The NFL Trade Deadline hits Tuesday afternoon, which means chaos could be coming in real life and in your fantasy leagues. Every year, we see surprise moves shake up depth charts and unlock unexpected fantasy value, so now’s the time to get ahead of the curve. Whether it’s a running back freed from a crowded committee or a young receiver stepping into a bigger role, smart fantasy managers will be stashing upside plays before the dust settles.
The Week 10 Waiver Wire isn’t just about filling bye-week gaps; it’s about finding potential league-winners before everyone else does.
We’ve got a fun mix of breakout performances and emerging opportunities this week, too. JJ McCarthy returned from injury and led the Vikings to an upset win, DeMario Douglas popped off for 100 yards and a score as Drake Maye’s go-to slot man, and fellow rookie Colston Loveland finally broke out with a monster two-touchdown game for Chicago. Let’s dive into the Week 10 Waiver Wire Pickups, because after Tuesday’s deadline, the fantasy landscape might look very different.
FANTASY FOOTBALL WEEK 10 WAIVER WIRE PICKUPS
QUARTERBACKS
JJ MCCARTHY, MINNESOTA VIKINGS (29% ROSTERED)
JJ McCarthy made his long-awaited return from his quiet benching ankle injury and reminded fantasy managers why he was worth stashing. The Vikings’ young QB put up his second strong fantasy performance in just three starts, scoring 23 fantasy points in a gutsy 27–24 upset win over the Lions on the road. McCarthy completed 14 of 25 passes for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, while also rushing nine times for 12 yards and punching in another score on the ground. He did fumble once, but quickly fell on it to avoid disaster.
After missing five games, McCarthy didn’t exactly light up the stat sheet, but his fantasy output tells a different story. He found Justin Jefferson and T.J. Hockenson for short first-half scores and later showed off his legs with a clutch nine-yard rushing touchdown. Even more encouraging, he flashed chemistry with both Jefferson and Jordan Addison, a sign that this talented Vikings offense is starting to click again. With confidence building and a home matchup against the Ravens on deck in Week 10, McCarthy is starting to look like more than just a stash; he’s a legitimate streaming option in deeper leagues.
OTHER QBs TO TARGET: Sam Darnold, Seahawks (50%); Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (48%); Justin Fields, Jets (45%); Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (40%); Michael Penix Jr., Falcons (19%)
RUNNING BACKS
Note: There aren’t any must-add running backs on the Week 10 Waiver Wire, with the majority being handcuffs or speculative stashes due to the looming NFL Trade Deadline.
TANK BIGSBY, PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (26% ROSTERED)
Tank Bigsby finally showed some juice in Week 8, rumbling for 104 yards on just nine carries in the Eagles’ 38-20 win over the Giants. Most of that damage came after Saquon Barkley exited early in the fourth quarter with a groin injury, but it was still an eye-opening performance for the former Jaguar, who had just 23 rushing yards on the season coming into Sunday. Bigsby looked explosive and decisive, which is exactly what you want to see from a guy trying to carve out a backup role in one of the league’s most dominant rushing offenses.
With the Eagles on the Week 9 bye, Barkley gets some extra time to recover, but if he’s not ready for their Week 10 matchup against the Packers, Bigsby could be thrust into a significant role. We’ve seen what Philly’s lead backs can do behind that offensive line, and Bigsby has the power-speed combo to capitalize. He’s a must-stash handcuff and potential fantasy streamer if Barkley misses any time.
DYLAN SAMPSON, BROWNS (16% ROSTERED)
With Quinshon Judkins leaving Week 8 with a shoulder injury, Dylan Sampson finds himself on fantasy managers’ radars after their Week 9 bye week. The rookie saw limited rushing work against the Patriots but made his impact through the air, catching five passes for 29 yards after Judkins exited in the third quarter. While the team initially labeled Judkins “day-to-day,” fantasy managers should plan ahead in case he’s not ready to go after the bye.
Sampson has quietly carved out a valuable role as a pass-catching weapon and could see a significant workload if Judkins misses time. Jerome Ford will still mix in, but with trade rumors swirling and Sampson’s ability to handle both early-down and receiving duties, he’s the Browns’ back to stash right now. His explosiveness and versatility make him a strong speculative add, as Cleveland’s backfield could look a lot different when they return in Week 10.
OTHER RBs TO TARGET: Tank Bigsby, Eagles (26%); Brian Robinson, 49ers (24%); Tyjae Spears, Titans (45%); Emanuel Wilson, Packers (10%); Isaiah Davis, Jets (13%); Keaton Mitchell, Ravens (1%); Jaylen Wright, Dolphins (2%); Brashard Smith, Chiefs (22%); Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (31%); Jerome Ford, Browns (12%)
WIDE RECEIVERS
DEMARIO DOUGLAS, NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS (4% ROSTERED)
The speedy slot receiver erupted for 100 yards and a touchdown on four catches (six targets) in New England’s thrilling 24–23 win over the Falcons. Demario Douglas wasted no time making an impact, scoring a 16-yard touchdown on the opening drive before torching Atlanta for a 58-yard catch-and-run in the second quarter. He finished with 100 of Drake Maye’s 259 passing yards, while no other Patriot topped 51 yards through the air.
