Fantasy Football Week 10: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
Maurice Moton@@MoeMoton
Contributor INovember 8, 2024Fantasy Football Week 10: Biggest Sleepers at Every Position
In Week 10, the NFL will showcase its product in Munich, Germany, early on Sunday. While most people will see a couple of two-win teams, you should take advantage of opportunities to pick up fantasy football sleepers in this matchup.
That's right.
The New York Giants and Carolina Panthers could get you off to a quick start if you need replacements for Jordan Love, Jayden Reed or Brock Bowers, who are all on a bye week.
On the downside, it may be difficult to find quality options at running back, but if you look through the rookie class, you will find upside at the position.
This week, our sleeper list is loaded with rookies, and we also highlighted a player worth waiting for until Monday night.
Our selections are all available in more than 50 percent of leagues according to FantasyPros' league percentages.
QB Daniel Jones at Carolina Panthers (12 Percent Rostered)
Before you cringe at seeing Daniel Jones' name on the screen, note that the New York Giants operated a run-heavy approach with him involved against the Washington Commanders last week.
Big Blue rushed for 164 yards and a touchdown. Jones recorded 54 yards and a score on the ground.
Perhaps Giants head coach Brian Daboll will take this game plan to Munich, Germany, for a matchup with the Carolina Panthers, who allow the most rushing yards and touchdowns.
On top of that, Jones and wideout Malik Nabers could have a big game through the air against Carolina's 25th-ranked pass defense.
If so, Jones could accumulate 250-plus yards passing and rushing combined while tacking on a couple of touchdowns against a team giving up the most points and yards per game.
RB Trey Benson vs. New York Jets (18 Percent Rostered)
You're looking at slim pickings among the sleeper options at running back, so managers must choose their matchups wisely for this position in Week 10.
Last week, Trey Benson racked up a career-high 55 scrimmage yards and scored his first career touchdown.
For context, the Arizona Cardinals led the Chicago Bears for a little more than three quarters of that game, which allowed them to run the ball 34 times. Arizona's running backs will likely see less action in a more competitive matchup against the New York Jets.
However, Benson, a rookie third-round pick, can build on his momentum from the previous week in a matchup with the Jets' 21st-ranked run defense.
In Week 9 against the Houston Texans, the Jets gave up 187 rushing yards, the most they have allowed in a game this season. Even though James Conner is the Cardinals' lead ball-carrier, Benson may only need eight to 10 touches for a decent fantasy stat line as the team's No. 2 running back.
RB Ray Davis at Indianapolis Colts (21 Percent Rostered)
Like Trey Benson, Ray Davis has to make the most of his opportunities in a backup role.
Since Davis filled in for James Cook as a starter in Week 6, he's only had six touches in three consecutive outings, which means the rookie running back needs big plays for a decent fantasy output.
That said, Davis has made his scattered touches count in the box score. He's scored in two of the last three games. In Week 9, he turned a short reception into a 63-yard gain for a touchdown.
This week, Davis has boom-or-bust potential in a matchup with the Indianapolis Colts' 31st-ranked run defense. If the rookie ball-carrier gets out in space, he could break away for big plays.
Remember, the Colts allowed Minnesota Vikings backup running back Cam Akers to rush for 46 yards on just six carries last week.
WR Parker Washington vs. Minnesota Vikings (4 Percent Rostered)
The Jacksonville Jaguars may need Parker Washington to fill a starting role in consecutive weeks. Jaguars wideout Christian Kirk is out for the season with a broken collarbone. Gabe Davis missed the previous outing because of a shoulder injury. Rookie Brian Thomas Jr. played through a chest injury.
Even if Davis suits up he may take on a limited workload, which would still leave Washington with enough opportunities to make an impact in the passing game.
Last week, Washington hauled in three out of six targets for 41 yards. He's eclipsed 40 receiving yards in back-to-back outings, averaging 14.5 yards per catch.
