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FFL: Week 10 | NFL: Week 10

WR Strength of Schedule

Fri May 31 10:52am ET
By JEFF PAUR
Sr Fantasy Writer

Related photo caption below

Lamb could top last season


Using our rules for our money leagues, we came up with a schedule strength ranking for the receiver position. We are using our fantasy defenses report to calculate the rankings. This report can be found in all of our leagues under the "reports" heading. We took the schedule of each team and entered the average number of fantasy points allowed to receivers last season from all of their opponents to get our fantasy points allowed number. This is a good indication of the receivers with the most favorable schedules for fantasy scoring for the coming season. Defenses obviously change from year to year, but knowing the receivers that might have the easiest schedule for fantasy is always a good idea when formulating your rankings and draft strategy.

  WR SOS  
1. Denver Broncos 531.34
2. Los Angeles Chargers 536.08
3. Miami Dolphins 537.31
4. Kansas City Chiefs 549.96
5. Las Vegas Raiders 552.89
6. Pittsburgh Steelers 554.85
7. New England Patriots 555.93
8. Buffalo Bills 556.13
9. Houston Texans 561.75
10. San Francisco 49ers 565.73
11. New Orleans Saints 566.06
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 566.19
13. Cincinnati Bengals 566.32
14. Jacksonville Jaguars 570.07
15. Baltimore Ravens 571.77
16. Seattle Seahawks 573.41
17. Minnesota Vikings 573.91
18. Philadelphia Eagles 574.46
19. Carolina Panthers 575.49
20. Los Angeles Rams 575.79
21. Washington Commanders 575.91
22. Detroit Lions 576.36
23. Atlanta Falcons 577.76
24. New York Jets 577.99
25. Tennessee Titans 578.06
26. Indianapolis Colts 578.18
27. Cleveland Browns 583.5
28. Arizona Cardinals 586.09
29. New York Giants 586.93
30. Chicago Bears 601.21
31. Dallas Cowboys 608.4
32. Green Bay Packers 610.22

 

The Packers have the easiest fantasy schedule for receivers. Jayden Reed and Christian Watson could be setup for career best seasons with this schedule. These are guys you can get a little later come draft day and mid-round options that could be difference makers for fantasy owners.

CeeDee Lamb is considered the No. 1 overall fantasy receiver for many and his schedule helps make that claim even stronger. Lamb has the second most favorable schedule for receivers. Lamb was huge last year and could improve on that even more, especially since the Cowboys could struggle to run the ball with their current options.

The Bears, Giants and Cardinals also round out the top-five most favorable receiver schedules. Chicago has a great trio of receivers with D.J. Moore, Keenan Allen and rookie Rome Odunze.  These guys could produce big as long as rookie Caleb Williams gets the job done at quarterback in year one. Moore has more to compete with for targets this year, but you still have to like his chances for a big season in year two with the Bears.

The Giants and Cardinals both have some question marks at receiver, but a couple rookies lead the way for both teams. Malik Nabers and Marvin Harrison could have big rookie seasons with their new teams. These guys both have a chance to lead all rookie fantasy receivers in scoring.

On the opposite side of things, the Broncos have the most challenging schedule for receivers. The Broncos have all sorts of questions at receiver outside of Courtland Sutton. This is a unit of receivers you just might want to avoid come draft day. This schedule won’t make anything easier for this group.

The Chargers are a similar team to the Broncos, having openings and questions at receiver. So once again, it might be best to let someone else put Chargers receivers on their roster. Plus, the Chargers could be a lot more run heavy with a new coach running the show. The tough schedule and new offense make taking any Chargers receiver a bit of a risk.

There are two really good offenses on the list that have tough schedules for receivers. Both the Dolphins and Chiefs have a top-five least favorable schedule for receivers. The Dolphins have one of the best receiver duos in football, so it is tough to fade them because of this schedule. Both Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle should be able to produce big numbers once again in this offense.

