The Arizona State Sun Devils are projected to earn an invite to one of the classic mid-tier bowl games for the Pac-12, a good sign for ASU fans wanting a quick trip to support their team’s return to the college football postseason since 2021.
In a quick survey of seven bowl predictions this week, the Las Vegas Bowl, Sun Bowl and Holiday Bowl were each picked by two college football writers as landing spots for the Sun Devils.
Las Vegas, El Paso and San Diego all present driveable distances for fans in the Valley.
The Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., accounted for another prediction.
While the expanded College Football Playoff changes the landscape of bowl season, game assignments remained with the teams’ 2023 conference affiliation.
Predictions: What bowl game can Arizona State get invited to in 2024?
Arizona State after a win at Oklahoma State sits at 6-2 with four games left this season. The team is in a spot to push for more than a middle-of-the-road bowl, but it’s a tough path from here.
ASU has a matchup against UCF this week, a visit to No. 19 Kansas State and then a hosting of No. 9 BYU before closing the season in Tucson for a rivalry game against Arizona.
Reinforcements have arrived for the Los Angeles Rams at the midway point in the season.
On Thursday, Steve Avila and Jonah Jackson were both officially designated to return from injured reserve. The Rams announced that both players have returned to practice, giving them each a great chance to play on Monday night against the Miami Dolphins.
Sean McVay said earlier this week that the team expects Jackson to be ready to go for this week’s game, and there’s a chance Avila will be available, too. We’ll wait to see each player’s participation level on Thursday as the Rams begin their preparation, which could be an indication of whether they’ll play against Miami.
Avila has been out since injuring his knee in Week 1, landing him on injured reserve and causing him to miss the next seven games. Jackson injured his shoulder in Week 2 and has also been on IR ever since, missing the last six games.
LA Rams Roster Moves:
• Designated for Return, Returned to Practice OL Steve Avila, OL Jonah Jackson pic.twitter.com/PvqOUwwsTt
Rookies Beaux Limmer and Justin Dedich have held down the center and left guard spots in recent weeks, but there’s no question Avila and Jackson will step back into starting roles when ready.
It just remains to be seen who will play what position; in Week 1, it was Avila at left guard and Jackson at center after the team had planned for Avila to play center during training camp.
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Identifying Week 10 sleepers and avoiding potential duds can make all the difference for your team. Whether you’re looking for under-the-radar players poised for a breakout or trying to dodge early-season letdowns, our team of Featured Pros has you covered. In this article, we’ll dive into the key players you should start and those you might want to bench based on expert insights and analysis.
“The pickings this deep are rough, but Jalen McMillan feels like a good bet if he’s able to suit up. The Buccaneers’ rookie WR has seen 15 combined targets in his last two games, and just for that level of opportunity alone he feels like a strong sleeper. While he hasn’t converted that into a strong game yet, he was mentioned by QB Baker Mayfield as having plays in the game plan just for him. With San Francisco on the docket, the matchup isn’t scary, as they’re right in the middle at allowing points to the WR position. In a pinch, don’t be afraid to throw McMillan into a flex spot in Week 10.”
– Justin Frye (Pro Football Network)
“After a slow start to his first season with Miami, Jonnu Smith has steadily increased his production in recent weeks. Over his last four games, he has seen six or more targets and is averaging 56 receiving yards per game in that span. His snap counts are also climbing; he’s been on the field for at least 65% of snaps in the past two games after failing to reach 50% in any prior week. Heading into Week 10, Smith is set for another productive fantasy outing against a Rams defense that ranks 27th against tight ends this season. Currently outside the Top 100 in FantasyPros flex rankings, he has a legitimate chance to finish as a TE1 in this favorable matchup.”
