The NFL boasts some interesting matchups this Sunday in Week 10, but let’s be honest -- the matchup you care about the most is in your fantasy league.
Who is set for a big Week 10, who should you be starting and who should you be sitting?
Here is a roundup from some of the top fantasy football experts around, including from ESPN, CBS Sports and our own expert.
QUARTERBACK: START ‘EM
Here are some quarterbacks you should start this week
NJ Advance Media: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay (vs. Seattle Seahawks)
Love ‘em or hate ‘em, Aaron Rodgers was activated from the COVID-19 list by the Packers Saturday. While Rodgers was also added to the injury report with a toe, there is no game-status designation and he should be good to go against the Seahawks. When Rodgers plays at Lambeau Field, he tends to produce some high numbers, making him a good bet for some easy fantasy points.
ESPN: Carson Wentz, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Jacksonville Jaguars)
It’s really amazing what you can do when you finally have healthy ankles. You’ll win some bar bets with this: Over his past six games, Wentz is QB11 in points per game. In fact, he has put up six consecutive games with at least 17 fantasy points and multiple touchdown passes. Not too shabby. Speaking of shabby, he said by way of terrible segue, this week Wentz gets a Jaguars defense allowing the second-highest completion percentage to opposing quarterbacks. I have Wentz as a top-10 play this week. And, yeah, I know, the Jaguars’ D looked formidable last week against the Bills. But playing on the road, following a huge upset, I think it’s more likely than not that the “regular Jaguars” show up. Well, unless Jaguars defensive lineman Josh Allen legally changes his name to Carson Wentz. If that happens, put everything you have on Jacksonville.
CBS Sports: Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons (vs. Dallas Cowboys)
Ryan had a rough game in Week 8 against Carolina with seven Fantasy points, but he rebounded last week at New Orleans with 31 points. He’s now scored at least 21 Fantasy points in four of his past five games, and we should view the Panthers game as an aberration. Calvin Ridley (personal) is out again, but you can still trust Ryan in this matchup. Dallas has allowed an average of 22.3 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and four quarterbacks have scored at least 23 points against the Cowboys this season.
QUARTERBACK: SIT ‘EM
Here are some quarterbacks you shouldn’t start this week
NJ Advance Media: Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Carolina Panthers)
After missing last week’s game against the 49ers, Murray is listed as questionable against the Panthers. It’s looking like Colt McCoy will be getting his second straight start for Arizona. If Murray is able to play, it’s unknown how his ankle injury could impact his overall level play. But most likely, he’ll be spending Week 10 on the sidelines.
ESPN: Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
The Chargers are third in pass defense, last in run defense. That means the Chargers are a run-funnel defense. And that means Cousins’ fantasy production is likely to leak out the bottom of the funnel this week and get all over your brand-new suede shoes that you, for some reason, wore while changing your fantasy team’s oil. I lost the analogy somewhere in there. Anyway ... my point is Cousins has a poor matchup this week. Here’s another stat to prove it: The Chargers rank sixth in blitz rate and lead the league in designed blitzes since Week 4, while Cousins is just 25th among quarterbacks in fantasy points per attempt when pressured. Cousins has finished outside the top 15 fantasy quarterbacks in three of his past five games. I say that becomes four of six in Week 10.
CBS Sports: Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (vs. New England Patriots)
Mayfield scored at least 20 Fantasy points for just the second time all season in Week 9 at Cincinnati. He might have to throw more in Week 10 at New England if Nick Chubb (illness) remains on the reserve/COVID-19 list, but I still don’t expect a huge performance from Mayfield. The Patriots allow an average of just 16.2 Fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and Mayfield is only worth using in two-quarterback and Superflex leagues.
RUNNING BACKS: START ‘EM
Here are some running backs you should start this week
NJ Advance Media: Devin Singletary, Buffalo Bills (vs. New York Jets)
While Zach Moss cleared concussion protocol, there is still a chance he won’t be compete against the Jets. Even if Moss does play, Singletary should still produce some fantasy points. The Jets defense gave up 260 yards rushing in Indianapolis last week. If they are unable to correct those mistakes, then the Bills have an opportunity to do some serious damage on the ground.
