Fantasy Football Week 10 Cheat Sheet: Waiver, Rankings, Projections and More

For the last two seasons, the name of Jay Cutler was almost always good for a head slap from disappointed Chicago Bears fans.

While Cutler would occasionally show off his arm strength and quick release, his tendency to make the big mistake at the key moment was frustrating to the team's coaches, players and fans.

When the Bears fired head coach Marc Trestman and his staff at the end of the 2014 season and brought in veteran John Fox, it didn't appear the Cutler problem would suddenly be solved in 2015.

But when Fox brought in Adam Gase to be the Bears offensive coordinator, the team suddenly threw a lifeline to Cutler. Instead of poor mechanics and rushed throws into tight coverage, Cutler is protecting the football, taking what the defense is giving him and leading the Bears to touchdowns at big moments.

Cutler came through with two TD drives in the fourth quarter to lead the Bears to a 22-19 victory over the woeful San Diego Chargers Monday night. He threw the game-winning TD pass to Zach Miller with 3:19 remaining in the game as he fired a laser shot that the tight end brought in with one hand.

The 32-year-old QB has completed 155 of 247 passes for 1,787 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions this season. Cutler is finding success in Gase's offense because he is being put in favorable positions and given plays that he is comfortable running.

He's not a perfect quarterback, and he had an interception and a lost fumble against the Chargers in Week 9. However, the 10th-year pro is making many more positive plays than negative ones, and he has become a viable fantasy quarterback.

The Bears have a tough assignment on the road at St. Louis in Week 10, but if they are going to stay close in the contest, it will be because of Cutler's ability to come through when the game is on the line.

Position	Player	Team	Opponent
QB	Jay Cutler	Chicago Bears	St. Louis Rams
QB	Marcus Mariota	Tennessee Titans	Carolina Panthers
QB	Tyrod Taylor	Buffalo Bills	New York Jets
RB	James Starks	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions
RB	Karlos Williams	Buffalo Bills	New York Jets
RB	Alfred Blue	Houston Texans	Cincinnati Bengals
WR	Brandon LaFell	New England Patriots	New York Giants
WR	Marvin Jones	Cincinnati Bengals	Houston Texans
WR	Davante Adams	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions
TE	Eric Ebron	Detroit Lions	Green Bay Packers
TE	Richard Rodgers	Green Bay Packers	Detroit Lions

Running Back James Starks, Green Bay Packers

There are a few issues with the Green Bay Packers offense that have been exposed over the last two weeks.

They were shut down completely by the Denver Broncos in Week 8, and could not come through when it mattered against Carolina in Week 9.

Both games were on the road and left quarterback Aaron Rodgers frustrated. The Packers are clearly missing All-Pro wide receiver Jordy Nelson, and Rodgers has found himself under pressure as the offensive line has not been at its best.

This week the Packers come home against the shaky Detroit Lions, and it represents a chance for Green Bay to get well. It should provide the running game with an opportunity to punish a defense that ranks 28th in rushing yards allowed.

The Packers are going to unleash James Starks on the Lions, and they will try to soften up the Detroit defense so that Rodgers will be able to comfortably attack them as the game progresses. 

Starting running back Eddie Lacy has a groin injury that may keep him from playing, and Starks should get the bulk of the carries whether Lacy plays or not.

Starks has 334 rushing yards and is averaging 4.3 yards per attempt on his 78 carries. Even if Lacy does play, his 3.7 yards per carry should make for an excellent opportunity for Starks to carry the load and impose his will on the Lions defense.

Charles Krupa/Associated Press

Wide Receiver Brandon LaFell, New England Patriots

The Patriots' success this season has largely come from the versatility of their offense, which leaves opposing defenses one or two steps behind on every play.

Much of that versatility has come from running back Dion Lewis, who has given the running game a lift with his quickness and done an excellent job catching passes out of the backfield.

But while the Patriots won their eighth straight game of the season over Washington on Sunday, they lost Lewis to a torn ACL in his left knee. He will miss the rest of the season.

The Patriots will not panic because they don't have Lewis at their disposal. They will shift his touches around. Lewis had 49 carries, and quarterback Tom Brady had thrown 50 passes to him.

That averages out to about 14 touches per game (Lewis had played in seven games), and don't be surprised if LaFell gets a good percentage of them.

LaFell has been back for three games and has caught 11 passes for 174 yards. While he suffered some drops in his first game back following a foot injury, he went past the 100-yard mark in the Week 9 win over the Redskins.

He will play an even bigger role against the generous New York Giants defense in Week 10.

Rank	Position	Player, Team	Opponent	Projection
1	QB	Tom Brady, New England	N.Y. Giants	325 yards, 3 TDs
2	QB	Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants	New England	315 yards, 3 TDs
3	QB	Andy Dalton, Cincinnati	Houston	300 yards, 2 TDs
4	QB	Drew Brees, New Orleans	Washington	290 yards, 2 TDs
5	QB	Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay	Detroit	280 yards, 3 TDs
1	RB	Todd Gurley, St. Louis	Chicago	125 yards, 2 TDs
2	RB	Adrian Peterson, Minnesota	Oakland	115 yards, 2 TDs
3	RB	Lamar Miller, Miami	Philadelphia	100 yards, 1 TD
4	RB	Mark Ingram, New Orleans	Washington	90 yards, 1 TD
5	RB	Chris Ivory, N.Y. Jets	Buffalo	85 yards, 1 TD
1	WR	Odell Beckham, N.Y. Giants	New England	145 yards, 2 TDs
2	WR	DeAndre Hopkins, Houston	Cincinnati	140 yards, 1 TD
3	WR	A.J. Green, Cincinnati	Houston	125 yards, 1 TD
4	WR	Calvin Johnson, Detroit	Green Bay	115 yards, 1 TD
5	WR	Julian Edelman, New England	N.Y. Giants	95 yards
1	TE	Rob Gronkowski, New England	N.Y. Giants	120 yards, 2 TDs
2	TE	Tyler Eifert, Cincinnati	Houston	110 yards, 1 TD
3	TE	Greg Olsen, Carolina	Tennessee	85 yards, 1 TD
4	TE	Martellus Bennett, Chicago	St. Louis	80 yards
5	TE	Charles Clay, Buffalo	N.Y. Jets	70 yards, 1 TD