NFL Week 10 PPR Rankings: Can Christian McCaffrey be Trusted Carolina Quarterback Circle

Week 9 was another wild and wacky week of football, and we’re into the second half of the season with plenty of exciting news to break down. This week, the Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, and New York Giants are on bye, so act accordingly when setting your lineups. Like last week, I will focus on a few players at each position who seem to have the broadest range of outcomes this week. The rankings will be updated throughout the week, although the writing will not, so feel free to hit me up on Twitter for my latest takes on specific players.

NFL Week 10 Quarterback Rankings

Russell Wilson: The Seahawks’ quarterback is expected to return to the lineup this week after a finger injury sidelined him for an extended period of time. The Packers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and Wilson is still recovering from that injury, so I’m tempering my expectations somewhat. However, Wilson still has two elite receivers in DK Metcalf and Tyler Lockett and it’s very unlikely that you have a better option than Wilson. As he returns to the Seahawks’ lineup, he should return to your fantasy football lineup with a crucial game on tap this week.

Derek Carr: There will be lots of questions about Derek Carr after he threw two interceptions against the Giants and finished with just 10.3 fantasy points. However, I’m confidently firing him back up in what should be a divisional shootout with one of the highest over-under totals on the week. The loss of Henry Ruggs limits Carr’s upside slightly, although DeSean Jackson should help with the constant downfield threat the team relies on to open up opportunities in the short and intermediate parts of the field. The Chiefs allow the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season, so this should be a nice bounce-back spot for Carr.

NFL Week 10 Running Back Rankings

Christian McCaffrey: You’re starting CMC in your fantasy lineup – that’s not a question. The real issue here is the perception of a player who has been the best fantasy weapon for the past few years has to change. Sam Darnold is now out for an extended period, not that he was perfect, to begin with, and P.J. Walker has a career 49.3% completion rate in the NFL. The entire Carolina offense needs to be downgraded, especially in a matchup against one of the best defenses in the NFL in Arizona.

James Conner: Already the RB11 in PPR so far this year, James Conner will have even more value moving forward with Chase Edmonds on Injured Reserve. Eno Benjamin will get touches, but there will be plenty to go around in one of the most potent offenses in the NFL. Conner has scored 11 touchdowns, the most in the NFL, and has double-digit PPR points in all but one of his last seven games. Carolina’s run defense is solid, but Conner is a matchup-proof RB1 until Edmonds returns.

Devonta Freeman: It sounds like Latavius Murray is set to miss another game this week, leaving Devonta Freeman as the clear-cut RB1 for the Ravens. In that role, Freeman has scored 11+ PPR points in each of his last three games. That fantasy production has been touchdown-dependent, but the Ravens have an elite offense, and Freeman has been the most involved player in the red zone. The Dolphins have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to RBs this year. Consider Freeman a low-end RB2 with top-15 upside this week.

NFL Week 10 Wide Receiver Rankings

Mike Evans and Chris Godwin: Not that you need reassuring that you can start either of these stud wide receivers, but both should be in for massive games this week. This year, Washington has allowed the second-most fantasy points to WRs, and both Godwin and Evans are inside the top 10 for PPR WRs. That’s exactly where I have them finishing, and they are two of my favorite DFS targets. Godwin is dealing with a foot injury, and his status for Sunday is uncertain, but I would expect him to play. With Antonio Brown and Rob Gronkowski still injured, these two receivers should see a ton of work against a bad defense.

Brandon Aiyuk: Everyone is going to be stoked to get Aiyuk back in their lineups after he had his best game of the year against the Cardinals last week – he finished with six catches for 89 yards and a touchdown. It’s fair to consider him a starter for this week, but I have some reservations, mainly due to the presence of George Kittle and Deebo Samuel in the offense. The 49ers run 60.2 plays per game, the sixth-fewest in the NFL, and Aiyuk is probably no better than third in the pecking order. Against a solid Rams’ defense, I see Aiyuk as more of a WR3/flex play than a lock-in WR2.

Hunter Renfrow: With Henry Ruggs no longer on the team, Hunter Renfrow saw nine targets last week, tied for his second-most on the season. While he is dealing with an ankle injury, I’m expecting him to play, and he has an increased ceiling with Ruggs no longer in the picture. Kansas City’s defense has steadily improved as it’s gotten healthier, but the Raiders-Chiefs game has one of the highest over-under totals of the week. Renfrow provides you with a reliable baseline and an awesome ceiling this week.

NFL Week 10 Tight End Rankings

Dan Arnold: I’m going to keep hyping up Dan Arnold every week as he still doesn’t get the love he deserves from the fantasy football community. With double-digit PPR points in three of his last four games, he has emerged as Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target and provides a reliable floor at a position where that is incredibly difficult to find. This week, he faces the Colts, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to TEs. Fire up Dan Arnold in your lineups with confidence.

Pat Freiermuth: Rookie tight ends aren’t typically supposed to be productive, but Freiermuth is rejecting that trend with 12+ PPR points in three straight games. Last week, he scored two touchdowns to bring his season tally to four scores. With JuJu Smith-Schuster on Injured Reserve and Chase Claypool potentially not playing this week, Freiermuth continues to step into a significant role in the offense. The Lions are a vulnerable defense across the board, and I believe you can have confidence in Freiermuth as a starter this week.