NFL DFS Week 10 DraftKings Main Slate Look Ahead: Early Values in Our Projections

Week 10 features a 10-game slate on Sunday afternoon after the Lions and Patriots start the day with a morning matchup in Munich. For the second straight week, seven games kick off at 1:00 p.m. ET, providing plenty of early action. The other three games kick off after 4:00 p.m. ET, with some fascinating storylines as the Chargers continue to chase their first win and Fernando Mendoza makes his first NFL start. It should be another exciting Sunday of fantasy football action, so let’s take an early look at the slate and see which players stand out as values in the projections.

From a game-script perspective, the San Francisco 49ers are a good place to start since they have the highest implied team total on the board for the second straight week. This week, they’re taking on the Cowboys in a game that also has the highest over/under on the board, just ahead of the Bills-Jets game, which is the only other game with a point total over 50. While kickoff is still a few days away, it’s never too early to start strategizing for your NFL DFS lineups for Week 10. Even in the middle of the week, some potential values are already popping in our early projections, and you definitely want to have them on your radar.

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Throughout the season, every Wednesday, I’ll be taking a look at the players who are standing out as top values for the coming week by using the early projections in our NFL Player Models. Of course, these models update frequently.

Things will likely change between now and Sunday, but it’s still good to have a plan of attack.

If there’s news between now and lock — and there will be — the models will update to reflect that.

As always, they’re powered by Sean Koerner — one of the most accurate fantasy rankers in the industry.

And don’t forget about the tools that FantasyLabs has to offer, like our Lineup Optimizer to effortlessly create up to 300 lineups, or use our Lineup Builder if you like to hand-build your lineups.

Or you can just use our NFL DFS sims to effortlessly create advanced lineups.

Finally, make sure to check out all the projections available for purchase within the FantasyLabs Models. Subscribers now have the option to purchase Derek Carty’s THE BLITZ from our Marketplace.

You can also combine them to create your own aggregate projections:

NFL DFS Quarterback Values

Tyler Shough ($5,600) New Orleans Saints (-2.5) vs. Carolian Panthers (48.5 total)

In the FantasyLabs Consensus projections, Tyler Shough has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at quarterback, just edging out much more expensive options like Brock Purdy and Josh Allen. Shough and the Saints host the Panthers in a divisional matchup, and he’s a strong option to go with if you opt to go cheap at QB.

In his second season as the Saints’ starter, Shough is more established than some of the other cheap options under center like Drew Lock, Carson Beck, Kyle McCord, and even Fernando Mendoza.

Shough has averaged 19.7 DraftKings points per game over his eight games this season and finished right at that average with 19.7 DraftKings points last week in an overtime win over the Browns. He threw for 265 yards and a touchdown in that game, and he has over 250 passing yards in six of his eight games this season.

The Saints offense around him is starting to have more options, with rookie Jordyn Tyson making his NFL debut last week and running back Travis Etienne Jr. nearing a return from IR (although his status for Week 10 is uncertain). With more pass-catching options, Shough should continue to thrive in coach Kellen Moore’s pass-heavy offense.

Shough and the Saints take on the Panthers’ defense this week, which has ranked in the middle of the pack this season against QBs. They have allowed back-to-back games with multiple passing touchdowns, though, and have allowed 200+ yards passing in four of their last five games. While they aren’t an extremely favorable matchup, they aren’t a matchup to avoid either.

The fact that Shough and the Saints will be at home at the Superdome helps them have a better outlook this week, and Shough is a solid value, especially if he can start clicking with Tyson as a complementary option to Chris Olave. Shough can be stacked with either of those receivers in this matchup, depending on the salary cap space you have available.

NFL DFS Wide Receiver Values

Jakobi Meyers ($4,200) Jacksonville Jaguars (-10.5) at Tennessee Titans (46.5 total)

The Jaguars were one of the most active teams at the NFL trade deadline, but they didn’t trade away Brian Thomas Jr., as was rumored to be a possibility. Thomas has slid into a limited role as the Jags’ third receiver since Jakobi Meyers has been the clear second receiver behind Parker Washington. All three of those receivers are in a very favorable matchup this week against the Titans, and Meyers has the highest Projected Plus/Minus at wide receiver in the FantasyLabs Consensus projections.

