Fantasy football last-minute pickups for Week 10: Justin Herbert, Jonnu Smith lead the way

As we head into Week 10 of the fantasy football season, there are decisions to make. With both Jordan Love and Geno Smith on byes and Dak Prescott expected to miss multiple weeks due to a hamstring injury, let's start this week's column with the quarterbacks. I have two available signal-callers who can be streamed as starters this week, and one of them is playing his best football of the season based on the tape I'm watching.

While we are still light at the running back position again, I do have four wide receivers who could crack the lineup this week, and multiple tight ends to check out as well. Plus, I'll give you an opportunistic defense that gets a matchup with a rookie quarterback on Sunday.

Players listed below are deeper-league targets, rostered in less than 50% of ESPN leagues entering this week's waiver period. Although you might notice overlap with Eric Moody's waiver wire column that publishes Mondays, an important distinction is that the options mentioned in this column are solely for this week's matchups and not based on the players' values for the remainder of the season.

Quarterback

Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers (47.1% rostered; vs. Titans)

Herbert looks healthy based on his pocket movement and the ability to get to the edges of the formation. And the numbers are climbing. Herbert has thrown for multiple touchdowns in back-to-back games, with 19 or more points in each. Plus, Herbert has 275 or more yards passing in three straight games. He's driving the ball. With the development of wide receiver Ladd McConkey, plus the big-play juice of Quentin Johnston, I like Herbert this week against Tennessee.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (45.7% rostered; at Rams)

Let's take a look at Tagovailoa for the Monday night matchup versus the Rams. In his two games played since returning from a concussion, Tagovailoa has been really efficient throwing the ball, completing better than 80% of his passes while averaging 16.1 PPG during that stretch. Remember, he is a timing-and-rhythm thrower in Mike McDaniel's offense. That plays against a Rams defense that will mix both single-high and split-safety zone defenses. Let's get some catch-and-run targets here for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, which will boost the totals for Tua.

Wide receiver

Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers (44.6% rostered; vs. Giants)

Legette hasn't posted more than 40 yards receiving since back in Week 4, but he is finding the end zone and seeing consistent volume. Legette has now caught a touchdown in three of his past four games, and the Panthers are scheming touches for him, too (one rushing attempt in three straight). With 13 targets over the past two weeks, Legette gives you enough upside in deeper formats.

Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers (42.4% rostered; vs. Titans)

I think we can take a flier on Johnston as a boom/bust target this week based on his ability to stretch the field. He scored 22.0 points against the Browns this past Sunday, which was aided by a 66-yard score off a busted coverage, but he's also scored at least one touchdown reception in three of his past five games played. The Chargers are finding ways to get the ball in his hands, as Johnston has had a rushing attempt in three straight games.

DeMario Douglas, New England Patriots (26.7% rostered; at Bears)

I would anticipate a more zone-heavy game plan from the Bears' defense this week against Patriots quarterback Drake Maye, and that creates a lot of underneath opportunities for Douglas to simply find open grass. Douglas caught seven of nine targets in the Week 9 loss to the Titans, totaling 35 yards receiving (10.5 points). While there isn't big-play upside here, Douglas gives you a decent floor as a PPR option working out of the slot.

Running backs