Welcome to Week 10 of the fantasy football season! Below I have some NFL players and thoughts on their fantasy value this week. Remember, don’t blindly sit guys who say “sit down”. Your fantasy team will decide if you can bench the player or not.
The Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers will be off next week.
Drew Lock, Seahawks at Raiders
We’ll have to keep an eye on Locke’s elbow and limited injuries, but he’s set for a big matchup this week. The Raiders are bad in the secondary allowing fantasy points to quarterbacks. Malik Willis and Justin Herbert have allowed two or more passing touchdowns in every game except two of the season, as they managed just one touchdown. I expect the Seahawks to focus on running the ball, while the Raiders should struggle offensively with rookie QB Fernando Mendoza riding against a Seahawks defense that ranks in the top 5 in most defensive categories this season.
We can’t expect big numbers from Locke, but Jaxon Smith-Njigba will have points to throw around and get a great matchup.
Bryce Young, Panthers at Saints
Young had a nightmare game last week against a top Broncos defense, completing 28-of-39 passes for 276 yards. He got a better matchup this week against a Saints team that lacks a strong pass rush and has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to QBs over its past five. Shewder Sanders threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns, ranking in the top ten in nearly every measure of pass defense.
Matthew Stafford, Rams at Cardinals
Stafford gets a good matchup here, but right now he’s throwing players not named Pukka Nacua or Davante Adams. With Carson Beck starting for the Cardinals and Michael Wilson done for the year, the Rams run the ball a ton. Start Kyren Williams and Blake Corum and fear this passing offense without its top two receivers.
Jordan Love, Packers vs. Vikings
Can you love this time? A lot depends on your preferences, but playing the Vikings this season has not been profitable for their quarterbacks. Just last Monday night, Brian Flores’ defense’s No. 1 nightmare ended QB Josh Allen’s worst nightmare of the season. Yes, Love had his best game of the season against the Vikings in Week 1, but I expect Flores now has plenty of film to prevent him from taking over this great passing offense.
Zach Charbonnet, on the Seahawks and Raiders
Charbonnet is finally back in a big role in the Seahawks offense. He priced Jadrian from 17 to 13 last week. Price ended up having the best PPR game with four receptions for 54 yards, but Charbonnet saw more rushes and routes. This backfield is pretty evenly split, but I want Charbonnet, especially in games where the Seahawks can lead.
The Raiders have allowed the most yards per rushing attempt and rushing per game to a running back this season. You can probably play both Seattle backs, but I prefer Charbonnet.
Ollie Gordon, Dolphins vs. Colts
The Dolphins will likely be without Kyle McCord at QB in Week 10 after Malik Willis went on IR with a groin injury. That doesn’t bode well for the Dolphins’ offense, but the Colts sent away two of their best defensive backs before the trade deadline. Gordon had a tough matchup against a good Lions run defense last week, but that changed this week. The Colts rank seventh-worst in fantasy points allowed to running backs. They also allowed the third-most rushing yards per game and the 5th-most yards per carry at 4.9. I feel good about running Gordon out in this match.
Tony Pollard, Titans vs Jaguars
Can you properly sit the white-hot pollard this week? Probably not, but I thought about it this week in the minor leagues. The Jaguars run defense is still one of the best in the league. They are holding opposing running backs to just 3.6 yards per carry and five touchdowns in eight games. Of course, Pollard has scored five balls in his two games but we know he can’t keep that up. right?
Cory Keener, Patriots in Lions (Germany)
I like Keener as a disappointment this week, as he should get the starting job with Rhamondre Stevenson and TreVeyon Henderson. But if he’s used more as a receiver, I’d feel pretty good about starting him this week. The Lions are much worse against the pass than against the run and the Patriots running backs are hurting. I expect Drake Maye and company to drop it early and often on a high-stakes issue in the air. Unless the Patriots get a good lead in Detroit, Keener’s usage may be low in a pass-first matchup.
