I’m looking across my lineups this week, and I’m feeling like my teams’ narratives  are like The Other Guys.  My Samuel L. and the Rock who were guns blazin’ and taking care of business have gone down to ridiculous injuries, and I’ve got to go with the wild card play of the cop who shot Derek Jeter, then the lanky cop with the crazy Gator past (no not Aaron Hernandez!) to try and fill in.  Marlon Brown last week got me my first desk pop!  Those TDs were nice.  So I’m hoping to be your Michael Keaton and get the police unit to work together, while also trying to keep my Bed Bath & Beyond profitable and my employees from chasing waterfalls.
Going back to last week’s picks, Marlon Brown actually won me a league last week!  I liked that one.  Terrelle Pryor and Josh McCown gave you solid games as deep QB plays, and Le’Veon Bell also was very solid.  My very deep Myles White call was more for James Jones behind hypothetically out, then the Aaron Rodgers injury made things worse, but a loss nonetheless.  For my benchers, Matt Ryan was awful and I indeed got the Vincent Jackson bench right!  I feel like I’ve missed on VJax 4-5 times over the past 2 years.  Fred Jackson was a wash, but Tom Brady and Danny Amendola had huge games.  My bad on that one, I knew the Steelers D was bad, but didn’t think the Pats O would get it together.  Here’s who I like in week 10 and their % started in ESPN and Yahoo, respectively (NOTE – these are not always recommendations for 1-for-1 swaps, just guys I like who are understarted and guys I hate overstarted):
POSSIBLE STARTERS
Terrelle Pryor (12.0%, 13%)Â Another week and another Pryor pick, who for some reason continues to get no love despite consistent fantasy performances with legitimate upside. Â Up against the Giants who give up the 21st most points to opposing QBs, he’s practiced all week despite having to leave early last game with the knee injury. Â Much rather play him over Matt Ryan (below) or a guy like Ben Roethlisberger.
Mike James (17.3%, 53%) I was slow to buy in that James could be a good fill-in for Doug Martin, and I was wrong. Â With Martin officially on the shelf for the season, I think James makes another statement for playing time in his career. Â And shockingly, the Dolphins give up the most points to opposing RBs. Â It’s all James in the backfield, the Dolphins are in turmoil, he’s a no-brainer this week.
Andre Ellington (15.1%, 35%) Just like James, Ellington is a must-start this week. Â I’m not sure what the hesitation is, but it’s a decent matchup against a shaky team, and with how Ellington can factor in the passing game, I think he’s matchup proof. Â High upside and pretty safe play.
Mike Brown (0.2%, 3%)Â I’m going deep with WR plays, but I like Brown a lot this week and have him starting on two teams. Â There’s no Justin Blackmon because he could’ve lay off the fun, so Brown will start opposite Cecil Shorts in another junk-time upside game. Â Double digits in his past two games and I easily see a third in a row.
Kris Durham (0.3%, 3%)Â His production hasn’t exactly set the world on fire, but he’s quietly had 8.8 PPR points or more in 5 straight weeks, and I see a breakout coming this week. Â The Bears are going to triple and quadruple team Megatron all day long, giving Durham a lot of single coverage and quality targets. Â He’s a tall receiver with good rapport with Matthew Stafford in what should be a shootout. Â Like Durham as another high upside wideout.
SON OF A BENCH
Matt Ryan (52.9%, 47%) I feel a little dirty kicking the Shermanator while he’s down, but there’s no way I’d want to start Ryan this week. Â The Seahawks defense has been shaky against bad offenses the past two weeks, but despite that they’ve been taut against the passing game (2nd fewest fantasy points to opposing QBs) and even with Roddy White returning, I don’t see Ryan putting up the numbers.
Giovani Bernard (53.2%, 52%) Listen, I love Bernard, he has a bright future and is much more explosive than the lawfirm. Â That said, the rib injury he sustained last Thursday has kept him out full practice all week, even with the few extra days of rest and healing. Â At the time of this writing (late Saturday night), he’s probably going to play but sounds limited. Â And very surprisingly, the Ravens actually give up the fewest fantasy points to opposing team’s RBs. Â I like the upside rushers above.
