It’s hard to believe we are already in Week 10. Don’t get stressed though, we have eight weeks left, and we are going to make the best of it. Early risers will get to see another Sunday morning game in Germany this week, as the New England Patriots face the Indianapolis Colts. We also lose some of the best quarterbacks and receivers in the league as Kansas City, Miami, the Eagles, and the Rams are on bye. There are some top-rated receivers still to choose from, but there are also a lot of injuries, and we will need to get some low-priced values that will hopefully be slate breakers.
Here are four receivers who are sleepers that I will have interest in, and they may be the winning piece for your DFS lineups or Seasonal fantasy team this week. I am basing these picks on game environment, projected ownership, and value.
Best NFL DFS Wide Receiver Values Week 10
Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seattle Seahawks
Rookie Smith-Njigba has had three straight games with double-digits. He is sneaking up on the WR1 position over D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett. He has another opportunity to put up points this week, as Seattle will host the Washington Commanders, the second-worst team against receivers behind Denver. This matchup against the Commanders’ pass funnel defense opens up the opportunity for receivers to torch them as they have been doing most of the season. The matchup has gotten even better since Washington traded away some of the league’s best edge rushers in Montez Sweat and Chase Young.
Seattle has been less than exciting to watch than last year and has offered little to no help fantasy-wise so far this season, but you also have to look at the injuries they have been dealing with and the teams they have faced. This week they get an opportunity to pass the ball and put up real points. I can see all three receivers doing well in this game, but Jaxon has the best upside given his recent uptick in receptions. Over the last two weeks, Metcalf has more targets than JSN, but fewer receptions, and a lower catch rate at 55% versus Smith-Njigba and Lockett tied at 67%.
Michael Wilson, Arizona Cardinals
I am writing this with Wilson still questionable, but he is said to be progressing towards being able to play this week, and if he does, I think he will make a splash with Kyler Murray back. Wilson has 25 receptions for 401 yards and two touchdowns on the season. In Weeks 3 and 4, Wilson put up double-digit fantasy points, and he has exceeded eight fantasy points in five of the eight weeks he has played. Marquise Brown will most likely be the receiver to get the most looks, but if Wilson suits up, he will provide great value to your roster. If Wilson is not able to go, we have another very cheap receiver in Rondale Moore that you can roster also.
Brandon Powell, Minnesota Vikings
Powell hasn’t been involved a ton, but that may change this week with the injuries that seem to plague the Vikings. Justin Jefferson has started to take some snaps in practice, but it is not likely he will play this week. Cam Akers is out for the season with a torn Achilles, and K.J. Osborn is most likely not going to pass the concussion protocol to suit up. Jordan Addison and T.J. Hockenson will see most of the targets, but Powell has the ability to make special plays and should be in for more looks to help this Vikings offense move the ball down the field against the Saints. He comes in at a bargain price, and if there were any week where he will be utilized, this is it.
Trenton Irwin, Cincinnati Bengals
This is another player who should benefit greatly from injuries to his team. Cincinnati’s WR1 Ja’Marr Chase is dealing with a nasty back bruise. He sat out of Wednesday’s practice and was limited in Thursday’s practice. Chase says he plans to increase his activity in Friday’s practice to see if he will be able to suit up for the game on Sunday.
Tee Higgins has also been sidelined from practice due to a hamstring injury. He is expected to miss this week’s game against the Texans. With the top two receivers for this Bengals team expected to be out or limited, Trenton Irwin will share the field with Tyler Boyd and should have no problem reaching double-digit fantasy points as long as he gets the targets. I expect Irwin to be Joe Burrow’s WR2 this week if Chase and Higgins are in fact ruled out. When Higgins was out in Week 5, Irwin stepped in and delivered an 8-60-0 receiving line on 10 targets.
