Admin November 7, 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
Fantasy football managers are facing one of their first tough bye week tests of the season. Four teams will be off in Week 10 which means typical QB1s like Jordan Love and Geno Smith won’t be available to play.
With fantasy football playoffs drawing nearer, owners are going to have to pick quality streamers to replace these bye week players. It’s most important to find success doing so at quarterback, especially in leagues where passing touchdowns are worth six points.
There are naturally more injuries at the quarterback position than there were earlier in the season. Notably, Dak Prescott (hamstring) was knocked out of action and placed on IR after suffering an injury in the Dallas Cowboys‘ loss to the Atlanta Falcons. His owners will be looking for a capable replacement, as trusting Cooper Rush isn’t a suitable alternative.
Who are the best quarterbacks to start and sit in Week 10? Here’s a breakdown of the quarterbacks to trust and fade.
Fantasy football start ’em: Week 10 QBs
Sam Darnold, Minnesota Vikings (at Jacksonville Jaguars)
In case you need a reminder, no team in the NFL is surrendering more fantasy points per game to quarterbacks than the Jaguars, making them a great streaming matchup each week. Darnold has thrown 13 touchdowns over his last six games including three last week against the Indianapolis Colts in T.J. Hockenson‘s return to action. Expect Darnold to challenge for multiple scores again facing a Jaguars defense that has allowed a league-high 19 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks.
Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams (vs. Miami Dolphins)
Stafford has now played three games this season during both Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua were at his disposal. He is averaging 298 passing yards and 2.3 touchdowns per game in those contests. Impressively, Stafford threw for 298 yards and two touchdowns against the Seattle Seahawks after Nacua was ejected. He could post even better numbers if Nacua can stay on the field against the Dolphins, who allow the third-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks but have allowed an average of 269 yards and 2.5 touchdowns per game over their last two outings.
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (at Los Angeles Rams)
Tagovailoa had one of his best-ever performances against the Buffalo Bills in Miami’s 30-27 Week 9 loss, throwing for 231 yards and two touchdowns while heavily targeting checkdowns to De’Von Achane. Tagovailoa should continue to have success in Week 10 against a Rams defense that has surrendered 15 passing touchdowns to quarterbacks (tied for the sixth-most in the NFL) with all of his weapons healthy.
Daniel Jones, New York Giants (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Only two teams – the Jaguars and the Houston Texans – have allowed more passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this year than the Panthers (18). Jones may not be an exciting play, but that coupled with his rushing floor (32.8 yards per game over his last four) could make him a nice SuperFlex option or DFS sleeper in the NFL’s 2024 Germany game.
Fantasy football sit ’em: Week 10 QBs
Jayden Daniels, Washington Commanders (vs. Pittsburgh Steelers)
Not every fantasy football owner will be positioned to bench Daniels, but this is one of the rookie’s toughest matchups to date. The Steelers are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks in 2024, ahead of only the Chicago Bears. Daniels posted solid numbers against the Bears – 326 passing yards, 52 rushing yards and a touchdown – but it’s worth noting that the score came on a miraculous Hail Mary at the end of regulation.
If the Steelers contain Daniels in a similar manner to the Bears, the rookie phenom may have merely a decent fantasy day. While he has a high floor, his ceiling isn’t all that high, so those looking for massive games out of their quarterbacks could consider rolling with someone like Kirk Cousins in a smash spot for Week 10.
C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans (at Detroit Lions)
Stroud has now played four full games without Nico Collins‘ services. He is completing 55.5% of his passes for 188.5 yards and one touchdown per game in those outings. Short of Collins returning against the Lions, it’s hard to recommend trusting Stroud, especially since the Lions have allowed just six passing touchdowns to quarterbacks this season (second-fewest in the NFL behind only the Bears).
Baker Mayfield, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Mayfield performed admirably against the Kansas City Chiefs without any of his top-three receivers, throwing for 200 yards and two touchdowns in Tampa Bay’s overtime loss. Can he do it again facing another tough defense? The Buccaneers are coming off a grueling, short week while the 49ers are returning to action after a bye week. San Francisco also limits tight ends much better than the Chiefs, so if Cade Otton has a middling day, it will be hard for Mayfield to crack the QB1 ranks.
Fantasy football start ’em, sit ’ems, Week 10
Looking for more fantasy football advice? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:
→ Kickers are people, too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 10.
→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 10 with start ’em, sit ’em advice for wideouts.
→ A good running back makes all the difference. A bad running back can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 10.
→ Tight ends can be the perfect X-factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 10.
→ A good defense can shut down your fantasy opponent’s offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 10.