Maurice Jones-Drew (73.3%, 59%) Â Any Michigan fan like me knows that the Jaguars coming out and saying they want Denard Robinson to get 14 carries means he’s gonna get hurt in the 2nd quarter. Â He’s just way too small to be an NFL running back even if he’s used like Dexter McCluster was way back when. Â But they have announced he’s going to be used and this should be yet another game the Jags are down. Â With solid upside options started in very few leagues, I could imagine a lot of scenarios you’re sitting him.
Anquan Boldin (34.9%, 50%) I will eat some on this call, because way back when on the podcast I was bold on Boldin. Â Now I’m… weak? Â Timid? Â Afraid of the goose egg? Â My Panthers D has been solid and Boldin just hasn’t been that good. Â I actually like both Brown and Durham more.
Roddy White (58.6%, 28%) Â There’s just no way I’m trusting Roddy yet, even though he’s saying he’s healthy. Â And if he looks good on the first couple sets, Richard Sherman is going to be all over him. Â And who knows how healthy he really is. Â Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on the news the Falcons put out there. Â Fool me three times?! Â And yeah, that’d be a Roddy owner… Isn’t it ironic that clip goes to fool me 10 times and it’s week 10?!
If you have any last second decisions, shoot some comments below or tweet me @jbgilpin – and remember I’m going to be a little slower getting to them but I’ll get to everything well before kickoff!  I’m a peacock, you gotta let me fly!  Good luck in week 10!
#Flex problems need 1
Ben Tate Vs Ari
Riley Cooper vs GB
Emmanuel Sander vs BUf
@Big League Choo: guess with mjd a sonavbench gonna i need 1 rb 1 flex between those 4
@Big League Choo: I’d go Tate and Cooper… Just not seein it for MJD this week
PPR League
Hilton or J nelson? Seems like Jordy is setup to fail with Seneca at the helm.
Steven Jackson or Mike James?
@Blake: Yeah I agree, it’s Hilton. Then James, but I do think SJax has a decent game too vs. bad Seahawks run D lately
JB,
I need to fill 2 RB slots, 1WR slot, and a flex with the following players:
T-Rich
Sproles
Jonathan Stewart
BJGE
Dennis Johnson
James Jones
Mike Wallace
I have no idea what to do. What do you think?
p.s. Standard league
@Johan Barleycorn: Hmmm, I think Sproles is a lock, I know he’s been terrible, then BJGE and Wallace are my picks for ya
“Did you yell America when you hit the accelerator?”
So a few questions…
Pryor @NYG or Locker vJax? 2 QB League. Staffords my other.
TRich vStL or Rashad Jennings @NYG? I’m playing Ellington and Mike James at my 2 flex spots. Lacy as the other RB.
I’m starting Torrey vCin, Shorts @Ten, and Keenan vDen at WR.
Harry Douglas vSea or Terrence Williams @NO over anybody?
Love David Cross. I want to go to a live show so bad! Fool me 9 times got me spitting my coffee out all over the place.
@Slim: Haha, David Cross is my hero. Huge Mr. Show fan. I think it’s Pryor. He and Staff should be nice. I’d go Jennings, don’t like anything TRich. TPoor! Nah I like your WR picks.
Better play this weekPPR- Marlon or Mike Brown?
@vultures: I’d go Mike
Bernard or Jones Drew PPR?
@Sniff Test: Bernard
So would you play peyton hillis over gio b.?
IN a ! ppr league
@flex: Nah I’d stick with Gio there
This 43 rush yards allowed by carolina D to QBs is F’n with my head. Kappy vs Car or Ben vs Buff? Besides week 1 with Russell Wilson they haven’t faced any real burners I.E. glennon, palmer, eli, ryan and others same type
@scott steelers: I’d stick with the Kap’tain. You saying Glennon isn’t fast?! Haha
14 team Standard League:
I’m sorry,i cant bench V-Jax again,but what about Trich? I have him-Murray-Ellington-Mike Wallace-Ted Ginn(we count return yards) for 2 RBs and one flex.
What do u think?
Good luck!
@Ciwa:
I can pick Durham or Brown too.
@Ciwa: Nah VJax I like more. Yeah I’d do Murray Ellington and Wallace. Panthers 49ers could be a grinder, not sure how many returns Ginn gets. No prob! Still narrowly like Wallace over my deep sleeper picks
Great piece, as usual. I think the Razzball football comments section gets flooded with “should I’s” about the commenter’s squad and that you guys are all UNBELIEVABLY patient and responsive, so I try not to do it. But your column this morning put me into Hamlet-like indecision about a couple of running backs:
I had Doug Martin so I scooped up Mike James when he hurt the shoulder. From the beginning of the season I had Le’Veon Bell stashed away with the intention of using him in just this kind of injury situation.
