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.

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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.

Last-Minute Waiver Wire Pickups & Injury Replacements

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

Daniel Jones (QB – NYG) vs. Carolina Panthers (21.3% Rostered)

Jones is coming off his best performance this season despite an awful first half with zero passing yards. The veteran quarterback had a passing touchdown for the first time since Week 5, throwing two. Furthermore, it was his fourth two-passing touchdown game this year, totaling two scores in nearly half of the contests. More importantly, he scored a season-high 24.4 fantasy points thanks to 54 rushing yards and a touchdown on seven attempts. While the veteran hasn’t been consistent, he has an excellent matchup in Week 10.

Last week, Derek Carr had 236 passing yards, a touchdown, and 13.4 fantasy points despite losing Chris Olave early in the game against the Panthers. However, Carolina had surrendered 2.1 passing touchdowns and 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this year before last week’s matchup. Bo Nix completed 75.7% of his pass attempts for 284 yards, three touchdowns, and 29.8 fantasy points against the Panthers two weeks ago, adding a touchdown on the ground. Don’t be surprised if Jones has his second consecutive game with over 24 fantasy points.

Ray Davis (RB – BUF) vs. Indianapolis Colts (18.6% Rostered)

While James Cook is the Bills’ lead running back, Davis has played well lately. The rookie running back was outstanding in his lone start, totaling 20 rushing attempts for 97 yards and three receptions for 55 receiving yards against the New York Jets in Week 6, scoring 16.7 half-point PPR fantasy points. He has averaged six touches for 55.3 scrimmage yards and 10 fantasy points per game over the past three weeks, scoring 11.2 or more in two of those contests. More importantly, Davis has a fantasy-friendly matchup this week.

The rookie faces a struggling Colts run on Sunday. They have surrendered 121.8 rushing yards per game to running backs, one of the higher averages in the NFL. Running backs have had at least 110 rushing yards against Indianapolis in 77.8% of the games, including five consecutive matchups. Furthermore, the Colts have surrendered the seventh-highest yards after contact per rushing attempt average (2.44) in the league (per Fantasy Points Data). Don’t be surprised if Davis has his third double-digit fantasy performance in the past four weeks on Sunday.

Cam Akers (RB – MIN) vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (15.5% Rostered)

Many thought nothing about it when the Vikings traded for Cam Akers a few weeks ago. The veteran running back didn’t see the ball in his first two games with the team. However, he surpassed Ty Chandler as the No. 2 running back in Week 9, earning eight touches compared to none for the third-year pro. Akers averaged 7.7 yards per rushing attempt last week, totaling 6.3 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Indianapolis Colts. More importantly, he got touches to spell Aaron Jones, not just in garbage time.

Fantasy players should expect Akers to see plenty of work, including in garbage time, in Week 10. The Vikings are a touchdown favorite over the Jaguars, which should lead to extra fourth-quarter work for the veteran. Meanwhile, Jacksonville has surrendered 24.9 fantasy points per game to running backs, the fourth-most in the NFL. They have given up at least 148 rushing yards and 28.5 fantasy points to running backs in back-to-back games. Furthermore, the Jaguars have surrendered the eighth-highest explosive run rate (7%) this season (per Fantasy Points Data).

Ricky Pearsall (WR – SF) vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (23.9% Rostered)

Unfortunately, the 49ers’ wide receiver core has been impacted by injuries. They lost Brandon Aiyuk for the year, while Deebo Samuel Sr. (rib/oblique) and Jauan Jennings (hip) were limited in practice on Thursday. Both veteran wide receivers could play on Sunday. However, expect Pearsall to see an uptick in volume as the team’s only healthy starting wide receiver. The rookie has averaged only 6.7 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in two career contests. Yet, he was productive in San Francisco’s last contest before the Week 9 bye.

Pearsall had five touches for 77 scrimmage yards and 9.7 fantasy points in Week 8 against the Dallas Cowboys, finishing as the 49ers’ second-highest fantasy-scoring wide receiver behind Samuel. More importantly, the Buccaneers have surrendered 30.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers this season, the seventh-most in the NFL. Furthermore, Tampa Bay has allowed wide receivers to average 14 receptions for 184.6 receiving yards, 1.8 touchdowns, and 37.6 fantasy points per game over the past five weeks. Pearsall could have a breakout performance against the Buccaneers.

Nick Westbrook-Ikhine (WR – TEN) vs. Los Angeles Chargers (1.9% Rostered)

Many have low expectations for the Titans’ passing attack. However, Westbrook-Ikhine has stepped up as the team’s No. 2 wide receiver after Tennessee traded away DeAndre Hopkins. The veteran is the WR81 for the year, averaging only five half-point PPR fantasy points per game. He had zero targets before the team’s Week 5 bye. However, Westbrook-Ikhine has been the WR22 over the past four weeks, averaging 10 fantasy points per game. He has found the end zone in all four games, leading the team in receiving touchdowns this year.

More importantly, Westbrook-Ikhine has back-to-back games with double-digit fantasy points against two solid defenses. Last week, the veteran had five receptions on six targets for 50 receiving yards and 13.5 fantasy points, setting season highs in every category against the New England Patriots. Meanwhile, the Chargers have had issues slowing down wide receivers lately. They have surrendered one receiving touchdown and 25.1 fantasy points per game to wide receivers over the past four weeks. While Will Levis will start this week, Westbrook-Ikhine should continue to put up fantasy points.

Jonnu Smith (TE – MIA) vs. Los Angeles Rams (23.3% Rostered)

Hopefully, fantasy players with Brock Bowers, David Njoku, and Tucker Kraft on their roster already have a bye-week replacement tight end in their lineups. However, Smith is an excellent streaming option in Week 10. The veteran tight end averaged 2.3 targets and 3.1 half-point PPR fantasy points per game over the first four weeks this year. Yet, his role on offense has grown lately. Smith has averaged 6.8 targets and 9.7 fantasy points per game over his past four contests, totaling at least six targets in every game.

Some thought the veteran tight end would see his role on offense disappear with Tua Tagovailoa under center. However, Smith’s 12 targets in the two games since Tagovailoa returned are third on the team behind De’Von Achane (16) and Tyreek Hill (14), totaling four more than Jaylen Waddle (eight). Meanwhile, the Rams surrendered 12.2 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, the sixth-most in the NFL. Furthermore, they’ve given up 66.8 receiving yards and 14.1 fantasy points per game to tight ends over their past four matchups.

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