Before we jump into some of the key stats to look at for Week 10 of the NFL season, let’s take a look back at some of the Week 9 fantasy football stars.
Josh Allen, QB, Buffalo Bils
If you were prescient enough to include Buffalo’s Josh Allen as your FFL QB then you have our sincerest congratulations. He completed 31-of-38 passes for 415 yards and 3 touchdown strikes. The Bills pulled a mild upset when Allen outgunned MVP candidate Russell Wilson in a 44-34 shootout.
Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Something’s cookin’ in Minnesota, and it looks like their top-flight running back, Dalvin Cook. The groin injury Cook suffered in the Seattle game that sidelined him for two weeks is nowhere to be found as the 25-year-old has been a force of nature since returning, with 163 rushing yards and three touchdowns against the Green Bay Packers in Week 8 followed by over 200 rushing yards and two more trips into the end zone in Week 9 during Minnesota’s, 34-20, win over the Detroit Lions.
Richie James Jr., WR, San Francisco 49ers
Richie, who? That’s right, if you’re familiar with the 2018 seventh-round pick out of Middle Tennessee State then you’re a better man than most. James (9 catches, 184 yards, 1 TD) had a breakout performance in Week 9 but don’t expect this to be a routine as the 5’9”, 185 pound, second-stringer had never previously come close to approaching these gaudy numbers.
Week 10 Marquee Matchups
Week 10 will see three major tilts that are must-see TV for those who dedicate Sunday afternoon to the NFL. And don’t forget, that if you’re looking to put your money where your mouth is, Bovada has good NFL odds for Week 10, and is one of the preeminent online sportsbooks in the industry.
Without further ado, let’s look at this week’s battle of the titans – without a trace of Tennessee in any of these matchups.
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants (1:00pm ET, FOX)
Let it be known that never before has a game between two moribund teams like the 3-4-1 Eagles and the 2-7 New York Giants been labeled a marquee matchup. But here we are because that is the woeful state of affairs in the miserable NFC East and this could have resonating ramifications in the standings.
In all fairness, Philadelphia has shown signs of life with two straight wins in their pocket against the likes of the Giants and Cowboys. But does that 22-21 squeaker over New York truly qualify as a big win just because it was a divisional game? And how about the 23-9 victory over the decimated Cowboys right before Philly’s bye week?
As for Big Blue, at least they showed some grit in losing to the Bucs, 25-23, a few weeks ago, and then came away with a 23-20 decision over Washington last week. How they will fare against the slightly better Eagles is anyone’s guess but with the home field advantage and playing as well as can be expected over the past several weeks, we will predict a win for the G-Men on Sunday.
Prediction: Giants 27 – Eagles 21
Buffalo Bills vs. Arizona Cardinals (4:05pm ET, CBS)
The last time we checked, the Bills were supposed to be known for a stingy defense but such was not the case last week when Josh Allen came alive and torched the Seahawks for over 400 yards and three touchdown strikes en route to a 44-34 road win. It was the Buffalo offense that snatched all the glory while the Bills’ defense could not contain the force of nature that is Russell Wilson this season, who lit up the Seattle sky with 390 yards and a pair of passing TD’s as well.
The Cardinals will need to brace for impact if Allen can replicate his performance from last week. Meanwhile, Kyler Murray is proving worthy of his No. 1 overall selection in the 2019 draft as he was stellar last week in defeat to the Dolphins when he passed for 283 yards and three touchdowns passes with an over 80 percent completion rate! This one will be a dandy but the Bills defense will rise again in the desert.
Prediction: Bills 31 – Cardinals 22
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Rams (4:25pm ET, FOX)
This is the first of two meetings between these divisional rivals and although the focus will be on Russell Wilson and the juggernaut Seattle offense, we should note that the Rams are coming off of a bye and still smarting from their 28-17 road loss to the Dolphins.
The early line on this game has the Rams as about two-point home favorites, which will certainly attract a hearty portion of the public money on Seattle. The Seahawks are the flashier team and there is nothing the betting public likes more than a high-octane offense, regardless of whether they are home or away.
Prediction: Rams 37 – Seahawks 30
