Welcome back, everyone. If you’re looking for Mike Maher, he will be back next week unless the bosses at FantasyPros decide to keep rolling with the backup Mike. Hopefully, fantasy players found last week’s article helpful and informative.
With Mike out of the lineup for the second consecutive week, I’ll share my initial reactions and thoughts via the notes I took all day while watching every NFL game. I will focus on Week 10 news, notes, and waiver wire targets in an attempt to keep the content digestible. Here are my key takeaways from a wild Week 9 Sunday. Let’s dive in.
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Fantasy Football Reactions & Takeaways
Welcome to Baltimore!
The betting market had the Baltimore Ravens as 9.5 or 10-point favorites over the Denver Broncos. It should have been 30-point favorites, as the Ravens won 41-10. However, the fantasy headline from the game is how Baltimore dominated over an excellent Denver defense, totaling five touchdowns in the win. Derrick Henry had another elite fantasy performance, totaling two rushing touchdowns and over 25 half-point PPR fantasy points for the second time in the past four weeks.
Meanwhile, Lamar Jackson had three passing touchdowns and a perfect quarterback rating against the Broncos, scoring 23.6 fantasy points. The reigning MVP has had at least two passing touchdowns and 24 fantasy points in three consecutive games. Meanwhile, two of his touchdowns went to Zay Flowers. The second-year pro ran circles around Denver’s defense, totaling five receptions on six targets for 127 receiving yards and 27.2 fantasy points. All three Ravens are must-start options for fantasy players with this offense rolling.
Justin Herbert is Back on the Fantasy Radar
Herbert was off the fantasy radar entering the season. The Los Angeles Chargers lacked big-name wide receivers and hired a head coach who called offensive linemen “weapons.” Furthermore, the superstar quarterback had a lingering foot injury at the start of the year. He averaged 11.7 fantasy points per game over the first seven weeks, scoring 15 or fewer in every contest while throwing six touchdowns in those matchups. However, Herbert has been significantly better lately.
Last week, the superstar had 279 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 24.1 fantasy points against the New Orleans Saints. Despite facing a Cleveland Browns defense that sacked him six times, Herbert had 282 passing yards, two touchdowns, and 19.5 fantasy points in the win. More importantly, his pass attempts per game have increased. Herbert had fewer than 28 pass attempts in every game before the bye. By comparison, he has averaged 33 pass attempts per game over the past four contests.
De’Von Achane: Miami’s New WR1?
Most of the Miami Dolphins’ offense struggled without Tua Tagovailoa under center. Achane scored single-digit half-point PPR fantasy points in every game without the franchise quarterback. By comparison, he has averaged 24.3 fantasy points per game with Tagovailoa, totaling 23.7 or more in three of four contests, including both since the veteran returned from a concussion. Achane had 63 rushing yards and a touchdown in Week 9, scoring 12.3 fantasy points on the ground.
However, the second-year running back had been a go-to target for Tagovailoa in the passing game. Achane has averaged seven receptions for 63.3 yards and 14.3 fantasy points per game in the air, totaling three touchdowns in the four contests with Tagovailoa. He has had at least six receptions for 50 yards in all four games, scoring a touchdown in back-to-back weeks. Achane led the Dolphins in targets in Week 9 (eight), seeing more than Tyreek Hill (five) and Jaylen Waddle (two) combined.
Chase Brown‘s Breakout Game
Many called Brown a borderline must-start this week against the Las Vegas Raiders. However, the second-year running back became a top-10 guy once Zack Moss was ruled out with a neck injury. Brown has played well since earning a larger role on offense, averaging 12.8 rushing attempts and 13.4 half-point PPR fantasy points per game from Week 4 through Week 8. He had five touchdowns over those five games despite facing multiple elite run defenses.
Brown showed the Cincinnati Bengals and fantasy players he is a talented running back on Sunday. He finished with 27 rushing attempts for 120 yards, five receptions for 37 receiving yards, and a touchdown, scoring 24.2 fantasy points. It was the second time Brown had scored over 22 fantasy points this season. While the matchups over the next few weeks are far from ideal, the Bengals should continue to make Brown their featured running back after Sunday’s performance.
Bad Day for Superstar No. 1 Wide Receivers
Sunday was an awful day for elite No. 1 wide receivers. CeeDee Lamb left the game against the Atlanta Falcons with a shoulder injury. Thankfully, he returned to the game. Unfortunately, he lost Dak Prescott to a hamstring injury that ended his day. More importantly, Drake London and Chris Olave suffered significant injuries early in their matchups and did not return. London caught both targets for 27 receiving yards and a touchdown, scoring 9.7 half-point PPR fantasy points.
Unfortunately, the star receiver landed on his hip when scoring the touchdown, ending his day. Hopefully, the injury won’t force him to miss next week’s matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Meanwhile, Olave took a massive shot early in the game against the Carolina Panthers, leaving the field on a stretcher. Thankfully, he only suffered a concussion. However, it is his second concussion in the past four weeks. After taking a massive hit on Sunday, Olave will likely miss next week’s game and more time.
