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Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 10

Fantasy Football Start/Sit: Week 10

We’re really hitting crunch time now as we enter Week 10. For many of us, we need to win out to have an opportunity to make the playoffs. Every start or sit decision becomes critical.

Last week, we changed up the format a bit, and we’re going to stick with it going forward. I’ll discuss one start or sit from each position, which represents a player I have ranked significantly higher or lower than the expert consensus rankings. We’re only talking the borderline calls here, so yes, please start Le’Veon Bell and sit Tom Savage – you don’t need to wait for me to tell you that!

I’ll also add in a few other names that I am higher or lower on than the expert consensus. That will give you plenty of opportunities to yell at me for those decisions.  (Note: if you want to see my rankings for the week, I always tweet them out by Thursday morning at @danharris80. They will show you exactly how many spots higher or lower I am than the ECR.)

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Quarterbacks

Start

C.J. Beathard (SF v. NYG): ECR of 20
As with last week, there’s not much difference between my rankings and ECR, so we’re going to dig deep a little. I listed Beathard in this article last week as a guy I was higher on than ECR, and he gave you his classic Beathardian decent performance, rushing for a touchdown and throwing for 294 yards. I expect a similar passable performance this weekend against a Giants team that allows the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and appears to have quit on the season. Beathard’s rushing ability and need to constantly scramble to avoid being destroyed by opposing defensive lines should give him a decent floor. Among many uninspiring options, I prefer Beathard to most this week.

Others I’m higher on: Brock Osweiler (DEN v. NE): ECR of 24, Mitchell Trubisky (CHI v. GB): ECR of 25 (Note: I do not love these guys and am not recommending starting them. But I happen to be higher on them than ECR. Don’t @ me.)

Sit

Jay Cutler (MIA at CAR): ECR of 18
Smokin’ Jay looked pretty darn good last weekend against Oakland, and he does have multiple touchdowns in three straight games. But this is a different kettle of fish on Monday night in Carolina. The Panthers allow the eighth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks, and that includes matchups against Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Tyrod Taylor. Last week was the first game this season in which Cutler has surpassed 230 yards passing, and I don’t expect this game to be the second. I’m not buying what Cutler is selling this week.

Others I’m lower on: Philip Rivers (LAC at JAC): ECR of 22

Running Backs

Start

Derrick Henry (TEN v. CIN): ECR of 28
We’ve all been waiting for Henry to eventually take over this backfield, and while it isn’t about to happen just yet, this week against the Bengals presents an opportunity for the young back. DeMarco Murray is (still) battling through injuries, and he likely will be limited on Sunday if he suits up. Cincinnati has been solid against opposing running backs, but they’ve given up better than average production to the position in each of their last four games (which includes matchups against a Leonard Fournette-less Jaguars team and the Colts). Marcus Mariota‘s increased mobility should open up running lanes for Henry, and he has a good shot at finding the end zone. I’d consider him more of a low-end RB2 this week.

Others I’m higher on: Frank Gore (IND v. PIT): ECR of 27, Latavius Murray (MIN at WAS): ECR of 35, Wayne Gallman (NYG at SF): ECR of 40

Sit

Damien Williams (MIA at CAR): ECR of 34
Williams was solid for fantasy owners on Sunday against Oakland, doing most of his damage through the air with six catches for 47 yards and a touchdown. But he gained just 14 yards rushing on seven carries, and Kenyan Drake looked to be by far the more dynamic playmaker. Even after Drake had a crucial fumble, Adam Gase stuck with him, and it was Drake, not Williams, who got the opportunity for and successfully finished a two-point conversation near the end of the game. The Panthers are incredibly tough against the run, especially when Luke Kuechly is healthy as he is now, allowing just 3.6 yards per carry and giving up the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season. Williams is a borderline Flex play this week, but I’m not expecting much production in standard leagues.

Others I’m lower on: C.J. Anderson (DEN v. NE): ECR of 25, Robert Kelley (WAS v. MIN): ECR of 38

Wide Receivers

Start

Cooper Kupp (LAR v. HOU): ECR of 32
I’m more than happy to start any Rams wide receiver at this point, but Kupp is the guy who I have ranked higher than his ECR. The Texans, to use a technical term, stink against opposing wide receivers, allowing the ninth-most fantasy points on the season and getting burned repeatedly in recent weeks (see Hilton, T.Y.). Kupp works out of the slot, which bodes particularly well for him, as slot cornerback Kareem Jackson has struggled significantly lately. Kupp missed out on the scoring party last weekend against the Giants, and I expect him to have an excellent game here.

Others I’m higher on: JuJu Smith-Schuster (PIT at IND): ECR of 21, Allen Hurns (JAC v. LAC): ECR of 43

Sit

Jordy Nelson (GB at CHI): ECR of 28
The tale of the 2017 Green Bay Packers wide receivers is like a scary story that parents will tell their children for years to come: “Once upon a time, there were two elite wide receivers who were leading their teams to fantasy glory. And then Aaron Rodgers broke his collarbone, Brett Hundley took over as quarterback, and both receivers were banished to mere borderline Flex plays.” (Cue scary music). Nelson has five catches for 48 yards in the two games since Hundley took over, and it seems pretty clear that the young quarterback is not equipped to handle the job. The Bears are tough on opposing wide receivers, haven’t allowed a wide receiver to score a touchdown in six weeks, and are coming off their bye. I hope Jordy figures it out, but I’m not starting him until I see it.

Others I’m lower on: Jarvis Landry (MIA at CAR): ECR of 17, Kelvin Benjamin (BUF v. NO): ECR of 29

Tight Ends

Sigh, there’s just not much to discuss here, my friends. Tight end rankings are pretty close this week. I’ll mention that I appear to be lower on Kyle Rudolph (MIN at WAS): ECR of 4, but he’s still a pretty clear start to me. Similarly, I’m higher on O.J. Howard (TB v. NYJ): ECR of 23, but you’re not starting him unless you’re in a two-tight end league. Next week, I’ll email all other experts and ask them to change it up a bit!


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Dan Harris is a featured writer for FantasyPros. For more from Dan, check out his archive or follow him on Twitter at @danharris80.

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