NFL Predictions Week 10: Final Odds Projections and Fantasy Stars to Watch

It seems like just yesterday scores of fantasy football managers admired their drafted rosters led by the likes of Le'Veon Bell, Andrew Luck and Jamaal Charles. Now with the playoffs in near sight, they stare at depleted lineups hoping to snatch a Week 10 victory. 

Several gamers have as few as four matchups left to secure a postseason bid. Yet a cavalcade of injuries swing the league's favorite every week. Just ask the person planning on riding Bell to success, especially if someone else owns DeAngelo Williams.

Few, if any, lineups look the same as their Week 1 iterations, but matchups matter more than name value in a weekly game. While one star is poised for a huge weekend, another becomes a treacherous play because of his opponent. As for one running back replacing one of 2015's biggest fantasy letdowns, a vulnerable foe represents his meal ticket to stardom.

After projecting Week 10's outcomes based on Odds Sharks' lines, let's examine those differing circumstances.

Away	Home	Spread	O/U	Prediction
Detroit Lions	Green Bay Packers	GB -12	49	34-20 GB
Dallas Cowboys	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	Ev	43.5	27-23 TB
Carolina Panthers	Tennessee Titans	CAR -5	44	26-17 CAR
Chicago Bears	St. Louis Rams	STL -7.5	42.5	20-14 STL
New Orleans Saints	Washington Redskins	Ev	50	30-28 NO
Miami Dolphins	Philadelphia Eagles	PHI -7	49.5	31-27 PHI
Cleveland Browns	Pittsburgh Steelers	PIT -5.5	41.5	20-18 PIT
Jacksonville Jaguars	Baltimore Ravens	BAL -5.5	47.5	30-27 JAX
Minnesota Vikings	Oakland Raiders	OAK -2.5	43.5	24-23 OAK
New England Patriots	New York Giants	NE -8.5	54	38-20 NE
Kansas City Chiefs	Denver Broncos	DEN -5.5	41.5	24-17 DEN
Arizona Cardinals	Seattle Seahawks	SEA -3	44.5	23-21 SEA
Houston Texans	Cincinnati Bengals	CIN -12.5	47	27-13 CIN

Carson Palmer, QB, Arizona Cardinals

Jeff Haynes/Associated Press

Selected as a backup quarterback, Carson Palmer has scaled into a weekly starter. Leading the league with 9.18 yards per pass attempt, the Arizona Cardinals quarterback has coasted on a favorable schedule featuring six of the 11 worst teams in terms of ESPN.com fantasy points allowed to opposing signal-callers.

Things get tougher on Sunday night, as the Seattle Seahawks have surrendered the third-fewest fantasy points to passers with the league's second-best passing defense. In his last game against the Seahawks, dating back to late 2013, Palmer threw four interceptions. 

Yet he wasn't enjoying an MVP-caliber campaign two years ago. Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, who coached USC during Palmer's tenure, complimented the Cardinals quarterback to AZCardinals.com's Darren Urban. “Carson looks great, the best I’ve ever seen him in all the years he’s been out there playing.” 

Having already compiled 20 touchdowns through eight games, he has upgraded from matchup-play to making a case for being matchup-proof. Sunday tests this newly earned designation.

While Palmer managed one touchdown and one interception against the St. Louis Rams, his first half's toughest opponent, he also went 29-of-46 for 352 passing yards. That was one of two games where he didn't toss two or more touchdowns. He provided 421 yards in the other bout.

He's far from a Week 10 lock, and anyone who can ascertain Blake Bortles or Kirk Cousins should consider utilizing a far superior matchup. Even against Seattle, however, Palmer is playable as a low-level No. 1 quarterback.

Projections: 22-of-35, 260 Yards, 2 TDS, 2 INTs

James Starks, RB, Green Bay Packers

The Green Bay Packers may never clear the air of their current running back controversy. It's only a dilemma for fantasy investors wanting consistent usage, not for a title contender in a league where many teams mix and match in the backfield. 

After letting Eddie Lacy lead the way in Week 8, the team turned to James Starks against the Carolina Panthers. Given 16 touches, his highest tally since Week 3, the 29-year-old amassed 122 total yards and a score. As a result, head coach Mike McCarthy announced a starting change for this weekend, per the team's Twitter page:

The move doesn't guarantee a full workload for Starks, but it certainly raises his ceiling and floor against the Detroit Lions. His lowly NFC North opponent ranks No. 30 in rushing defense, yielding an NFL-high 14 rushing touchdowns. A 12-point spread in Green Bay's favor also foreshadows plenty of running opportunities for the long-time reserve.

Starks currently represents Green Bay's better option, averaging 4.3 yards per run to Lacy's 3.7. He also brandishes more pass-catching acumen, making him a complete weapon in all scoring systems. If the Packers give him regular snaps and touches, he'll produce like a top-10 running back this weekend.

Projections: 15 Rushes, 70 Yards, 3 Receptions, 25 Yards, 1 TD

Demaryius Thomas, WR, Denver Broncos

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

Fantasy football is a cruel game ruled by touchdowns. Although well on his way to shattering 100-catch, 1,000-yard plateaus, Demaryius Thomas has reached the end zone one time in eight games.

If not for the low touchdown tally, Thomas' owners would celebrate another triumphant start. He ranks fifth with 61 catches and sixth with 745 receiving yards. As noted by Rotoworld's Nick Mensio, the Denver Broncos wideout is certainly getting enough looks:

Thomas is a 6'3" target with three straight double-digit touchdown campaigns. He rattled off three multi-score games last season. No reason to worry here. In fact, a course-correction should come this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs.

The Chiefs have allowed an NFL-worst 30.0 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts in ESPN.com leagues. Given their 122 receptions relinquished, the damage would prove even worse under point-per-reception (PPR) scoring. 

Although he didn't score during their Week 2 meeting, Thomas recorded eight catches for 116 yards on 14 targets. Touchdowns are virtually impossible to predict, but a No. 1 receiver in line to get double-digit targets against a horrible secondary enjoys enhanced chances. If not, nobody can complain about another 100-yard outing.

Projections: 9 Catches, 13 Targets, 115 Yards, 1 TD