Good morning. Is there a drug or brain surgery Jets fans can have that will permanently prevent them from thinking about how Josh Dobbs was available for a sixth round pick, but the team decided to roll with Zach Wilson?

Dobbs didn't know most of his Vikings teammates' full names. He had never taken a snap from their center. None of their receivers had caught a practice pass from him… Maybe it helped that Dobbs - a rocket scientist - graduated Aerospace Engineering with a 4.0 average and has interned for NASA twice?

If you loved watching Dobbs, consider donating to his foundation. Dobbs is also the founder of the ASTROrdinary Dobbs Foundation where he supports youth and community members through empowerment, raises money for them and hosts football camps.

You can watch a breakdown of his Week 9 performance here 👇️ 

TRIVIA

RANKINGS

C.J. Stroud rises to QB9. He posted the most passing yards in NFL history by a rookie (470) and added 5 TDs in a last-second win on Sunday. Stroud is on pace for 4,800+ yards and 30 TDs this season (per @17gamepace).

Bijan Mustardson falls to RB12. When compared to Tyler Allgeier, Bijan has a better short-yardage success rate, explosive rush rate (and pretty much any other stat you can think of) per Jacob Gibbs. Naturally, Arthur Smith gives Bijan a sub-50% RB rush share in 4 of his last 5 games, per @LateRoundQB. Robinson is also losing goal line work to both Allgeier and Jonnu Smith, because Arthur Smith KNOWS FOOTBALL.

Our rest-of-season 0.5 PPR rankings were updated early this morning 👇️ 

WAIVER WIRE

Running Back

Yup, it’s time to overpay for Keaton Mitchell. Prior to Sunday’s games, we listed the Ravens RB as our No. 1 stash (just like we did with De’Von Achane before Week 4’s breakout). Back in Week 4, we included Mitchell as a deep dive (scroll for today’s deep dives):

In Week 5’s Buys and Sells, we said we’re “still stashing Mitchell” who could “carve out a significant role”. In Week 7 Waivers, we said “Mitchell could be [the Ravens] best runner, so stash where you can”. So when we listed Mitchell as our No. 1 stash, you listened. And it paid off! Mitchell finished as the Ravens’ leading rusher with a career-high 138 yards on just nine carries…

The rookie’s big-play potential makes him one of the rare players who can win a league if given the right opportunity, and Jim Harbaugh said Mitchell at least has a chance to win the job: “Those three backs are gonna be all playing a lot… I’m sure there will be a rotation”. A rotation until Mitchell wins the role?

Here are Week 10’s less sexy RB waiver claims:

• Leonard Fournette: “Buffalo desperately needs a better back than Latavius Murray to balance with James Cook and spare Josh Allen some punishment in short-yardage scenarios. The underrated vet has been a productive pass catcher in recent years”, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros.

• Ty Chandler was relegated when the Vikings acquired Cam Akers from the Rams. Unfortunately, Akers suffered another Achilles injury, making the explosive Chandler again a handcuff option.

• Rico Dowdle remains Tony Pollard’s No. 1 handcuff and someone worth a bench spot almost everywhere.

• Kendre Miller is Kamara’s backup and should be rostered as well.

Wide Receiver

Tank Dell should not have been available but is the No. 1 add of the week if so. After the Bengals’ strong secondary in Week 10, he has three cakewalk matchups against Arizona, Jacksonville, and Denver, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros.

Demario Douglas led all Patriots WRs in snaps and ran a route on 38 of 46 pass plays, which also led the team. “His production was modest, but you have to like the role with a young, ascending player”, per Chris Towers of CBS. After his Week 11 bye, Douglas’ schedule opens up with matchups in Week 13 & 14 against the Chargers and Steelers, who have allowed the fifth-most and 11th-most receiving yards, respectively, to slot wide receivers (per Fantasy Points Data).

Zay Jones finished as the WR18 for the week with 55 receiving yards and a score in his one fully healthy game (Week 1). He’s now reportedly healthy and could see a return to his prior role.

Khalil Shakir kept it going in Week 9, catching all four of his targets for 57 yards. With Dawson Knox out at least two more weeks, fire up Shakir - the Bills’ starting slot receiver - in a plus matchup against Denver in Week 10.

Jalen Tolbert is an intriguing deep league play, given how open the WR2 role is in Dallas. Tolbert posted 4-49-1 on a season-high 5 targets. He’s made huge strides after a disappointing rookie season.

Quentin Johnston again is listed with Josh Palmer on the IR because… why? He’s barely shown anything, first round WRs bust all the time and I’m sick of starting him in my deep keeper league! Avoid.

We’re not falling for Noah Brown, who had his stats inflated due to one long TD run.

QB & TE

What Josh Dobbs did is incredible. With an improve set of weapons from his Arizona days, and Justin Jefferson potentially returning in the next few weeks (he's eligible to come off IR in Week 10, though it doesn't necessarily seem likely), combined with a scrambling ability (66 yards rushing in Week 9), Dobbs should be added everywhere. He finished QB4 last week.

Baker Mayfield has quietly posted back to back top-10 performances. He’s the QB16 in fantasy PPG, and ranks 15th in both QBR and PFF passing grade. Comeback Player of the Year potential?

Taylor Heinicke has a friendly matchup next week (@Ari) if you need a QB streamer. Damn it’s a rough week for waivers.

