Tell your friends (just not your leaguemates until next week)

by Optimus Staff

Published On: November 3rd, 2025

Yeah, it can feel like that sometimes.

You do your best, you study the ADP, you listen to all the experts, you put more work into your hobby than you do your actual job, and crush your draft. Of course, some guys don’t perform as well right out of the gate. “That’s OK,” you think to yourself, “They’ve got good supporting metrics, they’ll turn it around.” Injuries start to peck away at your depth piece by piece. All of a sudden, it’s the week after Halloween, and you’re praying for Calvin Ridley to get right so you have a wide receiver to start, let alone two or three. “Why even bother?” You may ask, and we get it.

We’re still here for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re just in it for the love of the game, trying to play spoiler, or making that push for the playoffs, putting the ‘ship up out of reach. The season is long and punishing, and all too short all at the same time. Come March, we’ll be wishing for these days. Take what solace you can in the knowledge that you are not alone, and keep grinding that waiver wire to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready!

As a reminder:

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into our Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds.

Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

UPDATED: With the news of a potential injury to Kai’imi Fairbairn, one more kicker has been added to our waiver wire recommendations for Week 10

Check out our Premium Tools – Use Code “OptimusFall” for 25% OFF 4 Months!

Quarterbacks:

* NOTE: As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 32.9% | FAAB 25-30%

Are you a contender who needs a QB, or think you MIGHT need a QB in the coming weeks? Then you should run, don’t walk, to the waiver wire and grab Joe Flacco ahead of your Week 10 fantasy football match-ups. 

These QB waiver wire recommendations are generally for 2QB and Superflex formats, but Flacco has proven he is a viable starting option even in 1QB leagues. Since taking the reins of the Bengals offense from Jake Browning in Week 6, the veteran signal-caller is QB2 behind Justin Herbert. His lowest fantasy point total in that span is 18.8 points in his Cincinnati debut. 

As crazy as it is, in his 18th NFL season, Flacco is again fantasy relevant. The 40-year-old is averaging 43 passing attempts and 313 yards passing per game, and has 11 TD passes to just two INTs. And, there’s no reason to think this won’t continue. Cincinnati is a pass-forward team, and it shows in Flacco’s stats through four games. Furthermore, their remaining schedule is the fifth easiest among all NFL teams, and with a defense as bad as theirs, they’ll keep on slinging the ball. 

It’s rare to find a gem of a QB this late in the season, but here we are. You can expect to pay up for the veteran journeyman on the waiver wire, but it’ll be worth it down the stretch.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

As a fantasy manager who is heavily invested in Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, it pains me to be writing about Marcus Mariota. However, after a brutal left elbow dislocation this past Sunday, Daniels is now out indefinitely, leaving Mariota as the QB1 in Washington. 

If you’re a fellow Daniels manager or strapped with someone like Tua Tagovailoa on your roster, there are worse options on the waiver wire as we approach Week 10. In three starts this season, Mariota has been more than serviceable. While his last start against Kansas City wasn’t pretty, his two starts in Weeks 3 and 4 had him locked in as the overall QB14 in those weeks.

The hard truth is that Daniels’ season is likely over. Mariota is now the de facto starter in Washington and becomes a viable option in 2QB and Superflex formats. His rushing upside – he has 18 carries for 122 yards and a rushing TD in his three starts – makes him a fringe QB1/QB2 against mediocre defenses – Miami in Week 11, the New York Giants in Week 15, and a backend QB2 in most other situations. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets | 34% Sleeper | 9.1% ESPN | 0-2% FAAB

A trade deadline deal of Breece Hall would rocket Davis to the top of the class for whatever FAAB you have left, just for clarity. But barring that, a low-end bid is fine. Davis has seen steady work as the Jets’ receiving running back. While that doesn’t in and of itself bring a ton of value, we still have a handful of bye weeks left, and Davis is seeing steady work. That’s more than we can say for someone like Jacory Croskey-Merritt. I know. That one hurts me, too.

Overall, the Jets just need something, anything, to go right for them this year. It’s not worth a big bet, but if you’ve got a roster spot to churn and are weak at RB, give him a look.

Week 10 Handcuff Who Matters:

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles | 26% Sleeper | 26.1% ESPN | 1-2% FAAB

We’re gonna try and sneak Tank through as the Eagles come off their bye for our Saquon managers. We’ve seen very little of Tank as an RB since his trade from Jacksonville to Philadelphia outside of kickoffs. Prior to Week 8, he had a single carry for 11 yards for the Eagles. Even in Week 8, the Eagles only gave him nine carries in mop-up duty. However, he was able to turn those nine carries into 104 yards. If you’re a Saquon manager and already have a playoff spot all but locked up, throw out a low bid for Bigsby to protect your backside.

Wide Receivers:

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars | 27% Sleeper | 4.9% ESPN | 5-7% FAAB

I have fought the Parker Washington Wars™️ for far too long, and now I have come home very tired and weary from battle. With Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee injury, plus the quad injury from three weeks ago to tight end Brenton Strange, there has been a lot of opportunity for some of the other receivers in the Jaguars’ offense. None has stepped up to the plate more than Washington.

