Week 10 of the 2024 NFL season has arrived, and league insiders Jeremy Fowler and Dan Graziano are here to break down the biggest questions, latest news and notable buzz heading into the slate of games. Plus, they pick out which players should — or shouldn’t — be in your fantasy football lineups.

But this week, Jeremy and Dan are focusing mainly on the aftermath of Tuesday’s trade deadline. What was most surprising about the deadline action, and what were the most important deals? They also break down the buzz from the Saints’ Monday firing of coach Dennis Allen. It’s all here, as our insiders answer big questions and empty their reporting notebooks with everything they’ve heard heading into Week 10.

Jump to a section:
Deadline surprises | Impactful trades
Post-deadline buzz | Allen firing reaction
Fantasy tips | Latest intel and notes

What surprised you most about the trade deadline?

Graziano: For me, it was the teams that didn’t make any moves. The Giants got calls on edge rusher Azeez Ojulari and wide receiver Darius Slayton but didn’t move either. Teams that checked in on Ojulari said Giants general manager Joe Schoen was asking for too much and never really moved, as he was only going to deal if he got his price. Given how much the Giants have invested in edge rushers Brian Burns and Kayvon Thibodeaux, it seems unlikely they’ll sign Ojulari, who’s eligible for free agency at the end of the season. But this is the same team that didn’t trade Saquon Barkley at last year’s deadline even though it wasn’t going to sign him in free agency.

Fowler: Ojulari, in particular, would have required at least a fifth-rounder, and the Baron Browning trade (from Denver to Arizona for a fifth-rounder) diluted the market a bit. But the overall lack of splash in the final hours was noteworthy.

As one general manager pointed out, the Dolphins traded first- and fourth-round picks for pass rusher Bradley Chubb two years ago. This year, the only trade for anything resembling substantial compensation was the third-round pick shipped to New Orleans as part of the Marshon Lattimore trade. The high-stakes receiver deals for Davante Adams and Amari Cooper on Oct. 15 took the juice out of the deadline.

Graziano: I’m also a little surprised that the Patriots didn’t move anyone outside of edge rusher Joshua Uche, that the Raiders didn’t move wide receiver Jakobi Meyers and that the Panthers’ only move of the day was to send wideout Jonathan Mingo to the Cowboys.

Fowler: Carolina getting a fourth-rounder from Dallas in exchange for Mingo was a shocker. Former Day 2 picks who are out of the lineup typically don’t garner that. The Panthers were eager to deal him. Yes, contractual control was a factor in his value. Mingo is in the second year of his rookie deal, meaning Dallas has him under contract for the next 2½ seasons for slightly more than $4 million in total. The Cowboys felt they had to pay a premium for that, and Mingo does have some upside. But Carolina didn’t have much leverage here. On a day that mostly followed a well-worn script, this move was off script.

Graziano: Yeah, Dallas wasn’t going to trade players and wasn’t going to make a move for a rental. The Cowboys liked Mingo when he came out in the 2023 draft, where he was the No. 39 pick, and they felt they needed some size in their wide receiver corps. Having Mingo under contract for two more years after this season justifies the price in their eyes; basically, they didn’t think they’d get anyone they liked better with that fourth-round pick.

What was the most important addition over the past month?

Fowler: Cam Robinson to the Vikings. Minnesota’s ready-made offense had a major hole to fill when left tackle Christian Darrisaw — who was well on his way to the Pro Bowl — suffered a season-ending knee injury. This left the Vikings in a precarious spot, since quality left tackles are scarce and coveted. One of the only teams with three quality tackles was Jacksonville, which had just fallen to 2-6 at the time Minnesota consummated the deal with a fourth-round pick. Robinson is an eight-year starter with pedigree. Now, the Vikings keep their playoff plan intact with capable play on the left side at a reasonable price.

Graziano: I like that pick a lot. Robinson is certainly not Darrisaw, but given how difficult it is to find starting-caliber offensive linemen at any time of the season, you have to admire the Vikings for getting out there and trying to plug a hole they absolutely had to plug.

I hate to go the obvious big-name route here, but it’s pretty hard to have watched Monday night’s game and not consider DeAndre Hopkins as the answer. He gives the Chiefs a reliable No. 1 wide receiver. It’s clear Patrick Mahomes already trusts him, which is amazing given that they’ve only practiced together for a week and a half. It’s a game-changing move by the undefeated two-time defending Super Bowl champs. Hopkins provides exactly what the Chiefs’ offense was missing.

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Daniel Dopp, Field Yates have high praise for DeAndre Hopkins

Daniel Dopp and Field Yates break down everything they loved from DeAndre Hopkins in Week 9.

