DFS Alerts
Devonta Freeman isn't expected to play Week 11
Freeman suffered his second concussion of the season against the Cowboys Sunday. Adam Schefter and Chris Mortensen report the running back isn’t expected to be cleared in time to play next Monday night and added it’s possible he’ll be out for an extended period of time. That will give Tevin Coleman the start against the Seahawks, whose defense is limiting RBs to the fourth-fewest PPR points. He turned a season-high 21 touches into 85 yards and a score against Dallas in Week 10.
Other tagged players: Tevin Coleman
Emmanuel Sanders, Danny Amendola, Martellus Bennett all active; Hogan, Gillislee, Jordan Taylor all inactive for SNF
In case you were awaiting the status of Sanders, he’s officially active against New England. Demaryius Thomas is still the preferred target between the two. Gillislee’s absence at least closes the rotation down to three, but James White is really the only back with much DFS viability given his pass-catching role against a very stout Denver run defense.
Other tagged players: Mike Gillislee, Chris Hogan, Jordan Taylor
Dez Bryant officially active Week 10
The receiver doesn’t line up on CB Desmond Trufant’s side often which should mostly leave him with Robert Alford, PFF’s 69th-ranked cover corner. Despite picking up 11 looks against the Chiefs, Bryant finished with six catches for 73 scoreless yards. While the yards haven’t been there for Bryant yet this season, he’s averaging 9.5 targets per game. On top of that, he’s second in the league with 14 red zone targets and eight looks inside the ten-yard line. He should continue to pick up opportunities in scoring position against a middle-of-the-pack Falcons RZ defense allowing a touchdown on 52% of their opponent’s trips inside the 20 (14th). Bryant could also be a beneficiary of Ezekiel Elliott’s absence as the Cowboys may end up passing more than normal.
Giants DE Olivier Vernon, LB Jonathan Casillas, and RT Justin Pugh active Week 10
The Giants will get a nice boost on defense with Vernon, Casillas, and CB Janoris Jenkins back in the lineup. Vernon hasn’t played since getting hurt in Week 4. He played well in his first three games, ranking 23rd among edge defenders in pass rushing productivity during that span, and picking up four run stops (17th). The Giants, who are now sitting in 24th in adjusted sack rate, are hoping Vernon can help them get after the C.J. Beathard this afternoon. The 49ers offensive line is definitely an exploitable one, they’ve allowed the fourth-most pressures this season (per PFF).
Rams LB Robert Quinn, Justin Davis, and Malcolm Brown inactive Week 10; Lance Dunbar will suit up
Dunbar will make his season debut and serve as Todd Gurley’s backup this afternoon with Davis and Brown sidelined. He probably won’t take too many touches away though. While the Texans pass defense has really struggled, they’ve held RBs to the fewest PPR points per game. They’re sixth in rush DVOA and fourth in adjusted line yards. At the complete opposite end of the spectrum, they’re giving up the most fantasy points to QBs, setting up a nice spot for Jared Goff. Texans CB Kevin Johnson has earned the lowest PFF cover grade this season and he’ll match up with Sammy Watkins. The receiver hasn’t picked up a ton of volume this season, currently in fourth on the team with 31 targets, but with Robert Woods busy with CB Jonathan Joseph, PFF’s 14th cover corner, he could turn things around today. Quinn has played a ton of snaps for the Rams this season but he’s only earned the 42nd pass rushing productivity rate among edge defenders this season. While his absence may be a slight downgrade, as a unit, the Rams are sixth in adjusted sack rate and the Texans offensive line is dead last in pass blocking efficiency. The Rams D/ST should still find success against this Tom Savage-led unit.
Martellus Bennett expected to play Week 10
Bennett is dealing with a torn rotator cuff and a torn labrum but he’s expected to suit up tonight against the Broncos. Although he should make a relatively easy transition into the offense considering he was with the team a season ago, he probably won’t make much of an impact behind Rob Gronkowski.
Vikings DE Everson Griffen inactive Week 10
The Redskins offensive line is healthy with all five starters active while the Vikings will be without Griffen, who’s currently third in the league with 10 sacks. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken the most sacks in the league (10) over the past two weeks and he’s been under pressure on 38.3% of his dropbacks, the fourth-most. However, a healthier line should limit the Vikings D/ST upside. It’s still a tough matchup for Cousins from a fantasy perspective though, Minnesota’s pass defense is fourth in yards per attempt (6.4) and eighth in passer rating (81.2). Not surprisingly, they’ve limited QBs to the fourth-fewest fantasy points this season.
