DraftKings Picks for Week 10
Week 10 is upon us and we have another slate of great matchups for fantasy.
Surprisingly it is getting harder to find Running Back gems, almost as if teams are going back to the "workhorse" players due to injuries.
We do have potential returning players (cough CMC cough) that could reignite offenses, while we have other offenses that are catching fire at the right time.
This week we probably will be spending up on Running Backs and Wide Receivers because that's where the best matchups happen to fall, so we will have to select our other positions wisely.
Let's dive into Week Ten of DraftKings picks.
We use advanced simulations & machine learning to generate ownership projections for every multi-game slate on DraftKings and FanDuel each week.
Quarterbacks
Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers) - $6500 @ TB
This one somewhat depends on if Christian McCaffery is indeed suiting up this week as everyone hopes, but isn't a bad option this week regardless.
Brock Purdy lost a lot of the talent around him so far this season, but he still performed quite well for fantasy purposes. Last week against the Cowboys, Purdy threw for 260 yards and a touchdown while rushing eight times for 56 yards and an additional touchdown.
Purdy now has three straight weeks with over 20 fantasy points and has a great opportunity once again to go over that number against a bad Tampa Bay pass defense. Add to that one of the top weapons in football might return, and you have the makings of a great day.
Tampa did put points without their top three Wide Receivers against Kansas City, so Baker Mayfield will hopefully be able to at least keep things interesting so that Purdy has to throw.
Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings) - $6200 @ JAX
Minnesota has cooled off in recent weeks a bit after a hot start to their season. But after a close loss to Detroit and a loss to the healthy Rams (Kupp and Nacua had returned for this one), the Vikings are back to their winning ways with a solid win over the Colts.
Sam Darnold completed 28 of 34 passes for 290 yards, three touchdowns, and two interceptions in that win.
This week the Vikings face the hapless Jaguars, so the winning ways should continue. My guess is that Darnold will have a very efficient, low-yardage game with multiple touchdowns in this matchup, however seeing as so many QBs are struggling, those few (almost) guaranteed touchdowns go a long way.
Plus, by saving some salary on the QB spot, we might be able to pair a top WR this week.
Running Backs
Saquon Barkley (Philadelphia Eagles) - $8300 @ DAL
I don't normally ever take the top option at RB/WR, but this week it's just too hard to pass up. Saquon Barkley has looked like a league-winning type of player this year, and that should continue against a surprisingly bad Dallas team.
Barkley seems to be back to the "old" Saquon, and figuring he stays healthy there appears to be no stopping him. He has rushed for over 100 yards in each of his last three games, scoring three times in that span.
Last week against the Jaguars (I'm assuming most of you reading saw his backward hurdle), Barkley rushed 27 times for 159 yards and one touchdown. He also caught three passes for 40 yards and an additional touchdown.
Dallas is in shambles, giving up the 29th most points to opposing Running Backs. Barkley will have his opportunities, and humiliating a division foe on their home turf is always fun, so we should be in for a good fantasy day.
Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings) - $6700 @ JAX
If you decide to skip over Sam Darnold, Aaron Jones is a must-have in your lineup. The Jaguars are bad all around, but they also rank 30th in points allowed to opposing Running Backs.
Figuring Darnold gets a few touchdowns and the Vikings get ahead early, Jones will be in line for a ton of work. He saw 19 and 21 carries in his last two games, and is always a threat in the passing game. This matchup also gives him one of the best chances to score a touchdown.
Jones is one of the cheapest backs this week that has a safe floor and a potential high ceiling against a bad defense.
Kareem Hunt (Kansas City Chiefs) - $6600 vs DEN
Kareem Hunt is back to his workhorse ways in Kansas City, rushing over 20 times in each of the last four games. This includes his 27-rush, 106-yard, one-touchdown performance Monday night against the Buccaneers.
Hunt has provided a huge spark to the Chief run game and seems to have a stranglehold on it until Isiah Pacheco returns.
This week the Chiefs get Denver in Kansas City, a matchup that leans Hunt's way. Denver is currently 19th in points allowed to opposing Running Backs, and the Chiefs may opt to run the ball a ton to avoid Denver's solid corners. Hunt has also scored in each of his last four games, and this is another good opportunity to keep that streak alive.
The Chiefs added DeAndre Hopkins (who had himself a night on Monday) last week, which should also help the run game since defenses will have to pay closer attention to the passing game.
Wide Receivers
Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings) - $8800 @ JAX
If you do choose to go the Darnold route, Justin Jefferson is a great pairing this week against this bad Jacksonville defense.
