Most fantasy players can agree that the most difficult part of managing your fantasy team is optimizing your lineup each week. When setting your lineup, it’s essential to take into account injuries, matchups, and probable game scripts. Before we take a look at this week’s best start/sit options, let’s see how accurate my predictions were from Week 9:
Best Start of Week 9: Josh Gordon (WR5)
Worst Start of Week 9: Matthew Stafford (QB24)
Best Sit of Week 9: LeSean McCoy (RB36)
Worst Sit of Week 9: Tevin Coleman (RB4)
Now, let’s take a look at this week’s top starts and sits:
Quarterbacks
Must Start:
Alex Smith (WAS @ TB): The Redskins will have a great matchup Week 10 against the Buccaneers’ defense that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (22) and the 5th most passing yards (2,577) this season. Smith has thrown just 9 touchdowns this season, but with the Buccaneers allowing the most passing touchdowns in the league, I expect him to have a multi touchdown performance. With his great matchup, Smith will be a must start in Week 10.
Honorable Mentions:
Andrew Luck (IND v JAX)
Philip Rivers (LAC @ OAK)
Baker Mayfield (CLE v ATL)
Nick Mullens (SF v NYG)
Must Sit:
Andy Dalton (CIN v NO): Dalton will be without the team’s top receiving option in A.J. Green for at least the next two weeks, leaving the Bengals a little empty handed heading into a tough matchup against an improved Saints defense. The Saints did give up 35 points to the Rams in Week 9, but the Bengals are not the Rams and do not have nearly the same number of offensive weapons. Being without the team’s best playmaker in AJ Green is a huge blow to the Bengals offense, making Dalton a must sit.
Honorable Mentions:
Matthew Stafford (DET @ CHI)
Dak Prescott (DAL @ PHI)
Marcus Mariota (TEN v NE)
Josh McCown (NYJ v BUF)
Running Backs
Must Start:
Leonard Fournette (JAX @ IND) Fournette is finally returning to action since Week 4, after missing a total of 6 games this season with a hamstring injury. The Colts have been allowing 109.9 rushing yards a game. In Fournette’s absence the Jaguars have been using TJ Yeldon, who has been filling in admirably, but more so as a receiving back as he has caught 4 receiving touchdowns. The Jaguar’s have missed the 3-down skill set that Fournette offers, as Yeldon has only rushed for 1 rushing touchdown. With Fournette back, he should be in for early downs, short yardage and goal line situations, making him a must start running back in his Week 10 return against the Colts.
Honorable Mentions:
Duke Johnson (CLE v ATL)
Adrian Peterson (WAS @ TB)
Kenyan Drake (GB @ MIA)
Matt Breida (SF v NYG)
Must Sit:
Derrick Henry (TEN v NE) It seems as if Henry has taken a back seat to Dion Lewis after Week 9’s Monday night win against the Cowboys. In this game, Henry rushed just 6 times for 27 yards and a touchdown, while Dion Lewis rushed 19 times for 62 yards adding 4 catches for 60 yards and a receiving touchdown. Henry has been a disappointment this season with just 300 rush yards and 2 total touchdowns, and it seems as though Lewis will be taking over the majority of the reps at running back, making Henry a must sit.
Honorable Mentions:
Sony Michel (NE @ TEN)
Doug Martin (OAK v LAC)
Isaiah Crowell (NYJ v BUF)
Carlos Hyde (JAX v IND)
Wide Receiver
Must Start:
Marquez Valdes-Scantling (GB v MIA) Randall Cobb is currently listed as questionable against the Dolphins, leaving Valdes-Scantling as the Packers most likely number two receiver alongside Davante Adams. The rookie receiver has been playing well for the Packers while filling in for Cobb and Allison, averaging 21.1 yards a catch. The Packers have a great matchup this week against the Dolphins, making Valdes-Scantling a must start.
Honorable Mentions:
Calvin Ridley (ATL v CLE)
Maurice Harris (WAS @ TB)
Allen Robinson (CHI v DET)
Doug Baldwin (SEA @ LAR)
Must Sit:
Tyler Boyd (CIN v NO) AJ Green will not be playing this week, making Boyd the top Bengals receiver. It seems tough to sit him as he’s been one of the top receivers this season, having just 40 less yards and 1 fewer touchdowns than AJ. I believe it will be tough for him to keep up the production without the Bengals’ best playmaker on the field, making Boyd a must sit for Week 10.
Honorable Mentions:
Mohamed Sanu (ATL v CLE)
John Ross (CIN v NO)
Corey Davis (TEN v NE)
Sammy Watkins (KC v ARI)
Tight End
Must Start:
Jordan Reed (WAS @ TB) Over the course of this season, the Buccaneers have allowed 5 receiving touchdowns to tight ends which is tied for 4th worst in the NFL. Jordan Reed has had an underwhelming season this far, but with a great matchup on hand things should be looking up for Reed. Last week against the Falcons, Reed had 4 catches for 34 yards. I expect those number to increase in Week 10 with a favorable matchup against the Buccaneers.
Honorable Mentions:
Trey Burton (CHI v DET)
CJ Uzomah (CIN v NO)
Austin Hooper (ATL @ CLE)
Must Sit:
Mike Gesicki (MIA @ GB): The Packers have had one of the best defenses this season against tight ends, allowing no touchdowns and just 317 yards to opposing tight ends. That won’t help Gesicki at all as the rookie tight end has underperformed all season, having just 16 catches and no touchdowns. Leaving Gesicki on the free agent list would be best this week as the rookie will most likely struggle in this difficult matchup.
Honorable Mentions:
Chris Herndon (NYJ v BUF)
Ricky Seals-Jones (ARI @ KC)
Geoff Swaim (DAL @ PHI)
Thank you for reading and be sure to follow me on Twitter for more fantasy football advice throughout the week @LonskiWilliam
