This NFL season -- and subsequently the fantasy football season -- has been particularly strange with COVID roster moves, a barrage of injuries and high-octane teams being held in check for large chunks of the season.
But there are always players who benefit from the annoying or inconvenient ups and downs of the fantasy season.
A shocking number of players who were left for dead -- both veterans and younger guys -- are starting to make big impacts on fantasy rosters and must be reckoned with. As trade deadlines begin to loom in most leagues, it's a good time to trim the fat on your roster and let go of some of those players you came into the season believing in.
We have the data -- now it's time to make adjustments heading into Week 11.
Rushing Market Shares
Devonta Freeman, Ravens
In the Baltimore Ravens' shockingly bad Thursday showing against the Miami Dolphins, a note of interest was the continued usage of running back Devonta Freeman. Freeman had 10 of the 13 running-back carries for the Ravens and operated as the clear lead back. He added 3 receptions for 23 yards on 4 targets.
On top of that, the Ravens cut Le'Veon Bell on Tuesday, so it appears this will be a Freeman and Latavius Murray backfield the rest of the way, with Ty'Son Williams possibly mixing in.
Freeman's ceiling isn't great, but he's definitely a viable bench option who can be used as a flex in the right matchups.
Alexander Mattison, Vikings
This one clearly falls under the emergency stash category. But if you don’t grab Alexander Mattison now, it’s going to be too late. If Dalvin Cook misses any time, Mattison is the man for the Minnesota Vikings.
In Week 10, Mattison had only 4 carries for 16 yards with 1 reception for 24 yards on 2 targets. But he's stepped right into Cook's workhorse role whenever Cook has been out.
While handcuffing your own backs is a flawed strategy, it makes more sense later in the year, and Mattison might be the more important handcuff in fantasy.
Receiving Market Shares
Byron Pringle, Chiefs
After weeks of troubling offensive showings, the Kansas City Chiefs went out and laid 41 points on the Las Vegas Raiders last Sunday night.
Something to watch for with this offense is that Byron Pringle may have passed Mecole Hardman and Demarcus Robinson on the depth chart. Pringle played a season-best 61% of the snaps in Week 10 and has now played at least 46% of the snaps in four straight games.
Meanwhile, Hardman was in on just 32% of the snaps last week while Robinson's snap rate was 34%.
Pringle turned the snaps into 5 targets, 4 catches, 46 yards and a score. Neither Hardman nor Robinson had more than 4 looks or 27 receiving yards.
If Pringle takes over as the number-two receiver for the Chiefs, he's worth adding in most formats.
Corey Davis, Jets
With the New York Jets being one of the worst teams in football, they are usually in a negative game script. That was the case last week against the Buffalo Bills, which resulted in Mike White and Joe Flacco combining for 47 pass attempts.
While Elijah Moore appeared to be coming on the last few weeks, it was Jamison Crowder and Corey Davis who dominated the snaps, seeing 48 and 45, respectively, to Moore's 29. Davis led the Jets' wideouts in targets (7), catches (5) and yards (93). Crowder and Moore had six looks apiece.
Davis is likely nothing more than a lower-end flex play most weeks -- we project him as the rest-of-season WR38 -- but he's in a nice spot versus the Houston Texans in Week 12. Have him on your radar for that one.
Red Zone Market Shares
AJ Dillon, Packers
Those who have had A.J. Dillon on their roster all season should get their reward these next couple weeks with Aaron Jones expected to miss some time.
Dillon was getting solid red-zone work even before Jones went down and has 19 red-zone carries on the year, the 16th-most among all backs.
Now with Jones out, Dillon should eat and dominate touches, especially inside the 20. The second-year back who should be very tough to stop in short-yardage situations was just that in Week 10, notching two short touchdown runs against the Seattle Seahawks.
It's all systems go for Dillon in Week 11 versus the Minnesota Vikings.
Van Jefferson, Rams
It was easy to assume that the Los Angeles Rams' acquisition of Odell Beckham would negatively affect Van Jefferson's work, but then Robert Woods was lost for the year.
Jefferson isn't going anywhere and will be a solid play most weeks. Part of what makes him so valuable is his red-zone looks.
Through Week 10, Jefferson has 11 red-zone targets but only 2 touchdowns. While Jefferson had a bad end-zone drop in the loss to the San Francisco 49ers, as long as he keeps playing a lot of snaps and seeing good red-zone volume, he'll be a fine piece the rest of the way and is due for an uptick in touchdowns.