'Who Needs Reality?': Excellent Fantasy Football Starts for Week 10

This column is called "Who Needs Reality?" because, at the core of it, few things are greater than fantasy football. Sure, some things are more important, yet not many things in life provide us with the unique combination of blissful joy and bitter frustration. 

With Week 10 arriving, however, some of us may be in the position where we do need reality. I'm speaking, of course, to all the unfortunate owners out there who are managing 0-9, 1-8 or 2-7 squads. 

Your playoff hopes are likely shot for your league, and this is something you should come to terms with. In accepting this, however, you should find new ways to bring yourself fantasy joy for the remainder of the season. Some great outlets are daily fantasy leagues, where you can pay as little as one dollar and enter massive leagues with the chance to win thousands. 

The odds may be slim of taking home the grand prize in these leagues, yet it's a very healthy way to accept reality, and at the same time say, "Who needs it?"

Whether your entering a daily league or managing a playoff-bound fantasy team, here are some excellent starters whom I recommend for Week 10. 

Please remember that I use a standard scoring system when projecting these points:

• One point per 10 rushing or receiving yards
• One point per 25 passing yards
• Six points for each rushing or receiving touchdown
• Four points for passing touchdowns
• Minus-two points for interceptions and fumbles lost

Additionally, be sure to stay tuned to the official NFL injury report to get the official word on who is in and who is out come game day.

Finally, please remember that with this column, I intend to list players you should start who wouldn't be ultra-obvious picks. Therefore, I won't be telling you to start Peyton Manning, Matt Forte, Julio Jones, etc. 

Quarterbacks to Start

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has really cooled off from a hot start in recent weeks. I know this because I drafted him in two-thirds of my leagues this season. 

Matt Dunham/Associated Press

Ryan's talent is not the problem, and his receivers certainly aren't either. The problem for Ryan, and the Falcons as a whole, are that the offensive line has been horrendous. Ryan has been given little to no time to make a move with the football, and the result has been a lot of throwaways or checkdowns. 

This week, however, coming off the bye and facing the Tampa Bay Bucs, Ryan and the Falcons offense should soar. I expect them to go very pass-heavy against an awful Tampa Bay secondary, and I think Ryan will have tremendous success. 

• 350 yards and three touchdowns = 26 points

Other Solid Ball-Throwers

• Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers: He's been the definition of "up and down" this season, yet Kaepernick is not only the team's quarterback, but he's basically their leading rusher as well. Against the New Orleans Saints, the 49ers are going to need Kaepernick to do big things in the air and on foot if they want to have a chance. 

• Russell Wilson, Seattle Seahawks: He's been bad in recent weeks, yet this week, home against the New York Giants, should be a very good day for Wilson. I expect him to have success passing the ball while also collecting some serious yardage on foot. The Giants defense looks terrible right now, so I expect the Seahawks to exploit the option and let Wilson run the ball liberally. 

Running Backs to Start  

In this big bye week, it's a pretty bad week for non-stud running backs. I fully expect the stat leaders this week to be the usual suspects: Matt Forte, Le'Veon Bell and Jamaal Charles, in particular. 

You don't need me to tell you to start those guys or any other stud running backs, and with only 12 games, there aren't many starting running backs you're going to sit. In fact, many owners are probably starting some real wild cards at running back this week, especially in deeper leagues.

David Richard/Associated Press

That being said, here are some running backs whom I don't love, but like, in Week 10. They should be solid starts, but I wouldn't expect them to win you the week.  

• Bobby Rainey, Tampa Bay Bucs: The Atlanta Falcons' run defense is a disgrace to defenses everywhere, and the Bucs should rely on Rainey pretty heavily in this game since he's there best bet of keeping the offense on the field. 

• Steven Jackson, Atlanta Falcons: I would never recommend starting him nine times out of 10, yet he's not a bad bye-week fill-in this week. I expect the Falcons to go up early in this game, so Jackson will likely have a lot of rushing attempts in the second half and could very well find the end zone, as he did in Week 3 against Tampa Bay. 

• Darren Sproles, Philadelphia Eagles: With quarterback Mark Sanchez making his first start, I wouldn't be surprised to see Sproles get more involved in the offense. He's a great weapon for Sanchez to throw some screens and short passes to. As we all know, Sproles is dangerous so long as he gets the ball. 

