RADIO
Christian McCaffrey Could Extend TD Streak To Eighth Game
San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey gained 87 scrimmage yards on 20 touches last week and had two touchdowns. McCaffrey ran in one score and walked a reception into the end zone for the other, making it his seventh consecutive game with at least one touchdown. Through Week 9, McCaffrey is averaging 20.8 PPR points per game and has looked rejuvenated as a runner, averaging 4.5 yards per carry. He should have another solid showing in Week 10 against the Cowboys. Dallas is allowing the fourth-most rushing yards per game (112.8) to running backs and the fifth-most PPR points (26.5) to the position group. The matchup has the highest projected point total on this week's slate, and McCaffrey should play a prominent role in what should be a high-scoring affair. As usual, McCaffrey is projected as a top-5 option at running back and should be locked into lineups for Week 10.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Alvin Kamara's Role in New Orleans Backfield Remains Uncertain
New Orleans Saints running back Alvin Kamara rushed just six times for 32 yards and added three catches for another 17 yards in Week 9's victory over the Browns. Kamara out-snapped fellow running back Audric Estime 37-35, though it was Estime who out-gained him 77-49 in total yards. Kamara's inefficient season continues, as he is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry on 6.7 attempts per game, both career lows. There may be additional mouths to feed in the backfield as well, as fellow running back Travis Etienne Jr. (hamstring) logged a full practice on Friday and is listed as questionable to return from IR. With added competition, Kamara's fantasy value takes a significant hit. However, if Etienne Jr. does not suit up, Kamara would be a viable FLEX option against a Panthers defense allowing the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Brock Purdy's Outlook Improving With Added Receivers
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy had another productive game last weekend against the Raiders. Purdy threw for just 232 yards, but added 40 rushing yards and had three total touchdowns. Purdy finished Week 9 as the overall QB4, and it was his sixth top-12 finish in nine games. Purdy has been among the best quarterbacks in fantasy despite injuries to his receiving corps. Mike Evans (Achilles) will be out again in Week 10, but Deebo Samuel Sr. (hamstring) will return for his first action since Week 5. San Francisco bolstered their wide receiver depth at the trade deadline, adding veteran Keenan Allen from the Colts. Purdy should have another field day against the Cowboys on Sunday. Dallas is averaging 22.3 fantasy points allowed per game to quarterbacks and has given up 16 passing touchdowns to four interceptions so far. Purdy is projected for another QB1 finish and should be started everywhere.
Source: NFL.com
Source: NFL.com
Audric Estime Looking to Maintain Role in Saints Backfield
New Orleans Saints running back Audric Estime rushed 15 times for 72 yards and a touchdown in Week 9's win over the Browns. He added one catch on his lone target for another five yards. After being waived by Cleveland on Monday and claimed by New Orleans on Tuesday, Estime immediately stepped into the lead rushing role over fellow running back Alvin Kamara. He played 35 snaps, and his 46% touch rate easily led the team, ranking sixth among running backs who saw at least 30 snaps in Week 9. However, his large workload may be short-lived, as teammate Travis Etienne Jr. logged a full practice Friday and is officially questionable to return from IR this week. Estime was impressive enough to earn a role in the offense, but once Etienne returns, the backfield could become too crowded for him to remain fantasy-relevant. He ranks RB41 in RotoBaller's rankings against a Panthers defense allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs, with significant upside if Etienne Jr. cannot suit up.
