Week 10 Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Pickups: Bigsby, Musgrave & More

After the bye-mageddon of Week 8, when six (!) NFL teams had their bye weeks, and the considerable absences of another four teams in Week 9, Week 10 will once again see one-eighth of the league on bye, making it another big week for waiver wire pickups.

In Week 10, the Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, Kansas City Chiefs and Tennessee Titans are all off the schedule, representing a healthy chunk of top fantasy football talent. Dallas wideouts CeeDee Lamb and George Pickens and running back Javonte Williams; stellar Cincinnati pass-catchers Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins; Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tight end Travis Kelce and wide receiver Rashee Rice—all top scorers and all out of fantasy commission this week.

If you have gaps in your roster that need to be filled, these are four of the savviest waiver wire pickups, including sleepers and must-starts, you can make ahead of Week 10.

Rostered percentages and scoring figures via FantasyPros.

Quarterback

J.J. McCarthy (Minnesota Vikings)

Rostered: 29%

Week 9 stats: 14-of-25, 143 yds, 2 pass TD, 9 rush att, 12 rush yds, 1 rush TD

McCarthy hasn’t seen much action for the Vikings so far this season—or at all since being drafted in 2024, starting just two games since that time ahead of his Week 9 return. But McCarthy gave fantasy managers and Vikings fans a lot to like when all was said and done on Minnesota’s 27–24 upset over Detroit. Despite one interception and a modest 143 passing yards, McCarthy found the end zone through the air twice and proved that he’s a threat in the run game, with a touchdown there as well. If you’re in need of a signal-caller this week, McCarthy is worth taking a flier on.

Running Back

Tank Bigsby (Philadelphia Eagles)

Rostered: 27%

Week 9 stats: Bye

Will Saquon Barkley suit up for the Eagles in Week 10 after leaving the Week 8 game against the New York Giants with a groin injury, then having a Week 9 bye to recover? If you’re contemplating submitting a waiver claim for Tank Bigsby this week, it’s a question that may not matter as much as you’d think.

Barkley played three quarters of that Week 8 game, and yet Bigsby still managed to notch nine attempts for 104 yards in, essentially, one quarter of usage. While you’re not likely to know Barkley’s status for Week 10 before waivers go through, Bigsby will be a must-start if Barkley is out. What’s more, whoever is in the backfield for the Eagles has an intriguing matchup against the Green Bay Packers defense, which was previously stingy against the run but just gave up 130 yards (and two touchdowns) to Panthers rusher Rico Dowdle.

Wide Receiver

Parker Washington (Jacksonville Jaguars)

Rostered: 18%

Week 9 stats: 8 rec, 90 rec yds, 17 pts

The Jacksonville receiving corps looks entirely different than it did in Week 1 of this season. Two-way rookie Travis Hunter suffered a knee injury ahead of Week 9 that landed him on injured reserve. Then, in the Week 9 game against the Las Vegas Raiders, wideouts Brian Thomas Jr. and Dyami Brown came out with an ankle injury and a concussion, respectively.

Against the backdrop of these injuries, Parker Washington stepped up to post season-highs in receptions (8) and receiving yards (90). Though the Jaguars acquired Raiders wideout Jakobi Meyers ahead of Tuesday’s trade deadline, there should still be plenty for Washington to do in the Jacksonville offense and he’s worth a waiver claim as a Week 10 flex option.

Tight End

Luke Musgrave (Green Bay Packers)

Rostered: 1%

Week 9 stats: 3 rec, 34 rec yds, 6.4 pts

Musgrave hasn’t had more than 6.4 fantasy points (his Week 9 total) in a game so far this season, but why would he? Until Week 9, he hadn’t seen more than two targets in an offense with plenty of pass-catching weapons for Jordan Love—including the Packers’ lead tight end, Tucker Kraft, who had double-digit points in five games this season.

But Kraft unfortunately suffered a torn ACL in the Packers’ Week 9 loss to the Carolina Panthers and will miss the rest of the season. In his absence, Musgrave’s usage immediately went up, seeing season-highs in targets (3), receptions (3), yards (34) and yards per reception (11.3). Musgrave won’t post numbers like Kraft’s, but he’s almost guaranteed to be available in your league and is one of this week’s waiver wire pickups to stash as we see how he’ll be used in the Packers offense moving forward.