Fantasy Focus Football — Week 10's BIGGEST Upgrades and Downgrades
Date: November 6, 2025
Hosts: Field Yates, Mike Clay, Daniel Dopp
Episode Theme:
A comprehensive, strategy-packed preview of fantasy football Week 10, focusing on major player upgrades and downgrades based on matchups, recent performance trends, injury updates, and deep strategic insight. The team dives deep into QB performances, wide receiver/cornerback matchups, weather effects, actionable waiver wire moves, and sets up bold board bets for the weekend.
Episode Highlights and Key Discussion Points
Setting the Scene — NFL Updates and General Vibes
- The hosts kick off with playful banter about the NASCAR season ending, daylight savings woes in the Northeast, and Field’s fandom.
- Quick injury and news updates: Jacoby Brissett starting for the Cardinals, Kyler Murray to IR, and the state of QBs in the league.
- Weather watch: Notable cold snaps, Chicago possibly getting its first snow game, and how decreasing temperatures can dampen offensive performance.
"We don't really care about that unless it's windy. That's what we mean." — Mike Clay [09:08]
Quarterback Query: Daniel Jones’s Week 10 Outlook
[03:53–08:51]
- Main theme: Daniel Jones faces the Falcons, who have stifled elite fantasy QBs this year.
- Past Falcons' matchups: Josh Allen held to 15.4 points, Drake May to 16.4 points.
- Daniel Jones’s floor is high (2nd lowest game is 14 points), but he’s now more of a streaming/high-end QB2 than a must-start QB1.
- Mike Clay: “I'm at seven. I think he's fine...You have this tier of all these guys average 20 plus, then everyone else is at 17 or below.” [06:24]
- The group consensus: Stream if needed, but be aware of the Falcons’ ferocious defense.
Focus on the Commanders’ Offense With Marcus Mariota
[09:18–11:59]
- No Jaden Daniels (likely season-ending). Mariota’s stream-ability comes down to matchup.
- Through five games, Mariota averages 18.7 fantasy points; most skill players around him are unstartable except Debo Samuel (still a lineup lock while McLaurin is out).
- Mariota’s rushing boosts his value but degrades surrounding skill positions.
“So the, the skill guys have not been good at all with Mariota. He has hung on the fantasy radar.”—Mike Clay [11:03]
The Perpetual 'Sell High' Debate
[12:10–13:24]
- On veteran WRs and selling hot producers before inevitable regression.
- Xavier Worthy’s early-season pop followed by middling returns highlighted as a case study.
Board Bet: Jacoby Brissett’s Week 10 Value
[16:00–18:28]
- Jacoby Brissett, starting for Arizona, was a consensus fringe QB in rankings (13th-20th).
- Debate over his outlook this week vs Seattle, leading to an on-air board bet:
“I say Jacoby Brissette is a top 16 quarterback here in week 10.” — Daniel Dopp [18:07]
“I say Jacoby Brissette is outside the top 16 quarterbacks in week 10.” — Mike Clay [18:12]
Jackson Dart: The Quiet Elite QB
[20:01–23:01]
- Since taking over as Giants starter, Dart averages 22.35 points/game and boasts elite rushing and goal-line usage.
- Opponent: Bears defense ranked 7th worst vs QBs; non-threatening.
- Some weather note — possible snow in Chicago, but nothing that dampens their confidence.
"Jackson Dart, lock him in. He's really good.” — Field Yates [25:07]
Running Back Landscape: Bears and Giants
[25:10–26:50]
- Bears’ Backfield: DeAndre Swift’s status is key:
- Plays? Start as RB2, downgrade Kyle Manangai to deep-league flex.
- Out? Manangai becomes RB1 caliber.
- Giants’ Backfield: Not as big a focus, but both these backfields are tempting in deeper leagues this week.
Packers WRs: Dobbs Surges to the Top
[27:00–31:09]
- With injuries to Craft, Reed, others, Romeo Dobbs leads GB since week 4 (25% target share; WR8 in targets last month).
- Consistency: 10.5+ points in 4/5 games; top 30 WR this week, per Daniel.
- Mike warns that GB may revert to WR mix-and-match unpredictably; mentions possible Quinion Mitchell shadow.
Justin Jefferson’s Ceiling With J.J. McCarthy
[31:34–35:12]
- J.J. McCarthy keeps Vikings’ passing diet low-volume (22 att/game; NFL avg ~32).
- Ravens defense has been much better of late (13 pts allowed/game since Week 6).
- Result: Jefferson remains a top-tier start, but the days of expecting 20-point games every week may be over.