Sandwiched around a Week 9 bye, Washington has averaged 9.5 targets in his last two games and has run routes on 90% of Trevor Lawrence‘s dropbacks. His per-game averages in those two contests are 9.5 targets, 6.0 receptions, and 71 receiving yards. While the Jaguars will never confuse anybody for an elite offense, the intent with which the Jaguars’ offense is directing their targets and opportunity to Washington is eye-opening. Not only that, but Brian Thomas was struggling and then left Week 9’s game with an ankle injury. Dyami Brown left Week 9 with a concussion. The Jaguars were already down Tim Patrick as well, with a groin injury. This has been a pass-catching group hit hard by injury this season, but Washington can earn volume despite a tough divisional matchup next week in Houston against the Texans.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers | 33% Sleeper | 25.6% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

Embed from Getty Images

In Week 8. Christian Watson returned after a nearly 11-month layoff after tearing his ACL in Week 18 last season. Watson immediately ran 65% of routes per dropback in his 2025 season debut and earned four targets for 85 yards. He stepped into a contending team as an immediate contributor and ran a substantial number of routes.

In Week 9, Watson earned another four targets for 58 yards with an uptick in routes to 75% this week, but the circumstances around Watson have changed as tight end Tucker Kraft is likely out for the season with a knee injury, and Matthew Golden also left the game with a shoulder injury. Watson ended up jumping into the slot a bit more with Golden sidelined, but Kraft’s long-term injury should shake up the Packers’ target tree for the rest of the season. While the Packers are going to get other receivers like Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks back at some point this season from their own injuries, Watson looks like a solid bet in the short term to pick up some of the target-earning slack Green Bay’s offense. He’s worth a handful of FAAB as a possible flex option or bench depth.

Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks | 14% Sleeper | 3.9% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

While the Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most surprising offenses in the NFL this season, that offensive firepower has only benefited Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Looking for a consistent second option here for the Seahawks has been a futile endeavor, but maybe Cooper Kupp‘s heel and hamstring injuries (and also Jake Bobo‘s Achilles) can pave the way for Tory Horton to get some more market share going forward?

Horton caught two touchdowns early on in Seattle’s dismantling of the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, and his 4-48-2 line was solid considering Seattle packed the passing game in for the fourth quarter. Still, Horton never crested five targets in any game so far in his rookie season, but he’s scored five touchdowns this season in addition to his pair of scores last night. The hope with Horton is that he can play more alongside Smith-Njigba than Kupp will in two-receiver formations, and that the defensive attention Smith-Njigba will see can trickle down to more opportunities elsewhere in the offense. Horton is purely a speculative add on waivers in deeper leagues and some 12-team leagues if there’s room on your roster, but stashing a rookie on an explosive offense for upside later in the season is always a great way to set yourself up for success down the road.

Tight Ends:

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.2% | FAAB 100%

The former 2023 2nd round pick out of Oregon State ended up being outshone by Tucker Kraft, who was a 3rd round pick that same year. Unfortunately, Kraft tore his ACL, which was confirmed just before noon Eastern Time on Monday. The Green Bay Packers have made it clear that the tight end is the centerpiece of their offense, and the wide receivers only get the ball if they happen to be open. Musgrave is not expected to be anywhere near as talented as Kraft, but if the former falls in the end zone, then you’re not all that concerned about talent level. Even if you already have a starting tight end on your roster, Musgrave is a must-add to your bench. If you have any FAAB money left, then empty it for Musgrave. At the time of this writing, the Packers have not traded for a TE to fill in for Kraft. Assuming that does not happen, treat Musgrave as a TE2 with upside for the rest of this season.

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 27% | ESPN 23.6% | FAAB 50%

Bears head coach Ben Johnson spent the No.10 overall pick on Loveland this season, even while the team already had Cole Kmet as a prolific pass-catcher. A rookie out of Michigan, Loveland has slowly seen his targets go up as Johnson gets him more involved in the offense. On Sunday, Cole Kmet had to leave the game early due to a concussion. Colston Loveland’s only positional competition until Kmet returns is Durham Smythe, who is a better blocker than a pass-catcher. Kmet has not yet been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Giants, but it would not be surprising if he had to sit out that game. When Kmet returns, he is not expected to take away any noteworthy volume from Loveland. The breakout game by Loveland against the Bengals was nothing short of marvelous, but he is not expected to reach 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns every single week. That was the only game in which he exceeded 38 receiving yards, which was good enough for a low-end TE2 value. Treat Loveland as a TE2 against the Giants with red zone upside.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 4.4% | 0-1% FAAB

Defense streamers, you’re reading that right. I am recommending the Carolina Panthers as a solid D/ST option heading into Week 10. I know, this team is supposed to be bad, but as it turns out, they’re kinda not. Currently sitting at 5-4, this ragtag Panthers squad has won four of its last five games, thanks in no small part to its defense.

While the D/ST unit has been hit or miss through the first nine weeks of the season, they’ve been money against bad offenses. The unit racked up 23 fantasy points against the Falcons in Week 3 and 17 fantasy points against the Jets in Week 7. This upcoming week, the Panthers face off against the New Orleans Saints, who are giving up an average of 11 fantasy points per game (FFPG) to D/ST units, followed by Atlanta again in Week 11. 

As a streaming option, Carolina is a solid and widely available option in fantasy football leagues. If you’re so inclined, you can make them a two-week streamer and hold them through their Week 11 matchup against the Falcons, and even possibly Week 12 against a 49ers team giving up 7.9 FPPG to D/ST units. 

Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 29.5% | 2-3% FAAB

Not a lot is going right in Cleveland this season, but you cannot say their defense has been the problem. The Browns D/ST unit is currently ranked 10th overall in FPPG (7.3), and this week brings a cherry matchup against a reeling New York Jets squad. 

While we don’t know who will be behind center for the Jets on Sunday, it likely won’t matter. Whether it’s journeyman veteran Tyrod Taylor or the polarizing Justin Fields, this team can’t get out of its own way. While Fields has yet to throw an INT, he has lost three fumbles, and his general inefficiency has led head coach Aaron Glenn to remain non-committal about him as the starter this coming week. If it’s Taylor, he does throw INTs – three in three games this season – and is more inefficient than Fields by a long shot. 

Good defense meets bad offense. It’s simple for this one. And if you like what you see this week, you can hold this Browns unit long-term. Outside of matchups with Buffalo and Pittsburgh in Weeks 16 and 17, their remaining schedule should be a fantasy feast for this D/ST unit.   

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | 0-1% FAAB

If Ka’imi Fairbairn popping up on the Texans’ injury report has you worried, the Dolphins’ Riley Patterson is a solid pivot this week. Since taking over for an injured Jason Sanders in Week 2, Patterson is the overall K9. His record is stellar, with the fifth-year kicker out of Memphis being 13-of-15 on field goal attempts and a perfect 19-for-19 on extra point attempts.

While a matchup against Buffalo this weekend might scare you off, don’t let it. Despite allowing the ninth fewest points to fantasy kickers this season, they’re still giving up 9 FPPG, which will land him as a top ten fantasy finish most weeks

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 13.7% | 2-3% FAAB

If you’re in a league that has a kicker roster spot, there is no reason Will Reichard should be on your waiver wire past this week. Reichard, currently the overall K9, has been nearly automatic, missing only two field goal attempts this season, and has made all six attempts from 50 yards or more. 

The team now has second-year QB J.J. McCarthy back behind center, and in theory, should be moving the ball better than they were with Carson Wentz starting. Reichard will be seeing plenty of opportunities to show off his big leg, and given his accuracy, he should be a top choice at kicker on the waiver wire in Week 10.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 37.4% | 2-3% FAAB

Finding a viable fantasy football kicker is all about opportunity, and if Ka’imi Fairbairn wasn’t getting enough for you, that’s about to change this upcoming week.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud went down this past weekend with a concussion, and backup Davis Mills took the reins. While not lucrative for the rest of the Texans’ offense, it was a boon for Fairbairn. The veteran and current K1 in fantasy football drilled five field goals on Sunday, the only scoring from the Texans in an 18-15 loss. Early reports indicate it will likely be Mills behind center again in Week 11 against Jacksonville. If Week 9 was any indication, we should have a lot of Fairbairn opportunities after stalled drives at home this coming weekend. 

Given Fairbairn is the overall K1, and there’s no sign the Houston offense will be more efficient with Mills or the return of Stroud, getting him rostered for the rest of 2025 is a no-brainer.     

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Yeah, it can feel like that sometimes.

You do your best, you study the ADP, you listen to all the experts, you put more work into your hobby than you do your actual job, and crush your draft. Of course, some guys don’t perform as well right out of the gate. “That’s OK,” you think to yourself, “They’ve got good supporting metrics, they’ll turn it around.” Injuries start to peck away at your depth piece by piece. All of a sudden, it’s the week after Halloween, and you’re praying for Calvin Ridley to get right so you have a wide receiver to start, let alone two or three. “Why even bother?” You may ask, and we get it.

We’re still here for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re just in it for the love of the game, trying to play spoiler, or making that push for the playoffs, putting the ‘ship up out of reach. The season is long and punishing, and all too short all at the same time. Come March, we’ll be wishing for these days. Take what solace you can in the knowledge that you are not alone, and keep grinding that waiver wire to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready!

As a reminder:

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into our Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds.

Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

UPDATED: With the news of a potential injury to Kai’imi Fairbairn, one more kicker has been added to our waiver wire recommendations for Week 10

Check out our Premium Tools – Use Code “OptimusFall” for 25% OFF 4 Months!

Quarterbacks:

* NOTE: As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 32.9% | FAAB 25-30%

Are you a contender who needs a QB, or think you MIGHT need a QB in the coming weeks? Then you should run, don’t walk, to the waiver wire and grab Joe Flacco ahead of your Week 10 fantasy football match-ups. 

These QB waiver wire recommendations are generally for 2QB and Superflex formats, but Flacco has proven he is a viable starting option even in 1QB leagues. Since taking the reins of the Bengals offense from Jake Browning in Week 6, the veteran signal-caller is QB2 behind Justin Herbert. His lowest fantasy point total in that span is 18.8 points in his Cincinnati debut. 

As crazy as it is, in his 18th NFL season, Flacco is again fantasy relevant. The 40-year-old is averaging 43 passing attempts and 313 yards passing per game, and has 11 TD passes to just two INTs. And, there’s no reason to think this won’t continue. Cincinnati is a pass-forward team, and it shows in Flacco’s stats through four games. Furthermore, their remaining schedule is the fifth easiest among all NFL teams, and with a defense as bad as theirs, they’ll keep on slinging the ball. 

