With 18 touches for 173 total yards and two scores, the Green Bay Packers went "all in" on running back Aaron Jones in their Week 10 win over the Miami Dolphins. Given that uptick in volume, Jones certainly displayed the traits of a No.1 back. Let's discuss why the heavy workload should continue for Jones, while also talking about Chicago rookie WR Anthony Miller, David Johnson's production boost in Arizona, Tennessee TE Jonnu Smith, Cleveland RB Nick Chubb and more.
Here are the Week 10 fantasy takeaways:
Trust the volume with Aaron Jones
This is what we have been waiting for with Jones, right? On Sunday, we finally saw what he can do when Mike McCarthy commits to running the rock. It's the patience with Jones, plus the burst when the running lane opens up. As for the finishing power? Yep. It's there, too. Jones can absolutely tack on extra yards at the end of runs.
The simple question is whether or not Jones continues to see No. 1 volume in the Green Bay gameplan moving forward. I'm going to bet "yes" here, given the production Jones turned out in the win over Miami, rushing for 145 yards on 15 carries, along with the balance it creates for the Packers offense. That's basic football -- and the run game is going to lead to passing opportunities.
Jones, who also caught three passes for 27 yards, showed everyone on Sunday that he can handle a high-volume workload. He has enough versatility to contribute as a receiver. With two upcoming matchups versus the Seahawks (on a short week) and the Vikings, I'm going to rank Jones on that RB1/RB2 line.
What do we make of Anthony Miller's break-out game with Bears?
Rostered in just 13 percent of ESPN leagues, I could see Miller rising up the waiver wire board this week after the rookie posted 122 yards receiving and a score on five grabs in the Bears' win over the Lions. Those 122 yards were a season-high for Miller and the touchdown was his second end zone trip in the past three games.
However, we also have to take a closer look at the Week 10 matchup against a banged-up Lions secondary. That includes Miller's 45-yard touchdown off a busted coverage. Aligned in a wide bunch, which forces defensive backs to communicate in man coverage, Miller got free. Why? Detroit failed to pass off the routes, leaving Miller wide open on a deep corner route. He made the grab, beat the safety overlapping the throw and got the six.
Do I like the Miller's skill? Absolutely. He has the ability to make plays at all three levels of the field in Matt Nagy's offense. The rookie has both speed and shake. That said, with a matchup against the Vikings in Week 11, I don't expect Miller to replicate this type of production, or to get loose off busted looks in the secondary.
However, the Lions are on tap again in the early Thanksgiving Day game, where Miller could well have WR3 value in deeper leagues. If you have roster space, or want to swap out a wide receiver that has been sitting on your bench, scoop up Miller this week in the anticipation that he'll be a Week 12 play in a Bears offense that is pushing the ball down the field with QB Mitchell Trubisky.
Is Jonnu Smith a possible streaming option?
It feels like we discuss the TE position here on an almost weekly basis, but I can understand why. It's getting pretty tough to find consistent TE options for use in fantasy lineups. So, if you stream a tight end every week -- as I do in some leagues -- then you have to take a look at Smith.
Now, Smith isn't going to bring you high volume in the Titans offense, as he saw just three targets on Sunday in the win over the Patriots, tying a season high. However, he did find the end zone for a second straight week, this time on a crossing route, with Marcus Mariota working outside of the pocket to find the tight end.
With Smith seeing just five targets over his past two games (although he caught all of them for 78 yards), fantasy managers have to be realistic about the expectations here. Smith needs touchdowns to deliver. Still, with a Week 11 matchup against a Colts defense that leans on Cover 2, there will be windows to attack. Think of the inside seam in the red zone, plus the underneath crossers and shallows.
He's a risky play for sure, but I can make an argument that there is streaming value for managers in deeper leagues who want to roll the dice on Smith providing just enough production to jump into fantasy lineups this week.
David Johnson's versatility is back in Byron Leftwich's game plan
Let's start with Johnson's TD grab versus the Chiefs, because that play showed me that Arizona's offensive coordinator was set on getting the rock to his No.1 back. This was a scripted red zone concept to create space for Johnson -- a simple swing route with the inside pick resulting in a walk-in score. I'll take that all day long.
Plus, with Johnson seeing season-highs on Sunday in total touches (28), passing targets (7) and total yards (183), Leftwich is giving fantasy managers exactly what they need out of an RB1. Johnson found the end zone twice versus the Chiefs, and he has now seen 48 total touches in Leftwich's first two games calling plays for this offense.
Remember, Johnson's subpar start to the season was about his fit in the Cardinals' offensive structure under former coordinator Mike McCoy. With Leftwich now showing us that he is going to run that game script through Johnson, I expect the high-level volume to remain consistent. With a Week 11 matchup against the Raiders, Johnson will be a mid-to-high RB1 in my rankings.
Nick Chubb will be a top-10 RB when the Browns return in Week 12
Chubb's Week 10 highlight was clearly his 92-yard TD run in the win over the Falcons. We all saw it, right? The outside zone scheme, with the running lane opening up, putting Chubb one-on-one with the free safety. The rookie beat him with speed to cut through the open-field angle. Go ahead and make that house call for six!
However, while Chubb's low-4.5 speed and legit home run ability were showcased on that long TD scamper, don't sleep on the rookie as a downhill back who can pile up serious volume. According to ESPN Stats & Information, Chubb posted 43 yards after first contact versus the Falcons. This cat can push through defenders. With 20 carries on Sunday, Chubb has now averaged over 18 carries per game since the Browns traded away Carlos Hyde.
With the added bonus of 33 receiving yards on Sunday -- including a TD grab on a misdirection screen in the red zone -- Chubb finished with 209 total yards and two scores. It was a monster day, and while the Browns now head into their bye, they'll return with a Week 12 matchup against a Bengals defense that simply can't stop the run.
Chubb was my RB12 this past week, and he will rise up as a top-10 play at the position when the Browns get back on the field.
Titans WR Corey Davis flashes again, but will it stick?
Davis lit up the Patriots defense on Sunday, bringing in seven of 10 targets for 125 yards and a touchdown. It started with the double move on his 23-yard scoring catch -- give a quick stutter, and then get vertical. It was a good route, and the success continued throughout the game.
Still, we've seen this already from Davis, haven't we? Remember when the wide receiver went to work on the Eagles defense back in Week 4, posting 161 yards and a touchdown? I loved that tape. Davis fit in Matt LaFleur's offense and his playmaking ability really flashed. After that, though, we saw a string of subpar games, with Davis surpassing 50 yards just once.
So, why buy in now? First of all, look at Marcus Mariota, who has settled into this new Tennessee offense. Next, notice that RB Dion Lewis' touches have opened up play-action throws to target the middle of the field off that outside zone-run look. Plus, the Week 11 matchup is going to create opportunities. Just as I pointed out earlier with Jonnu Smith, there are windows (or voids) to attack versus the Colts defense. That's why I'm counting on Davis to produce solid WR2 numbers this Sunday.