NFL DFS Bargain Bin: Week 10 Sunday Slates
NFL DFS Bargain Bin: Week 10 Sunday Slates Quarterbacks
Tua Tagovailoa, MIA vs. LAC ($5,600-DK/$6,800-FD)
After a sub-100-yard passing day in his first NFL start against the Rams in Week 8, Tagovailoa displayed considerable improvement and increased command of the playbook in a Week 9 road upset of the Cardinals. Tagovailoa racked up 248 passing yards and two touchdowns while also displaying his rushing upside with 35 yards on seven attempts. Just as impressive, Tagovailoa avoided interceptions as he had in his Week 8 starting debut, leading to 21.4 DK/FD points.
Tagovailoa did lose speed receiver Preston Wilson to a serious foot injury during Sunday’s win, but Jakeem Grant offers the same downfield dimension and has the experience to step right into the No. 2 wideout role alongside DeVante Parker. Tagovailoa also has a strong matchup against a Chargers defense that’s often underperformed, allowing the seventh-most passing yards per road contest (274.5), along with a 16:4 TD:INT and 23.3 DK/22.0 FD points per game to quarterbacks overall. Los Angeles has also surrendered three rushing TDs and 5.1 yards per carry to signal-callers, particularly relevant when considering Tagovailoa’s ability to make plays with his legs.
Alex Smith, WFT at DET ($5,200-DK/$6,500-FD)
Smith was forced into emergency duty in a Week 9 loss to the Giants after Kyle Allen suffered what turned out to be a season-ending ankle dislocation/fracture, and the veteran, highly familiar with gruesome lower-leg injuries in his own right, turned in a surprisingly productive fantasy performance that was only marred by a trio of interceptions. Smith threw for 325 yards and a touchdown while completing an impressive 75.0 percent of his throws, and with a full week of practice reps as a starter heading into a favorable matchup, he makes for an appealing cost-savings cash game or tournament play.
Smith brings no shortage of experience and has a solid group of weapons to work with in the form of Terry McLaurin, Steven Sims, Logan Thomas, Antonio Gibson and J.D. McKissic. The latter two, who are the WFT’s top running backs, are excellent receivers out of the backfield, and their pass-catching profiles could certainly expand under Smith, who’s traditionally been especially proficient in the short and intermediate passing windows. The Lions could facilitate plenty of production for Smith as well, considering they’ve given up a 17:5 TD:INT and 64.9 percent completion rate to quarterbacks, along with 243.9 passing yards per game overall.