Jalen Coker, Panthers at Saints
Coker took a break during the season. After a hot start, he hasn’t topped 36 receiving yards in any of his last three games. That has a lot to do with the Panthers offensive line and running back Brice Young. The good news is that Young played better last week against a tough Broncos pass defense. That defense was able to contain the Panthers’ receivers with Patrick Certain and company, but Young took the path of least resistance by targeting their tight ends. Receivers got a better matchup this week, as the Saints ranked in the bottom 10 in all rushing metrics and gave up big plays to the Browns’ two starting receivers.
Jordyn Tyson, Saints vs Panthers
Tyson only saw about a quarter of the snaps last week, but still managed to catch 4-of-5 targets. Yes, he fumbled the first reception near the goal line, but it was a good play by the defender as Tyson tried to dive into the end zone. I’m more concerned about him rehabbing his hamstring than spraining it.
Tyson’s use increases and when he runs there, Tyler Shaw targets him. Maybe we’ll have to wait another game, but the skill is there and it looks like there might be a chance this week.
Ryan Flournoy, Cowboys vs. 49ers
We’ll have to keep an eye on George Pickins’ status this week, but whether he plays or not, this is a tough matchup for the Cowboys wide receivers. The 49ers have allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points. They also allowed the second-fewest yards per reception.
I expect Pickens to come back from his injury after almost playing last week. And if that’s the case, I’ll feel better about sitting Flournoy. He’s had some good games of late, but his usage has been low, with four or fewer targets in his last three games.
Tre Tucker, Raiders vs. Seahawks
Tucker has been inconsistent this season, and now he’ll find starter Fernando Mendoza instead of throwing the ball to him. I want to see what Mendoza looks like before I trust Tucker. And against this Seahawks defense, I’m definitely sitting. Seattle gave up few fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. On the year, only four receivers hit double-digit fantasy points against them.
Tyler Warren, Colts vs. Dolphins
The Colts traded Kian Allen and Josh Downs and have no starting receiver left, making Warren the No. 1 receiver. Yes, the Dolphins defense will focus on him, but the volume should be greater than the additional defenders in the area. You were going to start it anyway, but let me give you an extra boost.
Steelers on Darnell Washington, Bengals
Washington has shown that this season, but consistency is strong in a run-first offense. This week though, the Steelers will struggle to shut down the Bengals passing attack and will have to throw more often than they would like. The good news is that the Bengals are weak against tight ends this season, with the fifth-most receiving and third-most receiving against the position.
Tucker Kraft, Packers vs. Vikings
Can the Packers move the ball against the league’s top defense? Yes you can. They did it in Week 1, but despite leading 19-10 at halftime, the Vikings won the game 39-22. In that game, Carson Wentz threw three touchdown passes, helped by the defense, and held the Packers to one field goal in the second half.
On the season, no tight end has reached double-digit fantasy points against the Vikings. Kraft has three receptions for 65 yards in Week 1, the most yards the Vikings have allowed to a tight end all season. But, that’s still not a good fantasy day and I wouldn’t bet on him being the first to hit more than 9 fantasy points against the Vikings.
Trey McBride, Cardinals vs. Rams
The Rams have now allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season. That’s good, but it doesn’t seem like they’ll completely cover the tight ends. Well, that’s true, but George Kittle, Brook Bowers, Dalton Kincaid, McBride and Isiah Lilly are facing it. Those five tight ends combined to catch 21-of-34 targets for 178 yards and no interceptions. That’s 5.2 yards per target and 8.4 yards per catch. They allow tight ends 5.8 yards per target and 9 yards per reception on the season. The Rams show up when the best tight ends play. And with Michael Wilson out for the season, the team should be able to bracket McBride every game.
This week the Cardinals start starter Carson Beck. He should target McBride 10+ times while Aaron Donald and Myles Garrett harass him. Indeed, this is one, if not the top tight end in the league at the moment. You probably have to start it, but we have to lower our expectations this week. And if by any chance George Kittle is going to come out on Dallas, I’m going to start George.