The Chiefs are a little more concerning. This offense is a little matchup proof, but don’t have that elite receiver on their roster. Rashee Rice and Marquise Brown lead the way. Brown hasn’t been great in recent seasons and Rice is facing a suspension. These guys will carry some risk come draft day, especially after seeing this schedule.

Davante Adams is usually another star receiver that is matchup proof, but you have to wonder a little this year. He has some question marks at quarterback, which could hurt his production when you pair it with this schedule. Adams is dealing with the fifth toughest fantasy schedule for receivers.

We also wanted to look at playoff schedules for fantasy receivers. So we crunched the numbers of all the schedules from Week 14-17, which is the fantasy playoffs for most leagues. We know you have to get to the playoffs first, but knowing the receivers with the easiest playoff schedules doesn’t hurt by any means, especially in the big money contests.

  WR PLAYOFF SOS  
1. Los Angeles Rams 501.93
2. Jacksonville Jaguars 515.53
3. Kansas City Chiefs 519.43
4. New York Giants 521.63
5. Miami Dolphins 532.77
6. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 534.53
7. Houston Texans 538
8. Buffalo Bills 540.87
9. Las Vegas Raiders 541.9
10. Carolina Panthers 549.33
11. Cincinnati Bengals 552.17
12. Detroit Lions 553.73
13. Arizona Cardinals 555.27
14. Cleveland Browns 555.4
15. Minnesota Vikings 560.93
16. New England Patriots 573.03
17. Los Angeles Chargers 573.1
18. Tennessee Titans 575.17
19. Baltimore Ravens 581.27
20. Seattle Seahawks 585.08
21. New York Jets 585.5
22. Denver Broncos 587.2
23. Pittsburgh Steelers 587.8
24. Philadelphia Eagles 589.73
25. Green Bay Packers 590.85
26. Washington Commanders 591.57
27. New Orleans Saints 604.13
28. Dallas Cowboys 609.73
29. Indianapolis Colts 614
30. San Francisco 49ers 641.53
31. Atlanta Falcons 644.93
32. Chicago Bears 647.98

 

The Bears and Cowboys are the teams that make both the top five easiest receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. Chicago has the easiest for the entire playoffs. Once again, their top trio of receivers are looking pretty good come draft day.

Lamb continues to make his case to be the first receiver selected come draft day. He could have a monster season and finish strong as well with the fifth easiest schedule for the playoffs. Lamb might be the most surefire first-round pick come draft day.

The Falcons, 49ers and Colts also have a top-five favorable playoff schedule for receivers. Atlanta receivers were looking up to begin with, getting a legit quarterback throwing them passes this year. And this schedule makes their options look even better, especially Drake London. He could have a breakout season.

San Francisco has great options at receiver in Brandon Aiyuk and Deebo Samuel. They are pretty safe picks come draft day. And they get a very favorable playoff schedule that could make them even more appealing to fantasy owners. These guys both have really solid floors come draft day in this offense.

Michael Pittman keeps getting it done as the No. 1 option for the Colts. If Anthony Richardson can become that true No. 1 at quarterback for Indy, Pittman would look even better. Pittman has produced in recent year despite having some quarterback issues. His game could go to a higher level this year if Richardson breaks out. Pittman could be a league winner if everything breaks his way in 2024.

The Chiefs and Dolphins are two of the best offenses in football but also the only two teams to make the top five most unfavorable receiver schedules for both the regular season and playoffs. This is a tad concerning for both teams, Again, it is tough to bet against Hill, but maybe you drop him down your rankings just few spots behind the other elite guys because of this. You hate to use an early round pick on a receiver to see him maybe not produce what he should come playoff time.

And as mentioned with the Chiefs, their top two receivers already face a few question marks, so maybe their tough schedules make them players to let someone else draft. Both Brown and Rice could be a little erratic.

The Rams actually have the toughest playoff schedule for receivers. They are another team with two of the best receivers in football. It is tough to bet against either Puka Nacua or Cooper Kupp, but the playoff schedule is a little scary, especially for Kupp. He seems to be trending down at this stage of his career.

