Demaryius Thomas could catch fire against the Chiefs in Week 10
Another week of football, another week of injuries. Last week we lost Dion Lewis for the rest of the season. Teddy Bridgewater was knocked out cold but is expected to play this weekend.
Andrew Luck is looking at a two- to six-week timetable to return due to a multitude of internal injuries. It is always a brutal week in football and, as always, it is important to scour the waiver wire and work out trades before the deadline.
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WEEK 9 RECAP
Let’s take a look at a quick recap from Week 9.
I Knew It
Chris Ivory – RB – New York Jets – 23 att, 26 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 22 yds
It does not matter that he only accumulated 26 yards on the ground when he scored twice. Ivory was good for 19 fantasy points.
DeMarco Murray – RB – Philadelphia Eagles – 18 att, 83 yds, 1 TD, 6 rec, 78 yds
He had a field day in his return home and was the second-leading receiver on his team.
Dez Bryant – WR – Dallas Cowboys – 5 rec, 104 yds, 1 TD
Bryant went over 100 yards and threw up the X. Welcome back to WR1 status, where he should remain once Tony Romo returns.
Eric Decker – WR – NY Jets – 6 rec, 79 yds, 1 TD
I told you that you could expect a touchdown at the very least from Decker. Expectations were met.
Stefon Diggs – WR – Minnesota Vikings – 3 rec, 42 yds
I thought the stout St. Louis Rams’ defense would keep him in check. They held him to his worst fantasy performance this season.
Melvin Gordon – RB – San Diego Chargers – 11 att, 31 yds, 3 rec, 25 yds
I repeat: this is Danny Woodhead’s backfield. Maybe Melvin Gordon just is not that good.
Gary Barnidge – TE – Cleveland Browns – 2 rec, 35 yds
Johnny Manziel scared me off Barnidge and rightfully so. I cannot recommend playing him unless Josh McCown is under center.
I Blew It
Tyrod Taylor – QB – Buffalo Bills – 181 yds, 1 TD, 10 rush, 44 yds
Although Taylor had a decent fantasy day with 15 points, he was nowhere near QB1 territory.
Ben Watson – TE – New Orleans Saints – 5 rec, 60 yds
The two touchdowns he was supposed to catch went to Josh Hill and Michael Hoomanawanui.
Randall Cobb – WR – Green Bay Packers – 4 rec, 99 yds, 1 TD
I hated the matchup and even benched him in two leagues, but I am glad he is back.
Andrew Luck – QB – Indianapolis Colts – 252 yds, 2 TD, 6 rush, 34 yds
Luck had his third 20-point game of the season, but it came with a price. He is out for the foreseeable future.
DeAngelo Williams – RB – Pittsburgh Steelers – 27 att, 170 yds, 2 TD, 2 rec, 55 yds
Shame on me for doubting Williams. He had his best fantasy performance of the season with 38 points.
WEEK 10 START/SIT SUGGESTIONS
Who’s Hot – Start
Fire Starter: Demaryius Thomas – WR – Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Despite leading his team in targets with 93, Thomas has scored just once this season. This will change in Week 10.
Thomas will face the worst secondary in the NFL and will be playing with a little more on the line. Peyton Manning is fully aware that this will be the first time Thomas’ mother will see him play in a professional football game, and he will make it a special day. I am going bold here in predicting two touchdowns for Thomas this weekend.
Ryan Tannehill – QB – Miami Dolphins @ Philadelphia Eagles
Tannehill has largely disappointed this season, but he will be facing a team that just allowed Matt Cassel to throw for 299 yards and three touchdowns. They were also destroyed in the slot by Cole Beasley. Tannehill and Jarvis Landry could make magic together in Philadelphia this weekend.
The matchup is not great on paper but if the Dolphins exploit the same weaknesses the Cowboys did last weekend, Tannehill can bounce back and have a top-10 day.
Martavis Bryant – WR – Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Cleveland Browns
Landry Jones apparently only has eyes for Martavis Bryant. Antonio Brown’s production hits all-time lows when Ben Roethlisberger is not under center, and he won’t be this week. Three of Bryant’s touchdowns have come courtesy of Jones.
