For fantasy purposes, week nine was one of the more bizarre in recent memory. Some of the most reliable top-shelf producers fell flat in games that went wonky. However, this week’s slate offers some serious firepower in some exciting matchups with some returning heavy-hitting options.
In this weekly series, we will explore some safe cash game stacks and mix in a few good tournament shots as well.
Let’s get into it.
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As always, these lines and point totals fluctuate throughout the week. For the latest information, make sure you’re checking out BettingPros for the most up-to-date betting information.
Week 10 Team Totals
| ATL FALCONS AT DAL COWBOYS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 54.5 |
| MIN VIKINGS AT LA CHARGERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 53.0 |
| TB BUCCANEERS AT WAS FOOTBALL TEAM |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 51.5 |
| KC CHIEFS AT LV RAIDERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 51.5 |
| SEA SEAHAWKS AT GB PACKERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 49.0 |
| JAX JAGUARS AT IND COLTS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 47.5 |
| BUF BILLS AT NY JETS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 47.5 |
| PHI EAGLES AT DEN BRONCOS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 45.5 |
| CLE BROWNS AT NE PATRIOTS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 45.0 |
| NO SAINTS AT TEN TITANS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 44.5 |
| CAR PANTHERS AT ARI CARDINALS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 44.5 |
| DET LIONS AT PIT STEELERS |
IMPLIED POINT TOTAL: 42.5 |
Stacks to Target
DraftKings
Dak Prescott (QB, DAL) $6900 / CeeDee Lamb (WR, DAL) $7000 / Dalton Schultz (TE, DAL) $5000
Let us begin with some honesty. Was Dak Prescott‘s return last week anything close to triumphant? No, no, it was not. Is it a direct indication of how he will play this week? Extremely doubtful. After a two-week absence, it is entirely possible he needed to knock some rust off. It is only the second time this season he has finished with less than 20 DK points, and he had 19, so it’s truly splitting hairs at this point.
This week the Cowboys face an Atlanta secondary that allows the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. Only three quarterbacks have not thrown multiple touchdowns against them. Are you ready for the list? Daniel Jones, Zach Wilson, and Sam Darnold.
Debating between Amari Cooper and CeeDee Lamb often feels like the flip of a coin. However, there is enough game data to make an informed decision here, and it’s more than just salary. Cooper is averaging right at five targets per game, while Lamb is averaging 8.2 targets per game. For the $800 difference, the additional target share looks far more enticing. The cheaper option is Dalton Schultz, who is averaging 4.6 targets per game.
With the highest implied point total on the slate, you should liberally apply pieces of this game to most rosters.
Tom Brady (QB, TB) $7600 / Mike Evans (WR, TB) $6900 / Leonard Fournette (RB, TB) $6100
This one may come in chalky by the time the main slate begins. Therefore, treat this as a high-dollar cash game option.
It is imperative to monitor the health report for Chris Godwin, who popped up on the injury ticker due to a foot concern. Also, missing a mid-week practice after a bye week is a situation that you should monitor.
Welcoming Tom Brady back to the DFS column is like greeting an old friend. It’s like he never left. He leads all quarterbacks on this slate with 27.6 DK points per game and is facing a Washington defense that magically morphed into awful sauce sometime between last season and September. They are giving up the most fantasy points to the quarterback position.
Though out of his walking boot, Antonio Brown does not appear ready to return to the lineup. At the time of this writing, Godwin’s status is still up in the air, bringing Mike Evans front and center of the assumed target load. Like a dump truck of them. We already know how much Brady adores Evans in the red zone, even with a full complement of receivers. Assuming Brown, Godwin, and Rob Gronkowski are out, Evans is locked and loaded and should be in lineups.
Crazy things can and do happen on Sundays, but the expectation is that the Bucs lead throughout this game, making Leonard Fournette‘s salary look mighty enticing. Expect him to get plenty of work to close this one out, and he has a high probability of another touchdown after scoring four times over the last four games played.
Carson Wentz (QB, IND) $5900 / Jonathan Taylor (RB, IND) $8100 / Michael Pittman Jr. (WR, IND) $6300
Let’s do this one Quentin Tarantino style, start at the end, and work our way back to the beginning. The oblivious glitch in the DK pricing matrix is gifting Michael Pittman Jr. to daily fantasy players. For reference, he is $7200 on FanDuel. You know, the one that’s not full PPR. This season, he has put up four games of 20 or more DK points and has established himself as the alpha in this passing attack, including 25 targets over the last three weeks. The Jaguars defense is allowing the 12th-most fantasy points to the position. For the $6300 price tag, he should be in lineups with or without the stacking factor.
Jonathan Taylor is a stud. He should be in lineups-end of analysis. Okay, maybe one tidbit to add, he has been the RB1 through the last four weeks.