Meyers has multiple catches in six straight games and hauled in four of his six targets last week for 65 yards and 10.5 DraftKings points in the Jags’ comfortable Thursday night win over the Ravens. He led the team in receptions and receiving yards in that win and should remain a key option for Trevor Lawrence the rest of the season.

In his last six games, he has averaged 5.7 targets, with a season-high 10 targets in the Jags’ close loss to the Texans in Week 6. He hasn’t hit 100 yards in any game yet but has found the end zone twice.

In Week 10, he’ll face the Titans, who have allowed the most DraftKings points per game to wide receivers this season. Tennessee is coming off a Week 9 bye but allowed three receiver TDs and 330 receiving yards to the Bengals’ WRs just before the bye and have allowed seven WR touchdowns in eight games this season.

In his involved role for Jacksonville, Meyers is a great value at only $4,200, bringing both a solid floor and a high ceiling in this juicy matchup.

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NFL DFS Running Back Values

Ollie Gordon II ($5,800) Miami Dolphins (+3.5) at Indianapolis Colts (38.5 Total)

The Dolphins are expected to rely heavily on Ollie Gordon II this week as McCord makes his first NFL start in place of the injured Malik Willis (core). Gordon has the highest Projected Plus/Minus of all running backs in the FantasyLabs Consensus Projections in a favorable matchup against the Colts.

Gordon has been impressive since taking over for De’Von Achane (knee), who suffered a season-ending injury in Week 3. The second-year running back has already had a large workload, averaging 17.3 carries per game since the game Achane left early. He has four rushing touchdowns during that span, and he reached over 20 DraftKings points twice with over 100 rushing yards in games against the Jets and Vikings.

Gordon only had 55 rushing yards on 16 carries last week against the Lions but should find more space to operate against the Colts, who have allowed the fourth-most DraftKings points per game to running backs this season. Opposing RBs have scored 10 touchdowns in nine games against Indy, averaging 111.7 rushing yards and 40.7 receiving yards per game.

Especially with Jalen Wright (quadriceps) inactive last week and Kaytron Allen getting just one target and one carry, Gordon seems to have secured almost all the work in the backfield going forward. With McCord making his NFL debut, the Dolphins’ offense is an even bigger question mark than usual, but Gordon has the potential to be an excellent value as one of the focal points of the offense.

NFL DFS Tight End Values

Colby Parkinson ($3,000) Los Angeles Rams (-4.5) at Arizona Cardinals

Colby Parkinson and the rest of the Rams’ pass-catchers should stay extremely busy for the next several weeks, with Puka Nacua (knee/toe) expected to join Davante Adams (hamstring) on IR. With more work available and some good momentum from his last few games, Parkinson has the highest Plus/Minus projection of all tight ends in this week’s FantasyLabs Consensus projections.

Nacua had 10+ targets in each of his last three games, including a massive 19 targets last week against Washington. He is now dealing with an MCL and PCL sprain in his right knee as well as turf toe, leaving the team’s top two wide receivers as Konata Mumpfield and Tutu Atwell for the next few weeks. Instead of focusing on those receivers, though, the Rams could turn more heavily to Parkinson, Tyler Higbee, and Davis Allen at tight end. Terrance Ferguson could also get in the mix eventually, but his return from IR was delayed by a new injury last week.

Parkinson has caught at least four passes in each of his last three games, even though he only managed 13 yards on his four receptions last week. He found the end zone in Week 6 in his best performance of the season, which came against the Cardinals, who he’ll face again this week.

Arizona has allowed seven TE touchdowns in its last seven games, so Parkinson is in a good spot to return value at only $3,000, especially with so much work potentially available due to all the injuries for the Rams.

Pictured: Tyler Shough
Photo Credit: Imagn