In my PPR league, James would have been the guy to have in there last week. That said, I still feel iffy about him and Bell is a lock for 15-25 touches in the PIT offense and who the hell knows what Schiano has dreamed up this week.
Between Bell and James, who do I play?
@Greg: Haha, nah you’re good man this is what we do! And really appreciate it…
Eeesh, I really really like both and it’s a great decision to have. Think I’m actually going James, I know Bell has a few more catches the past few games, but that Dolphins run D has been baaaaaad. Thanks for reading!
Need to pick 1 in my flex it’s .5PPR out of Gio Bernard, Denarius Moore, Mike Brown, Marvin Jones (yes I have a deep bench lol)
Please pick one Thanks!
@Dave: I think it’s still Gio out of those even though I’m down on him. Thanks for stopping by!
0.5 PPR, fighting for a playoff spot and playing 2nd place team. RG3 got me off to a good start but it’ll be close.
1) 4 decent RB for 3 spots: Stacy, Murray, Woodhead, Spiller. Who to sit?
2) Same league, need a WR2: S. Smith, Durham, Hopkins or Baldwin?
@Steve Stevenson: I like Stacy Woodhead and Spiller. I just don’t trust Murray in what could turn into pass, pass, pass game. Then Steve Smiff is my pick even in a tough matchup
Since you’re not big on Gio, which is understandable given the injury and the matchup, which RB would you play instead in a 1/2 PPR: Ellington or Stacy?
@Velocity_X: Ohhhh tough one, yea I like both over Gio too, I’d go Ellington for the big upside.
.5PPR
WR3: Wright or Sanders
Flex: P.Thomas or Spiller
Thanks!
@stoopid: Wright and… I think Pierre, very close. Spiller obviously has the upside, but PIerre has been solid.
Harry Douglass or Terrance Williams?
Fred Jackson or CJ Spller?
@NPI: Twill and Freddy
Seneca Wallace or Ryan tannehill? Rough bye week fill ins….
@mH: I’d stick with Tannehill even though his O Line has some replacements!
PPR was just offered Jordy Nelson for my Alshon Jeffery, straight up. Take it?
@James R: Yeah I think I would, obviously the uncertainty with Nelson QB situation, but Rodgers looks like he’ll be back for fantasy playoffs and pay off big for ya
Which one of these RBs do it sit.
L.Bell
M.James
Ellington
R.Jennings
Thanks.
@cheerio: I’d sit Jennings over those guys.
Non ppr standard scoring pick 3… Jordy Nelson, Victor Cruz, R Jennings, L Bell, T Rich. Really struggling with this one. Thanks man
@Taylor: I’d roll with Bell Jordy and Cruz. Think they’re the best upside and even safer guys IMO
First world problems here. Stafford or Rivers?
4 points passing TDs, 25 yds per point, 3 point bonus at 250 yds passing, 6 point bonus at 335 yds passing, Ints are -1 point, sacks are -0.5 points
@Wilsonian: Haha, I’d go Rivers in shootout. Stafford could get sacked a fair amount, I think both have even upside at bonuses.
ROS, PPR league:
Shane Vereen or Dennis Johnson for my last RB slot?
@JoeBoo: Guessing for a stash, I’d stash Vereen.
JB, I have a running back conundrum in a must win matchup in my 1PPR/.5PPRush/Ret. Yardage league. I need to start the two running backs with the most upside out of these four:
Ellington (vHou)
Sproles (vDal)
T Richardson (vStL)
Mathews (vDen)
I was already leaning towards Ellington, so I’m glad you see him as a good play this week.
Sproles is coming off of a concussion and his involvement in the offense the past few weeks has left something to be desired (4 receptions, 0 rushes in a healthy week 8, concussion on first touch in week 9).
Richardson, I don’t really need to point out, has been an incredible source of frustration and disappointment in the 2013 fantasy season; however, I had held out hope in his ability to eventually win out. Now that his frustrating usage is being compounded by a balky ankle, I am downright afraid to start him.
I just don’t have much faith in Mathews; I think he is really only the nominal starter in SD anyway. Woodhead seems to have captured the hearts and minds of Philip Riverses and Ken Wisenhunts everywhere.