The Cleveland Browns are allowing over 20 points to receivers each week. Look for Bryant to have a better day than Brown and to score.
James Starks – RB – Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions
How do you not start a guy who has been declared the starter by his coach? Starks has outplayed Eddie Lacy and has earned the increase in touches he has been receiving. I could argue there is no better backup running back in fantasy football than Starks.
He is a true dual threat and contributes as much in the air as he does on the ground. Trent Richardson, I mean Lacy, will still get his touches, but Starks is a must start for me this week.
Doug Martin – RB – Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Dallas Cowboys
Martin is coming off back to back single-digit scoring games. After starting the season hot, he has now fizzled and has found himself in a near timeshare with Charles Sims. The matchup against the Dallas Cowboys could be exactly what Martin needs to get back on track.
The only team that is worse against the run than Dallas is San Diego. There is no reason to believe that Martin can’t be an RB1 this week.
Scott Chandler – TE – New England Patriots @ New York Giants
The Giants’ weakness is defending tight ends. I am not here to tell you to start Rob Gronkowski, who is so good you could probably start him on a bye week, and he will manage to score you points. I am going out on a limb instead and suggesting Chandler.
The Giants have always seemed to be that one team who can give the New England Patriots a hard time. This defense will make every effort to stop Gronkowski, which is why I think it is worth taking a flier on Scott Chandler.
The field could open up for him with the attention Gronkowski will receive. The end zone is where I think Chandler can strike gold this weekend.
Who’s Not – Sit
Ice Cold: Russell Wilson – QB – Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals
The Seahawks are coming off of their bye week to face a division rival at home. The Cardinals are one of the top defensive units in the league and will limit Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense this week.
This could easily be one of those low-scoring field goal games. Wilson is not even a top-15 quarterback at this point so you should have plenty of other options at the position this week.
Jeremy Maclin – WR – Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos
Aqib Talib will miss this game, which should make things easier on the Chiefs’ passing game, but I still think Maclin belongs on your bench this week. He has a single 100-yard game in the past five weeks and just one touchdown. Maclin is barely a flex option at this point, especially against the Broncos’ defense.
Nate Washington – WR – Houston Texans @ Cincinnati Bengals
In his past two games, Washington has 13 receptions, 204 yards and three touchdowns. He has been playing a solid complimentary roll to DeAndre Hopkins. The difference between the two is that one is matchup proof and the other is not.
The Bengals are a top-five defense against receivers. I have no concerns for Hopkins regarding this matchup, but I do have huge concerns for Washington
Karlos Williams – RB – Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets
When given the opportunity Williams performs at a top level. With LeSean McCoy ailing (surprise) he should be given the bulk of the load this week.
The Thursday matchup against the second-rated New York Jets’ defense has me staying away from Williams. He could easily score and make me look foolish, but I consider him far too risky to start.
Ronnie Hillman – RB – Denver Broncos vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Timeshares are the worst thing in fantasy football. Hillman is firmly in one with C.J. Anderson. Until one of these backs either gets hurt or pulls away from the other one, it will be difficult to determine which back to start.
The decision for you should be easy this week. Although the Chiefs are the worst team in football against receivers they are solid against the run and have allowed one rushing touchdown this season. Hillman is in for a disappointing day.
Martellus Bennett – TE – Chicago Bears @ St. Louis Rams
Bennett finally scored last week and was a huge part of the Bears’ passing game. While I expect that going forward, I am pumping the breaks on him this week.
The St. Louis Rams have allowed one touchdown to tight ends all season. This simply is a terrible matchup. Tight end is a position you can stream and you should this week.
I do not have a crystal ball and can only rely on research and good old intuition. I may hit or miss on a few, but I’ll keep myself honest with a full disclosure section next week when I give you your “Who’s Hot” and “Who’s Not” for Week 11. Consider my recommendations here, but ultimately trust in yourself. Good luck!
Jen Ryan is a correspondent at FantasyPros, featured writer at Gridiron Experts and senior writer at Football Diehards. Click here for her archive and feel free to reach her and talk all things fantasy @FFdeJENerate.
