As the fantasy football playoffs draw closer, big plays seem to have an even greater impact. Those who can consistently get deep or find space to maneuver give their fantasy teams a much better chance of coming out on top.
Several playmakers came up especially big this week, and if enterprising fantasy managers are looking to ride the hot hand to a playoff spot, your voyage could be just getting started.
WEEK 10 WINNERS, LOSERS: Rookie WR helps save Packers’ season
These players saw their fantasy values increase or decrease most based on their performances in Week 10:
Sizzlers
WR Christian Kirk, Jacksonville Jaguars: Kirk has been coming on lately, thanks to the maturation of quarterback Trevor Lawrence. Against Kansas City, Kirk erupted for 105 receiving yards and a pair of TDs on nine catches. His last four games have seen his target share increase to where he is now a weekly fantasy starter.
WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers: Three receiving touchdowns certainly attracted QB Aaron Rodgers’ attention as Watson was targeted a season-high eight times on his way to 107 yards against Dallas. The rookie suddenly looks like a potential late-season breakout.
TE Cole Kmet, Chicago Bears: Kmet has scored five touchdowns in his last three games, and with another game upcoming against a bottom-five defense vs. tight ends (Atlanta), he should be glued into fantasy lineups everywhere.
RB Jeff Wilson Jr., Miami Dolphins: Wilson has definitely found a nice fit in Miami. He responded with 119 yards rushing and a touchdown and contributed another 24 yards receiving, while pushing Raheem Mostert into the background.
QB Matt Ryan, Indianapolis Colts: New head coach Jeff Saturday reinstated Ryan as the starter, and the veteran delivered his first top-five fantasy performance of the season. The Eagles will be more of a challenge this week than the Raiders were, but at least Ryan has his old job back.
Fizzlers
RB Cordarrelle Patterson, Atlanta Falcons: It is a bit of a head-scratcher why Patterson touched the ball so infrequently against Carolina, the NFL’s 30th-ranked run defense. He saw just five carries for 18 yards in a losing effort.
RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers: D’Onta Foreman has squeezed any sort of fantasy hope left for Hubbard right out of the game plan. Hubbard isn’t passing the eye-test either as he doesn’t look anywhere near as good as Foreman does when running the ball.
WR Josh Palmer, Los Angeles Chargers: After racking up a season-high 106 receiving yards in Week 9, Palmer flopped Sunday night, catching just three of his eight targets. His brief time in the spotlight fades as the injury-depleted Chargers could get top wideouts Keenan Allen and Mike Williams back this week.
TE George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers: Kittle disappeared Sunday night with two targets, one catch and 21 yards. It was the fewest targets Kittle has seen in a game all year. With all the changes on offense, the Niners suddenly have a lot more mouths to feed.
TE Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints: Hill has done next to nothing over the past two games. In a losing effort against Pittsburgh, he had just three carries for 1 yard. This year’s potential cheat-code player has turned into fool’s gold instead.
