What You Need to Know From Week 10

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IND-TEN

1. We knew Nyheim Hines was a good receiving threat out of the backfield, but could he be the best runner too? He was in Week 10 and if the coaches adjust accordingly, he could be an everyweek RB2 in PPR leagues.
2. Michael Pittman looked to be on the same page as Philip Rivers and his gifts are translating in this offense. He’ll be the top priority waiver wire wide receiver this week with a good schedule coming up.
3. Ryan Tannehill had his worst game as a Titan or at least it felt that way. A.J. Brown did drop what could have been a long score, but the Titans pass offense was still ineffective overall, although we should give some credit to the Colts defense and point out that the Titans line was without Taylor Lewan and Rodger Saffold got hurt during the game. This week vs. the Ravens isn’t that promising for Tannehill and his stock is falling. This was already a low volume pass offense to begin with, if the efficiency isn’t high, A.J. Brown and Jonnu Smith will have a low floor because of Corey Davis’s role as a possession receiver widening the target tree.
4. Philip Rivers was solid and efficient, but it’s hard to know how much of that was him and pass offense picking up with Pittman emerging, and how much was the Titans pass defense being one to target. Lamar Jackson gets them this week.
5. Don’t worry about Derrick Henry. He routinely ripped off nice gains against a run defense that shut down the Ravens last week. Both of the touchdowns were vultured (D’Onta Foreman and Jonnu Smith) or a big game was there for him.

HOU-CLE

1. Houston’s run defense is bad, so bad that it allowed two 100-yard runners. Too bad the Colts don’t have a clear #1 back to harvest the value of this matchup twice in the upcoming four weeks.
2. Nick Chubb is back and he looks amazing. If it weren’t for him running out of bounds at the one to clinch the game instead of scoring with under a minute left, he would have been one of the best running back plays of the week.
3. Don’t read too much into this for Deshaun Watson and the Texans passing game as it was limited by the wind. Do read into this for Baker Mayfield and Browns passing game as they don’t want to put too much on the shoulder of the passing game.
4. Duke Johnson Jr ran hard but there wasn’t much there and the Texans didn’t involve him as a receiver. His ceiling is low even though he’s assured of being the starter for at least two more weeks after David Johnson was ominously placed on injured reserve with a concussion.

WAS-DET

1. D’Andre Swift was named the starter before the game and responded with a fantastic all-around effort. He could be an RB1 going forward.
2. Alex Smith looked a lot better this time around and he should be able to support the value of Terry McLaurin, Logan Thomas, and J.D. McKissic, and keep the offense viable enough to create ample scoring opportunities for Antonio Gibson while providing emergency QB1 and solid QB2/Superflex value.
3. T.J. Hockenson had his first down game of the season and it happened to follow appearing on the injury report. Monitor his toe injury but go back to him this week.
4. Marvin Jones finally had the WR1 performance we’ve been waiting for after Kenny Golladay went down and should be trustworthy vs Carolina as long as Stafford plays.
5. McKissic will be a solid RB2 in PPR leagues as long as Smith is the quarterback.
6. Matthew Stafford got a little banged up but had a strong statistical game against the good on paper Washington pass defense.
7. Cam Sims length and skill is showing up and he should be added in deep dynasty leagues with a chance to become a long-term starter in this pass offense.

TB-CAR

1. Ronald Jones II finally broke a long run that showed he still has his USC afterburners. This should settle the backfield for once and for all and give us a reason to stick with Jones through the ups and downs for the rest of the way. Also, Carolina remains an RB matchup to targets.
2. Tom Brady and the Bucs offense realized its ideal one week after reaching new depths. They settled for three chipshot field goals or could have scored well into the 50s. Brady is looking like an elite QB1 for the fantasy playoffs and he can support everyweek starting value for Chris Godwin, Mike Evans, and Antonio Brown.
3. Teddy Bridgewater had another gutsy performance for both fantasy and NFL outcomes, trying to keep his team in the game, but he left with a knee injury. It’s not serious, but any missed time will make any Panthers player a dicey start, except Mike Davis sheerly out of a shortage of running backs in fantasy leagues.
4. DJ Moore took advantage of some busted coverage, but this wasn’t a game that reset priorities for the Panthers pass offense. Other than those plays it was a long day for the Panthers passing game, but the Lions could be a tonic this week if Bridgewater can play.
5. Rob Gronkowski and Cameron Brate both scored, and Gronkowski looked like he found his old form on a downfield catch. With such a prolific offense, both could be viable fantasy tight ends, and Gronkowski remains an everyweek start.

