It’s finally here- Week 10 of the 2023 season, and the third DraftKings main slate. We are back offering you DFS advice to try and help you navigate your way to victories throughout the season. The players selected here are based on their price, their ability to hit value and likely ownership. The selections are leaning more towards GPP slates, rather than cash (50/50) slates. But let’s get into it
Jared Goff @LAC ($6,400)
Over the last 3 weeks, Lions QB Jared Goff ranks 14th at the position in total passing attempts. Goff has thrown the ball 90 times…that’s 1 more than Geno Smith, 10 more than Lamar Jackson, and only 2 less than Jalen Hurts. In a vacuum, these numbers are fairly unremarkable, but there’s one other stat line I’ve missed out here…games played. Unlike Geno, Lamar and Hurts; the Lions signal caller has only played twice since week 7 due to Detroit’s bye last weekend. The former No.1 pick is averaging 45 attempts per game in his last 3 outings, only the Commanders Sam Howell is throwing more, and now Detroit welcomes back star running back David Montgomery to the fold. With Monty returning to the backfield, Goff’s passing opportunities are bound to regress – but whilst overall attempts may come down, Goff should see more time and space in the pocket as opposing defenses line up in an attempt to slow down the potent Lions runs game. Nobody allows more yards or fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks than the Chargers – at only $6400 and with a full arsenal of weapons at his disposal, Goff presents outstanding value on the slate.
Geno Smith v WAS ($5,800)
There’s no sugar coating Geno’s performance last week…it was absolutely brutal. The 11th year veteran completed only 46% of his passes for a miserable 157 yards and no scores. To make matters worse, Smith was picked off early in the 2nd quarter before losing a fumble right before half time. Geno will be a HUGE fade this weekend, his 4.7 fantasy points total last weekend against the Ravens being enough to put any fantasy manager off for life…but don’t be fooled! Geno hasn’t reached the dizzy heights of last season just yet, but against a Commanders defense that ranks bottom 5 in passing yards and fantasy points to opposing QBs, he should easily register only his 2nd QB1 finish on the year. Against this very porous Washington unit, the Hawks will be swooping in for the kill. at only $5800 and coming off his worst game of the season, Geno is a prime bounce back candidate and will lead a high % of my lineups this weekend.
Also consider Joe Burrow v HOU ($6,800) & Sam Howell @ SEA ($5,900)
David Montgomery @LAC ($6,700)
After the breakout performance of Jahmy Gibbs in week 8, fantasy managers could be forgiven for their hesitation to roster David Montgomery to their line-ups, especially this week with the former Bear making his first appearance since suffering a rib injury back in week 6. On the season, in games where David Montogomery has been fully healthy, he is averaging 20.2 fantasy points- that is behind only CMC, Alvin Kamara Travis Etienne and De’Von Achane. The Chargers run defense is middle of the pack, but their inability to stop opposing QBs will have Jared Goff guiding his offense to the red zone plenty of times at SoFi this Sunday. The Lions are 3.5 point favourites in the highest O/U on the slate – let others sleep on Monty and take advantage of his discounted price tag before it goes back up next week.
James Conner v ATL ($5,900)
Would you prefer to roster an RB with a similar narrative to David Montgomery but want to save $800? May I present you with the Arizona Cardinals James Conner! The 7th year back out of Pitt returns to lead the Arizona ground attack for the first time since a knee injury knocked him out of the Cardinals week 5 loss to the Bengals. After the minimum 4-game stint on injured reserve, Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon noted that his lead back was “good to go”, and barring any last minute setbacks Conner will be fully elevated before Saturday’s 4pm deadline. Conner’s return coincides with that of the Cardinals franchise quarterback (for now at least) Kyler Murray, making his first appearance of the year following the ACL injury that ended his season last December. Conner finished as the RB10 last season when playing alongside Murray, expect the two to pick up where they left off and don’t let that big red IR tag scare you, JC will be great this week.
Rachaad White v TEN ($5,800)
When. Will. They. Fix. The. Pricing. On. Rachaad. White? Last week I noted that White was “grossly underpriced” at $5600; the sophomore back in Tampa Bay happily proved me right by going off for 119 total yards and two touchdowns for a season high 27.9 fantasy points. This week White is priced up a whole $200 as the Bucs return home to face the 3-5 Tennessee Titans at the Raymond James. I get it, Tennessee is tough to run on, but that’s not where White truly makes his mark. In his last 3 outings White has rushed 42 times for 146 yards; elite usage with a fairly unremarkable return, but through the air, White has hauled in all 17 of his targets for 181 yards…that’s only 5 yards short of Alvin Kamara. White’s receiving numbers alone would be enough to mark him as the WR25 in that 3-week period; and that is without any receiving touchdowns. Yes, the wheels will come off the Rachaad White Express at some time, but until they do or his pricing goes upwards of $6500, I am riding this train until the end of the line…choo choo.
Also consider Joe Mixon v HOU ($6,200), Bijan Robinson @ AZ ($6,000) & Alexander Mattison v NO ($5,500)
Deebo Samuel @JAX ($6,200)
This is a big week for big names returning to action from injury; alongside running backs Montgomery and Conner, fantasy managers get to welcome Deebo Samuel back with open arms as a name to consider for their lineups. Deebo is a “full go” according to 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan, with the star wideout appearing to be fully recovered from a hairline fracture in his shoulder. Samuel left the 49ers week 6 matchup against the Browns early on with his team leading 7-0; the 49ers would go on to lose the game and haven’t held a lead since in Deebo’s absence. San Fran are on a 3-game slide and now travel east to face a Jacksonville Jaguars team who have won their last 5. The Jags rank in the bottom third for total yards, touchdowns and fantasy points given up to opposing wide receivers – expect Deebo to announce his return in a big way, and at $900 cheaper than Brandon Aiyuk, he’s the 49ers wideout I want to own this weekend.
