Week 10 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Highlighting Matchups to Exploit and Avoid
With any luck, fantasy football owners have already managed to avoid a miserable matchup in Week 10.
Thursday Night Football between the Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens was a disaster as expected. Owners shouldn't feel down, though, as Week 10 is otherwise one loaded with plenty of lucrative-looking matchups.
With games such as Atlanta-Philadelphia, Dallas-Pittsburgh and Chicago-Tampa Bay, to name a few, some of the biggest fantasy names on the planet and worthwhile sleepers promise plenty of fireworks.
TOP NEWS
NFL Draft Trades We Wish Happened 😭
Biggest Questions Surrounding 2026 NFL Season After the Draft 🤔
Underrated FA Signings 📈
As always, matchup analysis will guide owners through the minefield. After a look at matchup comparisons, let's zoom in on notable matchups to exploit and avoid.
Quarterback
| Matt Ryan (at PHI) vs. Aaron Rodgers (at TEN) | Matt Ryan |
| Marcus Mariota (vs. GB) vs. Dak Prescott (at PIT) | Dak Prescott |
| Drew Brees (vs. DEN) vs. Philip Rivers (vs. MIA) | Philip Rivers |
| Eli Manning (vs. CIN) vs. Ben Roethlisberger (vs. DAL) | Eli Manning |
| Cam Newton (vs. KC) vs. Russell Wilson (at NE) | Russell Wilson |
Matchup to Exploit: Eli Manning, NYG (vs. CIN)
For at least one week, Eli Manning of the New York Giants looks like a superb choice. An encounter between the Giants and Cincinnati Bengals on Monday Night Football means not all prime-time games in Week 10 will disappoint.
Manning is a big part of this. He has scored 22 or more points in two of his last three outings with seven touchdowns over that span, a good trend to boast going against Cincinnati. Those Bengals allow the sixth-most points to quarterbacks this year.
Five opposing passers have thrown two or more touchdowns against the Bengals defense, an unusual turn of events for the once-proud unit.
With Manning having players such as Odell Beckham Jr. to lean on, owners can expect a big day from the quality streaming option.
Matchup to Avoid: Blake Bortles, JAC (vs. HOU)
King of garbage time or not, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles posts strong numbers most weeks, to the point he's scored more points than Manning so far.
This could change in a hurry. Bortles next has to deal with the Houston Texans, a team allowing the fourth-fewest points to opposing quarterbacks on average. The unit has only permitted more than one passing touchdown in a game once this year.
So while Bortles looks good with outings of 29 and 21 points over his last two games, his playing comeback kid and garnering smooth fantasy numbers won't happen in Week 10.
This AFC South encounter figures to have a defensive and low-scoring slant, so no prevent defenses for Bortles to bully.
Running Back
| Melvin Gordon (vs. MIA) vs. Ezekiel Elliott (at PIT) | Ezekiel Elliott |
| Mark Ingram (vs. DEN) vs. Jay Ajayi (at SD) | Jay Ajayi |
| Matt Forte (vs. LA) vs. Devonta Freeman (at PHI) | Matt Forte |
| Le'Veon Bell (vs. DAL) vs. Charcandrick West (at CAR) | Le'Veon Bell |
| Todd Gurley (at NYJ) vs. Devontae Booker (at NO) | Devontae Booker |
Matchup to Exploit: Jordan Howard, CHI (at TB)
Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard isn't a major name just yet, but the rookie stole the starting gig and hasn't looked back.
Howard has scored 21 or more points in two of his past four outings, including an impressive 26 carries for 153 yards and a score against the stout Minnesota Vikings defense, good for 25 points.
The returned presence of Jay Cutler under center helped Howard rattle off those numbers against the Vikings and should have a similar effect in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Buccaneers allow the seventh-most points to running backs on average and have let six opposing backfields tally 18 or more points. Given the way Howard has played as of late, he might just hit such a total on his own.
Matchup to Avoid: Spencer Ware, KC (at CAR)
Cleared from concussion protocol this week, Kansas City Chiefs running back Spencer Ware is something of an unknown factor for an encounter with the Carolina Panthers.
Ware has scored 18 or more points three time this year, but he's stuck in arguably the league's deepest backfield coming off an injury.
It doesn't help he has to play the Panthers, a defense that's at least still competent on the ground. The unit allows the fourth-fewest points to opposing rushers this year and has allowed only three rushing scores to backs.
