It’s felt like a very long week, hasn’t it?
Halloween has passed us by, the trade deadline has come and gone, and the end of incessant political ads interrupting our Sunday games is finally at an end. It’s been nice and busy on all fronts, but with the middle of the 2024 season here and now, it’s all hands on deck with fantasy playoffs looming large down the stretch. To this point, it’s nice and evident who’s contending and who’s just treading water with their year – and if you’re struggling, time’s running out for that final push.
Getting to it like always – here are my picks to Boom or Bust for Week 10.
Booms: Week 10
Saquon Barkley, RB – Philadelphia Eagles
Week 10 Matchup: at Dallas Cowboys (vs. RB – 29th)
Last Week: vs. Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. RB – 30th):
27 Carries, 159 Yards, 1 TD, 1 FUM (Lost) | 4 Targets, 3 Receptions, 40 Yards, 1 TD
It pains me to say this, but Saquon Barkley is even more elite in Philly.
A week removed from his ridiculously athletic BACKWARDS hurdle, Barkley has the pleasure of taking on the Dallas Cowboys on the road – their hated rival who has been laughably bad at stopping opposing running backs this season. Coupled with the contentious nature of this matchup is the fact that Dallas is heinously limping into this game, missing key pieces across its defense, and learning the news this week that starting quarterback Dak Prescott will likely end up on injured reserve. This has the potential to quickly delve into a turkey shoot, and if the blowout occurs expect Barkley to have a massive share of the pie in Arlington on Sunday.
Considering the Eagles may be shorthanded at receiver as well with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith banged up, the easiest path to victory likely resides with riding the hot hand and their highly-paid star running back. The Eagles’ running game is lethal ten weeks into the season, and I don’t expect it to slow down anytime soon.
Tyrone Tracy, RB – New York Giants
Week 10 Matchup: at Carolina Panthers (Munich, Germany) (vs. RB – 32nd)
Last Week: vs. Washington Commanders (vs. RB – 12th):
16 Carries, 66 Yards | 1 Target, 1 Reception, 3 Yards
It feels weird listing a Giants’ player as a weekly Boom candidate, but stranger things have happened, certainly.
Tyrone Tracy Jr. has seized the reigns from veteran teammate Devin Singletary and hasn’t quite looked back, rushing as effectively as he can behind a middling offense. He did his part against the Commanders in Week 9, averaging 4.1 yards per carry against a decently stout front seven, and this week he draws a much better matchup against the worst unit in the league at stopping opposing running backs – in Germany of all places.
The Panthers’ defense is abysmal and likely won’t be any better in a different time zone, and it would behoove New York to rely on a stable running game to help balance the inadequacies of quarterback Daniel Jones. The NFC East bottom-dwellers have had a rough year so far, but they should have no problem collecting an easy win on the road and Tracy should be at the tip of the spear to help them do it.
George Kittle, TE – San Fransisco 49ers
Week 10 Matchup: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. TE – 29th)
Last Week: Bye Week:
Week 8 Stats – 7 Targets, 6 Receptions, 128 Yards, 1 TD
We have yet to see what the Niners look like with a full complement of weapons.
That may finally come as close to fruition as it can get this year, with star running back Christian McCaffrey set to make his season debut against Tampa Bay on the road. To this point, it’s been the veteran tight end that has led this offense through the air, and even with McCaffrey finally ready to roll, I don’t expect Kittle’s role to change anytime soon.
Number 85 has been a safety blanket in every sense of the word for quarterback Brock Purdy, and with the likes of Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk missing time this season he’s been the most reliable option on offense in every game.
Against the Bucs, Kittle faces off with the 29th-best defense at stopping opposing tight ends. This is a massive matchup that the veteran can exploit, and with all of the extra attention sent to stop McCaffrey from doing what he does best, I fully expect Kittle to claim his share on the day.
Busts: Week 10
Kyler Murray, QB – Arizona Cardinals
Week 10 Matchup: vs. New York Jets (vs. QB – 4th)
Last Week: vs. Chicago Bears (vs. QB – 1st):
13/20, 154 Yards, 1 FUM (Lost) | 2 Carries, 6 Yards
Kyler Murray has been a bit of a disappointment this season, and it’s likely to continue this week hosting the New York Jets.
The Cardinals’ offense saw its share of struggles against the league-best Chicago Bears last week, with Murray failing to register a single score while coughing the ball up on a lost fumble. His connection with his pass catchers has been hit or miss all year, and it’s hubris to expect it to suddenly revive itself against the Jets’ secondary who have been consistently physical at the point of attack.
The fact that they lead the NFC West is an interesting anomaly considering how inconsistent the offensive options in Glendale have been. Murray has done what he’s needed to this season, but the offense is fairly stagnant and it’s not just going to fix itself from week to week. Expect rough sledding in this matchup against Sauce Gardner and company.
Courtland Sutton, WR – Denver Broncos
Week 10 Matchup: at Kansas City Chiefs (vs. WR – 7th)
Last Week: at Baltimore Ravens (vs. WR – 31st):
10 Targets, 7 Receptions, 122 Yards | 1/1, 2 Yards, 1 TD
It’s been fun watching Courtland Sutton’s connection with rookie quarterback Bo Nix evolve over the course of the season.
Against Baltimore on the road, there wasn’t exactly much to be happy about – but Sutton did his best to show out, leading the team with 122 yards on 10 targets and chipping in a passing touchdown to his rookie passer to boot. It’s been up and down for the unit so far this year, but the pair look to be building up of late and this could be a lethal combo as the weeks wear on.
For that reason, it’ll be a shame to watch Kansas City put a damper on that.
The Chiefs have not been as shut down in the secondary as they have in years past, but the defense is still potent against opposing wideouts – ranking seventh in the league at stopping production from that position. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo is absolutely brutal against rookie signal callers, going 12-2 against them historically. With the ups and downs of Nix and the Broncos offense to this point in Year 1, there’s a likely chance he won’t be successfully slinging the rock around – and that bodes poorly for Sutton statistically in this one.
Jayden Daniels, QB – Washington Commanders
Week 10 Matchup: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. QB – 2nd)
Last Week: at New York Giants (vs. QB – 24th):
15/22, 209 Yards, 2 TDs | 8 Carries, 35 Yards
The reigning Pepsi Zero Rookie of the Week has done it yet again.
Daniels has been an absolute revelation for Washington this season, the savior of the franchise for all intents and purposes. His rapport with the likes of wide receiver Terry McLaurin and company has built up each and every week, and the wins have just continued to roll in.
I expect a different story in this one, however.
Pittsburgh won’t be like previous Commander wins against New York, Carolina, or Cleveland; no, the number two unit against opposing quarterbacks packs star power in their defense, and has a resurgent offense to accompany it. TJ Watt is an absolute menace, reinforcements in the pass rush have arrived by way of the trade for Preston Smith, and head coach Mike Tomlin has the team playing their best football at this time of the year. Daniels has had his share of struggles at times (namely in the Chicago game where he needed a last-second miracle to win it), and I would bet on an experienced and physical team like the Steelers to take advantage of it.
Photos courtesy of Icon Sportswire
Adapted by Kurt Wasemiller (@kurtwasemiller on Twitter / @kurt_player02 on Instagram)