Early Slate: Week 10 NFL DFS Picks on DraftKings, FanDuel (2024) - Lineups Advice, Strategy, Values

The Week 10 early slate is not the most exciting we’ve had this season. There are relatively few competitive-looking games, and offense could be hard to come by in several spots. Jacksonville, New England, and even Denver and Indianapolis don’t look overly enticing from a fantasy perspective, but that doesn’t mean we can’t play the other side of those games in certain spots to gain an advantage.

The real fireworks on this slate should come from the 49ers and Buccaneers game, where both offenses are clicking despite many injuries. The return of Christian McCaffrey to the San Francisco offense throws a wrench into a standard tournament build, allowing us to roster some of these pass-catchers at lower ownership. The other game that could be more fantasy-friendly is the Steelers heading into Washington. Pittsburgh isn’t known for its big plays, but Washington can be a little suspect on defense and that could open things up for the Steelers passing game.

I’m excited for Week 10, and my goal is to create a hierarchy of plays so you know who to prioritize when building your lineups! Remember that this article is written early in the week, so please check in with our Discord for any updates as practice reports come in throughout the week and a clearer picture starts to come into view. Also, check out our other great NFL DFS articles and NFL DFS tools to help you win big!

Quarterbacks - Early Slate Week 10 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Josh Allen (Buffalo Bills - $7.7K DK, $9.2K FD)

Josh Allen is the best fantasy player at the position, and he has one of the most fantasy-friendly matchups a quarterback can have against the Colts. He’s priced fairly on FanDuel, but he is underpriced on DraftKings by about $800, and that’s a great place to give him a go on this slate. Allen makes sense as a cash option on DraftKings, and he’s so easy to stack up in a tournament on both sites, given how inexpensive his pass-catchers are. 

Contrarian Play: Sam Darnold (Minnesota Vikings - $6.2K DK, $7.8K FD)

The biggest concern with playing Sam Darnold is that there is serious blowout potential in this game. The Jaguars should be without Trevor Lawrence, and that pretty much sinks their entire team. Still, the Vikings have to get up to a huge lead somehow to pull their starters, and if they do that via the pass, Darnold should be in for a huge game.

You want to stack him up with Justin Jefferson and another pass-catcher, or you can get sneaky and use Aaron Jones with Darnold and JJ since he gets a decent amount of work out of the backfield in the passing game.

Chalk Play: Brock Purdy (San Francisco 49ers - $6.5K DK, $8.1K FD)

Something tells me that the game between the 49ers and the Buccaneers should be a site to behold. Both offenses are clicking, and Brock Purdy and Baker Mayfield are playing at high levels. The return of Christian McCaffrey should only help lower the ownership on San Francisco receiving stacks, but you want to attack the Buccaneers through the air.

You could always use McCaffrey as part of a stack, or you can run with Deebo Samuel Sr. and George Kittle for a high-upside passing connection. Despite San Francisco's struggles this year, Purdy has been great for fantasy and that should continue given this incredible matchup.

Chalk Play: Kirk Cousins (Atlanta Falcons - $6.7K DK, $7.4K FD)

When Bryce Young can put up points on a team, you’re going to want exposure to real teams facing that same defense. After a blistering start to the season, the New Orleans Saints have fallen off a cliff and everybody is putting up points on them.

Kirk Cousins is up and down with his production, but when he’s up, few players can score as much as him. You can stack him with Darnell Mooney and either one of Ray-Ray McCloud III, assuming Drake London is out, or Kyle Pitts. Bijan Robinson catches enough passes out of the backfield that he is a viable option in a Falcons stack as well.

Others in consideration: Russell Wilson (PIT), Bo Nix (DEN)

Running Backs - Early Slate Week 10 DFS Picks

Contrarian Play: Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts - $7.5K DK, $8.6K FD)

The best way to get an advantage on the Buffalo Bills is to keep the ball on the ground and try to control the clock. The Bills have allowed more than 120 rushing yards five times this year, and the Colts will not win this game in a shootout.

Jonathan Taylor has seen a good workload since his return from injury, averaging 19.5 opportunities per game in those two games. They were both close road games, while this game is at home and is one where Indianapolis comes in as an underdog.