Source: NewOrleansSaints.com
Source: NewOrleansSaints.com
Morez Johnson Jr. Likely to Play Saturday
Dallas Mavericks forward Morez Johnson Jr. (shin) is probable for Saturday's matchup with the Cleveland Cavaliers due to a left shin/tibia contusion. Johnson returned Thursday after a one-game absence but went scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting with two rebounds in 13 minutes against Minnesota. The rookie is averaging 6.9 points and 4.8 rebounds in 16.7 minutes through 11 appearances, highlighted by a 13-point, 17-rebound effort against Utah. Dereck Lively II (foot) remains sidelined, but Johnson still has to compete with Santi Aldama for reserve frontcourt minutes behind Daniel Gafford.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Tyler Shough Set for Another High-Volume Outing Against Panthers
New Orleans Saints quarterback Tyler Shough completed 21-of-35 passes for 265 yards and one touchdown while adding 50 rushing yards on 10 attempts in Week 9's win over the Browns. Shough's passing volume was relatively low through the first three quarters, as he attempted just 15 passes during that span. However, the Browns began moving the ball more effectively as the game progressed, forcing Shough and the Saints' offense to increase their pace and throw more often. He eventually connected with tight end Juwan Johnson for a 15-yard game-winning touchdown in overtime. Shough has now surpassed 250 passing yards in six of eight games this season, though he has thrown multiple passing touchdowns just three times. He should see plenty of volume again in Week 10 against the Panthers and ranks at QB7 in RotoBaller's rankings this week.
Source: Pro Football Reference
Source: Pro Football Reference
Nolan Traore Probable Against Memphis
Brooklyn Nets guard Nolan Traore (calf) is probable for Saturday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies after missing Wednesday's win over New Orleans with right calf tightness. It was his first absence of the season after appearing in each of Brooklyn's first 10 games, including seven starts. The 20-year-old is averaging 12.9 points, 2.6 assists, 1.8 threes, and 1.4 steals while shooting 51.6% from the field. Egor Demin scored 22 points in his return Wednesday, so Traore may not immediately reclaim the same starting role. He should still have a steady place in the rotation, especially if Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) remains out.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Cooper Kupp Can be Avoided in Most Leagues for Week 10
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Cooper Kupp can be left on the bench in fantasy leagues with 14 or fewer teams heading into Week 10 against the Las Vegas Raiders. His volume has been inconsistent lately, and he's headed for an even smaller role this week now that Rashid Shaheed is returning from injury. Kupp is expected to operate as the team's No. 3 receiver behind Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Shaheed, and his target volume could also be scaled back with Drew Lock starting in place of Sam Darnold (elbow) for the second week in a row. So far, the 33-year-old is having the worst fantasy season of his career, despite not missing any games. He is the overall WR63 in PPR scoring with just 22 catches, 238 yards, and two touchdowns. There's some merit to leaving him on the bench in leagues with at least 12-14 teams in case Smith-Njigba gets hurt, but it's justify actually inserting him into lineups for Week 10. He ranks as the overall WR62 in RotoBaller's Week 10 fantasy football rankings.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Mikel Brown Jr. Iffy for Saturday
Brooklyn Nets guard Mikel Brown Jr. (illness) is questionable for Saturday's matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies and could miss a third straight game. Brown sat Wednesday against New Orleans due to the illness after previously being held out at Dallas for back injury management. The No. 6 pick is averaging 12.9 points and 3.9 assists in 23.1 minutes through seven appearances, all off the bench, while shooting 34.6% from the field. Brooklyn's backcourt is getting healthier with Nolan Traore (calf) probable and Egor Demin back in the mix, so Brown may have to fight for his usual touches once he returns. Keon Ellis would be one of the players in line for extra minutes if Brown remains out Saturday.
Source: NBA Injury Report
Source: NBA Injury Report
Kingston Flemings Exits with Back Tightness
Atlanta Hawks guard Kingston Flemings (back) was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's matchup with the Chicago Bulls due to back tightness. The rookie had entered the game questionable with a lumbar spasm after starting each of Atlanta's previous four contests. Flemings is averaging 8.5 points and 4.4 assists this season and has carved out a steady role in the backcourt. If the injury keeps him out Sunday against Milwaukee, CJ McCollum would be the leading candidate to return to the starting lineup after recently shifting to a reserve role.
