Week 10 Streamers: Fantasy Waiver Pickups for The Bye Week Blues Include Jonnu Smith, Taylor Heinicke, JuJu Smith-Schuster

Mike Fanelli gives some of his favorite potential waiver adds for Week 10 as four NFL teams are on byes, leaving fantasy football players with roster spots to fill.

Fantasy football is a fun game. However, it can be frustrating as well. Whether it's injuries or multiple bye-week players, sometimes you struggle to set your fantasy football lineups.

Week 10 has four teams on a bye -- the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Rams, and Philadelphia Eagles. That means fantasy players will be without several superstars, including Patrick Mahomes, Jalen Hurts, Tua Tagovailoa, D'Andre Swift, Raheem Mostert, Isiah Pacheco, Tyreek Hill, A.J. Brown, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Travis Kelce.

However, there is always something on the waiver wire. Let's look at eight players rostered in under 33% of Yahoo leagues that can help you get through the bye-week blues.

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• Wide receiver fantasy football rankings
• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Week 10 Quarterbacks

Joshua Dobbs (MIN) vs. New Orleans Saints (18% Rostered)

Welcome to Minnesota, Joshua Dobbs. The veteran quarterback came off the bench and was outstanding in the Week 9 win over the Atlanta Falcons. He had two passing touchdowns, a rushing score, and 24.9 fantasy points in the victory. However, no one should be surprised to see the veteran quarterback play well in his Vikings debut.

Dobbs averaged 15.6 fantasy points per game in the eight games as the Arizona Cardinals’ starter, scoring 22.9 or more fantasy points three times, including his final game with the team. Meanwhile, he faces a Saints defense that surrendered 15.8 fantasy points to Tyson Bagent despite the rookie having four turnovers last week.

New Orleans has given up 1.7 passing touchdowns and 16.2 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks over the past three weeks. Dobbs has the weapons to move the ball in the passing game and can rack up fantasy points with his legs.

Taylor Heinicke (ATL) vs. Arizona Cardinals (12% Rostered)

The Falcons made a switch at quarterback in Week 9, benching Desmond Ridder for Heinicke. While the switch didn’t result in a win for Arthur Smith’s squad, Heinicke was a solid fantasy option. He had 268 passing yards, one touchdown, and 14.7 fantasy points despite missing Drake London. Hopefully, the former USC star will play on Sunday.

However, the veteran has played the last 1.5 games mostly without the star wide receiver. Yet, he scored 12.4 fantasy points in the second half of Week 9 before scoring nearly 15 last week. Meanwhile, Heinicke gets a fantasy-friendly matchup this weekend.

Arizona gave up 219 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 19 fantasy points to Deshaun Watson last week. The Cardinals have now surrendered 1.6 passing touchdowns and 18.1 fantasy points per game, the eighth-most in the NFL. While it won’t be pretty, Heinicke isn’t a bad desperate bye-week option.

Week 10 Running Backs

Leonard Fournette (BUF) vs. Denver Broncos (30% Rostered)

While many expected Fournette to make his season debut in Week 9, the Bills didn’t promote the veteran from the practice squad. However, that could change this week against the Broncos. Buffalo got only 24 rushing yards on eight attempts from their backfield last week. While the game script played a role, the Bills have struggled to run the ball lately.

Meanwhile, the Broncos have surrendered the most fantasy points per game to running backs this season, giving up over 30 half-point PPR fantasy points to the position. Denver has also allowed the second-most rushing yards to running backs, giving up 130.9 per game. After seeing their rushing attack struggle in Week 9, Fournette should make his season debut Monday night.

However, fantasy players need a backup option if the veteran isn’t promoted to the active roster. One option is Jaleel McLaughlin (29% rostered). He plays Monday night against the Bills. While his role has decreased lately, the rookie has averaged 7.1 yards per rushing attempt this season. Meanwhile, Buffalo has the fourth-highest explosive run rate allowed at 6.1% (per Fantasy Points Data).

Keaton Mitchell (BAL) vs. Cleveland Browns (6% Rostered)

Gus Edwards has been outstanding lately, averaging 22.2 half-point PPR fantasy points and two rushing touchdowns per game over the past three weeks. However, over 54% of his fantasy production came from the six rushing touchdowns. More importantly, the veteran had only five rushing attempts in Week 9, a season-low. Meanwhile, Mitchell shined.

The rookie running back led the backfield in rushing yards (138) and fantasy points (19.9) against the Seattle Seahawks. He averaged over 15 yards per rushing attempt and had two runs of at least 40 yards, including a rushing score. While head coach John Harbaugh said the team would use a committee approach, Mitchell did enough last week to earn more touches on Sunday.

