Fantasy football QB injury bug battle starts anew in Week 10

Just when you thought the fantasy football gods were done toying with you during the bye weeks, they go out and employ the always unforgiving injury bug and attack your teams with undeserving gusto. There are few things worse than losing your starting quarterback in Week 9 and now you’re left to pick up the pieces. We’ve spent another week without Kyler Murray and Brock Purdy, but now we’ve lost Jayden Daniels to a dislocated elbow, likely for the season, and we are forced to the waiver wire in search of a quarterback to stream.

With another four teams on a bye in Week 10, the streaming pool is already thinned out. Not that Patrick Mahomes or Dak Prescott was available, but the 470-yard man, Joe Flacco, and rookie Cam Ward are now off the table as well. Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud would have been one of our first choices with a home start against Jacksonville, but he left Sunday with a concussion and will have to clear the NFL’s protocol before we can even consider him.

If either New York quarterback is available, we would definitely go in that direction. Jaxson Dart has been a revelation for the Giants even without quality receiving weapons and both he and Justin Fields can add 5-to-10 fantasy points per week with their rushing abilities. Dart faces a Bears team who’s secondary has been decimated by injuries and shredded by opposing quarterbacks these past few weeks and the Jets take on the Browns who may be good at stopping running back up the middle, but struggle to contain rushing quarterbacks and lack strength in their secondary.

We just witnessed Sam Darnold pick apart the Washington Commanders on Sunday night and he faces a struggling Arizona defense at home. With newfound weapon Tory Horton joining Jaxon Smith-Njigba, the passing attack for the Seahawks is even more threatening than their ground game. We also just witnessed the return of J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. He faces an improving Ravens defense, but with his offensive line getting healthier and having weaponry like Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison, he should be worth a stream if you need him.

Panthers quarterback Bryce Young (9) looks to throw a pass against the Green Bay Packers. AP

You could even go deeper this week with Bryce Young of the Panthers. They’re looking to ride some momentum after upsetting the Packers at Lambeau Field and now they come home to face a Saints team that should have packed it in weeks ago. The Saints aren’t allowing a ton of yardage through the air, but opposing quarterbacks are posting a 107.1 passer-rating against them, fourth-highest, so the efficiency is front-and-center. If you’re familiar with Saints corner Alontae Taylor, then you’ll even want to stack Young with Tetairoa McMillan.

Before you lament the loss of Daniels and think your fantasy team is falling apart, understand that Week 10 is one of the easiest weeks to find a quality streamer. Can any of them be held to guide you to a championship? Absolutely. But it’s probably best to take it one week at a time right now. 

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Howard Bender is the head of content at FantasyAlarm.com. Follow him on X @rotobuzzguy and catch him on the award-winning “Fantasy Alarm Radio Show” on the SiriusXM fantasy sports channel weekdays from 6-8 p.m. Go to FantasyAlarm.com for all your fantasy football news and advice.