Thursday Night Fantasy Playbook: Skattebo and Nabers Are Cleared for Commanders-Giants as Daniels' Legs Lead the Way

The Week 10 fantasy slate opens Thursday night with an NFC East rematch that already produced one wild finish this season. The Washington Commanders visit the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium at 8:15 p.m. Eastern on Prime Video, with New York at 5-2-1 atop the division and Washington at 2-5-1.

When these teams met in Washington on Oct. 11, they played to a 27-27 overtime tie. Jayden Daniels ran nine times for 103 yards and two touchdowns in that game, and Jameis Winston came off the bench for New York to throw touchdown passes to Isaiah Likely and Malik Nabers. Fantasy managers would gladly take another night like that.

The best news for anyone starting players from this game is that the big names are cleared. Here is how I would handle the lineup calls.

Cam Skattebo is back. The Giants running back was limited Monday and a full participant Tuesday with his hamstring, and he carries no injury designation for Thursday. He missed the win in Philadelphia, yet he still leads the Giants with 418 rushing yards this season. Newsweek pointed to his 124-yard, one-touchdown day against Houston in Week 7, before the hamstring slowed him. With Tyrone Tracy Jr. placed on injured reserve on Oct. 27, according to the Giants' transaction log, Skattebo should handle a heavy share of the work. He sounds ready: "I can be one of the most dangerous backs in the league," he said, as quoted by Newsweek. Start him as a strong RB2 with RB1 upside.

Malik Nabers practiced fully Monday and Tuesday despite a knee listing, and he leads the Giants with 648 receiving yards. Washington allows 240 passing yards a game, 30th in the league, according to The Sports Encounter's preview. That is a matchup to attack, and Nabers is a locked-in WR1 this week.

Isaiah Likely has six receiving touchdowns this season and caught one in the first meeting. He is a solid tight end start in a week when plenty of managers are scrambling at the position.

Quarterback J.J. McCarthy is the one Giant who calls for a little caution. He hurt his hip in Philadelphia, was limited Monday, practiced fully Tuesday and has no designation, so he will play. The Associated Press reported he is set to go despite the right hip injury. In two-quarterback and superflex leagues he is a usable starter against a struggling pass defense. In standard leagues I would treat him as a streamer only, since a sore hip on a short week can limit how freely a quarterback moves in the pocket.

Jayden Daniels practiced fully and carries no designation. He has 1,250 passing yards, seven touchdown passes and 252 rushing yards this season, and he threw for 274 yards and a touchdown against the Rams in Week 9. His legs are what make him a weapon, as that 103-yard rushing night against this same defense showed, and the Giants rank 21st against the run, allowing 123.6 rushing yards a game. Start him as a QB1.

Washington's receiving room is thinner. Terry McLaurin remains sidelined with a longer-term injury, according to The Sports Encounter. Treylon Burks, who missed the Rams game with a foot injury, has no designation and will play, SB Nation reported. Treat Burks as a deep-league flex until his role is clear.

The bigger worry is up front. Starting center Lucas Patrick has been ruled out with a concussion, and tight end Colson Yankoff is out with a knee injury, the Commanders announced. Veteran Nick Allegretti is expected to start at center, and the team itself noted that the Giants blitz at the third-highest rate in the league.

Thursday games reward the simple approach: start the players with the biggest roles and do not overthink it. Skattebo and Nabers have roles nobody can take away, and Daniels' running gives him a floor few quarterbacks can match.

If you stream defenses, the Giants deserve a look. Washington converts just 31.13 percent of its third downs, last in the league, and will be working with a fill-in center against a Giants defense that ranks fifth in total yards allowed at 301.4 a game. Be realistic, though: Washington has protected the ball well, with a plus-7 turnover differential that is tied for third in the league, so sacks are likelier than a pile of takeaways.

One more reminder for our readers: you do not need to spend a dime to enjoy the fantasy season. The free Liberty Bell Fantasy games at /fantasy let you pick your players and compete with friends and family all season long, just good, clean competition the way the game was meant to be played.

Kickoff is 8:15 p.m. Eastern on Thursday. Lock in your Thursday players before then, and watch the rest of the week's practice reports before you set the remainder of your Week 10 lineup.