Usually, we prefer to play running backs who are home favorites, but if Indianapolis wants to keep this game close, it needs to rely on Taylor, making him a good tournament bring-back to a Bills stack.

Chalk Play: Bijan Robinson (Atlanta Falcons - $7.7K DK, $8.8K FD)

Bijan Robinson is finally seeing the kind of volume we expected when he was drafted early in the first round last year. He has at least five targets in the passing game in all but two games this year and has seven receptions in each of the last two games.

He isn’t a workhorse in the running game, but he has had 12 or more carries in all but one game this year, with at least 15 carries in three of his last four games. Robinson has scored at least 20 DraftKings points in each of the last four games, giving him one of the safest floors of any running back on the slate this week. 

Bijan Robinson this Season:

🔻 303 REC Yards (3rd Among RBs)
🔻 399 REC Yards After the Catch (1st Among RBs)
🔻 142 REC Yards After Contact (2nd Among RBs) pic.twitter.com/AfD5OYjMe2

— PFF Fantasy & Betting (@PFF_Fantasy) November 7, 2024

Contrarian Play: Aaron Jones (Minnesota Vikings - $6.7K DK, $7.9K FD)

The Jaguars defense has completely fallen apart over the last month, allowing over 150 rushing yards in three of the last four games. Jacksonville won’t have Trevor Lawrence at quarterback this weekend, meaning the Vikings should play from ahead most of the game.

That gives Aaron Jones a significant opportunity to pile up opportunities and yards with heavy touchdown equity. Jones has at least 19 rushing attempts in four of his last six games and has at least four targets in the passing game in half of his games this year. Because of the expected game script, this could be a ceiling game for Jones. 

Others in consideration: Christian McCaffrey (SF), Alvin Kamara (NO), Rachaad White (TB), D'Andre Swift (CHI)

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Wide Receivers - Early Slate Week 10 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Justin Jefferson (Minnesota Vikings - $8.8K DK, $9.5K FD)

As Matthew Berry likes to say, just because it’s obvious doesn’t mean it isn’t right. Justin Jefferson is one of the most consistent wide receivers in the game. He has at least eight targets in each of his last six games and has gone over 100 yards in each of his last two games. He has 20 or more DraftKings points in all but two games this year and hasn’t scored less than 15 DraftKings points in any game.

This weekend, he’s facing a depleted Jacksonville Jaguars team. Although there is concern about a blowout, Jefferson's high floor and target share still make him a strong option for cash games or as part of a tournament stack with Sam Darnold. 

Chalk Play: Darnell Mooney (Atlanta Falcons - $6.5K DK, $7.5K FD)

Although Drake London practiced on Thursday, it’s still unsure at this point if he will play on Sunday. Even if he does, Darnell Mooney could still be the featured wide receiver if London is playing with any sort of hitch in his giddyup.

It’s not like London’s presence has been a problem for Mooney this year anyway, as he has five targets in every game since Week 1 and has scored a touchdown each of the last two weeks. Mooney may not be cash-worthy because of all the other options available in the Atlanta offense, but he is a great tournament play with multiple games of 15 or more fantasy points this year.

If he was the featured receiver in this game, he’s got a ceiling similar to what we saw in Week 5 when he produced 34.5 DraftKings points.

Contrarian Play: George Pickens (Pittsburgh Steelers - $6.8K DK, $7K FD)

Although the Commanders defense has improved over the last handful of weeks, it can still be beaten deep, and there are few better deep threats in the league than George Pickens.

The mistake people make is that Pickens is only a deep threat, but he has a decent target floor this season. Pickens has at least seven targets in all but two games this year. His issue is that his conversion rate isn’t nearly as high as most elite receivers in the league, with only 60% of those targets turning into catches. 

Russell Wilson has shown a lot of love for Pickens, and he’s produced well in the last two weeks with an average of 18 DraftKings points. He’s not a cash-game option given his low catch rate, but he makes for a strong bring-back play to a Commanders stack, or as a one-off option in tournaments. 

