The 2023 NFL Season is here, and with it comes some lineup questions. Which moves should you make to maximize your points? Let this weekly post be your guide as I offer one start and one sit suggestion at QB, RB, WR, and TE. These suggestions are based on my rankings against consensus each week. And because we want to measure our success, check back each week for a recap on how I did.
For the purposes of this project, a start is a player I think will finish Top 12 at QB or TE and Top 24 at RB or WR. A sit is a player I suspect will finish outside those metrics. Before we move forward, let’s look at last week’s picks. All finishes courtesy of Fantasy Pros.
Week 9 Starts
QB: Derek Carr, QB11 Hit. Carr had another solid day in the win.
RB: Josh Jacobs, RB3 Hit. Jacobs was huge in Week 9.
WR: Adam Thielen, WR43 Miss. Thielen had an off week.
TE: Trey McBride, TE27 Miss. Clayton Tune did not help my cause.
Start Record: 2-2
Week 9 Sits
QB: Daniel Jones, QB30 Hit. Jones left early and didn’t do much before leaving.
RB: Miles Sanders, RB28 Hit. Sanders was better than the week before, but not good enough.
WR: Tyler Lockett, WR54 Hit. The Seahawks were dreadful.
TE: Michael Mayer, TE34 Hit. Mayer isn’t getting enough volume.
Sit Record: 4-0
Now, on to the Week 10 picks!
Quarterbacks
Start: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
About: Goff and the Lions are having a great season. The Chargers’ defense and sense of home-field advantage also don’t scare me. When you combine four teams on a bye with the number of injuries at quarterback, it’s easy to see Goff as still being a Top 12 QB. Goff is QB12 on the season even with a bye week. I’m firing him up.
Sit: Will Levis, Tennessee Titans
About: Levis got the nod to start the rest of the season. That’s great for him and probably great for the Titans. He’s a viable Superflex option, but I’m not ready to roll him out as a Top 12 option. His debut was fantastic. He threw four touchdowns and got a win. In game two, he tossed an interception and no touchdowns. He’ll be on the road in Tampa Bay this week, and I’m not trusting him as a QB1. He’s a sit for me.
Running Backs
Start: Travis Etienne, Jacksonville Jaguars
About: The Jaguars are 6-2 and having a great year. A big part of that success has been Etienne. He’s RB3 on the season, averaging more than 20 points per game. Yes, the Jaguars are playing the 49ers. But Etienne is a weapon. He’s in my starting lineup.
Sit: Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts
About: Moss is a great story and has been a help to the Colts. With Jonathan Taylor out to start the season, he produced when given the chance. And he’s produced alongside Taylor the first few weeks since he returned. He’s RB6 on the season, and you might be tempted to start him and forget about it. But Taylor signed a monster extension and we’re starting to see him take over and dominate the touches. That was the case in Week 9, where Moss had his worst output of the season. He’s now a touchdown-dependent deep league flex option, not a Top 24 option for me.
Wide Receivers
Start: Michael Pittman, Jr., Indianapolis Colts
About: Pittman has been rock-solid for the Colts. He’s currently WR11 on the season, averaging 15.3 points per game. He only has one game this season with less than ten points, meaning he’s had a fairly stable floor. He also has a great connection with Gardner Minshew. In a winnable game against the Patriots, I’m throwing him out there.
Sit: Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills
About: Davis is not a reliable starting option. Last week’s goose egg in a crucial game against the Bengals ought to tell us that. Davis will probably have a catch this week, but he’s facing an improved Broncos’ secondary off a bye week. He’s not a Top 24 option for me.
Tight Ends
Start: Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
About: Just when I thought I was out, Hill pulled me back in. Hill has found a role in New Orleans, and he’s become that team’s version of Christian McCaffrey. Last game, he led the team in rushing, caught a touchdown, and threw a touchdown. He’s a jack-of-all-trades and provides his points at a tough position in tight end. He’s TE11 on the season, with 12 or more points in his last four games and 20 or more points in the last two games. I like Hill.
Sit: Gerald Everett, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Everett seemed like a trendy TE1 option, but he’s just TE25 on the season. He’s averaging just over seven points per game, and he’s seen fellow tight end Donald Parham get more Red Zone looks. Everett has talent, and it’s a good offense, but he doesn’t have a consistent target share. He’s a sit.
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.
