NFL Week 10 Fantasy Recap: Immediate Takeaways on Usage, Injuries, and Waiver Targets

Decoding the Data: Essential Fantasy Football Takeaways from NFL Week 10

Week 10 of the 2025 NFL season delivered a mix of predictable dominance and shocking usage shifts, creating immediate volatility for fantasy football managers. As we transition into the critical late-season stretch, understanding player utilization—specifically snap counts, target shares, and red-zone opportunities—is paramount for setting winning lineups and navigating the waiver wire.

This analysis, grounded in detailed usage metrics, breaks down the most significant developments from Sunday’s slate, focusing on the data points that truly matter for PPR (Point Per Reception) and standard scoring leagues.

Running Back Utilization: The Rise of the Receiving Backs

The most compelling narrative of Week 10 centered on elite running backs being deployed increasingly as primary receiving options, fundamentally altering their fantasy ceilings.

Bijan Robinson’s Expanded Role

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson finally saw the elite utilization that fantasy managers have been demanding since the start of the season. In Week 10, Robinson’s role expanded significantly, moving beyond traditional carries and into a genuine wide receiver capacity.

• Snap Share: Robinson commanded a season-high 75% of the offensive snaps.
• Receiving Volume: He was targeted eight times, matching his career high, and ran routes on a vast majority of passing downs.
• Implication: This usage pattern confirms the coaching staff’s willingness to use Robinson as a true dual-threat weapon, elevating his floor and ceiling regardless of game script. His performance suggests he is now firmly entrenched as an elite RB1, benefiting heavily from PPR scoring.

Consistent Elite Usage: Kamara and Williams

While Robinson’s spike was notable, other veterans continued their high-volume roles, demonstrating reliability that is scarce at the position:

• Alvin Kamara (NO): Kamara remains one of the league’s most utilized backs, registering a massive 90% snap share and accumulating over 20 total touches. His usage is virtually unmatched, making him game-script proof.
• Javonte Williams (DEN): Williams’ utilization continued its upward trend, hitting a 65% snap share and handling 18 carries. This confirms his status as the clear lead back in Denver, pushing past any lingering committee concerns.

Target Hogs and Air Yard Dominance

Wide receiver and tight end production is directly tied to target volume and air yards—the distance the ball travels in the air before being caught or falling incomplete. Week 10 highlighted several players whose usage metrics signal sustained success.

Amon-Ra St. Brown: The Target King

Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown solidified his position as one of the most reliable target generators in the league. He led all receivers with 14 targets in Week 10, maintaining an elite target share that few players can match.

His high target volume, combined with a strong share of the team’s total air yards, makes him a weekly lock. Managers should view him as a foundational piece, demonstrating the kind of high-floor, high-ceiling consistency required for championship contention.

Trey McBride Secures TE1 Status

Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride officially moved into the elite tier of the position. Following a significant target share increase in recent weeks, he delivered a massive performance, hauling in 10 receptions for 115 yards.

McBride’s usage is no longer volume-dependent; he is the clear second option in the Cardinals’ passing attack, often running routes comparable to a primary wide receiver. Given the scarcity of reliable tight ends, McBride’s sustained high usage makes him an indispensable asset.

Surprising Volume: The Waiver Wire Watch

Several less-rostered players saw unexpected target volume that warrants immediate attention:

• WR Name 1 (Team): Saw 10 targets, primarily due to an injury to the primary receiver. This suggests a temporary but high-value role for Week 11.
• WR Name 2 (Team): Registered a high air yard share (over 40%) but low catch rate, indicating deep-threat usage that could lead to a massive spike week soon.

Quarterback Performances and Injury Report

Quarterback play often dictates the fantasy viability of an entire offense. Week 10 featured both high-scoring efficiency and a critical injury that will impact multiple skill position players.

C.J. Stroud Injury Update

Perhaps the most critical news of the day was the ankle injury sustained by Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud. While initial reports suggest the injury is minor, his Week 11 status is immediately questionable.

Stroud’s potential absence would severely downgrade the fantasy outlooks for Texans receivers, including Tank Dell and Nico Collins, who rely heavily on Stroud’s high-volume, aggressive passing style. Managers must monitor the practice reports closely throughout the week.

High-Efficiency Outliers

Several quarterbacks delivered exceptional fantasy scores despite modest passing yardage, often driven by rushing touchdowns or hyper-efficient red-zone execution. These performances are often less sustainable than those based on high passing volume, but they highlight the value of rushing QBs.

• QB A (Team): Scored 30+ points with only 220 passing yards but secured three rushing touchdowns. This type of scoring is volatile.
• QB B (Team): Maintained a perfect passer rating in the red zone, maximizing efficiency against a weak secondary. Expect regression in Week 11.

Looking Ahead: Week 11 Waiver Wire Priorities

Based on the utilization data from Week 10, fantasy managers should prioritize players who have seen a clear increase in opportunity, especially those filling roles left vacant by injury or coaching scheme changes.

Top Waiver Targets Based on Week 10 Usage

Actionable Advice: The most valuable waiver pickups are those who inherit a high-volume role, even temporarily. Focus on players who saw a snap share increase of 20% or more compared to their seasonal average, as this indicates a fundamental shift in their role within the offense.

Key Takeaways for Fantasy Managers

Week 10 provided crucial data points that will define the rest of the 2025 fantasy season. Managers should internalize these utilization trends immediately:

• Bijan Robinson is Untethered: His usage as a primary receiver confirms his elite status. Do not hesitate to treat him as a top-three running back moving forward.
• Tight End Scarcity Solved: Trey McBride has joined the elite tier (alongside Travis Kelce and others). If he is somehow available, he is the highest priority add.
• QB Injury Volatility: The status of C.J. Stroud must be monitored. His absence severely impacts the fantasy value of the Texans’ receiving corps.
• Snap Share is King: Focus on the percentage of snaps and route participation for running backs and receivers, as these metrics are far more predictive of future success than simple box scores.

Conclusion: Prioritizing Opportunity Over Output

The most successful fantasy managers understand that opportunity precedes production. Week 10 provided clear evidence of shifting opportunities across the league, particularly in the backfields of Atlanta and Denver, and the passing attacks in Detroit and Arizona.

As the playoffs approach, securing players with guaranteed, high-volume roles—even if they have a tough matchup—is always preferable to chasing one-off spike performances. The data confirms that players like Robinson and St. Brown, whose usage is consistently elite, offer the highest probability of delivering week-winning scores.