Others in consideration: DeAndre Hopkins (KC), Rome Odunze (CHI), Ricky Pearsall (SF), Parker Washington (JAX), Khalil Shakir (BUF)

Tight Ends - Early Slate Week 10 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: George Kittle (San Francisco 49ers - $5.8K DK, $8K FD)

The return of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers offense should draw a lot of attention, but don’t sleep on the top tight end in fantasy this year. George Kittle has produced at least 14.5 DraftKings points in all but one game and gets one of the best matchups for a tight end this weekend against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

McCaffrey‘s presence in this offense will draw attention away from the pass-catchers, making things easier for Kittle in the middle of the field and around the goal line. He has scored a touchdown in all but two games this year, making Kittle a good bet for another. He is your top spend-up in cash games at the tight-end position.

George Kittle’s rankings among tight ends this season:

• Touchdowns: #1
• Yards per Route: #1
• PFF Grade: #1
• Receiving Yards: #2 https://t.co/jY54d1rGrg pic.twitter.com/MYpzuT06UA

— Coach Yac 🗣 (@Coach_Yac) November 3, 2024

Chalk Play: Dalton Kincaid (Buffalo Bills - $4.9K DK, $6K FD)

Dalton Kincaid has been the most consistent receiving weapon for Josh Allen for the last six weeks, where he hasn’t seen less than six targets in any game.

Kincaid is like the George Pickens of tight ends, as he’s only caught around 60% of his targets over those six games, but I’ll take the opportunity over everything at tight end. That he’s priced under $5,000 on DraftKings is a huge benefit, as it helps you afford to fit Josh Allen into a tournament stack.

The Colts are one of the most fantasy-friendly matchups for a tight end, and if he can just pull his catch rate to a more agreeable level, Kincaid has the potential for a big-ceiling game. His target volume and low price put him in the conversation for cash games, while he is the first pass-catcher you should click in a Bills tournament stack. 

Contrarian Play: Taysom Hill (New Orleans Saints - $4K DK, $6.3K FD)

The biggest complaint people have had in the past with using Taysom Hill at tight end is that he doesn’t see enough targets to provide a large enough floor, making him touchdown-dependent.

We still rely on Hill to score touchdowns for a spike week, but the nine total targets he saw over the last two weeks make him more viable for cash games, given his usage in the running game. 

Last weekend, Alvin Kamara didn’t see a single snap inside the 10-yard line, as it was all Hill opportunities. That kind of usage is key for a touchdown-dependent player who will give us a little bit of extra usage in the passing game. Hill is the bring-back I want to any Falcons stack, and he is in play for a spend-down option in cash-game lineups. 

Others in consideration: Travis Kelce (KC), T.J. Hockenson (MIN), Hunter Henry (NE), Adam Trautman (DEN)

Defense/Special Teams - Early Slate Week 10 DFS Picks

Chalk Play: Chicago Bears - $3K DK, $5K FD

Chicago has been sneaky good on defense this year, scoring five or more DraftKings points in all but one game. It has been led by a pass rush that has produced at least three sacks in all but two games and has forced multiple turnovers in all but two games this year.

This week, the Bears get a New England Patriots team that is struggling, even with the emergence of Drake Maye at quarterback. They have one of the worst offensive lines in the league and should allow Chicago to disrupt the passing game with regularity.

They are a much better value on DraftKings than FanDuel, which puts them in the cash-game conversation. Chicago is a tournament-only option on FanDuel, given its exorbitant price.

Contrarian Play: Pittsburgh Steelers - $3K DK, $4.2K FD

The Steelers are one of only a handful of teams that averages more than 10 DraftKings points per game this year, yet they are priced down because they are facing a strong Washington offense.

If anyone can design a scheme to disrupt a rookie quarterback, it’s Mike Tomlin. The Steelers continue to surprise by being competitive every week, and they are led by their defense.

The team has scored at least eight DraftKings points in all but one game this year, so to get it at such a value is a huge bonus. If the Steelers come in at low ownership, they could be the difference in a tournament lineup over a chalk team with a better matchup that ends up not performing as well as expected. 

Others in consideration: Minnesota Vikings, Kansas City Chiefs

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