What a glorious week of football this projects to be. There projects to be an aerial assault-style shootout as the Seahawks and the Rams square up. Green Bay welcomes in the new gun-slingin’ Jacksonville Jaguars, which basically presents Davante Adams with another chance to put ridiculous fantasy stats. Houston and Cleveland are in line to trade blows in a battle of horrible defenses. Throw in some good ol’ fashion hate with some nasty divisional rivalries being played and this week smells like some delicious football soup.
What better way to kick off another great week of fantasy football than playing spoiler to some teams vying for playoff contention? Looking to secure your place in the fantasy football playoffs? Keep reading, check out The Wolf’s Week 10 Rankings, and hopefully, you find what you’re looking for.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
Jared Goff vs Seattle Seahawks
After one of the sorriest performances at the quarterback position this season, Goff owes fantasy fans an apology. More importantly, Goff owes people that played him in fantasy a blow up game. Enter Seattle. Last week, Seattle allowed the reeling Josh Allen to boogie all over them. Last week, Allen completed 31 of 38 passes for 415 yards and three touchdowns along with a rushing touchdown.
Seattle is an absolutely dreadful aerial defense. Opposing quarterbacks are routinely having field days against the Seahawks, averaging just south of 30 fantasy points per game. Breaking down some of their per game stats allowed to quarterbacks really doesn’t make things any better. Seattle has allowed quarterbacks to average 362 yards per game and to throw for 2.33 touchdowns per game.
Seattle is fairly stingy against the run, making them a true pass funnel style defense. With an expected over/under of 55.5 points in this matchup, if Goff lays an egg again this week he deserves to be locked in the fantasy football basement (aka the waiver wire).
Honorable Mention: Drew Lock, Carson Wentz
Sit ‘Em
Teddy Bridgewater vs Tampa Bay Buccaneers
If Christian McCaffrey could get off the injury report and spend some more time on the field this season, I would be fine starting Bridgewater this week in a pinch. With Bridgewater having faced the Bucs already this season and it went poorly. If you squint both of your eyes and turn your head sideways, Bridgewater’s week two stat line against the Bucs wasn’t that bad.
He completed 33 of 42 passes for 367 yards…but with two picks and zero touchdowns. See, if you squint and turned your head, you could have easily not seen those two picks on the stat sheet. Now there is a narrative out there that could be spun to say that Bridgewater is a fine streamer this week. After the GOAT played like a scapeGOAT while getting paddled by the Saints last week, expect Tom Brady to be spitting hot venom this week.
If Brady comes out wheeling and dealing to start the game, the Panthers could have to uncork the ball more. Whether it’s done via trick plays to Curtis Samuel, or DJ Moore and Robby Anderson keeping things alive downfield, there are ways for the Panthers to score through the air. People forget that Mike Davis is a very good pass catching back in his own right.
Still, do you really want to gamble on all of that with your fantasy futures on the line? I didn’t think so.
Honorable Mention: Matthew Stafford, Joe Burrow
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
Duke Johnson vs Cleveland Browns
It’s finally time! With David Johnson out this week with a concussion, Duke absolutely has to be considered a must start. How fitting that Duke could be getting the start against the team that refused to give him the lead role and forced him to play behind the likes of Isaiah Crowell.
Despite clearly being the best running back on his team, again, Duke has still been relegated to change of pace work behind the ever plodding David Johnson. You know that Duke is chomping at the bit to ball out in this matchup and the volume might just be there.
Last week, after David Johnson left with his concussion, Duke saw 20 touches in the backfield. While he wasn’t inspiring from an efficiency standpoint he still managed to produce 17.3 PPR points. As for the Browns rush defense: they have allowed only 3.9 YPC but have a weakness in the RB receiving game. Opposing running backs have caught 39 of 47 targets for 339 yards (8.7 Y/R) and a score.
On film, Duke is clearly the better and more explosive back and should have a safe enough receiving floor to capitalize on an under the radar revenge game. Play him as an RB2/flex option this week.
Honorable Mention: Mike Davis, Phillip Lindsay
Sit ‘Em
Darrell Henderson vs Seattle Seahawks
I’d like to ask the audience, Regis. Which backfield is more disgusting and a likely committee mess, the Rams or the Colts? The answer is yes. Henderson has been a tremendous value for most of the season for fantasy players, whether its injury or Sean McVay doing his best Adam Gase impression, Cam Akers has been a colossal bust at his preseason draft cost.
Henderson has performed admirably when given bell cow caliber work, topping 100 YFS twice this season, he has also frequently been injured himself. After a week of rest, Henderson is still dealing with a thigh injury but is expected to gut it out this week. The last three weeks, Henderson has also been a touchdown dependent fantasy option.
Now add in a healthy and improving Akers, along with the ever annoying Malcolm Brown and a head coach that tends to mismanage his RBBC, and Henderson is a less than exciting start. Not to mention the Seahawks rank 11th against opposing running backs. Henderson could easily be game scripted out as this game could likely turn into an aerial extravaganza.
Honorable Mention: Ronald Jones, Devin Singletary
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
Christian Kirk vs Buffalo Bills
Alfred, the butler and Bruce Wayne’s mentor in the epic Dark Knight trilogy, once said: “Maybe it’s time that we stopped trying to out smart the truth and let it have it’s day.”.
Instead of trying to over think things and come up with reasons not to admit Kirk is a good wide receiver/fantasy receiver maybe it’s time to give credit where credit is due. Kirk has scored six touchdowns over his last five games and has topped five targets in four of his last five.
This week, against Buffalo, Kirk expects to see a healthy serving of coverage from Levi Wallace. Wallace, on the season has allowed 0.93 yards per route covered and 0.22 fantasy points per target. Kirk holds a major advantage in the speed department (4.47 40 time) as Wallace’s 4.63 speed makes him vulnerable for getting burnt downfield.
Kirk is in line to continue his hot streak, especially in a matchup with the highest projected over/under (56.5 points) on the week. Start Kirk in your flex.
Honorable Mention: Tim Patrick, Rashard Higgins
Sit ‘Em
Marvin Jones vs Washington Football Team
Sometimes, you just have to say no. That’s one of the most valuable lessons in life and in fantasy football. Jones, at this point in his career, is very touchdown dependent. With no Kenny Golladay to draw the Football Team’s main defensive focus Jones expects to be the defenses main target.
Washington is tied for the fewest touchdowns scored to opposing WRs this season, only allowing three thus far. Washington also has only allowed 80 receptions to opposing receivers this year, also the league low. As if this matchup wasn’t daunting enough, Washington ranks second in yards allowed to opposing wideouts.
Jones always has the ability to break a big play open. However, seeing only 11 targets his last two games with Golladay injured, the volume isn’t there for Jones to be played with any confidence.
Honorable Mention: DJ Moore, Jakobi Meyers
Tight End Streamers
Austin Hooper vs Houston Texans
Eric Ebron vs Cincinnati Bengals
