Sunday’s unique slate featured more games in the late window than the early 1 PM eastern block for the first time I can remember and the result was engaging action throughout the entire seven-hour schedule despite four teams on the bye. The fantasy implications of this altered schedule meant matchup results were murkier than typical at the conclusion of the early games and many featured multiple lead changes later than ever. I manage five teams and none of my games have a decided outcome yet, results indicative of week 10’s varied schedule and tight games.
The Veterans and the Young Runners
Atop the quarterback leaderboard we find seasoned veterans Tom Brady, Ben Roethlisberger and Aaron Rodgers in addition to Kyler Murray and Josh Allen, young talents known for their running ability. All stayed true to form and finished as the five best on the day.
Brady’s 31.8 points on 28/39 passing for 3 touchdowns and a patented rush TD on a QB sneak represented the 43-year olds third 30-point performance of the year and a much needed rebound from last week’s dismal 2.4-point performance. The up and down year continues and it all amounts to Brady profiling as a low-end QB1. Roethlisberger had his best game of the year with 333 yards, 4 touchdowns and 29.3 points as Pittsburgh stayed perfect. He now has at least 25 points in back to back weeks and has proven his passing acumen while opponents focus more on stopping the run. Rodgers continued his renaissance-esque season by scoring 25 on 325 yards and 3 total scores, his fourth straight week of at least 22 points. Rodgers has been one of the most consistent signal callers this year with at least 19 points in all but one game. The one quarterback more consistent than Rodgers is Kyler Murray. The sophomore is following in Patrick Mahomes’ and Lamar Jackson’s footsteps in having an historic second year that featured 29.9 points and a game winning Hail “Murray” on Sunday. His 263.4 PPR points are the seventh most through nine games ever. If not for Murray, Josh Allen would be the leader for breakout fantasy star and Sunday’s 322 total yards, 2 passing TDs, rare QB receiving touchdown and 27.4 points represent the norm.
The most disappointing performance easily goes to Russell Wilson, who threw for 248 yards with no touchdowns and 3 turnovers. The saving grace were his 60 yards on the ground to total 9.9 points on the day. We knew regression was in store after Wilson averaged 3.7 passing TDs per game through eight weeks but he has only managed 2 over the last two. This is probably as low as Wilson’s value will be so now is the best opportunity to buy low, especially with running backs Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde due back as soon as Thursday. Joining Wilson with a single-digit performance is Carson Wentz, and for the second consecutive week at that. Wentz has 331 yards, 2 touchdowns and 17.34 points COMBINED in the last two weeks. Philadelphia desperately needs Wentz to play like the quarterback we saw earlier this season if they want to continue to lead the NFC least. For fantasy purposes, Wentz is a streamer at best until he can string together a few good weeks.
RBs: Two Elites and Eight Surprises
Staples Alvin Kamara and Josh Jacobs are leading all running backs in points with one game to go on the week. Kamara continued his dominant season with 15 touches for 98 total yards, 3 TDs and 34.8 points to reach 246.4 on the season, just outside the top ten of the list referenced earlier. Jacobs 29.5 points on 25 touches, 136 yards and 2 touchdowns vaults him to RB8 on the season based on averages. More than half of his total points have come in two games, but Jacob’s consistent touches and goal line opportunities make him an RB1 and weekly must-start.
Following the two big names is a mix of young players and guys available in many leagues. Similar to Jacobs, 68% of Nyheim Hines’ production on the season has come in three games but the Colts running back committee swung back in his favor on Thursday. His 12/70/1 rushing and 5/45/1 receiving led Indianapolis’ backs in all six categories and equated to 28.5 points, the second time he’s scored 20 in three weeks. Following Hines is Lion’s rookie D’Andre Swift who had 21 touches for 149 total yards, 1 score and 25.9 points against a solid run defense. In five weeks since the bye, Swift is averaging 17.2 FPPG. Despite an early fumble, Ronald Jones rushed 23 times for 192 yards and a TD, his 24.8 points fueled by a highlight 98-yard rushing score. Jones and Leonard Fournette are going to trade big games but the third-year player should at least be in the flex conversation on a weekly basis.
