Week 10: Start 'Em/Sit 'Em

Hello everyone, we're back for another week of Start 'Em/Sit 'Em! We didn't have the greatest weekend of picks in Week 9, but we are feeling much better about our slate of picks for Week 10. Let's jump in:

QUARTERBACK - START 'EM:

Philip Rivers, Los Angeles Chargers (Away at Oakland Raiders)

This matchup is more about how terrible the Raiders are than us liking Rivers a ton this week. The Raiders might be the worst team in the NFL this season, they have absolutely no pass rush and are certainly on track to get the top overall pick in the draft based on their remaining schedule. They just gave up over 250 passing yards and three touchdowns to Nick Mullens! Rivers is a must-start this week!

Drew Brees, New Orleans Saints (Away at Cincinnati Bengals)

If I had Drew Brees on my fantasy team he would be in my lineup every single week, the last few have been low fantasy-scoring outputs for Brees, but we expecting a huge bounce back week in Cincinnati. The Bengals have let up the third most passing yards and touchdowns this season while the Saints possess one of the leagues most potent offenses. Expect Brees to light up the fantasy scoreboard.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers (Home vs Carolina Panthers)

Big Ben will come into the Thursday night game against the Panthers on the injury list with a hurt thumb on his non-throwing hand, but that shouldn't effect Roethlisberger too much. Carolina has allowed at least two touchdowns to every opposing quarterback for the past seven weeks and we're expecting much of the same from Big Ben.

*Week 9 QB Sleepers*

Baker Mayfield, Cleveland Browns (Home vs Atlanta Falcons): You might think we are scarred from taking Baker, but he has another favorable matchup again this week as the Atlanta Falcons come to town. Unlike the Chiefs defense who started the season poorly, but have really picked it up the last few week, the Falcons have been decimated by injuries all season. Baker could have a nice 20-point game here.

Eli Manning, New York Giants (Away at San Fransisco 49ers): I can't believe we're actually picking Eli Manning as a sleeper, but it's a strange week. The 49ers have let up the second-most receiving touchdowns and Manning could be in a place to take advantage. Manning might not be a bad choice if you have a quarterback on bye this week.

QUARTERBACK - SIT 'EM:

Tom Brady, New England Patriots (Away at Tennessee Titans)

It hasn't been a stellar statistical season for Brady and the Titans have allowed the fewest points per game to opposing quarterbacks. Even though the Titans aren't great there is some level of risk to this road trip for Brady owners. Be aware!

Matthew Stafford, Detroit Lions (Away at Chicago Bears)

This could be a potentially brutal road game for a struggling Lions team. Stafford has only scored over 20 fantasy points twice this season and was held to single-digit fantasy points by the Vikings last week. Expect much of the same this week against an even better Bears defense.

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys (Away at Philadelphia Eagles)

Dak Prescott hasn't has much success while playing in Philadelphia, throwing only one touchdown pass in his career. The addition of Amari Cooper clearly helped, but we don't trust Dak to put up big points against a tough Eagles defense on the road.

RUNNING BACK - START 'EM

Aaron Jones, Green Bay Packers (Home vs Miami Dolphins)

Aaron Jones cemented his place as Green Bay's top back when they traded Ty Montgomery before Week 9. Jones' fantasy output hasn't been outstanding, but the Packers have been losing in their last two games leading to a pass heavy offense. This week should be different as the Dolphins have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing rushers this season.

Duke Johnson Jr., Cleveland Browns (Home vs Atlanta Falcons)

Some people may be shying away from Johnson thinking last week was just a flash in the pan, but if Duke Johnson keeps getting touches he will keep producing. The new play-calling combined with the matchup against the Falcons should see him get plenty of touches and we fully expect Johnson to find the end-zone again this week.

Tevin Coleman, Atlanta Falcons (Away at Cleveland Browns)

We're staying right in Cleveland for our last pick for a lot of the same reasons. Tevin Coleman has seen his usage rise as Devonta Freeman was lost to a season ending groin injury in Week 5. Coleman has his best game last week scoring 31 PPR points and he has another juicy matchup against a Browns defense that started the season hot but has allowed nine touchdowns to opposing running backs in just the last four games. Coleman is a must-start in any league.

*Week 9 RB Sleepers*

Mike Davis, Seattle Seahawks (Away at Los Angeles Rams): This play all depends on the health of Chris Carson, but after Carson had to leave last week's game with a lingering hip injury we aren't trusting him. If Carson sits Mike Davis could be set for a huge week as the Seahawks are committed to the run and the Rams have let up five rushing touchdowns in their past two games. Keep an eye on pre-game here.

Josh Adams, Philadelphia Eagles (Home vs Dallas Cowboys): Josh Adams could come out of the bye week leading the Eagles backfield after he had a team-high in carries and rushing yards in the teams Week 8 win over the Jaguars. The Eagles backfield is crowded, but with Sproles out again Adams could make some noise.

RUNNING BACK - SIT 'EM:

LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (Away at New York Jets)

We'd highly suggest you fad McCoy again this week as his fantasy season from hell continues. He doesn't have nearly as difficult of a matchup this week against the Jets, but with the Bills quarterback situation opposing defense are just going to sell out to stop the run. Proving that point, McCoy only has 24 yards on his last 24 touches.

