Which moves should you make to maximize your points? Use this weekly post as your guide, as I offer one start and one sit suggestion at QB, RB, WR, and TE. These suggestions are based on my rankings compared to the consensus each week. To measure our success, check back each week for a recap of how I did.
For this project, a start is a player I think will finish in the Top 12 at QB or TE and the Top 24 at RB or WR. A sit is a player I think will finish outside those metrics. In the coming weeks, I’ll start with a recap of how I finished the prior week. Fantasy Pros will provide all scoring.
Before we move forward, let’s see how we did in Week 9.
Week 9 Starts
QB: C.J. Stroud, QB1 Hit. Stroud stayed hot.
RB: Ashton Jeanty, RB34 Miss. Passing work wasn’t enough for Jeanty.
WR: Tee Higgins, WR8 Hit. Higgins was great in the win.
TE: Isaiah Likely, TE4 Hit. Likely was huge in the Giants’ win.
Start Record: 3-1
Week 9 Sits
QB: Bryce Young, QB6 Miss. Young was solid even in a loss.
RB: Tyler Allgeier, RB37 Hit. Allgeier didn’t get enough volume.
WR: Josh Downs, WR60 Hit. Downs was a non-factor in his final Colts game.
TE: Kenyon Saddiq, TE16 Hit. Saddiq isn’t getting consistent volume.
Sit Record: 3-1
And now, on to the Week 10 picks!
Quarterbacks
Start: Jared Goff, Detroit Lions
About: On paper, playing the Patriots wouldn’t seem like an easy path. But just last week we saw Jordan Love destroy the Patriots’ secondary time and again in a big win. He actually finished as QB2. Goff is a talented passer who is better at home than on the road, and the Lions have been on a roll. I like him to put up a big game on Sunday.
Sit: Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
About: Herbert and the Chargers have been having a miserable season. The team is winless through nine weeks, and Herbert is only QB26 this year. On paper, the Chargers should have a shot at a first win Monday night in Baltimore. But I think the Ravens’ defense is solid, and with the Chargers’ injuries and offensive inconsistencies, I don’t foresee Herbert improving much on his season. He’s on my bench.
Running Backs
Start: Derrick Henry, Baltimore Ravens
About: Henry has been a powerhouse on the field and in fantasy for years. This year has been no exception, for the most part. He is still RB12 this season, but over the past two weeks, with nothing substantive at quarterback, he’s posted fewer than six fantasy points in each game. With Jacoby Brissett in town and a long week to prepare for the Chargers, I expect him to return to being a worthy start.
Sit: Travis Etienne, Jr., New Orleans Saints
About: I liked the Etienne signing for the Saints, but we didn’t see it develop into much for fantasy early in the season. Then he got hurt and missed the past few weeks on IR. Now, it looks like he’s poised to return. While I’d like the Saints to get the win against the Panthers this week, I don’t trust Etienne to do enough to be worth a start.
Wide Receivers
Start: Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings
About: It’s been a rough year and a half for Jefferson and those who depend on him. But the Vikings acquired Kirk Cousins at the trade deadline this week. Cousins was the Vikings’ starter for years, and Jefferson thrived with him at the helm. I think their reunion this week in Green Bay will be just as sweet, and just as timely, as the Vikings will have to score to keep up with the Packers.
Sit: Rams Wide Receivers
About: The Rams are hurting at wide receiver. Davante Adams and Jordan Whittington are on IR. Puka Nacua is injured, and even if he doesn’t land on IR, he’s not likely to play Sunday. Without Nacua and Adams, I’m not bullish on any of those left doing anything worthwhile. I’m not starting any of them, as I expect Kyren Williams, Blake Corum, and the gaggle of tight ends to be the real forces for the Rams’ offense this week.
Tight Ends
Start: Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts
About: The Colts traded Keenan Allen and Josh Downs this week. They still haven’t activated Alec Pierce. That leaves Warren as the best and really the only reliable target for Daniel Jones. While they’ll likely rely on Jonathan Taylor, I suspect Warren will get as many targets as he can handle. He’s already TE11 on the season. You should be starting him.
Sit: Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans
About: The Texans suddenly have an embarrassment of riches at receiver. With Nico Collins healthy, they have been using Marvin Harrison, Jr., Kayshon Boutte, Tank Dell, and Xavier Hutchison. All that leaves a lot of mouths to feed and a limited number of targets. That doesn’t leave a steady enough volume for Schultz, even with the Texans’ robust pass offense. He’s a sit for me.
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.
