Nick Mariano's fantasy football waiver wire FAAB bidding guide for Week 10 (2025) -- how many FAAB dollars (free agent acquisition budget) to spend on waivers.
Can you believe that we're already bearing down on the double-digit football weeks? Some of your FAAB wallets may be running on fumes, but we must remain competitive on the wire with whatever we have in the coffers. Let's discuss these strategic adds with our famous waiver wire pickups list and our fantasy football waiver wire columns by position -- specially tailored for leagues using FAAB.
Remember that these FAAB prices do not indicate how much these free-agent players will go for, and you may only have 4-5 other managers with FAAB funds to compete with anyway. We'll be without the Bengals, Cowboys, Chiefs, and Titans for Week 10, with the Colts and Saints off in Week 11.
As always, I cannot know your specific league outlook, so please try to leverage historical data and personal knowledge whenever possible. We will cap the rostered rate at 40% on Yahoo!, but you can adjust if someone is dropped or remains on the wire above that threshold. Look around at specific team needs and behavior of the contenders and make the necessary tweaks en route to that championship!
Be sure to check all of our fantasy football rankings for 2025:- 2025 fantasy football rankings
 - Running back (RB) fantasy football rankings
 - Wide receiver (WR) fantasy football rankings
 - Tight end (TE) fantasy football rankings
 - Quarterback (QB) fantasy football rankings
 - FLEX fantasy football rankings
 - Defense (D/ST) fantasy football rankings
 - Kicker (K) fantasy football rankings
 - Dynasty fantasy football rankings
 
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Quarterbacks
J.J. McCarthy (QB, MIN) - 29% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
We saw a powerful, double-edged sword in McCarthy’s return to action in Week 9’s 27-24 upset win in Detroit. He scored two passing touchdowns and one on the ground, but he only completed 14 of his 25 pass attempts for 143 yards with an interception. You can see how half of the completions were at the line of scrimmage as well:
Some of that was adjusting to Detroit's relentless pressure, but we must note it.
He’s now 38-for-66 (57.5%) over his first three NFL games, with 16 rushes for 62 yards and two rush TDs buoying his fantasy value. McCarthy has to deal with a rejuvenated Baltimore defense, but the upside with his legs, plus Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, gives us top-12 upside.
Marcus Mariota (QB, WAS) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Mariota is positioned to lead Washington’s offense after Jayden Daniels suffered a dislocated elbow on his non-throwing arm. The veteran’s last showing was a brutal matchup at Arrowhead in an uphill battle against Kansas City’s strong front, but he now draws Detroit and Miami before the Week 12 bye.
He’s averaging around 30 rushing yards per game in a four-game sample and can now settle in as the starter, though Terry McLaurin is set to miss Week 10.
Michael Penix Jr. (QB, ATL) - 19% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2-3%
Penix tossed three touchdowns against the Pats on Sunday, which makes for his third multi-TD game of the year. He only threw for 221 yards on 22 completions, with over half of that tally and all three scores going to Drake London. They did their best to keep up with Drake Maye, but a missed extra point ruined any potential overtime heroics.
While Penix doesn’t have a strong median fantasy expectation, shootouts with Tampa Bay, Washington, and New England have now pushed him to robust production. Next week at Indianapolis should yield a similar environment.
Geno Smith (QB, LV) - 16% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
The return of Brock Bowers, who looked healthy for the first time in 2025, helped spark Geno Smith to 284 yards and four touchdowns against a susceptible Jacksonville defense.
While he’s avoidable at Denver in Week 10, please note that a Week 11 home game against Dallas looms. Anyone who lost Jayden Daniels and is now setting up a streaming schedule, or will have Daniel Jones on bye, must take note!
**Late addition here, but Jacoby Brissett looked great on Monday night and may have earned another start, though Seattle’s defense makes him a difficult streamer.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Running Backs
Devin Singletary (RB, NYG) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 6-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-12%
Desperation Bid: 12-15%
While Tyrone Tracy Jr. was the presumed starter after Cam Skattebo’s season-ending ankle injury, it was Singletary who looked like the superior rusher on Sunday. Tracy gained five yards on two carries in the first minute of play, but would only amass three additional carries over the final 59, while dealing with a possible injury in the third quarter.
Singletary established the hot hand with gains of five, seven, and eight yards on his first three carries. The Giants fell behind early, so we don’t have much to go on. Singletary would then gain 2, 1, 3, 14, and 3 yards on the other five carries, so don’t get overwhelmed.
This being more of a 1A/1B thing seems likely, but the team won’t have many positive gamescripts. They also have a trio of bottom-five matchups against Green Bay, Detroit, and New England coming up after Chicago before their bye.
