Dynasty Film Review: Week 10 (Fantasy Football)
Borg, Betz, and Jason reacted live as they recorded during Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline craziness with the Jets’ “fire sale” and other stars being moved around the league. Jason recounts the seemingly subpar move by Dallas to acquire an LB from the Bengals, but admits the DT Quinnen Williams acquisition definitely makes an impact for the Cowboys. Jason mentions his concern for his Dak Prescott and CeeDee Lamb stack after defensive upgrades on opposing teams they face rest of the season. While the Dak/Lamb stack isn’t as ‘nuclear’ as Jason had hoped, Borg highlights how steady George Pickens has been.
Before we get into the Weekly Rewind, remember to listen to The Fantasy Footballers podcast, available wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Weekly Rewind
TreVeyon Henderson
Henderson saw a season-high 75% of snaps and 20 opportunities without Rhamondre Stevenson, but only produced a disappointing 10.7 fantasy points. Betz points out that Henderson struggled with between-the-tackles runs (3.9 YPC) but admits this usage doesn’t match his skill set, where he is more effective on the perimeter and in space. However, Henderson was encouragingly used in the passing game with six targets and showed some good pass protection snaps. Henderson’s current dynasty value has dropped (previously a top-10 startup pick). His future role is still uncertain when Rhamondre returns, but the passing game usage is a positive sign for the long-term outlook.
Tyler Shough
Shough made his first start against a tough Rams defense. Despite the total offensive output being poor, Shough did not play “bad ball”. He completed 63% of passes (15-of-24 for 176 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT). Jason was pleasantly surprised with his pocket presence and awareness for a rookie. Borg believes Shough has very little dynasty value due to his age (25) and the likelihood that the Saints will take a different QB in the draft. Chris Olave should be “functional” with Shough against an easy rest-of-season schedule, despite losing Rashid Shaheed in trade. There may be some positive performances entering the fantasy playoffs, including Miami, Tampa Bay (a pass funnel defense), and the Jets (who just traded away Sauce Gardner).
Colston Loveland
Borg was impressed with Loveland’s stat line: six catches for 118 yards and two TDs. He ran a season-high 80% of dropbacks (boosted by Cole Kmet‘s injury). His usage was unique, with his most routes lined up out wide (40%) and fewest in the slot. Loveland had a “big boy catch” on a third-down slant route and bowling over a safety. The production is inflated by the Kmet injury and a last-second drive, but Loveland showed a spark of potential. Dynasty managers should be excited that he produced when the opportunity arose, but should expect inconsistency as the Bears’ offense remains volatile. More on Loveland in the Midseason Dynasty Tiers & Ranks and Film Deep Dive below.
Midseason Dynasty Tiers & Ranks
Borg introduces the Dynasty Tiers & Ranks discussion, which is meant to assist trade decisions, whether you are rebuilding or competing. Trades, trade charts, and trade valuations are hard, but the Ballers have built a tool, soon to be released to the FootClan. In the meantime, the Borg’s Mid-Season Dynasty Tiers & Trade Charts article is available as a reference for the positional tiers.
QBs
Allen remains the Dynasty QB1. His value is so high that he fits every team window. Borg does not recommend trading him just because you are rebuilding unless you receive a future stud and draft capital. A reasonable trade in a rebuilding situation could look something like Drake Maye and a first in return. Jason is fully in support of situations like this, where one would trade a peaking “stud” for a future “stud”, but warns that you need to be right about said future stud.
Maye has been one of the biggest risers, moving from QB13 to QB7 in Borg’s rankings, placing him above Joe Burrow in a startup. His age (five years younger than Burrow), rock-solid decision-making, and connection to a good organization give him high long-term confidence. Maye is viewed as a future stud, justifying a high buy-in, especially when receiving him as part of a deal for an older QB like Allen.
Tier 3 QBs
Tier 3 is the most interesting to Betz, and Jordan Love is one of the most puzzling players, with an F-grade in consistency (only hitting a respectable mark in 23.5% of games). At age 27, he is not a young asset with more risk, and the Ballers prefer other QBs in this tier. Jaxson Dart (QB11) is a potential top-12 dynasty QB due to his rushing floor (adding ~8 points per game on the ground). However, Jason is concerned about his smaller size and high-risk play style for injury concerns, similar to those of Jayden Daniels. In this tier, Borg prefers Dart over Caleb Williams. Dart has the highest ceiling in this tier due to his rushing ability, making him the preferred pick.
RBs
Tier 3 RBs
This tier comprises young, building-block RBs with high upside. De’Von Achane is a top-12 weekly performer and a great dynasty asset. Omarion Hampton has lost value due to the Chargers’ team struggles, but the long-term outlook (when the offense gets healthy) is very strong. Borg feels all players in this tier should cost at least two first-round picks to acquire. Do not trade away young RBs just because you are rebuilding; they hold value into seasons two, three, and four.