Jefferson has put up at least 20 points in each of his last three games, and that comes with only one touchdown in that time frame. He also had eclipsed the 100-yard mark in the last two games.
Jefferson will see plenty of targets early in this one and has a very good chance to score, making him and Darnold one of my favorite pairings this week.
Davante Adams (New York Jets) - $7000 @ ARI
Davante Adams has improved in each game as a Jet, going from a three-catch, 30-yard performance in Week Seven to a seven-catch, 91-yard, and one-touchdown performance last week.
Adams has now been targeted 26 times over the three weeks in New York, and Allen Lazard's landing on IR has only helped those target numbers.
This week Adams and the Jets face a beatable Arizona defense (in the dome in Arizona so no weather issues). The Cardinals are currently giving up the 19th most points to opposing Wide Receivers, and Kyler Murray has enough weapons to at least move the ball against a solid Jets' defense.
If Adams continues to learn the offense and Aaron Rodgers continues to pepper his best friend with targets, he will be a PPR monster once again.
Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons) - $6500 @ NO
New Orleans just shipped out one of their best defenders, Marshon Lattimore, making it seem like the Saints have officially given up on the season. That's great news for Darnell Mooney and the Falcons, who visit this coming week.
Top receiver Drake London went down with a hip injury last week, and there is no real indication of whether he will play this week or not (he's called day-to-day as of now). Either way, Mooney has been a solid contributor for the Atlanta offense.
Being in a plus matchup (NO ranks 21st in points allowed to receivers and just got worse with the Lattimore trade) with a potential absence from London makes Mooney a great option this week.
DeAndre Hopkins(Kansas City Chiefs) - $5300 vs DEN
DeAndre Hopkins seems to have found new life in Kansas City, catching eight of nine targets for 86 yards and two touchdowns.
Hopkins has pretty much been a non-factor in recent years, but he could suddenly see massive fantasy value thanks to his landing spot. Patrick Mahomes has a star receiver once more, and although it's been only one week of data, it does seem very promising.
Travis Kelce still lead the team in targets and yardage in that game, but having those dual-threat receivers makes the Chief offense potent once again...maybe to the point where Mahomes is actually startable in fantasy (crazy to hear, I know).
Denver is no pushover when it comes to passing defense, but this Chiefs team seems to be catching fire at the right time. Hopkins at only $5300 as the Chief WR1 seems absurd, so he is definitely worth the shot.
Tight Ends
George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers) - $5800 @ TB
If you do go with Brock Purdy, I'd actually highly consider pairing him with his top receiver at the moment, George Kittle.
Kittle has put up over 14.5 points in every game he has played except for Week One and put up a whopping 27.8 points against Dallas in Week Eight (before their Bye week).
The 49ers should be rested for their battle with Tampa, and the threat of Christian McCaffery should help Kittle even more. Now CMC could take a few targets away from Kittle, but that might take a bit of time if the 49ers work him back slowly.
Kittle has been one of the best Tight Ends this season for fantasy, and this matchup against Tampa (who rank 30th in points allowed to Tight Ends) should keep him near the top of that list.
Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints) - $4000 vs ATL
Taysom Hill is either hurt or he is putting up fantasy points in wild ways, and he appears to be healthy going into Week 10.
Hill scored 16 fantasy points last week against the Panthers, catching four passes for 41 yards, rushing 5 times for 19 yards and a touchdown, and attempting one pass.
With so many injuries to the Saints' receivers (they just lost Chris Olave again), Hill is going to have to be increasingly involved in the offense.
This week the Saints take on the Falcons in New Orleans. Hill played the last time these two teams faced off and he scored two rushing touchdowns in an otherwise quiet day. Atlanta ranks 24th in points given up to Tight Ends, so Hill at least has an opportunity for a good day. At only $4000, it's worth the risk.
Defense
Los Angeles Chargers - $3800 vs TEN
Maybe the Charger defense is a bit better this year than I thought, or maybe they have just played bad teams. That said, their toughest game was against Kansas City, which they held to 17 points.
The Chargers recorded three interceptions and six sacks while holding the Browns to 10 points last week, and face another bad team in the Tennessee Titans.
The Titans squeaked by the Patriots last week mostly thanks to Tony Pollard, so the Chargers should have an easy time at least stopping the pass.
This game should be low-scoring with plenty of turnovers, and sprinkle in home-field advantage to make things tougher on Mason Rudolph and the Titan offense.
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