Week 10 DFS Cheapskate Plays is here to spotlight a few budget-friendly players who can help you stretch your salary cap without sinking your lineup.
We’re not chasing the “studs”. If I don’t mention the slate’s most expensive QB, it’s not because I think he’s a bad play; it’s because you don’t need me to tell you they will score the most points. The real purpose here is to dig for value, the affordable (cheap) options that make it possible to fit those high-priced studs into your build.
Of course, these picks come with more risk, and they don’t have the same floor as the proven stars. But when they hit, the payoff is huge. DFS is ultimately a game of points per dollar: a $4K player scoring 20 points (5x value) actually outperforms an $8K player scoring 24 points (only 3x). That’s why we hunt for these gems. They give you a better return on investment, even if they whiff more often.
Player prices are referenced from DraftKings, but the concept applies across all major DFS platforms.
Week 10 Cheapskate Quarterback
JJ McCarthy $4,900, MIN vs Ravens
In case you missed it, here’s a summary of what I wrote about J.J. McCarthy last week:
- Kevin O’Connell confirmed McCarthy is fully healthy and will start.
- Justin Jefferson reaffirmed McCarthy as “our guy,” strengthening the value of their fantasy stack.
- McCarthy’s last full outing showed game-winning poise, setting up another high-ceiling passing performance indoors.
He then proceeded to throw two TDs in the first quarter, including one to Jefferson. Then he ran for a touchdown on one of his nine (9!) attempts. Don’t overthink it; his arrow is pointing up.
Week 10 Cheapskate Running Backs
Emari Demercado $4,500, ARI at Seahawks
Emari Demercado is the most talented running back in the desert. He may also be a knucklehead who got sent to the doghouse for a few weeks because of an ill-advised goal-line maneuver. However, he does not have Alvin Kamara in front of him, nor does Mike Vrabel coach in Arizona. This leads me to believe that the Cardinals need the best player on the field, and will do so again this week.
Demercado is in line for a clear uptick in usage heading into Week 10 as the primary back for the Arizona Cardinals, coming off an 80-yard effort on 15 touches in Week 9. With uncertainty in the backfield and his improved role, he presents phenomenal ROI potential. Meanwhile, his opponent, the Seattle Seahawks, remains vulnerable against the run. Seattle is allowing 4.6 yards per carry (ranking 27th in the league) and just 1.64 yards before contact (28th). That mismatch sets Demercado up for upside as a ground-game leverager.
Kyle Monangai $5,600, CHI vs Giants
The easy answer is that $5,600 is too cheap for a running back coming off 26 carries and 5 targets. That’s not a bellcow, that’s a warhorse. Kyle Monangai is not a “fun guy” for the New York Giants defense. He’s the kind of runner that grinds the clock, wears you down, and forces linebackers to start making business decisions by the third quarter.
Monangai erupted for 176 rushing yards last week, showing both vision and burst while commanding nearly every meaningful snap in the backfield. His expanded role in the passing game (3 catches on 5 targets) adds to his dual-threat appeal.
The matchup couldn’t be much better. The Giants’ defense ranks 30th in rushing yards allowed per game (139.6) and 31st in yards per carry (5.3). They’ve already given up 10 rushing touchdowns through nine weeks. Lock in Kyle “The Warhorse” Monangai and let the Giants find out how long 26 carries can feel.
Week 10 Cheapskate Wide Receivers
Darius Slayton $4,300, NYG at Bears
Darius Slayton brings sneaky heat to Week 10. He just led the Giants in Week 9 with 5 grabs for 62 yards on 7 targets, quietly reminding us that when this offense needs juice, he’s the spark. We’ve seen this movie before, when Malik Nabers went down in 2024, Slayton morphed into the WR1 overnight, posting 14 catches, 179 yards, and a score over the next two weeks.
Now he draws a Bears secondary that’s been getting cooked on the perimeter and can’t handle vertical burners. Slayton’s deep-route chemistry and sudden volume spike make him a classic tournament play. Lock him in before the crowd catches up, because the Giants passed on adding a receiver before the trade deadline.
DeMario Douglas $4,000, NE at Buccaneers
DeMario Douglas is flashing major upside this week. The Buccaneers’ defense is being called a pass funnel. Douglas is a funnel-web spider waiting at the edge of the net for prey, set to strike against Tampa’s vulnerable pass defense. Last week, Douglas exploded for 4 catches on 6 targets for 100 yards and a touchdown. This week, he faces Tampa Bay, which is giving up around 289 opponent passing yards per game this season.
With Douglas locked into his slot role, seeing the volume and deep-route opportunities, the setup couldn’t be better. He’s coming at a value price but has proven he can deliver when trusted, a textbook “undervalued weapon” scenario. Don’t be shocked when Douglas spins a big score while others bank on more expensive chalk.
Marvin Harrison Jr. $5,300, ARI at Seahawks
Marvin Harrison Jr. looks ready to detonate in Week 10, and the price tag hasn’t caught up to the talent. Coming off a 7-catch, 96-yard, 1-TD performance in Week 9, the rookie finally reminded everyone that bloodlines matter and highlight reels run in the family. The connection with Jacoby Brissett has injected life into Arizona’s offense, sustaining drives, finishing possessions, and letting their alpha eat. With Brissett under center, the Cardinals have climbed in both success rate and scoring efficiency, and Harrison’s target volume has followed suit.
Now comes Seattle, a defense that’s quietly been leaking big plays on the perimeter. This is the week the rookie becomes the problem. Load the cannon and fire on Harrison Jr.
Week 10 Cheapskate Tight End
Mark Andrews $3,400, BAL at Vikings
Mark Andrews arrives with momentum and a renewed connection to Lamar Jackson. Jackson is back and healthy, and he’s thrown at an average of 2.8 passing touchdowns per game this season. With Jackson back under center, Andrews’s ceiling rises significantly. He is the go-to red-zone weapon who sees premium looks when Jackson is operating at full strength. Andrews logged 34 snaps in Week 9 while hauling in two touchdowns.
The Vikings have had issues defending athletic tight ends and mobile quarterbacks this season, which opens the door for Andrews to outperform his salary. In tournaments and showdowns, his combination of upside and connection to Jackson makes him a smart value.
Week 10 Cheapskate Defense
http://gty.im/2240009895
Jacksonville Jaguars $2,600, JAX at Texans
The Jacksonville Jaguars’ defense is a fantastic value play for Week 10 against the Houston Texans. With C.J. Stroud sidelined due to a concussion, the Texans turn to Davis Mills under center, who deserves a harsher term than “downgrade” to describe his play. He had 30 attempts in Week 9, but came away with a depressing 6.2 fantasy points.
Meanwhile, Jacksonville’s defense is thriving in takeaway mode, having registered 16 takeaways this season. This combination of a shaky opponent quarterback and a defense that regularly flips possession makes the Jaguars an excellent “stack” opportunity. Expect the Jaguars to hunt the backup QB, pressure the Texans into mistakes, and deliver upside far beyond their salary bracket.
For help filling out the rest of your lineup, check out the FSAN Rankings Page.
Check out Dan Mader and Chase Thornton‘s Week 8 Sit & Start & DFS Cocktail Hour video on the FSAN YouTube Channel on this week’s Operation Domination.