Week 10 of the NFL season kicked off with a spectacular performance from Ja’Marr Chase, who racked up an astonishing 55.4 fantasy points. As we moved into Sunday night, no other wide receiver was even close, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling surprisingly sitting in second place, a whopping 29 points behind Chase! Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson also shone on Thursday night, scoring 33.7 and 32.9 points respectively, leaving Sunday afternoon’s quarterbacks scrambling to catch up. Jalen Hurts nearly joined the elite ranks with a solid 29.7 points.
Oh, and speaking of Hurts, his performance was more impressive than the entire Cowboys offense, which managed just 27.6 points in a blowout loss to the Eagles. It’s safe to say that the Cowboys are in a rough patch, and that’s putting it lightly.
With that said, let’s dive into my Fabs’ Five Storylines from Week 10 that truly stood out. For all the latest news and fantasy advice, be sure to check out Fantasy Dirt five days a week!
Christian McCaffrey returns to action
He’s back! The No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts finally made his long-awaited return, and he wasted no time making an impact. In his first game of the year, McCaffrey played 56 snaps, touched the football 19 times (including six catches), and scored 16.7 points in a victory over the Buccaneers. What’s even more impressive? There was no splitting of touches; his backups, Jordan Mason and Isaac Guerendo, combined for just two touches. As long as McCaffrey stays healthy, he’s poised to be a top 10 fantasy running back for the remainder of the season, especially with a favorable matchup against the Seahawks on the horizon.
No Dak, not fantasy points for Cowboys
As a die-hard Cowboys fan for over 40 years, I can’t sugarcoat it: this team is struggling. Without Dak Prescott, the fantasy output is dismal. Cooper Rush threw for a mere 45 yards, lost two fumbles in his first start, and was eventually benched for Trey Lance late in the game. CeeDee Lamb, who was expected to shine, managed just 6 catches for 21 yards, scoring only 8.4 points. The team’s leading scorer, Rico Dowdle, could only muster 8.6 points. If you own any Cowboys players, especially Lamb, it might be time to consider trading them while they still hold some value.
Vikings, Falcons disappoint managers
Two games this week went completely sideways, leaving fantasy managers scratching their heads. The Jaguars, one of the worst teams against quarterbacks and wide receivers, held Sam Darnold to 6.5 points and Justin Jefferson to just 9.8 points. Jordan Addison was even worse, scoring only 4.9 points. Heading into the week, the Jaguars had allowed 14-plus points to 10 wide receivers, including several who scored over 20 points.
Meanwhile, in New Orleans, the Saints’ offense was hampered by injuries, making Atlanta’s assets look appealing. Unfortunately, it didn’t pan out. While Bijan Robinson dazzled with 29.4 points, Kirk Cousins only managed 10.2 points, and Kyle Pitts managed a meager 9.5 points. In a surprising twist, Drake London and Darnell Mooney were outscored by Marquez Valdes-Scantling! Even Atlanta’s DST and Younghoe Koo fell flat. As Vince Lombardi once famously said, “What the hell is going on out there?”
The Bears offense is in hibernation
Remember when the Bears offense seemed to be clicking just a few weeks ago? That feels like a distant memory now. Caleb Williams struggled against the Patriots, completing just 53.5% of his passes and scoring a season-low 6.3 points. This marks three straight games in single digits after posting over 23 points in his previous two outings.
Williams’ decline has severely impacted the value of nearly all Bears players. DJ Moore hasn’t surpassed 7.3 points in four consecutive games, including a disappointing 5.7 points this week. Keenan Allen has only reached double digits once in his last four games, while Cole Kmet has managed just 7.7 total points in his last three. With a tough matchup against the Packers, who will be fresh off a bye, D’Andre Swift might be the only Bear worth starting with any confidence in Week 11.
Big-name fantasy tight ends are back
The tight end position has been a rollercoaster ride this season, but it seems the big names are finally stepping up. Travis Kelce has been on fire, scoring 20-plus points in three straight games and receiving a whopping 40 targets during that stretch. Mark Andrews returned with a bang, scoring 18.8 points on Thursday night and consistently delivering 14-plus points in four of his last five games.
George Kittle continues to impress, posting 14.7 points in a win over the Buccaneers, while T.J. Hockenson shined in his second game back from injury, catching eight passes for 15.2 points against the Jaguars. Even Trey McBride and Dallas Goedert made notable contributions, scoring 11.1 points and finding the end zone, respectively.
With Brock Bowers, David Njoku, and Tucker Kraft returning from byes, the tight end position is deeper than it’s been all season. This is fantastic news for fantasy managers as we head into the stretch run.
As we move forward, keep an eye on these storylines and the evolving landscape of fantasy football. Week 10 was a wild ride, and there’s plenty more excitement ahead!
