Week 10 NFL Matchup Preview Part Two
Be sure to check out Part One of our Week 10 NFL Matchup Previews.
-The Fantasy Footballers Week 10 Rankings
Sunday, November 13, 2016
1:00 PM EST
Green Bay Packers at Tennessee Titans
PACKERS
QB Aaron Rodgers: The Titans are not exactly scary for opposing QBs, allowing 260 yards per game and not quite 2 TDs. Rodgers should be able to move the ball around just fine, making him a solid QB1.
RB Ty Montgomery: Recently called a “three-down back” by coach Mike McCarthy, Montgomery should lead the team in touches and a be a solid RB2/flex in RB or WR slots.
WR Jordy Nelson, Randall Cobb, Davante Adams: Jordy Nelson is still on pace for 1,000 yards and an astounding 14 TDs. He’s a great start due to the TD potential. Randall Cobb surprised many people by being active last week and snuck into the end zone. Since Week 5, Davante Adams and Randall Cobb are top 10 WRs in average points per game. Both are solid WR2 starts.
TE Richard Rodgers: The Titans are allowing the 7th most points per game to opposing TEs and Richard Rodgers is coming off a 6 reception, 64-yard performance. He’s a sneaky streamer again this week.
TITANS
QB Marcus Mariota: Since Week 5, Marcus Mariota is QB3 in average points per game with at least 2 TDs in each game and 3 passing TDs in 3-of-5. While the Packers secondary is beat up, they are mid-pack in fantasy points allowed and mid-pack in pass defense. Mariota is still a great QB1 start this week.
RB DeMarco Murray: The match-up is scary, but DeMarco Murray is on pace for over 1,800 combined yards and 16 TDs. He’s being used by Tennessee as a stud RB and must be treated as such, even against the league’s best run defense.
WR Rishard Matthews, Kendall Wright: Rishard Matthews has quietly been a top 20 WR the past few weeks and has established himself as a top target for Marcus Mariota. He’s a solid WR2 while his running mate Kendall Wright has flex appeal. He’s been a bit boom/bust since returning from injury and shouldn’t be trusted as a weekly starter.
TE Delanie Walker: Delanie Walker is consistently a top target and a must-start TE.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Minnesota Vikings at Washington Redskins
VIKINGS
QB Sam Bradford: Sam Bradford is not a starting option against a solid Washington pass defense.
RB Jerick McKinnon, Matt Asiata: The RB position has been a quagmire for the Vikings, who are on pace to have a historically bad running game. The two RBs cut into each others value and make neither more than a flex option.
WR Stefon Diggs, Adam Thielen, Cordarrelle Patterson: Stefon Diggs continues to prove that he’s a borderline WR1 most weeks. He’s a solid start. Adam Thielen has been a decent PPR flex option through the big, 6-team bye weeks, but is best left on the bench this week. Cordarrelle Patterson is in the same boat as Thielen. His return game TD potential makes him a slightly better option, but he’s still a desperation flex play.
TE Kyle Rudolph: Kyle Rudolph had one of my favorite stat lines last week: 1/1/1. Prior to that, he’s been a solid TE play most weeks. His decreased volume last week may have some owners worried, but Rudolph remains a solid TE start in a decent matchup.
REDSKINS
QB Kirk Cousins: The Vikings defense has been suffocating this year, allowing just over 200 yards and 1 TD per game, while intercepting 10 passes thus far. The Redskins passing game options are all knocked down a few pegs this week, dropping Kirk Cousins well outside the must-start range.
RB Matt Jones, Rob Kelley, Chris Thompson: The Vikings are also shutting down opposing RBs, allowing the 6th least points per game to them. The Redskins are calling Rob Kelley their “first string RB”, but the matchup, presence of Chris Thompson and possibility of a timeshare with Matt Jones makes Kelley a low-end RB2 at best while Chris Thompson is a flex option in PPR leagues.
WR Jamison Crowder: Jamison Crowder is quietly a top 20 WR in PPR leagues with just one game under 11 PPR points and is coming off two 100 yard games prior to the bye week. He’s a solid WR2 start, even in the tough matchup.
TE Jordan Reed: Rule 86: If he plays, you play him.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Sunday, November 13, 2016
4:05 PM EST
Miami Dolphins at San Diego Chargers
DOLPHINS
QB Ryan Tannehill: Ryan Tannehill has been a major disappointment this year. While the Chargers matchup is nice, Tannehill is just a risky streamer.