Unfortunately, the Browns have held running backs to only 14.2 fantasy points per game this season, the fourth-fewest in the NFL. However, they’ve struggled lately. Before facing the Arizona Cardinals in Week 9, Cleveland had surrendered 106 rushing yards and 21.2 fantasy points per game in their previous three contests to running backs. According to Fantasy Points Data, the Browns have the second-highest explosive run rate allowed (7.3%). That’s excellent news for the speedy Mitchell.

Week 10 Wide Receivers

JuJu Smith-Schuster (NE) vs. Indianapolis Colts (19% Rostered)

Unfortunately, the Patriots have struggled on offense this season. They recently lost their top wide receiver, Kendrick Bourne, for the year with a torn ACL. Meanwhile, DeVante Parker is dealing with a concussion. While many were excited to see what Demario Douglas would do in Week 9, Smith-Schuster was the better fantasy wide receiver.

The veteran led the team in receptions (six) and targets (seven) while finishing second to Douglas in receiving yards (55 vs. 51). More importantly, Smith-Schuster scored more half-point PPR fantasy points than the rookie wide receiver. While fantasy players shouldn’t expect the veteran to return to his former superstar form from his days with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Smith-Schuster does have an appealing matchup in Week 10.

New England faces the Colts in Germany on Sunday. The Colts have struggled to slow down opposing wide receivers this season, surrendering 27.4 fantasy points per game. Last week, they held Adam Thielen in check but did give up a receiving touchdown to DJ Chark Jr. More importantly, Indianapolis has surrendered over 215 receiving yards to wide receivers in a third of their games this year.

Khalil Shakir (BUF) vs. Denver Broncos (6% Rostered)

Anyone with Gabe Davis on their fantasy football team won’t want to read any further. Last week, Shakir finished third on the team in targets behind Dalton Kincaid (11) and Stefon Diggs (seven). More importantly, he had twice as many targets as Davis (four vs. two). Unfortunately, that might be the case until Dawson Knox returns from injured reserve.

Over the past two weeks, Shakir has been the WR26, averaging 10 half-point PPR fantasy points per game. The second-year wide receiver has more fantasy points over the past two weeks than several star players, including Marquise Brown, Nico Collins, and DK Metcalf. More importantly, he has become a consistent part of the offense with the veteran tight end out of the lineup.

Meanwhile, Denver’s defense has played better after an awful start to the season. However, they still struggle to slow down wide receivers. The Broncos have given up 27.3 fantasy points per game to the position this year. With the defense focused on Diggs and Kincaid, expect Josh Allen to target Shakir plenty Monday night.

Week 10 Tight Ends

Jonnu Smith (ATL) vs. Arizona Cardinals (29% Rostered)

Fantasy players have every right to hate Arthur Smith. The Falcons aren’t featuring their top playmakers and have lost three of the past four games. Yet, everyone thought a quarterback change would fix their problem, but it hasn’t. However, the quarterback change did help lead to a massive performance from Smith.

The veteran tight end had five receptions on six targets for 100 receiving yards and a touchdown in Week 9, scoring 18.5 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Minnesota Vikings. While the Falcons not having Drake London played a role, Smith has been productive all year.

He is the TE10 for the season, averaging 7.7 fantasy points per game. Smith has scored at least 11.6 fantasy points in three of the past seven contests. Meanwhile, the Cardinals have struggled to slow down tight ends lately. Over the past two weeks, they have given up two touchdowns and 12.9 fantasy points per game to the position.

Irv Smith Jr. (CIN) vs. Houston Texans (4% Rostered)

Many called for the Bengals to add a tight end before the NFL trade deadline. Cincinnati’s offense is loaded with star talent outside the tight end position. However, Smith has seen an increase in targets lately. More importantly, he is coming off his best game this season.

The veteran tight end had three receptions on four targets for 26 receiving yards and a touchdown in the Week 9 win over the Buffalo Bills, scoring 10.1 half-point PPR fantasy points. Smith had his first touchdown of the year in the victory. Furthermore, he scored more fantasy points in Week 9 than over the first eight weeks combined.

While chasing points is never a good idea in fantasy football, I’m breaking the rule this week in a league where I have Travis Kelce on a bye. The Texans have surrendered 12.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, the third-most in the NFL. Over the past two weeks, tight ends have three receiving touchdowns and 29.2 fantasy points against Houston. Last week, Cade Otton had both Tampa Bay Buccaneers passing touchdowns in the loss to the Texans.

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