The Fantasy Fallout Going Into Week 10 of the NFL Season

Bye week nightmares abounded in Week 9, but hopefully you were able to eek through with a win or close to it by Monday night. Here’s the fallout going into Week 10…

 

Eagles – 29 @ Texans 17

• Kenneth Gainwell(7/38/1) got just enough action to whet our appetites on Thursday night, and his work came outside of garbage time too. The Eagles play Washington this week, a team they beat 24-8 earlier this season, so there’s a good chance that they run up the score early, allowing some room for Gainwell to run.

 

• DeVonta Smith(2/22) hasn’t cleared 45 yards in his last 3 games, and his last 2 contests were against paltry secondaries(PIT,HOU). If he can’t make hay against a weak Commanders unit this week, it might be time to bench the talented WR.

 

• Chris Moore(4/43/1) and Phillip Dorsett(3/69) did their best to make up for the absence of Brandin Cooks and Nico Collins on Thursday, with Moore putting up a decent enough line. He’s a desperation flex against the Giants this week, if neither Cooks nor Collins can go.

 

Colts – 3 @ Patriots – 26

• The Colts offense has been abysmal in the hands of Sam Ehlinger(15/103/0/1). You could argue that this past week’s matchup with the Pats was particularly difficult, but they haven’t been tough against opposing QBs this season. If Jonathan Taylor isn’t back this week, I don’t feel good about starting any Colts skill players, even against the Raiders.

 

• Jordan Wilkins(7/28) ate into just enough of Deon Jackson‘s touches(13/36) to render them both unusable in fantasy. Neither are advisable plays this week if Taylor can’t go.

 

• JJ Taylor(11/17) mixed in with Rhamondre Stevenson(18/70/1), with Damien Harris sidelined, to little effect. The Pats have a bye this week, so there’s no reason to move on Taylor, as Harris will probably return the following week.

 

Dolphins – 35 @ Bears – 32

• Jeff Wilson(12/72/1) outsnapped Raheem Mostert(9/26/1) 27 to 24 in his first game with the Dolphins, much to the chagrin of Mostert owners everywhere. Both players are probably worth flexing against the Browns this week, though their ceilings are both capped by each other.

 

• Justin Fields(17/123/3)(15/178/1) has jumped the shark, in a good way. He’s playing out of his mind right now, and needs to be owned in all formats. He’s still available in over 30% of leagues, and he’s going to win championships for some savvy owners.

 

• Fields’ ascension comes at a cost though, as Khalil Herbert(7/23) only got 7 touches on Sunday. Herbert should still be usable this weekend against the Lions, though his floor will be low.

 

• Chase Claypool(2/13) garnered 6 targets in his first game with Bears, tied 2nd with Cole Kmet, behind Darnell Mooney(8 targets). It’s a dicey proposition, but with Fields playing like an All-Star, Claypool may warrant a flex start against the Lions this week.

 

• Kmet(5/41/2) has caught 3 TDs in his last 2 games. In today’s barren TE landscape, he’s worth streaming against Detroit this week.

 

Vikings – 20 @ Commanders – 17

• TJ Hockenson(9/70) thrived in his first action with Minnesota, catching 9 of 9 targets on the day. Kj Osborn‘s looks(2) plummeted with Hockenson around, but you probably weren’t relying on him in any format.

 

• It was an almost even timeshare(15-13) between Brian Robinson(15/38) and Antonio Gibson(13/47), with Jd Mckissic out with a neck injury.

 

Panthers – 21 @ Bengals – 42

• The Bengals took out their recent frustrations on the Panthers, getting out to a 35 – 0 before the half. Baker Mayfield(14/155/2) took over for a struggling PJ Walker, throwing 2 TDs in the process. I trust Mayfield less than most QBs in the league, but this week’s matchup with Atlanta should at least allow for DJ Moore(2/24) and Terrace Marshall(3/53/1)to get open enough to flex either WR.

 

• Raheem Blackshear(9/53/1) filled in for an injured Chuba Hubbard, posting a line that hopefully helped some DFS daredevils. He could have some deep league value against Atlanta if Hubbard is out again this week.

 

• It was all Joe Mixon(26/211/5) for the Bengals. You won your week if he was on your team.

 

Packers – 9 @ Lions – 15

• Aaron Rodgers is playing the worst football of his long career. He lost Romeo Doubs on the first play of the game, but he still spread the ball out to 10 different pass catchers and still couldn’t get anything going. Allen Lazard(4/87/1) got enough targets(10) to maintain relevance going into a tough matchup with the Cowboys this week, but I can’t toy with any other Packers not named Jones or Dillon, and even they aren’t excellent plays.

 

• D’Andre Swift was definitely on a snap count Sunday, only touching the ball 5 times but picking up 50 yards in the process. If any player can go major on limited touches it’s Swift, and he gets a beatable Bears defense in Week 10, so he’s still worth a flex.

