NFL Week 10 Round Up

Welcome back to the Weekly Round Up. As always, we will be highlighting this past week’s injury report, top performers, underperformers, and surprise producers. There was no shortage of stunning storylines during Week 10 of the 2023 NFL Season, so let’s recap the action.

Injury Roundup 

Taylor Heinicke (ATL) - Hamstring 

● After taking over the starting job and looking like a boost to the passing attack, Heinicke left in the 4th quarter with a hamstring injury. Desmond Ridder would return to the starting role if Heinicke were to miss time and HC Arthur Smith seems confident in Ridder’s abilities after the team nearly won the game against the Cardinals. 

Tee Higgins (CIN) - Hamstring 

● Higgins missed Week 10’s contest against the Houston Texans and is expected to miss a short week game this Thursday against the division rival Baltimore Ravens.

Deshaun Watson (CLE) - Ankle 

● The Browns signal caller got hurt at the end of the game but believes his ankle injury isn’t serious. He will be getting an MRI to determine the severity but Browns beat writer Tony Grossi noted on Twitter that an update won’t be available until Wednesday. 

De’Von Achane (MIA) - Knee 

● The rookie RB is set to begin practicing again after his injury in Week 5. He could play as early as this week as no setbacks have been announced. Team practice reports will be vital to understanding his chances of playing. 

Alexander Mattison (MIN) - Concussion 

● Alexander Mattison suffered a concussion in the Vikings win and could be out next week against the Broncos as he goes through the protocol. The league seems to be more cautious with these things this year but players have cleared the concussion protocol quickly. The Vikings recently signed Myles Gaskin back to their practice squad which could be an indication that Mattison is in danger of missing a week. There’s no reason to believe that he won’t be back for Week 12, though. 

Justin Jefferson (MIN) - Hamstring 

● Justin Jefferson was a limited participant in practice leading up to their game against the Saints but has not been activated off IR yet. The Vikings have found ways to win games in his absence and may not want to risk their star player coming back too quickly and risking another injury. Assuming practice reports continue to look good, there’s a chance he suits up for Week 11’s game in Denver. Minnesota is on bye in Week 13 but there hasn’t been any speculation or announcement regarding him waiting out that long. 

Mac Jones (NE) - Bruise

● Mac Jones reportedly went to the x-ray room after the game in Frankfurt. Jones called it a “little bruise” and claimed that he was ok. This doesn’t seem to be an injury concern going forward but Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe during the loss. 

Derek Carr (NO) - Shoulder/Concussion 

● Derek Carr suffered two injuries in the game and was replaced by Jameis Winston. The Saints get a much-needed bye week to help Carr rest up. It’s likely that he will clear concussion protocol in time for their next game. Reports from beat writers and NFL insiders indicate that Carr avoided a serious shoulder injury and may be ok to play in their next game, pending tests. 

Michael Thomas (NO) - Knee 

● Thomas left the game in Minnesota in the 1st quarter with a knee injury. Head coach Dennis Allen called this injury “fairly significant” but we don’t have a timetable for his return just yet. 

Jalin Hyatt (NYG) - Concussion 

● Jalin Hyatt exited the game against Dallas with a concussion and will need to go through the concussion protocol to suit up against Washington. Players don’t typically miss more than a week with this type of injury. 

Aaron Rodgers (NYJ) - Achilles 

● The Jets haven’t announced a date for Aaron Rodgers to return or if he’ll return at all in the regular season. Rodgers himself claims that he will be back by mid-December. Until the Jets announce a range for him to return, fans shouldn’t put too much stock in Rodgers’ confidence just yet. 

Pat Freiermuth (PIT) - Hamstring 

● The Steelers have been without their starting TE for 4 weeks now but could be activated off the IR as soon as this week. Practice reports will be crucial in determining Freiermuth’s odds of suiting up against the Browns but even if he does log limited practices, he could sit out another week if the team wants to be cautious. 

Baker Mayfield (TB) - Thumb 

● Baker Mayfield hurt his thumb in the win over Tennessee but isn’t expected to miss any time. 

WEEKLY WEIGH-IN

Indianapolis Colts @ New England Patriots

● Mac Jones was benched for Bailey Zappe. While Bill Belichick has not named Zappe the starter yet, it could be time for a change. At 2-8, the Patriots have the worst record in the AFC and will be looking towards the 2024 draft and possibly drafting a QB.

● Demario “Pop” Douglas continued to impress as a rookie. Douglas’ 9 targets led the team and were a new high for the 6th round pick out of Liberty. Kendrick Bourne was the target hog in this offense but will be out for the season with a torn ACL. Douglas should continue to get fed as a top target in this offense no matter who the QB is. 

● Jonathan Taylor ran 23 times for 69 yards and a TD in a low-scoring victory. Zach Moss only had 1 carry for 2 yards after it looked like the Colts were intent on splitting work. His carries have gone down tremendously over the past few weeks and it looks like the team is set on using their star RB. 

Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers 

● Injuries to both teams on the defensive side led to a lot of early offensive success but Jordan Love threw two interceptions on Green Bay’s final two drives to seal the loss. 

● The Matt Canada sideline experiment seems to be working for now as the Steelers have found success running the ball more creatively and effectively. Jaylen Warren was named the starter for the first time in his career and ran for 101 yards and a TD. Najee Harris got 82 yards and a TD on his own as they both ate in a great rushing matchup. The Steelers face the Browns next week.

● Even though Aaron Jones seemed to be nearing 100%, his 13 carries only turned into 35 yards. AJ Dillon stole the show with a 40-yard run and 70 rushing yards on only 9 carries. 

● Rookie WR Jayden Reed had a career day, setting a new high in receiving yards (84) while catching his 4th TD of the season. 

Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals 

● C.J. Stroud led the Texans to another victory. At 5-4 and facing one of the easiest schedules of the season, they could seriously contend for this divisional crown. The Jaguars are only a game ahead after getting battered by a well-rested 49ers team. 

● Stroud put up 356 yards without Nico Collins, instead continuing to feed Noah Brown. Brown had 7 receptions for 172 yards after catching 6 for 153 last week. The veteran has come out of nowhere and could continue to have good games even when Collins returns. Robert Woods has not been very efficient at 31 years old and continues to see a drop in usage. 

● Devin Singletary dominated in Dameon Pierce’s absence, rushing for 150 yards and a TD on 30 carries. The rest of the Texans combined for 4 rushing attempts.

● Tee Higgins’ absence benefited Tyler Boyd the most, as he led the team with 12 targets. Trenton Irwin only drew 4 but caught 2 for 54 yards and a TD. If there were any remaining concerns about Joe Burrow, they should be long forgotten. The calf injury is a thing of the past and he is performing like the best of them. 

New Orleans Saints @ Minnesota Vikings 

● People would have forgiven the Minnesota Vikings for racking up a few losses since losing Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins but Josh Dobbs had something to say about that. The Vikings have now won 5 straight games, including 2 with Joshua Dobbs at the helm. This was his first start as a Viking and he methodically tore apart a very good Saints secondary. T.J. Hockenson stole the show, though, catching 11 of his 15 targets for 134 yards and a TD. Justin Jefferson’s return is only going to make this team better. Dobbs may not be an elite QB but he is winning games. With matchups against the Broncos, Bears, and Raiders coming up, this is a team that can continue to push for a playoff spot. Don’t forget that they recently made it to the NFC Championship game with Case Keenum at QB. 

● Derek Carr suffered a concussion and shoulder injury which paved the way for Jameis Winston to come in. Jameis threw 2 TDs but also 2 INTs in a close loss. The Saints were down 27-3 but rallied back to make it a one-score game. The Saints have a bye week coming up which should allow Derek Carr to rest up and start in Week 12, but the team may shock everyone by starting Winston. They have a lot of time to think about it but at 5-5 and leading the division, it may not be time for a decision like that just yet. 

Tennessee Titans @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

● Will Levis’ 4-TD debut seems like ancient history now. After an impressive rookie debut, Levis has failed to score a TD while throwing a pick in each of his last two games. The Steelers and Buccaneers are not easy opponents for a rookie signal caller but things won’t get easier against the division rival Jaguars next week. It’s too early to call Levis anything but a question mark but things are not looking great in Tennessee right now. 

● Derrick Henry only managed 24 yards on his 11 carries and caught his lone target for -4 yards. Tyjae Spears was more efficient in his limited carries and caught all 4 of his targets for 42 yards. Spears may be worth starting in fantasy when the Titans face top run defenses. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Jacksonville Jaguars 

● The Christian McCaffrey TD streak has ended. The 49ers were willing to risk his health to give him that TD at the end of the game, as they were force feeding him the ball in the red zone, but he was unable to capitalize. What a run CMC!

● Brock Purdy was nearly perfect, throwing for 296 yards and 3 TDs on only 26 pass attempts. 

● Trevor Lawrence has looked a lot more human this season. Christian Kirk was able to find success in a juicy slot matchup but Calvin Ridley and the rest of the team couldn’t get anything going. 

Cleveland Browns @ Baltimore Ravens 

● The two best defenses in the league met up for a thrilling match up that included 2 defensive TDs, 4 turnovers, and 64 total points. Cleveland went down by 14 points twice in the game but took away a key win with a last-second field goal. 

● Zay Flowers quietly had one of his best games of the season, catching 5 of 6 targets for 73 yards. Odell Beckham Jr. got revenge on his old team with a 40-yard TD.

● Undrafted rookie RB Keaton Mitchell stole headlines last week with a long TD and did the same this week. Mitchell totalled 66 yards and a score on only 4 touches.

● Every team in the AFC North is at least one win over .500 and the last place Bengals are only a game and a half behind the division-leading Ravens. Things will change with the entire division facing each other in Week 11. The Ravens host the Bengals on Thursday Night Football. Nobody is safe, and head-to-head wins/divisional record seem like it will decide who wins it all. 