– Joe Beldner (The Fantasy Footballers)
“Parker Washington is firmly in the flex conversation for Week 10. Last week, Washington had a 91.4% route share, a 19.4% target share, 1.28 YPRR, and a 23.1% first-read share (per Fantasy Points Data). His target share and first-read share ranked second on the team to only Evan Engram. Washington has seen one red zone target over the last two games. This is a sneaky spot for him to crush this week. Minnesota has allowed the fourth-most receiving yards per game and fantasy points per game to slot receivers. ”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
“Nick Westbrook-Ikhine. We’ve seen his target share uptick, with 14 targets over the last three games. His touchdown equity has gone up, catching a touchdown in four straight games. He’s finished as a WR3 in three straight games.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
“I’m starting Sterling Shepard in a couple of leagues where byes and injuries have me on the ropes. Shepard wasn’t as busy in the passing game as we might have liked last week — 4-48-0 receiving on five targets — but his usage picked up late in the game, and he also had two carries for 21 yards. Shepard has always been a good player; he’s just had difficulty staying healthy. With all the WR injuries the Buccaneers have been besieged with, Shepard could be a worthwhile fantasy asset this week against the 49ers.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“IDP Anthony Walker is a sleeper to keep an eye on. David Long got benched last week, mainly because of his passing coverage, the team runs to every downlinebacker so Walker should benefit.”
– Steve Hungarter (Fantasy Six Pack)
Duds
Which player inside the top 40 in the FantasyPros flex rankings is likely to disappoint fantasy managers this week?
“As much as this pains me to say, Jonathan Taylor seems primed to let managers down. The Bills have been a good matchup on paper, but much of that is De’Von Achane catching all 15 targets for 127 yards and two TDs or Derrick Henry rushing for 199 yards and two total TDs. Taylor has played two games where Joe Flacco played the majority of the game and four with Anthony Richardson. In Flacco games, he’s averaged 17 carries for 68 yards and 0.5 TDs, and in Richardson games, he’s averaged 17.8 carries for 91.5 yards and 1 TD. Five of six Taylor games haven’t been in the top 10, yet he’s RB10 by consensus rankings, which makes him ripe to disappoint.”
– Justin Frye (Pro Football Network)
“Looking at the FantasyPros Top 40 flex rankings this week, Rhamondre Stevenson stands out as a potential disappointment despite his recent hot streak. After a surprising dud in Week 7 against Jacksonville, he has bounced back to deliver strong fantasy numbers over the past two games. But a closer look reveals that his production has been heavily touchdown-dependent. While he has averaged nearly 21 fantasy points per game in this span, his efficiency has lagged, with just 2.13 yards per carry. Scoring two touchdowns in each game has propped up his point totals, but in a tough Week 10 road matchup against Chicago, scoring opportunities may be limited, exposing his inefficiencies and setting up a potentially underwhelming week.”
– Joe Beldner (The Fantasy Footballers)
“Rhamondre Stevenson is wildly boom or bust. He has either finished as a top-10 back or outside the top-40 in every game played this year. He’s topped 20 carries once in the previous six games and has averaged under three yards per game over the last three. It’s touchdown or busy for Rhamondre.”
– Chris Welsh (FantasyPros)
“Fantasy GMs need to keep their expectations for J.K. Dobbins in check this week. Tennessee should slow down Dobbins this week. They have allowed the fourth-lowest rushing success rate, the 11th-fewest rushing yards per game, the tenth-lowest missed tackle rate, and the third-lowest yard after contact per attempt (per Fantasy Points Data). If you’re expecting a blow-up performance this week, you’ll likely be disappointed by Dobbins.”
– Derek Brown (FantasyPros)
“I’m not crazy about the Week 10 outlook for Davante Adams. He’s averaging 58.3 receiving yards over his first three games with his new team. Garrett Wilson has been on fire for the Jets of late, averaging 6.3 catches and 88.0 receiving yards per game since Adams arrived. And the Jets play the Cardinals, whose defense tends to funnel targets away from WRs and toward RBs.”
– Pat Fitzmaurice (FantasyPros)
“IDP Nick Bolton only had three tackles on a high snap count last week. He is not the same player and what we expected when drafting him as LB3 in 2024. Temper expectation there.”
– Steve Hungarter (Fantasy Six Pack)
New York Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers shared a glowing review of Cardinals safety Budda Baker on Tuesday, comparing him to some of the best defensive backs in recent memory.
Rodgers, who joined The Pat McAfee Show for his weekly segment, is preparing to face Baker and the Cardinals on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. He couldn’t help but smile when bringing up the tape on No. 3.
“I gotta admit, I wanna throw this guy some love. You watch film of your opponents and certain guys, but watching Budda Baker on film, that’s impressive,” Rodgers said.
“He’s a really impressive guy. He does so many different things. He shows up all over the place. He lines up in different spots, he’s running all over the place, he’s a phenomenal tackler, he throws his body around. … I’m excited for the challenge but I have a ton of respect for his game.”
