Welcome to the 2025 Waiver Wire for Week 10!
Sunday was amazing. As the Jets enjoyed a week of relief from their QB woes, their former first round picks, Geno Smith and Sam Darnold, each threw four touchdowns.
Joe Flacco (still only 53% owned by the way), who also played for the Jets for 15 minutes, also threw for four touchdowns.
Matthew Stafford, who never played for the Jets but is 1-0 against them as a Los Angeles Ram, also threw four touchdown passes.
And honestly, I don’t think the 4 TD average between them is the craziest stat. Or the their average age of 35, or the fact that they’ve played for a combined average of 4.75 different teams.
The wildest fact about these NFL-starting quarterbacks is their ADP (average draft position): 27.5.
The ADP for these players implies that most of them went undrafted this season; Stafford was the only one who was inside the top 24 (23), signifying that even if he was drafted, he was considered a backup.
Josh Allen, who’s ADP was 1, only threw 1 touchdown pass this week.
You can’t win without the waiver wire.
Before I get to this week’s adds: Last week I suggested Sean Tucker and Dylan Sampson as players to add as they head into their bye weeks. The premise was that the starting running backs on their teams are in unknown injury situations, so add their backups in case they luck into starting roles. I won’t write about them again this week, but I still feel the same way about those players, and I would add Tank Bigsby to the list.
Also: check your waivers for chumps that dropped Trey Benson.
Alright let’s go find a 4 touchdown wide receiver for week 10.
Disclaimer: Waiver Wire Rostership Percentages from Sleeper, ESPN, & Yahoo, as well as the Combined Rostership Percentages, will not exceed 50%. Also, fantasy point scoring will be represented from a Half-PPR perspective.
Teams on Bye Week: Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs, and Tennessee Titans
Quarterbacks
J.J. McCarthy
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (25%), ESPN (29%), & Yahoo (25%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 26%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- OUT
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- 2 rushing touch downs in 3 games
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Well, he didn’t stop with the turnovers, but if J.J. McCarthy can keep up the rushing touchdowns, who cares? The QB-bye week situation doesn’t get any better this week, so a top 12 finish from McCarthy is encouraging. The matchup with Baltimore isn’t as enticing as it was a week ago, but you could do worse than McCarthy (I promise you can do worse, look at the next name).
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Baltimore Ravens, vs. Chicago Bears, @ Green Bay Packers
Marcus Mariota
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (10%), ESPN (5%), & Yahoo (5%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 7%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- N/A
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- N/A
Waiver Wire Analysis:
This is a tough option to write about, but unless the Commanders sign someone Mariota should start the rest of the season. That doesn’t mean he needs to start for your team, but between injuries and Joe Burrow Flacco on a bye week, you may be looking for help at the position even though weirdly, his worst game was against a terrible Cowboy’s defense…
There is hope for Mariota though, especially short-term. If you ignore the poor Cowboy’s outing he’s finished as QB 6, 17, and 19. His next two games are against teams that allow 19+ fantasy points to the position, and his propensity to run offers a touch more upside. Hopefully you don’t need him, but you can always just start him for two weeks while you figure something else out.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Detroit Lions, @ Miami Dolphins, Bye Week
Running Backs
Terrell Jennings
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (3%), ESPN (5%), & Yahoo (1%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 3%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 11 ruATT for 35 yards, 1 target/1 reception for 9 yards and 1 TD for 10.9 fpts.
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- Sole recipient of backup snaps week 9 (25%)
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I wish I had paid closer attention to the Rhomandre Stevenson injury last week, because as long as long as Terrell Jennings is the #2 in New England he needs to be rostered.
TreVeyon Henderson will continue to out-snap (75%-25%) and out-target (6-1) Jennings, but Jennings almost matched Henderson in carries, and Jennings got the goal-line work (and touchdown). Considering Henderson’s week 8 fumble and Rhomandre’s pre-injury goal-line usage, it seems pretty clear who is taking over specific duties in New England’s backfield.
If Rhomandre returns or the Patriots trade for someone this is a moot point, but if neither happens Jennings can help your roster more than most available options.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs. New York Jets, @ Cincinnati Bengals
Bhayshul Tuten
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (26%), ESPN (21%), & Yahoo (31%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 26%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 9 ruATT for 29 yards, and 1 TD 1 target/1 reception for -3 yards for 9.1 fpts.
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- 9 attempts in a close game week 9
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Bhayshul Tuten’s snap percentage didn’t increase but his number of attempts did, so that’s worth monitoring as the injuries pile up on that offense. I have him here as perfunctory addition: He’s a handcuff with upside, whose value in emphasized by the touchdown he scored on Sunday. He’ll probably cost more because of the touchdown, but if he continues to carry the ball nine times a game he’ll pay off in the flex during lean weeks.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Houston Texans, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, vs. Arizona Cardinals
Wide Receivers
Tory Horton
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (15%), ESPN (13%), & Yahoo (9%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 13%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 4 targets/4 receptions for 48 yards and 2 TDs for 18.8 fpts.
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- 79% snap share with Cooper Kupp out in week 9
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Tory Horton is an obvious add and probably should have been rostered for weeks. The difficult decision is deciding when to start him, but that feels obvious now as well. As long as Kupp is out (and there’s no reason to rush him back after that performance by Seattle) you should add and start Horton.
