Week 10 of the 2023 fantasy football season featured big surprises. Who were the big winners and losers? Which players received "A" and "F" grades?
Matt Bowen and Tristan H. Cockcroft offer their analysis, and Seth Walder provides his grades. We also asked NFL Nation reporters to answer questions about what happened in the Thursday and Sunday games.
Jump to a topic:
Ranking winners | Ranking losers
Who got an A | Who got an F
Biggest injuries and what's next
Top questions from Week 10
Ranking fantasy winners of Week 10
1. Justin Herbert, QB, and Keenan Allen, WR, Los Angeles Chargers
Herbert attacked the second and third levels of the Detroit defense, and Allen put on a route clinic in the Week 10 matchup. Herbert totaled 28.42 fantasy points here, throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns, while Allen's 40.5 points led all wide receivers on Sunday. It was Allen's second 40-plus-point game this season, as he caught 11 of 14 targets for 175 yards and two touchdowns. Difference-makers who get the Packers' defense up next in Week 11. -- Bowen
2. Dallas Cowboys' passing game
Their two meetings with the New York Giants this season amounted to sheer domination, with the Cowboys winning in Week 1, 40-0, as well as this week, 49-17, with those victory margins their second and fourth largest in these teams' all-time meetings. Of greatest fantasy relevance was the continued success of Dak Prescott, whose 37.86 fantasy points were his second-best score of his career, giving him four straight games with at least 24 points. CeeDee Lamb (39.5 PPR fantasy points, his second-best total) and Brandin Cooks (32.3) were standouts as well, and heck, even Michael Gallup scored 15.0 points. While none is likely to repeat the effort, the team does have a fantasy-friendly schedule over the next month (@CAR, WSH, SEA, PHI) as Prescott and crew are clicking. -- Cockcroft
3. Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, RB, Detroit Lions
Apparently two running backs can thrive within the same backfield? Well, facing a defense as giving to the position as that of the Los Angeles Chargers helps, but Gibbs (26.2 PPR fantasy points) and Montgomery (17.6) both played significant enough roles to matter, even in future weeks against tougher opponents. Gibbs' score was his third straight of at least 26 points, and Montgomery broke off a 75-yard touchdown to demonstrate his breakaway ability in the open field. To the matchups point, there's great news for these two: They'll face the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers the next two weeks, both plus matchups. -- Cockcroft
4. Brock Purdy, QB; George Kittle, TE, San Francisco 49ers
Off the bye week, Purdy was very efficient throwing the ball in the win at Jacksonville, totaling 23.84 fantasy points, while completing 19 of 26 passes for 296 yards and three scores. And I loved the deep-ball touchdown to Kittle, who finished with 20.6 points -- on only three receptions. That was a schemed concept to beat man coverage, with Kittle working versus a linebacker on a wheel route, and Purdy making that throw from a muddy pocket. Kittle has now produced back-to-back games with 20 or more fantasy points, with the Bucs' defense on deck in Week 11. -- Bowen
5. Mike Evans, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Evans led all wide receivers in the early slate of games, scoring 26.1 points in the win over the Titans. Evans worked all three levels of the route tree in this one, catching 6 of 10 targets for 143 yards, while also adding as touchdown on a play that highlighted his physical traits after the catch. With the vertical concepts in the Bucs' offense, and quarterback Baker Mayfield's willingness to take shots, Evans has the explosive play upside to produce in any matchup. The 49ers are up next for Evans and the Bucs in Week 11. -- Bowen
6. Joshua Dobbs, QB, and T.J. Hockenson, TE, Minnesota Vikings
Despite their mounting number of injuries, Hockenson's advertised snap count and the challenging matchup against the New Orleans Saints, Dobbs and the Vikings delivered another magical performance to extend their winning streak to five games. Dobbs has now scored a rushing touchdown in four consecutive games and has totaled the third-most fantasy points with his legs for the season (though Josh Allen can still pass him on Monday night). Hockenson played 68% of the offensive snaps and scored 30.4 PPR fantasy points, tops among all players from the 1 p.m. ET games. Even better: This team could get Justin Jefferson back from injured reserve soon, which would only improve Dobbs' fantasy prospects. -- Cockcroft
7. Devin Singletary, RB, Houston Texans