“I’ve been watching the Cardinals film and Budda Baker is really impressive..
Rodgers called Baker a game-wrecker, pointing out several examples in Arizona’s win over the Miami Dolphins where the safety shut down potential big plays.
The future Hall of Fame quarterback likened Baker’s game most closely to Bob Sanders, a two-time All-Pro safety with the Indianapolis Colts during the Peyton Manning era.
“He reminds me — and I wanna say this with a ton of respect because I used to love this guy — Bob Sanders,” Rodgers said. “Bob was such a wild man out there. He was not the biggest dude but he threw himself around. He always was around the pile, big hits, great tackler. Baker is a special player. He’s fun to watch on film and he’s definitely a guy you got to be aware of.
“There’s a few secondary guys over the years where you’re like, I gotta know where this guy is at before the snap. (Troy) Polamalu was always like that, Ed Reed was always like that. (Charles Woodson) I felt like was always that kind of guy, Ronde Barber was that kinda guy, Harrison Smith in Minnesota forever cause he’s such a great disguiser and all over the place. Budda is one of those guys you gotta know where he’s at.”
Rodgers has only faced Baker twice and not since 2021 while the signal caller was with the Green Bay Packers.
Baker is having a terrific season, as he is second in the NFL with 91 tackles with four tackles for loss and a pair of passes defensed. He leads the NFL with 58 solo tackles.
The Cardinals will attempt to extend their winning streak to four games on Sunday, while the Jets are coming off a Thursday Night Football victory over the Houston Texans.
Rodgers and company are looking to hang onto faint playoff hopes at 3-6, and the Cardinals’ defense, Rodgers said, has proven itself a challenge led by Baker.
“You can’t help when you’re watching the film to be drawn to No. 3. because he’s dynamic,” Rodgers said.
Jared Verse and Braden Fiske have gotten a lot of attention this season for being the standout players of the Los Angeles Rams’ 2024 draft class, but one of their most impactful rookies wasn’t even drafted.
Safety Jaylen McCollough, who signed as an undrafted rookie out of Tennessee, has been a spark on defense despite playing limited snaps. Remarkably, he leads the team with four interceptions in only 110 defensive snaps.
He’s helped fill in with John Johnson and Kam Curl banged up, also contributing as a dime defender when the Rams get six defensive backs on the field. His play has made many people wonder how he went undrafted, showing he deserved to be selected at some point in April.
The Rams shared some stats from his rookie year and they’re unbelievably good. In 69 coverage snaps, he has yet to allow a single reception. He has more pick-sixes than he has receptions allowed and he’s given up a 0.0 passer rating in coverage.
In 69 coverage snaps this season, S Jaylen McCollough has recorded four interceptions, one defensive touchdown, four passes defended, one pass breakup, and two incompletions against as the primary defender.
It’s a small sample size as a part-time player, but McCollough is making Les Snead and the Rams look brilliant for signing him after the draft ended.
Johnson will be back at some point this season and Curl will still be a starter alongside Quentin Lake, but the Rams will have to find ways to get McCollough on the field. His play has been too good to keep on the bench.
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A fantasy football lineup consists of various roster positions, including quarterbacks (QB), running backs (RB), wide receivers (WR), tight ends (TE), kickers (K), and team defenses (D/ST). Most leagues require you to start:
1 Quarterback (QB)
2 Running Backs (RB)
2 Wide Receivers (WR)
1 Tight End (TE)
1 Kicker (K)
1 Team Defense/Special Teams (D/ST)
Additionally, many leagues feature a “flex” position, which allows you to start an extra RB, WR or TE, providing more flexibility in your lineup. Others add another quarterback, or a “superflex,” which can be any position, including quarterback.
The Importance of Bye Weeks
Bye weeks are weeks during the NFL season when a team does not have a game. It’s crucial to be aware of your players’ bye weeks, as you’ll need to find suitable replacements to fill in for them in your lineup. Keep an eye on the NFL schedule, and plan ahead to ensure you have enough depth on your roster to cover bye weeks without sacrificing too many points.
Strategies for Setting Your Lineup
Matchups matter
Analyze your players’ opponents each week and identify favorable matchups that could lead to higher point totals. Start players facing weaker defenses to increase your scoring potential.
Consistency vs. upside
Balance your lineup with consistent performers and players with high upside, or potential for a breakout game. Consistent players provide a solid point floor, while high-upside players can be difference-makers in tight matchups.
