Week 10 of the fantasy football season is here, and things are getting tight across the board. Playoff races are heating up, trade deadlines are looming, and every lineup decision suddenly feels like it could make or break your season. With injuries reshaping depth charts, unexpected breakouts shaking up waiver priorities, and star players fighting through midseason slumps, managers need to stay sharp. Let’s break down the key fantasy headlines heading into Week 10 — who’s trending up, who’s fading fast, and which matchups could swing your playoff push.
Tee Time
Since veteran quarterback Joe Flacco took the reins for the Cincinnati Bengals this season, Tee Higgins has shown renewed energy and fantasy relevance. In Week 9 vs. the Chicago Bears, Higgins logged 7 receptions for 121 yards and 2 touchdowns, including a 44-yard strike from Flacco late in the first half and a 2-yard red-zone haul in the third quarter. That outing helped extend his strong recent form — averaging at least ~62 yards in three of his last four games.
For fantasy managers, the resurgence matters: Higgins is no longer just a “boom or bust” WR2 flanking Ja’Marr Chase, but someone who’s carving out a consistent chunk of production with Flacco under center. Looking ahead into the fantasy playoff push, his outlook is promising. The Bengals’ offense is still pass-heavy, and Higgins’ big play ability (his 44-yard touchdown in Week 9 among them) gives him high upside. While matchups may vary and his target share remains somewhat behind Chase, he should be rostered with confidence as a flex or strong WR2 in 12-team leagues. If the Bengals can sustain offensive rhythm and Flacco stays healthy, Higgins could deliver multiple end-of-season games with two-touchdown upside — positioning him as a valuable asset heading into fantasy playoffs.
McCaffrey MVP
Christian McCaffrey has unquestionably rediscovered top form during the 2025 season, and his Week 9 outing against the New York Giants serves as a prime example of his fantasy-impact meter being recalibrated. In that matchup, he rushed for 106 yards on 28 carries while adding 67 receiving yards on five catches, and he found the end zone both on the ground and through the air. In doing so he hit the milestone of his 16th career game with at least one rushing TD and one receiving TD, surpassing Marshall Faulk for the most such games in NFL history.
From a season-to-date perspective, McCaffrey has already rushed for approximately 596 yards and caught passes for 626 yards through nine weeks, putting him on pace for a rare 1,000/1,000 or near-that scrimmage yardage campaign. For fantasy purposes, what this means is a few key takeaways:
He is back to multi-dimensional excellence, meaning he doesn’t just rack up rushing yards but is a heavy contributor in the passing game, which adds major value in PPR (points per reception) formats. His touchdown presence (ground + air) remains elite, so he brings high-ceiling upside. Facing the playoff push in 2025, McCaffrey is firmly in “locked in” territory for fantasy managers: he should be treated as a top-tier running back option rather than one with question marks.
Heading into the fantasy playoffs, you can feel confident in McCaffrey’s role and production. His volume of touches and dual-threat usage (rushing + receiving) make him a cornerstone asset. Barring injury or a major role change, his consistency should hold up, making him one of the more reliable RB1s to anchor your lineup in the late regular season and into the postseason.
A few caveats — obviously, no player is immune to matchup swings or unexpected fatigue — but with the numbers he’s putting up and the historical context (breaking records, performing at a high level in significant games), McCaffrey should remain a high-end fantasy option with one of the highest floors and ceilings at his position.
He’s the Monan-Guy
The 2025 season has taken an exciting turn, especially with his breakout performance in Week 9 for the Chicago Bears. With the team’s starting running back, D’Andre Swift sidelined due to a groin injury, Monangai stepped into the spotlight against the Cincinnati Bengals and delivered a standout outing: 26 carries for 176 rushing yards, adding 3 receptions for 22 receiving yards.
Before that game, Monangai had shown flashes of opportunity — earlier weeks saw moderate usage (for example, he had 7 carries for 24 yards against the Baltimore Ravens) and was beginning to carve out a real role behind Swift. The Week 9 explosion demonstrated not just upside, but that he can carry a heavy workload when called upon.
Given that performance and the Bears’ usage of him in Swift’s absence, Monangai now has meaningful fantasy relevance. Here are a few takeaways for the rest of the season: Opportunity is here. With Swift injured and Monangai now proven in a starter-type workload, he becomes a candidate for RB2/flex consideration in fantasy, especially in deeper leagues or as a handcuff with upside. That 176-yard game shows the upside is large, but keep in mind that earlier weeks had very modest output. Expect variance.
Going forward, if the Bears are playing at home/stretching leads, and leaning on the run, Monangai’s role should hold up. If they fall behind or revert to more pass-heavy work, his value may dip. As we approach the fantasy playoffs, having a running back who can deliver a 20-30 point PPR outing (thanks to work in both rushing and receiving) is gold. Monangai has shown he can do it — if he maintains the workload and health holds, he becomes a viable asset. His role isn’t locked in forever — if Swift returns healthy, Monangai may slide back into a secondary role. Also, his passing-game involvement is still limited compared to top backs, which slightly caps the upside.
Monangai’s breakout Week 9 gives fantasy managers reason to take another look. If you’re chasing a playoff spot or need a high-upside flex, he’s worth consideration. But treat him as a somewhat volatile option — big upside, but still some dependency on context and health.
London is Rising
Since the start of the 2025 season, London had been quietly building toward a breakout — and when he faced the New England Patriots in Week 9, he delivered in style. In that game, he hauled in 9 receptions on 14 targets for 118 yards and 3 touchdowns. Prior to that outing, his seasonal totals showed modest, steady production: through seven games, he had 47 catches for 587 yards and 5 scores.
This performance against New England not only filled the stat sheet but re-established London as a major fantasy asset. The three-touchdown day illustrated that when he’s dialed in and his quarterback trusts him in the red zone, he can be a game-changer. For fantasy managers, this marks a “boom” week — and sets a higher floor going forward.
With the Falcons’ offense increasingly leaning on London as the obvious top receiving option, his target share and red-zone involvement suggest he’s firmly in WR1 consideration. The ceiling is high — if he draws enough volume and favorable matchups, multi-touchdown games like Week 9 are repeatable. The floor has improved, too, given his role clarity. While his role has stabilized, defenses will key on him after that breakout. His weekly upside may vary based on opponent, game plan, and whether the Falcons lean run or pass.
Heading into the late regular season and fantasy playoffs, London emerges as a strong asset. He could be a true weapon when you need a “big game” in your lineup. Pairing him with a safer receiver may balance your roster. His production is still somewhat dependent on game flow — if the Falcons fall behind, increased passing helps; if they’re ahead and run more, his opportunities might shrink. Also, a heavy workload may increase fatigue/injury risk.
London’s Week 9 explosion turns a previously inconsistent option into a compelling fantasy asset with both volume and scoring upside. If you own him (or can acquire him), he’s worth starting with confidence as we head into the playoff-deciding stretch.
Week 10 is where things start to get real. Every lineup call feels huge, every waiver move could swing a matchup, and every trade might decide who sneaks into the playoffs. The key now is staying active — don’t get comfortable, keep an eye on the injury reports, and be ready to pivot fast. If you play it smart and trust your instincts, this could be the week that sets you up for a playoff push. It’s crunch time — let’s go win some matchups.