 

• Both James Mitchell and Shane Zylstra scored TDs at the TE position, in the vacuum of TJ Hockenson leaving for Minnesota. Mitchell was more active, but I’m not sure either are worth adding, as they only had 3 targets between the 2 of them.

 

Raiders – 20 @ Jaguars – 27

• Foster Moreau(2/42) was 2nd in targets(5), behind Davante Adams(10), but he wasn’t able to do much with the bump. In fact, Moreau hasn’t done enough with Darren Waller sidelined since Week 5 to warrant streaming him.

 

• When your RB touches the ball 30 times, there usually isn’t much action left for the rest of the offense, and this was the case with Travis Etienne(30/126/2) in Week 9.

 

Bills – 17 @ Jets – 20

• The Bills couldn’t get anything going outside of Josh Allen‘s 2 rushing TDs, and even he had a 46.81 QB rating outside of that. They should have a better outing against Minnesota this week, despite Allen’s sore elbow.

 

• James Robinson(15/53/1) out touched Michael Carter(13/86/1) 15 to 13, but Carter had the better day. Both are viable plays coming out of the Week 10 bye, even against New England. This team is predicated on not making Zach Wilson have to win with his arm, so touches will abound for both backs.

 

• Garrett Wilson(8/92) was the beneficiary of Corey Davis being absent in Week 10. No other pass catcher saw more than 4 targets. Wilson will be worth flexing out of the bye and beyond.

 

Chargers – 20 @ Falcons – 17

• Isaiah Spiller(7/29) looks to have moved into the no.2 spot behind Austin Ekeler, touching the ball 7 times to just 1 touch for Sony Michel. He’s just a stash at this point though.

 

• Josh Palmer(8/106) led the Chargers in receiving with both Mike Williams and Keenan Allen sidelined in Week 10. Even against SF, Palmer is WR2 worthy if Williams and Allen miss again.

 

• Michael Bandy(5/26) is averaging 7 targets over his last 2 games. He’s a deep league and DFS special this week, if Williams and Allen are out, as is DeAndre Carter

 

• The Falcons relied heavily on the run in Week 9, with Patterson, Allgeier and Huntley all getting 7+ touches. The game plan will probably be similar this week against Carolina, though Huntley is a dart throw at best behind the other two.

 

• Drake London tied with Kyle Pitts for a team high 7 targets, but neither yielded much yardage. London can be dropped for a hot waiver pickup, as he’s been the model of inconsistency throughout his rookie season.

 

Seahawks – 31 @ Cardinals – 21

• Noah Fant(5/96) had his best game of 2022 on Sunday, but the Cardinals were a top 2 matchup for TEs, so that’s not a revelation. I don’t have much faith in him against Tampa this week.

 

• Rondale Moore(8/69) surprisingly led the Cardinals in receiving. He’s had 8 or more targets in 4 of his last 5 games, so fire him up in PPR formats against the Rams this week.

 

• Eno Benjamin(5/27) only touched the ball 5 times to James Conner‘s(12/64) 12. Benjamin needs to be benched until Conner gets hurt again, which is inevitable.

 

Rams – 13 @ Buccaneers – 16

• Darrell Henderson(12/56) led the rushing attack even with Cam Akers(5/3) back on the field. There’s no need to add Akers if he’s been dropped in your league.

 

• Rachaad White(11/34) had a high in touches this season in Week 9, getting only 3 fewer touches than Lenny Forunette(14/60). White still hasn’t topped 30 yards on the ground though and would need an injury to Fournette to be playable outside of the deepest formats.

 

• Cade Otton(5/68/1) had his best game of the season, and you get one more week out of him before Cameron Brate‘s probable return after the Week 10 bye.

 

Titans – 17 @ Chiefs – 20

• Malik Willis(5/80)(8/40) only had 5 completions on the night, and the Titans almost won the game, if that says anything about their reliance on Derrick Henry and their defense. Ryan Tannehill was reportedly close to playing, so we should see him under center this week.

 

• The Chiefs have a 3-headed timeshare in the backfield, and Jerrick McKinnon(9/44) may be the best fantasy bet while that’s the case. His involvement in the passing game makes him a flex in PPR formats. Isaiah Pacheco and Clyde Edwards-Helaire are just going to sap each other’s fantasy value.

 

• Perhaps the addition of Kadarius Toney to the squad lit a fire under Mecole Hardman(6/79/1), as he had his best game of the season, through the air, on Sunday night. He’s quietly had 4 straight double-digit fantasy games and makes for a high upside flex versus Jacksonville this week.

 

• Toney only had 12 yards on 2 targets in his first game as a Chief, but prepare for him to get more involved moving forward. The “heir apparent” to Tyreek Hill, Toney has oodles of upside as we near the fantasy playoffs.