PHI-NYG

1. Daniel Jones was used as a runner by design, which greatly raises his weekly fantasy floor and ceiling and should help the efficiency of the offense as a whole.
2. Carson Wentz was terrible even though he had arguably his best array of weapons of the season and against a defense he did well against three weeks ago. Only Miles Sanders and Dallas Goedert are looking like safe starts heading into a matchup with Cleveland, although Goedert was outproduced by Richard Rodgers in this game.
3. Wayne Gallman was a strong short yardage runner and scored twice. It was his fourth straight game with a score and he should be considered a fantasy RB2 after the bye with Devonta Freeman on injured reserve.
4. Darius Slayton bounced back with a big play to help ice the game and should be back in our circle of trust against a weak schedule after the bye.
5. Don’t sweat Miles Sanders so-so outcome, he looked terrific in his return and has some big games in him if Wentz can be functional.
6. Just as Jason Garrett started using Jones more effectively, he forgot about Evan Engram. We’ll give him one more week after the bye against the Bengals before being open to benching him.
7. Travis Fulgham’s bad game was more a side effect of Carson Wentz’s play than a big dropoff in his play, but we’ll need to see him and Wentz connect like they did before last week before putting Fulgham back in the lineup.

JAX-GB

1. Aaron Jones production as a receiver bailed out fantasy teams, but Jamaal Williams was his equal as a runner even though he only got about half of the work Jones got in the running game.
2. Marquez Valdes-Scantling had his second big game in a row and made a strong bid to remain a big part of the pass offense when Allen Lazard returns this week.
3. Jake Luton looks like a rookie, although he did have DJ Chark open deep only for the Lambeau wind to hang the ball up and allow it to be broken up. He came back to earth facing a defense other than the Texans.
4. Keelan Cole, not Chris Conley was the second target for Luton and he looked speedy on his punt return score to revive some value heading into a matchup with the Steelers.

BUF-ARI

1. Kyler Murray was once again unstoppable as a runner and his hail mary prayer into triple coverage was answered by DeAndre Hopkins. He is the fantasy MVP at this point in the season.
2. Josh Allen was off more than on, especially after John Brown left with an injury, but he scored as a receiver, leaned on Cole Beasley in the passing game, and found Stefon Diggs for what should have been the game winner with 34 seconds left. Even with uneven play he remains a must start for fantasy.
3. Kenyan Drake was back and played well, and Chase Edmonds showed he should retain flex value even with Drake back. The Cardinals running game had one of its best games of the year and we might want to target the Bills run defense after their bye.
4. Zack Moss and the Bills running game in general was back to troubling and not just because Josh Allen was dealing and the team didn’t want to go away from him like last week. He’s on the borderline of RB2 value and Devin Singletary is sadly droppable.
5. Darrell Daniels got banged up and Dan Arnold contributed with four receptions. Watch him Thursday to see if there’s any value coming from the former wide receiver.
6. Christian Kirk cooled off, but err on the side of playing him against the Seahawks on Thursday anyway.

LAC-MIA

1. Salvon Ahmed ran with great burst and decisiveness and the Dolphins offensive line opened holes as well as they have all year. He should be added in all leagues.
2. Kalen Ballage is the starter in the Chargers backfield until Austin Ekeler comes back and he showed some evolution in his patience and vision. He’s an RB2 candidate this week against the Jets.
3. The Dolphins are going to be a running game/defense path to win team with Tua Tagovailoa and the passing game (including Devante Parker and Mike Gesicki) not getting enough volume to be fantasy relevant unless they are playing an opponent that can crack their defense - which isn’t the Week 11 opponent, Denver.
4. Justin Herbert had a tough go of it against the Dolphins defense - who should be respected as an opponent and considered as a fantasy D/ST when setting lineups - but still had a solid fantasy result thanks to a rushing touchdown.
5. Jakeem Grant will be hampered by the Dolphins low pass volume, but he was Tagovailoa’s favorite target and scored in this one.

DEN-LV

1. Josh Jacobs was back in top form, but so was Devontae Booker in a revenge game. The Broncos depleted defensive line should allow Salvon Ahmed to stay hot in Week 11.
2. Drew Lock was terrible and hurt. He might not start against Miami in Week 11. If Brett Rypien is in, K.J. Hamler could have some value, along with Jerry Jeudy as Rypien is a better anticipation thrower and they are the team’s best route runners.
3. The Broncos running game is DOA and both backs are only desperation plays.
4. Darren Waller dropped what would have been a long score and a few other Raiders passcatchers let Derek Carr down, but the Raiders don’t seem to want to be a pass heavy team when they don’t have to be. They will have to be this week against the Chiefs.

