Week 10 Flex Rankings: Amends to Tight Ends

Week 10 of the NFL season features four teams on a bye, which is standard fare for this time of year. Yet it feels like this particular bye has a greater impact than normal. That is because the teams that are off this week have provided fantasy managers with some of the best Flex options throughout the year. Five of the top 17 running backs in year-to-date scoring are on bye this week. Side note: it is crazy that De’Von Achane is still the overall RB17 considering he has basically played three games. Five of the top 24 wide receivers are also off, and that does not count Cooper Kupp. And two of the top nine tight ends are on bye, including the overall TE1 Travis Kelce. Suffice it to say that these absences will alter the look of my Week 10 Flex rankings.

But not all hope is lost. Several key contributors could be returning from injured reserve this week. Such players include David Montgomery, James Conner, and Khalil Herbert. Technically Justin Jefferson can return as well, but I do not see that happening quite yet. I usually try to play it conservatively when it comes to players returning from a lengthy layoff. However, some fantasy rosters need all the help they can get at this time of year. They have the vibe of a bar right around closing time. The attractive options available thin out pretty quickly, especially when the house lights come on. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes, pick someone, and live with the results. With all that being said, below are my Week 10 Flex rankings. As always, they are based on half-PPR scoring, so adjust based on your league specifications.

Running Back Notes

As I just mentioned, several starting running backs could be back in the mix this week, which is great news. It remains to be seen how effective they will be, or even how much they will be used. David Montgomery was the overall RB7 through five weeks of the season. But dynamic rookie Jahmyr Gibbs was the overall RB1 in two starts in Montgomery’s absence. Given Gibbs’ emergence, I cannot envision the Detroit Lions reverting to the backfield split that existed before Montgomery got hurt. That means the ceiling for both Montgomery and Gibbs is likely lower than fantasy managers would like. However, both should have solid floors against a Los Angeles Chargers defense that has allowed the eighth-most fantasy points to opposing backs this year. I have both Lions backs inside my top 40 overall Flex players.

Not only is James Conner in line for a potential return, but quarterback Kyler Murray is back in action as well. Arizona has averaged just under 17 points per game this year and was shut out last week with Clayton Tune behind center. The team averaged 22.7 points in 10 games with Murray at the helm a year ago, so there could be some sneaky fantasy potential going forward. As for Khalil Herbert, there are a couple of things in fantasy managers’ favor this week. First, the Chicago Bears play on Thursday night. That means managers will know right away if Herbert will suit up. They also have an outstanding matchup against the Carolina Panthers. Carolina is last in the NFL in rush defense DVOA. If both backs see close to their normal workloads, they should be solid Week 10 Flex options.

Wide Receiver Notes

So far this season, Jahan Dotson has three games in which he has finished the week as a top-30 fantasy wideout, including two straight top-10 weekly finishes. In his other six, he has landed outside the top 45. I split the baby and ranked Dotson as my overall WR36 for the week, which has me leaning toward starting him as a potential Flex play. I would be lying if I said I had supreme confidence in Dotson this week. But the volume should be there. The Washington Commanders have the third-highest PROE (pass rate over expectations) in the NFL this year. And they are one of the largest underdogs on the Week 10 slate against the Seattle Seahawks. Seattle has allowed four wide receivers to finish with at least 89 receiving yards in four home games, so there is room for Dotson to build on his recent success.

Christian Watson of the Green Bay Packers is another second-year wideout who has struggled with consistency this season. But unlike Dotson, Watson has yet to flash much upside in 2023. After missing the first three weeks due to injury, Watson posted 9.5 and 10.1 fantasy points in his first two games of the year. But it has been rough sledding ever since. Watson has yet to record more than 4.8 fantasy points in his past three outings. He was evaluated for a concussion last week and is also currently dealing with chest and back ailments. Watson took part in practice on Wednesday and should be good to go this week. However, I do not consider him a must-start. I have him as my WR39 at the moment, making him a possible Flex play depending on your other options.

Tight End Notes

It seemed like NFL offenses were a bit late to the party regarding National Tight Ends Day. The unofficial celebration took place several weeks ago. But for fantasy purposes, last week was where the party was really at. Fifteen different tight ends scored at least 10 fantasy points last week.

I have often decried the strategy of starting a tight end in the Flex spot. But I must consider that there are enough viable players at the position for such a strategy to make sense under the right circumstances. In most 12-team leagues, you will start two running backs, three wide receivers, one tight end, and one Flex. So in broad terms, anyone outside the top 24 running backs, 36 wide receivers, and 12 tight ends gets thrown in the Flex pool. I still ranked the tight ends outside my top 12 slightly lower than their counterparts at the other positions in terms of overall Flex rankings for Week 10. Having said that, a lot of these running backs and wide receivers have warts as well.

For example, I currently have Christian Watson and Quentin Johnston ranked higher overall in my Week 10 Flex rankings than Logan Thomas, who is my TE14. I did so because I just think the upside is generally higher with the wide receivers, even if they haven’t exactly shown us much thus far in 2023. However, Thomas should have a safer floor than either wide receiver. Thomas has at least five fantasy points in seven of eight games, while Watson and Johnston have combined for three such games in 13 total games. You know your roster construction and league settings more than I do. I chase the upside, but sometimes those players with higher floors can be more helpful. Make the decision that works best for you based on your team’s needs.

More Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty

Week 10 Flex Rankings