Finding a usable tight end late in the week requires balancing opportunity against risk. Recent touchdowns can disguise limited involvement, while an injury elsewhere can create targets for a player whose production has stalled. Week 10 offers three alternatives: Tyler Higbee benefits from depleted receiving depth, Darren Waller brings encouraging recent production and AJ Barner combines steady playing time with a favorable matchup. All three remain available in many leagues, with Saturday’s waiver rankings listing Higbee at 21% rostered and Waller at 14%, while Barner entered the week at 10%.
Tyler Higbee, LAR (@ ARI)
Higbee is the opportunity-based choice for managers willing to look beyond disappointing recent results. He has not exceeded two catches or 14 receiving yards in any of his last three games. That is hardly automatic-start production, but the circumstances around him have changed significantly.
Puka Nacua has joined Davante Adams and Jordan Whittington on injured reserve, leaving Matthew Stafford without several established receiving options. Higbee also cleared his own immediate hurdle: After missing Thursday with an illness, he returned Friday and received no game designation.
The underlying usage offers a stronger argument than his box scores. Against Washington, Higbee led the Rams’ tight ends with an 80% snap share and 78% route share. He has averaged 12.1 half-PPR points in the three games this season when he received at least six targets.
Additional targets are not guaranteed, especially with Colby Parkinson available. Still, Higbee already has the playing time needed to capitalize. Consider him a borderline TE1 whose appeal rests on a potential volume increase rather than recent scoring.
Darren Waller, CAR (@ NO)
Waller offers the strongest recent receiving performance of this group. He caught eight of 10 targets for 90 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 9, leading Carolina in targets, receptions and receiving yards. It was his best outing of the season.
That performance pushed his season totals to 23 catches for 299 yards and four touchdowns across eight games. More importantly for fantasy managers, it demonstrated what remains possible when Bryce Young looks his way consistently rather than treating him as an occasional option.
New Orleans presents another encouraging matchup. The Saints have surrendered a touchdown to a tight end in three consecutive games, giving Waller a plausible route to another productive afternoon even if his target count declines.
The caution is workload volatility. Waller received exactly two targets in each of the three games preceding his breakout, so projecting another double-digit opportunity total would be aggressive. He is a sensible streamer, but one outstanding game has not established a dependable weekly floor.
AJ Barner, SEA (@ LV)
Article Continues BelowBarner’s Week 9 production demands a closer look. He scored twice against Arizona, catching one touchdown and rushing for another, but finished with only two receptions for seven yards on four targets. His 15 PPR points were valuable without representing a receiving breakout.
The broader involvement is more reassuring. Barner has drawn at least four targets in six of his last seven games and played at least 80% of Seattle’s offensive snaps six times this season. Through nine games, he has 23 receptions for 210 yards.
Las Vegas strengthens the case. Entering Week 10, the Raiders ranked fifth in fantasy points allowed to tight ends in FantasyPros’ matchup assessment. Barner remains touchdown-dependent, but consistent field time gives him chances to exploit that vulnerability.
Final Takeaway
Prioritize Higbee for projected opportunity, Waller for receiving upside and Barner for a touchdown-oriented alternative. None offers certainty, but each has a defensible path to useful Week 10 production.