After an exciting Week 9 in the NFL, Week 10 has several big matchups on tap for us to enjoy. Seattle and Tampa Bay will face each other in a historic first during an early Sunday morning game played in Munich, Germany. Geno Smith (QB – Seahawks) is a legitimate MVP candidate and Tom Brady (QB – Buccaneers) finally got a win over the reigning Super Bowl champions in Week 9, so this should be a fun way to start Sunday’s 12-game slate. Minnesota will travel to Orchard Park, New York to take on Buffalo, who may wind up playing without star quarterback Josh Allen (QB – Bills) due to a UCL injury sustained in the closing minutes of the Bills’ Week 9 road loss against the Jets. Sunday’s slate wraps up with an interconference matchup in the Bay Area between two California teams, pitting Justin Herbert (QB – Chargers) and the Los Angeles Chargers up against Christian McCaffery (RB – 49ers) and the San Francisco 49ers.
My recommended players in Week 9 came through with some monstrous performances, which should’ve cashed your lineups if you opted to tail my picks. This includes Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs) who threw for 446 yards, Justin Fields (QB – Bears) who rushed for 178 yards and completed three touchdown passes, and Joe Mixon’s (RB – Bengals) five touchdowns paired with over 200 scrimmage yards. There was plenty more to go around but these performances headlined and likely won numerous DFS contests.
Four teams will be on their Bye Week in Week 10, meaning some of the best players in the league will not be available to roster in DFS. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Here are my favorite players to insert into DraftKings and FanDuel lineups entering an exciting Week 10 slate.
Quarterbacks
DraftKings
DraftKings maximum salary is set at $50,000
Patrick Mahomes (QB – Chiefs): $7,900
How many times do we need to see Patrick Mahomes carry the Chiefs’ offense before he’s a locked and loaded player in DFS lineups? The Chiefs will host Jacksonville in Week 10 and it offers another plus matchup for the 2018 MVP winner to expose. Fresh off of throwing 68 passes for over 440 yards, Mahomes will stack multiple touchdowns and at least 300 yards against the Jaguars defense, who rank as the 13th-best fantasy matchup for quarterbacks.
Tua Tagovailoa (QB – Dolphins): $6,700
Mike McDaniel’s first year in Miami has been massive for Tua Tagovailoa’s success. He’s dealt with injuries, including a scary concussion against Cincinnati in Week 4, but the third-year quarterback is benefitting from a new scheme and the presence of Tyreek Hill (WR – Dolphins) and Jaylen Waddle (WR – Dolphins). Cleveland is good against opposing quarterbacks but Tagovailoa has thrown for over 300 yards and three touchdowns in back-to-back games entering Sunday’s home game in Miami Gardens, so add Tagovailoa into lineups with confidence at a discounted salary.
Honorable Mention: Jacoby Brissett (QB – Browns) ($5,400) is playing in a revenge game against his former team on Sunday. He’s been better at home than on the road but Brissett has built a rapport with wideout Amari Cooper (WR – Browns) and has enough weapons in the offense to target against Miami’s underwhelming defense.
FanDuel
FanDuel maximum salary is set at $60,000
Justin Fields (QB – Bears): $8,300
The likelihood of Justin Fields hitting over 150 rushing yards in consecutive games is very unlikely but the second-year quarterback is improving each week, utilizing his legs and arm more efficiently. Detroit is a top-three fantasy matchup for quarterbacks, meaning Fields is due for another huge outing against one of Chicago’s NFC North rivals. Fields is expensive but will be worth the investment once the game concludes.
Russell Wilson (QB – Broncos): $6,900
I haven’t been a big Russell Wilson proponent this season, but he’s fresh off of a win against Jacksonville and should be well-rested following Denver’s Week 9 Bye. Wilson has not thrown for 300 yards since Week 1, but he did complete 60 percent of his passes against the Jaguars and finished with 252 yards and a touchdown. Tennessee is the sixth-best matchup for fantasy quarterbacks, meaning Wilson is a solid discounted quarterback to target.
Honorable Mention: Kenny Pickett (QB – Steelers): $6,600 is also well-rested off the Bye Week and gets the struggling New Orleans Saints in Pittsburgh for Week 10. Expect head coach Mike Tomlin to have a game plan prepared to expose a lackluster and injured Saints secondary, that will likely be without top cornerback Marshon Lattimore on Sunday.