RB Jay Ajayi: Since Week 5, Jay Ajayi has established himself as an RB1 and should be a great play again this week. He’s a must start with the Dolphins taking the ball out of Ryan Tannehill’s hands.
WR Jarvis Landry: The Dolphins are moving more towards a run-heavy team which may have a slight impact on the PPR machine, Jarvis Landry. While on pace for 98 receptions and 1,200 yards, he has just 1 TD this year, which caps his ceiling as a PPR reliant WR2.
CHARGERS
QB Philip Rivers: Philip Rivers has settled in as a low-end must start QB with a solid floor every week.
RB Melvin Gordon: After all the hate from 2015, Melvin Gordon has established himself as a must-start RB1.
WR Tyrell Williams, Dontrelle Inman: Tyrell Williams overcame his knee ailments to post a very respectable 6/65/1 stat line. He should remain a solid WR2 start this week. With Travis Benjamin suffering through a PCL injury, Dontrelle Inman is seeing enough volume to be a flex option in PPR leagues.
TE Antonio Gates: The Dolphins have been stingy against TEs this year, allowing the 9th least points per game to them. The possible return of Hunter Henry (check the injury reports after Friday’s practice) caps the upside of Antonio Gates to a TD-dependent streamer.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Sunday, November 13, 2016
4:25 PM EST
San Francisco 49ers at Arizona Cardinals
49ERS
QB Colin Kaepernick: He exploded last week, but most QBs do against the Saints. That is not the case this week against the league’s #3 pass defense, holding opposing QBs to under 200 yards per game while allowing just 5 passing TDs in 8 games. Colin Kaepernick should remain on your bench this week.
RB Carlos Hyde, DuJuan Harris: DuJuan Harris exploded last week, but most RBs do against the Saints. (I know, that was the same thing I just wrote about QBs, but it’s the truth!). This week, a mid-pack Cardinals defense is a tougher test. The possible return of Carlos Hyde, who claims he is ready to play, may handcuff each player’s upside. Neither is more than a low-end RB2/flex option.
CARDINALS
QB Carson Palmer: The San Francisco run defense is so especially bad, it makes their pass defense look decent on paper. However, they have allowed 18 passing TDs thus far making Carson Palmer a decent start this week.
RB David Johnson: The 49ers are allowing 193 rushing yards and 1.5 TDs per game. Let that sink in. The only reason David Johnson might not finish as the #1 RB this week is if the Cardinals take such a big lead that he’s rested for the second half. He’s got the dream matchup of the season.
WR Larry Fitzgerald, John Brown, J.J. Nelson, Michael Floyd: Prior to the bye week, Bruce Arians named J.J. Nelson a starter. Larry Fitzgerald is still the best option here for fantasy consistency. The rest of the WRs may be frustratingly inconsistent, limiting them to flex status.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Dallas Cowboys at Pittsburgh Steelers
COWBOYS
QB Dak Prescott: The rookie has established himself as a must-start QB1 in fantasy, consistently producing a high floor.
RB Ezekiel Elliott: Another must-start rookie with a high floor and unbelievable ceiling.
WR Dez Bryant, Cole Beasley: While Dak Prescott is QB10 in average points and has been super-consistent for fantasy purposes, the WRs has been anything but. Dez Bryant is still a stud based on his red zone prowess, but his ceiling is limited by the play calling focused on ball-control. Cole Beasley remains a decent flex option in PPR leagues.
TE Jason Witten: Jason Witten exploded in a juicy matchup for a season high in yards. He also has a TD in back-to-back games. The matchup in decent and his recent inclusion in the red zone makes Witten a low-end TE starter.
STEELERS
QB Ben Roethlisberger: Have you heard the one about Ben Roethlisberger’s home/road splits? If you haven’t, it says: Big Ben is a must-start at home.
RB Le’Veon Bell: The Cowboys’ run defense has quietly been very stingy to opposing RBs. They are holding teams under 90 yards per game and have allowed a league-low 3 rushing TDs. Bell is still a must-start, but this is a very tough test for him.