I did not expect Singletary, who is currently rostered in only 49.8% of ESPN leagues, to lead all backs in the early games with 23.1 points. And it was a heavy volume day for Singletary with Dameon Pierce out (ankle), as he logged 30 carries for 150 yards and a score. This Texans offense has lacked run game efficiency/production this season, but there was daylight for Singletary on Sunday, and we saw his second-level juice, plus the foot quickness to shake defenders. Singletary should be added on waivers this week ahead of the matchup versus the Falcons. -- Bowen
8. Noah Brown, WR, Houston Texans
He followed up his Week 9 breakthrough of 27.3 PPR fantasy points with an equally stunning effort: 24.2 points on eight targets without the benefit of a touchdown. Brown has emerged as a fantasy-relevant slot receiver, and his upcoming schedule makes him well worth pickup/plug-in status (ARI, JAX, DEN the next three weeks), though he'll probably see fewer targets in Week 11 should Nico Collins (calf) be able to play. -- Cockcroft
Ranking fantasy losers of Week 10
1. Jacksonville Jaguars' offense
Sure, the matchup against the 49ers' defense was rather challenging, but a 34-3 loss in which the offense totaled only 221 yards has to be considered a disappointment after the Jaguars took a five-game winning streak into their Week 9 bye. Quarterback Trevor Lawrence scored a second-worst-in-his-career 2.10 fantasy points. Travis Etienne Jr.'s four-game streak of 20-PPR-point performances was snapped, as he scored just 6.4. Calvin Ridley again flopped, with 4.0 points. At least things should improve for the Jaguars in Week 11, when they'll face a Tennessee Titans defense that served up 340 yards and two touchdowns to the Buccaneers on Sunday. -- Cockcroft
2. Lamar Jackson, QB, and Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens
The Ravens led 17-3 early, and 24-9 deep into the third quarter, yet managed to find a way to lose. Jackson's uneven play, the third straight week that has been the case, had a lot to do with it, as he has now been held beneath 14 fantasy points in each of Weeks 8 through 10. Andrews saw only four targets and scored 6.4 PPR points, struggling to break free of the Cleveland Browns' defense. Both should be regarded clear fantasy starters against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 11, with good odds of a rebound, but Jackson's inconsistency has become frustrating to fantasy managers. -- Cockcroft
3. Tony Pollard, RB, Dallas Cowboys
Pollard logged just 5.5 points in Sunday's blowout win over the Giants, his third straight game with fewer than 10 points. Pollard did see 15 carries here, but he averaged only 2.7 yards per attempt, while Rico Dowdle rushed for 79 yards and a score on 12 carries. Remember, Pollard hasn't seen the end zone since all the way back in Week 1, and he has posted only one game of double-digit fantasy production in his past six. Rough stretch for Pollard after all the offseason hype as the Cowboys' lead back. --Bowen
4. Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
I was all-in on Jones ahead of the matchup against the Steelers. The volume jumped back in Week 9, and I saw opportunities here in the pass game. Screens and swings to counter that Steelers pass rush. However, Jones produced only 19 yards receiving -- on four catches -- while averaging a lowly 2.7 yards per carry on 13 rushes. With Jones seeing 17 touches on Sunday, he'll stay in the RB2 mix as he looks to rebound in the Week 11 game against the Chargers' defense. -- Bowen
5. Derrick Henry, RB; DeAndre Hopkins, WR, Tennessee Titans
In what looked like a positive matchup for the Titans' offense in Tampa, Henry was limited to 2.4 yards a carry and only 3.0 fantasy points. As for Hopkins? We had him as a WR1 this week, but he caught 3 of 8 targets and logged just 5.7 points. Tennessee failed to establish offensive rhythm here, and Bucs coach Todd Bowles had defensive answers for rookie quarterback Will Levis, who completed less than 50% of his throws. The Titans get a divisional road matchup next week at Jacksonville. -- Bowen
6. Saquon Barkley, RB, New York Giants
Barkley had a season-low 7.1 points -- on 14 touches -- in the loss at Dallas. Yes, we all know that this Giants offense will continue to have limitations with rookie quarterback Tommy DeVito under center. That's expected. But as long as Barkley sees consistent volume, with a hopeful bump in receiving usage, he still has a spot in your lineup. Barkley gets the Washington defense in Week 11. -- Bowen
Injury impact
Derek Carr, QB, New Orleans Saints
What we know: Carr left the game at Minnesota in the second half with a right shoulder injury, and he also went into concussion protocol. Carr did not return to the game, and he was replaced by Jameis Winston.