Sorry for the novella. Thanks, as always, for the advice. And good luck this week.
@Principle Blackman: I like your first two RBs. Ellington I think is a lock and Sproles I still think has good upside. Of course his usage as you mention is infuriating, but he can rack up catches in a bounceback game for the Saints where they saw how bad they look without having him as an option v. the Jets. Seeing a return to form for Sproles.
@JB Gilpin: should’ve listened to you instead of others. played miller as 2nd RB and Sanders at flex instead of sproles over sanders. am down at least 18.7 pts (difference between sproles over sanders at this point), which means if Miller gets at least 8.2 or so pts i’ll have cost myself a win in a league where pretty much everybody except for three teams will be at either 5-5 or 6-4. I will be 5-5. I will be in like 7th instead of around 4th. 8 make playoffs. Should have both seen and trusted your last 2 sentences there rather than the last week he was used.
@goodfold2: Haha well I definitely don’t get them all right, but I feel like my calls were pretty good this week!
@JB Gilpin: everybody else was pretty worried about sproles usage last healthy game. I nearly got burned benching sanders recently and added these two thoughts together and overcompensated.
I feel like venting right about now. I get the honor of choosing between T-Rich, J. Stew, Dennis Johnson and Mendenhall. I hate this team, and I hate to say that if I was reading this I would play T-Rich. That f**king kills me to say that. Screw you T-Rich, worst 1st round pick ever
@J-FOH: I feel your pain.
@Principle Blackman: That’s why I’m sharing, we are not alone
@J-FOH:
When I think i drafted Trich instead of Megatron i want to kill me.
@Ciwa: and i thought I was getting a steal at the end of the 1st round
@J-FOH:
the same for me. #9 pick,14 teams league.
@J-FOH: Man, it’s a TRich depression thread! Haha I have to say TRich too. Jack Full of Regret – again!
@JB Gilpin: Is it bad form to hope for a Deangelo injury so Stewart takes over the Panthers
@J-FOH: Yes. Very bad form
@JB Gilpin: why, it’s not like jack is a telekenetic, right?
Standard scoring
QB – Pryor or Keenum
Need 2 RBs
Hillis
Greene
D. Williams
J. Stewart
@Chris: Definitely Pryor. Then Greene and Williams
Also, JB, would you bench either Kendall Wright (@SD) or Emmanuel Sanders (vBuf) in favor of Kris Durham, this week in a 1pt PPR league? I was leaning towards benching Durham this week because Sanders and Wright both have decent matchups, but your start call has me intrigued. Thanks again.
@Principle Blackman: I actually think I would go Durham over Sanders. I just have a feeling in this one. I hope to intrigue and hope it works out!
Cutler or Romo?
@exactly: I think it’s Romo
Also, please pick one (.25/rec): Mike Wallace, Riley Cooper or Terrance Williams?
@exactly: I’d go T Will, Ed Werder made a good point that Dez torched the Saints last time out and he’ll get a lot of coverage
whats up JB….nice picks last wk.
non ppr….Foles,Dalton or Keenum?
also,non ppr flex….Spiller,Hilton or Jeffery?
thnks.
@guidedbyvoices: Thanks man! Been an up and down year, finally a good up week. I’d go Foles then Hilton as your flex. Any time!
Gio or Shorts for a flex? 0.5 ppr
@Wilsonian: I’d roll out Short and rack up the junktime
one more….
ppr pts league….Stacy,Ellington and Murray.Need two.
thnks.
@guidedbyvoices: I’m leaving out Murray, just don’t like the prospects of Dallas getting the running game going this week
JB –
Pick two out of Bell, Ellington, MJD and Roddy White. Also, if you have Bush, Moreno, Chris Johnson and Spiller and can only start 3, you sit Spiller, right?
Thanks!
@Jon: I’d go Bellington as the two. Celebrity couple style! Ehhhh, yeah I think so
Can’t decide who to start at WR with AJ Green, choose 2
t Williams, e. sanders, stills or lance Moore.
Was think Williams and Moore but I know sanders has more likely touches
@Moses: I was going to say the same exact thing. I think Moore has big upside in that game
Andre Brown or Joique Bell ppr? Also, Marvin Jones or Mike Brown ppr?
