Week 10 is here, and with another 6 teams on bye (Redskins, Patriots, Colts, Texans, Chargers, and Vikings) it requires an attentive fantasy owner to manage through all of the bouts of injuries, bye weeks, and constant shift amongst NFL depth charts. If you are still reading fantasy football advice columns this late in the season, then there is a good chance that your team is still competitive and in fantasy playoff contention. Do your due diligence to make sure that you are starting the optimal fantasy lineup for your respective team, and don’t be afraid to take calculated risks to increase your percentage chances of obtaining a victory.
Quarterbacks to Start
Jay Cutler, Bears: Jay Cutler is the prime example of how fantasy football production and actual football production are not mutually exclusive. Cutler continues to disappoint Chicago Bear fans all over as his propensity to turn the ball over has cost the Bears on too many instances this season, but with all that being said, Cutler has exceeded double-digit fantasy output in every game but 1 this season. The Bears are coming off of their bye week and hope that WRs Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey had plenty of time to heal their nagging injuries. I would trust Cutler to produce top 10 QB production for week 11 in a big Sunday Night matchup against the Green Bay Packers. Whether the Bears win or lose, Cutler will throw the ball around the lot.
Matt Ryan, Falcons: Ryan’s last 20 point outing was Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and this bodes extremely well for his prospectus against the Bucs on Sunday. The Bucs give up the 5th most fantasy points per game to opposing QBs and they also give up the 4th highest yards per attempt to opposing signal-callers. Ryan should be able to shine in this divisional matchup and extend his streak of throwing a TD in every game this season.
Joe Flacco, Ravens: Flacco is averaging 17 fantasy points per game in 4 home games this season, and this week gets the middle of the road Titans defense coming to town. Flacco ranks 6th in the NFL in terms of passing yards, and continue to remove the label of game-manager. The Titans give up 240 yards per game to opposing QBs and Flacco should not have a problem exceeding that number and adding a couple of TDs for a nice showing at M&T Bank Stadium.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Ryan Tannehill, Dolphins: Tannehill appeared in the “Quarterbacks to Add” column here on BSO Tuesday, but this week’s matchup against the Detroit Lions #1 ranked defense would be cause to pause for all of the Tannehill praise for at least one week. Tannehill has been rather effective this season as the signal-caller for the dolphins, but the Lions have only given up 9 passing TDs all season. Tannehill is a still a good fantasy QB for the rest of season, but do not expect the big results that he ahs put up in past weeks against a very talented Detroit Lions front 7.
Kyle Orton, Bills: Orton is coming off of his best game in years before the Bills week 9 bye week, where he threw 4 TDs against the depleted New York Jets secondary. Orton should not see that level of success Sunday against the Chiefs who allow the 6th least fantasy points to opposing QBs at 13.8 points per game. Combine that with the news that Sammy Watkins aggravated his hamstring in practice Wednesday, and now all of a sudden Orton does not appear to be the competent bye-week fill in that some fantasy owners were expecting.
Brian Hoyer, Browns: Hoyer is doing his best Ryan Fitzpatrick impersonation and time will only tell if he will receive the same benching result as Fitz dis in Houston. Hoyer faces the Cincinnati Bengals defense that holds opponents under 60% completion percentage, and has double digit interceptions. Thursday Night’s game against the Bengals will be very pivotal for Hoyer’s career. A few more clunker performances and it could be Johnny Football time in Cleveland.
Running Backs to Start
Jeremy Hill, Bengals: Hill is coming off of his monster breakout performance last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars in which he finished as the #1 fantasy RB for week 9 with 154 rushing yards and 2 TDs. This week Hill gets the Cleveland Browns who rank a woeful 30th against the run. With the news this morning that Gio Bernard will miss another week of action, Hill vaults into top 10 RB status and should be considered a must start.
Bobby Rainey, Bucs: Bobby Rainey continues to be one of the most overlooked players in fantasy football. The Bucs were reluctant to give him more carries even when Doug Martin was struggling, and all he did was continue to produce. Now that Martin is out, the Bucs continue to hype up Charles Sims even though he has yet to take an NFL snap yet. Rainey is coming off an effort Sunday that saw him exceed 100 total yards and now he gets the league’s worst rush defense in the Atlanta Falcons. Rainey will be a solid RB 2 this weekend and with 6 teams on a bye, you can insert him into your lineup with confidence.