Devin Singletary played over Tyrone Tracy Jr in Week 9
- Singletary: 55% snaps, 8 carries, 16 routes, 2 targets (51 yds)
- Tracy: 45% snaps, 5 carries, 14 routes, 4 targets (37 yds)— Michael F. Florio (@MichaelFFlorio) November 3, 2025
Emari Demercado (RB, ARI) - 7% rostered
FAAB Bid: 6-8%
Aggressive Bid: 8-11%
Desperation Bid: 11-14%
We’ve got whiplash following this backfield by now. Demercado, who infamously let the ball go on a should-be TD at the goal line in Week 5 before suffering an ankle injury in Week 6, returned to play with the hot hands.
His 14 carries led to 79 yards, while Bam Knight turned in 47 total yards on 11 touches and an edge in snaps (Michael Carter didn’t get a touch). Trey Benson will be eligible to return in Week 10, though nothing is certain there. Demercado/Knight lotto ticket holders must note that going from a Dallas matchup to Seattle is a tall order, so tread carefully.
Isaiah Davis (RB, NYJ) - 9% rostered
FAAB Bid: 4-6%*
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-10%
Don’t let Davis skirt under the radar just because the Jets had a Week 9 bye. His 109 total yards against the Bengals in Week 8 speak to his playmaking abilities, but it’ll be difficult to trust a complementary Jet, especially with Cleveland and New England front sevens on tap.
*Trade rumors continue to fly around Hall, so we’ll keep this here at least until 4 p.m. on Tuesday!
Dylan Sampson (RB, CLE) - 16% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-7%
We have to keep an eye on Quinshon Judkins’ shoulder injury, though he did participate in practice on Monday and is labeled “day-to-day.” Sampson showed up with five catches for 29 yards on six targets in Week 8, but has a paltry 51 yards on 28 carries thus far.
The Monday practice means Judkins is trending towards playing against the Jets, so consider Sampson only as a contingent PPR dart.
**The same could be said for stashing Tank Bigsby amidst the Saquon Barkley groin issue, though Barkley’s status sounds optimistic. Regardless of Barkley’s current status, Bigsby is one of the best handcuffs available.
Terrell Jennings (RB, NE) -1 % rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-8%
With Rhamondre Stevenson (toe) out, Jennings stepped up near the goal line and punched in his first career NFL TD. His 11 rushes for 35 yards and a score came with one nine-yard catch, while TreVeyon Henderson put up 14-55-0 rushing and 4-32-0 receiving.
Stevenson didn’t practice at all last week, so his return in Week 10 at Tampa Bay is not a given. With the Patriots averaging 26.3 points per game as a top-10 offense, Jennings is a worthwhile add, but the floor is zero.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Wide Receivers
Parker Washington (WR, JAC) - 18% rostered
FAAB Bid: 7-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14%
Desperation Bid: 14-18%
Washington did everything except find paydirt in Sunday’s victory, catching 8-of-9 targets for 90 yards. It was a critical showing from Washington after drops overshadowed the encouraging 10 targets seen back in Week 7’s international game.
With Travis Hunter (knee) joining Brenton Strange (hip) on the injured reserve, Dyami Brown now in concussion protocol, and Brian Thomas Jr. picking up an ankle injury on top of the overall ineffectiveness and possible other injuries, Washington’s opportunity is clear. Trevor Lawrence will need a reliable go-to WR against a tough Houston defense.
Tory Horton (WR, SEA) - 5% rostered
FAAB Bid: 7-10%
Aggressive Bid: 10-14%
Desperation Bid: 14-18%
Cooper Kupp’s hamstring/heel injuries kept him out on Sunday night, which gave Horton a chance to cap off each of Seattle’s first two drives with touchdowns. The overall 4-48-2 line isn’t dazzling beyond the scores, but the score got tilted quickly, which left Seattle in cruise control early.
Dareke Young and Jake Bobo also missed the game, which helped Horton stand out and pile up his fourth and fifth receiving TDs of the year, even without high volume or a steady role. A healthy Kupp may not put Horton’s electricity back in the bottle, especially because we haven’t seen Kupp look sustainably healthy for a while.
In the end, both Washington and Horton are young receivers who are surrounded by injuries in their respective WR rooms. Horton is on a better offense, but Washington has seen more targets with less competition.
Tez Johnson (WR, TB) - 35% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-6%
Aggressive Bid: 6-8%
Desperation Bid: 8-12%
Johnson and the Bucs were on a bye week, which led to his rostered rate dropping back into our range. With injuries hammering Tampa Bay, Johnson has delivered lines of 4-59-0, 1-45-1, 4-58-1, and 5-43-0 in their last four games.
The agile receiver may have to contend with Chris Godwin, but he’s shown enough burst (while Godwin hasn’t) to be worth an add. The collarbone injury to Mike Evans is more crucial, and Bucky Irving’s absence has put more onus on the passing game to move the offense.