ESPN: Darrel Williams, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Las Vegas Raiders)
I know, I know. Putting a member of the Kansas City offense on the Love list? Maybe the worst offense ever in the history of the world (according to some tweets I’ve seen, at least)?! Have I lost my mind? But while the rest of the Chiefs’ offense has sputtered, Williams has produced while Clyde Edwards-Helaire has been out. In the four CEH-less games, Williams is averaging 14.9 PPG. He also has at least 19 touches in three of those four games and at least three receptions in all four. Meanwhile, over the past four weeks, the Raiders are allowing the sixth-most yards per carry (4.8) to opposing running backs. So yes, while we are living in a bizarro world in which the Kansas City offense is putrid, you still should have Darrel Williams in your lineup this week.
CBS Sports: Melvin Gordon, Denver Broncos (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Gordon and Javonte Williams are both worth starting this week against the Eagles, with Gordon a No. 2 running back and Williams a high-end flex. Gordon comes into Week 10 having scored at least 17 PPR points in each of his past two games, including a season-high 23 total touches in Week 9 at Dallas. And Williams just had the first 100-yard game of his career and has scored at least 11 PPR points in two of his past three outings. The Eagles are No. 8 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing running backs, so Gordon and Williams again have the chance to be successful Fantasy options this week.
RUNNING BACKS: SIT ‘EM
Here are some running backs you shouldn’t start this week
NJ Advance Media: Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers (vs. Arizona Cardinals)
With the return of Christian McCaffrey last week, don’t expect any production worth starting from Hubbard. His number of offensive snaps played dropped significantly upon McCaffrey’s return. He played just 17% of offensive snaps against the Patriots and only touched the ball four times, including a 33-yard reception and 3 carries for just 1 yard.
ESPN: Antonio Gibson, Washington Football Team (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)
Gibson has not finished as a top-30 running back in fantasy since Week 5. Top 30! I mean, come on. The way I pictured this Washington season playing out in my imagination, Gibson would be top three most every week, his only “bad” performances coming when he was pulled from games in the first quarter with Washington leading 75-0, and I would already have my flights to Ohio booked for his early induction into the Hall of Fame. But here we are. Gibson still doesn’t seem 100% healthy, and in the most recent game, Jaret Patterson got a decent amount of work. (Gibson, McKissic and Patterson all had 11 touches in that game.) So you’ve got playing-time issues, health and now Gibson faces a Bucs defense that is top five in rushing yards per game, yards per carry and touchdown rate to running backs. And with Washington a heavy underdog in this game -- of course! -- the passing-game work will go to McKissic, not Gibson. McKissic has 12 more catches this season than Gibson has targets, and he holds an 83-15 edge over Gibson in third-down snaps. If anyone wants a plane ticket to Canton, let me know. I won’t need it. Sigh.
CBS Sports: Adrian Peterson, Tennessee Titans (vs. New Orleans Saints)
Peterson made his Titans debut in Week 9 at the Rams and looked like a 36-year-old running back playing in his first game this season. He had 10 carries for 21 yards and a touchdown, and he added one catch for 5 yards on one target. He shared playing time with Jeremy McNichols and D’Onta Foreman, and I like McNichols the best of that trio in this matchup. The Saints are No. 5 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to running backs, and only six running backs have scored against New Orleans this year.
WIDE RECEIVER: START ‘EM
Here are some wide receivers you should start this week
NJ Advance Media: Cole Beasley, Buffalo Bills (vs. New York Jets)
Beasley has been a favorite target of Josh Allen as of late. He’s averaged 8 catches and 77 yards the past three games and has at least nine targets. With the way the Jets defense has been playing, no matter which Bills receiver you start, odds are they’ll rack up some decent points.
ESPN: Diontae Johnson, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Detroit Lions)
While the box score production last week wasn’t what we hoped, there are a lot of factors in Johnson’s favor this week. First, it’s a great matchup, as the Lions give up a league-high 15.3 yards per reception to wide receivers. It took me a while to find, but I have video evidence that proves Ben Roethlisberger can still throw the ball that far. Second, a banged-up Chase Claypool means Ben should look for Johnson even more. (Even with last week’s underwhelming game, Johnson still averages 10 targets per game.) Wide receivers who have seen seven-plus targets versus the Lions average 20.1 PPG this season. Finally, what are the odds the refs totally bail out the Steelers two weeks in a row? No, Pittsburgh is going to have to earn this one on its own. That means a lot of Johnson, who is inside the top five at WR for me this week.
CBS Sports: Hunter Renfrow, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)
In the first game for the Raiders without Henry Ruggs III, Renfrow stepped up in Week 9 at the Giants with seven catches for 49 yards and a touchdown on nine targets. He now has five games this season with at least eight targets, and he’s scored at least 12 PPR points in four of them. He should continue to get plenty of chances against the Chiefs, and Renfrow should be a starter in all PPR leagues. In any other format, consider Renfrow as a quality flex play.
