I love taking chances in fantasy football. Last week my team was 3-5 & I had Russell Wilson & Mark Ingram in my lineup. Wilson was coming off his 3rd straight week without a touchdown & Ingram was coming off a -2 point performance against Seattle where he was benched for fumbling the ball. But in Week 9 I said “what the heck I have nothing to lose” & played them both & it worked out in my favor. Wilson scored 26 points & Ingram got me 30 points in a victory. Now I have hope at 4-5! Now is it false hope? Maybe so but it is hope nonetheless. Alright remember my choices are based on PPR scoring.
Top 3 Performers of Week 9:
Mike Evans: 39 points
Matt Ryan: 35 points
Melvin Gordon: 35 points
QBs to start in Week 10:
Carson Wentz (vs. Falcons): Wentz has struggled the past four games throwing just 2 touchdowns & has 5 turnovers in those games as well. This week may be the week Wentz gets back on track as he plays the Falcons who have allowed the most points to opposing QBs & have allowed the most passing touchdowns (23). This week I like Wentz as a bye week fill in for guys like Tyrod Taylor, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck, Derek Carr, or if you’re QB has a bad matchup Wentz might be worth a look.
Carson Palmer (vs. 49ers): I know Palmer has struggled this season but he plays the 1-7 San Francisco 49ers on Sunday. The Cardinals are coming off their bye week & I look for Palmer to improve on his disappointing season so far. I believe the Cardinals will easily be able to run on this 49ers defense & in turn will be able to set up their passing game through their running game. The 49ers have allowed the 13th most points to QBs this season. Again there are 4 fantasy relevant QBs on bye weeks so Palmer is a nice fill in option.
My Star QB of the Week: Aaron Rodgers (vs. Titans): Rodgers has been “struggling” to some but right now he is the 3rd best fantasy QB this season behind just Matt Ryan & Drew Brees. Rodgers has also scored a total of 101 points the past 3 weeks & I don’t see him slowing down this week against a middle of the pack Titans defense. Titans have allowed the 10th most points to opposing QBs.
Under the Radar QB: Joe Flacco (vs. Browns): This is strictly a matchup based decision. Anyone is a good choice to play against the Browns in fantasy. Flacco is struggling but if there’s any week you can shake off some rust it’s a game against Cleveland, who have allowed the 3rd most points to QBs & have allowed the 2nd most passing touchdowns to QBs as well.
QBs to sit in Week 10:
Kirk Cousins (vs. Vikings): Cousins has been surprisingly good in fantasy this season but this week he faces a tough Vikings defense. The Vikings have lost 3 straight but their defense is still very good. The Vikings defense this season has allowed the 2nd least amount of points to QBs & have allowed just 8 touchdowns while also getting 10 interceptions. If I can avoid playing Cousins this week I am.
Blake Bortles (vs. Texans): Bortles is one of those players that isn’t good at all as an NFL QB but looks good at times as a fantasy QB. Bortles has 7 more points this year than Kirk Cousins but this week he goes against a stingy Texans defense. The Texans have allowed the 4th least points to QBs. I’m not starting Bortles unless you firmly believe he’s going to get you a bunch of points in garbage time.
RBs to start in Week 10:
Jay Ajayi (vs. Chargers): I’m now a believer of Jay Ajayi. All aboard the Ajayi train! Ajayi has scored 82 fantasy points the past 3 weeks since being made the full time starter in Miami & has looked very good in those games. Ajayi started the season as the backup to Arian Foster & was actually told to stay home in their Week 1 game against the Seahawks because he didn’t handle the news of Foster starting well. Now he’s the starter & Arian Foster has been retired a couple weeks. Ajayi plays the Chargers who have allowed the 4th most points to opposing RBs.
Mark Ingram (vs. Broncos): Ingram is coming off a huge performance in Week 9 where he scored 30 fantasy points after being benched in Week 8. Yes, I know it came against the 49ers but guess what? Teams can run on this Broncos defense as well. Latavius Murray showed that in Week 9 where he rushed for 114 yards on 20 carries & also scored 3 touchdowns. The Broncos have actually allowed the 5th most points to opposing RBs this season. I’m no longer scared to start RBs against the Broncos.
My Star RB of the Week: David Johnson (vs. 49ers): Wow what a crazy pick from me. Johnson has been unstoppable this season having at least 100 yards per game this season in every game so far. Johnson is coming off a bye & will be going against the 49ers in Week 10. The 49ers have allowed the most points to opposing RBs & are tied for the most rushing touchdowns allowed (12).
Under the Radar RB: Terrance West (vs. Browns): West has been through a rough stretch the past 2 games rushing for just 31 yards on 23 carries for a total of 4 points in those 2 games. But again if there’s a game you can end a rough stretch it’s against a team like the winless Browns. The Browns have allowed the 2nd most points to opposing RBs & have also allowed 12 rushing touchdowns.
RBs to sit in Week 10:
Isaiah Crowell (vs. Ravens): Crowell is actually the 11th best RB in fantasy this season & as been one of the few bright spots on that team. Crowell has scored 39 points the past 3 weeks which isn’t too bad but his week he plays the Ravens who have a very underrated defense. The Ravens are coming off a game where they shut down Le’Veon Bell to just 32 yards rushing. The Ravens have allowed the least amount of points to RBs this season.
Christine Michael (vs. Patriots): I think it’s about that time to give up on Michael as being a legit fantasy RB. The Seahawks don’t seem to be relying on their running game to setup their passing game like they used to & therefore Michael has gotten a limited amount of touches. The past 3 week he has just 21 carries for 93 yards. Also Michael has been splitting the workload with C.J Prosise & will probably be even more limited when Thomas Rawls comes back from injury.