Tarik Cohen, Chicago Bears (Home vs Detroit Lions)

With half the season gone it seems like Tarik Cohen has only been effective in games where the Bears have been chasing points. Chicago should be able to control this game at home against a Lions defense that allows the eighth most points to opposing running backs which sets up as a better week for Jordan Howard.

Peyton Barber, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Home vs Washington Redskins)

Peyton Barber has scored only 20 combined PPR points in the five games with Ryan Fitzpatrick as quarterback and this week's matchup against the Redskins isn't great. Tevin Coleman was able to gash Washington's defense for a season-high 88 yards last week, but we don't expect Barber to have the same kind of impact as Coleman.

WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM:

Golden Tate, Philadelphia Eagles (Home vs Dallas Cowboys)

We think Golden Tate is going to have a nice game in his debut for the Eagles this week at home versus the Cowboys. Tate has already torched Dallas once this year with eight catches for 132 yards and two scores as the Cowboys have struggled mightily with slot-receivers this season. We like Golden Tate to find the end-zone in his first game as an Eagle.

Tyler Boyd, Cincinnati Bengals (Home vs New Orleans Saints)

The Bengals are without top target A.J. Green this week leaving Tyler Boyd as the lead option in Cincinnati's passing attack. That's great news for Boyd owners as the Saints defense has allowed the most PPR points to opposing wideouts on the road this season. Look out for Boyd!

Marquez Valdes-Scantling, Green Bay Packers (Home vs Miami Dolphins)

Valdes-Scantling has found himself a prominent role with Geronimo Alison on injured reserve. Valdes-Scantling has either scored a touchdown or had 100 receiving yards in four games in a row while the Dolphins secondary is rife with injuries. We like Valdes-Scantling to grab a touchdown this weekend at home.

*Week 9 WR Sleepers*

Dede Westbrook, Jacksonville Jaguars (Away at Indianapolis Colts): The Colts have one of the fastest offenses in the league which means their defense sees a lot of plays as well, currently 10th most in the league. The Jaguars offense is going to be on the field a lot and the Colts have struggled against slot-receivers this year which is where Westbrook runs a majority of his routes. He could go for 100 and a score this week.

Tyler Lockette, Seattle Seahawks (Away at Los Angeles Rams): Tyler Lockette failed to score a touchdown for only the second game this season, but we expect him to get back to his scoring ways this week in Los Angeles. The Rams have allowed eight touchdowns to receivers in their last five game so we'd start Lockette as a flex in any league.

WIDE RECEIVERS - SIT 'EM:

Allen Robinson, Chicago Bears (Home vs Detroit Lions)

This was a pretty easy choice for us as we don't trust Robinson the first week after coming off of an injury. Throw in the fact that the Lions are much better against the pass than the run and the Bears will be attacking on the ground a majority of the game, especially if they have the lead. Robinson's only hope is to somehow grab a touchdown.

Devin Funchess, Carolina Panthers (Away at Pittsburgh Steelers)

Number one receivers have had a hard time against the Steelers as of late. Neither Julio Jones, AJ Green, Jarvis Landry, or John Brown were able to find the end-zone in the last four weeks. All of those guys are better than Funchess and none of them were able to record 80 receiving yards so we don't trust Funchess at all this week on the road.

Jordy Nelson, Oakland Raiders (Home vs Los Angeles Chargers)

Jordy Nelson owners were probably ecstatic when Amari Cooper was traded, but that apparently has effect Nelson at all. Nelson only has five PPR points over the last two games and it's really hard to trust any Raiders player to produce at this point. We'd fade Nelson big time.

TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM:

O.J. Howard, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Home vs Washington Redskins)

O.J. Howard's breakout year continued last week with a monster two touchdown game against the Panthers. Statistically, he doesn't have a great matchup against a Redskins' defense that's only let up three touchdowns to opposing tight ends this year, but Howard is too dang good to doubt. I'm extremely jealous if Howard is your fantasy tight end!

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons (Away at Cleveland Browns)

The Browns defense has been decimated by injuries and Austin Hooper could be in line to take advantage. Travis Kelce had seven catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns last week against the Browns and Hooper could be in for a similar performance on the road.

*Week 9 TE Sleeper*

Ben Watson, New Orleans Saints (Away at Cincinnati Bengals): Watson has scored 15 PPR points in two of his last three games and the Saints should be throwing the ball on the road against the Bengals. We like Watson to grab a touchdown this week on the road.

TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM:

Jared Cook, Oakland Raiders (Home vs Los Angeles Chargers)

Between all the injuries and bye-weeks it's very hard to picks sits at the tight end position this year, but Jared Cook could be set for another rough outing as the Chargers are one of the best teams in the NFL at defending the tight-end position. Beware of Cook again this week.

Thanks for reading another week of our Start 'Em/Sit 'Em predictions, we hope you got some valuable insight and make the right plays to win your games this weekend. As always feel free to tweet us any questions you have before kickoff! @LastPlaceFF