Darren Mcfadden, Raiders: Darren Mcfadden is averaging 14 carries per week and as far as RB volume goes, he is right in the mix with most NFL featured backs. Mcfadden has been running hard all season, and has surprisingly stayed healthy. This week Mcfadden will get a tough matchup in the Denver Broncos, but he should be able to see some success not only on the ground, but in the passing game he remains active averaging 4 catches per game over his last 4 games. Start Mcfadden as your RB3 or flex this weekend, and expect him to find his way into the end zone for the third time this season.
Running Backs to Sit
Lamar Miller, Dolphins: Miller is coming off of an AC joint sprain to his shoulder and will not be 100 % when he steps on the field to face the #1 defense in the NFL. The Lions are holding teams to 74 yards rushing per game on 3.3 yards per carry. There are a few RBs out there that have better matchups and are worth the start ahead of Lamar Miler for week 10.
Frank Gore, 49ers: Gore continues to struggle this season, and it’s time to start wondering if he might officially on the down-turn of his career. Gore has not eclipsed 4 fantasy points since week 5 against Kansas City, and the Saints are a pretty good defensive group when playing in the Superdome. The Saints give up the 12 fewest rushing yards in home games for the 2014 season, and should be able to keep an aging Gore in check on Sunday.
Ben Tate, Browns: Ben Tate has been dreadful over the last 3 weeks averaging 1.6 yards per carry on 41 carries. Tate is now in a full backfield split with rookie Terrance West and there is no reason for him to be in anyone’s fantasy lineup until he proves otherwise.
Wide Receivers to Add
Randall Cobb, Packers: Everyone focuses their attention on Jordy Nelson to watch as the best Packers pass catcher, but it is Cobb who has exuded the level of consistency that fantasy owners appreciate. Cobb has scored a TD in every game of the season except for one, and continues to be a favorite target of Aaron Rodgers in the short to intermediate passing game. The Bears have allowed 17 passing TDs this season and Cobb is a good candidate to add to that number on Sunday night.
Odell Beckham, Giants: Beckham has something that no other current Giants WR has, talent. I’ve been hearing fantasy analysts hype up Reuben Randle for weeks and the simple matter is, that he’s a dog, who’s not very good at football. ODB on the other hand possesses elite athleticism with freakishly good hands. Eli Manning has to throw to someone, and ODB is the most likely candidate to make a play for the Giants facing the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Percy Harvin, Jets: Harvin received 13 targets from new starting QB Mike Vick on Sunday and converted 11 of them for 128 yards receiving. The Jets are set on using their new weapon in the passing game and in the run game. The Steelers have allowed 114 total catches so far this season, 6th most in the NFL. Harvin is a very solid WR2 option for week 10 and maybe considered an elite option in PPR formats. Expect Vick to get the ball in to Harvin’s hands as much as possible and continue to build on their Hampton, Va connection.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Golden Tate, Lions: Tate’s run as a WR1 might be over now that Calvin Johnson has returned to full strength. Tate should still be able to contribute even though his targets will drop immensely. This week’s matchup against a Dolphins defense rated 6th against the pass is not conducive to a great fantasy day.
Martavis Bryant, Steelers: Bryant has 5 TDs on 10 catches for the season. I smell a regression coming, what about you?
Sammy Watkins, Bills: Watkins injured his groin in Wednesday’s Bills practice and will come into Sunday’s game against Kansas City with a questionable status. Even with 6 teams on a bye, air on the side of caution with Watkins for week 10 and look elsewhere for WR production.
Tight Ends to Start
Travis Kelce, Chiefs: Travis Kelce continues to produce for the Chiefs, coming off of a 4 catch 61 yards and 1 TD performance against the Jets. This week Kelce gets a good Buffalo Bills defense, but he still presents matchup problems. Alex Smith has shown his trust in Kelce as he leads the Chiefs with 4 TD catches on the season. Kelce is a great starting TE option for week 10 and should be considered a must start going forward.
Clay Harbor, Jags: Insert TE facing the Dallas Cowboys. I mean they made John Carlson look like a player last week.
Tight Ends to Sit
Mychal Rivera, Raiders: River has been a hot waiver wire target this week and will probably be started in a few leagues with 6 teams on bye, but expectation should be tempered. Rivera is coming off of his best game of his career with 2 TD catches last week against the Seattle Seahawks. Everyone is banking on River finding the end zone again this week, but I remain skeptical. If you are desperate, I completely understand, but I would rather take a flyer on a veteran option like Owen Daniels for Sunday.
Jared Cook, Rams: Cook continues to show flashes of talent, but has still not put it together on the field. In the past 2 weeks he has combined for just 3 catches for 23 yards. Cook should not be started or rostered in any fantasy leagues or any format.