The Jaguars and Giants are the two other teams with a top-five unfavorable fantasy schedule for the playoffs. The Jags have Christian Kirk and Gabriel Davis as their top two receivers. Kirk is normally pretty steady but Davis can be boom or bust. Seeing his playoff schedule should bump him down a few spots in your rankings. It could be more of the same for Davis with his new team.

And the Giants are an outlier here, having an easy schedule for receivers during the regular season but the fourth toughest for the playoffs. This makes it tough come draft day. Their receivers could be good values for the regular season but disappoint when it counts. You do have to just make the playoffs, though, so we aren’t sure we shy away from Giant receivers just because of their tough playoff schedule. You still might be able to get good value with their options that help you win during the season.

Jeff Paur is a two-time finalist for FSWA Fantasy Football Writer of the Year and won the FSWA award for Best Fantasy Football Article on the Web in 2011. He also was the most accurate expert in 2012, winning the FSTA Fantasy Football Accuracy Award. If you have any questions for Jeff, email him at jeff@rtsports.com. Follow Jeff on Twitter @jeffpaur.

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Hot Plays, Fades and Sleepers: Week 10

Player Notes
Will Dissly Nov 8 2:30pm ET
Will Dissly

Los Angeles Chargers tight end Will Dissly is unlikely to make a significant fantasy impact in a Week 10 game against the Tennessee Titans. Dissly was heavily involved in the Chargers passing game between Weeks 6 and 8, drawing 23 targets across the three games, but that was mostly due to other Chargers pass catchers missing time with injuries. In Week 9, with several pass catchers returning, Dissly saw just three targets and made two catches for a total of nine yards. He has yet to score a touchdown this season and shouldn't be relied upon as anything more than a non-zero floor tight end option. Most leagues will likely have at least one higher upside option on the waiver wire for this week.

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Kyler Murray Nov 8 2:30pm ET
Kyler Murray

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray is valued as a mid-tier QB1 when the Cardinals host the New York Jets in Week 10. Murray delivered a quiet fantasy outing last week in the 29-9 victory over the Chicago Bears, but that shouldn't concern fantasy managers, as he is still playing his best football of the season recently. The Cardinals took an early lead and shifted to a run-first approach en route to victory, which was the primary contributor to Murray's low fantasy output. However, the Cardinals are currently underdogs to the Jets, and a closely contested matchup will likely lead to higher fantasy numbers for Murray. The Cardinals' offensive line has been great in pass protection and will be equipped to handle the Jets' solid pass rush. There is no reason to bench Murray heading into the Week 10 matchup against the Jets.

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Jonathon Brooks Nov 8 2:30pm ET
Jonathon Brooks

Carolina Panthers running back Jonathon Brooks (knee) was recently activated off the reserve list. The rookie back hasn't played this season while he recovers from an ACL tear he suffered in college. Brooks was able to get through three full practice sessions this week. That is good news heading into the Week 10 matchup against the New York Giants. The Panthers are listing Brooks as questionable for this weekend, but three full practices is a good sign that he'll play. He figures to be the primary backup to Chuba Hubbard for now. That being said, Brooks probably won't be a reliable fantasy option out of the gate, but should earn a bigger role as the season goes on.

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JuJu Smith-Schuster Nov 8 2:20pm ET
JuJu Smith-Schuster

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster (hamstring) has been ruled out ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the Denver Broncos. The veteran wideout will now miss his third game in a row due to a lingering hamstring issue. Smith-Schuster was unable to practice all week, so the fact he has been ruled out shouldn't come as a surprise. His role is likely to decrease in the offense once he is back to full health. DeAndre Hopkins has stepped up and become the No. 1 wideout for this offense. Also, Xavier Worthy is still going to be involved, so Smith-Schuster is unlikely to be reliable once he does return.