Fowler: Hopkins was awesome Monday. He might be a half-step slower than he was in his prime, but his feel for the game, instincts and reliable hands have instantly elevated the Chiefs. Staying in the receiver lane, the Ravens got incredible value with Diontae Johnson, trading a 2025 fifth-round pick for a sixth-rounder and a 28-year-old wideout who can beat one-on-one man coverage. Ravens general manager Eric DeCosta always seems to make smart moves, and here’s another.

While the Panthers got great value for Mingo, they probably should have gotten more for Johnson, showing their hand by making him inactive in Week 7. Plus, Baltimore can enjoy the built-in motivation for Johnson to face the Steelers — his old team — twice.

Graziano: Yeah, Johnson has had a weird career path of late, right? Pittsburgh traded him away in his prime even though it isn’t exactly loaded at that position. Then Carolina ditched him for a relatively low return after having him for seven months. He obviously has a chance to shine with the Ravens, who are now equipped to expand their offensive formation repertoire around Lamar Jackson and Derrick Henry.

What’s the most interesting thing you heard coming out of the deadline?

Graziano: I found it interesting that the Colts and Panthers got calls on benched quarterbacks Anthony Richardson and Bryce Young, the fourth and first picks, respectively, in the 2023 draft. I found it even more interesting that those teams were told “no” — that the Colts and Panthers weren’t ready to give up on their first-round quarterbacks just yet. Young has started the past two games while Andy Dalton has nursed a thumb injury, but it remains to be seen whether Young reclaims the job now that Dalton is healthy. And no one knows when Richardson might get a chance to take over again for Joe Flacco. But the Colts and Panthers wanted to make it clear they haven’t ruled out the possibility that those guys could still turn out to be their franchise QBs.

Fowler: Unless the compensation is significant, it’s not worth completely giving up on players who could resurface as capable starters, either in the short term or down the line. Minnesota’s Sam Darnold and Tampa Bay’s Baker Mayfield have drawn the blueprint for once-failed top picks who rediscovered their games.

One interesting note is that Pittsburgh really did scour the earth for receiver help. Steelers GM Omar Khan looked high and low before zeroing in on Jets wideout Mike Williams. I believe Pittsburgh was one of the teams to check on Seattle’s DK Metcalf, which was a nonstarter for the Seahawks. The Steelers also looked into potentially trading for the Giants’ Darius Slayton. This comes on the heels of a near deal for Christian Kirk before his injury and attempts to acquire Davante Adams and Brandon Aiyuk. After an exhaustive search, the Steelers were determined to walk away with help at a key position.

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Rodgers reacts in real-time to Mike Williams trade while on McAfee

Aaron Rodgers joins Pat McAfee and reacts to the Jets trading WR Mike Williams to the Steelers.

Graziano: Outside of the Za’Darius Smith move to the Lions, if you’d asked me Tuesday morning what I was most confident about happening, I’d have said the Steelers coming away from deadline day with a new receiver. Williams was a guy they poked around on in free agency, so we know they believe he fits in there. They needed another playmaking option besides George Pickens, and as you mention, they kicked over every rock they could find looking for one, dating to this past spring. Pittsburgh doesn’t usually make a lot of trades at the deadline, but it is in first place in the AFC North and determined to cash in on that hot start.

The Steelers probably didn’t feel like a team that would be adding at the deadline when the season began. The Commanders are similar, and snagging cornerback Marshon Lattimore from the Saints feels like the kind of move that can energize and invigorate a locker room. The Commanders feel very good about their roster, their young quarterback and the way things have come together in a very short period under Dan Quinn. They know the Eagles are right behind them. The Commanders are legitimate contenders, and adding a premium player such as Lattimore can only help with that effort.

Fowler: What’s funny is I don’t think the Commanders expected to be contenders. They did not inherit a great roster. Multiple people around the league have pointed out how well Quinn has done with a defense that isn’t bursting with high-level talent. The new regime has been all but allergic to Ron Rivera’s old players. This was supposed to be the bridge season to something greater. But rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels’ brilliant play — coupled with good coaching, a few quality supplemental moves and the infectious nature of winning — has Washington believing in something greater. So, I don’t think the Lattimore move was telegraphed. The Commanders got involved late in the process. After all, they essentially needed nine weeks to realize what they had.

What are you hearing on the Saints firing Dennis Allen, and what’s next for the team?

Fowler: The loss to the Panthers was so bad, so inexcusable, that even some people with Carolina were lamenting after the game how badly the Saints dropped the ball. The loss was indicative of a downward trend. The Saints hadn’t lost six in a row since 2005, when the team was displaced following Hurricane Katrina. This team is at seven defeats in a row. Allen clearly wasn’t maximizing his talent — though, as many within the team have noted, the Saints’ injury woes were also historically bad.