It’s rare to find a gem of a QB this late in the season, but here we are. You can expect to pay up for the veteran journeyman on the waiver wire, but it’ll be worth it down the stretch.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 3-5%

Embed from Getty Images

As a fantasy manager who is heavily invested in Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, it pains me to be writing about Marcus Mariota. However, after a brutal left elbow dislocation this past Sunday, Daniels is now out indefinitely, leaving Mariota as the QB1 in Washington. 

If you’re a fellow Daniels manager or strapped with someone like Tua Tagovailoa on your roster, there are worse options on the waiver wire as we approach Week 10. In three starts this season, Mariota has been more than serviceable. While his last start against Kansas City wasn’t pretty, his two starts in Weeks 3 and 4 had him locked in as the overall QB14 in those weeks.

The hard truth is that Daniels’ season is likely over. Mariota is now the de facto starter in Washington and becomes a viable option in 2QB and Superflex formats. His rushing upside – he has 18 carries for 122 yards and a rushing TD in his three starts – makes him a fringe QB1/QB2 against mediocre defenses – Miami in Week 11, the New York Giants in Week 15, and a backend QB2 in most other situations. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets | 34% Sleeper | 9.1% ESPN | 0-2% FAAB

A trade deadline deal of Breece Hall would rocket Davis to the top of the class for whatever FAAB you have left, just for clarity. But barring that, a low-end bid is fine. Davis has seen steady work as the Jets’ receiving running back. While that doesn’t in and of itself bring a ton of value, we still have a handful of bye weeks left, and Davis is seeing steady work. That’s more than we can say for someone like Jacory Croskey-Merritt. I know. That one hurts me, too.

Overall, the Jets just need something, anything, to go right for them this year. It’s not worth a big bet, but if you’ve got a roster spot to churn and are weak at RB, give him a look.

Week 10 Handcuff Who Matters:

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles | 26% Sleeper | 26.1% ESPN | 1-2% FAAB

We’re gonna try and sneak Tank through as the Eagles come off their bye for our Saquon managers. We’ve seen very little of Tank as an RB since his trade from Jacksonville to Philadelphia outside of kickoffs. Prior to Week 8, he had a single carry for 11 yards for the Eagles. Even in Week 8, the Eagles only gave him nine carries in mop-up duty. However, he was able to turn those nine carries into 104 yards. If you’re a Saquon manager and already have a playoff spot all but locked up, throw out a low bid for Bigsby to protect your backside.

Wide Receivers:

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars | 27% Sleeper | 4.9% ESPN | 5-7% FAAB

I have fought the Parker Washington Wars™️ for far too long, and now I have come home very tired and weary from battle. With Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee injury, plus the quad injury from three weeks ago to tight end Brenton Strange, there has been a lot of opportunity for some of the other receivers in the Jaguars’ offense. None has stepped up to the plate more than Washington.

Sandwiched around a Week 9 bye, Washington has averaged 9.5 targets in his last two games and has run routes on 90% of Trevor Lawrence‘s dropbacks. His per-game averages in those two contests are 9.5 targets, 6.0 receptions, and 71 receiving yards. While the Jaguars will never confuse anybody for an elite offense, the intent with which the Jaguars’ offense is directing their targets and opportunity to Washington is eye-opening. Not only that, but Brian Thomas was struggling and then left Week 9’s game with an ankle injury. Dyami Brown left Week 9 with a concussion. The Jaguars were already down Tim Patrick as well, with a groin injury. This has been a pass-catching group hit hard by injury this season, but Washington can earn volume despite a tough divisional matchup next week in Houston against the Texans.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers | 33% Sleeper | 25.6% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

Embed from Getty Images

In Week 8. Christian Watson returned after a nearly 11-month layoff after tearing his ACL in Week 18 last season. Watson immediately ran 65% of routes per dropback in his 2025 season debut and earned four targets for 85 yards. He stepped into a contending team as an immediate contributor and ran a substantial number of routes.

In Week 9, Watson earned another four targets for 58 yards with an uptick in routes to 75% this week, but the circumstances around Watson have changed as tight end Tucker Kraft is likely out for the season with a knee injury, and Matthew Golden also left the game with a shoulder injury. Watson ended up jumping into the slot a bit more with Golden sidelined, but Kraft’s long-term injury should shake up the Packers’ target tree for the rest of the season. While the Packers are going to get other receivers like Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks back at some point this season from their own injuries, Watson looks like a solid bet in the short term to pick up some of the target-earning slack Green Bay’s offense. He’s worth a handful of FAAB as a possible flex option or bench depth.

Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks | 14% Sleeper | 3.9% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

While the Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most surprising offenses in the NFL this season, that offensive firepower has only benefited Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Looking for a consistent second option here for the Seahawks has been a futile endeavor, but maybe Cooper Kupp‘s heel and hamstring injuries (and also Jake Bobo‘s Achilles) can pave the way for Tory Horton to get some more market share going forward?

Horton caught two touchdowns early on in Seattle’s dismantling of the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, and his 4-48-2 line was solid considering Seattle packed the passing game in for the fourth quarter. Still, Horton never crested five targets in any game so far in his rookie season, but he’s scored five touchdowns this season in addition to his pair of scores last night. The hope with Horton is that he can play more alongside Smith-Njigba than Kupp will in two-receiver formations, and that the defensive attention Smith-Njigba will see can trickle down to more opportunities elsewhere in the offense. Horton is purely a speculative add on waivers in deeper leagues and some 12-team leagues if there’s room on your roster, but stashing a rookie on an explosive offense for upside later in the season is always a great way to set yourself up for success down the road.

