The Fantasy Football Trainers room is here to update you on all the key Week 10 Fantasy Football injuries, while (more importantly) giving you a backup plan for your lineup. To get up-to-kickoff updates on all actives and inactives, be sure to tune into the Fantasy Tailgate LIVE on Facebook. We’ll cover all these plus answer every single one of your Sit / Start dilemmas.
Matthew Stafford (back injury) OUT Sunday, Major Fantasy Implications for Lions and Bears
According to Ian Rapoport, Lions QB Matthew Stafford will miss Week 10 with a back injury. He was my QB13 for the week, and likely starting for many owners after hucking 340+ yards and 3+ TDs in three straight. Jeff Driskell will take over, and this is an obvious downgrade for Kenny Golladay (-17 to WR28), Marvin Jones (-15 to WR34), and TJ Hockenson (-5 to TE17).
If needing a QB-streamer, I’d first look to Ryan Tannehill (29%, QB14). He’s set up for “comeback mode” against a returning Patrick Mahomes who should shred this banged up defense. If gone, Brian Hoyer (6%, QB17) is also very viable filling in against a non-existent Dolphins defense.
On the Bears side, all passing game options should be downgraded, as they’ll likely run away with this game quickly. The Bears D/ST suddenly becomes my top D/ST for the week, and are very reasonably priced on DraftKings ($3100). Meanwhile, gameflow is now almost guaranteed to favor David Montgomery bleeding clock. With Mike Davis also gone, everything is shaping up for an absolute monster workload and day against a Lions team surrendering the most FPs to RBs. His 48 touches over the last two weeks are second among all RBs, and he could see another 30+ today. He’s a lineup lock at $5300 on DraftKings.
Jacoby Brissett (knee) OUT, Week-to-Week
Brissett was able to practice in a limited fashion this week after injuring his MCL against the Steelers. However, the team is playing it safe and he will miss Week 10. Brian Hoyer will start in his place and is one of the sturdier backups in the league.
Marlon Mack is The Wolf’s RB11 (-4 vs the ECR), while WR Zach Pascal comes in at WR24 (+5 vs ECR). With the weapons so limited on the offense, Eric Ebron is the TE11 and his teammate Jack Doyle is right behind him at TE12. Both tight ends are solid streaming options with Hoyer likely playing it safe throughout the day.
George Kittle (Knee) Now “In Doubt” for Week 10, Back Up Plan Needed
Update: Kittle has officially been listed at doubtful, so he is almost certain to miss this one. The backup plans below still apply, though other streaming options like Jonnu Smith (31%, TE11), OJ Howard (40%, TE10) and Mike Gesicki (36%, TE13) are now very viable. Dwelley is my TE14
Kittle hasn’t practiced all week with ankle and knee injuries. Originally, we expected this to be minor, as he played through on TNF and had 10 days to rest. However, now he’s truly in doubt, and a backup plan must be acquired with the 49ers playing on MNF.
Ross Dwelley (1% owned) is Kittle’s direct backup. He played 70% of the snaps with Kittle dinged up last week, hauling in 4 catches in the process. Though a “Dwelley Lineup” feels gross, the Seahawks have bled the third most FPs to TEs. On the other side, Jacob Hollister (4%) is fresh off a 2-TD day, and seems to have taken over the invaluable Seahawks TE role.
Adam Thielen (hamstring) is likely out for Week 10 vs Cowboys
The white wideout bowed out of Week 9 very early, resulting in a bunch of zeroes for his fantasy owners. It looks like the Vikings will play it safe with their target hog for Week 10 and by keeping him out of practice all week. Stefon Diggs should have his way with a very inconsistent Cowboys’ secondary as Kirk Cousins’ alpha WR1. Olabisi Johnson (83% snaps) and Laquon Treadwell (28%) and TE Irv Smith (61%) all got extended looks in Thielen’s absence last week.
Giants down two top pass-catchers in Evan Engram (foot) and Sterling Shepard (concussion).
Daniel Jones and the Giants pass-game get a juicy matchup versus a pitiful Jets secondary that allowed three first-half TDs to Ryan Fitzpatrick. Lol. Nonetheless, they’ll have less weapons in the cabinet minus Sterling Shepard for his fifth straight game, and now without Evan Engram, who’s considered “week to week” with a Lisfranc territory.
Both injuries are highly concerning season-long. Engram, who had been a difference-making TE at a thin spot. He’s in a boot, and we’ve seen foot injuries linger (cough, Cam Newton). Similarly, Shepard had a recurrence his symptoms late last week. With both players future pillars and this team going nowhere, don’t be shocked if they shut down for the season.
In their absence, expect Golden Tate to feast. He’s under $6k in DraftKings, and my WR15 for the week. Smash. Darrius Slayton (8% owned, $4200) also becomes a viable Dart Throw.
James Conner (shoulder) not expected to play, giving Jaylen Samuels the workhorse treatment for another week
Friday Update: James Conner (shoulder) has been ruled out for the Steelers’ Week 10 matchup against the Rams. Expect Jaylen Samuels to feast on the majority of snaps after a 13 target day, 13 reception day.