Washington teammates Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic both scored at least 17 points against Detroit’s bottom ranked run defense. Gibson’s total line of 17/65/2 sums to 22.8 points and McKissic chipped in 17.9 of his own with 7 receptions for 43 yards and a rushing score. Las Vegas’ backup Devonte Booker had his second straight week with double digit points as he took advantage of Sunday’s blowout to score 21.3 on 16 carries for 81 yards and two TDs and those who roster Jacobs should consider adding Booker as insurance. It was Rams’ back Malcolm Brown turn to shine Sunday as he turned 8 touches into 51 total yards, 2 scores and 19.1 points. Brown hadn’t submitted a quality performance since week 1, and that game along with Sunday’s make up 50% of Brown’s production on the season. Darrell Henderson is still the back to own in Los Angeles. With Devonte Freeman on IR, Wayne Gallman has become a player who should be in weekly lineups as his 19 points raised his average to 15.8 FPPG over the last 4 weeks. Gallman is rostered in less than a third of leagues but New York being on a week 11 bye means other owners may not make claiming Gallman a priority this week; take advantage of their inaction.
Receiver Role Reversal
In a curious development, six receivers among the top ten at the position were started in less than 45% of leagues while seven were started in at least 60% of leagues but failed to score in double digits. More than anything, this demonstrates the number of quality options at the position who are readily available on a weekly basis.
After consecutive down weeks, Cole Beasley rebounded with an 11/109/1 line and a position leading 27.9 points. Only rostered in 46.7 % of leagues despite 13.7 FPPG, he should be in the weekly flex conversation instead of being on waivers in more than half of leagues. Marquez Valdes-Scantling rode a 4/149/1 line to 24.9 points, which makes consecutive big weeks for the young receiver. 68% of his production has come in three games but it only takes one big play, and with Aaron Rodgers throwing those odds are decent. Diontae Johnson boomed with a 6/116/1 line for 23.6 points and now has at least 14 points in four of six full games. After an abysmal start, Marvin Jones is averaging 17.2 FPPG over the last 4 weeks and Sunday’s 23.6 points on 8/96/1 represents a season high. Jones should be locked into line ups for as long as Kenny Golladay is injured. Cincinnati rookies Joe Burrow and Tee Higgins have developed a solid rapport as Higgins 7/115/1 for 22.5 points is a season high and he has scored double digit points in every game since week 2 with 16.9 FPPG in that span. Keelan Cole is far from the most consistent number one receiver but his 21.7 points on 5/47/1 with a punt return touchdown is his fourth performance of at least 15 points and if two stinker games sandwiching the bye are removed he’s at 14.7 FPPG on the year.
All seven of the following players had lackluster weeks and may be available at a discount in your league. Since gaining relevance back in week 4, Travis Fulgham had been averaging 19.3 FPPG until recording just a single reception for 8 yards Sunday. Similarly, AJ Brown had been averaging 20.8 FPPG over the last five weeks before tallying 21 yards on 1 catch Thursday night. In his second game back from injury, Michael Thomas caught only 2 passes for 27 yards but saw an encouraging 7 targets. The star wide out may be working up to game speed as New Orleans is one of the top NFC teams and can afford to ease him into action. DK Metcalf just eclipsed Thomas’ production with 2/28/0 but should still be viewed as one of the most consistent receivers as he has at least 14 points in all but two games. Robby Anderson has predictably fallen back to Earth with Sunday’s 4/21/0 representing a season low 6.1 points. The Sir Purr fan averaged 18.2 FPPG in his first five games but has regressed to 11.3 over the last five. Both Robert woods and Cooper Kupp were outshined by Josh Reynolds and Woods 33 yards on 5 receptions was the lowest output of the three with Kupp’s 5/50/0 not much better. No Texan surpassed 41 yards receiving and Will Fuller’s 8.8 points on 5/38/0 snapped a six game TD streak during which he averaged 18.6 FPPG. In addition, Houston’s remaining schedule features a number of difficult matchups so shopping the former Notre Dame star could prove savvy.