Running Backs
DraftKings
Saquon Barkley (RB – Giants): $8,600
Saquon Barkley should be at the top of DFS builds most weeks, but none is more obvious than a Week 10 matchup against Houston. The Texans are the league’s worst run defense, allowing 33.29 PPR points to opposing fantasy running backs this season. Barkley had his Bye in Week 9 and disappointed against Seattle in his last outing, so expect a huge bounce-back performance at home in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
Tony Pollard (RB – Cowboys): $6,500
There’s been a lot of speculation surrounding Dallas’ backfield, especially after Tony Pollard tore up Chicago for 131 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones invested a lot of money in Ezekiel Elliot (RB – Cowboys) and has been adamant about Pollard not taking over as the RB1, but even in this scenario, Pollard is still very much in play against Green Bay in Week 10. The Packers are 15th against fantasy running backs and are much better defending the pass, so expect a heavy rushing attack from Dallas that will give Pollard double-digit touches in a plus-matchup.
Honorable Mention: Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – Dolphins) ($5,500) was traded by San Francisco and immediately produced in his first week with the Miami Dolphins against Chicago’s porous run defense in Week 9. Wilson out-snapped Raheem Mostert (RB – Dolphins) and was much more productive with identical usage, so expect this to only build in Week 10 during another top-five matchup against Cleveland’s bottom-four run defense.
FanDuel
Travis Etienne (RB – Jaguars): $8,000
After missing all of his rookie season with a Lisfranc foot injury, Jacksonville has reaped the rewards of the previous coaching staff drafting Travis Etienne in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft. Etienne took a few weeks to get going but he’s been so good, the Jaguars opted to trade away James Robinson (RB – Jets) to clear the way for Etienne to step into a bell-cow workload. Three consecutive 100-yard games on the ground is a nice benchmark entering Week 10 against Kansas City’s fifth-worst run defense against fantasy running backs.
Jonathan Taylor (RB – Colts): $7,000
Going with Jonathan Taylor is risky business considering the current state of the Colts’ franchise, but he is back practicing in full and draws a top-three fantasy running back matchup against Las Vegas in Week 10. Interim head coach Jeff Saturday is charismatic and attempting to rejuvenate Indianapolis’ personnel, so expect Taylor to finally pop in a plus-matchup on the road against the Raiders.
Honorable Mention: RB Jerick McKinnon (RB – Chiefs) ($5,500) is one of Patrick Mahomes’ favorite targets not named Travis Kelce (TE – Chiefs). The veteran running back is boom or bust in terms of his rushing production and opportunity, but he’s carved out a role in the Chiefs’ passing attack, finishing with at least 29 receiving yards in his last three games played.
Wide Receivers
DraftKings
Stefon Diggs (WR – Bills): $8,300
There is finally some risk involved when rolling out any Buffalo offensive player in Week 10 due to star quarterback Josh Allen’s UCL injury. Even without Allen playing, Case Keenum (QB – Bills) has experience playing with Stefon Diggs in Minnesota during their 2017 NFC Championship appearance, most notably highlighted by Keenum finding Diggs to execute the “Minneapolis Miracle” to beat New Orleans on a walk-off touchdown in the NFC Divisional Round. Diggs has a high floor with Keenum but may see his ceiling reduced a bit. The determining factor is Minnesota’s bottom-six pass defense, which boosts all Bills wideouts on Sunday in Orchard Park, New York.
JuJu Smith-Schuster (WR – Chiefs): $6,000
Mahomes has developed a good rapport with wideout JuJu Smith-Schuster in a recent stretch of games. The sixth-year wideout had a Pro-Bowl year with Pittsburgh back in 2018 and has revived his career with the Chiefs, hauling in at least seven receptions for 88 yards in his previous two games against San Francisco and Tennessee. Jacksonville is another top-12 matchup for wide receivers, meaning Smith-Schuster should be prioritized in DFS builds for Week 10.
Honorable Mention: Darnell Mooney (WR – Bears): $5,500 has sneaky value in a top-four matchup against Detroit’s pass defense in Week 10. Justin Fields’ rapid development within the Bears’ offense has helped WR1 Mooney generate solid production, hauling in at least five receptions for 43 yards, including his first touchdown of the season against Miami in Week 9. The floor is intact and the ceiling is starting to grow, making Mooney a fantastic value play at home against the Lions in Week 10.
