When it comes to fantasy football, timing is everything. Fortunately, these star players look to be heating up at just the right time. (Points and projections are via Yahoo Sports)
Davante Adams (WR) New York Jets
His third game with New York proved to be the charm for Adams on Thursday night. With seven catches and 15.4 fantasy points in his first two games as a Jet, the trade for Adams looked to have serious “bust” potential.
Fortunately for the team, Adams managed 91 yards and a touchdown against the Texans despite missing time in the second half while being evaluated for a concussion. The 31-year-old wide receiver turned a team-high 11 targets into 22.1 fantasy points, numbers he should have no problem matching against the Cardinals in Week 10.
Arizona may be riding a three-game winning streak but the team still has allowed the ninth-most passing yards (228.6) and fantasy points per game (34.2) to wide receivers. Adams had two catches for 12 yards when he last faced the team in 2022. Fantasy managers can expect much more when the Jets fly west to face the Cardinals this week.
Sam Darnold (QB) Minnesota Vikings
Darnold threw a pair of interceptions and lost a fumble but also put up a season-high 290 yards against the Colts last week. While three turnovers in a game may be enough to scare off some fantasy managers, he did have a season-high 34 pass attempts and his fourth game with 20 or more fantasy points.
Minnesota’s quarterback has been solid, not spectacular, as the NFL’s 15th-leading passer. But Jacksonville, Minnesota’s next opponent, has been neither in 2024. Only the Cowboys (28.1) and Panthers (32.6) have allowed more points per game than the Jaguars (28.0) and only Tampa Bay allows more fantasy points to quarterbacks (23.4) than Jacksonville (22.6) this season.
Assuming Darnold and the Vikings spend the week working on ball security, fantasy managers should expect him to put up at least 20 fantasy points for the fifth time this year.
Travis Kelce (TE) Kansas City Chiefs
It seems reports of the All-Pro tight end’s fantasy demise have been greatly exaggerated. While Kelce’s season got off to a painfully slow start with an average of five fantasy points in his first three games, he just followed up a 25-point performance against the Raiders in Week 8 with 22 fantasy points against the Buccaneers in Week 9.
Kelce received a team-high 16 targets for his first 100-yard game of the season and despite 86 yards and a touchdown from wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, should remain the favorite target of quarterback Patrick Mahomes.