Between the byepocalypse, early games in Europe, and Monday night doubleheaders, it feels as though the early slate of Sunday games has been relatively small for most of the season. That wasn’t the case this week, as we got a full eight-game slate.
Given that, there weren’t as many breakout performers who could become must-add fantasy football waiver wire pickups as we might hope. However, there are still some intriguing options. Let’s break down these top early waiver wire pickups heading into Week 10.
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Early Week 10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI) | 63.8% Rostered
I’m going over my usual 50% maximum with this pick, but Kyle Monangai really should have been 100% rostered even before his big game today. With D’Andre Swift out, the seventh-round rookie was the Bears’ clear No. 1 RB. He absolutely dominated the Bengals’ terrible defense, racking up just fewer than 200 total yards (198) on 26 carries and three receptions.
Sure, this was a very soft matchup against the Bengals, but you can only play the opponent in front of you. This also wasn’t Monangai’s first big game, as he finished with 16.4 half-PPR points against the Saints in Week 7. As long as Swift is out (which could be for another week or two), the rookie is a must-start. Even if Swift seems to be returning to health, he should still be rostered everywhere as a premium handcuff with potential standalone value.
Rico Dowdle (RB – CAR) | 67.7% Rostered
Once again, I’m going over the threshold for a player who should be 100% rostered. Coming into this game, it was announced that Rico Dowdle would be the Panthers’ starter and see the majority of work. This was a change from the last two weeks, in which he alternated drives with Chuba Hubbard.
Well, that report was true, as Dowdle racked up 25 carries and three targets. Despite a tough matchup with the Packers’ defense, he once again provided excellent efficiency, too, finishing with 130 rushing yards and two touchdowns. Including two massive games with Hubbard sidelined, Dowdle has now averaged 30 half-PPR points in his three games as Carolina’s starter. If he’s still available in your league, change that.
J.J. McCarthy (QB – MIN) | 25.9% Rostered
Perhaps declarations that J.J. McCarthy was a bust were a bit too quick to write off a 22-year-old signal-caller with fewer than two full games of NFL experience. McCarthy was by no means perfect today, but he did enough to help the Vikings upset the Lions in a thrilling division matchup.
More importantly, for our purposes, McCarthy also provided a solid fantasy day. He threw for just 143 yards, but he scored three total touchdowns, including a rushing score. This helped him finish with just over 20 fantasy points.
McCarthy is not a true dual-threat option, but the youngster does now have a rushing touchdown in both of his completed games this season (and therefore every completed game of his career). Especially given how fantasy-friendly this situation is, McCarthy is worth stashing in deep leagues where you need quarterback help, even if he isn’t yet a startable option in 1-QB leagues.
DeMario Douglas (WR – NE) | 11.4% Rostered
This is going to end up as a fairly pessimistic blurb, so let’s start with the positives. DeMario Douglas had an excellent game today. He recorded the first 100-yard game of his career, catching four out of six targets for exactly 100 yards and a touchdown.
However, all that production came on just 13 routes on 40 Drake Maye dropbacks (per initial data). Coming into this week, Douglas had averaged just a 42% route participation rate for the season, including marks of 33% and 27% in the most recent two weeks.
In deep leagues, this performance is big enough to add the slot receiver. But in most formats, this part-time usage is limited enough to make Douglas a not particularly exciting add.
Luke Musgrave (TE – GB) | 1.1% Rostered
Tucker Kraft suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of this game and did not return. In his absence, Luke Musgrave served as the Packers’ primary receiving tight end, catching all three of his targets for 34 yards. He also finished the game third on the team with 20 routes for a 50% participation rate — this surely would have been higher if Kraft had been out to start the game.
Musgrave, who was actually selected before Kraft in the second round of the 2023 NFL Draft, has flashed before when given an opportunity. In deeper leagues or those where tight ends have extra value, he is worth adding if Kraft is set to miss time.
Kareem Hunt (RB – KC) | 48.5% Rostered
The Chiefs’ game against the Bills had only just begun when I submitted this article. But I’m simply assuming that, with Isiah Pacheco week-to-week with an MCL injury, the veteran Kareem Hunt will lead the Chiefs’ backfield (although if Brashard Smith sees an expanded role, he should also be added).
Hunt was actually already the Chiefs’ most productive fantasy running back coming into this game, as he has dominated goal-line touches in the Kansas City backfield. As long as Pacheco is sidelined, he should be a viable RB3 if not an RB2, making him a must-add in all formats.
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Ted Chmyz is a fantasy football contributor for FantasyPros.com. Find him on Twitter and Bluesky @Tchmyz for more fantasy content or to ask questions.
