Week 10 Start/Sit
Sorry for missing last week everyone, as I’m sure you all know the Chicago Cubs won the World Series. I am a huge Cubs fan and have been raised in a Cubs environment since I came into this world. Most of my week was spent rooting for them and my weekend was spent enjoying the 108 years of history coming to a close in the suburbs of Chicago. Now that baseball is over, back to business.
As always, the most important takeaway from this article should be to never sit your studs. Let me say that again, NEVER sit your STUDS. Your studs are the guys that can prevail no matter the matchup because they are one of the best in the world at doing what they do. Every week I will have a list of the major studs at each offensive position that should never be on your bench unless they are on bye or if they are injured, don’t outsmart yourself with their matchups. This list is intended to help you decide between 1 or more players you may not be completely sold on, on a weekly basis. Just because I don’t particularly like a certain player does not mean they should be on your bench no matter what. Some people won’t have better options than the players I don’t like. I will try my best every week to avoid using obvious players against obvious matchups and select players that have either been struggling recently or I think have a secretly good matchup. It is also important to note that the players listed here under Start should be considered for use in DFS leagues as they will likely be available at a cheaper price or I think they are ready for an amazing week.
Quarterbacks
Studs: Matt Ryan, Aaron Rodgers, Andrew Luck, Drew Brees, Ben Roethlisberger, Tom Brady
Start:
Russell Wilson – He came alive last week and the run game is starting to struggle, that’s usually good news fantasy-wise for a quarterback. Not saying he will go off like he did at the end of last year but there is always that possibility. Good buy-low option if you are hurting at QB.
Carson Palmer – You want to own the QB playing the 49ers on every given week. Their bad defense mixed with the fact that their offense isn’t on the field very long, promotes fantasy scoring like nothing you have seen before. He’s in all of my DFS plays.
Philip Rivers – Not a bad play against Miami by any means. The only thing holding him back is the fact that Melvin Gordon is scoring seemingly every time they get into the endzone.
Marcus Mariota – Dude has been on fire the past month; if you’ve been starting him, you are going to continue riding the hot hand. If not, you will be hard pressed to find a better option this week.
Sit:
Jay Cutler – Yes, the Bears beat the Vikings last week. No, I don’t think Minnesota is falling off a cliff and I definitely don’t think the Bears are legit. Decent matchup this week, but there are a lot of good matchups this week for QBs.
Blake Bortles – Houston’s defense is still one of the best in the league so no, you shouldn’t start him unless you have no other options.
Kirk Cousins – Minnesota just got beat by Jay Cutler last week, do you really think they are going to come out flat defensively? Neither do I.
Ryan Tannehill – With Ajayi running nuts Tannehill is literally the last QB on my list this week for projected fantasy points.
Running Backs
Studs: David Johnson, Lamar Miller, Le’Veon Bell, Ezekiel Elliott, DeMarco Murray, Melvin Gordon, Jay Ajayi
Start:
Devonta Freeman – Coleman is likely sitting this week and as the only RB option in this high-flying offense going against Philadelphia, I like his chances to go off.
Spencer Ware – Cleared the concussion protocol with ease, Charcandrick West did absolutely nothing in his absence, and Alex Smith is suspected to return as well. The only thing going against him is that Carolina is still decent at stopping the run, but Ware is in my top 15 when healthy.
Jonathan Stewart – I honestly hate Jonathan Stewart from a fantasy perspective; Cam vultures many of his TDs, but there is a laundry list of other RBs on this roster than could as well. KC’s run D doesn’t scare me at all and Cam needs to finally figure out that running the ball isn’t always a wise decision for a QB. He’s starting if you have him.
Devontae Booker – Last week was a very poor performance, but playing New Orleans is a good way to bounce back.
Mark Ingram – If you own him you are probably worried about Tim Hightower. I’m not. The way to beat the Broncos is to control the ball offensively by pounding the rock and to force their offense to make a mistake which means a healthy dose of Mark Ingram…in theory.
Sit:
Rob Kelley – Even though he is expected to handle the majority of the workload out of the backfield on Sunday and Minnesota’s defense has been reeling as of late, I am not trusting him enough to start on my squad. Jones could be back which would factor into Kelley’s workload and Minnesota is still one of the best defenses in the league.