Tight Ends:

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.2% | FAAB 100%

The former 2023 2nd round pick out of Oregon State ended up being outshone by Tucker Kraft, who was a 3rd round pick that same year. Unfortunately, Kraft tore his ACL, which was confirmed just before noon Eastern Time on Monday. The Green Bay Packers have made it clear that the tight end is the centerpiece of their offense, and the wide receivers only get the ball if they happen to be open. Musgrave is not expected to be anywhere near as talented as Kraft, but if the former falls in the end zone, then you’re not all that concerned about talent level. Even if you already have a starting tight end on your roster, Musgrave is a must-add to your bench. If you have any FAAB money left, then empty it for Musgrave. At the time of this writing, the Packers have not traded for a TE to fill in for Kraft. Assuming that does not happen, treat Musgrave as a TE2 with upside for the rest of this season.

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 27% | ESPN 23.6% | FAAB 50%

Bears head coach Ben Johnson spent the No.10 overall pick on Loveland this season, even while the team already had Cole Kmet as a prolific pass-catcher. A rookie out of Michigan, Loveland has slowly seen his targets go up as Johnson gets him more involved in the offense. On Sunday, Cole Kmet had to leave the game early due to a concussion. Colston Loveland’s only positional competition until Kmet returns is Durham Smythe, who is a better blocker than a pass-catcher. Kmet has not yet been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Giants, but it would not be surprising if he had to sit out that game. When Kmet returns, he is not expected to take away any noteworthy volume from Loveland. The breakout game by Loveland against the Bengals was nothing short of marvelous, but he is not expected to reach 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns every single week. That was the only game in which he exceeded 38 receiving yards, which was good enough for a low-end TE2 value. Treat Loveland as a TE2 against the Giants with red zone upside.

For More In-Depth Analysis, Check Out Our Waiver Wire YouTube Show:


Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 4.4% | 0-1% FAAB

Defense streamers, you’re reading that right. I am recommending the Carolina Panthers as a solid D/ST option heading into Week 10. I know, this team is supposed to be bad, but as it turns out, they’re kinda not. Currently sitting at 5-4, this ragtag Panthers squad has won four of its last five games, thanks in no small part to its defense.

While the D/ST unit has been hit or miss through the first nine weeks of the season, they’ve been money against bad offenses. The unit racked up 23 fantasy points against the Falcons in Week 3 and 17 fantasy points against the Jets in Week 7. This upcoming week, the Panthers face off against the New Orleans Saints, who are giving up an average of 11 fantasy points per game (FFPG) to D/ST units, followed by Atlanta again in Week 11. 

As a streaming option, Carolina is a solid and widely available option in fantasy football leagues. If you’re so inclined, you can make them a two-week streamer and hold them through their Week 11 matchup against the Falcons, and even possibly Week 12 against a 49ers team giving up 7.9 FPPG to D/ST units. 

Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 29.5% | 2-3% FAAB

Not a lot is going right in Cleveland this season, but you cannot say their defense has been the problem. The Browns D/ST unit is currently ranked 10th overall in FPPG (7.3), and this week brings a cherry matchup against a reeling New York Jets squad. 

While we don’t know who will be behind center for the Jets on Sunday, it likely won’t matter. Whether it’s journeyman veteran Tyrod Taylor or the polarizing Justin Fields, this team can’t get out of its own way. While Fields has yet to throw an INT, he has lost three fumbles, and his general inefficiency has led head coach Aaron Glenn to remain non-committal about him as the starter this coming week. If it’s Taylor, he does throw INTs – three in three games this season – and is more inefficient than Fields by a long shot. 

Good defense meets bad offense. It’s simple for this one. And if you like what you see this week, you can hold this Browns unit long-term. Outside of matchups with Buffalo and Pittsburgh in Weeks 16 and 17, their remaining schedule should be a fantasy feast for this D/ST unit.   

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | 0-1% FAAB

If Ka’imi Fairbairn popping up on the Texans’ injury report has you worried, the Dolphins’ Riley Patterson is a solid pivot this week. Since taking over for an injured Jason Sanders in Week 2, Patterson is the overall K9. His record is stellar, with the fifth-year kicker out of Memphis being 13-of-15 on field goal attempts and a perfect 19-for-19 on extra point attempts.

While a matchup against Buffalo this weekend might scare you off, don’t let it. Despite allowing the ninth fewest points to fantasy kickers this season, they’re still giving up 9 FPPG, which will land him as a top ten fantasy finish most weeks

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 13.7% | 2-3% FAAB

If you’re in a league that has a kicker roster spot, there is no reason Will Reichard should be on your waiver wire past this week. Reichard, currently the overall K9, has been nearly automatic, missing only two field goal attempts this season, and has made all six attempts from 50 yards or more. 

The team now has second-year QB J.J. McCarthy back behind center, and in theory, should be moving the ball better than they were with Carson Wentz starting. Reichard will be seeing plenty of opportunities to show off his big leg, and given his accuracy, he should be a top choice at kicker on the waiver wire in Week 10.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 37.4% | 2-3% FAAB

Finding a viable fantasy football kicker is all about opportunity, and if Ka’imi Fairbairn wasn’t getting enough for you, that’s about to change this upcoming week.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud went down this past weekend with a concussion, and backup Davis Mills took the reins. While not lucrative for the rest of the Texans’ offense, it was a boon for Fairbairn. The veteran and current K1 in fantasy football drilled five field goals on Sunday, the only scoring from the Texans in an 18-15 loss. Early reports indicate it will likely be Mills behind center again in Week 11 against Jacksonville. If Week 9 was any indication, we should have a lot of Fairbairn opportunities after stalled drives at home this coming weekend. 

