Welcome to Overreaction Monday: Week 10, where we dissect the biggest narratives from the NFL season. Week 9 gave us plenty to respond to… so let’s get into it and overreact.
JSN Is A-OK Sans DK in SEA
Sadly, this one isn’t completely true… but it should be.
DK Metcalf is the half-ppr WR18 on the year. And that’s with missing the past two games. It’s possible Metcalf returns after a Week 10 bye, but that’s not yet been decided.
Regardless, Jaxon Smith-Njigba had struggled to break out this season. Until this week that is:
https://twitter.com/hawkmania4/status/1853248365964022074
JSN dominated the target share this week, but the difference is that he converted that share into a massive 180 yards and 2 TDs. The Rams can be had through the air no doubt, but with Arizona twice over their next four matchups, the Hawks don’t face a fearsome schedule by any means.
Further, Seattle’s defense hasn’t been great, so there’s room for JSN to eat when DK returns as well.
While I don’t love the number of mouths in the offense, I do believe in Geno Smith and Ryan Grubb to keep JSN relevant. That means I view him as a locked in back-end WR2, even when DK returns.
Bottom Line: If Metcalf remains out, JSN could still thrive in plus matchups trying to make up for a bad defense. If Metcalf returns, I still like Smith-Njigba, even if he lacks elite upside
Danny Dimes Is a Premier Rushing QB
You should already know this is the case.
Daniel Jones is just the QB18 though the season’s first 9 weeks. And that’s with no bye week for the G-Men. But what has kept Jones afloat through even his down passing weeks is his rushing upside. This week, it all came together as a high-end QB1:
http://twitter.com/IamEliRacks/status/1853191355591278963
Jones did it all on the ground, going for 54 yards on 7 rushes and the score above. He’s an absolute menace on the ground, and the Giants need him to be to be successful. Even in a down year with zero chance at making the playoffs, Jones’s rushing keeps the Giants in games.
Jones is currently pacing for the second-most attempts and yards of his career on the ground. And with no clear goal line back in the mix, New York should consider letting him run wild in close more often. This is especially true since few expect Jones to stick on the Giants much longer.
Bottom Line: Jones’s weekly rushing floor makes him a safe fantasy start. He’s not elite, but has the weekly potential to spike when he scores on the ground
Chase Brown Is Cincy’s Workhorse ROS
I’m not sure… but I really hope so.
Before his injury last week, running mate Zack Moss had seen a significant reduction in touches. This was in large part to the emergence of Chase Brown. While we have expected Brown to take over this mantle eventually, it has happened much quicker than some (myself included) thought.
And in Week 9, with Zack on the bench, Chase took full advantage of his time to shine:
The 27 carries isn’t that much of a shock. Brown was maintaining the lion’s share of the touches on the ground already. What was surprising, and welcomed by fantasy managers, is his 5 targets that Brown converted into a 5 for 37 and 1 line.
We all know it’s the receiving work that turns good fantasy RBs into elite ones. Although Moss is the better pass protector, Brown is proving that his dynamism can extend to the passing game. That should come at the expense of Moss for the rest of the season. Will it? That’s another question entirely.
Bottom Line: It seems Brown has proven he should be the workhorse going forward in Cincy. However, a very tough run D schedule should temper expectations a little
Mike Gesicki Is a Weekly TE1
This one’s a bit of a stretch.
Gesicki has been a top 12 option at the position 3 times this season. He’s was a top 16 option in another matchup. The problem? Tee Higgins missed 3 of those 4 games.
When Higgins is active, he is the clear second option in an above average passing game. When Higgins is out, Gesicki is who Joe Burrow is looking to after Ja’Marr Chase more often than not:
https://twitter.com/P2WFantasy/status/1853181454404173933
At the tight end position, we are in need of players who are the first or second-read in their respective offenses. And, like George Kittle, it’s been a problem when two high-end WRs and a pass-catching running back are all healthy and in the mix for targets.
Bottom Line: Gesicki is near must-start status when Higgins is out. But when Higgins is back, I’m looking elsewhere at tight end.
The Newest Addition to Your Weekly Flex Considerations: Demarcus Robinson
Absolutely.
Robinson has been exceptional, but he is obviously not an alpha. That became abundantly clear when both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua missed time together earlier this season. In those games – weeks 3 through 7 – Robinson racked up an impressively poor 7 receptions for 106 yards and one touchdown. In four full games.
But when one or, more significantly, both Kupp and Nacua are in the fold, Robinson is free to do things like this against one-on-one coverage:
https://twitter.com/HaydenWinks/status/1853317950695968817
Robinson is clearly not a team’s WR1. He’s proven he cannot ascend to that level throughout his career. But he is a good NFL wideout and he clearly has talent. And, while defenses are rightly focusing their coverage on two other elite receiving options and a very good running attack led by Kyren Williams, Robinson can show out.
In the two weeks since Kupp and Nacua have been back in the Rams starting lineup, Robinson has totalled an impressively exceptional 8 receptions for 129 yards and 4 scores. He’s a must-flex now, especially in plus matchups.
Bottom Line: Though he’ll be a matchup play, Robinson should be a viable flex more often than not for the rest of the season
To see how far these players have risen and fallen in our rankings, head over to the Fantasy Football Universe Rankings Home Page, you can also check out all our daily video content on The FFU YouTube Channel.
