This article is part of our FanDuel Fantasy Football series.
Does anyone remember a certain someone recommending Bills players last week as they took on the lowly Jacksonville Jaguars? Neither do I. Let's get back to work and try to correct things for Week 10.
QUARTERBACK
My favorite upper-tier play at the position this week is easily Dak Prescott ($8,100). In a bad game last week where he had to salvage a decent fantasy day in garbage time (19.88 fantasy points), Dak has only had one worse game this season, which shows his solid floor. This week his team is predicted to score the most points according to Vegas, and he gets back Michael Gallup. Dak has scored in the 20s for five of his seven games this season. It would be a shock against Atlanta if he doesn't make that six this week.
I read the tea leaves with the Vikings visiting the Chargers and have no idea what to think. Both teams have the talent to beat the best teams in the league, but it wouldn't surprise me if/when either teams loses to the worst team in the league. So enter both Kirk Cousins ($7,600) and Justin Herbert ($8,000) as good tournament plays. Stack each with the known suspects from each team and see what happens. This should be a fun game fantasy-wise.
So let's look at one of the long shots this week who won't kill your salary cap. Mac Jones ($6,500) plays the Browns at home Week 10. Jones is coming off a rough week (6.96 fantasy points), so he will have a very low ownership in any format on FanDuel. The Browns are 26th against quarterbacks, making this a plus option for Jones, and the Patriots seem to be getting stronger as the season goes on. They could be without both Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson leading to more of a passing attack. Hunter Henry has been the main go-to guy in the red zone and at some point Jakobi Meyers will score a touchdown (I promise, I think).
RUNNING BACK
This is a great spot to save some salary cap and have the ability to use your salary cap at other positions. You'll have to wait until Sunday to see if Zack Moss, Damien Harris and Rhamondre Stevenson are active. If they're not, it's an easy play to go with Devin Singletary ($6,000) or Brandon Bolden ($5,100) this week. Just check the inactives for both. Again, here's a great spot to to save some salary cap and spend up for the other positions.
Is Nick Chubb going to play? The Browns early this week looked like they would have to lean on D'Ernest Johnson ($5,400), and they might have to in New England. The last time Johnson had the backfield all to himself he rushed 22 times for 146 yards and a touchdown and that was a tougher matchup on paper (against the Broncos) than the Patriots. Be ready to deploy DEJ this weekend if Chubb doesn't get out of the COVID protocol.
WIDE RECEIVER
If you're saving some salary cap space at running back, go back to spending up in this spot with Davante Adams ($8,700). After a season-low 7.6 fantasy points, he'll look to get back on track against the Seahawks, who haven't been good on defense this season. Green Bay will run plays purposely to get Adams the ball in the red zone and Aaron Rodgers will be fully motivated this week after being surrounded by controversy the last 10 days.
If I'm digging deep for a wide receiver who won't kill my salary cap, I'm keeping an eye on Tyler Johnson ($5,100) this weekend. Both Antonio Brown and Chris Godwin are questionable and should both be out, Johnson will assume a big role against the WFT. Before the bye week Johnson had nine fantasy points and if he can replicate that number and find the end zone, he'll be a great value. Just watch the status of his teammates before deploying him in a lineup.
TIGHT END
Without Travis Kelce or Darren Waller on the main slate of games, it's an easy call to spend down in this spot and still get a quality player. Rob Gronkowski ($6,100) should be back this week and the WFT is below league-average against tight ends. Dawson Knox ($5,800) makes his return from a hand injury and the Jets are 23rd against the position for fantasy points this season. Both players can be seen as contrarian plays coming off injuries and likely will not be heavily rostered.
DEFENSE
The top-4 highest priced defenses this week play against teams ranked 27th or lower, so it's not a bad idea to pay up for any one of those squads. If you're looking to be a little more economical this week, think about using the Philadelphia Eagles ($3,600) in Denver. I'm not sold on the Broncos being some offensive juggernaut, and the Eagles have scored 10 or more fantasy three times this season, showing upside.
