4 Daily Fantasy Football Matchups to Exploit in Week 10

The beauty of daily fantasy football is that, unlike a season-long draft where someone is tied to their top players all year, any top players in the NFL can make their way into your lineup. While that can be a blessing, it can also be a curse.

Although you're able to roster Christian McCaffrey, Jonathan Taylor, and Najee Harris all at once if you want, it is unlikely that all three running backs are optimal plays at their respective salaries for a particular week. There are many elements to decide which players are the best plays, and a large aspect of daily fantasy is the matchup a player has.

While usually encompassed in some respects inside the salary figure, a soft matchup can carry a good running back to a great week. On the other hand, a tough matchup can make superstars suboptimal to roster.

Which matchups are lurking in this weekend's games that we can take advantage of on FanDuel?

Bills Passing Attack vs. The Jets Secondary

The Bills' popularity in daily fantasy Sunday should be pretty fascinating.

After a six-point stinker in Jacksonville, there are some major concerns. Josh Allen is only averaging 0.03 Passing Net Expected Points (NEP) per drop back the past three weeks, down from the NFL average of 0.13. The team could get tight end Dawson Knox back after a limited practice to start the week, but they just may have lost Zack Moss for Week 10 with a concussion.

Still, the Jets are the premium get-right spot for a passing attack in the NFL at the moment, and Allen is -- at the very least -- a competent passer with rushing upside. We need to be here Sunday.

The Jets' defense is playing far worse than Allen. New York is allowing 0.45 Adjusted Defensive Passing NEP per play over the past four weeks, and that would be the worst mark in the league this year if it qualified. The Jets have also faced just Matt Ryan, Joe Burrow, Mac Jones, and Carson Wentz in this period. Functional passers? Definitely. Better than Josh Allen overall? Definitely not.

With Devin Singletary as the full-time back, the Bills should throw a ton. Singletary's -0.02 Rushing NEP per carry last season in a similar role was terrible. With Singletary as their lead back in Weeks 1 and 2 this season, the team had an early-down, first-half pass rate of 61%, ranking them seventh in the NFL.

That will put Stefon Diggs, Emmanuel Sanders, and Cole Beasley all on the menu.

Since their bye two weeks ago, Beasley has led the team with 12.0 targets per game. Diggs has seen 7.0 targets per game, and Sanders has seen 6.0. However, Emmanuel Sanders leads Buffalo in air yards per game (100.2) and routes run percentage (91.5%) in this time. The odd man out may seem to be their most talented receiver based on his $7,900 salary on a week loaded at running back, but he's also Stefon Bleeping Diggs.

There is likely no way to stack the Jets offense into the tough Bills' defense, but Allen, Diggs, Sanders are all quality options against reeling defense. Beasley's yardage upside is generally poor, but his $6,100 salary also works if the savings is needed.

Dalvin Cook (or Alexander Mattison) vs. The Chargers Run Defense

For now, the assumption should be Dalvin Cook plays on Sunday. If not, we know Alexander Mattison steps into nearly an identical role.

Since Cook's situation isn't injury-related, we should know well before lock on Sunday. Either way, the Vikings' tailback that starts is a must-have in daily fantasy against the Los Angeles Chargers.

The Chargers make it no secret that they will let teams succeed on the ground. Their 0.14 Adjusted Defensive Rushing NEP per play is second-worst in the NFL (in front of only Kansas City), and they're allowing the fourth-most FanDuel points per game (25.3) to running backs.

Los Angeles has also faced four straight running back committees (Cleveland, Baltimore, New England, and Philadelphia), so this matchup may not be as obvious to all daily fantasy players as it should be.

No such committee exists in Minnesota; both Cook and Mattison have seen at least 65% of the snaps in games they've started in all but one contest this year. That contest was against the Browns in Week 4 as Cook returned from injury.

Cook is a fair $8,500 for his role and ability, but Mattison is a lock-button option at $6,100 if Cook is ruled out before Sunday due to his legal issues. Either should be a core play in an awesome contest to stack.

Kyle Pitts vs. Trevon Diggs/Jayron Kearse

Kyle Pitts is the Falcons' top receiver at the moment, and he just happens to fill the cesspool that is the modern tight end position.

Since Calvin Ridley stepped away from football, Pitts has led Atlanta in routes run percentage (83.9%), targets per game (6.5), and air yards per game (83.0). He's also seen five deep targets and two red-zone looks in this two-week period. He's got a solid role that might normally be over-salaried at $6,900, but definitely not at tight end.

As the Falcons' top guy, he could draw the coverage of standout Dallas corner Trevon Diggs. Diggs really isn't the shutdown option his turnover numbers would lend one to believe; he's been targeted 53 times this season (tied for eighth-most in the NFL) and his 51.9 coverage grade by PFF is mediocre.

The more traditional route is that Pitts lines up against safety Jayron Kearse most frequently. Kearse has a 62.5 coverage grade via PFF, ranking 42nd among 95 qualified safeties.

That's one key reason the Cowboys aren't to be feared when using bring-back options with their elite offense. They've allowed the 12th-most FanDuel points per game (11.5) to opposing tight ends and the 8th-most FanDuel points per game (32.8) to wideouts. Whatever you consider Pitts to be, this matchup is just fine.

I want to load up on Dak Prescott and Amari Cooper this weekend against the poor Falcons' secondary, and Pitts is a tremendous addition to a game stack for this contest with a 45.5-point total.

Cardinals Pass Rushers vs. The Panthers' Dumpster Fire Offense

Sometimes, when it rains, it pours.

The Panthers have traded the return of Christian McCaffrey for horrid luck everywhere else. Sam Darnold was already playing poorly and will now miss four weeks with a shoulder issue. That thrusts P.J. Walker into the starting role.

Walker has averaged a terrifying -0.66 Passing NEP per drop back this season. That's the very worst mark in the league amongst all players who've attempted a pass. To make matters worse, the Panthers will now be without starting offensive linemen Matt Paradis and Cameron Erving due to injury.

This date with the Arizona Cardinals couldn't have come at a worse time. Arizona's stout defense is only surrendering 0.02 Adjusted Defensive NEP per play -- third in the NFL behind only Buffalo and these Carolina Panthers. Arizona also generates a 32% pressure rate (second on the main slate) behind Chandler Jones and Markus Golden.

There is plenty of perimeter talent with McCaffery's return, and D.J. Moore lurking, but the foundation of the Panthers' offense is crumbling. The Bills, Steelers, and Colts all have plus matchups at the top of the FanDuel pool as well, yet the Cardinals' opportunity with this wounded squad is the premier spot amongst them.