Let’s dive into some news and notes around the league, my top fantasy plays and favorite picks for Week 10.
Notes:
• After a few weeks of relatively injury-free football, it was a rough week for fantasy owners for many of the top receivers drafted this summer. CeeDee Lamb left his team’s game against the Falcons with a shoulder injury, and even if he doesn’t miss any action, he will be without Dak Prescott for at least the next four weeks. Drake London found the end zone in the same game but picked up a hip injury on the play. Chris Olave took a nasty hit that knocked him out of his team’s game against the Panthers. A.J. Brown injured his knee and was forced out of action against the Jaguars. None of the injuries look to be season-ending, but they come at a time when bye weeks are going to be a menace.
• We have reached the part of the schedule that will be toughest for fantasy managers with the large number of teams on a bye the next few weeks. Four teams are off this week — Browns, Packers, Raiders and Seahawks — with 10 more coming in the two weeks to follow. This comes with a little more than a month left in the fantasy regular season.
• With the playoffs around the corner, how you approach the rest of the campaign depends on your current standing. If you are 7-2 and one of the top scoring teams in your league, look to bolster your lineup with players who have favorable matchups during the fantasy playoffs. If you are 5-4 and fighting for a final playoff spot, build a roster that will get you over the hump. If you have a 3-6 record and essentially need to win out to make the playoffs, it might be time to trade your top asset to get you the pieces to make a playoff push.
• Enough of the bad news. Week 9 was another high-scoring week for fantasy owners. Five players finished with 30 or more points. Thirty players scored more than 20 points. Jaxon Smith-Njigba led all scorers with 37 points in half-PPR scoring in what was by far his best game as a pro. Offenses got off to a slow start the first two months but they are firing on all cylinders now.
Thursday Night Game: Bengals vs. Ravens
Sunday Morning Game: Giants vs. Panthers
Sunday Night Game: Lions vs. Texans
Monday Night Game: Dolphins vs. Rams
Start ‘Em:
Quarterback: Sam Darnold
Running Back: Tyrone Tracy Jr.
Wide Receiver: DeAndre Hopkins
Tight End: T.J. Hockenson
Defense: Bears
Sit ‘Em:
Quarterback: Caleb Williams
Running Back: Javonte Williams
Wide Receiver: Keenan Allen
Tight End: Zach Ertz
Defense: Ravens
Sleepers:
Quarterback: Russell Wilson
Running Back: Jaylen Warren
Wide Receiver: Ray-Ray McCloud III
Tight End: Tyler Conklin
Defense: Giants
NFL Picks for Week 10
Weekly Pick ‘Em (Season Record: 86-52)
Ravens (vs. Bengals)
Panthers (vs. Giants)
Bills (vs. Colts)
Vikings (vs. Jaguars)
Commanders (vs. Steelers)
Falcons (vs. Saints)
Chiefs (vs. Broncos)
Buccaneers (vs. 49ers)
Bears (vs. Patriots)
Chargers (vs. Titans)
Eagles (vs. Cowboys)
Jets (vs. Cardinals)
Lions (vs. Texans)
Dolphins (vs. Rams)
Five Against the Spread Picks (Season Record: 24-21)
Panthers +5 vs. Giants
Vikings -4 vs. Jaguars
Buccaneers +6.5 vs. 49ers
Jets +1 vs. Cardinals
Dolphins +2.5 vs. Rams
Five Over-Under Totals (Season Record: 24-21)
Bengals-Ravens under 53
Broncos-Chiefs under 42
Eagles-Cowboys under 41.5
Lions-Texans over 49
One Bold Prediction for the Week
Week 1: Jayden Daniels finishes as a top-five fantasy QB against the Buccaneers. (Off to a good start!)
Week 2: Greg Dortch finishes as a top-25 wide receiver against the Rams. (WR89 — yikes!)
Week 3: Derek Carr makes it three straight weeks as a top-five fantasy QB against the Eagles. (Major miss)
Week 4: Malik Nabers remains WR1 after scoring two touchdowns against division rival Dallas Cowboys. (Still WR1, but no TDs)
Week 5: A running back will finish with more than 100 rushing yards and 100 receiving yards for the first time this season. (Not even close)
Week 6: A tight end — a position that has been AWFUL to this point — leads all position players in scoring this week. (Close! Cole Kmet finished No. 6)
Week 7: The four rookie QBs — Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels, Drake Maye and Bo Nix — combine for more fantasy points than the top four quarterbacks drafted this summer — Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts. (Miss)
Week 8: Courtland Sutton finishes as a WR2 or better after failing to earn a single target last week. (JUST missed. WR25!)
Week 9: Tight ends keep rolling, with four tight ends scoring 20-plus points. (Tight end struggles continue)
Week 10: A receiver, back or tight end will account for more than 200 yards of offense.
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