DeMario Douglas (WR, NE) - 4% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-5%
Desperation Bid: 5-8%
Douglas caught four balls for 100 yards and his third TD of the season on six targets, with the big day coming alongside Kayshon Boutte’s hamstring injury. It seems that Boutte has avoided major injuries, but Week 10 at Tampa Bay remains in question.
The Patriots still spread the ball around more than we fantasy managers would like, but when in doubt, throw darts at potent offenses. Douglas would become an enticing play in a game where the betting total line has already crept from 46.5 to 48.5 at most sportsbooks.
Dollar Bin: Darius Slayton, Christian Watson, Rashod Bateman, Calvin Austin III, Malik Washington, Cedric Tillman, Olamide Zaccheaus, Michael Wilson, Andrei Iosivas (pending Tee Higgins news).
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Tight Ends
Colston Loveland (TE, CHI) - 23% rostered
FAAB Bid: 3-4%
Aggressive Bid: 4-6%
Desperation Bid: 6-10%
We finally saw why they took Loveland with the 10th overall pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, eh? It only took a dream date with Cincinnati’s ugly defense, another injury to Cole Kmet, zero catches for Rome Odunze (shoutout DJ Turner), and a 47-point outburst strewn with missed tackles.
COLSTON LOVELAND ARE YOU KIDDING?
📺: CBS pic.twitter.com/OMOzjsl6vC
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) November 2, 2025
In the end, Loveland’s 58-yard, pinball touchdown was the game-winner and fueled a 6-118-2 line on seven targets. Regardless of Kmet’s concussion status for Week 10 against the Giants, Loveland should be earning an alpha status in this offense.
Luke Musgrave (TE, GB) - 1% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1-3%
Aggressive Bid: 3-4%
Desperation Bid: 4-6%
Musgrave brought in all three of his targets for 34 yards in the tough loss to Carolina, but that’s not the headline. The third-year TE stands to be Green Bay’s starter moving forward after word dropped that Tucker Kraft tore his ACL.
Green Bay can be frustrating in how they spread the targets around, but Musgrave’s snap share opportunity should be near 90%. He operated around 75-90% in Weeks 1-10 as a rookie in ‘23 before getting hurt. John FitzPatrick will stay involved, so don’t be scared off by some rogue touchdowns there.
Dollar Bin: Dalton Schultz, Theo Johnson, Mason Taylor, Juwan Johnson, Noah Fant, Isaiah Likely.
FAAB Waiver Wire Pickups - Defense/Special Teams
Buffalo Bills Defense (at MIA) - 43% rostered
FAAB Bid: 2%
Aggressive Bid: 3%
Desperation Bid: 4%
Of course, the next team to square up with Miami’s crashing-out ways are the Bills, who just looked stellar while limiting Patrick Mahomes to 21 points. Even going from a home spot to a road game in Florida, you have to put the Chiefs and the Dolphins into different leagues.
While the devil on our shoulder will fret a letdown spot going from K.C. to MIA, everything objective screams Grade A DST play. Don’t forget that the Bills crushed the Panthers in Week 8, recording seven sacks and three turnovers next to nine points allowed.
Baltimore Ravens Defense (at MIN) - 46% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%
The Ravens' trade for safety Alohi Gilman paid immediate dividends against the Dolphins, with a roaming Kyle Hamilton able to wreak havoc. However, it did cost them pass-rusher Odafe Oweh, so they turned around and traded for Dre'Mont Jones to help a pressure unit that misses Pro Bowler Nnamdi Madubuike.
The Dolphins had no chance to find a rhythm, scoring only six points thanks to some missed field goals, two sacks taken, and three turnovers. They’ll now face a resurgent Vikings team that you may want to dodge, but then they face the Browns and Jets in back-to-back weeks. That’s worth a stash!
Carolina Panthers Defense (vs. NO) - 2% rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%
The Panthers just shocked many a pundit with a 16-13 win over the Packers in Green Bay. While the DST box score wasn’t ridiculous, they did post an interception and fumble recovery next to the one sack and low point total.
Now, they draw a friendly Saints offense at home, making them a widely available pickup. We recognize that the 40-point meltdown to Buffalo tilted many of their stats and perception, but they did log six sacks with only six points surrendered to the Jets in Week 7. That’s two strong efforts out of their last three, with a great chance at upping that tally.
Cleveland Browns Defense (at NYJ) - % rostered
FAAB Bid: 1%
Aggressive Bid: 2%
Desperation Bid: 3%
Even if all you get are the sack points recorded from Myles Garrett against Justin Fields, then that puts Cleveland into streaming consideration. The star edge rusher had five sacks against Drake Maye, and the team had four sacks with four turnovers and a TD against the Dolphins in Week 7.
The Jets are much closer to the Dolphins than the Pats, that’s for sure. Of course, if you want (or more likely, need) to pivot, then you could take the home Jets against Dillon Gabriel’s offense.
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