You've now completed 10 weeks of the season and you probably have a good idea of who your regular starters are. However, there are a few players who have gone under the radar and could be worth considering for your starting roster, particularly if you're in a deeper league. Check out the matchups and see which defenses have struggled recently. There may be a chance to discover a non-traditional starter who could help you win your week. Here's a list of players from each position that I think are worth considering, especially for this week.
QUARTERBACK
- Jordan Love, GB - The Packers are 3-6, losing six of their last eight games. Jordan Love has zero 300-yard games this season, but he has thrown for multiple touchdowns in four of nine starts, which isn't horrible. The Packers are a long-standing, proud team, especially at home. This may be a season of growth and roster determination, and management may look to bring in a new quarterback at season's end. However, this may be a week to consider giving Love a chance. The Chargers come to Lambeau Field this week and have given up the most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. No quarterback has passed for less than 230 yards against them. That includes Zach Wilson, Aidan O'Connell, and Tyson Bagent. Green Bay went through a rough stretch where Aaron Jones and Christian Watson were both out and/or dealing with nagging injuries but that appears to be behind them now. Love isn't the best option this week, but maybe he's someone to consider.
- Kyler Murray, ARI - There was some uncertainty about how Kyler Murray would perform in his first game back from an ACL tear. Would he be comfortable and confident as a runner? How well and how often would he run? How well does he know the offense in a new system? Will the coaches trust him? Arizona was a sinking ship with a quarterback problem and a 1-8 record. Then Murray returned, and the team rose to the occasion with him leading the way en route to a win against Atlanta, who have lost three straight and five of their last seven. It wasn't a monumental win, but it might've been a stepping-stone win where the team builds off their success and confidence. This week, Arizona will face an upstart Houston team on the road. This is a game Houston is supposed to win. But perhaps with Murray, the team has turned the corner. In addition to Murray's return, James Conner is back at running back, and Trey McBride is making waves as a young, talented tight end. He has exploded onto the scene with 21 receptions since Zach Ertz went on IR in Week 8. The receiving corps is on the upswing. Things are not looking so bleak for Arizona. They may not win this week at Houston, but they should be competitive. Houston has allowed 306 yards of passing offense per game against them going back to Week 5. Only Tampa Bay has allowed more in that span. Can Arizona and Murray take advantage of a Texans team that has struggled to contain the pass? He might. And he also could add some rushing yards to the mix. Murray isn't one of the best starts this week, but he could have a surprisingly effective week that is worthy of your consideration.
RUNNING BACK
- Cowboys running backs vs Carolina - The Cowboys' offense has been a hot knife through butter lately, specifically the passing offense. Dak Prescott has passed for 304, 374, and 404 yards in his last three games against the Rams, Eagles, and Giants. They have shown they can be a successful pass offense, but how is their running game? This week's opponent, Carolina, is weakest against the run and has allowed the second-most fantasy points to running backs this season and most since Week 5. They have only allowed two 100-yard rushers but 12 rushing touchdowns to running backs, with three additional receiving touchdowns to backs. Tony Pollard has been the Cowboys' top back this season, but he has lacked a big game and has not scored a touchdown since he scored two in Week 1. His inability to produce a quality game has elevated the usage of backup Rico Dowdle. Both could thrive this week at Carolina, who have failed to produce, especially on offense. Expect the crowd to have a majority of Dallas fans. If this game favors Dallas early, it could be a long afternoon for the home team and an abundance of rushing opportunities for the rest of the game. This could be Pollard's get-right game, and it also could yield success for Dowdle, either as a backup getting mop-up duty or as someone who shares the load with Pollard. Either way, both could have a big afternoon.
- Ty Chandler, MIN - The Vikings are somehow 6-4 with a sudden taste for a playoff berth in the NFC, all without Justin Jefferson, Kirk Cousins, and Cam Akers. Joshua Dobbs has taken over this team, and the team is following on his coattails. The ground game has been a challenge all season for Minnesota. Alexander Mattison has failed to produce, and Cam Akers is out for the season with a career-threatening Achilles tear, his second, one for each heel. The team has a total of two rushing touchdowns from running backs this season, one of which came from Ty Chandler last week. Chandler is the last man standing in the Vikings backfield, making the most of his opportunity. Mattison, in addition to struggling, is in the concussion protocol, and he may not be ready to suit up as a result. Chandler will face the Broncos defense on the road this week. Denver has won three straight games, but their run defense has been suspect, and Minnesota can take advantage of that. Since Week 5, the Broncos have allowed 123 yards rushing per game to running backs - most in the league. It continued last week, allowing 179 rushing yards to Bills running backs. The opportunity is there for Chandler and the Vikings to produce on the ground. If Mattison is inactive, and he likely will be, Chandler will essentially have the backfield to himself against one of the worst run defenses in the league.