SEA-LAR

1. Cooper Kupp wasn’t the #1 receiver - Josh Reynolds. Kupp might still be banged up out of the bye and Reynolds might have lasting value.
2. The Rams backfield is going to be a true three-headed monster. Malcolm Brown has the highest weekly floor. Darrell Henderson is the most likely to lead the backfield in touches, and Cam Akers has the highest ceiling, but all are just desperation plays as long as it is split close to equal as it was this week.
3. The Rams had Russell Wilson’s number in this one and his play quality is eroding quickly. We will see if the coaches stop letting Russ cook on Thursday vs. the Cardinals. They might not have a choice if the offense doesn’t improve.
4. The Seahawks running game was responsible for the only score, but it probably isn’t getting on track until Chris Carson returns, which might not be this week.
5. Jared Goff had the expected good game against the Seahawks, but the running backs scored all three touchdowns and the defense kept the game low scoring, so his attempt number didn’t get high enough to make this a big hit for fantasy. He’ll be challenged by the Bucs blitzing ways this week.
6. DK Metcalf had a tough draw with Jalen Ramsey and Wilson wasn’t as bold throwing him the ball. Tyler Lockett had a knee issue reported after the game. David Moore could have some emerging value when Metcalf faces tough matchups if Wilson can get back on track.
7. Jacob Hollister was a dud one week after a potential mini-breakout game and can be thrown back to the waiver wire.

CIN-PIT

1. James Conner and the Steelers run blocking has been underwhelming for three straight weeks now. It could be Conner wearing down. Benny Snell is the clear backup after Anthony McFarland was a healthy scratch.
2. Ben Roethlisberger was dealing and the Steelers offense might have found a new home mode which downplays the run and allows him to take defenses apart with a trio of receivers that will present mismatches for most defenses. All three Steelers receivers are weekly starts now. The Bengals remain a defense to target in fantasy lineups with opposing passing games. That’s Washington this week.
3. Joe Burrow had a tough day in the wind, which exposes his low-end arm strength. Only Tee Higgins had a strong day mainly on the back of a play when the Steelers forgot to cover him.

SF-NO

1. Drew Brees went out with fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. It’s not clear who will start or how much work Taysom Hill will get as the quarterback over Jameis Winston, but Winston looked terrible in relief of Brees. The passing game will take a hit, but don’t panic yet, hopefully Winston can find his form.
2. Jordan Reed had one of the plays of the day and moved back ahead of Ross Dwelley as the #1 receiving tight end.
3. Even if Raheem Mostert isn’t ready in Week 12, it’s hard to see Jerick McKinnon as more than a desperation play after this dud.
4. Nick Mullens struggled as the Saints defense picked up their play after Drew Brees went out, but Brandon Aiyuk was still a strong play and has earned WR3/Flex status even if Deebo Samuel is healthy coming out of the bye.

BAL-NE

1. Damien Harris ran very well after leaving last week’s game with a chest injury. He’s the clear early down back and high floor RB2 going forward as the Patriots offensive line won in the trenches against the Ravens, who lost immovable object Brandon Williams during the game.
2. Jakobi Meyers was adequate as a receiver for fantasy PPR leagues, but the former high school quarterback threw a perfect touchdown to Rex Burkhead to make him a good WR2 play on the week. He needs to be lineups against the Texans this week.
3. The Ravens backfield was back to a three-headed mess for fantasy. Only J.K. Dobbins is worth a roster spot right now.
4. Lamar Jackson actually passed well considering the rainy conditions and should still be considered a strong QB1 from here on out with the Titans up next and a good fantasy playoff schedule.
5. In the bad conditions, Jackson focused more on the middle of the field, and Willie Snead and Mark Andrews were the main targets. Andrews should get a target bump but the run blocking took another hit when Nick Boyle went down.
6. Rex Burkhead had his second multi-touchdown game of the year, but he’s more best ball material than a trustworthy redraft play. He is clearly ahead of James White in the pecking order for snaps and White can be dropped.

MIN-CHI

1. Kirk Cousins was efficient against the Bears stingy pass defense and the interception was on Adam Thielen, not him. He’s high floor matchup depth against the Cowboys this week.
2. Dalvin Cook was bottled up by the Bears and he’ll meet them again in Week 15 - following a matchup with the #1 run defense Tampa Bay.
3. Justin Jefferson was a force to be reckoned with and can’t be benched from here on out no matter how much risk the Vikings low volume passing game presents.
4. Nick Foles is so bad that we can only trust Allen Robinson in PPR league despite all of the great matchups coming up.
5. Adam Thielen had two scores to keep him in the circle of trust despite a sometimes shaky night.
6. Kyle Rudolph is fantasy relevant without Irv Smith but he did have fumble in this one.
7. It’s fun to watch Cordarrelle Patterson as a running back but there’s no fantasy value there.
8. The Vikings have some inexperienced players at corner, but the Bears couldn’t expose them. We’ll see if Andy Dalton gets back on the field this week to test them.