Who to Start and Sit in Week 10 of Fantasy Football

As always, if you’re curious about guys you don’t see listed here, you can always find me on Twitter (@MrT_BroBible) to ask questions, but remember to mention league specifics like PPR. 

You Know Who You Should Start? 

Nick Foles (QB – Philadelphia) 
I was all ready to talk about Josh McCown and then Chicago cleared Jay Cutler to play this week. Instead we’ll turn to Nick Foles. Your first reaction is going to be, “of course you’re recommending the guy who threw seven touchdowns last week,” but that’s not my point. Foles has a good matchup against the Packers, who have struggled to halt competent passing offenses. At least 200 yards and two touchdowns can be expected from Foles as long as he doesn’t end up with another concussion. 

Mike James (RB – Tampa Bay) 
Color me surprised that Mike James ran for 158 yards last week in Seattle. The passing touchdown was icing on the cupcake. Miami has the ability to make any fantasy running back look good (to the tune of third-most points allowed to the position), so that means James is up for another positive affair. 

Lamar Miller (RB – Miami) 
Miller’s owners felt unfulfilled most of the season, but they’re feeling better after the last two weeks. Miller’s received 34 carries over the last two weeks, which means Miami realizes they need to get him the rock. The Bucs have been decent against fantasy RBs this year, but Miller’s talent is good enough to make him lineup-worthy. 

Cecil Shorts (WR – Jacksonville) 
The Jaguars still suck and will be playing a lot of garbage time football this year, but now there’s only one really good receiver for Chad Henne to target. Shorts has been pretty consistent this year, so expect him to continue his production even though Titans are pretty good at stopping fantasy wide receivers. 

Riley Cooper (WR – Philadelphia) 
Say what you will, but Cooper has played well with Nick Foles under center. In Foles’ three starts, Cooper has had at least 88 receiving yards and has scored touchdowns in two of those three games. They seem to have some pretty good chemistry going, so Cooper’s a solid spot start this week against the Packers. 

Tim Wright (TE – Tampa Bay) 
As with Cooper, there’s something to be said about good chemistry. Wright has caught at least four balls and a touchdown in back-to-back games with Mike Glennon at the helm. Miami is giving up the third-most points per game to fantasy tight ends, so give Wright a run if you need a fill-in this week. 

You Know Who Should Sit? 

Matt Ryan (QB – Atlanta) 
Remember when we were unsure about Matt Ryan two years ago? Then Atlanta acquired Tony Gonzalez and drafted Julio Jones and suddenly Ryan was a fantasy stud. With Jones gone and Roddy White banged up, Ryan has struggled in consecutive games against good defenses. Next up is Seattle, which (guess what?) sports a good defense. I’m looking elsewhere this week. 

Ray Rice (RB – Baltimore) 
Rice’s owners are probably crying with these fantasy point totals in the games he’s played this year: 12, 1, 1, 19, 4, 6, and 3. Rice is 26, but it’s time to give up on him for this season. He’s shot and the offensive line isn’t any good. Look for alternative options even with Cincinnati missing Geno Atkins. 

Andre Brown (RB – N.Y. Giants) 
This is more of a public service announcement for those waiting for Brown to return for the Giants. There’s been talk this week that Peyton Hillis will start and Brown will only split the work this weekend. Sadly you’re going to have to wait another week or two before Brown takes over for the pathetic Hillis. 

Jarrett Boykin (WR – Green Bay) 
Seneca Wallace obviously changes everything. The Packers are nowhere near what they were offensively with Aaron Rodgers. Rodgers makes receivers look better and Wallace makes them look worse. There are many better alternatives to Boykin given the current situation. Wallace will be looking heavily to Jordy Nelson when he panics, and that will be a lot. 

Harry Douglas (WR – Atlanta) 
There’s talk about Roddy White coming back this week. If that’s the case, Douglas will see less targets. If White doesn’t come back, then Douglas has to see the brunt of Seattle’s pass coverage. Either scenario doesn’t bode well. 

Heath Miller (TE – Pittsburgh) 
Buffalo’s pass offense isn’t great, but they do a reasonably good job of limiting tight ends. Six of nine opponents haven’t been able to get more than four balls a game to the position, so that doesn’t bode well for Heath Miller given that Roethlisberger has targeting his wide receivers more recently.