Monitor injuries and depth charts
Stay informed about player injuries and their position on their team’s depth chart. Injuries can create opportunities for backups to step into significant roles, providing valuable fantasy points.
Stay active on the waiver wire
Regularly check the waiver wire for potential lineup additions. Key pickups can fill in for injured or underperforming players, or even become long-term starters on your team.
Making Last-Minute Adjustments
Sometimes, last-minute changes to your lineup are necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, such as injuries or weather conditions. Stay informed and be prepared to make adjustments to your lineup when needed. Use trusted sources for NFL news and updates, and always have a backup plan in place.
Understanding and setting your fantasy football lineup is an essential skill for success in your league. By mastering roster positions, managing bye weeks and employing strategic lineup-setting techniques, you’ll be well on your way to dominating your league and claiming the championship. Stay proactive, informed, and adaptable, and you’ll be celebrating your fantasy football victories in no time. Good luck, and may the best lineup win!
Bye Week Hell has begun. Four teams are on bye this week, and that’s just the beginning. We will have four again next week, and then six teams out in Week 12, followed by a one-week break before we have six more byes in Week 14. It didn’t turn out too badly this week, with a nice handful of good defenses facing good matchups. Bench spots will be in short supply over the next five weeks, so weekly streaming can be helpful.
The streaming landscape has been up and down so far this year, largely due to variation in the number of teams deploying quarterbacks that profile as truly good matchups. So let’s check in on some teams that have had recent quarterback changes and how they look as fantasy defense matchups:
The Dallas Cowboys have had a tough season, going 3-5 so far with it looking like the Super Bowl window has closed. It just got worse, with Dak Prescott suffering a hamstring injury in last week’s game that is expected to keep him sidelined for multiple weeks. Cooper Rush will be the starter as they deal with three tough matchups over the next few weeks, against the Eagles, Texans and Commanders. Rush is probably not the worst backup in the league, but on a team that was already struggling, he should be a very good matchup for defenses. The Cowboys also have Trey Lance on the roster and I suppose it’s possible they give him a shot if Rush is really terrible, but I don’t see that as particularly likely. The Cowboys are a good fantasy defense target as long as Dak is sidelined.
The Carolina Panthers benched Bryce Young after week 2, but he returned to start the last two games after Andy Dalton injured his hand in a car accident. Dalton was questionable last week and it wouldn’t surprise me if he was able to play this week, but his health isn’t the only consideration. Young played OK last week, and that was enough to pick up the second win of the season for the Panthers. From a long-term perspective it seems wise to give Young more reps in his sophomore season, but he was originally benched for a reason. As a matchup for fantasy defenses, I would rate the Panthers as good with Dalton and very good with Young.
The Tennessee Titans have started Mason Rudolph for the last three weeks in relief of the injured Will Levis. Levis might be able to return this week, and the job is waiting for him. Levis was highly prone to mistakes with 10 turnover sin 5 games, but Rudolph has continued the tradition of throwing interceptions, and operated a less powerful offense overall. The Titans are a good matchup with both quarterbacks, but will be more boom-bust with Levis as he has higher potential for both turnovers and scoring.
The Indianapolis Colts benched Anthony Richardson ahead of last week’s game. This was widely criticized because Richardson had really only played 9 full games of football since being drafted fourth overall in 2023, due to injuries. Even though veteran Joe Flacco played well through three games earlier this season, the Colts were punished for this decision last week with a pretty dismal showing against the Vikings. The Colts are an excellent matchup with Richardson and a viable target for good defenses, such as this week’s Bills, with Flacco.
The Pittsburgh Steelers are two games in to the Russell Wilson era. They continued with their plan to start Wilson when he got healthy even though the team was able to record a 5-2 record with Justin Fields. This was the right decision as Wilson has opened up the passing game for a team that already runs well. The Steelers are a bad matchup for defenses overall, but Wilson is prone to taking sacks and can be an upside play for good defenses.
There are four teams on bye this week – CLE, GB, LV and SEA. It’s an interesting streaming week. There are a handful of teams I feel very good about, including one under 10% rosterhip, but there is a sharp drop off in confidence outside the Top 7. Rostership numbers are from Yahoo. You can find me on Twitter and Threads.