Cedric Tillman aka Cedric the Fantasy Star
Last week, I told fantasy players that Tillman was a must-add candidate off the waiver wire, as he is the team’s new No. 1 wide receiver. The Cleveland Browns got blown out in Week 9 by the Los Angeles Chargers. However, Tillman had his third consecutive impressive fantasy performance. He had six receptions on 11 targets for 75 receiving yards and a touchdown, totaling 16.5 half-point PPR fantasy points. While his touchdown came in garbage time, fantasy points count all the same.
More importantly, the second-year pro is getting the target volume. Tillman has averaged 10.7 targets per game over the past three weeks, totaling nine or more in every contest. He has averaged seven receptions for 85 receiving yards and 18.7 fantasy points per game, totaling 14.1 or more in every matchup. Jameis Winston targeted him a team-high 11 targets on Sunday on 46 pass attempts. If Tillman is still on the waiver wire in your league, please add him this week.
Mike Gesicki is Tee Higgins‘ Handcuff?
Everyone knows about handcuffing running backs. Anyone who drafted Christian McCaffrey but didn’t also get Jordan Mason is probably sitting in last place in their fantasy league. However, you rarely hear about handcuffing wide receivers. Furthermore, you never hear about handcuffing a wide receiver with a tight end. Yet, that’s the exact situation for fantasy players with the Cincinnati Bengals. Gesicki has been almost irrelevant when Higgins plays, averaging 2.2 half-point PPR fantasy points per game in five contests.
By comparison, the veteran tight end has been outstanding with Higgins out of the lineup. He averaged 6.5 targets and eight fantasy points per game over the first two weeks without the star receiver. Furthermore, Gesicki has averaged seven targets and 16.7 fantasy points per game over the past two weeks with Higgins out, including a season-high 24.5 fantasy points in Week 9. Gesicki is a top-five tight end in Week 10 against the Baltimore Ravens if Higgins is out again.
Rookie Tight Ends Shine
The tight end position is coming off its best week in recent fantasy football history. Seven tight ends scored over 15 half-point PPR fantasy points in Week 9. Furthermore, 15 scored double-digit fantasy points. While Week 10 wasn’t as impressive, the rookie tight ends shined in the early window of games. Brock Bowers was the TE3 in the early window, scoring 13 fantasy points in a blowout loss. Meanwhile, two lesser-known rookie tight ends also scored double-digit fantasy points.
Theo Johnson scored his first NFL touchdown in Week 9, totaling three receptions on six targets for 12.6 fantasy points. Meanwhile, Ja’Tavion Sanders is someone I’ve talked about adding in deeper leagues in the past few weeks. While the rookie hasn’t found the end zone this season, he has seen five or more targets in four of the past five games, including Sunday. Sanders had four receptions for 87 receiving yards and 10.7 fantasy points against the New Orleans Saints.
Early Week 10 Waiver Wire Targets
Aaron Rodgers (QB – NYJ)
The Jets have been a mess this season. However, Rodgers has played well for fantasy players, averaging 15.2 fantasy points per game. He has thrown two or more touchdowns in 66.7% of the games, including back-to-back contests. The future Hall of Famer had his best performance this year in Week 9, totaling three passing touchdowns and 20.3 fantasy points as he clicked with Davante Adams and Garrett Wilson. Rodgers has multiple appealing fantasy matchups over the next several weeks.
DeMario Douglas (WR – NE)
Patriot fans must be happy with Drake Maye, especially after his outstanding game-tying touchdown at the end of regulation. Meanwhile, Douglas has been the rookie’s favorite target. Despite scoring only seven half-point PPR fantasy points on Sunday, the second-year receiver led the team in targets (nine). He was a couple of big plays away from a massive fantasy performance. More importantly, Douglas had nine targets in both games he and Maye finished this season.
Adam Thielen (WR – CAR)
While the rookies Xavier Legette and Jalen Coker have shined the past two weeks without Diontae Johnson, Thielen could be Carolina’s No. 1 receiver starting next week. The veteran almost played on Sunday but needs one more week to recover from a hamstring injury. Meanwhile, Thielen was a top-10 wide receiver for part of last year with Bryce Young under center. Furthermore, the veteran could get traded before Tuesday’s deadline. Either way, Thielen is an excellent addition off the waiver wire.
Quentin Johnston (WR – LAC)
With Los Angeles allowing Justin Herbert to throw more the past few weeks, the team’s wide receiver core has more fantasy appeal. Johnston returned on Sunday after missing two games with an ankle injury, totaling four receptions on five targets for 118 receiving yards, a touchdown, and 20 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Cleveland Browns. More importantly, the second-year pro joined Ladd McConkey (seven) as the two Chargers with more than four targets on Sunday.
Taysom Hill (TE – NO)
Hill had 14 half-point PPR fantasy points against the Carolina Panthers, his second-highest total this year. Furthermore, the do-it-all weapon has scored 14 or more fantasy points in two of his past three games. More importantly, Hill had a season-high nine touches for 60 scrimmage yards on Sunday, as he was the Saints’ second-best option on offense behind Alvin Kamara. The veteran should continue to see an increased workload, with Chris Olave likely missing significant time with a concussion.
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Mike Fanelli is a featured writer at FantasyPros. For more from Mike, check out his archive and follow him @Mike_NFL2.