Source: Hawks PR
Source: Hawks PR
Ben Sinnott Earning More Targets Despite Modest Snap Share
Washington Commanders tight end Ben Sinnott caught four passes for 42 yards and a touchdown on Thursday night, showcasing himself as one of quarterback Jayden Daniels' preferred targets in the victory. It was encouraging to see the third-year Kansas State product finally carve out a role, as he had only caught one pass in his previous eight games this season. This increased volume share could generate some low-end appeal in deeper fantasy football leagues going forward. With that said, there are still some concerns with Sinnott's workload. Specifically, he played just 35% of the snaps on Thursday night, which ranked last among the Commanders' three tight ends. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on Sinnott in fantasy leagues, but it's probably a bit too early to spend a roster spot on him in leagues with 14 or fewer teams.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Ben Yurosek Draws the Start in Week 10
Minnesota Vikings tight end Ben Yurosek is expected to earn the start against the Green Bay Packers in Week 10. The Vikings have ruled out T.J. Hockenson for this week, bumping Yurosek up to the No. 1 spot on the depth chart. The second-year Georgia product has been used very sparingly since entering the NFL, so Sunday's game will be his first opportunity to carve out a noteworthy role on offense. Through 16 career games, the 24-year-old has just four catches and 48 receiving yards. We expect his volume to increase as the starter this week, but perhaps not enough to get him on the fantasy radar in leagues with 14 or fewer teams. He can be left on waivers in most leagues as newly acquired quarterback Kirk Cousins instead targets the likes of Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison (thumb), and Myles Price.
Source: RotoBaller
Source: RotoBaller
Jaxson Hayes Exits with Left Knee Injury
Utah Jazz center Jaxson Hayes (knee) was ruled out for the remainder of Friday's matchup with the Houston Rockets due to a left knee injury. Hayes was productive before exiting, recording 12 points, five rebounds, and one assist on 5-for-6 shooting in 13 minutes. Utah is already thin up front with Jaren Jackson Jr. (knee) and Jusuf Nurkic (foot) sidelined, so another absence would leave even more work for Mo Bamba. Bamba has shown some defensive-stat upside in limited minutes and would be the main fantasy name to watch if Hayes can't return Sunday against San Antonio.
Source: Ben Anderson
Source: Ben Anderson
Rashod Bateman Upgrades to Full in Friday's Practice Estimation
Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Rashod Bateman (calf) was upgraded to a full participant on Friday, according to the team's official injury report. Bateman had been limited on Thursday, so his upgraded status on Friday should be seen as a very encouraging sign. With that being said, the Ravens held a walkthrough on Friday, so this latest practice report is merely an estimate. Nevertheless, we would expect Bateman to be able to play against the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football in Week 10, barring a setback. The bad news for Bateman is that the Ravens' offense is currently on its fourth quarterback, and we have yet to see if Jacoby Brissett can support any additional fantasy-relevant receivers beyond Zay Flowers. For now, Bateman can be avoided in fantasy football, despite his favorable matchup against the 0-8 Chargers.
Source: Baltimore Ravens
Source: Baltimore Ravens
David Njoku Logs Another Limited Practice on Friday
Los Angeles Chargers tight end David Njoku (fibula) remained limited during practice on Friday ahead of Week 10, according to the team's official injury report. Njoku is currently on injured reserve, and it remains unclear whether the Chargers will choose to activate him for this week's Monday Night Football contest against the Baltimore Ravens. It's worth noting that Njoku also logged two limited practices in Week 9, but did not end up getting activated prior to kickoff. Therefore, he may need to log a full practice on Saturday in order to have a realistic chance of playing this week. The 30-year-old posted a solid stat line of five catches and 58 yards during his only healthy game of the season back in Week 1. If he does play this week, he could be in the mix to handle a very large target share with wide receiver Ladd McConkey (back, did not practice) trending in the wrong direction. In such a scenario, Njoku would rank as a mid-range TE2 with low-end TE1 upside.
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
Source: Los Angeles Chargers