Given Fairbairn is the overall K1, and there’s no sign the Houston offense will be more efficient with Mills or the return of Stroud, getting him rostered for the rest of 2025 is a no-brainer.     

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

Yeah, it can feel like that sometimes.

You do your best, you study the ADP, you listen to all the experts, you put more work into your hobby than you do your actual job, and crush your draft. Of course, some guys don’t perform as well right out of the gate. “That’s OK,” you think to yourself, “They’ve got good supporting metrics, they’ll turn it around.” Injuries start to peck away at your depth piece by piece. All of a sudden, it’s the week after Halloween, and you’re praying for Calvin Ridley to get right so you have a wide receiver to start, let alone two or three. “Why even bother?” You may ask, and we get it.

We’re still here for you. It doesn’t matter if you’re just in it for the love of the game, trying to play spoiler, or making that push for the playoffs, putting the ‘ship up out of reach. The season is long and punishing, and all too short all at the same time. Come March, we’ll be wishing for these days. Take what solace you can in the knowledge that you are not alone, and keep grinding that waiver wire to stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready!

As a reminder:

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, let’s dive into our Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds.

Week 10 Waiver Wire Adds For Your 2025 Fantasy Football Team

UPDATED: With the news of a potential injury to Kai’imi Fairbairn, one more kicker has been added to our waiver wire recommendations for Week 10

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Quarterbacks:

* NOTE: As a general rule, these fantasy football waiver wire QB recommendations apply to 2QB and Superflex leagues, unless otherwise noted.

Joe Flacco, Cincinnati Bengals | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 32.9% | FAAB 25-30%

Are you a contender who needs a QB, or think you MIGHT need a QB in the coming weeks? Then you should run, don’t walk, to the waiver wire and grab Joe Flacco ahead of your Week 10 fantasy football match-ups. 

These QB waiver wire recommendations are generally for 2QB and Superflex formats, but Flacco has proven he is a viable starting option even in 1QB leagues. Since taking the reins of the Bengals offense from Jake Browning in Week 6, the veteran signal-caller is QB2 behind Justin Herbert. His lowest fantasy point total in that span is 18.8 points in his Cincinnati debut. 

As crazy as it is, in his 18th NFL season, Flacco is again fantasy relevant. The 40-year-old is averaging 43 passing attempts and 313 yards passing per game, and has 11 TD passes to just two INTs. And, there’s no reason to think this won’t continue. Cincinnati is a pass-forward team, and it shows in Flacco’s stats through four games. Furthermore, their remaining schedule is the fifth easiest among all NFL teams, and with a defense as bad as theirs, they’ll keep on slinging the ball. 

It’s rare to find a gem of a QB this late in the season, but here we are. You can expect to pay up for the veteran journeyman on the waiver wire, but it’ll be worth it down the stretch.

Marcus Mariota, Washington Commanders | Sleeper 10% | ESPN 5.2% | FAAB 3-5%

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As a fantasy manager who is heavily invested in Commanders QB Jayden Daniels, it pains me to be writing about Marcus Mariota. However, after a brutal left elbow dislocation this past Sunday, Daniels is now out indefinitely, leaving Mariota as the QB1 in Washington. 

If you’re a fellow Daniels manager or strapped with someone like Tua Tagovailoa on your roster, there are worse options on the waiver wire as we approach Week 10. In three starts this season, Mariota has been more than serviceable. While his last start against Kansas City wasn’t pretty, his two starts in Weeks 3 and 4 had him locked in as the overall QB14 in those weeks.

The hard truth is that Daniels’ season is likely over. Mariota is now the de facto starter in Washington and becomes a viable option in 2QB and Superflex formats. His rushing upside – he has 18 carries for 122 yards and a rushing TD in his three starts – makes him a fringe QB1/QB2 against mediocre defenses – Miami in Week 11, the New York Giants in Week 15, and a backend QB2 in most other situations. 

Running Backs:

I need to start this section off with a bit of a warning/disclaimer. RB handcuffs are generally not a great idea throughout the season. They take up a roster spot. Yeah, RBs get hurt, but unless the RB you have the handcuff for gets hurt, does that help? Obviously not. So it’s easy to waste a roster spot by focusing on rostering handcuffs. And….

As we start to turn our attention to playoff runs, now is the time to start making sure you have an RB to start if, fantasy football gods forbid, you end up losing your high-end RB to injury. So every week, I’m going to highlight a ‘handcuff who matters.’ Because not all handcuffs are created equal.

Isaiah Davis, New York Jets | 34% Sleeper | 9.1% ESPN | 0-2% FAAB

A trade deadline deal of Breece Hall would rocket Davis to the top of the class for whatever FAAB you have left, just for clarity. But barring that, a low-end bid is fine. Davis has seen steady work as the Jets’ receiving running back. While that doesn’t in and of itself bring a ton of value, we still have a handful of bye weeks left, and Davis is seeing steady work. That’s more than we can say for someone like Jacory Croskey-Merritt. I know. That one hurts me, too.