Over the last few weeks, Carson Wentz has settled in a productive quarterback, albeit with a couple of head-scratching decisions along the way. (Please, for the love of fantasy, take the safety, Carson!) For seasonal leagues, he is a streaming quarterback that you should play in plus matchups. This translates directly to DFS, and this represents one of those matchups. The price is reasonable, the production should be there, and the supporting cast benefits from a positive game script. As a projected low roster percentage, he is one of the better tournament options.
Honorable Mentions: Josh Allen (QB, BUF) $7900 / Stefon Diggs (WR, BUF) $7500 – Justin Herbert (QB, LAC) $7300 / Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC) $7600 / Mike Williams (WR, LAC) $6600
FanDuel
Josh Allen (QB, BUF) $8700 / Stefon Diggs (WR, BUF) $7900 / Devin Singletary (RB, BUF) $6000
If there is one game that you should strike from the books this season, last week’s tilt between the Bills and the Jaguars is definitively in the conversation. But, unfortunately, there is not much that can be taken from that game as analysis. Best to move on.
Josh Allen and the Bills have an excellent opportunity to rebound against the New York Jets, a defense that allows the 11th-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. They have allowed an average of 295 passing yards and 2.5 passing touchdowns per game over the last four weeks. Meanwhile, this season, Allen is averaging 279.5 passing yards per game and has six games of multiple touchdown passes.
Stefon Diggs remains the alpha read for Allen, despite falling below the gaudy expected output from last season. Still, he is averaging 73.5 receiving yards and 12.6 FD points per game. With only three touchdowns, positive regression is expected, and this isn’t an awful matchup to play a little catchup.
Devin Singletary is in play here for a couple of reasons, but with one primary requirement. His value in this game is hinged on the status of Zack Moss, who, at the time of this writing, had not cleared concussion protocol. If Moss cannot suit up this week, Singletary is a potential high-value/low-cost option. The Jets allow the most fantasy points to the position. Keep an eye on Moss, who would be the preferred option if he can play. Otherwise, Singletary is in a good spot for a solid return, especially if the Bills are closing the game with a healthy lead.
Justin Herbert (QB, LAC) $8000 / Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC) $8600 / Mike Williams (WR, LAC) $6900
Justin Herbert is currently fifth in the NFL in passing yards (293) and fourth in passing touchdowns (2.25) on a per-game basis. The second-year signal-caller continues to develop the traits that gave him such an impressive rookie season while simultaneously providing solid fantasy returns.
The Vikings are middle of the pack against quarterbacks but have recently allowed back-to-back big games to Cooper Rush and Lamar Jackson. Herbert is the third-highest points-per-game average among the position on this slate despite being the fifth-highest salary. Fantasy managers should want pieces of this game sprinkled throughout their lineups to play to the home crowd in the second-highest implied point total on the slate.
The Vikings allow the 10th-highest points per game against running backs, and Austin Ekeler succeeds both between the tackles and through the air. His dual-threat point-scoring ability keeps his floor high with plenty of ceiling based on potential scoring opportunities. He is averaging 12.6 carries and 5.6 targets per game.
Mike Williams started the season red-hot and has cooled off significantly in the last few weeks. In his previous five games, he has scored double-digit FD points only once. This is going to result in a lower rostered percentage. Williams is likely to see the most attention from Patrick Peterson, who allows 14.8 fantasy points per game in coverage. Williams is an ideal tournament play based on matchup and ceiling.
Matt Ryan (QB, ATL) $7300 / Kyle Pitts (TE, ATL) $6900 / Cordarrelle Patterson (RB, ATL) $7800
Matt Ryan finished last week as the QB3 overall on the back of 343 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, and the rare rushing score for the cherry on top. He is averaging 18.5 FD points per game and 269.2 passing yards per game. The Falcons face a Cowboys defense that has been better than advertised but still allows the quarterbacks the ninth-most fantasy points. Other than last week’s head-scratcher, the Cowboys are usually good to put some points on the board, creating shoot-out potential.
Rookie tight end Kyle Pitts has turned it on recently and averaged 7.1 targets and 68.2 receiving yards per game. He has finished with double-digit fantasy points in two of the last four games. The Cowboys have struggled against tight ends, allowing the 12th-most fantasy points to the position. In a potential shoot-out, Pitts appears to be the most likely recipient of a reliable target share.
What else can be said about the season Cordarrelle Patterson is having? He averages 16.8 FD points per game and only has one game this season with less than 10. The Cowboys have been pretty solid against running backs, but Patterson makes his money in the passing game. Seemingly always a threat to score this season, Patterson is a moderate cost with plenty of upside.
Honorable Mentions: Jalen Hurts (QB, PHI) $7700 / DeVonta Smith (WR, PHI) $6200 / Dallas Goedert (TE, PHI) $5900 – Kirk Cousins (QB, MIN) $7600 / Justin Jefferson (WR, MIN) $7500
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John Hesterman is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from John, check out his archive and follow him @John_Hesterman.