Week 10: Weather Be Damned

The lack of touchdowns for Goff is part bad luck and part scheme. On the Rams’ first drive of the game, Goff targeted Cooper Kupp in the endzone on a 3rd down but had to settle for a field goal. On their second drive, Goff connected with Gerald Everett, who was tackled at the 1-yard line, setting up a Darrell Henderson rushing TD. Then, in the third quarter, Goff targeted Everett in the end zone. Defensive pass interference was called, again setting up a 1-yard TD run, this time by Malcolm Brown. While we can always play the “what if” game, Goff was extremely close to having 3 TDs against the Seahawks.

 

Goff’s playoff schedule is juicy, with the Jets in Week 15 and a rematch against Seattle in Championship Week 16. What are the odds that Goff throws for another 300 yards and zero TDs against the same Seattle secondary? Snatch up and stash Goff if he gets dropped or is sitting on your waivers!

 

Did you see that coming down the tracks? Choo! Choo! It’s the Wayne Gallman Express! Against a tough Eagles run defense, Gallman saw 18 carries for 53 yards and 2 TDs, as well as 1 reception on 2 targets for 7 receiving yards. With Devonta Freemon placed on IR, is Gallman a fantasy starter for the next few weeks?

 

Since taking over for Freeman in Week 7, Gallman has seen double-digit touches in every game and amassed 4 TDs. Over that period, Gallman is rushing for just 3.8 yards per carry. Yet, this may say more about the Giants’ offensive line than Gallman’s talent. Going into Week 10, Gallman was averaging 2.8 yards after contact per carry, tied with Derrick Henry, Kareem Hunt, and Devin Singletary for 4th best in the league. On the flip side, Gallman averaged a measly 1.6 yards before contact per attempt, 47th best in the league. But there are other talented RBs with similar stats, such as Ezekiel Elliott (1.8), Josh Jacobs (1.8), Todd Gurley (1.7), Christian McCaffrey (1.6), and Mike Davis (1.2). 

 

So should you pick up and start Gallman going forward? With 44 touches over the past three weeks, he is seeing the volume of a borderline RB1. Since the Giants on bye next week, you should be able to sneak Gallman onto your bench. In Week 12, he faces the Cincinnati Bengals, who have given up the 9th most fantasy points to opposing RBs. After that comes more middle-of-the-road rush defenses in the Seahawks, Cardinals, and Browns. Grab Gallman!

 

Honorable Mention: D’Andre Swift had his coming out party in his first game as a starter, seeing 21 of Detroit’s 25 RB touches. In total, he racked up 81 rushing yards, 68 receiving yards, and 1 TD. In another good sign, Swift caught all 5 of his targets. This is the perfect timing for Swift, who faces 4 of the 6 six worst run defenses in the coming weeks (Panthers, Texans, Packers, Titans). If you were patient enough to hang on to Swift this long, you’re finally going to see strong dividends.

 

If you have a friend complaining about Kennan Allen and his 3 receptions on 7 targets for only 39 yards and 1 TD against the Miami Dolphins, I hope your trade deadline has not passed. And that’s not just because Allen has some sweet dance moves.

 

Week 10 was the first week since Week 1 in which Allen saw fewer than 10 targets (outside of the New Orleans game when he was injured early into the game). The Dolphins are no joke and held Justin Herbert to under 200 yards for the first time all season. For context, Herbert’s previous season-low as 264 passing yards! Even with only seeing 7 targets, Allen still has seen the most targets (93) of any receiver to have played in 9 games this season. Only Stephon Diggs, who has played 10 games, has seen more targets (102).

 

Although Allen does not see many targets in the red zone (6 targets all season), he remains Herbert’s go-to receiver through-out the game. Going into Week 10, only DeAndre Hopkins had caught as many 1st down receptions as Allen (39). In addition, Allen was 5th among WRs in terms of total yards after contact (271). This was a down game for Allen, but he is bound to bounce back, particularly in the fantasy playoffs against the Falcons, Raiders, and Broncos. Go see if your Allen owner is frustrated enough to sell “low” on the potential fantasy playoffs MVP.

 

Honorable Mention: Michael Pittman Jr. had the late-season rookie break-out game we were waiting for on Thursday night against the Titans. Snagging 7 balls on 8 targets for 101 yards, Pittman may have officially taken the crown as the WR1 in Indianapolis. However, you should temper expectations next week against the Green Bay Packers, who will likely have their shut-down cornerback Jaire Alexander back on the field.

 

Remember Jordan Reed? He caught 5 of 6 targets for 62 yards against the Saints in Week 10. In the 5 games he has played this season, Reed has seen 4 red zone targets. That’s really all I can say about Jordan Reed and why you should consider rostering him.

 

However, with the 49ers go into their bye week, I wouldn’t recommend stashing Reed on your bench. If you’re still struggling to stream the position in Week 12, I guess you can look at Jordan Reed. But I’m not sure I’d want to. Yet, he may be your only option. Gross.

 

Honorable Mention: Richard Rodgers was the Eagles’ top receiver this week, catching 4 balls on 5 targets for 80 receiving yards. That alone was enough to make Rodgers a top-10 TE in Week 10 going into Monday Night Football. Again, gross. All I know is I can’t wait for Travis Kelce to come back from his bye next week.