FANTASY FOOTBALL PICKUP WATCH (WEEK 10)
Ourlads’ Football Network host Greg DePalma and RotoExperts.com managing director Scott Engel get together each week to discuss who’s hot, who’s not and who’s hurt in fantasy football, as Scott offers start/sit advice and top targets for pickup.
Listen to Thursday’s OFN Today for this week’s evaluation and advice. Scott’s full analysis can be found at RotoExperts.com.
QUARTERBACK
Nick Mullens, 49ers: From a year and a half on San Fran’s practice squad directly into the starting lineup, Mullens hardly took a misstep as the 49ers routed Oakland last week. That earned him another start, and perhaps more if he can continue to move the chains better than C.J. Beathard showed. He faces a hot-and-cold Giants defense next, then the woeful Bucs.
RUNNING BACK
Duke Johnson, Browns: The trade of Carlos Hyde was thought to open doors for Nick Chubb, but Cleveland’s change in offense coordinators seems to have boosted Johnson. New playcaller Freddie Kitchens wants QB Baker Mayfield to get the ball out quickly to his to backs, and Johnson is a better receiver out of the backfield. Last week’s nine grabs may not be an outlier.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Patriots: Who knows how long it lasts, but Bill Belichick’s gambit to put Patterson at RB paid off with 61 yards on 11 carries. The Vikings and Raiders never quite figured out how to utilize his abilities, but as long as rookie Sony Michel and James White are dealing with knee injuries, Patterson suddenly becomes an intriguing option.
WIDE RECEIVER
Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Packers: The rookie’s role already was starting to grow before Geronimo Allison went on IR with a core-muscle injury. Sunday night’s three catches for 101 yards marked the second time in three games that MVS reached triple digits, and before that run he had seven grabs for 68 yards vs. Detroit.
TIGHT END
Logan Thomas, Bills: Charles Clay’s ongoing hamstring injury seems to bode well for Thomas, who caught seven of eight balls thrown his way vs. Chicago. Those were his first catches since Week 6, but under the circumstances QB Nathan Peterman doesn’t mind looking his direction. Those eight targets last week tripled his season opportunities.
DEFENSE
Giants: Consider this the opposite side of the Nick Mullens coin, but no one will blame you for wondering whether Mullens and the 49ers can create fantasy havoc two weeks in a row. Before that performance, they chalked up 14 sacks and 14 turnovers in the previous four outings. The Giants are slightly better than what the Raiders showed, and they’re rested after a bye week.
Also from RotoExperts:
Fantasy trade guide
Week 10 waiver runs
Week 10 injury update