Corey Kiner and the Best Week 10 Fantasy Football Waiver-Wire Pickups

The 2026 fantasy football playoffs are inching closer, making this a critical time to find potential difference-makers on the waiver wire.

Whether you are cruising to a first-round bye and simply need backups to pad out depth or are locked into a tight battle for one of the final spots on the postseason bracket and desperately need starters who can step in to save your season, there are plenty of strong options available heading into Week 10. There's a surprising amount of serviceable talent lingering on the free-agent scrap heap right now, especially after injuries continued to decimate rosters around the NFL over the weekend.

With that in mind, here are the top waiver-wire pickups for Week 10.

Suggestions are available in approximately half or more of all Yahoo! Sports leagues. Fantasy points and rankings courtesy of FantasyPros' PPR data. Suggested free-agent acquisition budget (FAAB) bids are based on a $100 starting budget.

Quarterback

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Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers

Aaron Rodgers, Pittsburgh Steelers (34 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Aaron Rodgers emerged on the QB1 radar earlier in the season, posting four consecutive QB13 or better finishes before going cold for two games leading into Pittsburgh's Week 9 bye. A matchup against a middling Cincinnati Bengals defense represents an ideal opportunity for the 42-year-old to return to form.

Rodgers already had one of his best performances of 2026 against Cincy, throwing for 292 yards and a trio of touchdowns in Week 3. Another big outing could be in the works as these teams gear up to meet for the final time this regular season.

While Rodgers isn't the type of QB you want to start on a weekly basis, he's a perfect one-week rental for those dealing with injuries or byes to their regular No. 1. Don't be afraid to make him your top plug-and-play pickup for Week 10.

J.J. McCarthy, New York Giants (13 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

J.J. McCarthy started his run as New York's QB red-hot, coming in and eviscerating the New Orleans Saints defense for 17.3 points in a single quarter. He's barely reached that many points across his first two starts combined, however, making this a bit of a risky play.

McCarthy is coming off a dreadful showing against the Philadelphia Eagles, mustering a meager 127 yards through the air and 22 on the ground while picking up a hip injury in the process. He'll look to rebound against a softer Washington Commanders foe in Week 10, a team that has given up the fifth-most points per game to opposing passers in 2026.

Malik Willis, Miami Dolphins (34 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Malik Willis was averaging nearly 21 points during a three-game stretch between Weeks 5-8, but came back down to earth in an underwhelming 19-9 defeat to the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

While Willis didn't fare well in a dream matchup against one of the league's softest defenses, he's still worth firing up against a downtrodden Indianapolis Colts squad in Week 10.

Indy has been stripping its roster down to the studs ahead of the trade deadline and has only kept one of its last four opponents under 26 points.  Any manager desperate for help at the QB position can give Willis one more shot at filling their starting role.

Running Back

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Indianapolis Colts running back Seth McGowan

Seth McGowan, Indianapolis Colts (32 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $25-35

Seth McGowan has potential to be one of, if not the most valuable waiver-wire addition of the 2026 NFL season. With Jonathan Taylor's name being perhaps the most prominent in the rumor mill over the last few weeks, it would be a surprise if Indy's superstar back isn't on his way out by Tuesday evening. Taylor's departure would immediately open the door for the seventh-round rookie to become Indianapolis' starting running back.

McGowan has already demonstrated elite potential in a backup role, recording 208 rushing yards and a touchdown on 43 carries. He offers ideal size and speed for the position and should be able to withstand the rigors of a RB1 workload, keeping fellow backup DJ Giddens largely irrelevant for fantasy purposes.

While there is some risk associated with investing in a Colts offense that has already given up key starters and could soon lose several more, McGowan has tremendous volume-based upside if Taylor is traded. He'll be a plug-and-play starter on a weekly basis with high-end RB2 upside for the remainder of the season.

Note that McGowan's value plummets if Taylor isn't moved by the deadline. If 4 p.m. ET passes with the veteran staying put, adjust your waiver priority and FAAB bids down significantly.

Corey Kiner, New England Patriots (4 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $10-20

Kiner has shockingly found himself in a position where he's set to handle the majority of New England's backfield work for a stretch.

Longtime veteran Rhamondre Stevenson is dealing with a knee tendon injury and will miss New England's upcoming matchup against the Lions in Germany. TreVeyon Henderson hasn't practiced in November and continues to miss time after experiencing neurological symptoms that required hospitalization. Their absences leaves Kiner and practice squad callup Lan Larison as the Pats' primary healthy options heading into Week 10.

Kiner took advantage of an expanded opportunity on Sunday, rushing eight times for 55 yards and a touchdown. The undrafted rookie out of Cincinnati has already accumulated 244 rushing yards on 50 carries this season and should quickly add to that tally against a soft Detroit defense. While a lack of receiving upside limits his ceiling in PPR formats, the opportunity to handle significant early-down work makes him a viable flex option going forward.

Audric Estime, New Orleans Saints (4 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Estime is yet another serviceable fantasy waiver wire pickup set to benefit from injuries and changes to his team's backfield rotation. With New Orleans finally moving on from Kendre Miller after several disappointing seasons, Estime stepped into a larger role and led the Saints in touches in Week 9.

Estime finished a 23-22 overtime win against the Cleveland Browns with 72 rushing yards and a touchdown on 15 carries and tallied one reception for five yards. Although Alvin Kamara remains involved, the veteran star is clearly fading and hasn't been able to take on a consistent workload this season.