What's next: The Saints head into the bye next week, so we'll have to monitor the reports on Carr. If he were to miss the Week 12 game at Atlanta, Winston would have potential streaming value. -- Bowen
Alexander Mattison, RB, Minnesota Vikings
What we know: Mattison left Sunday's game late in the third quarter due to a concussion.
What's next: Rookie Ty Chandler, promoted from third string to Mattison's backup for Week 10, handled seven fourth-quarter carries in relief but delivered just 5 rushing yards with them. Chandler would likely be pressed into starting duty if Mattison can't clear concussion protocol, though the injury-ravaged Vikings might need to sign a depth option to help out in that event. -- Cockcroft
Taylor Heinicke, QB, Atlanta Falcons
What we know: Heinicke, who took over as the Falcons' starter in Week 9, left Sunday's game in the fourth quarter with a hamstring injury.
What's next: Desmond Ridder, who scored a rushing touchdown after coming on in relief, would presumably be pushed back into the starting role should Heinicke miss additional time. -- Cockcroft
Who earned an 'A' this weekend?
San Francisco 49ers' pass rush
This was our first look at this group with Chase Young on the 49ers -- and it delivered. After Nick Bosa had managed just 3.0 sacks through the first nine weeks of the season, he produced 1.5 on Sunday, as did Javon Hargrave (and Young added another half). Hargrave in particular dominated on a snap-to-snap basis with a 33% pass rush win rate. Collectively, they played a crucial role in the defense shutting down Trevor Lawrence and the Jaguars' offense. -- Walder
Who earned an 'F' this weekend?
Aaron Jones, RB, Green Bay Packers
He managed just 34 rushing yards on 13 carries, resulting in negative-28 rush yards over expectation, per NFL Next Gen Stats. That was the worst RYOE total among running backs in Week 10 after the early afternoon window. While Jones' four receptions may have bailed out his PPR managers, AJ Dillon was the more efficient Packers running back on the ground Sunday. -- Walder
Jonah Williams, RT, Cincinnati Bengals
Williams recorded a poor 74% pass block win rate in the Bengals' upset loss to the Texans, with Will Anderson Jr. and Sheldon Rankins most frequently getting the best of the Cincinnati tackle. Throughout Joe Burrow's career he has dealt with porous offensive lines, and that appears to be the case again in 2023. -- Walder
Lingering questions from Sunday's games
Make it two big games by Joshua Dobbs since joining the Vikings. What has stood out about Dobbs and do you anticipate this continuing for the rest of the season?
What has stood out most about Dobbs is how sharp he has been while playing in an entirely different offense than the one he spent the first half of the season with in Arizona, and with teammates whose names he mostly hadn't learned by the time he stepped on the field. He has completed 67% of his passes and, thanks to his 100 rushing yards, compiled the NFL's second-best total quarterback rating during the past two weeks (87.4). With receiver Justin Jefferson due to return soon from a hamstring injury, and with further progress coming in his assimilation into the offense, there's every reason to think he can continue at or near this pace.
"The best thing about it is we're all still getting to know each other," coach Kevin O'Connell said, "and getting a comfort level where we can continue to apply layers to this thing to try to be as successful as we can be on offense." -- Kevin Seifert
Noah Brown came through with a second straight huge game. How much is his role expanding in this young offense?
Yes, Brown's role will continue to expand. Coach DeMeco Ryans called Brown his most consistent receiver. In the past two weeks, Brown has performed at the level of some of the Texans' great receivers. He finished with 174 yards Sunday to post back-to-back games with at least 150 receiving yards, joining Andre Johnson (twice) and DeAndre Hopkins (twice) as the only players in Texans history to achieve that feat. When a receiver is producing at that high of a clip, the team has no choice but to keep feeding him. -- DJ Bien-Aime