Given the circumstances, Ware is a notable name to avoid for at least one week. From a fantasy standpoint, he then gets the all-clear signal in Week 11 against Tampa Bay.
Wide Receiver
| Mike Evans (vs. CHI) vs. Julio Jones (at PHI) | Mike Evans |
| Kelvin Benjamin (vs. KC) vs. Allen Robinson (vs. HOU) | Allen Robinson |
| Odell Beckham Jr. (vs. CIN) vs. Jordy Nelson (at TEN) | Odell Beckham Jr. |
| Antonio Brown (vs. DAL) vs. Michael Thomas (vs. DEN) | Antonio Brown |
| Doug Baldwin (at NE) vs. Demaryius Thomas (at NO) | Demaryius Thomas |
Matchup to Exploit: Jordan Matthews, PHI (vs. ATL)
Philadelphia Eagles wideout Jordan Matthews should be one of the players doing the most damage in a potential shootout between his side and the Atlanta Falcons.
The Falcons allow the fourth-most points to opposing receivers on average, in large part because opposing teams have to pass so often to keep pace with the offense.
Whatever the reason, Atlanta has coughed up seven receiving touchdowns over the team's past two outings, good for 47 and 39 points.
Matthews, on the other hand, has eight or more points in each of his last two outings. More importantly, he's clearly the No. 1 wideout with 10 or more targets in both of those games. Those opportunities should turn in to great production against the Falcons.
Matchup to Avoid: Dez Bryant, DAL (at PIT)
It can't be fun to bench a guy like Dez Bryant, especially after waiting around for him to get healthy.
Alas, the Dallas Cowboys receiver shouldn't start in any leagues in Week 10. He has to deal with a lack of usage and the Pittsburgh Steelers. The latter is especially a problem because it's a defense that allows the fourth-fewest points to wideouts on average. It's a unit that has allowed four receiving scores to the position all year.
About the targets. Bryant is back from injury, but his presence doesn't mean he has a strong connection with rookie quarterback Dak Prescott. Bryant received 14 targets in Week 8 and scored 17 points. The following week, he received four and scored one in an incredible matchup against the Cleveland Browns.
Given the inconsistency and strength of the opponent, Bryant simply isn't worth the risk.
Tight End
| Jason Witten (at PIT) vs. Vance McDonald (at ARI) | Jason Witten |
| Antonio Gates (vs. MIA) vs. Greg Olsen (vs. KC) | Antonio Gates |
| Delanie Walker (vs. GB) vs. Jimmy Graham (at NE) | Delanie Walker |
| Cameron Brate (vs. CHI) vs. Dominique Jones (at SD) | Dominique Jones |
| Zach Ertz (vs. ATL) vs. Kyle Rudolph (at WAS) | Zach Ertz |
Matchup to Exploit: Delanie Walker, TEN (vs. GB)
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker doesn't get the credit he deserves, which is why most would probably be surprised to learn he sits third in scoring at the position.
Walker has four trips to double digits this year, three of which have come over his past five games.
A fifth seems likely against the Green Bay Packers, a defense that has allowed seven or more points to opposing tight ends four times this year alongside two total scores.
Walker isn't a lock to score, but as the Titans attempt to keep up with Aaron Rodgers, he's going to see plenty of chances.
Matchup to Avoid: Greg Olsen, CAR (vs. KC)
Tight end is the only position where owners can get away with benching the top scorer.
So is the story this weekend with Carolina's Greg Olsen. He's been great but spotty—he's the top scorer by a healthy margin at 85 points (the next player, Jimmy Graham, has 68), but he has four single-digit outings.
Such is the nature of the beast at tight end. Olsen has to deal with the Chiefs, a defense that allows the sixth-fewest points to the position and has only surrendered one touchdown all year.
Like it or not, the numbers suggest a miserable day, so owners should get active looking for other options.
All scoring info and statistics courtesy of ESPN.com standard leagues, as are points-against info and ownership stats.
Follow Chris Roling (@Chris_Roling) on Twitter.
.jpg?w=480 "Cowboys Giants Football")
.jpg?w=600 "Rap Shuts Down Rodgers Rumor 🤫")
.jpg?w=600 "C.J. Stroud's New Diet Revealed")
.png?w=600 "2027 NFL Mock Draft 🔮")