Overall, the Jets just need something, anything, to go right for them this year. It’s not worth a big bet, but if you’ve got a roster spot to churn and are weak at RB, give him a look.

Week 10 Handcuff Who Matters:

Tank Bigsby, Philadelphia Eagles | 26% Sleeper | 26.1% ESPN | 1-2% FAAB

We’re gonna try and sneak Tank through as the Eagles come off their bye for our Saquon managers. We’ve seen very little of Tank as an RB since his trade from Jacksonville to Philadelphia outside of kickoffs. Prior to Week 8, he had a single carry for 11 yards for the Eagles. Even in Week 8, the Eagles only gave him nine carries in mop-up duty. However, he was able to turn those nine carries into 104 yards. If you’re a Saquon manager and already have a playoff spot all but locked up, throw out a low bid for Bigsby to protect your backside.

Wide Receivers:

Parker Washington, Jacksonville Jaguars | 27% Sleeper | 4.9% ESPN | 5-7% FAAB

I have fought the Parker Washington Wars™️ for far too long, and now I have come home very tired and weary from battle. With Travis Hunter on injured reserve with a knee injury, plus the quad injury from three weeks ago to tight end Brenton Strange, there has been a lot of opportunity for some of the other receivers in the Jaguars’ offense. None has stepped up to the plate more than Washington.

Sandwiched around a Week 9 bye, Washington has averaged 9.5 targets in his last two games and has run routes on 90% of Trevor Lawrence‘s dropbacks. His per-game averages in those two contests are 9.5 targets, 6.0 receptions, and 71 receiving yards. While the Jaguars will never confuse anybody for an elite offense, the intent with which the Jaguars’ offense is directing their targets and opportunity to Washington is eye-opening. Not only that, but Brian Thomas was struggling and then left Week 9’s game with an ankle injury. Dyami Brown left Week 9 with a concussion. The Jaguars were already down Tim Patrick as well, with a groin injury. This has been a pass-catching group hit hard by injury this season, but Washington can earn volume despite a tough divisional matchup next week in Houston against the Texans.

Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers | 33% Sleeper | 25.6% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

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In Week 8. Christian Watson returned after a nearly 11-month layoff after tearing his ACL in Week 18 last season. Watson immediately ran 65% of routes per dropback in his 2025 season debut and earned four targets for 85 yards. He stepped into a contending team as an immediate contributor and ran a substantial number of routes.

In Week 9, Watson earned another four targets for 58 yards with an uptick in routes to 75% this week, but the circumstances around Watson have changed as tight end Tucker Kraft is likely out for the season with a knee injury, and Matthew Golden also left the game with a shoulder injury. Watson ended up jumping into the slot a bit more with Golden sidelined, but Kraft’s long-term injury should shake up the Packers’ target tree for the rest of the season. While the Packers are going to get other receivers like Jayden Reed and Dontayvion Wicks back at some point this season from their own injuries, Watson looks like a solid bet in the short term to pick up some of the target-earning slack Green Bay’s offense. He’s worth a handful of FAAB as a possible flex option or bench depth.

Tory Horton, Seattle Seahawks | 14% Sleeper | 3.9% ESPN | 3-5% FAAB

While the Seattle Seahawks have been one of the most surprising offenses in the NFL this season, that offensive firepower has only benefited Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Looking for a consistent second option here for the Seahawks has been a futile endeavor, but maybe Cooper Kupp‘s heel and hamstring injuries (and also Jake Bobo‘s Achilles) can pave the way for Tory Horton to get some more market share going forward?

Horton caught two touchdowns early on in Seattle’s dismantling of the Washington Commanders on Sunday Night Football, and his 4-48-2 line was solid considering Seattle packed the passing game in for the fourth quarter. Still, Horton never crested five targets in any game so far in his rookie season, but he’s scored five touchdowns this season in addition to his pair of scores last night. The hope with Horton is that he can play more alongside Smith-Njigba than Kupp will in two-receiver formations, and that the defensive attention Smith-Njigba will see can trickle down to more opportunities elsewhere in the offense. Horton is purely a speculative add on waivers in deeper leagues and some 12-team leagues if there’s room on your roster, but stashing a rookie on an explosive offense for upside later in the season is always a great way to set yourself up for success down the road.

Tight Ends:

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers | Sleeper 0% | ESPN 0.2% | FAAB 100%

The former 2023 2nd round pick out of Oregon State ended up being outshone by Tucker Kraft, who was a 3rd round pick that same year. Unfortunately, Kraft tore his ACL, which was confirmed just before noon Eastern Time on Monday. The Green Bay Packers have made it clear that the tight end is the centerpiece of their offense, and the wide receivers only get the ball if they happen to be open. Musgrave is not expected to be anywhere near as talented as Kraft, but if the former falls in the end zone, then you’re not all that concerned about talent level. Even if you already have a starting tight end on your roster, Musgrave is a must-add to your bench. If you have any FAAB money left, then empty it for Musgrave. At the time of this writing, the Packers have not traded for a TE to fill in for Kraft. Assuming that does not happen, treat Musgrave as a TE2 with upside for the rest of this season.

