Is Tom Brady the best football player of all time? I need your help to solve an argument.
Anyway, the top two (healthy) scoring fantasy QBs, Alex Smith and Carson Wentz, are out this week. #1 scoring fantasy RB Kareem Hunt is on a bye. Three top 10 WRs are out: two due to a bye (Tyreek Hill and Michael Crabtree) and one possibly due to his own stupidity (Mike Evans.) And the two top TEs, Travis Kelce and Zach Ertz, will be out as well.
Bye Weeks: Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders, Eagles.
Quarterbacks
Eli Manning/Davis Webb, NYG: Let me get this out of the way: I do not think Ben McAdoo is going to start Davis Webb. But I have to include him here in case McAdoo decides that’s how he wants his last game as the Giants head coach to go. If anything I think Eli will start the game and if the score goes like most Giant games — Webb will be brought in to start the second-half. Eli is still capable of putting up good numbers even without his top 2 wide receivers — he scored 12 points against the top-10 Rams defense in week 9. Their week 10 opponent, the 49ers, are in the bottom 5 in passing yards and TDs allowed so he could easily put up 20 fantasy points. UPDATE: McAdoo has come out and said that Eli is his QB, but we still might start seeing Webb a bit more.
Jimmy Garoppolo, SF, 11.3% owned: CJ Beathard has scored double-digits in fantasy points the past 4 weeks, but the 49ers acquisition of Garoppolo is a clear sign that his time as a starter is almost up. We only have a small sample size, but Garoppolo’s two 2016 starts were pretty. Garoppolo, or as my wife calls him: “wtf he’s a football player?! He looks like a movie star!” threw for 496 total yards, with a 71% completion rate with 4 TDs and 0 INTs. This was obviously with a team that went on to win the Super Bowl, but this week, as you hopefully read above, the 49ers take on the Giants. The Giants have allowed 18 passing TDs to only 3 INTs. If Garoppolo gets the nod, grab in 2 QB leagues.
Ryan Fitzpatrick, TB, 0.5% owned: This should be an interesting storyline to follow. With Jameis Winston already declared out for the next few weeks with his recurring shoulder injury, Ryan Fitzpatrick is welcoming his former team, the Jets, to Tampa Bay. Bucs WR1 Mike Evans has been suspended (he’s appealing) but I don’t think it will get overturned so he’ll still miss this game. That’s fine — the Bucs still have DeSean Jackson and Adam Humphries and the Jets have allowed the most passing TDs to WRs in the league. In Fitzpatrick’s last start in week 6 he threw for 290 yards, 3 TDs and 2 INTs for 20 fantasy points.
Running Backs
Kenyan Drake, MIA, 57.5%: His ownership is pretty high — but there are obviously some leagues where he is still available. In his first start since the Jay Ajayi trade, Drake beat out his competition, Damien Williams, in rushing attempts (by 2), rushing yards (by 55!) and they both had 6 receptions. Williams ended up with more fantasy points due to his 1 TD reception, but Drake is obviously the guy to own. Drake could have a rough game in week 10 against the tough Panthers run defense, but he has some easier matchups in Tampa Bay and New England coming up.
Danny Woodhead, BAL, 24.4%: Shhhh…don’t get too loud about this one or your leaguemates will jump in front of you. Woodhead is due back over the Ravens week 10 bye week. He’ll suit up for week 11 against the Green Bay Packers. Neither Alex Collins nor Javorious Allen has really been consistent fantasy scorers for the Ravens so the opportunity is there for Woodhead to grab the RB1 slot.
Devontae Booker, DEN, 5.5%: Pop quiz! Which Denver RB has the most fantasy points over the last four weeks? Obviously it’s the guy who this blurb is about! A lot of those points were scored in the passing game, but Booker was given 6 rushing attempts in each of the last 2 games. Broncos starter CJ Anderson hasn’t scored a rushing TD since week 2 and has been up and down all season. If Booker is hungry enough he could continue to cut into this time share.
Wide Receivers
Marqise Lee, JAX, 34.7%: Lee needs to be owned in more leagues. He has double-digit fantasy points in 5 of his 7 starts this season. He’s clearly Blake Bortles favorite target and will continue to see a healthy amount of targets every week.
Robert Woods, LAR, 26.1%: Come on guys — I can’t keep listing Woods every week — Jay & Grey are going to call me out! Maybe after his 70 yard, 2 TD game against the Giants in week 9, y’all will start to take notice. Week 10 Woods and co. will get the Texans who are actually 5th in average fantasy football points allowed.
Zay Jones, BUF, 10.8%: Is week 9’s 17 fantasy point performance a sign that Jones is starting to get comfortable as an NFL WR? I think and hope so. A healthy and starting Kelvin Benjamin will put less pressure on Zay which is going to lead to more open opportunities for him. Full disclosure: Zay is nursing a knee injury he suffered in his week 9 game.
Marquise Goodwin, SF, 9.3%: I listed Marquise Goodwin as one of my ‘start’ options last week and he had a mixed day — only 2 receptions of his 8 targets, but 68 yards for 8 fantasy points. Goodwin is still your WR1 in San Fran and read my blurb about Garoppolo above to see why Goodwin could be a solid grab for your team.
Tight Ends
Eric Ebron, DET, 22.9%: Hopes were high after a 15 fantasy point performance in week 2 — Ebron then went on to score 2, 4, 1, 1, and 7 fantasy points. Week 10 should see another big scoring day from Ebron. His opponent, the Browns, have allowed the second-most TDs to TEs, 4th most yards, and the most receptions to TEs.
George Kittle, SF, 9.9%: Sensing a trend? Stack the 49ers against the hapless Giants. Especially TEs apparently — the Giants have allowed the most fantasy points to opposing TEs. Since scoring 21 points in week 5 Kittle has scored 19 points total over 4 weeks but he should break out in a victory over the Giants in week 10.
Defense/Special Teams
Tennessee Titans vs. CIN, 24.2%: The Titans defense really steps up against weak offenses. They scored 9 fantasy points against the Jaguars, 11 points against the Dolphins and 13 points against the Bears this year. Now, they’ll get the Cincinatti Bengals who are averaging the 4th fewest points per game this year.
Chicago Bears vs. GB, 7.7%: The Bears are the 5th highest scoring fantasy defense (most of that is on the back of a 29 point day against the Panthers) but in week 10 they’ll get the Aaron Rodgers-less Green Bay Packers. The Packers have the 3rd lowest yardage total in the NFL.
Kickers
Chris Boswell, PIT, 23.9%: Take advantage of Boswell’s bye week drop and grab him before his game against the Colts. He’s going to get at least 5 extra points and 4 field goals. The Colts have allowed the most extra points and is tied for 3rd with the most field goals allowed.