Tyler Boyd inactive Week 10; John Ross and K Randy Bullock will suit up
Boyd is healthy but the Bengals have decided to go with Ross over him today. Ross will likely rotate in with Josh Malone behind A.J. Green and Brandon LaFell, so he won’t have much fantasy appeal. Green is in a nice spot though. The Titans rank 22nd in pass DVOA and have permitted the seventh-most scores through the air (1.9/g). Since 2015, quarterback Andy Dalton has tossed 1.7 touchdowns per game when away, a 0.5 touchdown bump over his production at home. His go-to receiver Green will square off with A’doree’ Jackson, who’s allowed the tenth-most touchdowns this season (3). As a unit, the Titans are tenth in WR1 DVOA but allow the eighth-most passes to the position (8.4, per FO). Green’s $7.9k price tag on FanDuel puts him in fifth among receivers in our points-per-dollar projections.
Other tagged players: John Ross, A.J. Green Dion Sims and LB Danny Trevathan inactive Week 10
He’s been dealing with an illness all week and it’s apparently enough to keep him sidelined today. As a result, rookie Adam Shaheen will be thrust into the top tight end role against the Packers this afternoon. Although he hasn’t played much this season and has only attracted one target so far, he could jump right into an active role in the passing game given the state of Chicago’s receiving corps. Unfortunately for him, the Packers have shut down tight ends this season, limiting them to the fewest PPR points per game.
Other tagged players: Adam Shaheen, Chicago Bears Kenny Golladay and LT Taylor Decker active Week 10; RG T.J. Lang and DE Ziggy Ansah out
Golladay will finally make his return. He’ll man the WR3 role but he could be limited in some capacity and lose plays to T.J. Jones. When on the field, Golladay will have a better matchup than teammates Marvin Jones, who will likely be stuck under Jason McCourty’s shadow, and Golden Tate, who will matchup with Briean Boddy-Calhoun in the slot. Both corners have earned top 12 cover grades from PFF. It leaves Golladay with Jamar Taylor, who’s allowed the fifth-most yards per cover snap (1.58, per PFF) and the third-highest passer rating (123.6). Lang entered the concussion protocol earlier this week and won’t be cleared in time to play. His absence is a huge loss as he’s PFF’s seventh-ranked guard and fourth in pass protection. Fortunately, they will get Taylor Decker back, who had an impressive rookie campaign last year, earning the 25th-best tackle grade by PFF grading. While Cleveland’s pass rush hasn’t been tremendous, checking in at 23rd in adjusted sack rate (per FO), Detroit’s offensive line is 26th in pass-blocking efficiency this season with Lang starting seven of eight games. Quarterback Matt Stafford has been under pressure on 37.6% of his dropbacks, the ninth-most in the league, and he’s taken the second-most sacks (26). Lang is also 12th in run blocking. As a unit, Detroit is dead last in adjusted line yards (2.88), so Lang’s absence will make it even harder for Ameer Abdullah to find running room. Cleveland’s strong point as been its run defense his season, they’re currently second in adjusted yards (2.92), first in rush DVOA, and allowing the seventh-fewest PPR points to RBs.
Other tagged players: Detroit Lions Jets CB Morris Claiborne, DL Muhammad Wilkerson, and ArDarius Stewart active Week 10; Matt Forte officially out
With Mike Evans out, Claiborne will likely chase the speedy DeSean Jackson around the field, who runs a 4.35 40-yard dash while Claiborne clocked a 4.5. The last time Claiborne tried to handle a guy with that type of speed was Brandin Cooks and the receiver finished with six catches for 93 yards. Outside of that game, Claiborne has been solid for the Jets – he’s posted an impressive 50% catch rate, 0.73 yards per cover snap, and he hasn’t conceded a touchdown yet. Quarterback Ryan Fitzpatrick isn’t one to shy away from tough matchups though, he’ll likely challenge the cornerback all game by sending plenty of targets Jackson’s way and the receiver may have the wheels to beat Claiborne. Powell is expected to start in Forte’s place but he’ll likely be in a timeshare with Elijah McGuire, who out-snapped Powell 20-15 last week and out-touched him 14-9. Even so, Powell should take over most of the receiving work. Forte averaged 5.8 receptions per game over the past four weeks while Powell added 2.3 during the same stretch. That alone presents promising volume against a Tampa Bay defense that ranks 29th in receiving RB DVOA (per FO) and gives up the third-most PPR points per game to the position while posting bottom-11 numbers in RB receptions, receiving yards, and receiving touchdowns. Powell should be able to find success on the ground when given the opportunity as the Bucs rank 17th in adjusted line yards (4.14, per FO) and have given up the fifth-most rushing TDs to the position (0.88/g). Powell is just $4.0k on DraftKings this week and will likely be a chalky option. Stewart will fill in for the suspended Jeremy Kerley. He probably won’t have a huge role as Kerley’s absence vacates just 3.4 targets per game.