Colston Loveland, Chicago Bears | Sleeper 27% | ESPN 23.6% | FAAB 50%

Bears head coach Ben Johnson spent the No.10 overall pick on Loveland this season, even while the team already had Cole Kmet as a prolific pass-catcher. A rookie out of Michigan, Loveland has slowly seen his targets go up as Johnson gets him more involved in the offense. On Sunday, Cole Kmet had to leave the game early due to a concussion. Colston Loveland’s only positional competition until Kmet returns is Durham Smythe, who is a better blocker than a pass-catcher. Kmet has not yet been ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Giants, but it would not be surprising if he had to sit out that game. When Kmet returns, he is not expected to take away any noteworthy volume from Loveland. The breakout game by Loveland against the Bengals was nothing short of marvelous, but he is not expected to reach 118 receiving yards and two touchdowns every single week. That was the only game in which he exceeded 38 receiving yards, which was good enough for a low-end TE2 value. Treat Loveland as a TE2 against the Giants with red zone upside.

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Defense/Special Teams (D/STs):

Carolina Panthers | Sleeper 3% | ESPN 4.4% | 0-1% FAAB

Defense streamers, you’re reading that right. I am recommending the Carolina Panthers as a solid D/ST option heading into Week 10. I know, this team is supposed to be bad, but as it turns out, they’re kinda not. Currently sitting at 5-4, this ragtag Panthers squad has won four of its last five games, thanks in no small part to its defense.

While the D/ST unit has been hit or miss through the first nine weeks of the season, they’ve been money against bad offenses. The unit racked up 23 fantasy points against the Falcons in Week 3 and 17 fantasy points against the Jets in Week 7. This upcoming week, the Panthers face off against the New Orleans Saints, who are giving up an average of 11 fantasy points per game (FFPG) to D/ST units, followed by Atlanta again in Week 11. 

As a streaming option, Carolina is a solid and widely available option in fantasy football leagues. If you’re so inclined, you can make them a two-week streamer and hold them through their Week 11 matchup against the Falcons, and even possibly Week 12 against a 49ers team giving up 7.9 FPPG to D/ST units. 

Cleveland Browns | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 29.5% | 2-3% FAAB

Not a lot is going right in Cleveland this season, but you cannot say their defense has been the problem. The Browns D/ST unit is currently ranked 10th overall in FPPG (7.3), and this week brings a cherry matchup against a reeling New York Jets squad. 

While we don’t know who will be behind center for the Jets on Sunday, it likely won’t matter. Whether it’s journeyman veteran Tyrod Taylor or the polarizing Justin Fields, this team can’t get out of its own way. While Fields has yet to throw an INT, he has lost three fumbles, and his general inefficiency has led head coach Aaron Glenn to remain non-committal about him as the starter this coming week. If it’s Taylor, he does throw INTs – three in three games this season – and is more inefficient than Fields by a long shot. 

Good defense meets bad offense. It’s simple for this one. And if you like what you see this week, you can hold this Browns unit long-term. Outside of matchups with Buffalo and Pittsburgh in Weeks 16 and 17, their remaining schedule should be a fantasy feast for this D/ST unit.   

Kickers:

Riley Patterson, Tennessee Titans | Sleeper 2% | ESPN 0.8% | 0-1% FAAB

If Ka’imi Fairbairn popping up on the Texans’ injury report has you worried, the Dolphins’ Riley Patterson is a solid pivot this week. Since taking over for an injured Jason Sanders in Week 2, Patterson is the overall K9. His record is stellar, with the fifth-year kicker out of Memphis being 13-of-15 on field goal attempts and a perfect 19-for-19 on extra point attempts.

While a matchup against Buffalo this weekend might scare you off, don’t let it. Despite allowing the ninth fewest points to fantasy kickers this season, they’re still giving up 9 FPPG, which will land him as a top ten fantasy finish most weeks

Will Reichard, Minnesota Vikings | Sleeper 20% | ESPN 13.7% | 2-3% FAAB

If you’re in a league that has a kicker roster spot, there is no reason Will Reichard should be on your waiver wire past this week. Reichard, currently the overall K9, has been nearly automatic, missing only two field goal attempts this season, and has made all six attempts from 50 yards or more. 

The team now has second-year QB J.J. McCarthy back behind center, and in theory, should be moving the ball better than they were with Carson Wentz starting. Reichard will be seeing plenty of opportunities to show off his big leg, and given his accuracy, he should be a top choice at kicker on the waiver wire in Week 10.

Ka’imi Fairbairn, Houston Texans | Sleeper 53% | ESPN 37.4% | 2-3% FAAB

Finding a viable fantasy football kicker is all about opportunity, and if Ka’imi Fairbairn wasn’t getting enough for you, that’s about to change this upcoming week.

Texans QB C.J. Stroud went down this past weekend with a concussion, and backup Davis Mills took the reins. While not lucrative for the rest of the Texans’ offense, it was a boon for Fairbairn. The veteran and current K1 in fantasy football drilled five field goals on Sunday, the only scoring from the Texans in an 18-15 loss. Early reports indicate it will likely be Mills behind center again in Week 11 against Jacksonville. If Week 9 was any indication, we should have a lot of Fairbairn opportunities after stalled drives at home this coming weekend. 

Given Fairbairn is the overall K1, and there’s no sign the Houston offense will be more efficient with Mills or the return of Stroud, getting him rostered for the rest of 2025 is a no-brainer.     

For more waiver wire pickup advice, head over to our Discord channel and ask our analysts! For breaking news and injury updates, follow Optimus Fantasy News on Bluesky!

By Published On: November 3rd, 2025

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