Week 10 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Projections for Top 10 Players at Each Position

We may not be entering that late-season stretch of the NFL regular season where teams are jockeying for playoff positioning just yet, but it's certainly that time in the world of fantasy football entering Week 10.

In most conventional leagues, only a couple of weeks remain for owners to improve their records enough to get into the fantasy postseason. Throw in a handful of impact injuries and a number of bye weeks into that equation, and it's truly gut-check time for fantasy football.

With players from the Buffalo Bills and New York Jets—who played an aesthetically colorful affair on Thursday Night Football—excluded from the rankings, let's see who to expect in the top 10 of each major position for Week 10.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Opp.	Projection
1	Tom Brady	at NYG	22.3
2	Aaron Rodgers	DET	22.0
3	Drew Brees	at WAS	20.1
4	Andy Dalton	HOU	19.4
5	Cam Newton	at TEN	18.5
6	Blake Bortles	at BAL	17.6
7	Derek Carr	MIN	16.9
8	Eli Manning	NE	16.6
9	Kirk Cousins	NO	16.5
10	Peyton Manning	KC	16.4

Start: Blake Bortles, Jacksonville Jaguars

Seth Wenig/Associated Press

Instead of having a sophomore slump in a lost offense, Jacksonville Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles has looked the part of a surging second-year stud with weapons around him to dominate. Despite his Jags' 2-6 record, he's put up rather consistent fantasy numbers out of the blue.

It's not surprising, then, to see Bortles on the cusp of the top five quarterbacks with a strong matchup against the Baltimore Ravens. They're one of two teams to give up an average of more than 20 fantasy points to quarterbacks in ESPN leagues, and Bortles has both Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns making plays on the edge. 

Sit: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Denis Poroy/Associated Press

Jay Cutler's putrid 2014 season is a thing of the past, at least in terms of numbers, as the Chicago Bears quarterback is beginning to consistently put up strong stats. That's not going to remain the same in Week 10.

His Bears are riding high off a comeback win over San Diego, but emerge from a short week to face the St. Louis Rams. You know, that defense with a relentless pass rush that is giving up the second-fewest ESPN fantasy points to quarterbacks. 

Oh, and on top of that, star wideout Alshon Jeffery may not even play, as he missed Thursday's practice with a groin injury, per Dan Wiederer of the Chicago Tribune.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Opp.	Projection
1	Todd Gurley	CHI	17.3
2	DeAngelo Williams	CLE	15.6
3	Mark Ingram	at WAS	14.9
4	Adrian Peterson	at OAK	14.7
5	Darren McFadden	at TB	14.1
6	DeMarco Murray	MIA	14.1
7	Justin Forsett	JAX	13.5
8	Marshawn Lynch	ARI	13.0
9	Doug Martin	DAL	12.4
10	LeGarrette Blount	at NYG	12.3

Start: Darren McFadden, Dallas Cowboys

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

Those of us who drafted Joseph Randle early and scoffed at the likelihood of Darren McFadden in the Dallas Cowboys backfield—that includes me, by the way—are feeling the burn as McFadden has toted the rock with ferocity in recent weeks.

McFadden is getting both the usage and yardage to make himself a must-start every week, totaling 47 carries in the last two games and topping 113 yards in each of them. The Week 10 opponent is Tampa Bay, who has proved strong against the run but by no means has a dependable defense.

Sit: Ronnie Hillman, Denver Broncos

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The strongest running back in the Denver Broncos backfield seems to change hands every couple of weeks, and it appears to be C.J. Anderson's turn at getting more of the chunk-yardage plays.

Hillman was effectively shut down in Week 9 against Indianapolis, carrying the ball seven times for one yard—yes, one yard. Anderson at least turned his seven carries into 34 yards, and he has undoubtedly been running better and harder since the bye week.

The Kansas City Chiefs are impeccably stout against the run but susceptible to the pass, so it's no secret what the Broncos will try to do offensively. 

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Opp.	Projection
1	DeAndre Hopkins	at CIN	19.1
2	Odell Beckham Jr.	NE	18.2
3	Antonio Brown	CLE	16.7
4	A.J. Green	HOU	16.5
5	Demaryius Thomas	KC	16.4
6	Julian Edelman	at NYG	15.8
7	Alshon Jeffery	at STL	15.2
8	Randall Cobb	DET	15.0
9	Allen Robinson	at BAL	14.9
10	Emmanuel Sanders	KC	14.5

Start: Michael Crabtree, Oakland Raiders

Don Wright/Associated Press

Don't tell Richard Sherman, but Michael Crabtree has slowly become one of the most dependable receivers in the league for the Oakland Raiders over the last couple of weeks.

Over the last three games, Crabtree has caught four touchdowns and surpassed the century mark in receiving yards twice. Those are top-end receiving numbers that many owners are desperately looking for from their top guys, and the emergence of Derek Carr should allow it to continue. The gamble is worthwhile in Week 10 with Oakland facing the Minnesota Vikings—who've been good but not great against the pass.

Sit: Dorial Green-Beckham, Tennessee Titans

Butch Dill/Associated Press

After getting a team-high 10 targets for five catches and 77 yards in the Tennessee Titans' shocking win over New Orleans last week, Dorial Green-Beckham was one of the most popular adds in fantasy football entering Week 10. But don't rush to judgement on plugging him into the lineup.

DGB draws arguably the league's hottest cover corner in the Carolina Panthers' Josh Norman, who seems to be intercepting more passes than he's allowing to be caught by his opponent. Green-Beckham will continue to get a heavy dose of targets, but the rookie is still learning how to get his against top-flight corners.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Opp.	Projection
1	Rob Gronkowski	at NYG	20.1
2	Greg Olsen	at TEN	16.5
3	Tyler Eifert	HOU	14.5
4	Jordan Reed	NO	12.2
5	Gary Barnidge	at PIT	11.0
6	Travis Kelce	at DEN	11.0
7	Delanie Walker	CAR	10.5
8	Martellus Bennett	at STL	10.2
9	Jimmy Graham	ARI	9.8
10	Benjamin Watson	at WAS	9.8

Start: Gary Barnidge, Cleveland Browns

Aaron Josefczyk/Associated Press

Folks who nabbed Gary Barnidge from waivers and have been riding him to consistent fantasy production had their first down-to-earth moment in Week 9, as Barnidge was held to less than 40 yards. Much of that, however, can be attributed to quarterback Josh McCown not playing.

Barnidge has been McCown's go-to guy when he's started, and that will continue in a juicy Week 10 matchup against Pittsburgh. While strong in rushing the passer, the Steelers struggle in the middle, giving up the fifth-most ESPN fantasy points to tight ends. 

Sit: Jason Witten, Dallas Cowboys

Brandon Wade/Associated Press

If you didn't come to this realization long before, it's definitely time to acknowledge that Jason Witten won't be fantasy relevant until Cowboys quarterback Tony Romo makes his triumphant return.

One would think Witten's role as the security blanket would allow Matt Cassel to find him, but that hasn't really been the case. Witten hasn't caught a touchdown since Week 1—yikes—and he shouldn't do much even against a Tampa Bay defense that is susceptible against tight ends.

Expert consensus rankings courtesy of FantasyPros.com.