FanDuel
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – Cardinals): $8,300
Which Arizona Cardinals offense is going to show up in Week 10? This is the toughest question to answer. The star veteran wideout dominated games against New Orleans and Minnesota, finishing with double-digit receptions and over 100 yards in both performances. However, against Seattle in Week 9, Hopkins finished with only four receptions for 36 yards on five targets. Arizona gets the Los Angeles Rams in an NFC West rematch at SoFi stadium in Week 10. Jalen Ramsey (CB – Rams) is a great cornerback but the Rams’ pass defense is not a great collective unit, ranking as a top-12 matchup for opposing wideouts, so fire up Hopkins to deliver another smash outing on the road in Inglewood.
Chris Olave (WR – Saints): $7,500
Arguably the best rookie wide receiver in the 2022 draft class, Chris Olave draws the best fantasy matchup for wide receivers in Week 10. The Saints will hit the road to face the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have struggled mightily against opposing wideouts. Andy Dalton’s (QB – Saints) recent play has been stale, but Olave is still finishing with at least five receptions for over 50 yards. He’s a high-floor play and could pop with his third touchdown reception of the season on the road against the Steelers.
Honorable Mention: Gabe Davis (WR – Bills) ($6,500) has been disappointing due to his volatility, but Buffalo’s offense has a plus matchup against Minnesota’s pass defense. It’s looking more and more likely that Josh Allen will not play in favor of backup Case Keenum, but Davis is a big target and we don’t necessarily know how Keenum will lean on the third-year wideout. Davis is risky but the reward could be huge when plugging him into DFS builds, especially at a discounted salary.
Tight Ends
DraftKings
T.J. Hockenson (TE – Vikings): $5,300
Another player traded at the deadline who made an instant impact within their new offense is tight end T.J. Hockenson. Hockenson recorded a season-high nine receptions as Kirk Cousins (QB – Vikings) leaned on his new tight end heavily in a comeback win against Washington in Week 9. Expect more of the same against Buffalo’s stout defensive front on the road in Week 10.
Honorable Mention: Tyler Higbee (TE – Rams): $3,600 has been disappointing lately in an underachieving Rams offense, but he gets the best matchup for fantasy tight ends against Arizona in Week 10. This is enough to make Higbee appealing despite his poor finishes during his last three games. Backup quarterback John Wolford (QB – Rams) could lean on Higbee as a crutch if he gets the start over a concussed Matthew Stafford (QB – Rams).
FanDuel
Greg Dulcich (TE – Broncos): $5,900
Rookie tight end Greg Dulcich has been very effective with his opportunities, finishing with at least 40 receiving yards in three consecutive games. Russell Wilson trusts Dulcich and with an underachieving wide receiving corps, I expect Dulcich to continue being targeted in a top-ten matchup on the road against Tennessee.
Honorable Mention: Pat Freiermuth (TE – Steelers) ($5,600) could consistently see double-digit targets without wideout Chase Claypool (WR – Bears) factoring into the mix. Rookie quarterback Kenny Pickett has targeted Freiermuth 16 times in the Steelers’ previous two games, resulting in at least four receptions for 57 yards for the second-year tight end.
Defense/Special Teams
DraftKings
Cowboys D/ST: $4,000
Dallas’ defense has been the highlight in a season that began with a lot of panic and question marks. DC Dan Quinn utilizes the scheme perfectly, allowing Micah Parsons (LB – Cowboys) and Trevon Diggs (CB – Cowboys) to terrorize opposing offenses. The Cowboys will face a struggling Green Bay offense at Lambeau Field in Week 10, so fire them up with confidence.
Honorable Mention: Bears D/ST ($3,100) is a cheaper alternative to consider rostering in lineups. Yes, Chicago’s run defense is bad. However, their pass defense is generally good and Detroit’s offense struggles on the road. Take advantage of this NFC North divisional matchup.
FanDuel
Cardinals D/ST: $4,000
Arizona could be facing backup quarterback John Wolford under center in a must-win divisional road game during Week 10. The Cardinals’ pass defense has not played well and presents a top-five matchup for the Rams, but Arizona won’t have to respect Los Angeles’ anemic rushing attack, making it easier against either the backup or a concussed Matthew Stafford.
Honorable Mention: Steelers D/ST ($3,600) has been terrible against a lot of offenses this season but the return of star defensive end T.J. Watt (DE – Steelers) from a torn pectoral should boost this entire unit. He’s talented enough to single-handedly dominate and change an offense’s game plan, plus Andy Dalton has been struggling under center. The Saints are not a good road team and Pittsburgh is fresh off of its Bye Week, making them a sneaky good salary-saver in Week 10.