Tier 4 RBs
These are aging RBs who are “killing” teams now but whose value will soon fall off. Saquon Barkley (age 28) and Christian McCaffrey (age 29) are viewed as potentially “generational” backs who can defy the age cliff, while Josh Jacobs (age 27.7) is less likely to do so. If you are competing, do not trade these players. If you are rebuilding, use the trade deadline window to maximize value, as Barkley is worth at least two firsts right now. You must get fair value because you will have another chance to trade these players next year.
Skattebo is ranked at RB17 for Borg, alongside R.J. Harvey. There is conflict over his value: the talent versus the severe injury. Historically, RBs take time to return to form (e.g., Javonte Williams). The value will likely dip throughout the offseason. If you can trade him to a rebuilding team (who doesn’t need him this year) for a first-round pick (other than the 1.01), it is prudent to accept that value now, as it is likely his peak before further injury news. Borg would look to move Skattebo and a first for someone who could help you win now if you are competing.
WRs
Tier 1
The Ballers debate whether Jaxon Smith-Njigba belongs in Tier 1 with Ja’Marr Chase and Puka Nacua. JSN (age 23) is argued as a Tier 1 WR because he was the top WR in his draft class and is currently tied to Sam Darnold, who is younger than Matthew Stafford. Jason makes a strong case for JSN to be a Tier 1 WR, and a clear argument for drafting him ahead of other top WRs like Jefferson and CeeDee Lamb in a startup due to his age. Betz and Jason believe Justin Jefferson (age 26) still belongs in Tier 1 for his talent. However, Borg considers his situation to be risky due to poor QB play, putting him in a “Julio Jones phase” where yardage is there, but TDs are not.
Tier 3
Emeka Egbuka is ranked in Tier 3 with London and Troy Franklin. Egbuka’s value could surge if he continues his pace of incredible production and is built around in the Tampa Bay offense after injuries to Mike Evans and Chris Godwin. Egbuka’s current success is a high point, and managers could choose to sell now if they fear his value has peaked, or hold to see if he continues his “TD alpha machine” status. Drake London is viewed as an ascending asset on the Tier 2-3 edge. London’s talent and circumstances make him unlikely to lose value over the next year or two.
Week 9 Film Deep Dive
Colston Loveland
Loveland had a breakout game and a stat line to match, but the circumstances were kind of a ‘perfect storm’. Two bad defenses, two capable offenses, an early injury to Cole Kmet, and the skills that made Loveland a top TE prospect came together to the tune of a 6-118-2 line on seven targets and 20% TPRR.
That ‘perfect storm’ throws a little bit of cold water on the 29.8 fantasy points of production, but the tape shows that Loveland was doing what he should do as the top-end TE prospect we believe him to be. On the game-winning TD, we see how dangerous Loveland can be given his 6’6”, 241-lb frame in the middle of the field (MOF).
As far as evaluations go, we can't penalize a player too much for the schedule and the opponent. You can only play the team (defense) in front of you, and #DaBears TE Colston Loveland took full advantage in Week 9. Here he is closing out the game against the #Bengals . pic.twitter.com/qUVkok14Mx
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) November 4, 2025
Starting out in a 3×1 set as the “three” (closest eligible receiver to the OL) on the right, Odunze motions to the left, leaving a 2×2 set facing Cover 2. This leaves Loveland matched up against a Nickel CB who drops back a bit after the snap. As Loveland closes the distance, neither the DB nor the MLB carries Loveland as he enters the intermediate area of the field, as they stare at Caleb Williams. While it is typical to read the QB’s eyes in zone coverage, there are also zone responsibilities that the NCB failed to execute. This leaves a massive Zone soft spot for the Seam route. A great ‘layer’ throw by Williams, combined with a great catch on the run by Loveland, makes the connection. Loveland shows good contact balance, ball security, and competitive toughness to maximize the poor angles and tackling by Cincinnati.
Another play where poor defensive technique contributed to a big play is this 31-yard catch on a 2nd & 1. We see yet another team leveraging a sixth OL to sell the run on play-action. Keep in mind that Kyle Monangai just gashed the Bengals for nine yards on the previous play, and they have only been able to stuff the run once out of 22 carries so far, so it makes sense they would play the run extremely hard.
