Fantasy stars like Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and A.J. Brown are all on bye this week, leaving fantasy managers with some choices to make in their lineup. This weekly article is meant to make those lineup decisions a little bit easier. You can always listen to The Footballguys Fantasy Football Show, which releases episodes every weekday - also, check out the free Week 10 Player Rankings.
QUARTERBACKS
START: Jared Goff @ LAC (Listen at - 56:00)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 17.3 (T-14th)
- Opponent vs QBs: 32nd
- Week 10 Rank: QB6
- Projected Points: 21.1
Jared Goff has had back-to-back disappointing performances, but the Lions are coming off a bye week, with plenty of time to prepare for the Chargers. Los Angeles has allowed five quarterbacks to score at least 21 fantasy points in eight games - the only three quarterbacks to score less than that were Zach Wilson, Tyson Bagent, and Aidan O'Connell. The return of David Montgomery should also be a big boost for the Lions offense, which could find itself in a shootout game.
SIT: Deshaun Watson @ BAL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 18.4 (9th)
- Opponent vs QBs: 1st
- Week 10 Rank: QB20
- Projected Points: 15.1
The Ravens have only allowed one quarterback to finish with more than 15.3 fantasy points - that quarterback was Josh Dobbs in Week 8. It's fair to point out that Baltimore hasn't exactly gone against a murderer's row of passers: Gardner Minshew, Dorian Thompson-Robinson, Kenny Pickett, and Ryan Tannehill. When Watson has been healthy, he's actually been pretty good. He's finished as a Top-10 fantasy quarterback in three of his four full games while scoring at least 19 points in those same three games. The issue with Watson is the sample size. We haven't seen him be a start-worthy quarterback against a quality defense yet. His biggest games have come against the Bengals in week 1, the Titans in week 3, and last week against the Cardinals, where a batted ball fell into the hands of Amari Cooper in the endzone - We're one lucky play away from Watson having two 12-point outings and two 20-point outings. We simply don't know how good or bad Watson is just yet.
SLEEPER: Baker Mayfield vs TEN (Listen at - 51:00)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 16.9 (Since Week 4)
- Opponent vs QBs: 14th
- Week 9 Rank: QB12
- Projected Points: 19.4
Baker Mayfield has been on fire lately, finishing as a Top-11 fantasy quarterback in four of his last five games. He now faces a Titans defense that appears to be one of the better defenses against quarterbacks, but let's peel back the layers on this. Over the last five weeks, the Titans have faced Kenny Pickett, Taylor Heinecke, Gardner Minshew, and an injured Joe Burrow. The Titans and Buccaneers have struggling secondaries that should allow for a ton of passing in this matchup.
TIGHT ENDS
START: Trey McBride VS ATL (Listen at 01:04:30)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 11.7 (since Week 6)
- Opponent vs TEs: 21st
- Week 10 Rank: TE10
- Projected Points: 11.6
Kyler Murray is back! Whether he looks and plays like the old Kyler is yet to be seen. We do know that Murray loves to target the tight end position. Through Week 9 of last season, Zach Ertz was the TE3, averaging nearly 8 targets per game. While McBride may not jump into the top three tight ends, there is a target insulation that makes him a relatively safe play with Murray back under center. The Falcons are a solid matchup for McBride as they've allowed five tight ends to score at least 12 PPR points in five of nine games this season.
SIT: David Njoku vs BAL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 9.5
- Opponent vs TEs: 3rd
- Week 10 Rank: TE14
- Projected Points: 9.1
David Njoku has scored double-digit PPR points in four of the last five games. The only problem is that three of those four games occurred without Deshaun Watson. The Ravens have only allowed three tight ends to score double-digit fantasy points this season. If you don't have any better options at the position, Njoku is a reasonable play, but I'd be looking to avoid any Browns players in week 10.
RUNNING BACKS
START: Javonte Williams @ BUF (Listen at 16:30)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 12.2 (Since Week 6)
- Opponent vs RBs: 28th (Since Week 4)
- Week 10 Rank: RB17
- Projected Points: 13.8
Javonte Williams looks like the new main focus of the Broncos offense - he's touched the ball 50 times over the last two games. It's becoming increasingly evident that he and the Broncos are comfortable with his knee. Williams' missed tackles forced rate has jumped from 13% to 23% over the last three games. This week, Williams goes up against a Bills defense that has allowed a running back to score at least 13 PPR points in six straight games - including two 17-point games in back-to-back weeks.
SIT: Devin Singletary @ CIN
- Avg Fantasy Points: 4.8
- Opponent vs RBs: 16th
- Week 10 Rank: RB30
- Projected Points: 8.9
Devin Singletary has been working in a committee with Dameon Pierce throughout the year. He got his first crack at being the starter last week in Houston's 39-37 win, yet he only managed to muster 26 total yards on 15 touches. The Texans have struggled to run the ball all year and now go up against a Bengals defense that just held James Cook to 39 yards on 10 touches.
SLEEPER: James Conner vs ATL
- Avg Fantasy Points: 11.9
- Opponent vs RBs: 22nd (Since Week 6)
- Week 10 Rank: RB25
- Projected Points: 11.4
James Conner and Kyler Murray are returning for the Arizona Cardinals this week. I fully expect this Cardinals offense to look much better than it did in Week 9. Murray likely won't be running around the way he did before his ACL surgery, so it wouldn't surprise me to see him get the ball out quickly to his weapons like Conner. The Falcons started the year as a very strong run defense, but over the last four weeks, they have allowed all four running backs they've faced to score at least 13 PPR points.
WIDE RECEIVERS
START: Tyler Lockett vs WAS (Listen at 29:10)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 12
- Opponent vs WRs: 30th
- Week 10 Rank: WR20
- Projected Points: 13.7
The Commanders have allowed eleven wide receivers to score at least 11 PPR points over nine games. After a terrible passing performance in week 9, Geno Smith and the Seahawks should easily bounce back against Washington.
SIT: Quentin Johnston vs DET
- Avg Fantasy Points: 5.5 (Since Week 7)
- Opponent vs WRs: 3rd (Since Week 6)
- Week 10 Rank: WR45
- Projected Points: 7.6
Quentin Johnston has really struggled to make his presence felt on the field. Last week, Sauce Gardner shut him down for only 2 receptions and 14 yards. Despite starting the last two games, Johnston has yet to break into the top 45 fantasy wide receivers in any week. The Lions defense has been much better as of late. Detroit has only allowed two receivers to surpass 9 PPR fantasy points over the last three weeks.
SLEEPER: Demario Douglas vs IND (Listen at 39:50)
- Avg Fantasy Points: 9.9 (Since Week 7)
- Opponent vs WRs: 17th
- Week 10 Rank: WR32
- Projected Points: 11.1
Demario Douglas appears to be turning into the Patriots' WR1. He's had at least six targets in each of the last three games. The Patriots are using him on quick routes and crossers to get the ball in his hands in space. The offense is even drawing up jet sweep rushing plays for Douglas. I know this Patriots offense isn't very good, but Douglas' role makes him a flex-worthy starter each week.