Admin November 5, 2024
Packers may regret starting Jordan Love, Dolphins season likely over
Mackenzie Salmon breaks down the top storylines from Week 9 in the NFL.
Sports Seriously
Just five weeks remain in the fantasy football regular season, unless you’re in one of those weird leagues that actually plays during Week 18.
Regardless, whether it’s five, six or seven weeks until the fantasy playoffs, you’re probably in a bubble position, unsure where you might be once the season ends. You need guidance, advice, affirmation for your decisions, and that’s what these weekly start/sits are for.
With Week 10 of the NFL just two days away, here are eight players to start and eight more to sit for this upcoming week:
Players to start in Week 10
Quarterbacks
The Jacksonville Jaguars surrender the most points to opposing quarterbacks, and Darnold just got tight end T.J. Hockenson back against Indianapolis. This is a team at full strength heading into Week 10, and they’re in must-win territory if they want to keep up with the Detroit Lions for the NFC North title.
Anyone facing the Carolina Panthers is a good bet for a solid performance, but Jones may have figured something out in Week 9 after throwing for two touchdowns against Washington. Carolina should provide a much easier matchup and ample opportunity for Jones to find the end zone.
Running backs
While Jonathon Brooks is expected to make his debut in Week 10, Hubbard should still be considered a solid starter as the Panthers take on the Giants in Germany. Brooks will likely be eased into a more serious role, giving Hubbard fantasy owners at least one more week of production.
The Tennessee Titans have given up multiple touchdowns to opposing running backs in three consecutive weeks. Dobbins has scored a touchdown for the Chargers in three of his last four. That speaks for itself.
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Wide receivers
Thomas was battling through injuries in Week 9, leading to one of his worst outings of the season. Let’s not forget though that Thomas is still a top-12 WR on the season who has scored at least 15 PPR points in four of his last six games. In Week 10, he gets a Minnesota defense that has been one of the worst teams in the league at stopping opposing receivers.
Even with quarterback Tua Tagovailoa back, Hill hasn’t been the game-breaking wide receiver we drafted in the first round. His matchup against the Los Angeles Rams should provide some relief though.
The Rams have surrendered at least 20 non-PPR points to opposing wide receivers in two straight weeks.
Tight ends
The Saints are out of options at receiver. With a new head coach in town, he’s going to have to get creative in his first game, and Hill is exactly the man for the job. Expect his workload to increase so long as Chris Olave is out.
Kincaid has been a rather touchdown-dependent fantasy option. However, his workload has ramped up recently, having received at least six targets in each of his last six games. The Indianapolis Colts have given up six receptions, 60 yards, and 0.5 touchdowns on average to tight ends. Amari Cooper may return this weekend, but Kincaid’s matchup is too good to pass up.
Players to sit in Week 10
Quarterbacks
The third-overall pick has been great to kick off his career, but in Week 10, he’ll face a Chicago Bears team that has allowed the fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.
Although Stafford has Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua back, he still isn’t a fantasy darling. The Rams love to run the ball when given the opportunity, and the Dolphins have been abysmal against running backs this season. While much of their misfortune against RBs has come during garbage time while Tua Tagovailoa was hurt, they’re still surrendering 4.6 yards per carry on the season, and they’ve allowed at least one touchdown to opposing running backs in every game this season.
Running backs
Different week, same story. Whenever the Kansas City Chiefs are playing, you need to sit their opponents. Their defense is too good, and Bo Nix has not shown enough to have Kansas City shaking in their boots, selling out to stop the pass.
Robinson is likely to play in Week 10, but that doesn’t mean he’ll have a good outing. Facing a Pittsburgh Steelers’ defense fresh off a bye, Robinson will likely have trouble breaking off big runs.
Wide receivers
Harrison has been one of the biggest boom-or-busts options at receiver all year. Any bad matchup essentially takes him out of the game. With the New York Jets on the horizon in Week 10, Harrison will draw tough coverage. Another dud is on the horizon.
McConkey has offered a pretty safe floor as of late, but his ceiling will be extremely low in Week 10 facing a Tennessee Titans’ secondary that has allowed the fewest non-PPR points to opposing wide receivers. To make matters even worse, the Titans have been horrible at stopping running backs, and the Chargers love to run when their opponents give them that option.
Tight ends
Sanders may have led all Carolina receivers in yards and receptions in Week 9, but a matchup against the New York Giants will not help him maintain that momentum. The Giants have allowed the fewest points to opposing tight ends. In fact, opposing tight ends have not earned even five receptions in four straight weeks. Not a single tight end has scored a touchdown against the Giants, and only once have they earned more than 50 receiving yards.
The Detroit Lions allow the third-fewest non-PPR fantasy points to opposing tight ends. They haven’t allowed a touchdown to opposing tight ends since Week 4 and haven’t allowed any to reach more than 50 receiving yards since then either. Schultz may be one of the few healthy options left in Houston, but this isn’t a matchup where he should be expected to do much.