically different than the one he left.

Operating in a sub-optimal situation in Arizona, Wilson has been impressive. In eight games played, he has an average route participation of 80% and has been targeted on 14% of his routes, good for an average target share of 14%. The result? 25 receptions on 33 targets for 401 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Kyler Murray's expected return provides everyone in the Cardinals' offense with a boost. Marquise Brown should remain the focal point of Arizona's passing game, but there is room for both Wilson and tight end Trey McBride to produce with Murray under center.

Entering the second half of the season, we want to try to stash as many talented rookies as possible -- especially wide receivers. Wilson has been more impactful than several players drafted before him, and now, he is expected to see a massive boost in quarterback play. That's a perfect storm for a second-half breakout.

Others to Consider:

Khalil Shakir (vs Denver), Tyler Boyd (vs. Houston), Romeo Doubs (at Pittsburgh), Zay Jones (vs. San Francisco), Jameson Williams (at L.A. Chargers)

Tight Ends

Hunter Henry, Patriots

With Kendrick Bourne out for the season and DeVante Parker (concussion) unavailable on Sunday, Hunter Henry tied for the team lead in targets with seven.

He caught four of those targets for 39 yards and a touchdown against a vulnerable Washington defense.

Henry has a long-established connection with Mac Jones, and that connection is especially impactful in the red zone. Of New England's 10 receiving touchdowns this season, Henry has 3 and the only player with more than him, Bourne, is out for the season. Outside Henry and Bourne, no Patriots' player has more than one receiving touchdown on the year.

In Week 10, New England will travel to Germany to face a Colts' pass defense ranked 26th, per numberFire. The Colts held Carolina to 13 points in Week 9, but before that, they allowed point totals of 38, 39, and 37 to the Saints, Browns, and Jaguars, respectively. New England's offense is, obviously, far from elite, but they have averaged 20 points per game over their last four.

If your primary tight end is on a bye this week (Travis Kelce) or dealing with an injury (Dallas Goedert), Henry is a viable option.

Others to Consider:

Taysom Hill (at Minnesota), Cade Otton (vs Tennessee), Jonnu Smith (at Arizona), Luke Musgrave (at Pittsburgh)

Defenses

Seattle Seahawks

Sam Howell continues to impress, but he also continues to take sacks and turn the ball over. In Week 8 against the Eagles, Howell was only sacked once, providing a positive data point in a season that had previously only had negative ones from a sack and turnover perspective.

On the road against New England in Week 9, Howell was sacked three times and threw one red zone interception. He also recorded 325 passing yards and a touchdown -- the full Howell experience.

Those three sacks taken were still below his average, which stood at 5.1 per game entering Week 9 and now stands at 4.9 overall.

Seattle's defense struggled against Lamar Jackson and the Ravens in Week 9. In their four games prior to facing Baltimore, they averaged 5.25 sacks, 1.75 turnovers, and 12.5 points allowed per game.

There is some risk here; Howell is unlikely to be held off the scoreboard and generates passing yards with ease. That said, playing at home, the Seahawks should have plenty of chances for impactful plays on defense in this one.

Others to Consider:

Las Vegas D/ST (vs. New York Jets), Chicago D/ST (vs. Carolina), New Orleans D/ST (at Minnesota)

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The above author is a FanDuel employee and is not eligible to compete in public daily fantasy contests or place sports betting wagers on FanDuel. The advice provided by the author does not necessarily represent the views of FanDuel. Taking the author's advice will not guarantee a successful outcome. You should use your own judgment when participating in daily fantasy contests or placing sports wagers.