With Kayshon Boutte sidelined by a hamstring injury, Douglas seized the opportunity and showed why his explosiveness can’t be ignored. He’s now earned his way back into the fantasy radar as Maye’s go-to weapon in the slot, setting season highs in both catches and yards. The upcoming schedule only makes him more appealing with New England facing the Buccaneers, Jets, Bengals, and Giants over the next four weeks. If you’re looking for a spark plug who could keep building momentum in an improving offense, Douglas is absolutely worth adding ahead of Week 10.
TORY HORTON, SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (5% ROSTERED)
Tory Horton made the most of his big moment under the Sunday Night Football lights, stepping in for an injured Cooper Kupp (heel/hamstring) and delivering the first multi-touchdown performance of his young career. The Seahawks’ rookie caught all four of his targets for 48 yards and two scores in Seattle’s dominant 38–14 win over the Commanders. Horton wasted no time announcing himself, finding the end zone on back-to-back drives in the first quarter to help the Seahawks jump out to an early lead.
While things quieted down in the second half as Sam Darnold spread the ball around, Horton’s early splash plays were enough to turn heads in both Seattle and the fantasy world. The 2025 fifth-rounder showed excellent timing and chemistry with Darnold, proving he can step up when called upon. Kupp’s status remains uncertain, but Horton has earned himself a bigger slice of this passing attack regardless. With the Cardinals up next in Week 10, he’s a fun speculative add for fantasy managers looking to get ahead of a potential second-half breakout.
ALEC PIERCE, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS (26% ROSTERED)
Alec Pierce delivered his best game of the season in Sunday’s 27–20 loss to the Steelers, hauling in six of his whopping 13 targets for 115 yards. With Daniel Jones airing it out 50 times, Pierce was the clear beneficiary, setting new season highs across the board. He came out hot, snagging three catches for 64 yards on the Colts’ opening drive before cooling off for a bit — but he saved fantasy managers late with a 43-yard burst in the final minutes to notch his first 100-yard outing since Week 17 of last season.
Pierce’s recent consistency shouldn’t go unnoticed either. He’s now posted at least 50 receiving yards in three straight games and has clearly developed a solid connection with Jones. As the Colts continue to open up the passing game, Pierce’s downfield role makes him a sneaky waiver add for managers in need of big-play upside. With steady targets and a defined role in the offense, he’s quietly turning into a reliable WR3/flex option heading into Week 10.
OTHER WRs TO TARGET: Parker Washington, Jaguars (18%); Chimere Dike, Titans (21%); Christian Watson, WR, Packers (29%); Chimere Dike, Titans (21%); Troy Franklin, Broncos (48%); Malik Washington, Dolphins (17%); Tre Tucker, Raiders (38%); Olamide Zaccheaus, Bears (1%)
TIGHT ENDS
COLSTON LOVELAND, CHICAGO BEARS (24% ROSTERED)
Colston Loveland finally made me look like a genius after weeks of pumping him up in our waiver wire and stash articles. If you read us, you should’ve stashed the rookie, but if not, it’s time to break the FAAB bank. The Michigan Man erupted for six catches on seven targets, piling up 118 yards and two touchdowns in the Bears’ wild 47–42 win over the Bengals. Loveland announced his arrival with a five-yard touchdown in the third quarter before capping off Chicago’s rollercoaster fourth quarter with a jaw-dropping 58-yard catch-and-run score, breaking a tackle and racing to the end zone with just 17 seconds left on the clock to win the game.
The 2025 first-rounder’s breakout came with a bit of help from Cole Kmet exiting early due to a concussion, but Loveland didn’t waste a single opportunity. He flashed the athleticism, hands, and upside that made him the TE1 in my 2025 Rookie Rankings, and this performance showed exactly why. These were all career highs across the board for the rookie, and it’s hard to imagine Chicago scaling back his role after a game like that. If Loveland is still floating on your waiver wire, go fix that immediately. The breakout we’ve been waiting for is officially here.
LUKE MUSGRAVE, GREEN BAY PACKERS (0% ROSTERED)
With Tucker Kraft sadly done for the season after suffering a torn ACL, Luke Musgrave is stepping into a big opportunity in Green Bay’s offense. Musgrave caught all three of his targets for 34 yards in Sunday’s loss to the Panthers, and while the box score won’t blow anyone away, his role is about to get a massive upgrade. Kraft had been functioning as the Packers’ top receiving option, leading the team with 30 catches for 469 yards and six touchdowns heading into Week 9. That kind of volume has to go somewhere, and Musgrave is the next man up.
The second-year tight end brings size, athleticism, and familiarity with the offense, and he’s flashed potential when given targets in the past. While fantasy managers shouldn’t expect him to replicate Kraft’s production right away, Musgrave’s path to steady snaps and red-zone looks makes him a worthy pickup in all formats. He’ll slide into the starting role against the Eagles in Week 10 and enters the streaming mix as a low-end TE2 with upside, especially if he earns the trust of Jordan Love early.
OTHER TEs TO TARGET: Juwan Johnson, Saints (35%); Theo Johnson, Giants (33%); AJ Barner, Seahawks (11%); Dalton Schultz, Texans (27%); Elijah Arroyo, Seahawks (1%)
