Fantasy Football Takeaways From Week 10: Kyler Murray Bounces Back
After an action-packed weekend, Pete Overzet is here with the biggest fantasy football takeaways from Week 10.
It's time for Pete's Pick 6—a weekly recap column where I round up all of the best fantasy action from Sunday's action and tilt everything that didn't go exactly how I would have hoped.
Let's dig in …
Takeaway #1: A new "Rizz God"
Look, I know technically "The Rizzler" is the name of that third-grade kid who went viral, but from my vantage point he's been dethroned by a new King of Rizz.
I'm, of course, talking about the new Saints head coach, Darren Rizzi.
There's always something special about the first game with the new head coach (remember how fired up the Raiders were last year to play for Antonio Pierce?) and Rizzi did not disappoint.
He started his day by clogging the toilet at the Superdome, spent the entire game looking constipated on the sidelines, and then got the damn W with a truly depleted squad.
His greatest accomplishment, though, was making MVS look like a superstar.
If that's not the definition of "rizz" then it should be. Look at how fired up this dude is after the win. It's impossible not to root for the Rizzler.
Takeaway #2: No die, all ride with Kyler
Things were looking a little bumpy there with Kyler Murray for a few games, but he turned in his best performance of the season in the Cardinals Week 10 win over the Jets:
- 22/24 passes for 266 yards
- 3 total TDs (1 pass, 2 rush)
- 0 INTs
- 128.3 passer rating
The performance resulted in a career-high CPOE and a new record as the first player in NFL history to complete 85%+ of their passes while having 250+ passing yards and 2 rushing TDs.
As for the Jets. It's joever. So much for "running the table," huh?
Takeaway #3: George Pickens is a highlight merchant
The Steelers got a huge "road" win in Washington yesterday–I use the scare quotes because Steelers fans came out in droves for this one–and George Pickens stole the show.
He finished with 5 receptions for 91 yards, but it was his first-quarter TD that reminded everyone why he's such a unique talent at the position:
I was watching the play live and thought there was no way he actually caught that moon ball from Russell Wilson. Outside of Garrett Wilson, I'm not sure there is another WR in the league with his combination of hands and body control. His role since Wilson took over has been elite, too.
Of course, the George Pickens Experience wouldn't be complete without at least one or two hotheaded plays mixed in, but that's why we love him.
Takeaway #4: Can someone please stop the Chiefs?
They can't keep getting away with this dot gif.
Seriously, though. The Broncos had them on the ropes at Arrowhead yesterday. All they had to do was make a 35-yard field goal at the end of regulation to deliver Kansas City their first loss of the year.
Of course, whatever deal KC made with the devil at the start of the season included the ability to miraculously block the Will Lutz game-winner to move to 9-0 on the year.
This Chiefs team makes me so mad. And it's not for the reasons you might think. I like Patrick Mahomes. I even like the idea of a dynasty from a narrative standpoint. But I absolutely despise how they are winning. Mahomes has cleared 20 fantasy points once this year. Xavier Worthy steps outside of bounds on a TD play every. single. goddamn. game.
An undefeated juggernaut team should be producing more fantasy fun for us. I'm disgusted with their ruthless and boring brand of winning. Start scoring our fantasy teams some damn points as you guys rack up all these Ws. Is that too much to ask?
Takeaway #5: The Colts are in trouble
When Shane Steichen and the Colts benched Anthony Richardson for Joe Flacco, we were all promised better QB play.
That, however, has not been the case.
Fresh off a brutal performance last week on SNF, Flacco shit the bed (apologies to all the Rizzler-aged children reading this piece) again.
Flacco threw not one, not two, but three INTs as the Colts lost 30-20 to the Bills on their home turf.
Surely the Colts are ready to turn back to their 22-year-old franchise QB, right? Right?!
Wrong. Steichen is digging in his heels to save face. Hard to blame him, though. You obviously have to show patience with a 39-year-old journeyman who has 193 games under their belt as opposed to the kid who has only played ten.
Indy is on the road vs. the Jets next week. Good luck with that.
Takeaway #6: Sam Darnold, wyd?
Speaking of poor QB play and throwing 3 INTs, what the hell Darnold? I thought we were done seeing ghosts, Sam.
I wrote up the Vikings as a team to onslaught in DFS in Week 10 and they responded by scoring zero offensive TDs.
Watch this clip from the 2nd quarter if you want to feel the same level of rage I'm feeling right now. All the time in the world. Clean pocket. Aaaaaand, a red zone pick. Fabulous.
As Thor called out here, Darnold's 11/3 TD-to-INT ratio from September feels like ages ago. He has a 6/7 rate in the five games since and it's killing the upside of the entire offense.
Justin Jefferson (5-48) and Jordan Addison (2-25) both flopped in a great matchup. T.J. Hockenson (8-72) was serviceable, but not winning anyone their matchup. And to add insult to injury, Aaron Jones was carted off the field.
I can't help but wonder how this offense would be looking if J.J. McCarthy was healthy …