6 Last-Minute Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements (Week 10)

Fantasy football can be an extremely fun game to play. It can also be highly frustrating at times. Nothing is more annoying than needing to make a last-minute waiver-wire move because someone in your starting lineup is out for the week. Sadly, there isn’t much you can do about it. However, I’m going to try to help.

Every week, I will have six players you can grab off the waiver wire at the last minute and throw into your lineup. Some will succeed, while others will fail. Unfortunately, that’s how the game of fantasy football is played. Let’s dive into my six last-minute waiver wire targets for Week 10.

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Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

All the players in this article are rostered in under 35% of ESPN leagues.

Marcus Mariota (QB – WAS) vs. Detroit Lions (8.9% Rostered)

Unfortunately, Jayden Daniels suffered an all-but-guaranteed season-ending elbow injury Sunday night, putting Mariota in line to start for the rest of the year. The veteran quarterback has been a serviceable fantasy option when under center for the Commanders. He has completed 66.7% of his pass attempts for 192 yards, 1.3 touchdowns, and 16 fantasy points per game in his three starts, totaling 16.2 or more twice. Furthermore, Mariota has been a factor in the run game, averaging 4.9 fantasy points per contest on the ground as the team’s starting quarterback.

More importantly, the veteran has a fantasy-friendly matchup on Sunday against the Lions. Not only will Washington have to chase points against an elite Detroit offense, but Mariota should have no trouble against the Lions’ defense. They’ve surrendered 221.6 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 17.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, allowing 18.7 or more in 71.4% of their matchups since Week 1. Last week, J.J. McCarthy had two passing touchdowns, a rushing score, and 18.9 fantasy points against the division rivals in his third career start.

Devin Singletary (RB – NYG) vs. Chicago Bears (28.7% Rostered)

New York played their first game of the year without Cam Skattebo in Week 9. Everyone thought Tyrone Tracy Jr. would be the featured running back without the rookie. Yet, Singletary played more snaps (32 vs. 25) and had more touches (10 vs. 8) than Tracy against the San Francisco 49ers. More importantly, the veteran outscored the second-year pro in PPR fantasy points (7.1 vs. 6.7). While Tracy should remain the starter and is higher in my Week 10 rankings, Singletary is a solid injury RB2 replacement for fantasy players.

Last week, the veteran averaged 5.4 yards per rushing attempt against a 49ers defense that has held running backs to 4.2 yards per attempt this season. Meanwhile, the Bears have surrendered five yards per rushing attempt to running backs this year. More importantly, they have given up 22.7 fantasy points per game to running backs, slightly above the league average, surrendering 23.6 or more in half of their matchups. Chicago has allowed running backs to have at least 115 rushing yards in half of their games, including two weeks ago.

Emari Demercado (RB – ARI) vs. Seattle Seahawks (14.4% Rostered)

Fantasy players can’t wait for Trey Benson to return from a knee injury. Unfortunately, he didn’t practice on Wednesday and might be another week or two away from returning to the lineup. Last week, Zonovan Knight was a massive fantasy bust against an awful Dallas Cowboys run defense, totaling nine rushing attempts for 27 yards, two receptions for 20 yards, and 6.7 PPR fantasy points. Instead, Demercado was the best Cardinals running back, totaling 14 rushing attempts for 79 yards and 8.8 fantasy points, leading the backfield in every category.

While trying to guess which Arizona running back will be the best starting option is far from ideal, Demercado is a solid flex option. The Seahawks surrendered 103 rushing yards, a touchdown, and 17.6 fantasy points to the Washington Commanders’ running backs last week. More importantly, Seattle has struggled against pass-catching running backs, allowing the second-most receptions (48) and the fifth-most receiving yards (362) to the position. Demercado had only two receptions against the Seahawks in Week 4. Yet, he still scored 10.1 fantasy points against the division rivals.

Darius Slayton (WR – NYG) vs. Chicago Bears (26.3% Rostered)

Many thought Slayton would have a massive role after the Giants lost Malik Nabers to a season-ending torn ACL in Week 4. However, he has struggled, averaging 6.6 PPR fantasy points per game since Nabers’ injury. Yet, Slayton’s struggles haven’t been entirely his fault. He missed two games with a hamstring injury and nearly had a touchdown in back-to-back contests. More importantly, Slayton is coming off his best game this year, totaling five receptions on seven targets for 62 receiving yards and 11.2 fantasy points against the San Francisco 49ers.

Anyone who watched last week’s game between the Cincinnati Bengals and the Bears saw zero defense. Chicago has had no answer for opposing passing attacks, allowing 38.6 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, the third-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve surrendered 200 receiving yards, 1.7 touchdowns, and 46.4 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past three weeks despite facing Spencer Rattler, Tyler Huntley, and Joe Flacco. While he won’t have a 20-point fantasy performance, expect a low-end WR2 finish from Slayton against a struggling Bears defense.

DeMario Douglas (WR – NE) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (9.9% Rostered)

The Patriots’ passing attack has been outstanding this season without an elite No. 1 wide receiver. Stefon Diggs has played well, but isn’t a star anymore. Meanwhile, Drake Maye has turned a solid cast of supporting players into potential flex options for fantasy players. Unfortunately, New England likely won’t have Kayshon Boutte on Sunday because of a hamstring injury he suffered last week. However, Douglas stepped up for the Patriots in Week 9, totaling four receptions on six targets for 100 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 20 PPR fantasy points.

Not only was he productive last week, but the former Liberty star has played well when seeing enough target volume. Douglas has averaged 85.5 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 18.1 fantasy points per game in the two contests with at least four targets over the past month. More importantly, the Buccaneers have struggled to slow down opposing passing attacks lately. They’ve surrendered 188.5 receiving yards, 0.8 touchdowns, and 37.3 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over their past four contests, allowing 31.5 or more in all but one matchup.

Dalton Schultz (TE – HOU) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (25.3% Rostered)

Schultz got off to a slow start this season, totaling 11.7 PPR fantasy points over the first two weeks. However, he has been the TE14 since the slow start, averaging 6.5 targets and 10.8 fantasy points per game, totaling six or more targets and at least eight fantasy points in all but one contest. Furthermore, Schultz has been an excellent streaming option lately, averaging 6.7 receptions on eight targets for 78.3 receiving yards and 14.5 fantasy points per game over the past three contests with Nico Collins in the lineup.

Meanwhile, the veteran couldn’t have asked for a better matchup this week. Jacksonville has given up eight receptions for 95.8 receiving yards, 1.2 touchdowns, and 24.5 fantasy points per game to tight ends over the past six weeks, allowing 16.8 or more in all but one contest. Last week, Brock Bowers had 12 receptions for 127 receiving yards, three touchdowns, and 43.3 fantasy points against the Jaguars in his first game back from injury. Don’t be surprised if Schultz has a top-five finish, especially with Davis Mills under center.

Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.