CHI vsNE: Last week was just Drake Maye‘s third full game as a starter, and we witnessed some growing pains as he turned the ball over three times against the Titans. While Maye has handled New England’s prous offensive line admirably, he can only do so much, and last week that resulted in his second game with four sacks taken. This week is another road game for the Patriots against a pretty good Bears defense that should be able to take advantage of the pass protection situation.
NYG @ CAR: Bryce Young had a bit of redemption game in his second week back in the starting job while Andy Dalton deals with a hand injury. Young picked up just his third career win against a spiraling Saints team that promptly fired their head coach. Young wasn’t extremely impressive in this game, but he was able to limit mistakes with just one turnover and one sack. The question of who will start at QB for the Panthers going forward is up in the air, but after last week I would be surprised not to see at least one more start for Young. I’m expecting more sacks this game, as the Panthers have to face DPOY front runner Dexter Lawrence and the Giants Defense.
LAC vs TEN: Mason Rudolph has looked like an upgrade over Will Levis for the Titans, but that’s a pretty low bar. Last week’s win over the Patriots only required 20 points. Meanwhile the Chargers defense took no prisoners against the Browns, holding them to just 10 points while recording three interceptions and 6 sacks against Jameis Winston. Rudolph might not take as many risks as Jameis or Levis, but he is every bit as outmatched against one of the best defenses in the league.
PHI @ DAL: Dak Prescott suffered a hamstring injury last week, and is likely headed to IR meaning we will get at least four weeks of backup Cooper Rush. Rush has spent most of his career as Dak’s backup since the Cowboys signed him as an undrafted free agent in 2017. Rush’s most significant recent playing time was when he started 5 games in Weeks 2-6 of the 2022 season. Rush played pretty well in that stretch picking up four low-scoring wins, but that came crashing back to earth with a 3-interception performance against the Eagles. He has a much worse team to work with in 2024, and all signs point towards the Eagles dominating this division rivalry game.
KC vs DEN: Bo Nix and the Broncos got ran over by the freight train that is the Ravens last week, and Nix notably failed to take advantage of what was supposed to be a pretty weak passing defense. Nix and the Broncos offensive line have done well to avoid taking lots of sacks this year, but last week was their first time allowing four. Things should only get worse this week against a Chiefs team that is 8-0 largely thanks to their defense. The future is bright for the Broncos, but not this week.
BUF @ IND: The Colts’ decision to bench Anthony Richardson was widely criticized. Richardson had not been good, but this move was seen as way too early to give up on the future of the franchize. Those criticisms were validated last week when the Colts failed to be any better with veteran Joe Flacco under center, recording a measly 13 points against the Vikings. The Bills’ defense has had and will continue to have a tough schedule, but they’ve been able to turn in good fantasy performances in their few good matchups, and this should be another one of those weeks against a Colts team that’s in crisis.
MIN @ JAC: The Vikings have been one of the best defenses in the league this year, and that continued last week as they embarrassed the Colts for their decision to bench Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco. Now they get to face a 2-6 Jaguars team for whom Trevor Lawrence just turned in his worst performance of the year, throwing two interceptions to the Eagles.
CAR vs NYG: Daniel Jones had is best game of the season as a passer against the Commanders last week, but that only added up to 22 points in a loss. The Panthers are far from the most exciting defense, as reflected in their 1% rostership rate on Yahoo. For a dart throw streaming option that’s available in just about every league, you could do worse than taking the home defense in this meeting of two of football’s worst teams.
WAS vs PIT: Russell Wilson has certainly proved that he deserves the Steelers’ starting QB job over Justin Fields, but he still took 4 sacks against the Giants in Week 8 before the bye. Wilson has been known to take a lot of sacks throughout his career, even when he’s playing his best. The Commanders’ defense has continued to exceed low expectations, and is currently tied (with the chargers) for 8th in sacks this Season. This is a scary defense to deploy this week becuase of the possibility of a shootout, but the vegas-based points projection for the Steelers is on the low side, and the outlook for sacks is good.
NE @ CHI: Caleb Williams and the Bears had their worst offensive showing of the year, totaling just 9 points from 3 field goals against the Cardinals despite never turning the ball over. After a hot stretch in Weeks 4-6, Williams’s numbers look pretty abysmal in two games since the Bears’ Week 7 bye, with zero passing touchdowns and 9 sacks taken. The Patriots’ defense is not particularly good, but they still have potential for a big fantasy day if the Bears keep playing this badly.
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