Christine Michael – Before last week many Michael owners were talking about how they were going to ride him to a championship but now, he seems like he’s on his way to dumpsville. Going up against New England (who allows opposing running backs less than 4 yards-per-carry) means he’s sitting on my bench for the first time since week 2.
Doug Martin – He may be back, but he hasn’t seen any NFL action for the past 2 months, I need to see something from him before he’s starting for me.
James Starks – Many people have differing opinions on Starks. Here’s mine: even though he may be the only RB the Packers could rely on as a workhorse. He wasn’t doing squat before he got hurt. TY Montgomery has been absolutely amazing with his limited workload for the Packers so far. If anyone can run an offense without a true run game, it’s the Green Bay Packers. Oh, and Tennessee can stop the run.
DuJuan Harris – Harris did well last week, but Hyde may be back and he’s playing Arizona’s stingy defense, start at your own risk.
Wide Receivers
Studs: Antonio Brown, Odell Beckham Jr, Julio Jones, AJ Green, Allen Robinson, Mike Evans, TY Hilton, Brandon Marshall
Start:
Alshon Jeffery – When Cutler is the starting QB for the Bears you have to play Jeffery. Most of you who owned him were starting him regardless when Cutler was on the bench. This is what you have been waiting ever so patiently for.
Dez Bryant – Similarly for Bryant, you’ve been holding onto him all this time, you’re not sitting him now that he’s finally healthy. The Steelers are also a good matchup on paper, the only thing I’m afraid of is the Steelers coming out absolutely on fire after last week’s debacle against the Ravens.
Jordan Mathews – My fantasy headache this year. He started out the season with the most targets of any receiver over the first 3 weeks only to see half that amount of targets over the next 5. Now it appears he’s back to being a target monster; in addition to that, Dezmond Trufant won’t be covering him.
Emmanuel Sanders/Demaryius Thomas – Again, probably starting for many of you anyway but play the both of them with confidence against New Orleans.
Sammie Coates – Here’s my dart of the week. The Steelers throw deep; they always want to keep opposing defenses on their toes. As I mentioned above for Dez, the Steelers are going to come out looking for blood this week and I think Roethlisberger’s rhythm with Coates sees the biggest change from last week.
Sit:
Brandin Cooks – I always hate sitting someone who could easily put up 20+ points in a given week but Denver’s pass defense typically eats small receivers alive.
Randall Cobb – 2/14/1, not a pretty statline. With Adams breaking out, Nelson finally looking like Nelson again, and TY Montgomery commanding touches every week I’m not starting Cobb with confidence until his hamstring appears to be 100%.
Jarvis Landry – The Dolphins don’t seem to care about getting him the ball so I don’t care that he’s on my bench. Sitting unless desperate or Ajayi finally comes back down to Earth, he’s not really this good people.
Jamison Crowder – He was on a tear the month before his bye week but I just have a gut feeling that this is a down week for Crowder, he’s probably starting for most of you regardless.
Will Fuller – He hasn’t produced in a while now and he got hurt last week, solid reasons for sitting him this week.
Tight Ends
Studs: Rob Gronkowski, Jordan Reed, Greg Olsen, Jimmy Graham
Start:
Tyler Eifert – Hopefully last week was a show that he’s back and wasn’t just a fluke. A healthy Eifert belongs on the stud list. I ain’t afraid of no Giants neither.
Zach Miller – See Jeffery, Alshon above.
Coby Fleener – Despite Denver’s apparent lockdown on everything through the air, the one weak point of their passing defense is against TEs. There is a soft spot between the linebackers and safeties that Brees will enjoy exploiting with Fleener. Especially since I don’t think Cooks will do all that well this week either.
Sit:
Antonio Gates – Henry is poised to return this week which drops Gates down a bit.
Kyle Rudolph – 1 catch, 1 yard, 1 TD: Rudolph’s statline last week, against Detroit. Sam Bradford, welcome back to Earth.
Julius Thomas – Too TD dependent for me, and a member of a severely struggling offense, take a seat.
