Week 10 didn’t go as I expected, but I guess I should be used to that by now. With only the Rams and Broncos on a bye this week, we have 30 teams to choose from and some intriguing matchups. But we’re also at the point where injuries are likely putting a squeeze on your options. You might be sitting there trying to figure out who to play, so let this set of suggestions be your guide. But before we move on to Week 11, it’s time for a little accountability as I look back on my picks from Week 10. It wasn’t pretty.
For transparency purposes, we’ll measure quarterbacks and tight ends against Top 12 finishes (QB1 and TE1), and we’ll measure running backs and wide receivers against Top 24 finishes (RB1-2, WR1-2). All finishes come from Fantasy Pros PPR scoring leaders lists found here.
Week 10 Starts
QB: Russell Wilson, QB22 miss. I thought Russ would return in good form. Instead, he looked incredibly rusty…
RB: D’Ernest Johnson, RB6 hit. Johnson was the only good thing in the Browns’ offense.
WR: Chris Godwin, WR28 miss. The Buccaneers’ offense wasn’t great Sunday.
TE: Pat Freiermuth, TE21 miss. The answer to all your questions is Mason Rudolph.
Week 10 Record: 1-3.
Week 10 Sits
QB: Jimmy Garoppolo, QB13 hit. Look, this barely hit, but I’m counting it. I thought Jimmy G. would get held in check by the Rams. That didn’t happen, but he still didn’t finish Top 12.
RB: Adrian Peterson, RB53 hit. Peterson hasn’t been a big value, and he’s not even the best RB for the Titans.
WR: Elijah Moore, WR25 hit. Just barely again, but Moore was outside the Top 24. Still, another decent game, thanks to the entry of Joe Flacco. He’s trending in the right direction.
TE: Noah Fant, TE10 miss. Fant was about the only one to see volume on Sunday.
Week 10 Record: 3-1
Quarterbacks
Start: Cam Newton, Carolina Panthers
About: It’s a big swing, but I’m making it. Newton scored two touchdowns on his first two plays in limited action Sunday, and now he starts at home in a grand return for the Panthers. Newton was QB18 in Week 10 with just four passes and three carries. He’s facing a soft Washington defense in Carolina against his former coach, Ron Rivera. It’s a big swing, but I believe. I’m pushing my chips in on Cam in Week 11.
Sit: Tyrod Taylor, Houston Texans
About: Taylor is a serviceable veteran quarterback. He looked strong to start the season, then missed a huge swath of time with injury. When he returned in Week 9, the hope was he’d be back to providing a lift to our fantasy teams. Instead, he was QB24 with less than nine points and a host of turnovers. The Texans aren’t a good team and don’t have a lot of talent. I don’t expect much against the red-hot Titans in Week 11.
Running Backs
Start: A.J. Dillon, Green Bay Packers
About: Aaron Jones is a great three-down back, but Dillon has been carving out a role. Jones is likely out with a knee injury, leaving Dillon to carry the load. Dillon carried 21 times for 66 yards and two crucial fourth-quarter touchdowns. He also caught two passes for 62 yards. All that was good enough to be RB3. I think he’s Top 12 this week, taking the bulk of the load.
Sit: Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs
About: CEH should be back, which is good. The temptation might be to play him, especially in what should be a high-scoring affair with the Cowboys. But I’m going to be cautious. We’ve seen players returning from injury easing back in during the first game back. In addition, Darrel Williams has acquitted himself well. In fact, in Week 10, he was RB1, making huge plays in the passing game. I think at best they split that load, and likely neither back cracks the Top 24. I’m staying away for now.
Wide Receivers
Start: Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers
About: The 49ers’ offense is heating up, and Samuel has been the catalyst of much of that. In a 31-10 win over the Rams in Week 11, Samuel ran for a touchdown and caught another. He finished as WR1 for the week and is WR3 for the season. The 49ers can move to .500 and inch closer to the playoffs as they battle the Jacksonville Jaguars this week. Sign me up.
Sit: Mike Williams, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Williams’ season has been up-and-down this season. Through 10 weeks, he’s WR17, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. Early in the season, he was the focal point of the Chargers’ offense. Through the first four weeks, he was WR4. Since that time, he’s WR31. We may see a swing back toward early season Williams, but it’s not guaranteed. His volume and production haven’t been there of late, and I’m not sure a Sunday night game with the Steelers turns that around.
Tight Ends
Start: George Kittle, San Francisco 49ers
About: No one has ever questioned Kittle’s talent or opportunity; it’s just a matter of availability. Kittle missed some time with an injury, but since he returned in Week 9, only Travis Kelce has more fantasy points at the tight end position. The 49ers’ offense is hot right now, and Kittle has been a huge factor. Playing the Jaguars this week in an important game, I don’t see that changing.
Sit: Dalton Schultz, Dallas Cowboys
About: Schultz has seized the dominant role at TE for the Cowboys and has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy players during the early part of the season. The problem isn’t talent but volume and opportunity. The Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup at receiver, plus Ezekiel Elliott and Tony Pollard taking snaps and targets at running back. Schultz is the fourth or fifth option at best which doesn’t provide consistent enough volume for me to feel certain he can return Top 12 value each week.
Matthew Fox is a die-hard NFL fan and Broncos’ homer. He’s a member of the FSWA. You can find more from him on Twitter @knighthawk7734 or as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast, a part of the Campus2Canton Network.
