The NFL season has crossed the halfway point, and by no surprise, the waiver wire in deep leagues is ultra-thin. At this point in the season, the options are scarce, especially at wide receiver and tight end. However, there are still handcuff running backs and emerging quarterbacks who would be worth picking up. Although pass-catchers are tough to come by, we'll cover those potential pickups, too.
The top waiver wire adds are often obvious for traditional 10 and 12-team leagues, but a larger pool of players is in consideration in leagues of 14 people or more. Some of these Week 10 deeper-league waiver wire suggestions will have value right away, while others are simply bench stashes that could help your fantasy team in the future. We won't cover chalk pickups for smaller leagues in this article.
Without further ado, here are the top deeper league waiver wire targets for Week 10, including Joshua Dobbs, Keaton Mitchell, Leonard Fournette, Jalen Guyton, Demario Douglas, and more.
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2024:- Quarterback fantasy football rankings
- Running back fantasy football rankings
- Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
- Tight end fantasy football rankings
- Kicker fantasy football rankings
- FLEX fantasy football rankings
- Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
- Superflex fantasy football rankings
- IDP fantasy football rankings
- Dynasty fantasy football rankings
Running Back Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Keaton Mitchell and Justice Hill are both worth rostering as a part of one of the best rushing offenses in the NFL. Mitchell is likely an obvious shallow league pickup, but Hill can continue to be stashed given the high injury rate at the RB position.
Leonard Fournette could make his Bills' debut against the Broncos on Monday Night Football in Week 10. Buffalo has struggled to run the ball downhill seemingly every season in the Josh Allen era, so perhaps Fournette will give the team a much-needed identity change from the RB spot.
Zach Charbonnet is averaging 5.3 yards per carry, compared to Kenneth Walker's 4.1 yards per tote. As the season moves forward, the rookie could make this backfield more of an even split. At the very least, Charbonnet is a premium handcuff RB.
Kenneth Gainwell has now scored in two of his last three games. He's far from a reliable starter now, but he'd become a must-start option if something happens to D'Andre Swift. Swift missed multiple games in each of his three seasons with the Detroit Lions.
Royce Freeman has outgained Darrell Henderson in each of their three games together. Kyren Williams (ankle) and Ronnie Rivers (knee) are not eligible to return until Week 12, so Freeman has one more chance to be fantasy-viable after the Rams' Week 10 bye.
Tyjae Spears has played on more than 50% of the Titans' offensive snaps in six of his eight games. He continues to be a high-end handcuff stash as Derrick Henry's backup with some standalone value.
Joshua Kelley was disappointing in his handful of starts in the absence of Austin Ekeler early in the season. However, he remains a top-tier handcuff RB in an explosive Chargers offense.
Ezekiel Elliott has 89 total touches this season. If something happens to Rhamondre Stevenson, he'd likely assume a workhorse role in the New England offense, for whatever that's worth.
Jordan Mason and Elijah Mitchell should both be rostered in deep leagues. Christian McCaffrey has already been banged up this season, and there's a real chance he will miss a game or two down the stretch. Mitchell and Mason would compete to have RB2 upside.
Rico Dowdle remains an attractive handcuff running back, especially since the Dallas offense has a high ceiling when it's clicking.
Tank Bigsby is simply worth stashing because he'd likely see a full workhorse role if Travis Etienne has to miss any time this season. The Jaguars offense is getting on track, so that would be a valuable role.
Note: Any direct backup running back, especially one in a good offense, should be considered a bench stash in deep leagues.
Wide Receiver Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Curtis Samuel was out in Week 9 due to injury, but he has three games with at least seven targets this season. As he returns to health, he should be back on the fantasy radar.
Brandin Cooks scored a touchdown in Week 6 and Week 8. In Week 9, he saw just two targets. Expect the Cowboys to emphasize getting him involved as they search for a legitimate target next to CeeDee Lamb.
Tyler Boyd is always a must-roster "handcuff" wide receiver behind Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Joe Burrow is now fully healthy and looks like a top-five quarterback in the NFL again.
Robert Woods and Noah Brown are now both firmly on the fantasy radar after the 470-yard explosion from C.J. Stroud in Week 9. Brown caught six passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, but his role might be reduced when Woods (foot) returns to action. Woods led Houston in total targets before he was absent from their last two games.
Quentin Johnston and Jalen Guyton will both have a chance to compete for targets with Gerald Everett behind Keenan Allen. Will either player boom in fantasy? Who knows. But they should both be rostered in deep leagues just in case.
Demario Douglas posted a career-high 55 receiving yards in the Week 9 loss to the Washington Commanders. The New England pass-catching unit is one of the weakest groups in the NFL, so Douglas should continue to run more routes moving forward.
Odell Beckham Jr. has over 100 yards on 10 catches in his last two complete games, and he scored his first touchdown as a Raven in Week 9. He now has a pulse in fantasy football and should be rostered in deep formats.
Jameson Williams is a classic boom-or-bust weekly fantasy play. If you're deciding between mediocre options, you might as well pick up a speedy player on a great offense.
Mecole Hardman Jr. has caught the third-most touchdowns from Patrick Mahomes all time, trailing only Travis Kelce and Tyreek Hill. As Hardman gets reacclimated to the Kansas City offense, he could have legitimate deep-league value.
Nick Westbrook-Ikhine and Kyle Philips both appear to have increased fantasy value with Will Levis under center. Second-year wide receiver Treylon Burks has failed to stay healthy or make an impact for Tennessee, so NWI and Philips are on the fantasy radar for now.
Tight End Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues
Gerald Everett could be the No. 2 receiver in Justin Herbert's offense for at least the next four games. Joshua Palmer (knee) and Mike Williams (knee) are both on Injured Reserve.
Jonnu Smith posted 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in the first game with Taylor Heinicke under center. Heinicke likely provides a boost to the Atlanta passing game, and Smith has proven he belongs on fantasy rosters.
Hunter Henry is a touchdown-or-bust option in fantasy football, but since he has three end zone trips in 2023, it's tough to ignore him altogether. He makes his money in the red zone.
Luke Musgrave posted 51 yards and his first NFL touchdown in the Week 9 win over the Los Angeles Rams. Given the scarcity at the tight end spot, that's enough to put him on the fantasy radar.
Quarterback Waiver Wire Targets For Deep Leagues/2-QB Leagues
Russell Wilson was on a bye in Week 9, which made him available in over 50% of leagues. The veteran averaged 17.3 fantasy points per game through his first eight starts, placing him firmly on the single-QB league fantasy radar.
Joshua Dobbs posted three total touchdowns coming off the bench in his Vikings' debut. Star wide receiver Justin Jefferson (hamstring) is eligible to come off the Injured Reserve list in Week 10. All of a sudden, Dobbs has real fantasy upside with rushing prowess and a loaded pass-catching group.
Will Levis should be in line to start in Week 10. If so, he'll face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who just gave up 470 yards and five touchdowns to rookie C.J. Stroud.
Taylor Heinicke draws a favorable matchup against the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. Especially if Drake London (groin) comes back, Heinicke is a solid one-week streamer.
P.J. Walker is worth stashing since Deshaun Watson has been unable to stay healthy for more than a week at a time this season.
Mike White would be given the keys to the Dolphins' explosive offense if the oft-injured Tua Tagovailoa gets banged up this year. That makes him worth stashing in Superflex and two-QB leagues.
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