This week, Washington has a favorable matchup against the Minnesota Vikings who allow the second-most fantasy points to wide receivers and rank 28th in pass defense.
As perhaps the healthiest of the Jaguars' top wideouts in a plus matchup, Washington is a priority sleeper option in Week 10, even if quarterback Trevor Lawrence sits out because of a shoulder injury.
WR Jalen Coker vs. New York Giants (11 Percent Rostered)
By now, you should know that Xavier Legette is the Carolina Panthers' top wide receiver. At 36 percent, he's not rostered in enough leagues, but the team has a bigger sleeper option on the depth chart in undrafted rookie Jalen Coker.
Over the last two weeks, Coker has led the Panthers in receiving yards, and he scored a touchdown in Week 8.
On Tuesday, Carolina traded wideout Jonathan Mingo to the Dallas Cowboys, a positive development for Coker's fantasy outlook, especially since Adam Thielen remains out because of a hamstring injury.
When you consider quarterback Bryce Young's notable improvement in his past two starts, Coker has an appealing upside in a matchup with the New York Giants, who allow a weekly average of 27.2 fantasy points (ranked 16th) to wide receivers.
If Legette isn't available, don't hesitate to add Coker, who's been more of a big-play receiver than his rookie teammate, averaging 15.9 yards per catch.
WR Mason Tipton vs. Atlanta Falcons (1 Percent Rostered)
Derek Carr may have limited options in the passing attack. Wide receivers Rashid Shaheed (knee) and Bub Means (ankle) are on injured reserve. In the Saints' previous outing, wideout Chris Olave suffered a concussion.
Because of the Saints' cluster injuries at receiver, undrafted rookie Mason Tipton may see several targets.
When Olave sat out Week 7, Tipton led the Saints in targets (nine), hauling in six passes for 45 yards against the Denver Broncos' sixth-ranked pass defense. Moreover, he posted those numbers with rookie fifth-round quarterback Spencer Rattler under center.
This week, Tipton may have as many opportunities in the passing game as he did in Week 7, with a far better quarterback in Carr.
Also, Tipton gets a more favorable matchup against the Atlanta Falcons' 20th-ranked pass defense, which is allowing the ninth-most fantasy points to wide receivers.
TE Theo Johnson at Carolina Panthers (2 Percent Rostered)
Theo Johnson completes the Munich, Germany, sleeper stack.
Yes, the New York Giants used a run-heavy approach against the Washington Commanders in their last outing, but rookie fourth-round tight end Theo Johnson still hauled in three of his six targets for 51 yards and a touchdown.
Johnson has recorded three receptions in back-to-back weeks, and Daniel Jones targeted him 10 times in that span.
Even more encouraging for Johnson's usage is that he's been on the field for at least 85 percent of the offensive snaps in four consecutive weeks as the starting tight end.
Malik Nabers may not be the Giants' only rookie pass-catcher who has a big day against the Panthers' 25th-ranked pass defense in Germany. Carolina also allows the most fantasy points to tight ends.
TE Jonnu Smith at Los Angeles Rams (11 Percent Rostered)
Don't worry about wide receivers Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle hogging all the targets in the Miami Dolphins offense.
So far this season, quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has played in four games, and in three of those contests, Jonnu Smith has seen at least six targets. Tagovailoa has targeted him six times in consecutive games, and that streak may continue on Monday night.
The Los Angeles Rams rank 23rd in passing yards allowed, and they have surrendered 15 touchdowns through the air, tied for sixth-most leaguewide.
More importantly for Smith, the Rams give up the sixth-most fantasy points to tight ends.
For context, the Indianapolis Colts allow the fourth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Smith caught seven passes for 96 yards and a touchdown against them with Tyler Huntley and Tim Boyle under center. Tagovailoa could set up Smith for season highs across multiple receiving categories this week.
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Fantasy points scored against statistics are provided by FantasyPros.
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Maurice Moton covers the NFL for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @MoeMoton.