Wide Receivers to Start

Unlike running back, I think there are a TON of great and sneaky wide receiver plays this week. This is a great week to stock up on some big-name running backs in a daily league and then get some bargain receivers who could have huge weeks. 

Mark Zaleski/Associated Press

My No. 1 example of a player like this is Tennessee Titans wide receiver Justin Hunter. Hunter hasn't flourished this season like many wanted him to, yet some of that could certainly be blamed on the dismal quarterback tandem of Jake Locker and Charlie Whitehurst. 

Rookie quarterback Zach Mettenberger is now calling snaps in Tennessee, and in Week 8, before the Titans went on bye, he targeted Hunter a team-high 10 times. I expect Mettenberger to frequently look Hunter's way again on Sunday, and the matchup against the Baltimore Ravens is great, since they have struggled immensely against receivers this season. 

If Hunter has been dropped in your league, which is likely, I would pick him up immediately. 

• Six catches, 109 yards and a touchdown = 16 (22 in PPR)

Other Solid Pass-Catchers

• Jordan Matthews, Philadelphia Eagles: After quarterback Mark Sanchez came into the game last week in relief of the injured Nick Foles, he found rookie receiver Jordan Matthews for an 11-yard touchdown. While Jeremy Maclin is certainly the receiver to own on Philadelphia, I definitely loved seeing the early connection between Sanchez and Matthews. 

• Roddy White, Atlanta Falcons: Two years ago, it would have been ridiculous to include White on this list, as he would have been a no-questions-asked must-start option. Nowadays, Julio Jones is the best receiver on Atlanta, and White is a cusp-play with as many bad games as good ones. I think this week is a good game for him. His quarterback, Matt Ryan, is going to have a field day against the weak Tampa Bay Bucs secondary, and White will benefit from some of this production. 

• Brandin Cooks, New Orleans Saints: Cooks has caught six balls and accumulated at least 56 yards in all three of the Saints home games this season. While many people have been disappointed with Drew Brees and the Saints offense this season, bear in mind that this team is much better at home, and five of their remaining eight games are in New Orleans. 

Tight Ends to Start

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Like Roddy White, it would have been audacious to put Dallas Cowboys tight end Jason Witten on this list two years ago. He's had a tremendous career and is a likely Hall of Fame candidate, yet his production has seriously waned this season. There isn't a lot of good fantasy time left in Witten, yet this week, against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London, I like him a lot. 

Whether somewhat-healthy Tony Romo or mostly terrible Brandon Weeden starts, both passers will be looking Witten's way for the security he provides and the success he can have turning short-yardage passes into larger gains. 

• Six catches, 60 yards and a touchdown = 12 points (18 in PPR)

Other Solid Big Guys Who Catch Balls

• Travis Kelce, Kansas City Chiefs: The Chiefs utilize Kelce less than they should, and the Buffalo Bills have been pretty solid against tight ends, so this is a risky start, yet Kelce runs more like a receiver in open-field situations than he does a tight end. That being said, I think he is able to exploit the Bills defense and have a good week. 

• Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers: I don't expect another six-touchdown performance from Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, but I do expect him to find his veteran tight end for a touchdown this week against a weak New York Jets defense. 

• Larry Donnell, New York Giants: If the Giants make it to the red zone this week, (sadly, it is an "if" situation) Donnell will catch a touchdown pass from Eli Manning. If you're a Rob Gronkowski or Antonio Gates owner, I think Donnell is a solid bye-week replacement with decent upside. 

Defense/Special Teams to Start

I'm all about the Kansas City Chiefs defense this week. They've been killing it with pass rush lately, dropping quarterbacks 27 times this season. Tack on a few more hits this weekend when they are able to drop Kyle Orton a few times. He's been sacked 17 times already in only four games. You do the math. 

Other Solid Defense/Special Teams Starts

• Buffalo Bills (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

• Atlanta Falcons (at Tampa Bay Bucs)

• Seattle Seahawks (vs. New York Giants)

There we have it, folks. I hope my predictions are correct and these lineup starts come through for you. 

Additionally, please shoot me an email at the address below if you'd like to ask a more specific question or would like to inquire about some players whom I did not discuss here. 

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Joe Rapolla Jr. covers the Denver Broncos for Bleacher Report and plays too much fantasy football. 

With questions, please email [e-mail]. 

All stats are courtesy of NFL.com and FFToday.com.