Waiver Wire Week 10: Top Pickups and Drops

Another week of the football season has passed, and we're now one week closer to the start of the fantasy playoffs. While the 2022 NFL campaign is 18 weeks long, the fantasy regular season is only 14 in most cases. So, the playoffs are already drawing near.

Heading into Week 10, there aren't a ton of must-add players on the waiver wire in most leagues, but there could be some out there. And there will at least be some solid depth players who should be rostered heading into the final stretch of the fantasy regular season.

Here's a look at some of the top add/drop candidates for fantasy managers to consider this week.

Justin Fields needs to be rostered in all fantasy leagues at this point, as the second-year quarterback is having a breakout while leading the Chicago Bears' offense. If he's still on the waiver wire in your league, pick him up immediately.

Over the past month, the 23-year-old has been running more and getting an opportunity to use his legs to create big plays. He's scored a rushing touchdown in each of the past three weeks and run for 82 or more yards three times in Chicago's past four games.

In Week 9, the former Georgia and Ohio State QB had his most impressive performance yet in the Bears' loss to the Miami Dolphins. He passed for 123 yards and three touchdowns while also rushing for 178 yards and a score.

At this point, Fields is a reliable starting fantasy quarterback every week. So, don't be afraid to make a switch for Week 10 and beyond.

James Conner returned to the Cardinals' backfield in Week 9, and that immediately relegated Eno Benjamin to a backup role once again.

In Arizona's loss to the Seattle Seahawks, Benjamin had only four carries for 12 yards and one catch for 15 yards.

It doesn't help that the Cardinals' offense has been scuffling a bit, with the team dropping four of its past five games to fall to 3-6. Only the top-tier playmakers in Arizona can be viewed as must-start fantasy options.

That's not Benjamin, though. And with Conner likely to get more involved as he fully recovers from his rib injury, the 23-year-old is likely to get less than 10 total touches per game, much like he was early in the season.

If you're worried that Conner could get reinjured, then maybe it's worth holding onto Benjamin as a handcuff. But if you're tight on roster space, don't be scared to drop him to clear a spot.

The Panthers benched quarterback PJ Walker for Baker Mayfield midway through their Week 9 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, then decided this week that Walker will start in Week 10 vs. the Atlanta Falcons.

No matter who is at QB, though, Terrace Marshall Jr. is becoming a fantasy option at wide receiver.

Since Carolina traded Robbie Anderson to Arizona last month, the 22-year-old has been serving a bigger role in the Panthers' offense. He has impressed of late, as he had 87 yards in a Week 8 loss to the Falcons and then scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 9.

It would likely help Marshall's fantasy stock if he could develop rapport with a quarterback, but Carolina may not have that situation figured out quite yet. Nonetheless, he is clearly beginning to get comfortable at the pro level.

Although the LSU product is a bit too risky to start in fantasy lineups right now, it's worth rostering him and seeing if he can become reliable for future weeks.

Early in his rookie season, Alec Pierce was becoming a consistent fantasy performer while excelling in the Colts' offense.

The 22-year-old had back-to-back 80-plus-yard games in Weeks 4 and 5, and he scored his first NFL touchdown in a Week 6 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars.

However, Indianapolis' passing attack is no longer putting up solid numbers, as the team turned to Sam Ehlinger at quarterback the past two weeks, opting to start the 24-year-old over Matt Ryan. And that has made it tougher to trust Colts wide receivers in fantasy lineups.

In Week 9, Pierce had only one catch for 23 yards in the loss to the New England Patriots. Not only that, but he was also targeted only two times, his fewest since his NFL debut in Week 1.

So, after Pierce's stock was on the rise throughout October, it's now quickly dropping. And at this point, the former Cincinnati WR is a strong drop candidate, as it seems unlikely the Colts' passing offense will take huge steps forward anytime soon.