Hunter Henry finished Week 9 with a 15.9% target share as he got into the end zone for the third time this season. Henry’s 88% snap share was his highest mark since Week 2, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros. With the WR-room depleted, Henry again becomes a top target for Mac Jones.

Cade Otton has had four games with at least six targets and has surpassed 40 receiving yards three times. He is averaging 97% of snaps, which leads the entire NFL. He rarely leaves the field, putting him in the rare position to always have an opportunity.

Jonnu Smith, again, should be rostered in most leagues because Arthur Smith is a wild, unpredictable man. And because Jonnu Smith is good at football.

D/ST

Seahawks: The Seattle defense entered Week 9 ranked second in fantasy points per game (10.1), and in Week 10 it will face Washington, which has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing defenses, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros.

Raiders: The Raiders’ matchup against the Jets in Week 10 is an attractive one. The Jets are giving up 8.6 fantasy points per game to opposing defenses. Jets QB Zach Wilson has taken 21 sacks in his six starts and has thrown multiple TD passes in only one game this season, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros.

Panthers: Face the Bears, who entered Week 9 having given up the third-most fantasy points to team defenses. It’s not clear whether Bears QB Justin Fields will be ready to return from his thumb injury on Thursday night, but the Bears are an appealing matchup regardless of whether it’s Fields or backup Tyson Bagent, per Pat Fitzmaurice of FantasyPros.

Colts: A solid streaming option this week against the Patriots, who had allowed the second-most fantasy points to team defense entering Week 9. Patriots QB Mac Jones has thrown nine interceptions in nine starts.

DEEP DIVES

Tillman Trending 📈

The idea is you pick up players the week before everyone adds them off the waiver wire. Last week, the perfect pickup was Keaton Mitchell.

CLE WR Cedric Tillman (0.2%) has taken over the Donovan Peoples-Jones role for the Browns, playing 43 of 51 snaps on Sunday (2nd most among WRs). While the rookie had only one reception, he’s a big body receiver (6’3” 215lbs) who made plays downfield during the preseason (video). If Deshaun Watson finds his groove, Tillman could be a massive beneficiary (think Will Fuller in HOU).

TEN WR Kyle Philips (0.1%) only played 30% of the snaps but still managed to see a 12.8% target share and led the Titans in receiving yards. Still on 24, Philips has room to improve. With Treylon Burks in concussion protocol and Will Levis slinging it, Philips could see a bump.

ATL WR KhaDarel Hodge (0.1%) led all Falcons wideouts in snaps (46) and yards (3-60) on Sunday with Drake London (groin) and Mack Hollins (ankle) sidelined. If London and/or Hollins are out next week, Hodge could be a deep-league streamer against a putrid Cardinals secondary.

MIN WR Brandon Powell (3.4%) scored the game-winning TD for the Vikings on Sunday and could be the de facto WR2 for the Vikings with Justin Jefferson still on IR and K.J. Osborn in concussion protocol.

PHI TE Albert Okwuegbunam (0.1%) could see some work with Dallas Goedert having forearm surgery. Albert O, the former Broncos 4th round pick, looks like Gronk with the football: he is 6’5” and has 4.49 speed (tied for the 4th fastest TE in Combine history). He had a monster preseason finale vs the Rams with 7 catches, 109 yards and 1 TD.

QUICK SLANTS

📖 Read Why Dynasty Picks Aren’t As Valuable As You Think ($) by Jeff Haverlack of The Athletic before you start your dynasty tank. Jeff includes the last 15 years of dynasty picks and their hit rates. It’s not fun to be reminded of Trent Richardson or Beanie Wells, but sometimes it has to be done.

📖 Read 6 Important Fantasy Football Questions After Week 9 ($) by KC Joyner of The Athletic. Joyner answers: Is now the time to sell high on Week 9 standouts Tee Higgins and Jake Ferguson?

📖 Read The Market Report: 2023 Week 10 by the Fantasy Points staff. Things appear to be trending up for Jonathan Taylor.

Taylor’s snap share has risen in each of his five games (15%<42%<50%<61%<74%), and he’s been active as receiver for Gardner Minshew with 3+ catches and 8+ FP as a receiver in three of his last four games. 👀 

📖 Read NFL Week 9 Recap by Nathan Jahnke of PFF. On the Browns backfield.

• The backfield has been in flux due to Kareem Hunt’s return to the team followed by injuries to both Hunt and Jerome Ford, but things seem to have stabilized.

• The two split snaps on early downs. There was a slight tendency toward Hunt in short-yardage situations while Ford was the clear passing-down back.

• Pierre Strong can be dropped.

🎙️Listen to 19 Players to Add or Drop by Alfredo Brown and Jagger May of the FootballGuys. Listen to why Kenneth Gainwell may be worth a speculative add.

🎙️Listen to Week 9 Fantasy Football Recap by the Roto Street Journal. They also give waiver wire advice and key injury updates.

📺️ Watch Raiders’ Coach Pierce's Locker Room Victory Speech vs. Giants. Like Broncos fans in 2010, these Raiders seem happier without Josh McDaniels.

Tweet of the Day

Before we go, send your well wishes to Cam Akers, whose career is in jeopardy after tearing his other achilles tendon. Just another reminder of how short NFL careers can be — especially for running backs.

- Jake, Eddie, Marcus & Sean

Get Some Merch