Week 10 of the NFL season kicked off with a thrilling display of fantasy fireworks. Ja’Marr Chase lit up the scoreboard, racking up an astonishing 55.4 fantasy points. As we headed into Sunday night, no other wide receiver was even close, with Marquez Valdes-Scantling surprisingly sitting in second place, a whopping 29 points behind. Quarterbacks Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson also shone brightly on Thursday night, posting 33.7 and 32.9 points, respectively. Jalen Hurts nearly joined the party with a commendable 29.7 points, which, interestingly, surpassed the entire Cowboys offense’s output of 27.6 points in their dismal loss to the Eagles.
With that said, let’s dive into the standout storylines from Week 10 that fantasy managers need to know. For ongoing updates and expert fantasy advice, be sure to check out Fantasy Dirt five days a week!
Christian McCaffrey returns to action
After a long wait, Christian McCaffrey made his much-anticipated return to the field. The No. 1 overall pick in fantasy drafts showed he was ready to contribute, playing 56 snaps and touching the ball 19 times (including six receptions) to score 16.7 points in a victory over the Buccaneers. What’s more impressive? He didn’t share the workload; 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, with a favorable matchup against the Seahawks in Week 11.
No Dak, not fantasy points for Cowboys
As a lifelong Cowboys fan, I can’t sugarcoat it—this team is struggling. Without Dak Prescott, the fantasy outlook for the Cowboys is equally grim. Cooper Rush, in his first start, threw for a mere 45 yards and lost two fumbles before being replaced by Trey Lance late in the game. CeeDee Lamb managed to catch six passes for just 21 yards, finishing as the second-highest scorer on the team with 8.4 points. Rico Dowdle led the Cowboys with a meager 8.6 points. The situation is dire, and while Lamb might see some improvement, I would seriously consider trading any Cowboys players who still hold value.
Vikings, Falcons disappoint managers
This week, fantasy managers experienced the agony of watching their star players flop. The Jaguars, known for their struggles against quarterbacks and wide receivers, managed to hold Sam Darnold to just 6.5 points and limited Justin Jefferson to 9.8 points. Jordan Addison fared even worse, scoring only 4.9 points.
In New Orleans, the Saints were riddled with injuries, making Atlanta’s assets seem enticing. However, Bijan Robinson was the only standout, scoring 29.4 points, while Kirk Cousins managed just 10.2 points and Kyle Pitts only 9.5 points. To add insult to injury, Drake London and Darnell Mooney were outperformed by none other than Marquez Valdes-Scantling! Even the Atlanta DST and Younghoe Koo couldn’t escape the disappointment.
The Bears offense is in hibernation
Remember when the Bears offense was firing on all cylinders? Those days feel like a distant memory. Caleb Williams struggled mightily against the Patriots, completing only 53.5% of his passes and scoring a dismal 6.3 points. This marked the third consecutive game in which he scored single digits after previously posting over 23 points in two games.
Williams’ struggles have severely impacted the fantasy value of his teammates. DJ Moore has not exceeded 7.3 points in four straight games, including a paltry 5.7 points this week. Keenan Allen has managed double digits just once in his last four outings, and Cole Kmet has totaled only 7.7 points across his last three games. With a challenging matchup against the Packers looming, D’Andre Swift may 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 this season, but the big names are starting to find their groove. Travis Kelce has been on fire, scoring 20-plus points in three consecutive games and receiving 40 targets during that stretch. Mark Andrews returned to form with 18.8 points on Thursday night, marking his fourth game of 14-plus points in the last five.
George Kittle continued his strong play with 14.7 points against the Buccaneers, while T.J. Hockenson shined in his second game back from injury, catching eight passes for 15.2 points against the Jaguars. Trey McBride also made an impact with 71 yards and 11.1 points, and Dallas Goedert scored a touchdown in his return from a hamstring injury.
With Brock Bowers, David Njoku, and Tucker Kraft returning from byes, the tight end position is deeper than it has been all season. This is fantastic news for fantasy managers as we gear up for the stretch run.
As we look ahead to Week 11, remember to keep an eye on your rosters and stay informed. The fantasy landscape is ever-changing, and being proactive can make all the difference in your league!
