Week 10 Fantasy Football Start/Sit & Waivers
Can you believe it's Week 10 already? The fantasy playoffs are right around the corner and weekly matchups are becoming more and more important to win to secure them final playoff spots. So @ZTwiceFF & @MattFFDynasty are on hand this week to give you their weekly start/sits while @K_H_Ray is still away.
Teams on their Bye Week:
Houston Texans
Chicago Bears
Cincinnati Bengals
New York Giants
Quarterback
Starts
Start Of The Week
Carson Wentz Vs JAX (@ZTwiceFF)
This is my third time this season having him as one of the starts of the week and he has not disappointed. Comfortably inside the top 12 QB's on the year, Wentz has scored 17+ in every game this season but 1. In a great matchup this week against Jacksonville, I expect Wentz to play similarly to what he did last Thursday against the Jets. Lock him in as a safe QB1.
Derek Carr Vs KC (@MattFFDynasty)
Despite naming Carr as one of my starts last week against the Giants and him letting me down, I'm still going back to the well again this week. Carr threw for just under 300 yards last week but he also threw 2 INTs and just 1 TD, resulting in just 12.3 fantasy points. However this week he goes up against struggling division rivals Kansas City Cheifs who are one of the weakest pass defenses in the league and are giving up an average of 22.7 fantasy points to opposing QBs. I'm expecting a bounceback from Carr this week.
Russell Wilson @ GB (@ZTwiceFF)
Usually Russ wouldn't be allowed in this column because he is a must start. But coming off of finger surgery and being out for an extended period of time, I wanted to mention his name just as a reminder that he is still that dude. We all saw the videos of him prepping pre-game with an imaginary team and ball. He's itching to get back out there and I'd expect him to come right back this week in Green Bay.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Kirk Cousins @ LAC (@MattFFDynasty)
Cousins has been a rock-solid low-end QB1 so far this season and sits as the QB11 on the season. However this week he's facing his toughest test to date by facing off against a strong LAC defense who are allowing the 3rd lowest amount of passing yards per game. The way to beat LAC all year has been on the ground, and that is one of MIN strengths, so expect a heavy dose of the run game in this one.
PJ Walker @ ARI (@ZTwiceFF)
With Sam Darnold out for at least a couple weeks, Walker will be starting for the Panthers. There have been talks of Cam Newton being brought back but at least for this week Walker will start. In his one appearance in relief, he completed 3 of 14 pass attempts leaving little to be desired. With minimal trust from the coaching staff and a tough matchup against Arizona, I'm not willing to take the risk on Washington.
Ryan Tannehill Vs NO (@MattFFDynasty)
Tannehill had one of his worst weeks throwing that ball this past week Vs LAR, where he threw for just 143 yards, 1 TD, and 1 INT but saved his fantasy day with a rushing TD. But, things don't get any easier this week going up against a strong NO defense, who will feel confident containing the Titans run game with no Derrick Henry and will now be able to focus more on the passing game and Ryan Tannehill. The Saints already have 11 INTs (3rd most in the NFL) this season and have allowed just 12 passing TDs (tied 6th least in the NFL), so I'm expecting the Saints to look to improve on those stats this week and another tough game for Tannehill.
Running Back
Starts
Start Of The Week
Leonard Fournette @ WAS (@MattFFDynasty)
Now that Fournette has clearly taken over this backfield, he has become a reliable low-end RB1 in fantasy on this strong Buccs offense. From Weeks 4-8 (before TB bye week last week) Fournette was the RB4 in fantasy football (PPR) and averaging 18.6 FPPG. This week he goes up against WAS in a game that the Buccaneers should be able to control and, in turn, get Founette plenty of usage. Start Fournette with confidence this week.
Darrel Williams @ LV (@ZTwiceFF)
Since he took over the starting RB role in Kansas City for the injured CEH, Williams has been very solid. He has received at least 4 targets in every game giving him a solid floor, and has a shot to fall into the end zone every week. With this likely being his last week with the starting job, he should be started with confidence against a bottom 10 rush defense in Las Vegas.
Kenyan Drake Vs KC (@MattFFDynasty)
Over the last few weeks, Kenyan Drake has started to thrive. He's averaged 18.1 FPPG since Week 6 and has seen plenty of opportunities in the passing game. Last week Vs NYG he had 4 carries that he turned into 30 yards and 6 receptions for 70 yards. This week he gets KC and I expect that pass usage to carry on in a game that could be high scoring if Patrick Mahomes returns to form in this divisional matchup.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Adrian Peterson Vs NO (@ZTwiceFF)
Last week in his debut for the Titans, Peterson ran for 21 yards on 10 attempts and scored a TD. Being away from football and stepping right in no easy task and the Titans seem to want to split the touches with Peterson, McNichols and Foreman all playing at least 20% of the snaps. This week against a stingy Saints defense the only way Peterson will have much value is if he scores, which will be tough to do. I'm sitting him if at all possible.
James Robinson @ IND (@MattFFDynasty)
Robinson has been great once again this season after his impressive rookie season, however, he missed Week 9 with a heel injury and now gets a strong IND run defense this week. The concern is JAX may ease Robinson back in if he is still struggling with the injury this week leading up to Sunday, and the Colts are allowing the 2nd fewest fantasy points to opposing RBs as it is. All the signs point towards Robinson being a fade this week.
Antonio Gibson Vs TB (@ZTwiceFF)
Coming off the bye Gibson continues to deal with shin problems and is limited at practice. He hasn't really been fully healthy all year and it shows in fantasy. Playing less than 50% of the snaps in the last three weeks, he he produced a combined 17 PPR points. While he has potential going forward, he's a tough start until he gets healthy.