Tyler Lockett v WAS ($6,100)
As a D.K. Metcalf owner everywhere, this one pains me. On the season Tyler Lockett has more targets, receptions and touchdowns than his fellow wideout, and if it wasn’t for Metcalf’s solitary 50 yard grab last week, they would be practically even in yardage as well. Something isn’t right between D.K. and his quarterback Geno Smith, the targets feel forced and aren’t resulting in any serious plays being made – the complete opposite can be said for Smith and his relationship with the veteran Lockett. Smith is connecting with both Lockett and rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba on 67% of passes, but only 56% with Metcalf. The volume is there for Lockett, and he is a full $700 cheaper than the man HC Pete Caroll calls “The Mandalorian”. Against a Washington defense that ranks dead last against receivers for total fantasy points, Lockett is a safe bet to get it done and a much more astute play than D.K. this Sunday…this is the way.
DeAndre Hopkins @TB ($6,000)
Who would have thought that all it would take to return DeAndre Hopkins to the world of fantasy relevance was a day 2 rookie quarterback who eats unpeeled bananas and puts mayonnaise in his coffee. Bizarre dietary habits aside, Levis has breathed life back into the Tennessee passing game, most notably their star receiver. Nuk came back down to earth slightly in week 9 after his 3-touchdown in Levis’ debut some 10 days prior, hauling in only 4 of his 11 targets for 60 yards against the Steelers. Whilst the output may not have been what fantasy managers were hoping for, it is hard to feel too downbeat at the opportunities. Hopkins’ 11 targets were 3rd on the week behind only Garrett Wilson and CeeDee Lamb – the chances will be there for the former Clemson Tiger and against a Bucs passing defense ranked 31st against receivers, this week should be a bounce back for the veteran wideout.
Also consider Terry McLaurin @SEA ($5,800), Drake London @AZ ($5,500) & Diontae Johnson v GB ($5,400)
Sam LaPorta @LAC ($5,700)
I have been trying to trade for the rookie tight end everywhere…unsuccessfully I might add. LaPorta is on pace for 91 receptions, 922 yards and 8 touchdowns; a mark that would see him finish his maiden campaign with the 3rd most successful season by a rookie tight end of all time. Dalton Kincaid may have been drafted ahead of LaPorta, and in the long run could prove to have the better career – but there is no debating which of the two has been a more useful fantasy asset in the opening 9 weeks of the year. LaPorta should be fresh off the Lions bye week and now gets to go against a Chargers unit that ranks 29th against the position. Detroit are back to full strength on offense with the return of David Montgomery, which should open up more space in the passing game. The rookie out of Iowa is yet to top 100 yards in his short career – I wouldn’t bet against him doing just that at SoFi on Sunday.
Dalton Schultz @CIN ($4,900)
Since week 4 Dalton Schultz has been the TE6, what makes this more impressive from the former Cowboy is that of those 6 tight ends, he is the only one to endure his bye week in that stretch. Adjusted to points per game, Schultz would be the TE3 behind only Travis Kelce and Mark Andrews. Last week’s performance against Tampa Bay was a career day for the Stanford alum, his 31 fantasy points the most he has posted in his 6 years in the league. I am in no way suggesting you should expect another 30+ points from Schultz in Cincinnati on Sunday, but against a Bengals team ranked dead last against the position, I wouldn’t be surprised. With Nico Collins missing out through injury, expect C.J. Stroud to lean on his 6’5” tight end even more than usual.
Also consider Logan Thomas @SEA ($3,800) & Trey McBride v ATL ($3,500)
Dallas Cowboys v NYG ($4,400)
What happens when you take the worst offense in the league and put them up against the best defense…well, we’re going to find out on Sunday as the Tommy DeVito led Giants travel to Dallas to face their divisional rivals. Take your pick of the stats as to why you should start the Cowboys DST this week. On a points per game basis, nobody is out-scoring the men from Arlington, no team has allowed more sacks than the G-Men, DeVito is an undrafted rookie and New York’s 3rd string quarterback, in the reverse fixture in week 1 the Cowboys destroyed the Giants 40-0 on their own turf. This is going to be a bloodbath. Outside of penalties or freak plays, I don’t see how the Giants put points on the board this week – it feels ridiculous to even type it, but this Dallas DST could legitimately score more than the 37 points they put up in week 1 – this could be one for the ages.
Green Bay Packers @PIT ($3,400)
If for some reason you aren’t rolling with the Cowboys DST this weekend, the Green Bay Packers are an attractive pivot play at a full $1000 cheaper. Somehow this Steelers team are sitting at 5-3 on the season and have overcome divisional rivals Baltimore along the way. Despite both running backs having now finally found the end zone (it only took 7 weeks), the Steelers run game is still incredibly pedestrian; ranking in the bottom 6 on total touchdowns and 5th worst in total yards. Kenny Pickett has yet to eclipse 250 yards in any game this season, and has thrown only 2 passing touchdowns in the last 5 weeks. Not to out-do the running game, the Steelers passing offense ranks T-28th in team touchdowns, 29th in total yards and 27th in completion rate. If you can’t squeeze in Dallas at $4400, the Packers make an excellent alternative with a massive upside.
Also consider San Francisco 49ers @JAX ($3,600) & Arizona Cardinals v ATL ($2,500)
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Image Credit: Raj Mehta – USA TODAY Sports
