The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 10
Last week was very nice without all the bye-week shenanigans. Too bad that’s over for the next several weeks. The good news is The Fantasy Footballers are here to help through all the problems a fantasy season can hold. During Thursday’s episode, the Ballers brought out their Starts of the Week segment and laid out some players to get into your lineup or at least feel you can start in a pinch. To check out the full episode on YouTube, follow the link below:
The other good news this week is that the Fantasy Footballers app is complete with The Ultimate Dashboard on mobile devices. This tool is a game changer, and you need to make sure you are signed in and using it to the fullest. If you don’t have access, head to jointhefoot.com and become a member of the Footclan.
Now, let’s break down The Fantasy Footballers’ Starts of the Week for Week 10.
Andy’s Starts of the Week
QB – Brock Purdy @ TB
Coming off the bye, the 49ers have a 28-point team-implied total while on the road. The beautiful thing about Purdy is that when the 49ers win, he plays well. For example, he has a 7.7% touchdown rate when they win. The matchup is beautiful, and we have already seen Tampa supply some peak games for fantasy QBs. Purdy ranks first in the NFL in yards per pass attempt using play-action. In the meantime, the Bucs allow the highest pass success rate when defending play action. Look for Purdy to possibly go nuclear this week.
RB – D’Andre Swift vs. NE
Swift was the lone bright spot for Chicago last week as he continued his four-week stretch of fantasy dominance. He saw 22 opportunities, including six receptions. He is the RB6 currently and has averaged 19 opportunities per game since Week 4. The Patriots’ defense loves to give points to running backs, ranking 31st in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs and 26th in rushing yards per game allowed. Swift should continue his tear through the NFL this week at home against New England.
WR – Darnell Mooney @ NO
It is time we all start respecting the WR12 on the season. Mooney is averaging a 24% target share and 65 yards per game. With Drake London banged up, it is time to stay in the flames with the Mooney. Since Week 5, the Saints rank 26th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs, and they just traded their best corner in Marshon Lattimore. Mooney could be the primary pass-catcher for an offense that loves to throw the ball.
TE – Theo Johnson @ CAR
Johnson is a workhorse for the Giants. He has quietly run the seventh most routes among all TEs this year, averaging 84% of the snaps. He has seen three receptions in the last two weeks, and it could be time for the breakout game. Carolina is terrible at defense, ranking last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. In the previous three weeks, they’ve allowed five receiving touchdowns to TEs. Those TEs are Zach Ertz, Ben Sinnott, Adam Trautman, Nate Adkins, and Foster Moreau. The bar is low for how good a TE you have to be to score on Carolina, and Johnson is definitely above that bar.
Jason’s Starts of the Week
QB – Kirk Cousins @ NO
The Falcons have a 25-point team-implied total this week. Since Week 5, Cousins is completing 72% of his passes and is on a 5,000-yard and 44-touchdown pace for the season. He has been a sensation this year! Over the last month, the Saints are 25th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to QBs, and again, they just traded their best corner. It’s time for Cousins to cook in New Orleans!
RB – James Conner vs. NYJ
Ignore that the other two Cardinals running backs scored last week. Conner still ran for over 100 yards against an excellent Bears defense. He has seen 40% of the team’s total rush attempts and targets in the previous three weeks. Conner is the engine that powers the offense. While the Jets’ defense again looks scary to go against, they have actually allowed the sixth most fantasy points for RBs when on the road. You think it would be a week to pivot away, but you need to keep Conner in your lineup.
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WR – Tank Dell @ DET
Dell has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of the last four weeks, and seen a 23% target share in Nico Collins’ absence. Last week, he saw nine targets for 126 yards. Collins will be out again this week, meaning Dell should rake in the targets. You have to throw against Detroit, as they rank second highest in opponent pass rate in the NFL at 65%. The Lions’ secondary ranks 28th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to WRs. Dell will be necessary for the offense and should deliver yet again.
TE – TJ Hockenson @ JAX
In his first game of the season last week, Hockenson was targeted four times on 24 routes while he played 45% of the team’s snaps. That is great usage coming off of a long-term injury. Those numbers should go up as he gets more and more acclimated to the team, and the Jags’ defense is terrible! Since Week 3, they have ranked 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. We could see Hockenson reestablish himself as a key TE contributor for fantasy this week.
Mike’s Starts of the Week
QB – Sam Darnold @ JAX
Darnold has been consistent all year, a sentence that was thought never to be said out loud. He has been a top 10 QB four times and leads the league in passing touchdowns from inside the 10-yard line. Now, he faces a matchup with the Jags, who have no answer for offenses through the air. Jacksonville ranks 32nd in schedule-adjusted fantasy points given up to QBs, in expected points added per play, and in yards per play. Darnold should dominate this matchup as the Vikings continue to show they are the real deal in the NFC.
RB – Tyrone Tracy @ CAR
He is averaging 18 opportunities in the last five games, which has brought about three top-10 performances. We have targeted Carolina all year with RBs, and it has consistently worked. They allow 159 yards per game on the ground and rank dead last in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to RBs. Keep rolling with Tracy. He is going to continue to deliver.
WR – Jauan Jennings @ TB
The over/under for this matchup is 51 points, which means you want to have pieces of this game in your lineup. Jennings hasn’t played since Week 6, but when he was on the field this year, he demanded targets, as he was tied with George Kittle for the lead percentage for the team when playing. The Tampa secondary is so good for fantasy players. They allow the most completions per game in the NFL, the second most fantasy points to outside WRs, and the fourth most expected points added per pass attempt. Jennings is healthy again and should jump right back into your lineup.
TE – Hunter Henry @ CHI
Henry has a 21% target share in the three Drake Maye starts and averages 5.8 receptions a game. If you are dealing with one of the big names like Bowers, Njoku, or Kraft on bye, he is a solid pivot option. Especially facing the Bears’ defense, 23rd in schedule-adjusted fantasy points given up to TEs. Engram had a big game against them in his first week back, and Zach Ertz won the jackpot, going seven catches for 77 yards. Henry should deliver for you just as well.
Comments
Conner or Chuba?