Welcome to the fantasy recap. Week 10 saw perhaps one of the games of the season between the Bills and the Vikings, a return to something like they used to be for the Colts and injuries to Jerry Jeudy, Juju, Zach Ertz and Cooper Kupp. Those injuries will have cost a lot of teams this week and if they are out for multiple games it may cause havoc as we get closer to the fantasy playoffs. Let’s dive in.
NB: Scores based on PPR leagues
Fantasy Stars:
Justin Fields (CHI) – 12cmp/167yds/2tds/1int + 13rsh/147yds/2td 39pts
Justin Fields was again the top scorer on the week with a 61yard rushing touchdown helping to inflate an already decent stat-line. If you weren’t a believer before, you should be now. I just wish I knew what the coaching staff was doing for the first 5 games of the season. Even Darnell Mooney is relevant again after being dropped everywhere.
Jonathan Taylor (IND) – 22rsh/147yds/2td + 2rec/16yds 24pts
The Jonathan Taylor we were expecting at the 1.01 (or similar) may finally have returned. Injuries, poor QB play and bad coaching may all have played a part but he’s just been shutout so often. The Raider defence is proving something of a tonic for some struggling fantasy assets and with Philly next I’d keep expectations limited.
CeeDee Lamb (DAL) – 11rec/150yds/2tds 38pts
In a week with some incredible Wide Receiver performances Lamb was the one who racked up the most points. Stefon Diggs had more receptions and Justin Jefferson got all the headlines but Lamb was less sheepish about finding the endzone.
Surprise Packages:
Matt Ryan (IND) – 21cmp/222yds/1td/0int + 4rsh/38yds/1td 23pts
There was no bigger surprise this week than Matt Ryan not only being the starter at the last second, but then playing a pivotal part in a victory with Jeff Saturday at the helm. Ryan wasn’t properly named the starter until the kick-off so it came as a shock that he played and then more of a shock when he was good. Maybe this will continue, maybe it won’t. but for some, there is hope again.
Alec Ingold (MIA) – 4rec/45yds/1td 15pts
There were 3 Dolphins RBs in the top 15 at the position this week. Jeff Wilson was 7th, Raheem Mostert 10th and Alec Ingold (technically a FB but classed as an RB) at 15th. They combined for 56 points against the Browns although it is worth noting they had 10 receptions between them and only 25 rushing attempts (17 of which were Wilson).
Nick Westbrook-Ikhene (TEN) – 5rec/119yds/2tds 29pts
Last week I was on the Full10Yards NFL Podcast and mentioned that the Titans wide receivers did not register a single reception in week 9. This week there were 10 receptions and 5 of them went to Nick Westbrook-Ikhene (A further 9 went to RB and TE options just for reference). On a day where the Broncos zeroed in on Henry and Burks, they gave Tannehill an easy and effective alternative option.
Disappointments:
Justin Herbert (LAC) – 21cmp/196yds/1td/1int + 5rsh/22yds/1fum 12pts
Herbert was the QB24 on the week and while you can point to the fact he has a limited number of receiving options and that their star man currently is Austin Ekeler, this is still not what we expected from a top 6 drafted QB. Since week 5 he’s only once registered a score above 15 and he is the QB15 of the season. Marcus Mariota is the QB13, just to give you an idea how bad it is.
Cordarelle Patterson (ATL) – 5rsh/18yds + 1rec/2yds 3pts
Chalk this one down to Thursday Night Football often being terrible. Shorter rest weeks, quota filling matchups and a night where the team’s leading rusher was Marcus Mariota. Just ignore and move on.
George Kittle (SF) – 1rec/21yds 3pts
His skills as a blocker do occasionally lead to lacklustre fantasy numbers and this was no exception. With McCaffrey, Mitchell, Deebo and Aiyuk they have plenty of weapons and Kittles support in the trenches opens that up as well as him being a very noteworthy decoy or release valve depending on how plays go. You’re never going to get consistency, but you always know there’s going to be a week where he explodes.
Waiver Wire Pickups:
BYE Weeks: JAX, SEA, MIA, TB
QB – Daniel Jones (NYG) – Jones has been reasonable through this season and his scores tend to be in lock-step with the opposition ability. The Giants play Detroit this week so the signs point towards a good week.
Other QB Options – Goff vsNYG, Wilson vsLV.
RB – Jerrick McKinnon (KCC) – The Chiefs seem to be ignoring Clyde Edwards-Helaire and Isiah Pacheco isn’t going to be a bell cow. McKinnon seems to be getting a lot of work in the receiving game and has scored double digits for two consecutive weeks. Chuba Hubbard, Gus Edwards, Darrel Henderson, James Robinson, Brian Robinson and Nyheim Hines are also worthy options.
WR – Christian Watson (GB) – Watson has been struggling with injuries and getting to grips with the league and Aaron Rodgers all season, but this week he broke out in an emphatic way and with Romeo Doubs out, Rodgers may have found a new weapon. Donovan Peoples-Jones, Michael Gallup, Nico Collins, MVS, Devin Duvernay and DeAndre Carter could also prove useful if you’re stretched.
TE – Cole Kmet (CHI) – Now that Justin Fields has had some of the shackles taken off, Kmet has become the weapon we thought he might be in pre-season. Successive 20+pt weeks mean he’s now 50% owned and gaining. Hayden Hurst, Foster Moreau and Juwan Johnson are all lesser owned possibilities but also lookout foe David Njoku being available as he should return and can be a difference maker.
DST Options – Bengals @PIT, Broncos vsLV, Commanders @HOU.
