GRAB BAG: Week 10

Welcome back to the Fantasy Sharks Grab Bag! It’s starting to feel like every week we’re seeing players suffer significant injuries. This past week, the likes of Daniel Jones, Dallas Goedert and Josh Downs were just a few players some of us were counting on to deliver us a fantasy victory. The season, for fantasy or NFL purposes, is a grind. After nine weeks of competition, the playoffs are not so distant. We need to get the most out of our rosters and that’s just what we’re going to do!

In terms of bye weeks, this might be the most daunting of the 2023 campaign. The Week 10 bye teams are Kansas City, Miami, Philadelphia and the Los Angeles Rams. Meaning we won’t have some elite players like Cooper Kupp, Tyreek Hill and Patrick Mahomes on whom to lean. If there’s ever a week where we need some help, it’s this week.

QB Joshua Dobbs, Minnesota

Upcoming Schedule: vs. New Orleans, at Denver, vs. Chicago

The 2023 story of Joshua Dobbs has been something magical. He was traded from Cleveland to Arizona at the very end of the preseason and tossed immediately into the starting role. Along the way, he gave good-to-great fantasy days in five of his eight starts with Arizona, highlighted by five games with at least 41 rushing yards and three total running scores. Then he was traded, mid-week, to Minnesota. Yesterday, after Jaren Hall left with concussion symptoms, he was forced onto the field, and after a rough start, he buckled down and led the team to another victory with three touchdowns (two passing, one rushing).

This week’s matchup with New Orleans doesn’t look too promising for quarterbacks but looks can be deceiving. This season, quarterbacks with more than four rushing attempts in a game have averaged 6.03 yards per carry and 49.75 rushing yards per game against New Orleans. New Orleans has also allowed two passing scores in three of its last four contests.

Dobbs is still sitting on the waiver wire in more than 80 percent of leagues. With the roll that Minnesota has been on and the favorable upcoming schedule, he could be just the guy you need to propel your squad to the playoffs.

WR Demario Douglas, New England

Upcoming Schedule: vs. Indianapolis, bye, at New York Giants

Over the past three games, Demario Douglas has been a staple in the New England passing game. In that span, he has averaged 6.7 targets and 52.7 total yards per game. The loss of Kendrick Bourne (ACL tear) gives Douglas the opportunity to maintain his productive ways as New England tries to rebound from a disappointing season thus far.

With a positive matchup against Indianapolis before heading into the bye week, fantasy managers will be taking note. Indianapolis has allowed five different wide receivers to eclipse 100 receiving yards this season and has also given up five receiving touchdowns in the last four games.

If you’re looking for some wide receiver support in Week 10, Douglas is an option you should consider. He’s unrostered in at least 65 percent of fantasy leagues and he’s seeing a lot of opportunity right now in the New England offense.

WR Khalil Shakir, Buffalo

Upcoming Schedule: vs. Denver, vs. New York Jets, at Philadelphia

In these daunting bye week scenarios, we sometimes need to take a chance on some names that might not be the shiniest of stars. Khalil Shakir fits that build as his recent usage has some folks noticing. He’s caught all 14 of his targets across the last three weeks, averaging 13.1 yards per reception. His 149 receiving yards is the second most on the team in the last two games behind only Stefon Diggs.

Scouring the waiver wire for juicy matchups is usually a good strategy. Denver is one of those teams you look for when you need a good fill-in start at any position. Before confounding the Kansas City offense in Week 8, Denver had surrendered seven passing scores in its previous four games. Pass catchers with four or more receptions against Denver in the last five weeks have averaged 12.7 yards per catch, so things are looking pretty good for Shakir.

If you’re suffering from the bye week or the injury bug, you’ve got an option at wide receiver in Shakir who can churn up big yards on any catch. He’s more than 90 percent available, making him a wonderful pickup if you don’t land your first choice when waivers initially clear.

RB Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta

Upcoming Schedule: at Arizona, bye, vs. New Orleans

Tyler Allgeier’s 12 carries against Minnesota marks the third time in five games that he equaled or surpassed Bijan Robinson in that category. He’s also averaging 14.2 carries per game in that span. As long as the usage continues, Allgeier is going to be a solid consideration for fantasy.

The next team to face Atlanta will be Arizona. Over the last six games, opposing running backs have averaged 27.5 carries and 112.2 rushing yards per game. Arizona has also surrendered four rushing scores in the last two weeks.

All-in-all, there’s likely to be more than one team in your fantasy league that’ll be in need of a running back for Week 10. Allgeier is available in around half of the leagues out there and will probably be started in many more this week.

RB Ezekiel Elliott, New England

Upcoming Schedule: vs. Indianapolis, bye, at New York Giants

When these nasty bye weeks show up, the pool of available players gets stretched out. Some of us will have to look for players who have consistent usage like Ezekiel Elliott to try and pull us through. The former Dallas star has seen between seven and 17 touches in each of the last seven weeks.

Indianapolis comes to town in Week 10 and has been giving up a ton of points lately. In three of its last four games, Indianapolis has allowed at least 37 points. Should New England get out to an early lead, the running back carries could expand enough for both Elliott and Rhamondre Stevenson to discharge some quality fantasy output. Elliott and Stevenson have accounted for all but two of the New England running back carries all season, so there’s no worry of someone else taking a chunk of the pie.

Unrostered in more than 55 percent of fantasy leagues, Elliott is one of the players who could see a decent decrease in availability right away. If any more running backs start trending towards an ‘out’ designation, he’s going to be a last-minute add for a number of teams.

TE Luke Musgrave, Green Bay

Upcoming Schedule: at Pittsburgh, vs. Los Angeles Chargers, at Detroit

At times, it seems like all of Jordan Love’s best throws go to Luke Musgrave, as he has caught 77 percent of his targets this season. Musgrave caught his first NFL touchdown and surpassed 50 receiving yards for the first time in the victory over the Los Angeles Rams. He has looked like the most reliable pass catcher in Green Bay through eight games.

Pittsburgh, who will host Green Bay in Week 10, hasn’t been the most favorable matchup for tight ends this season. However, Pittsburgh has allowed 5.5 receptions per game to the position in their last four games. For the guy who has seen 82.6 percent of the tight end targets for Green Bay since Week 5, Musgrave will see another nice share of looks from Love.

If you’re missing your surefire tight end this week for one reason or another, Musgrave is a player you can add with confidence. He’s available in over 75 percent of leagues and coming off of his biggest performance to date.

Waiver Wire Double-Check

There comes a time in every fantasy player’s season where they look at their roster and say, “oh crud! I need help!” Injuries stack up, bye weeks rear their ugly heads and you’re facing a daunting foe. Fear not and look to the waiver wire where one of your rivals had the same issue and left someone special for you to acquire. Quarterbacks, wide receivers, even kickers might be sitting there for you to procure and then rub in your opponent’s face after your assured victory. Be aggressive and keep your roster strong!

QB Russell Wilson, Denver

QB Taylor Heinicke, Atlanta

WR Rashid Shaheed, New Orleans

WR Darnell Mooney, Chicago

WR Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers

WR Tank Dell, Houston

WR Jahan Dotson, Washington

RB Keaton Mitchell, Baltimore

RB Devin Singletary, Houston

RB Antonio Gibson, Washington

RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee

TE Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee

TE Cade Otton, Tampa Bay

TE Juwan Johnson, New Orleans