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Kirk Cousins Nov 8 2:20pm ET
Kirk Cousins

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown for 498 yards and seven touchdowns with no interceptions over his last two games, but in Week 10 the 36-year-old will take on the Saints, a team who held him to 238 yards passing, zero touchdowns, and one interception back in Week 4. That contest was at home, this one will be on their divisional foe's turf. Be that as it may, this time around the Saints will be without Paulson Adebo (leg), who led the team in tackles in that Week 4 matchup, and without 4x Pro Bowler Marshon Lattimore after he was traded to the Commanders this past week. If Drake London (hip) suits up, the Falcons will have a full complement of receivers. Working against Cousins is the fact that the Saints just allowed Carolina's Chuba Hubbard to run for 72 yards and two scores last week, so the run game may get a boost in this matchup. Nevertheless, the veteran signal caller projects as a back-end QB1 and is a viable bye week filler for Jordan Love and Geno Smith managers.

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Kyle Pitts Nov 8 2:20pm ET
Kyle Pitts

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (hamstring) has been upgraded to a full participant ahead of the Week 10 matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Pitts was limited on Wednesday and Thursday, but a full session on Friday means he should be ready for this weekend. The young tight end posted four straight games of 65 receiving yards or more before his 11-yard dud against the Dallas Cowboys last week. Fantasy managers should expect a bounce back outing this weekend. Pitts should be on the fantasy radar as a TE1 for Week 10.

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Drake London Nov 8 2:00pm ET
Drake London

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (hip), who suffered a hip pointer in the Week 9 win over the Dallas Cowboys, was limited in practice all week and is officially listed as questionable to suit up on Sunday against the division-rival New Orleans Saints in Week 10. London could be a true game-time decision this weekend, but the good news for fantasy managers is we'll know early on Sunday as to whether the 23-year-old will play. If active, he should be put back into starting fantasy lineups as the team's top wideout. If London misses the contest against New Orleans, both Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III will be more attractive flex plays with upside against a Saints defense that just traded top cornerback Marshon Lattimore to the Commanders. In addition to Mooney and McCloud, tight end Kyle Pitts should see more volume as he looks to bounce back from a poor showing in Week 9.

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Graham Gano Nov 8 2:00pm ET
Graham Gano

The New York Giants listed kicker Graham Gano (hamstring) as questionable for their Week 10 game in Germany this Sunday against the Carolina Panthers after he was limited in practice. Gano is eligible to be activated from Injured Reserve and kick this weekend, but the Giants have yet to officially make the move. The 37-year-old veteran kicker has been sidelined due to a right-hamstring injury since Week 2, so he'll be a pretty risky fantasy option if he's activated on Saturday and plays this Sunday. If the G-Men decide to wait another week on Gano, expect Jude McAtamney to kick for the team again against Carolina. Whenever Gano does return, he'll merely be a deep-league streaming option at the position. In the first two games of the year before getting injured, Gano made both of his field-goal tries and didn't attempt an extra point.

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Josh Palmer Nov 8 1:50pm ET
Josh Palmer

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Joshua Palmer remains a risky fantasy option in Week 10 against the Tennessee Titans. Palmer scored his first touchdown of the season in Week 9, but ended up totaling just two catches on four targets. That seems to be the role Palmer has settled into in this Chargers offense. He could occasionally come up with big plays but it won't be consistent enough to make him a reliable fantasy option. With D.J. Chark (groin) expected to return this week, Palmer could have even more competition in the passing game going forward.

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Will Levis Nov 8 1:50pm ET
Will Levis

Tennessee Titans quarterback Will Levis (shoulder) will return as the starter for the Week 10 contest on the road against the Los Angeles Chargers, according to head coach Brian Callahan. The writing was on the wall for Levis to return to action this weekend after he returned to a full practice participant on Thursday. A sprained AC joint in his right throwing shoulder kept Levis out of action for the team's last three games. With the 25-year-old returning under center against LA, Mason Rudolph will revert to the backup role in Tennessee. Levis is going to need to play better down the stretch to avoid being benched for Rudolph, though. The former second-round pick last year out of Kentucky completed 66.4% of his passes for 699 yards, five TDs and seven picks in his five starts in 2024 while making lots of questionable decisions that led to game-changing turnovers. He's a low-end QB2 in Week 10 against the Bolts.