*This was written before the Rashid Shaheed trade, but I think the acquisition of Shaheed is more about Cooper Kupp’s health than Horton’s ability. I would still try to add Horton via waivers.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Arizona Cardinals, @ Los Angeles Rams, @ Tennessee Titans
Christian Watson
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (15%), ESPN (23%), & Yahoo (29%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 28%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 4 targets/2 receptions for 58 yards for 6.8 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- Snap percentage increased after last week’s return from injury
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I still don’t love wide receivers in the Packers offense but with the season-ending injuries to Jayden Reed and Tucker Kraft, we should be taking shots on everyone in the receiving corps. There is no doubting Watson’s talent, but his opportunity and durability are still in question. He hasn’t done anything to warrant being added to your starting lineup, but Love is talented and Watson is just as likely to go off as anyone else in the right situation, so he’s (whispering) startable now.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, @ New York Giants, vs. Minnesota Vikings
Jaylin Lane
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (2%), ESPN (1%), & Yahoo (1%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 1%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 5 targets/3 receptions for 29 yards 2.4 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- Fumbled on a kick return
Waiver Wire Analysis:
If you don’t have room to stash a player you can skip Lane and move on to Pop Douglas.
With Jayden Daniels out for the year there doesn’t seem to be much hope for the Commander’s playoff aspirations. McLaurin was already having trouble staying on the field, and Little McCaffrey missed this week, elevating Lane to… higher on the depth chart. Lane played 63% of snaps but once the game was out of reach no one on the Commanders did anything through the air, in fact the Commanders are the ones who ran out the clock with four minutes left to end the game.
Most likely there is no one worth rostering on the Commander’s offense. But just in case Mariota figures it out, and if you have room to see what could happen, it’s worth stashing Lane while he’s cheap.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Detroit Lions, @ Miami Dolphins, Bye Week
Demario “Pop” Douglas
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (6%), ESPN (5%), & Yahoo (4%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 5%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 6 targets/4 receptions for 100 yards and 1 TD for 18 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- Highest target share since week 1
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I love all of the Patriots receivers, but I think you can only trust them as far as Drake Maye does. Stefon Diggs can be started every week based on his average targets per game, but what about the rest?
Kayshon Boutte was the only other receiver I trusted, since obviously Maye did as well. But once Boutte exited the game with injury, it became the Pop Douglas show.
Once Boutte returns I think Maye will return to his comfort zone. But if Boutte misses time Pop can be trusted in the flex.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers, vs. New York Jets, @ Cincinnati Bengals
Parker Washington
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (13%), ESPN (5%), & Yahoo (18%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 12%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 9 targets/8 receptions for 90 yards for 13 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- averaging 9.5 targets a game
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Like Jesus at the Cannan Wedding, I saved the best for last.
Parker Washington is another obvious add this given his numbers the last two weeks and injury to surrounding receivers. Luckily, we can look at Washington’s numbers the last two years to know that his recent performance isn’t a fluke, and this may just be the opportunity he’s needed to put points on your fantasy roster.
He’s not much of a secret, but out of every wide receiver I’ve mentioned he’s best primed for immediate (after Houston), season-long success.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Houston Texans, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, vs. Arizona Cardinals
Tight Ends
Luke Musgrave
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (0%), ESPN (0%), & Yahoo (0%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 0%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 3 targets/3 receptions for 34 yards for 4.9 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- Immediate increase in targets and snaps after Tucker Kraft exited the game
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Make no mistake, you cannot replace Tucker Kraft with Luke Musgrave and expect the same level of fantasy production. But I think Musgrave could still lead the Packers in targets and receptions the rest of the year. Love has targeted his tight ends 24% of the time this season, and that already included Musgrave.
As I’ve said before, I don’t like the Packers wide receivers; there’s a good chance that fantasy relevant targets get funneled Musgrave’s way. If you lost Kraft, or are looking at a week without Ferguson or Kelce, it may pay to take a chance on Musgrave.
Next 3 Opponents: vs. Philadelphia Eagles, @ New York Giants, vs. Minnesota Vikings
Theo Johnson
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (22%), ESPN (33%), & Yahoo (33%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 29%
Base Statistics of The Week:
- 6 targets/3 receptions for 27 yards and 1 TD for 10.2 fpts
Notes and/or Advanced Statistics Over Past Three Weeks:
- 2 touchdowns in his last three games
Waiver Wire Analysis:
Theo Johnson is averaging 4.3 targets a game since Jaxson Dart has taken over the starting QB job in New York. Johnson also has 5 touchdowns in 6 games. The Giants offense has condensed to the point that Johnson was third in targets in week 9, and he’s shown the ability to produce. Honestly, you’ve already made the decision to add him, you’re just reading this to validate your decision.
You’re right. It’s ok. Go get him.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Chicago Bears, vs. Green Bay Packers @ Detroit Lions
D/ST
Cleveland Browns
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (20%), ESPN (28%), & Yahoo (28%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 25%
Waiver Wire Analysis:
I can only imagine that the reason the Browns ownership percentage is so low is because they are coming off a bye week. This D/ST thrives on good matchups and gets to face the Jets after two weeks of rest and a 6 sack performance against a much better offense. This is the best D/ST on waivers this week, and better than many rostered units.
Next 3 Opponents: @ New York Jets, vs. Baltimore Ravens, @ Las Vegas Raiders
Atlanta Falcons
Percent Rostered on Sleeper (10%), ESPN (16%), & Yahoo (16%):
Combined Consensus Rostership Percentage: 14%
Waiver Wire Analysis:
The Falcons had a decent outing against the Patriots (there may be a trend there), and the Colts just gave up 18 fantasy points to the Steelers. The Falcons schedule is pretty appealing down the stretch, I think they could end up being more than just a bye-week fill-in.
Next 3 Opponents: @ Indianapolis Colts, vs. Carolina Panthers, @ New Orleans Saints
