Ten Things We Learned in Week 10 (Fantasy Football)
Catch your breath Footclan, that was a wild and wacky weekend of football. The action was intense, the points were raining down, and the fun is just beginning. Nine wide receivers scored over 20 PPR points (hey Brandin Cooks), three tight ends scored over 20, and Dak Prescott had a career game that he might match in the next few weeks. If you’re playoff-bound, now is the time to start taking a look at fantasy playoff schedules for ideal matchups and D/ST pickups. If you are fighting to get in, it’s time to focus on the win-now approach. If you have to make a trade that will help you win next week, go for it, even if it’s detrimental for the following weeks. It’s time to strap in y’all.
1. Start Kyler Murray Rest of the Season
For Kyler Murray managers who were hesitant to start him in his first game back, Jason Moore gave us confidence all week to throw him in our lineup off the jump. He was right as Murray looked like his old self, throwing for 249 passing yards with one interception, adding 33 yards and a touchdown on the ground. The passing touchdowns and efficiency will come, but the big news is his run game looks to be intact. The Cardinals face the Texans, Rams, and Steelers the next three weeks before heading into their bye week. Murray could very well be a league winner with that upcoming schedule, plus a fantasy semifinal matchup against the Bears. Start Murray for the rest of the season as a top-10 QB option, with extremely high upside.
2. Ty Chandler Takeover
On last week’s waivers show, Mike Wright brought up that Ty Chandler was worth a speculative add with the injury to Cam Akers and Alexander Mattison‘s recent struggles. The Fantasy Hitman was spot on. Mattison left the game early due to a concussion and Chandler took over, leading the Vikings with 15 rushing attempts for 45 yards and a touchdown. It’s likely that Mattison will be out next week, giving Chandler the chance for a significant bump in opportunities against a very beatable Broncos defense. The following week against the Bears provides another golden opportunity for Chandler if Mattison were to miss. With a handful of heavy hitters at the RB position on bye next week (Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Rhamondre Stevenson, and Alvin Kamara), Chandler slides into a pretty secure RB2 role at least for next week, if not longer.
3. Dobbs Entering Starting Category
Sticking with the Vikings, the soft upcoming schedule applies to Joshua Dobbs and the receiving options as well. Dobbs has been stellar in his first two weeks in Minnesota, finishing as the QB4 last week and QB6 this week heading into Mondayf night’s game. He’s thrown three touchdowns and no picks in that two-game span, adding fantasy gold in the run game with two rushing touchdowns and 110 yards. T.J. Hockenson has been lights out with Dobbs and the return of Justin Jefferson will only give the veteran quarterback more firepower. The Vikings have a very QB-friendly schedule for the rest of the season, putting Dobbs firmly in the streaming category, if not a top-12 option. He is a must-start in SuperFlex leagues.
4. CeeDee Cementing Himself as a League Winner
WR1, WR2, WR2 – those are Ceedee Lamb‘s finishes in the last three weeks. The four-year pro has been on absolute fire, accumulating 91.6 fantasy points in the last three weeks. That’s more than Calvin Ridley, DK Metcalf, and Jaylen Waddle have had all season. And the Cowboys’ schedule the rest of the way sets up Lamb to continue his hot streak. Dallas faces Carolina next week, followed by Washington, Seattle, and Philadelphia. The fantasy playoff matchups consist of Buffalo, Miami, and then Detroit in the championship round. Lamb is going to help bring home a lot of fantasy championships this year.
5. Bijan Will Pay Dividends Down the Stretch
It’s been a rollercoaster of a season for Bijan Robinson managers, thanks in large part to Falcons Head Coach Arthur Smith’s peculiar play calling. Robinson hasn’t been utilized properly all year, but things are starting to turn in his favor. The rookie saw 22 carries compared to Tyler Allgeier‘s nine on Sunday and he out-snapped Allgeier 10 to five in the red zone. He scored just his second rushing touchdown of the year, but there should be more scoring opportunities down the road. The Falcons have two tough matchups coming out of their bye week against the Saints and Jets, but then face the Buccaneers, Panthers, Colts, and Bears (in the fantasy finale). Robinson managers, your patience should pay off in the fantasy playoffs, barring any wacky tactics by Smith.
6. Time to Part Ways With Trevor Lawrence
Trevor Lawrence finished as the QB30 on Sunday. No, that’s not a typo. Even Clayton Tune, who came in for one play for the Cardinals to run a QB sneak at the goal line, had more fantasy points than Lawrence on Sunday. Lawrence’s best game of the season came in Week 7 against the Saints, where he threw for 204 yards and one touchdown. That was good enough for the QB11 finish that week. He’s thrown two touchdowns in a game just twice all season. It’s been unbearable to watch, really. You can’t start him even in plus matchups like next week against Tennessee, and then the Jaguars still have to face the Browns and Ravens, the two best defenses against quarterbacks. Thanks but no thanks. Lawrence belongs on waivers.
7. Trust in Baker
On the opposite side of the quarterback spectrum, Baker Mayfield has been a suitable starting option this year. He is currently the QB15 but has had big games this season, including five games where he scored over 18 fantasy points. He threw for 278 passing yards and two touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s win over Tennessee on Sunday. He’s worth a pick-up for managers who have struggled at the QB position. After next week’s tilt against the 49ers, the Buccaneers have a favorable schedule for the following four games against the Colts, Falcons, Packers, and Jaguars.
8. Najee a Nice Play Rest of the Way
Rejoice Najee Harris managers, the time has come for the bruising RB to be inserted back into starting lineups. He’s coming off his two best games of the season, and that’s even with Jaylen Warren getting a split workload. The Browns matchup next week is scary, but then Cincinnati, Arizona, New England, Indy, Cincinnati again, and then Seattle in the championship round – sign me up for that schedule. If you don’t have a trade deadline in your leagues, I would make a move for Harris after this game against Cleveland if he has a down game.
9. Roll With the Browns D/ST
Speaking of that Browns defense, they’ve been a top-three unit this year and have an advantageous schedule for the rest of the season. There is a chance they hit waivers because of a matchup with the Ravens this past week, even though they dominated with three sacks and two interceptions, including one returned for a score. Andy mentioned last week that Myles Garrett should get votes for MVP this year, he’s been that good. The three fantasy playoff games for Cleveland: Chicago, Houston, and the New York Jets. It doesn’t get more mouthwatering than that.
10. Subpar Lamar
Lamar Jackson started the season hot but has scored 13 fantasy points or fewer over the last three weeks. That’s moved him down to the QB9 overall this season after being the QB4 through the first four weeks. Sunday’s 33-31 loss to Cleveland aside, the Ravens have looked good and have been winning, it’s just that most of the scoring lately has come via the running backs. Jackson has two favorable games against the Bengals and Chargers before the bye week and then returns to play the Rams and Jaguars. Keep the faith with Jackson, as the touchdowns should start to roll back in his favor.