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Tyjae Spears Nov 8 1:50pm ET
Tyjae Spears

Tennessee Titans running back Tyjae Spears (hamstring) is "trending in the right direction" to play in Week 10 versus the Los Angeles Chargers, according to FOX Sports' Ben Arthur. Spears has been sidelined for each of the team's last three games due to a hamstring injury, but he's on track to return this Sunday on the road after returning to a full practice session on Thursday. In addition, lead back Tony Pollard (foot) was downgraded from a full-go on Wednesday to limited on Thursday, so he could be in danger of missing Sunday's game. The Titans already said they'd like to limit Pollard's workload after he saw a season-high 31 touches in last week's overtime loss to the New England Patriots. Spears will probably be an RB3/flex, at best, in fantasy in a tough matchup if both he and Pollard are active. But if Pollard is out, Spears will become a plug-and-play option in fantasy.

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Joe Burrow Nov 8 1:40pm ET
Joe Burrow

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (arm) is dealing with some soreness after he was hit hard a few times in the 35-34 Thursday night loss to the division-rival Baltimore Ravens, according to head coach Zac Taylor. Burrow was seen wincing when trying to move his left arm on the sidelines on Thursday evening after taking a few hard hits, but he never came out of the game and had another fantastic performance for his fantasy managers in the one-point loss, throwing for a season-high 428 yards on a season-high 56 pass attempts while tossing four touchdown passes and no interception. The former first overall pick out of LSU appears to be hitting his stride in the middle of the season and has now gone 61-for-95 for 679 passing yards, nine TDs and one interception the last two weeks. He'll be a no-brainer TE1 in Week 11, albeit in a tough matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers.

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Michael Pittman Jr. Nov 8 1:30pm ET
Michael Pittman Jr.

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (back) has officially been ruled out for the Week 10 contest on Sunday versus the visiting Buffalo Bills after missing practice all week, according to head coach Shane Steichen. Pittman has been battling a back injury in recent weeks but hasn't missed any game action until now. He will now look to rest up so that he can hopefully return for a Week 11 clash on the road against the New York Jets. With Pittman now out this weekend, it essentially makes receiver Josh Downs a must-start as quarterback Joe Flacco's likely go-to passing target in a game in which the Colts will likely have to throw often to keep up on the scoreboard. In addition to Downs seeing more targets, the flex-play appeal of both Alec Pierce and rookie Adonai Mitchell goes up for those in deeper leagues.

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Jalen Hurts Nov 8 1:10pm ET
Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (ankle) is reportedly dealing with a potential ankle injury, according to Brandon Lee Gowton. Hurts was sidelined during Wednesday's practice due to rest, but head coach Nick Sirianni expressed he was dealing with an ankle injury while talking to the media. However, Sirianni then quickly clarified his statement and emphasized that he misunderstood the question and his absence was strictly rest-related. Seeing that Hurts returned to a full participant on Thursday suggests that this injury is very minor. Fantasy managers should expect Hurts to suit up on Sunday to face the Dallas Cowboys. The 26-year-old should be viewed as a high-end QB1, as he has scored over 30 PPR points in each of his past two games.

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Tommy Tremble Nov 8 1:10pm ET
Tommy Tremble

Carolina Panthers tight end Tommy Tremble (back) is officially listed as questionable to play in Week 10 against the New York Giants on Sunday in Munich, Germany. Tremble practiced in full on Wednesday and Friday while being limited on Thursday. Meanwhile, rookie Ja'Tavion Sanders (ankle, wrist) was cleared to play after popping up on the injury report on Thursday. The 24-year-old Tremble has missed four of the last five games due to injury, but he appears to be on the right track to suit up overseas this weekend. Still, fantasy managers desperate at the tight end position should be able to find better streaming options in deep leagues. Tremble will probably take a back seat to Sanders, who has become a bigger part of the offense in recent weeks. In his five games played in 2024, Tremble has nine grabs on 12 targets for just 72 yards and no touchdowns.