It looks like Conner’s clavicle/shoulder area is still bothering him and the Steelers will hold him out at least another week. This means the three-down animal, Jaylen Samuels will get another shot of bell-cow duty against the Rams. Although he only racked up 10 measly yards on the ground, Samuels caught 13 balls for 73 yards. Trey Edmunds still had 12 rushing attempts on 17 snaps in Week 9, but Samuels’ trustworthy hands and overall talent makes him a rock-solid RB2.
Le’Veon Bell (knee) underwent an MRI, Jets signed Josh Adams, and then promoted him from practice squad
Sunday Update: Bell has confirmed he will be playing. Fire him up as usual.
Friday Update: Le’Veon Bell (knee) is questionable for the Jets’ Week 10 matchup against the Giants. When asked of Bell’s chances of playing Week 10 against the Giants, Jets coach Adam Gase said, “It looks good.” Still, Montgomery (7%) needs to be stashed.
After undergoing an MRI on his knee for the second(?) time this season, the Jets signed Josh Adams and then recently promoted him from the practice squad. Bell then missed practice on Wednesday and was limited on Thursday, meaning there’s a pretty good chance he won’t suit up on Sunday against the Giants. Ty Montgomery would likely take over Bell’s role, with Adams possibly getting some goal line and short yardage opportunities.
Amari Cooper (knee) skips practice on Thursday to get MRI, likely to play Week 10
Cooper exited the MNF game with a knee injury, only to return to grab a touchdown pass. The receiver hurt his knee in practice last week and has clearly been hobbled since the injury occurred. He should play Week 10, but will not be 100 percent if he suits up. Tavon (0% owned) Austin and Randall Cobb (10%) will get more looks if the Cowboys rest Cooper against the Vikings.
With the matchup coming on Sunday night, a backup plan should be secured. Austin and Cobb could be options, though I’d turn to Olabisi Johnson (2%) first.
David Johnson (ankle) is “definitely playing” in Week 10 vs Bucs, joins Kenyan Drake in Cards’ backfield
After screwing around with his fantasy owners and then sitting out Week 9, DJ says he’s 100 percent and will play in Week 10. However, there’s new competition in the Cardinals’ backfield with Kenyan Drake. The Wolf dissected the ROS outlook for these two running backs. Can they co-exist with similar skillsets?
“Having two guys that we feel like can be dominant players for us is exciting,” Kliff Kingsbury said.
“You’ve got to know what their capacity is, if you will,” Kingsbury said. “We’ll see what Kenyan can do. I thought he handled a heavy load last night (Week 9). With David back, you know you have two fresh running backs that are really good players.”
AJ Green says ankle is “swollen” and will miss Week 10
It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to realize the Bengals are a stupid franchise. It’s clear AJ Green wants no part of playing for the hopeless and pathetic team. However, they decided to be prideful and not trade their 30 year old, oft-injured wideout. In return, it seems like Green is going to milk this ankle injury for all it’s worth and could potentially sit out the entire season. We wouldn’t blame you if you hate-cut him after this.
In his absence, Tyler Boyd will continue drawing No.1 corners. While he’s done OK in this role, Marlon Humphrey‘s has eliminated far better. The $4700 price tag on DKings is intriguing, though I prefer Robby Anderson at the same price for tournaments.
Meanwhile, Auden Tate (19%, $4000) preserves some streaming value, as does Alex Erickson (13%, $3900), who’s quietly racked up 21.5 and 15.7 PPR FPs in back-to-back weeks. All passing game options are question marks with Ryan Finley making his first career start… but it can’t be much worse than Dalton, right? RIGHT?!
DeSean Jackson (core muscle surgery) placed on injured reserve
A player we thought we hit on, DJax, was placed on IR after undergoing surgery on his mysterious core muscle injury. In his lone game of 2019, Jackson went off for a 8-154- 2 line, which almost made us look like brainiacs. Oh, what could have been.
Players Returning / Good-to-go:
- Alvin Kamara is set to return and practiced in full on Thursday. However, he is open to sharing the backfield with Latavius Murray. Sean Payton said he will be “smart” with Kamara’s usage. Kamara will remain a RB1 but might get fewer touches moving forward.
- Chris Herndon will be active for the first time in 2019. He’s worth the stash to see how he performs, but Ryan Griffin has been playing so well that this could ultimately be an ugly and worthless committee situation.
- Andy Reid said “unless something changes,” Patrick Mahomes will return this weekend vs Titans. He’s in a blow-up spot against a Titans defense that lost their top CB Malcolm Butler for the season.
- Both Christian McCaffrey (knee) and Curtis Samuel (hamstring) returned to practice on Thursday. Neither were listed on the Panthers final injury report. Despite the +$1700 Price Tag, McCaffrey should be in lineups this week.
- OJ Howard is returning to continue his Bust-of-Year campaign. Still, if ever there was a week for him to be useful, it’d be now. Arizona’s allowed league-highs in catches (64), receiving yards (810) and touchdowns (9) to opposing tight ends. I love him at his $3.3k DraftKings price. At 38% owned at fantasy’s scarcest position, Howard could be a desperation TE stream.
Others to Monitor:
- Lamar Jackson (illness) missed Thursday’s practice but will be gucci for Week 10’s upcoming dismantling of the Bengals
- Corey Davis (hip) did not practice Thursday (good)
Check back here throughout the weekend and follow us on Twitter for Week 10 injury updates!
