Woooooo!
Week 10 had a number of those moments which yielded that particular exasperation many times over!
However, with so many players/plays causing us to do so we’re only going to talk about four players in particular that jumped out from a fantasy football perspective in order to keep you up to date on the impact their play had for your fantasy team and how those players might help or hurt you heading into the final stretch towards the #FantasyFootball playoffs!
With that let’s jump right into our 4-EYED OBSERVATIONS FROM WEEK 10!
(All NextGenStats courtesy of….well… @NextGenStats)
4-EYED OBSERVATION #1: Andrew Luck is the personification of the term “MATCHUP PROOF”!
Facing his division rival and one of the best defenses in the NFL, Andrew Luck posted 285 yards passing, 3 TDs, 1 INT, & 21.2 fantasy points. In week 10 (according to NextGenStats), Luck ranked 8th in completion percentage, 8th in passer rating, & 3rd in completed air yards all while being in the bottom of the league time allowed to throw the ball. Despite Jacksonville’s pass rush Luck managed to fend off defenders and make enough plays to make him a VERY fantasy relevant start this week. Over the past six games, he has averaged 24.9 fantasy points per game and with fantasy playoff matchups vs. Houston (who he torched for 36.7 fantasy points in week 4), Dallas, & the Giants he is a must start now and through the rest of the fantasy football season!
4-EYED OBSERVATION #2: The youth movement at running back has arrived!
Nick Chubb. Aaron Jones. One we were told to pick up the moment Carlos Hyde was traded to Jacksonville. Told that by doing so would ensure those who picked him up off waivers would receive a fantasy championship-clinching-caliber running back (say that three times fast). The other, a running back whose tremendous talent was seen as a rookie, but for whatever reason had been kept under wraps this season. Until Sunday. Until he was…freed.
Both, finally, went Super Saiyan Blue (Dragon Ball Super reference) on Sunday erupting for over 30 fantasy points in 0.5 PPR leagues. First, let’s start with Chubb:
According to NextGenStats, Chubb ranked 4th in running back efficiency (more north-south runs than east-west) and 3rd in yards per carry with 8.8 all while facing 8 or more defenders in the box 45% of the time in week 10. His volume and production, alone, makes him a starter on your fantasy roster going forward this season. The Browns offense has been playing much better since Freddie Kitchens has taken over play-calling duties and despite a tough start to the fantasy playoffs versus Carolina (9th in run defense), the Denver Broncos (26th in run defense) and Cincinnati Bengals (31st in run defense) present easier matchups which could help deliver you a fantasy championship with Chubb on your roster!
As for Aaron Jones, after waiting all season for Green Bay head coach Mike McCarthy to give Jones the lead running back duties in the Packers backfield, Jones erupted for 209 all-purpose yards with 2 total TDs against the Dolphins. While Jones only faced 8 or more defenders in the box 6.67% of the time, he made the most of his matchup averaging 9.7 yards per carry while ranking first in running back efficiency. The next couple of weeks versus Seattle and Minnesota will pose tough matchups for him as they both boast formidable defensive lines. However, much like Chubb, he has a favorable fantasy playoff schedule versus Atlanta (21st in run defense), Chicago (2nd in run defense), and the Jets (20th in run defense). Bears matchup aside Jones’s championship matchup is a thing of beauty. He’s a borderline RB1 rest of season!
4-EYED OBSERVATION #3: Corey Davis finally flashed WR1 potential!
8th in the league in targets with 10 targets, 148 air yards, and a 42% target share, Davis looked like the defacto number one wide receiver we all thought he might turn into. His 22 fantasy points, in 0.5 PPR leagues, were his second highest total of the season. While everything looked fine and dandy on Sunday, I’m a little wearying putting my faith in Davis just yet. The next three weeks will show a lot about him as he has great matchups versus the Colts, Texans, and Jets. He could be that type of receiver that helps propel your team into the fantasy playoffs. Or he could be a dud. Either way that’s too high a price to rank him any higher than a WR3/4 in my opinion.
4-EYED OBSERVATION #4: Leighton Vander Esch is on pace for defensive rookie of year honors!
If you had read our 4-EYED PREVIEWS last week you would have known to insert Vander Esch into your starting lineups this week. The rookie, in the absence of veteran linebacker Sean Lee, continued he monstrous campaign for defensive rookie of the year putting together an impressive stat line on Sunday Night Football. As long as Sean Lee is out he is a LB2 going forward this season!