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Predicting studs and duds for NFL Week 10

Arizona Cardinals running back David Johnson is one of the top NFL players at any position
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Looking to get back to winning…

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

With six teams returning from their bye, four different clubs will take a rest in Week 10. This brings 14 fun games for NFL enthusiasts to enjoy this week.

Included within these matchups will be the Chicago Bears defense against the Detroit Lions. Might fans expect another Bears wipeout?

On the West Coast, the Los Angeles Rams will be looking to get back to winning in a divisional tilt against Russell Wilson and Co.

Looking at the other side of the league, a couple of stud AFC defenders should be primed for huge games against some of the league’s worst quarterbacks.

Let’s get on with our stud and dud predictions for NFL Week 10.

 

Stud: Andrew Luck, quarterback, Indianapolis Colts

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Captain Andrew Luck returns from his bye to host the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10. Despite a defense that was once feared, the Jags should have a hard time limiting Luck’s production. Luck is primed for a thriving performance considering the Jaguars have given up 114 total points and six passing touchdowns in their last four games. A healthy T.Y. Hilton and an overall rested Colts offense should help Luck build on the 23 touchdowns he has produced throughout just eight games.

 

Dud: Nelson Agholor, wide receiver, Philadelphia Eagles

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Agholor is already being pegged as the odd receiver out in Philadelphia. Much of this is because the Eagles traded for Golden Tate, who was a target vulture with the Detroit Lions. If that is not bad enough, the Eagles next face the Dallas Cowboys who have allowed only six wide receiving touchdowns all season. On top of that, Dallas has given up just 138.3 yards on average to opposing wide receivers. Based on the stats, Agholor is up for a quiet outing in Week 10.

 

Stud: Greg Olsen, tight end, Carolina Panthers

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Olsen’s stock has been trending up, and Week 10 presents him with an ideal matchup to keep racking up his numbers. His Panthers next play the Pittsburgh Steelers, who have given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. This comes out to the Steelers yielding nearly seven receptions and 72.9 yards on average per game. Olsen is one of Cam Newton’s favorite targets and he has caught a perfect 10-of-10 targets in his past two games.

 

Dud: Derrick Henry, running back, Tennessee Titans

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Henry has scored in back-to-back games with his last touchdown coming against the Dallas Cowboys in Week 9. But next on the agenda for Henry is a matchup against the New England Patriots, which is a whole other ball game. The Patriots could easily gain an early lead forcing the Titans to pass. This would keep fellow back Dion Lewis more involved while Henry fades into the background, once again.

 

Stud: Khalil Mack, linebacker, Chicago Bears

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Likely to return in Week 10, Mack has dream matchup on tap. He and the Bears host the Detroit Lions and Matthew Stafford, who was unbelievably sacked 10 times in his last game. We are not sure what the Lions’ plan of attack will be to keep Stafford safe, but said plan easily could fail with Mack on the prowl. The pass rusher has tallied five sacks through six games as well as a league-leading four forced fumbles and one interception. Watch out, Lions.

 

Dud: Tyreek Hill, wide receiver, Kansas City Chiefs

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It’s not easy labeling Hill as a dud here. But his target count as of late compels us to do so. Over his last two games, Hill has only been targeted a total of nine times. This has equated to just seven catches for 139 yards and zero touchdowns. In Week 10, things might not get any brighter with a matchup against the Arizona Cardinals. Arizona has given up only five wide receiving touchdowns on the season as well as the fifth-fewest passing yards on average per game. Easily, Hill could have one of his games that bums out his fantasy owners.

 

Stud: Nick Mullens, quarterback, San Francisco 49ers

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

The NFL world discovered Mullens when he made his debut in Week 9. This is when he passed for 262 yards and three touchdowns without an interception or sack in sight. That was of course accomplished against a terrible Oakland Raiders team, though.

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But, guess what? Mullens will face another horrible team in that of the New York Giants in Week 10. On a weekly basis, the Giants defense gives up 366.4 total yards and 25.6 points. Mullens should be set for another prime performance.

 

Dud: Patrick Peterson, cornerback, Arizona Cardinals

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Seemingly frustrated with his team prior to the Cardinals’ bye week, Peterson has a tough matchup coming up. He and the Cardinals head to Kansas City to take on a Chiefs offense that just cannot be contained. The Chiefs are averaging an astounding 36.3 points per game. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes currently leads the league with 2,901 passing yards and 29 touchdowns. Peterson can put up his best effort in Week 10, but it might only amount to a hill of beans against such an electric offense.

 

Stud: Vernon Davis, tight end, Washington Redskins

Geoff Burke, USA Today Sports

Davis is proving to be an ageless wonder, even leaping over defenders at the established age of 34. Next on the calendar for Davis to keep making his big plays is a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Bucs defense is yielding 81.3 yards on average per game at a catch rate of 76 percent to its opposing tight ends. Since the start of the season, Davis has been very dialed in with his former 49ers quarterback and sports a career-high 75 percent catch rate. All of the math seems to add up here.

 

Dud: Carlos Hyde, running back, Jacksonville Jaguars

Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

Hyde’s numbers likely would have been better if he still played for the Cleveland Browns. But, that is not the case and Hyde now looks to be an afterthought sharing the backfield with T.J. Yeldon. Besides that, Leonard Fournette might be returning in Week 10 when the Jaguars head to play the Indianapolis Colts. The Colts offense is booming and it will likely force quarterback Blake Bortles to air out the ball which does not play well into Hyde’s talents on the field.

 

Stud: Mitch Trubisky, quarterback, Chicago Bears

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Not much was expected from Trubisky in his last game against the Buffalo Bills. This is because Chicago’s defense put that matchup to bed early. Though, we should expect Trubisky’s passing yards and touchdowns to increase going against the Lions in Week 10. The Lions pass defense is currently allowing a 112.5 quarterback rating. Plus, the Lions should be pulling out all of the stops to recover from their last disastrous performance, hopefully making this next game competitive on all sides.

 

Dud: Joe Mixon, running back, Cincinnati BengalsĀ 

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Mixon and the Bengals return from their bye and next host the New Orleans Saints. This is when we can imagine a pass-heavy game by the Bengals might be a must to keep up with the tons of yards and points the Saints offense produces. Mixon will see some carries, but he might struggle considering the Saints are allowing only 3.4 rushing yards on average per game. Plus also keep in mind, the Saints defense just held Rams running back Todd Gurley to a meager total of 79 yards in his last game.

 

Stud: Tre’Davious White, cornerback, Buffalo Bills

E.J. Gaines has proven himself to be dominant in short time with the Bills.

Mark Konezny-USA TODAY Sports

In what should be a low-scoring defensive battle in Week 10, White has a tremendous matchup against Sam Darnold and the New York Jets. These days, Darnold seems more inclined to throw the ball to the guys not wearing green and white. Thus, White should have a field day keeping Darnold and the Jets offense scrambling all game long. The likelihood White collects his second interception on the season is extremely high considering Darnold leads the league with 14 picks.

 

Dud: James Conner, running back, Pittsburgh Steelers

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Conner went against the grain in his last game and tallied 163 total yards and one touchdown against a Baltimore defense that took some steps backward. So in Week 10, will Conner continue his big roll? He might not when the Steelers welcome the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers are playing well on both sides of the ball and this game should not turn into a Pittsburgh landslide by any means. Carolina boasts a run defense giving up just 94.1 rushing yards on average per game. It has also surrendered just three running back rushing touchdowns.

 

Stud: Melvin Ingram, defensive end, Los Angeles Chargers

Melvin Ingram

Robert Deutsch-USA TODAY Sports

While the Chargers are trending up in AFC West with a 6-2 record, the Oakland Raiders have been tanking big time with one win. Therefore, this matchup between Ingram and the Raiders should be a cakewalk. Ingram and a stout Chargers pass rush will certainly not be what the doctor ordered for Derek Carr trying to hide behind his lousy offensive line. Carr was sacked seven time in Week 9 and Ingram will be looking to build on the 4.5 sacks he currently has on record to lead his team.

 

Dud: Tyler Lockett, wide receiver, Seattle Seahawks

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Lockett started out 2018 hot and has since cooled way down. His targets are diminishing and he has garnered only 10 in his last three games. Even worse, he failed to score in his last game. So, it is difficult to trust that Lockett will suddenly explode with a big performance when the Seahawks head to Los Angeles to play the Rams. Lockett is a super-fast guy and the Rams will likely have his number dialed in as they attempt to rebound from the devastation the Saints last dumped on them.

 

Stud: David Johnson, running back, Arizona Cardinals

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

With ample time over their bye to regroup and come up with a new game plan on offense, the Cardinals will hopefully utilize Johnson to his fullest. Therefore, we can at least attempt to promote him next playing against the Kansas City Chiefs. Excellent on offense and soft on defense, the Chiefs are allowing a ridiculous 427.4 yards and 25.1 points on average per game. If the Cardinals position Johnson in various formations, he has an excellent chance of having his best game of the year this upcoming Sunday.

 

Dud: DeVante Parker, wide receiver, Miami Dolphins

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Welp. Parker’s Week 9 performance reminded Dolphins fans why he has been inactive for most of the season. After putting up 134 yards on six catches in his previous game, Parker nearly laid an egg in his next contest. He caught just one of his two targets for eight yards. It was pure stink and Parker surely disappointed anyone who played him in fantasy football. Next up is a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Can we really bank on Brock Osweiler and Parker to hit home runs at Lambeau Field? Not likely.

 

Stud: Tevin Coleman, running back, Atlanta Falcons

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Coleman is coming off a season-best performance that saw him gain 156 total yards and two receiving touchdowns. Next on the schedule for the Coleman and the Falcons is a running back-friendly matchup against the Cleveland Browns. This is a Browns defense that was incapable of trying to slow down Chiefs running back Kareem Hunt. Hunt had his way with Cleveland to the tune of 141 total yards, two rushing touchdowns and one receiving score in Week 10. We can likely expect Coleman to continue with the devastation.

 

Dud: Kerryon Johnson, running back, Detroit Lions

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Why the Lions are not feeding Johnson more while they instead choose to let their quarterback take a beating each game is beyond us. Johnson and the Lions best performed when the rookie was given at least 16 carries per game. Next up for the Lions to attempt to save face is a road game against Bears. If Stafford and Co. fall victim early to that powerful Bears pass rush, we can probably assume the Lions throw running the ball out the window. Stay tuned.

 

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