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Top 10 Fantasy Football Takeaways from Week 10 Usage

1. Christian McCaffrey Is So Back

HC Kyle Shanahan just can't help himself. When McCaffrey is available, he's gonna get fed.

He played essentially the same role in his 2024 debut as he did last season. That role, of course, fueled McCaffrey to 24.5 PPR points per game last year -- the most in a season by a RB since 2020.

There’s probably still some re-injury risk with McCaffrey. But, given good health, there’s not another RB I’d rather have in fantasy football the rest of the way.

2. T.J. Hockenson’s Role Grows

Hockenson made a significant jump in route rate from Week 9 to Week 10 -- and an even bigger jump in target share. The result was an 8-72-0 receiving line on nine targets. Hockenson finished the week third among TEs in expected PPR points and fifth in actual PPR points.

There's still meat on the bone, too. Hockenson ran a route on 84% of Vikings pass plays in 14 healthy games last year. Expect him to get back to that level within the next few weeks.

Hockenson has already returned to top-10 TE status and could quickly climb into the top-5.

3. Jauan Jennings In For Strong Second Half

In the 49ers' first game of the season with Jennings, Samuel, and Pearsall all available, it was Jennings leading the way in playing time and targets. He also led the Niners with a 39% first-read target share, per Fantasy Points Data. (Pearsall ranked second at 21%; Samuel third at 19%.) That means San Francisco was calling plays to get Jennings the ball.

Jennings has now reached a 70% route rate twice this season. He's scored 46.5 and 16.3 PPR points in those outings.

That level of production won't continue. And their résumés say we should expect Samuel to out-score Jennings the rest of the way.

But Jennings appears to be in the midst of a fourth-year breakout. Consider him at least a weekly WR3 going forward. And there's upside for more.

4. Is Audric Estime Denver’s New Lead Back?

Estime took over Denver's backfield in Week 10, carrying 14 times compared to just three total for Williams and McLaughlin. The rookie totaled 53 rush yards on only 3.8 yards per carry. But that came against a Chiefs defense that entered allowing just 3.1 yards per carry to RBs.

This flippening didn't come out of nowhere. There had been reports from national media and quotes from HC Sean Payton suggesting Estime's role would grow. It's certainly possible that he remains Denver's lead back the rest of the way.

But I'd be careful about trusting Estime as a weekly fantasy starter just yet for a couple of reasons:

1. He was the third RB to get a touch in Week 10. That suggests that Estime's usage might have been more of a "hot hand" situation than a pre-game plan.
2. Even if Estime does stick as the lead ball-carrier, he doesn't project to do a lot in the passing game. He caught just 26 balls across three college seasons and still trailed Williams in routes in Week 10.

Estime is worth rostering in most fantasy leagues and could emerge as a weekly asset. But I'd be surprised if we're viewing him as more than a RB3 or Flex play at any point this season.

5. Travis Etienne Regains Control Of Jaguars Backfield

The NFL has a meritocracy problem. The latest example: Jacksonville’s backfield.

Tank Bigsby has been the Jaguars’ best runner this season by pretty much any metric:

• Yards per carry
• Yards after contact per carry
• Rush yards over expected per attempt
• Pro Football Focus rushing grade

Yet the Jaguars went back to Etienne as the clear lead back in Week 10. Why? I'd guess at least in part because he's the guy the team spent a first-round pick on a few years ago.

It's worth noting that Bigsby got banged up in this one, which might have impacted his playing time. But HC Doug Pederson said after the game that it was "nothing serious."

We'll see what the backfield looks like in Week 11. I'd try to keep Bigsby stashed in most fantasy leagues, but he's not playable at the moment. Etienne will at least be a RB3 or Flex option if the Week 10 usage sticks, although QB Mac Jones threatens to bring down the entire offense.

6. Will DeAndre Hopkins’ Playing Time Grow?

Hopkins made a big jump in playing time from his first to second game as a Chief. The logical conclusion was that he'd climb again in Week 10.

But that didn't happen. In fact, Hopkins' route rate went in the other direction.