@drew: Andre, but not in love with either, like Andre past this week though. Then Mike Brown
Lamar Miller, Leveon Bell, Andre Ellington, or SJax. I’m already starting Zac Stacy.
Sjax has the high ranking (whatever?), Ellington is a must start, Leveon bell has highest projected, and people love lamar (even if miami coachs don’t)
Non-PPR
@Zar: I’d go Ellington for the upside. Like him a lot this week.
12 team ppr leagues –
1) Need 2 – F Jax, S Jax, Rash Jennings. Thinking Rash over S Jax but Seattle has given up big games to Mike James and Stacy.
2) Kaepernick or Foles at QB
3) Andre Brown or S Greene at flex
@Frank: 1) Yeah that was my point for liking SJax on DraftKings, I stick with the Jax’s. 2) still Kappy 3) Ehhhh, Greene
@JB Gilpin: tyvm
Trade Sproles for mike James in a standard league? Or wait to see what Sproles does today?
@Zandy: Yeah I would. Martin out all year I’d do it if you can swing it
Non-PPR:
Need a RB, a WR, and a Flex from the following:
Shonn Greene (vs. Jags)
Lamar Miller (@ Tampa)
Pierre Thomas (vs. Dallas)
Riley Cooper (@ Green Bay)
Reuben Randle (vs. Oakland)
@Burt Macklin:
Roddy White active – he is also a possibility
@Burt Macklin: I’d go Miller, Pierre and Cooper
@JB Gilpin:
Thanks homie – good luck this week
@Burt Macklin: You too man! Keep serving the FBI well
Gresham is out. How much does that move up Eifert?
@Derrick: Not too much… But a little bit
JB,
Need some help. Start Locker or Kap? Also need a RB, WR, and flex out the following: T Rich, Shonn Greene, Ellington, Rueben Randle, Steve Smith, and Cotchery. Thanks.
@Allan: I’d still go Kap. I like Ellington Smith and… Randle I think
PPR league need 2 receivers out of D Moore Cooper Durham or V Brown
@Corey: I like Cooper and Durham
Arian Foster to the IR.
Is it Spring Training yet?
@Kid A: Haha I traded him in my keeper for Chris Johnson last week. Wooo! Foster has carried me for 4 years, nice run
@JB Gilpin: Well there’s a fumble to choke on for your CJ gloating…
@Kid A: Pssshhhh, unless he is hurt and gives me a negative it’s better than the 0 from Foster!
@Kid A: ha! Im already scoping out Ike Davis in the 9th….. From 6 feet away, of course.
Colston or Hartline? PPR league
@Blake: Ugh, I’d go Colston then if he’s out switch it to Hartline
Last minute QB question! Matt Stafford, Terrelle Pryor, Matt Ryan (ugh) or Jay Cutler! Pick two!
@Jeremy: Staff and Pryor, go team!
@JB Gilpin:
Whew, ended up w/ Staff and Cutty, not a huge difference, but worked out ok! I guess I’m a homer….Daaaaa BEARS.
send mjd for harvin standard league?
@Big League Choo: If you have RB depth, sure worth the gamble
Ellington vs. B Tate
@gunz: Ellington
anybody else gonna lose if dez doesn’t get at least 10 yards (in a non-PPR where bench pts are tie breakers, i have more of those)?
@goodfold2: I’m cheering against Dez you shush!
@JB Gilpin: that 4 pts in espn standard (where they round the F’ing numbers down, which is inaccurate b.s.) was enough to win by 3. In an RCL i was playing against witten/t.williams/and dez and was gonna win pretty easily anyway, but won REALLY easily.
@goodfold2: Whewww-eee, close! Yeah you crushed that Cowboys team then haha
All right JB. Using your Panther Power knowledge without letting the bias seep in, what do you see for the Patriots’ stars Monday evening against them in Week 11? I have to start Brady & Gronk but I could bench Amendola in favor of either Douglas or Andre Brown if needed in my flex. I missed out on Danny’s big day vs the Steelers last week but the Panthers seem a bit more formidable on Defense than the Steelers for some reason. Maybe it’s the butt-whooping they gave the ‘Niners yesterday?
@Clint (aka Pablo Death): They’ll all be terrible! Panthers win 45-0! I would do Brown over Amendola. “For some reason”? I could give you 10 better reasons they’re a better D than the Steelers, 10 starters minus Pola.
Sup JB… what order would you rather give away in a trade, Ellington, Pierre and sproles