Three Things to Watch for Dynasty Managers Week 10: Getting to Know Kyle McCord

We’ve reached double digits, folks: Week 10 of the dynasty fantasy football season is somehow already here. I’m gonna tell you the same thing my dad told me when I hit double digits: “You’ve really gotta stop putting your finger in there.”

Oh, and also, perhaps more relevant to dynasty fantasy football: “It’s OK to admit when you’re wrong.”

It’s important to constantly reassess how you feel about players in dynasty. If you don’t do that, it’s gonna be pretty tough to sustain a quality team. Once-great players can fade away while future-great players can seemingly come out of nowhere if you’re not paying close attention.

With that in mind, here are three things to watch for this week…

Dynasty Fantasy Football: 3 Things to Watch in Week 10

Week 10 Dynasty Watch: Can Josh Downs Stand Out in the Chiefs Offense?

I know a lot of people are excited for Josh Downs to catch passes from Patrick Mahomes. Many have already hoisted Downs into the next tier of dynasty WRs. I wish I could be that confident. But I’m not.

Because… pick a week. Any week. The Chiefs probably had a different leading receiver than they did the week before and the week after. Such is the general ineffectiveness of Kansas City’s receiving corps.

Of course, it doesn’t help that Kenneth Walker has been reborn as the LaDainian Tomlinson of the AI slop era. Walker has accounted for a third of the Chiefs' offensive yardage and practically half of their touchdowns. That, along with Travis Kelce’s refusal to ride off into the sunset, is probably why the KC receivers have collectively posted just two top 15 weeks.

Does that change with the arrival of Downs? Is Downs such a phenomenal receiver or such a perfect fit for Eric Bieniemy’s offense that he quickly separates himself from the pack? I have a hard time believing the guy who topped a 20% target share in just two games this year on an extremely thin Colts depth chart will stand out in Kansas City.

But I’ll be willing to change my tune if he does.

RELATED: Matthew Freedman breaks down his favorite (and least favorite) plays for Week 10 of the fantasy football season in his Favorites & Fades For Week 10 Fantasy Football.

Are There Any Diamonds Buried Underneath the Offensive Rubble?

Between season-ending injuries and season-altering trades, thousands of fantasy managers have suddenly been left asking the question, “Who the f-ck is THIS guy?”

And the answer is probably either, “He’s the new default WR1 for the Colts/Cardinals/Rams,” or, “He’s the latest FAAB trap who happens to play for the Colts/Cardinals/Rams.”

To recap: Josh Downs and Keenan Allen were traded from Indy. Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne are out for the season in Arizona. Puka Nacua is going to miss a few weeks, and Davante Adams is still on IR (and recently joined by third-year teammate Jordan Whittington).

If you took EVERY healthy receiver on all three teams and added up their COMBINED catches from last season… that number would be 57. That’s what we in the biz call “a real sh-t show.”

Ahem. More generously, this is an “evaluation period” for their young players.

Although all three teams are likely to spam their tight ends until morale improves, someone else will have to step up. Maybe that’ll be a rookie like CJ Daniels, whom the Rams traded up for in the draft. Daniels seemed like a nice deep sleeper stash when the season began, but Sean McVay has kept him anesthetized to this point. They’ll have no choice but to nudge him awake now.

Other young players I’ll be watching intently: Reggie Virgil (ARI) and Deion Burks (IND). If they can get a leg up on the crusty old veterans, the momentum they carry into the offseason could make them worth a stash.

Is Kyle McCord Going to Be a Thing?

While most eyes will undoubtedly be on Fernando Mendoza’s first start with the Raiders, that’s not the QB takeover I’m drawn to. I’m more interested in seeing what Kyle McCord, the former sixth-round pick by the Eagles, can muster when he takes over for Malik Willis, who just landed on IR.

Ok, I can actually hear you rolling your eyes. But I promise I’m not just being a contrarian.

McCord was the NCAA passing yards leader in 2024 and broke the ACC single-season record in the process. Although he’s yet to start a regular-season game in the NFL, he looked decisive and dynamic in his preseason action for Green Bay this year. Good enough that the Dolphins immediately traded for him and thus extended the Packers backup-to-Dolphins QB room pipeline.

And I know… that was preseason. That doesn’t count. But is this week really SO different? Miami’s matchup with the beleaguered and degraded Colts is practically an extension of the preseason. It’s the perfect opportunity for McCord to settle in and showcase what he can do.

He’s likely been picked up from waivers in all but the shallowest of superflex leagues, but if McCord passes the eye test, we’ll have to seriously consider his future. Especially since Willis is currently working on a very modest contract.