Do the Chiefs plan on keeping him in this 60-70% route range? It's possible. Hopkins, who continues to play through his summer knee injury, never topped a 70% route rate for the Titans this year either.

If there's ever a spot for Kansas City to unleash Hopkins, it'd be the Week 11 showdown vs. the Bills, which could very well determine home-field advantage in the playoffs.

If Hopkins' playing time remains capped in that one, it'll be safe to project him in that range the rest of the season. That wouldn't preclude him from being a fantasy starter. But it would lower both his weekly ceiling and floor.

7. Bucky Irving Taking Control Of Buccaneers Carries

We've seen a shift in Tampa Bay's backfield over the last three weeks. While White has continued to lead in passing-game work, Irving has taken over as the clear lead ball-carrier. He's climbed from a 36% carry share over the first seven games of the season to 43% over the last three.

Irving has remained plenty involved in the passing game, too. Over those last three weeks, he ranks 25th among RBs in expected PPR points and 23rd in actual PPR points.

If this backfield deployment continues after the Bucs' Week 11 bye -- and I think it will considering Irving has out-played White on the ground all season -- the rookie could be a top-25 RB down the stretch. He'll be helped by the easiest RB schedule from Weeks 12 through 17.

White will be helped by that schedule, too. He's seeing enough passing-game work to remain a viable RB3 or Flex play in PPR leagues.

8. Jaylen Warren Gaining On Najee Harris

Warren matched Harris in snaps last week for the second time over the last three games. He didn't do that in any of their first four games together. Warren also tied a season-high with his 33% carry share this past week.

This backfield has turned into the committee we expected it to be over Pittsburgh's last three games. Harris still leads in expected PPR points per game over that stretch, ranking 19th among RBs at 14.9 points. But Warren isn't far behind: 25th among RBs with 12.4 expected points per game.

Considering the Steelers have the single toughest remaining RB schedule, it's wise to treat both Harris and Warren as just RB3s going forward. That makes Harris, who has four straight top-22 PPR finishes, a sell-high candidate this week.

9. Tony Pollard Loses Workhorse Role

Pollard had registered an 80+% snap rate and 60+% carry share in the previous three games without Spears. He found himself in a near-even timeshare with Spears back for Week 10.

Pollard appeared to miss a series or two in this one with an injury, which likely impacted the final usage numbers. But Pollard has been battling a foot injury for a couple of weeks now. It certainly makes sense for the Titans to lessen his load. Remember that Pollard struggled as a workhorse in Dallas last year.

I'm expecting this backfield to look similar to what we saw in Week 10 the rest of the way. For perspective, Pollard ranked 24th among RBs in expected PPR points; Spears 34th. Those are fair valuations for both guys.

Consider Pollard a fringe RB2/3 and Spears a low-end RB3 or Flex option going forward.

10. J.K. Dobbins Loses Workhorse Role

Edwards got the Chargers' second carry of the game in Week 10 and continued to mix in liberally throughout. To his credit, he looked the best he has all season, averaging 5.5 yards on his 10 carries.

Edwards is a problem for Dobbins. He's averaged a 74% snap rate and 17.5 carries per game without Edwards this season vs. a 62% snap rate and 14.2 carries per game with Edwards.

It's not all bad for Dobbins, though. His 71% route rate in Week 10 was actually a season high. That's because Edwards, unlikely Kimani Vidal, doesn't contribute much in the passing game.

Dobbins still came away from Week 10 with 15 carries and three targets, ranking 11th among RBs in expected PPR points. It was a run-heavy game in positive script for the Chargers -- and we can't expect 27 total RB carries from them every week.

But if Dobbins remains the lead ball-carrier and continues to dominate passing-game work, he can still be a serviceable RB2.

Edwards would need to pass up Dobbins in carries to be a bankable fantasy play. For now, consider him a RB3 or Flex only in non-PPR leagues.

And hopefully Haskins stops vulturing TDs from both guys.

Jared Smola, Lead Analyst

Jared has been with Draft Sharks since 2007. He’s now Lead Analyst, heading up the preseason and weekly projections that fuel your Draft War Room and My Team tools. He currently ranks 1st among 133 analysts in draft rankings accuracy.