Other tagged players: DeSean Jackson Buccaneers CB Brent Grimes active Week 10, CB Robert McClain out
McClain’s absence should force Vernon Hargreaves to the outside where he’ll battle Jermaine Kearse the most. Grimes will mainly line up across from Robby Anderson. Hargreaves has allowed the ninth-most receptions (32) and the seventh-most yards per cover snap (1.54). Kearse has averaged 42 yards per game this season and he hasn’t caught more than four passes since Week 1, so he may not be able to exploit the matchup. Grimes has allowed a 66% catch rate and 1.28 yards per cover snap this season which would be the 18th-most if he had enough snaps to qualify, setting up a nice spot for Anderson. He also has volume concerns but he’s scored in three straight games and offers a bigger ceiling than Kearse as displayed in his Week 6 performance against the Falcons in which he posted a 6/104/1 line. As a unit, the Bucs are 31st in pass DVOA and giving up the second-most PPR points to WRs.
Other tagged players: Jermaine Kearse, Robbie Chosen Bills CB E.J. Gaines inactive Week 10, Charles Clay will suit up
Gaines’ absence should help Michael Thomas as he will now primarily match up with the weaker Shareece Wright. While Thomas hasn’t had any “big” games this season, he’s provided a nice floor most weeks with 5-8 catches in all but one game and 65-89 yards in six of eight. With Ted Ginn busy with Tre’Davious White, PFF’s ninth cover corner, Thomas could have his breakout. Wright has allowed 1.63 yards per cover snap which would be the fourth-most if he qualified and his cover snaps per reception rate would be the third-worst (7.8, per PFF).
Other tagged players: Michael Thomas Jamison Crowder and all five starting offensive linemen officially active for Redskins Week 10
It’s a tough spot for Crowder as he’ll battle Terrence Newman in the slot; the CB has limited receivers to the 12th-fewest yards per cover snap (0.95) when lined up inside and a solid 59% catch rate – which is low for slot corners. The receiver had posted his best game of the year in Week 8, hauling in nine balls for 123 yards on 13 targets, and he’ll try to pick things up where he left off. Jordan Reed is inactive, as expected. That’ll keep Vernon Davis in the TE1 role against the Vikings this afternoon. He drew nine targets last week while Reed was inactive and hauled in six for 79 yards. However, with Crowder back, he may not see as many looks this time around. Minnesota has held tight ends to the eighth-fewest yards this season (45/g) but rank 20th in DVOA against the position. The Vikings rank seventh in adjusted sack rate, so having healthier line will be very important for the Redskins offense. Vikings DE Everson Griffen, who’s third in sacks this season (10), is inactive, providing another boost. With all of the injuries up front the past two weeks, quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken the most sacks in the league (10) and he’s been under pressure on 38.3% of his dropbacks, the fourth-most. He should have more time in the pocket today but it remains a tough matchup. The Vikings pass defense is fourth in yards per attempt (6.4) and eighth in passer rating (81.2). Not surprisingly, they’ve limited QBs to the fourth-fewest fantasy points this season.
Entire Redskins starting offensive line expected "to be available if needed"
Considering the Vikings are seventh in adjusted sack rate, it would appear they’re needed this afternoon. With all of the injuries up front the past two weeks, quarterback Kirk Cousins has taken the most sacks in the league (10) and he’s been under pressure on 38.3% of his dropbacks, the fourth-most. A healthier line should give him more time in the pocket but it remains a tough matchup. The Vikings pass defense is fourth in yards per attempt (6.4) and eighth in passer rating (81.2). Not surprisingly, they’ve limited QBs to the fourth-fewest fantasy points this season.
As reported by: Ian Rapoport Other tagged players: Kirk Cousins