Could #DaBears📷 Colston Loveland rise to be the next big TE threat in the North? If he continues to get schemes and looks like this, we should see plenty more! pic.twitter.com/FBLAQs7Svu
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) November 4, 2025
Loveland lines up as the outermost receiver on the left in a Nasty split, giving him a lot of room to work. As Loveland stems upfield, he wisely shrugs to minimize the contact intended by the FS (#22). While #22 passes him off to the bailing DB whose hips are turned upfield, yielding a 4-yard cushion to Loveland, the Bears TE executes a good speed cut for this Dig route. The MOF is wide open since the single-high safety has to cover Odunze deep. Loveland makes a good catch in front of his frame while on the run for a big play.
This breakout performance is giving me Oronde Gadsden vibes, but again, it’s the Bengals. Looking at TE strength of schedule, he has the 18th best from weeks 10-17. However, this ranking is being weighed down heavily because of the matchup against Philadelphia in Week 13. Until then (Weeks 10-12), Loveland could enjoy the 7th-best strength of schedule for TEs.
It will be tough to acquire him at market price after this game, but an overpay today is an underpay tomorrow. Perhaps you can still catch someone who doubts the Bears or the possible production, for the Weeks 10-12 window. Just for an idea on how the price has changed with one game, I saw a trade in TE premium on Friday (31 Oct) of Loveland for a 2027 2nd, but on Sunday, he went for a 2026 1st & 3rd. In TE-Premium, this may be worth it for an athletic TE in Ben Johnson’s offense.
Marvin Harrison Jr.
A while back, Mike was concerned about MHJ’s value and its dependence on how Arizona deploys him. That concern had a lot of merit, considering the trades I have seen before MNF. There was a Saturday (1 Nov) trade of MHJ for a package of two 2027 2nds, Kimani Vidal, and Kyle Williams. Given the value we all thought MHJ could have, this feels like a massive discount. My view was similar to Mike’s in that the offense (including the QB) needed to utilize him differently to get the most out of him.
Looking at a player against a bad defense like Dallas can skew a player assessment, but I prefer to look at it as an opportunity for a glimpse at a ceiling game. What is Marv’s potential upside?
The NextGen Stats target chart displays a diverse range of routes targeted, including some in-breaking routes where his size can provide positional leverage. On top of the improved diversity in route deployment, there is a schematic boost as well.
#Cardinals, more of this please. This is much better use of a talent like Marvin Harrison Jr. pic.twitter.com/wyvPr6Px1N
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) November 4, 2025
On this play, it is a simple Slant vs Man coverage, but the play calling helps here as well. Four plays prior, Emari Demercado gashed Dallas for 16 yards. Additionally, Arizona showed a willingness to continue advancing the ball on the ground with two more runs that went for short gains and a first down inside the Dallas 6-yard line. Now with the defense primed to stop the run, the Cardinals show run with a sixth OL and two TEs in a Jumbo formation. Arizona sells the play action convincingly, which empties the MOF for the Slant route.
Why was the MOF open like that? The Cardinals' play calling and scheme set up MHJ to win this 1-on-1 matchup. More of this please Arizona… 🙏 https://t.co/Q8ufwiPCKy pic.twitter.com/P9fpXoW5mC
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) November 4, 2025
On MNF, Troy Aikman said, “You see him now, he’s not thinking. He’s just going out there and playing football.” The difference you will see when athletic players are “thinking” versus “doing” is in their play speed. Their mental processing of the game is just a tick faster, but it makes all the difference. Aikman’s observations appear evident on this play against Daron Bland playing Cover 3, where he puts Bland in a spin cycle.
Just a reminder of what Marvin Harrison Jr. can do against an isolated Cover 3 CB… pic.twitter.com/U5OEPIn0GX
— Vernon Meighan (@FFB_Vern) November 4, 2025
It would be very easy to “poo poo” this performance due to the competition, but these types of games can be confidence builders for struggling players and eye-openers for offensive play callers. We have to remember that Bland was performing very well two seasons ago with an 89.5 PFF coverage grade. While that has declined to a career low of 61.7 this season, we must consider that he is essentially a solo act that likely feels he has to carry the secondary.
What is our course of action? If we have Marv, obviously, your hopes for his career outcomes are renewed. However, for those managers looking for a WR asset with week-winning upside, there could still be a window to acquire him. His value may have remained suppressed with Kyler coming back at some point and the lingering doubt from an inflated performance against a bad defense. However, the Cardinals announced that Jacoby Brissett will be the starting QB moving forward.
For buyers, patience could be the best strategy, with Arizona’s WR strength of schedule ranked at 21st for the next three weeks. This tougher stretch is followed by two great matchups against the Buccaneers and the Rams, which is that critical period of making the playoffs for Weeks 13 and 14. There is also a nice Week 17 (Championship week) matchup against a terrible Cincinnati defense. MHJ is a great trade target for competing teams, bolstering their WR depth moving into the playoffs. He can probably be acquired for a late 2026 first if he is on a clear rebuilding team.