While Estime would be a slam-dunk pickup if New Orleans' backfield rotation were to remain stagnant, the potential return of Travis Etienne Jr. throws a wrench in things. Etienne is eligible to return from the IR and could be back on the field at any point in the coming weeks, making Estime a free-agent target to avoid investing too heavily into.

Kaelon Black, San Francisco 49ers (39 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $5-10

Black is one of the very best handcuff options in fantasy football, but he's also developed into an important piece of San Francisco's backfield. Despite handling only 68 carries while working behind Christian McCaffrey in 2026, the rookie has racked up over 300 rushing yards and scored a touchdown.

Black's usage is trending upwards as the Niners look to limit McCaffrey's touches and keep him healthy for the team's upcoming postseason run. He turned in an efficient 70 yards on just 11 totes in a win over the Las Vegas Raiders this weekend. That performance gives him some flex appeal going into a Week 10 showdown against a sieve-like Dallas Cowboys defense.

Make sure Black is rostered in your league, as he's worth a bench spot in most formats as a handcuff alone. With his standalone value also growing, he's become an ideal low-risk, high-reward waiver target.  

Wide Receiver

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Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Ryan Flournoy

Ryan Flournoy, Dallas Cowboys (44 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-5

Although Flournoy failed to capitalize on an increased role in Week 9, the third-year veteran is still one of the best waiver receivers managers can hope to find during a lean week for the position.

Prior to getting bottled up by the Indianapolis Colts' secondary and turning in his first single-digit fantasy performance since Week 4, Flourney had recorded 11 or more fantasy points in four consecutive contests. He finished as the WR28 or better in each of those games, a string of impressive performances that proved he has the trust of quarterback Dak Prescott.

Better days should be ahead for Flournoy, especially if George Pickens remains sidelined or hindered by the hamstring injury that kept him out in Week 9.

Antonio Williams, Washington Commanders (31 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

Williams has great rest-of-season value after Commanders adjusted their pecking order without Terry McLaurin in the picture. The rookie was clearly the team's top choice for an increased role in the passing attack and has seen a bump in targets commensurate with this status.

While Williams hasn't done too much with the 13 looks he's received over the last two weeks, he's primed to improve on the eight catches for 79 yards he's managed to tally in that span. He'll remain a solid No. 2 option behind Stefon Diggs and should see a big jump in production as Washington enters a soft portion of its schedule, starting with a bout against the NFC East rival New York Giants in Week 10.

Caleb Douglas, Miami Dolphins (29 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $2-4

Douglas is emerging as one of Miami's best young offensive players. While he isn't a surefire plug-and-play piece for Week 10, his ceiling gives him some sneaky strong value in deeper formats and for those managers looking to roll the dice on upside.

Although the rookie has missed several games with injury, he's been consistently productive when he has been on the field.  He's posted WR26 or better finishes in three of his first five NFL games and was one of Miami's few bright spots during a 19-9 defeat to the Lions in Week 9—finishing the contest with 70 receiving yards on six receptions.

DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (46 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

Although he wasn't projected to play much of a role in New England's revamped receiving corps this season, Douglas capitalized on a series of injuries to emerge as one of Drake Maye's most consistent targets over the past month-plus. Douglas averaged more than 70 yards per game through the air over his last five contests and scored a respectable four touchdowns during that stretch.

As long as AJ Brown remains out or limited by the litany of injuries that has plagued the start of his tenure with the organization, Douglas will remain fantasy relevant. Expect a decent Week 10 showing against a suspect Detroit defense that given up nearly 22 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts in 2026.

Tight End

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Carolina Panthers tight end Darren Waller

Darren Waller, Carolina Panthers (7 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-3

Waller came out of nowhere to serve as Carolina's top receiving option in a Week 9 defeat to the Denver Broncos. The veteran tight end ended the contest with eight receptions for 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets, good for a whopping 23 fantasy points and a TE1 finish.

While Waller can't be expected to produce those types of eye-popping numbers on a regular basis, he should see an increase on the two targets per game he'd been seeing over the Panthers' previous three matchups. Waller averaged seven targets during a two-game stretch between Weeks 3-4 and could see five-plus looks when the team heads to the Superdome to face a beatable Saints defense

Consider Waller the best of an underwhelming crop of Week 10 tight end waiver wire targets. The 34-year-old is always a threat to score and could provide week-winning numbers if he gets hot again.  

Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (33 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Freiermuth has been largely inconsistent in 2026, but he generated a bit of momentum going into Pittsburgh's Week 9 bye. After two consecutive weeks with four or fewer fantasy points, the veteran turned things around with an 11.6-point outing against the rival Cleveland Browns.

Pittsburgh's opponent coming off the break, the Cincinnati Bengals, has struggled against opposing TEs in 2026 and could easily give up a touchdown to Freiermuth during the matchup. While Freiermuth isn't the type of tight end you want to start on a weekly basis, that TD upside and stable floor is enough to warrant streaming consideration during a week where several prominent tight ends will be out on bye.

Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (18 Percent Rostered)

Suggested FAAB Bid: $1-2

Tyler Higbee could be in line for an expanded role following a series of significant injuries to the Los Angeles receiving corps. Davante Adams is still on the shelf for several more weeks, while Puka Nacua could be out even longer after suffering a concerning knee injury.

With fellow tight end Terrance Ferguson also dealing with injuries, Higbee is one of L.A.'s last remaining proven pass-catching options. While the 33-year-old has been largely quiet outside of a three-game stretch in which he posted three consecutive TE12 or better finishes between Weeks 3-5, he's trending towards a resurgence late in 2026.