But Allen entered this season with baggage in his own locker room. The issue of Saints players feeling Allen didn’t have their back by apologizing to then-Falcons coach Arthur Smith for running up the score was real and tangible. Those things — issues of trust — can have a cumulative effect on winning and losing. There’s also the basic argument that Allen has proved to be a very good coordinator but not a great head coach. Sometimes it’s that simple.

Graziano: It is, and you can’t say Allen didn’t get a chance. What’s interesting about the Saints as we turn to the future is how different things are going to have to be now. When Sean Payton surprised them by stepping away after the 2021 season, they decided to have as much continuity as possible. They elevated Allen from defensive coordinator to coach, kept the same staff on the offensive side of the ball and brought in quarterback Derek Carr, who was Allen’s signal-caller when he was the coach of the Raiders. The Saints also continued their annual tradition of restructuring big contracts and inflating future cap numbers to keep their roster together.

But the Lattimore trade is interesting because it cuts against all of that. The Saints will take on about $31 million in dead money salary cap charges in 2025 because of the deal. That could be an indication that they’re ready to stop kicking contract cans down the road and swallow the bitter dead money pill teams have to endure when they decide it’s time to tear down the roster and rebuild it. The recent signing of running back Alvin Kamara to another extension is evidence that they haven’t necessarily learned their lesson, but maybe we look back on that one as the last of the put-off-the-pain moves.

The Saints have a chance to look a lot different in 2025. Carr has $10 million in guaranteed money next season, so it’s not out of the question he’ll be back. But with a new coaching staff coming in, odds are they take a loss there too and move on.

Fowler: The Saints have held one of the league’s oldest rosters for years, so getting younger and more explosive will be paramount. The Lattimore trade did seem to signal the Saints’ willingness to embrace that route.

The Saints are projected to have minus-$68.4 million in 2025 cap space, worst in the league. I tend to see the cap as malleable — something the Saints can bend to their will with a series of moves. They’ve been doing it for more than a decade. But that formula is predicated, in part, on restructuring contracts of players who remain impactful. That’s harder to do when those players get old and underperform. The Lattimore trade is a start. And if Carr is in the 2025 plans, reworking his $51.4 million cap hit would give New Orleans immediate space.

This won’t be a one-year fix, though. For now, the Saints and interim coach Darren Rizzi are simply trying to figure out how to regroup. Rizzi is evaluating the whole operation to give coaches and players a fresh start. The offense, when healthy, feels like it can still score efficiently. So, the next eight games will be a chance to evaluate future pillars. One is cornerback Alontae Taylor, who takes that mantle from Lattimore.

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Adam Schefter: Dennis Allen firing the start of a lot of changes for Saints

Adam Schefter joins Pat McAfee and discusses the Saints’ decision to fire Dennis Allen.

Graziano: No doubt, and the future of the Saints beyond 2024 depends entirely on who the new coach is and what they do at quarterback. Even if they do bring back Carr next season, they have to be thinking about a future beyond him. Is their roster too bloated and cap-imperiled to attract top head-coaching candidates? There are a lot of questions to answer in New Orleans.

What’s your top fantasy football tip of the week?

Fowler: Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki feels like a must-play. He has grown in stature with wide receiver Tee Higgins out (quadriceps). Gesicki has produced 12 catches for 173 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks. Higgins has missed the past two practices leading up to Thursday night’s game in Baltimore, and rookie tight end Erick All Jr. (knee) is out for the season. It’s Gesicki’s show up the seam — especially against a Ravens defense that ranks last in passing yards allowed per game (280.9).

Graziano: If Christian McCaffrey plays for the 49ers this week, start him without any reservations. Sometimes you want to wait a week when a guy comes off an injury after not playing in a while, but Kyle Shanahan’s history with McCaffrey tells us that if his star running back is available, he is basically going to get all of the backfield work. The Niners wouldn’t bring McCaffrey back from Achilles tendinitis if they weren’t sure he could handle his normal workload. Also, the Buccaneers are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points per game to running backs and third most over the past four weeks.

What else are you hearing this week?

Graziano’s notes:

• The Cowboys will continue talking to doctors and running tests on Dak Prescott’s injured right hamstring this week to determine how much time they expect the quarterback to miss. Jerry Jones said on the radio Tuesday morning that Prescott likely would be placed on injured reserve, which means missing at least four games, but it’s possible it could be longer. In the meantime, their plan is to start backup Cooper Rush, who has won games for them in the past when Prescott has been hurt. The Cowboys also have Trey Lance on the roster, who is an interesting player to watch. Lance will get more practice reps than usual by virtue of Prescott’s absence and the fact that he’ll have to be ready to play if something happens to Rush. It’s also possible the Cowboys build Lance-specific packages into their offense to make use of his running ability while they continue to look for playmakers. But as of now, there’s no thought of starting Lance over Rush. They believe Rush gives them the best chance to win games with Prescott out. The Cowboys have hopes that star wideout CeeDee Lamb and edge rusher Micah Parsons will be able to return from their injuries and play this week in a vital home game against the Eagles.