WIDE RECEIVER
- Rashee Rice, KC - The Chiefs and Eagles will meet in Kansas City for a Super Bowl rematch. Both teams are coming off their bye, which means they have had extra time to prepare for each other. The spotlight will feature the game in primetime on Monday Night Football. What a great game it will be. That's the plan; that's the vision. One team will win, and one will lose. Why is Rashee Rice someone to take note of this week? After Travis Kelce, Rice is the Chiefs' top target at wide receiver and is tied with Kelce with 4 receiving touchdowns. The Chiefs offense, particularly the passing game and receiving corps, has not been as potent as years past with Patrick Mahomes II, but they are still capable. This week, they will face an Eagles defense who are surprisingly vulnerable against opposing wide receivers. Teams have scored 19 touchdowns via the pass against Philadelphia - third-most in the league behind Washington and Chicago. 14 of those 19 touchdown passes went to a wide receiver. This is a good matchup for Patrick Mahomes II and for Rice, who is the team's top wide receiver. In seven of nine games, the Eagles have allowed an opposing wide receiver to top 80 yards. They have allowed four 100-yard games, including one in each of their last two games. The stat trends and matchup details favor Mahomes and the Chiefs passing game. Rice only averages 3.5 receptions per game.
- San Francisco 49ers receivers vs Tampa Bay - There are not many 49ers receivers who are iffy fantasy starts, but you should feel confident starting all of the 49ers who are involved in the passing game. This week's opponent, Tampa Bay, has been vulnerable against the pass lately. In their last five games, Tampa Bay has allowed 353, 250, 324, 470, and 199 yards. The last one is against Will Levis. Aside from last week, the Bucs have struggled to contain passing offenses. San Francisco is coming into this game on a high after snapping their three-game losing streak in a convincing win over Jacksonville, and they will look to extend their good fortune against a Bucs team who have lost four of their last five games and five of seven. The combination of Brandon Aiyuk, Deebo Samuel, Christian McCaffrey, and George Kittle should benefit this week in what looks to be a heavily favored matchup.
TIGHT END
- Trey McBride, ARI - Ever since Zach Ertz went on IR in Week 8 for a quad injury, the Cardinals' upstart second-year tight end, Trey McBride, has been on a tear, catching 21 passes for 248 yards and one touchdown in three games. It is no secret that McBride belongs in your lineup from here on out this season. However, this week, you should feel especially excited about his matchup against the Houston Texans. Houston has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends this season, including allowing six catches or more to the tight end in five of their nine games this year. Look for McBride to be once again a focal point in the Cardinals' passing offense. Only T.J. Hockenson is ahead of him in fantasy production since Week 8. He has exceeded 25% of the team target share in each of his last three games, lining up all over the field in a variety of formations. You know a player has arrived when teams design plays specifically for them. McBride's time has come in Arizona, and he has a great matchup this week.
- Mark Andrews, BAL - Mark Andrews is currently the TE3 this year behind T.J. Hockenson and Travis Kelce. Starting Andrews is a known fact. However, this week, his matchup on Thursday Night Football against the Bengals is a favorable matchup that could pay big dividends for Andrews. He has at least four receptions in every game he has played this season (he did not play Week 1) except last week against Cleveland, where he had only two catches. He will face off against a Cincinnati team who have struggled against the tight end position over the last three weeks, allowing 9-149 to George Kittle, 10-81 to Dalton Kincaid, and 4-71 to Dalton Schultz. Cincinnati has allowed the third-most fantasy points to tight ends this season and will have a tough matchup against Baltimore and their top target. Andrews had five receptions for 45 yards and a touchdown in their earlier matchup this season, and he has averaged 21.6 PPR points against Cincinnati in his last three meetings. In his career against the Bengals, Andrews averaged 5 receptions for 57.8 yards and 0.7 touchdowns.
Good luck. Go earn that playoff spot this week.
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