WRs to start in Week 10:
Jordan Matthews (vs. Falcons): Matthews isn’t a particularly good NFL WR at least in my eyes but he’s the number 1 receiving threat for the Eagles. Matthews has had 37 points the past 2 weeks & I see him continuing his impressive performances against a struggling Falcons secondary. The Falcons have allowed the most points to opposing WRs.
Alshon Jeffery (vs. Buccaneers): Jeffery is finally fantasy relevant again with Jay Cutler back. We saw Jeffery finally get into the end zone for the first time in Week 8 before the Bears bye week in Week 9. This week Jeffery plays the Bucs who have not been good in the pass & have allowed the 5th most points to opposing WRs.
My Star WR of the Week: Mike Evans (vs. Bears): Mike Evans is an absolute freak. In Week 9 Evans had 11 catches for 150 yards & 2 touchdowns against the Falcons. The most impressive part is teams know he’s getting the ball & he still is able to put up big stats. Evans has also been the most targeted WR this season with 103 targets this year so the volume is there. The Bears have allowed the 4th most points to WRs this season so I expect another huge week from Evans.
Under the Radar WR: Kenny Britt (vs. Jets): I know the Rams offense has been horrific this season but the most consistent guy has been Kenny Britt. It’s hard to trust a guy with Case Keenum throwing him the ball but Britt has had 4+ catches in 7 out of the 8 games the Rams have played so far. Britt also plays the Jets who have allowed the 2nd most points to WRs.
WRs to sit in Week 10:
Willie Snead (vs. Broncos): Yeah, I know the Saints are at home & are completely better on offense there but Snead is the 3rd WR on the Saints & seems to be the most fantasy irrelevant out of their top 3 WRs. Snead has also gone 6 straight weeks without a touchdown & this week he plays the Broncos who have allowed the least amount of points to opposing WRs this year so I don’t see him finding the end zone this week.
Jamison Crowder (vs. Vikings): Crowder the past 2 weeks has been impressive catching 16 passes for 215 yards & a touchdown which totaled 42 for him in those games. This week Desean Jackson is out with an injury so he could see more targets but I don’t see that helping him much. Crowder is playing the Vikings who have allowed the 2nd least amount of points to WRs.
TEs to start in Week 10:
Zach Ertz (vs. Falcons): Ertz in Week 9 finally looked he did last season. Ertz finished with 8 receptions for 97 yards but was still unable to score a touchdown. This week he takes on the Falcons who have allowed the 4th most points to TEs & who have also allowed 6 touchdowns to TEs. I believe this Sunday is the first game this year he reaches the end zone.
Dennis Pitta (vs. Browns): Pitta hasn’t been that good this season but could change that against the Browns. Pitta, like Ertz has also been unable to reach the end zone this season which is kind of surprising with the fact he’s had Joe Flacco throwing him the ball. I might be crazy but I also believe he ends his rough streak of no touchdowns like I do with Ertz.
My Star TE of the Week: Travis Kelce (vs. Panthers): I’m not just putting him here because he did what every football player has wanted to do at some point: throw a flag on a ref. Kelce has been the 5th best TE in fantasy & has Alex Smith back from injury this week. They also play the Panthers who have allowed the 3rd most points to TEs this season.
Under the Radar TE: Lance Kendricks (vs. Jets): Kendricks is coming off his best week in Week 9 where he scored 16 points against the Panthers on 7 catches for 90 yards. Again it’s hard to trust a guy in this Rams offense but he plays the Jets this week who have allowed the 9th most points to opposing TEs.
TEs to sit in Week 10:
Gary Barnidge (vs. Ravens): Barnidge is also one of those TEs that has failed to score a touchdown but unlike the other 2 I talked about he has the worst matchup. Barnidge plays the Ravens who are quietly a great defense & have allowed the 2nd least amount of points to opposing TEs.
Julius Thomas (vs. Texans): Thomas has been a boom or bust TE all season so far. He;s cored 11+ points in 4 out of the 8 weeks but in the other 4 weeks he’s scored 4 or less (0 in Week 4 because he was out with injury). If you intend to play Thomas you’re relying on him to get a garbage touchdown pretty much with Blake Bortles as QB. Texans have allowed the 4th least amount of points to TEs.
DEF/STs to start in Week 10:
Houston Texans (vs. Jaguars): This Jaguars offense has been absolutely terrible this season & mostly because of the bad QB play from Blake Bortles. Bortles will be going against the Texans who have Whitney Mercilus & Jadeveon Clowney rushing the passer & have Johnathan Joseph & Kareem Jackson in the secondary.
Baltimore Ravens (vs. Browns): It’s about time people start to realize that this Ravens defense is pretty good. They completely shut down the high powered Steelers offense. They play the Browns offense so I shouldn’t have to explain myself with this one.
DEF/STs to sit in Week 10:
Seattle Seahawks (vs. Patriots): I know the Seahawks have one of the best defenses in the NFL but they’re coming off a game where they allowed a Bills offense to score 25 points. If the Bills can put up 25 points I can’t imagine what the Patriots can do. It’s hard to bench the Seahawks defense but there’s probably defenses out there that you can pick up that will score more points this week.
Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Falcons): The Eagles have been a pretty solid defense this season but were unable to stop the Giants in Week 9. The Eagles face the best offense in the NFL with the Falcons so I would avoid starting the Eagles defense if I can.