• Daniel Jones gets another start for the Giants this weekend against the Panthers in Germany, but after spending some time around the team over the weekend, I’m not convinced he is the locked-in starter for the rest of the season. The Giants barely let Jones throw the ball in the first half against the Commanders, and while he put up some good fourth-quarter numbers, New York was behind and had to throw. The Giants wanted to give Jones this season to determine whether he can still be their long-term answer at quarterback, but they could reach a point where they decide they’ve seen enough and are convinced to move in a different direction. When and if that happens, that 2025 injury guarantee is going to loom large. I’m not ruling out the possibility of Drew Lock playing for the Giants in 2024.

• Here’s a fun little statistical note someone sent me Tuesday morning: Which Chiefs pass catcher will get to 1,000 career receptions first? Tight end Travis Kelce has 959, while newly acquired wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins has 953. You’d think they both have a chance to reach the milestone before season’s end, especially after they combined for 22 receptions on Monday. These are two exceptional careers nearing huge milestones, and it makes you wonder what either or both of them would decide to do if they got to 1,000 and helped the Chiefs win another Super Bowl.

• It does not appear likely the Bengals will have injured wide receiver Tee Higgins back for Thursday night’s game against the Ravens, which kicks off a vital three-game stretch that likely will determine Cincinnati’s season. After the Ravens, the Bengals will play the Chargers and Steelers — two other teams that Cincinnati is chasing in the standings. If the Bengals can go 2-1 or 3-0 in this stretch, they will be in position to make a run at the playoffs. If they can’t, it’s going to be very tough to fight their way back into the race.

Fowler’s notes:

• The Chiefs combed the cornerback trade market and were in on Marshon Lattimore, but they moved on pretty quickly Tuesday. The crop of available corners didn’t entice them, and they will look for creative ways to get stronger at the corner spot opposite Trent McDuffie.

• A few former Day 2 picks from the 2022 draft class who were on my radar but didn’t get traded were Broncos tight end Greg Dulcich and Vikings linebacker Brian Asamoah II. Both teams had trade discussions on the players, who are not in the mix for playing time. And there was interest, which deepened the intrigue on deadline day. But both teams decided to stand pat.

• Bryce Young appears to have momentum to get a third consecutive start despite Andy Dalton’s improving health. People I’ve talked to within the team believe Young will get another chance with the Giants game in Germany, though nothing is official and coach Dave Canales likely will provide clarity Wednesday. This is a bit of a moving target, as Canales benched Young because he thought Dalton gave Carolina the best chance to win. Maybe Canales still believes that. But Dalton, who hurt his thumb two weeks ago in a family car accident, opened the door for Young, who has been unspectacular but improved. And teams I’ve talked to around the league believe Carolina should stick with Young to see what he can do and what can be salvaged.

• The Raiders will take their bye week to regroup, with quarterback plans likely to be laid out next week. New playcaller Scott Turner, his dad, Norv (now a senior adviser), and the staff can put fresh eyes on the QB picture. They could very well stick with Gardner Minshew, the starter for most of the season. But he was benched for Desmond Ridder in the third quarter last week in Cincinnati, so Ridder has at least entered the discussion.

• Saquon Barkley has been a revelation in Philadelphia. And it brings me back to a point multiple scouts made to me upon him signing there: Barkley will have an impact on the Eagles similar to the one Christian McCaffrey had upon his arrival in San Francisco. Barkley has met that challenge, with numbers that compare or surpass McCaffrey’s stats. Through eight games in Philly, Barkley has 157 rushes for 925 yards and six touchdowns, along with 20 catches for 146 yards and two scores. (In total, that’s 177 touches for 1,071 yards and eight touchdowns.) In the first eight games of 2023, McCaffrey’s first full season in San Francisco, McCaffrey had 137 rushes for 652 yards and nine touchdowns, along with 32 catches for 292 yards and four scores. So, while McCaffrey was a more potent scorer and receiver, Barkley has been the far better pure runner. The signing couldn’t have worked out better for the Eagles.

• In injury news: Bears right tackle Darnell Wright is dealing with an MCL injury, per a source. That could put him in the week-to-week category as Chicago prepares for the Patriots on Sunday. … Bengals running back Zack Moss (neck) is getting a second opinion from Dr. Robert Watkins, a renowned spine specialist. A source said that while Moss is unlikely to return to action in 2024, surgery is not deemed necessary at this point. … Raiders left tackle Kolton Miller suffered an ankle sprain last week. With the bye week, he is hoping to rest up in time for game action.