WIDE RECEIVER: SIT ‘EM
Here are some wide receivers you shouldn’t start this week
NJ Advance Media: Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (vs. Philadelphia Eagles)
Whenever Jerry Jeudy shares the field, Sutton’s stock plummets. Last week, for example, Sutton had one catch on two targets for 9 yards while playing 83% of offensive snaps. Jeudy, meanwhile, had six catches on nine targets for 69 yards while playing 60% of Denver’s offensive snaps.
ESPN: Adam Thielen, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
Twice. Thielen has finished as a top-20 wide receiver only twice since Week 1. I’m going to pencil him in as failing to finish as a top-20 receiver again this week, facing a Chargers defense allowing the second-fewest yards per game to wide receivers on the season and the fourth-lowest touchdown rate to the position. That lack of touchdowns allowed is super important here. Remember, since 2019 a whopping 45% of Thielen’s fantasy points have come from touchdown receptions. He’s outside my top-20 this week.
CBS Sports: Christian Kirk, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Kirk did great in Week 9 at San Francisco when DeAndre Hopkins (hamstring) and A.J. Green (illness) were both out, and we’ll see if either of them can return this week, as well as Kyler Murray (ankle). Kirk had six catches for 91 yards on six targets from Colt McCoy, and he’s now scored at least 15 PPR points in three of his past four games. He has a tough matchup in Week 10 against the Panthers, who are No. 4 in fewest Fantasy points allowed to opposing receivers. I view Kirk as more of a bust alert this week, but he’s just a No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best in the majority of leagues.
TIGHT ENDS: START ‘EM
Here are some tight ends you should start this week
NJ Advance Media: Tyler Conklin, Minnesota Vikings (vs. Los Angeles Chargers)
In the past two games, Conklin has seen seven targets and has averaged 58 yards the past three contests. His recent consistency makes him a good choice. He’s also had two games for at least 70 yards this season, including a 71 yard performance against Carolina in Week 6.
ESPN: Dan Arnold, Jacksonville Jaguars (vs. Indianapolis Colts)
Dan Arnold of the Jaguars is the best streaming option at tight end this week. He has at least 10 fantasy points in three of his past four games and 31 targets over that stretch.
CBS Sports: Pat Freiermuth, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Detroit Lions)
My guy Freiermuth did it again in Week 9 against the Bears with five catches for 43 yards and two touchdowns on six targets, and he’s now scored at least 12 PPR points in three games in a row. Since JuJu Smith-Schuster (shoulder) went down for the Steelers, Freiermuth has at least six targets in each outing, and he should continue to be a go-to option for Ben Roethlisberger, especially in the red zone. I wouldn’t be surprised if Freiermuth scores again in Week 10 against the Lions.
TIGHT ENDS: SIT ‘EM
Here are some tight ends you shouldn’t start this week
NJ Advance Media: Tyler Higbee, Los Angeles Rams (vs. San Francisco 49ers)
Historically, the 49ers have not been kind to Higbee. He hasn’t scored a touchdown against San Francisco in their last five meetings. He’s only scored twice this season, against Tampa in Week 3 and Seattle in Week 5. Higbee caught just five of 10 targets for 51 yards last week. Given his track record with the 49ers, best for Higbee to sit this one out.
ESPN: Zach Ertz, Arizona Cardinals (vs. Carolina Panthers)
Small sample size, of course, but since joining the Cardinals, Ertz has yet to see an end zone target. In fact, 39% of the fantasy points he has since joining the Cardinals came on a single reception. With the caveat that any tight end with a pulse is playable these days, I’m less bullish on Ertz this week against a Panthers defense allowing the third-fewest yards per target to tight ends.
CBS Sports: David Njoku, Cleveland Browns (vs. New England Patriots)
Njoku scored last week against the Bengals, but it was just his second touchdown of the season. And that was his lone catch against Cincinnati on just three targets. He’s also been at three targets or less in all but one game this year. Maybe things start to change with Odell Beckham gone, but I need to see it first. And this week he’s facing a Patriots defense that is No. 1 in Fantasy points allowed to opposing tight ends. I’d avoid Njoku in all leagues, even tight-end premium ones, in Week 10.
Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription.
Joey Chandler may be reached at jchandler@njadvancemedia.com
Ad Choices