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Marshon Lattimore Nov 8 1:10pm ET
Marshon Lattimore

New Washington Commanders cornerback Marshon Lattimore (hamstring) will not make his debut with the team in Week 10 on Sunday against the Pittsburgh Steelers after being acquired in a trade from the New Orleans Saints at the deadline on Tuesday. While Lattimore's injury isn't all that serious, it also kept him from playing in the Saints' Week 9 loss to the division-rival Carolina Panthers. The 28-year-old defensive back's next chance to make his debut with Washington will come next Thursday night in a big divisional clash against the Philadelphia Eagles in primetime. When healthy, Lattimore, a four-time Pro Bowler, should be a starter in a secondary that has been the weakness of their defense this year. In seven starts with the Saints before getting hurt, he had 30 tackles (22 solo) and two pass breakups.

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Anders Carlson Nov 8 1:00pm ET
Anders Carlson

The New York Jets have signed free-agent kicker Anders Carlson to the practice squad and waived kicker Riley Patterson, according to Zack Rosenblatt of The Athletic. Patterson made his New York Jets debut last Thursday against the Houston Texans as No. 1 option Greg Zuerlein (knee) was on Injured Reserve. In that game, Patterson went a perfect 3-for-3 on extra points and did not attempt any field goals. The Jets will now likely turn to Carlson to serve as the starting kicker this weekend when they face the Arizona Cardinals. Carlson spent time in San Francisco earlier this season and went 5-for-5 on field-goal attempts and 3-for-4 on extra points. Fantasy managers in deeper formats could consider Carlson as a streaming option, as the Jets may have ample scoring opportunities this weekend against the Cardinals.

From RotoBaller

Mike Evans Nov 8 12:50pm ET
Mike Evans

Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans (hamstring) will not suit up in Week 10, according to Greg Auman of Fox Sports. Evans has been sidelined since suffering an injury in their Week 7 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and he will now miss his third straight contest. During this week, Evans was unable to participate in any practices. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he should have a good chance to return in Week 12 to face the New York Giants after a bye in Week 11. Before the injury, the veteran wideout averaged 47.9 yards per game and scored six touchdowns across a seven-game sample size. This weekend, fantasy managers should expect tight end Cade Otton to see a heavy dose of targets, as rookie wideout Jalen McMillan (hamstring) will likely carry an injury designation.

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Dak Prescott Nov 8 12:40pm ET
Dak Prescott

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott (hamstring) may not be placed on Injured Reserve, according to Jon Machota of The Athletic. Owner Jerry Jones expressed that, "He doesn't want surgery. He wants to be on the field and go for it. We'll just see how it goes here," when discussing Prescott's status. Prescott has already been ruled out for this weekend's contest and will likely face an uphill battle to return within the next four weeks. However, seeing Jones' optimism surrounding his quarterback may suggest he may not miss as much time as previously expected. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress over the next few weeks. For now, Cooper Rush will serve as the starting QB and should be viewed as low-end QB2 in superflex formats.

From RotoBaller

Quentin Johnston Nov 8 12:40pm ET
Quentin Johnston

Los Angeles Chargers wide receiver Quentin Johnston will look to stay hot in a Week 10 game against the Tennessee Titans. The sophomore pass catcher was forced to miss Weeks 7 and 8 with an ankle injury, but he came back in Week 9 and put up 118 yards and a touchdown, ending up as the overall fantasy WR6 with an even 20 fantasy points. This matchup may be a little tougher, as the Tennessee defense has been stingy against outside wide receivers so far this season. They are in the top third of defenses in terms of receiving yards and fantasy points per game allowed to outside wide receivers. The Chargers may focus more on passing to their slot receivers and tight ends in this one, but Johnston still will certainly have a role and is always a threat to score on a deep ball. He has a lower floor than usual this week, but a similar ceiling.

From RotoBaller