WR Antonio Brown, Eli Rogers, Sammie Coates: Antonio Brown is a must-start and there isn’t any reason to think he won’t have a great week. Eli Rogers actually lead the team in yardage last week, but Sammie Coates should be returning this week, limiting both players to boom/bust flex options.
TE Ladarius Green, Jesse James: Ladarius Green is expected to be removed from the PUP list this weekend, but it’s not a lock. If he is active, he’s an interesting streaming option against the Dallas defense allowing the 8th most points to opposing TEs. If he’s not active, Jesse James takes over that upside and is a streaming option.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Sunday, November 13, 2016
8:30 PM EST
Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
SEAHAWKS
QB Russell Wilson: Russell Wilson finally had a good fantasy day, but the rushing yardage is still missing. The narrative should be that he’ll be pumped up for a prime-time game against the presumed best team in the NFL. That said, he is nothing more than a middling QB option against a Patriots’ defense that has allowed the 10th least points per game to opposing QBs.
RB Christine Michael, C.J. Prosise: Coach Pete Carroll has stated that C.J. Prosise has earned more touches after out-snapping Christine Michael in Week 9. He should be considered an RB2 in PPR leagues. Meanwhile, this news directly limits Christine Michael’s upside to flex status only.
WR Doug Baldwin: Baldwin has shown to be the only reliable fantasy WR option in Seattle, and he’s just a low-end WR2 in PPR leagues.
TE Jimmy Graham: Jimmy Graham has returned to his dominant status as an elite TE option. He’s a must start.
PATRIOTS
QB Tom Brady: Seattle is tough, but you don’t bench Brady.
RB LeGarrette Blount: The Seattle run defense is good, but LeGarrette Blount always has TD potential in this offense. He’s an RB2.
WR Julian Edelman, Chris Hogan: Julian Edelman hasn’t been as heavily targeted as many owners expected. He finally found the end zone prior to the bye week and is a low-end WR2. Chris Hogan actually leads the Patriots WRs in receiving yardage but is nothing more than a desperation flex play.
TE Rob Gronkowski, Martellus Bennett: The Seahawks have been extremely tough on opposing TEs, but Rob Gronkowski is a must-start. Martellus Bennett is dealing with a lingering ankle issue, and, while he might play, he’s not a good start for fantasy owners.
-The Fantasy Footballers’ Matchup Preview on YouTube
Monday, November 14, 2016
8:30 PM EST
Cincinnati Bengals at New York Giants
BENGALS
QB Andy Dalton: Andy Dalton has a history of disappearing on the road and in prime-time games. The Giants are allowing the 5th least points to opposing QBs this year, making Dalton a QB to fade this week.
RB Jeremy Hill, Giovani Bernard: The Giants’ defense is holding opposing teams under 100 yards per game this year and allowed just 7 rushing TDs. This caps Jeremy Hill to a flex option and Giovani Bernard to an RB2 in PPR leagues.
WR A.J. Green, Tyler Boyd, Brandon LaFell: While Andy Dalton may struggle overall, you can’t bench A.J. Green. Rookie Tyler Boyd was more involved last week but has essentially been alternating usable fantasy games with Brandon LaFell. Neither should be counted on for fantasy points this week.
TE Tyler Eifert: After returning to a very limited role in Week 7, Tyler Eifert exploded for a monster game in Week 8 with 9 receptions, 102 yards, and a TD. Coming off a bye week, Eifert should be a solid TE against a Giants’ defense who ranks in the middle of the league in points allowed to TEs.
GIANTS
QB Eli Manning: The Bengals have allowed the 6th most points to opposing QBs and are allowing over 260 yards and 2 TDs per game. Eli Manning is a great QB to start this week.
RB Rashad Jennings, Paul Perkins: The Giants backfield appears to be a full-fledged timeshare. Neither Rashad Jennings or Paul Perkins should be counted on this week for more than flex-level points.
WR Odell Beckham Jr., Sterling Shepard: Fun with numbers: The Bengals are allowing the 6th most points to QBs, 4th most points to TEs, but 6th LEAST points to opposing WRs. You are not sitting Odell Beckham, but Sterling Shepard is more of a flex play.
TE Will Tye: As stated above, the Bengals are allowing the 4th most points to opposing TEs. Will Tye seems to be taking over the primary TE role for the Giants and is a very sneaky streaming TE for Week 10.