Wide Receiver
Starts
Start Of The Week
Keenan Allen Vs MIN (@ZTwiceFF)
Allen was underperforming for fantasy purposes to start the year. Since the bye he's been heating up and is back to his elite level scoring 19 and 22 PPR points. This week in a smash spot agains the Vikings, Allen is expected to continue rolling. I like Allen this week and beyond as a solid WR1.
Rashod Bateman @ MIA (@MattFFDynasty)
After missing the first 5 weeks due to injury, Bateman has wasted little time in becoming a big piece of this BAL passing offense. He's averaging 7 targets, 4 receptions and 54 receiving yards per game plus an average of 18.8% team targets share. Now he goes up against a struggling MIA pass defense who are allowing the 3rd most passing yards per game and an average of 34.8 fantasy points to opposing WRs. The game is on TNF, but Bateman could give you a healthy headstart leading into the weekend in this smash matchup.
Jaylen Waddle Vs BAL (@ZTwiceFF)
Waddle has been the lone WR to stay healthy for Miami. Devante Parker was out on IR, Will Fuller continues to miss time, and there isn't much else outside of Waddle. In a game this week where the Dolphins will need to throw the ball to keep up with Lamar Jackson and the Ravens, Waddle should receive his normal double digit targets.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Courtland Sutton Vs PHI (@MattFFDynasty)
Courtland Sutton's season has been a rollercoaster this year in terms of fantasy production. He's had 3 20+ fantasy weeks, but also 5 single-digit fantasy weeks, and 2 of those games have come in the last 2 weeks in what should have been perfect matchups against WAS and DAL. Now he gets a much tougher matchup against PHI who are a Top 5 defense against opposing WRs, so it's hard to see his fortunes changing in this one.
Jarvis Landry @ NE (@ZTwiceFF)
It's been a tough season for Landry, missing 4 weeks with injury and still not producing since coming back. Even after the release of OBJ, he only had 5 targets for 3 PPR points. This week in New England, Belicheck will likely look to remove the top receiving option for the Browns and Landry should again have low volume. He also has not scored this season making his ceiling low in the first place. Sit Landry this week until we see more volume and upside.
Adam Thielen @ LAC (@MattFFDynasty)
Although Adam Thielen has been a TD machine yet again so far this season with 7 in his first 8 games, I think he may struggle to carry that on this week. I mentioned it earlier with Cousins so naturally it has to affect his pass-catching weapons also, but MIN key to success in this one will be to establish their strong run game early as that's the area of LAC defense that has been beatable so far this season. So I'm expecting a quiet day for their passing offense and you will be relying on Thielen scoring a TD again to give you some solid fantasy production this week.
Tight End
Starts
Start Of The Week
Dan Arnold @ IND (@MattFFDynasty)
What a revelation Dan Arnold has been since joining JAX. He's quickly become one of QB Trevor Lawrence's top targets in this offense averaging 7.5 targets per game. That usage alone is enough to make Arnold a strong and safe option at the TE position. But he's also been productive with that usage averaging 55 receiving yards and 10 FPPG. He's become a solid weekly starter at the TE position.
Pat Freiermuth Vs DET (@ZTwiceFF)
Freiermuth has been a great TE option over the last three weeks with 6+ targets in every game. Chase Claypool is out this week and even with the possibility of Eric Ebron coming back, Freiermuth has played his way into more targets. Playing Detroit he should be able to have a good game and with this TE landscape he looks to be an emerging option.
Kyle Pitts @ DAL (@MattFFDynasty)
Kyle Pitts is showing no signs of the struggles you usually get with a rookie TE. He currently sits as the TE7 and already has 57 targets (6th amongst TEs). He's been used all over the field which has been perfect for his production. He's played 56% of his snaps in the slot, 30% in-line, and even 14% outside. Now he goes up against a DAL defense who has struggled against the pass all season, and I expect Pitts to thrive again as one of QB Matt Ryan's top pass-catching options.
Sits
Sit of the Week
Jared Cook Vs MIN (@ZTwiceFF)
The Chargers oddly had 3 top 12 TE's last week with Cook, Parham, and Anderson getting work. This does not bode well for Cook going forward as his upside was already limited. He's a fine waiver option but his floor is very low with a capped upside due to other TE involvement and a lack of TD's.
Zach Ertz Vs CAR (@MattFFDynasty)
Ertz has found a new lease of life since joining ARI from PHI, but there is no denying that there is plenty of competition for targets in this offense and that now appears to make Ertz slightly volatile week-to-week. CAR are a strong defense and with QB Kyler Murray coming back from a missed week due to injury, there are enough signs for concern to fade Ertz this week and look for a slightly safer option at TE.
Dalton Schultz Vs ATL (@ZTwiceFF)
Since his early season explosion, Schultz has cooled off significantly. On top of that, Gallup is expected to return and will take more targets. Atlanta is a plus matchup this week but Schultz will be tough to trust with so many mouths to feed and a lack of recent production.
Waiver Recap
CLICK HERE if you missed Tuesday's waiver article - Waiver Stargazing
Thanks for reading. Be sure to keep an eye out for both our weekly articles, Tuesday Waiver Targets & Thursday Start/Sit and Waiver Recap with the @FF_Astronauts. Follow @K_H_Ray, @ZTwiceFF, & @MattFFDynasty on Twitter for more Fantasy Football content throughout the season, and hit us up with any of your Start/Sit or Waiver questions.