“Was there anything that I saw from JJ McCarthy that would make me feel like all of a sudden I have to either panic or feel like Justin Jefferson just like to the moon? I don't think so, no.” — Daniel Dopp [34:20]
WR/CB Matchup Playbook — Upgrades and Downgrades
Upgrades [44:23–46:45]:
- Lions WRs (Amon-Ra, Jameson Williams): Commanders D hemorrhages WR points.
- Chargers (Quentin Johnston, Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey): Steelers allow most WR fantasy pts.
- Giants WRs (Wandale, Slayton, Ray-Ray McCloud): Bears D is bottom three vs WRs.
“I don't know how you don't start him right now...” — Mike Clay, on Wandale Robinson [47:08]
Downgrades [47:19–52:18]:
- Rome Odunze: Tough if Adibo shadows (Giants D otherwise generous).
- Emeka Egbuka: Christian Gonzalez shadow looms; targets limited against Patriots.
- Brian Thomas Jr.: Faces Derek Stingley, who has erased top WRs this season.
- Drake London: Might have Sauce Gardner shadow; Colts secondary upgrades = concern.
- Note: Still starting most of these talents, but ceiling is capped in Week 10.
Thursday Night Football Preview: Raiders vs Broncos
[52:45–57:29]
- Broncos: Bo Nix a solid, steady streamer; 20 FPPG, plenty of rushing.
- Raiders WRs: Troy Franklin—two monster games, seven duds; major boom/bust but flex-worthy in plus matchup vs. Raiders’ bad DBs.
- J.K. Dobbins: Expecting a TD, gets plenty of snaps and excels as a pass protector.
Host Predictions:
- All hosts take the Broncos.
Deep Cuts & Waiver Fund Picks — Monopoly Fund
[57:43–60:30]
- Mike: Brock Wright (Lions TE) — only 10 targets all year but two TDs, faces leaky Commanders D.
- Daniel: Kalif Raymond (Lions WR) — Commanders hemorrhage long TDs to WR3s; Raymond could pop.
- Field: Greg Dulcich (Dolphins TE) — if Julian Hill is out, Dulcich could be fantasy relevant based on workload last week.
- Producer Tyler: Tyler Johnson (unspecified team, deep bench flier).
Notable Quotes & Timestamps
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“Sometimes you play up to the level of the competition, you leave so much on the table…” — Daniel Dopp, on Packers [30:26]
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"Jackson dart, lock him in. He's really good." — Field Yates [25:07]
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"You're talking you're in a tough spot. Darius Lane Maybe is a 12 team flex." — Mike Clay on NYG WRs [46:54]
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“He has hung on the fantasy radar. I think the way to approach this is the running game. You're avoiding cross key Merritt…” — Mike Clay on Mariota-led Commanders [11:03]
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"I say Jacoby Brissette is a top 16 quarterback here in week 10." — Daniel Dopp [18:07]
Sections & Timestamps
| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Week 10 Quarterback Preview (Jones, Mariota, Brissett) | 03:53–18:28 | | Weather and Offseason Impact | 08:57–09:11 | | Jackson Dart and QB Deep Dives | 20:01–25:07 | | Bears/RBs Matchup | 25:10–26:50 | | Packers WRs, Sell Highs, and Matchups | 27:00–31:09 | | Jefferson & Vikings Passing Analysis | 31:34–35:12 | | WR Upgrades & Downgrades [Playbook] | 44:23–52:18 | | Thursday Night Football Preview | 52:45–57:29 | | Super-Deep Waiver Adds (Monopoly Fund) | 57:43–60:30 |
Key Takeaways
- QB Streamers: Daniel Jones is high-floor but beware of Falcons’ defense. Jackson Dart is a weekly top-5 play. Jacoby Brissett is a polarizing streamer, but confidence for Cardinals pass catchers is higher.
- Skill Position Caution: Commanders and Packers remain murky, but their depth pieces are worth a look in 12+ team leagues.
- WR Upgrades: Attack Giants, Chargers, and Lions WRs; downgrade some key WR1s in tough CB matchups but don’t get cute benching them.
- Thursday Night Football Picks: Go heavy on Broncos, but Raiders’ Troy Franklin is a high-variance, start-worthy flex.
- Deep League Flyers: Brock Wright and Kalif Raymond rise up in possible TD-heavy Lions-Commanders game.
The show closes with reminders of Little Caesars' partnership, more previews coming Friday, and some classic Fantasy Focus camaraderie:
"Don't forget to love each other and be kind to yourself. You guys deserve it. Have fun watching Thursday Night Football." — Daniel Dopp [60:45]
Listen to this episode for actionable Week 10 strategies, witty banter, and elite-level matchup analysis from the industry’s top fantasy minds!