Atlanta Falcons @ Arizona Cardinals 

● Kyler Murray returned and really didn’t miss a beat. For a player coming off an ACL tear, it’s impressive to see him throw for nearly 250 yards while adding another 33 and a score on the ground. He did throw an interception but you can’t expect perfection. He’ll only get better as the weeks go on. 

● Trey McBride has to be ecstatic to have Kyler Murray back. The sophomore TE caught 8 of 9 targets for a whopping 131 yards. McBride isn’t having a consistently elite season but his target numbers are going up and he’s performing well. Expect a lot more success. 

● James Conner returned and immediately dominated the rushing work. He didn’t get targeted but should see some receiving work soon. 

● Arthur Smith continues to lose but he is using Bijan Robinson more. The rookie RB pounded the rock 22 times for 95 yards and a TD. Unfortunately, Kyle Pitts and Drake London couldn’t find much success. Both receivers caught 3 balls for about 30 yards as the team combined for just 12 completions and 94 passing yards. 

Detroit Lions @ Los Angeles Chargers 

● Dan Cambpell doesn’t play it safe. It was a risky move, but going for it on 4th and 2 when a FG would have given the team the lead was a move that paid off hugely for Detroit. Neither the Chargers nor the Lions were showing any signs of slowing down on offense and Campbell knew that giving Justin Herbert nearly 2 minutes to score could be a death sentence. The Lions got a crucial win to move to 7-2 as they not only push for a divisional win but the #1 seed. 

● David Montgomery returned but it was Jahmyr Gibbs who led the team in carries. Both players ate but it was encouraging to see the team utilize both backs, especially when they gave Gibbs a goal-line carry that he scored on. This split and success may not be the norm going forward but you have to expect to see a healthy amount of both RBs each week. 

● Do the Chargers even need a WR2? Keenan Allen was nearly the entire receiving game this week with Josh Palmer out. Quentin Johnston has yet to emerge as a major weapon for LA but the team seems to do just fine offensively as they force-feed Allen. 

New York Giants @ Dallas Cowboys 

● The Giants are firmly set on 2024 and the NFL draft but getting destroyed by their division rival still hurts. Putting up 17 feels a bit better than their 40-0 loss to Dallas but it was still a massive blowout. Tommy Devito showcased some rushing ability but there haven’t been many bright spots. 

● The defense has shown some more bright spots than the offense but injuries continue to mount. CBs Deonta Banks and Cor’Dale Flott as well as star LB Kayvon Thibodeaux all exited the game. Andrew Thomas and Jalin Hyatt were hurt too.

● Dallas has clearly put their loss to the Cardinals behind them and took out their anger from the Eagles game on the Giants. Although he threw an interception, Dak Prescott looked phenomenal again and CeeDee Lamb continues to prove that he is firmly in the top tier of WRs.

● RB Tony Pollard ran 15 times for 55 yards but was out-gained by Rico Dowdle. Pollard also failed to score on a goal-line carry. This was a game for the RB to show out and it seems like things just haven’t worked out for him this season compared to expectations. 

Washington Commanders @ Seattle Seahawks 

● Sam Howell is leading the league in pass attempts, completions, and yards. The Commanders don’t have a bye until Week 14 so his total stats are going to look much better compared to the league but he’s 5th in passing yards per game this year. The sophomore QB has led his team to great offensive success in recent weeks as sack numbers have gone down and passer rating has gone up. The poor defensive play will keep Howell and the Commanders passing all year. 

● Geno Smith bounced back after only managing 3 points against an elite Ravens defense. D.K. Metcalf and Tyler Lockett carved up the defense for 90+ yards each, and Kenneth Walker took a screen to the house. 

● Rookie RB Zach Charbonnet had a modest performance but only seems to get rushing work when Seattle is ahead or tied. He set a career-high in targets, receptions, and receiving yards as Geno Smith threw 47 times. His 5 targets were tied with fellow rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba for the 3rd most on the team on Sunday. 

New York Jets @ Las Vegas Raiders 

● The Jets defense did everything they could to keep them in this game, but the offense let them down.

● Zach Wilson didn’t make too many mistakes outside of a brutal pick to seal the loss but the team as a whole destroyed a lot of promising plays and drives with flags, especially holding calls.

● Aidan O’Connell didn’t look very good under pressure and took plenty of sacks while throwing a pick. You can’t expect perfection from a 4th round rookie facing a great defense. There are some tough matchups going forward and it’ll be hard to trust the Raiders to compete with the Chiefs or Dolphins but things do seem much different under interim HC Antonio Pierce.

The Fantasy Football by Broto app is now live on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store! Download it today for a start sit tool, player cards, statistics, usage, rankings, interactive tools, coaching tendencies, and much, much more. FREE for a limited time.

Check out patreon.com/Brotofantasy to access extra episodes, join our community, win prizes, and help keep the app free.

By Themi Michalakis