Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
We had a productive Start/Sit column last week, as we took advantage of some "can't miss" matchups and suggested some solid starts out of Alex Smith and Ryan Grant, with quality sleeper predictions by recommending you keep an eye on both Vince Young and Josh Freeman.
Every week brings forth another collection of favorable matchups, as well as some situations that may ask you to sit guys that you would normally refer to as "studs." Without further haste, here are the guys for Week 10 to start, sit, and keep an eye on.
Start
Joe Flacco, QB, Baltimore Ravens
Flacco has been very sub-par in his last two outings, throwing just one touchdown in games against the Broncos and Bengals.
However, he's too good to stay down for too long, and he and the rest of the Baltimore offense have a very friendly date with the inept Cleveland Browns. Oh, and it's in front of the nation. Count on Ray Rice and Co. to guide Flacco back to fantasy relevance.
Prediction: 21-29, 304 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT
Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Everyone keeps waiting for Favre's arm to fall off or for the interceptions to start raining from the sky.
But the truth is, if you've been watching him at all this season, Favre is too much under control and has too many weapons to revert to that style of play. Facing the awful Lions at home after a week of rest doesn't hurt, either.
Prediction: 19-26, 227 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Ricky Williams, RB, Miami Dolphins
Williams made a fool of us last week as he put up 36 total yards and a score on just eight touches, after we suggested to leave him on the bench.
You can't let him sit and waste away in Week 10, though, as he has a tasty matchup with a Buccaneers run defense that allowed Ryan Grant to run for 96 yards and a touchdown.
Williams plays second fiddle to Ronnie Brown, but it won't matter against this defense.
Prediction: 13 att, 70 yds, 1 TD, 4 rec, 28 yds, 0 TD
Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys
Just like the "Favre Watch," most people are betting Austin's run of four games with at least one touchdown has to end sometime. That's what the Philadelphia Eagles thought, too, and then his lone catch on Sunday went for the score that won the game. Don't bet on the Packers' vulnerable pass defense holding this budding star in check.
Prediction: 6 rec, 87 yds, 1 TD
John Carlson, TE, Seattle Seahawks
The last time the Seahawks faced the Arizona Cardinals, we told you to start Matt Hasselbeck and it blew up in our face. What's changed since then?
The Seahawks still can't run the ball, but we like what we're seeing in Hasselbeck's pocket presence and decision-making, and quite frankly, Carlson is well over due for some hook-up's between him and the baldy.
This is the week the connection is refreshed.
Prediction: 7 rec, 81 yds, 1 TD
Sit
Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons
Ryan hasn't looked like an elite fantasy option since the first three weeks of the season, and he won't be looking much better against the league's top-ranked pass defense in the Carolina Panthers.
Carolina made Drew Brees look average for almost three whole quarters, so Atlanta will have to stick to the ground game to get a win this Sunday, rendering Ryan useless in fantasy football.
Prediction: 13-21, 177 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Matt Cassel, QB, Kansas City Chiefs
Cassel had a decent Week Nine, but should take a back seat to the KC ground attack when he goes up against a regularly stingy Oakland secondary. The Raiders defense plays hard and fast, so unless KC is playing from behind, Cassel is unlikely to be a good play.
Prediction: 15-29, 190 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers
We've become very aware of certain players' trends and how they fare against certain matchups. Grant, for example, simply can't run against a team that has more than one victory.
He could be present (and should be) on some screens against Dallas, but they aren't terrible against the run, so we're not loving Grant this week.
0 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete