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

The 2016 fantasy season is just flying by. We're already into Week 10, which got underway on Thursday night with the Baltimore Ravens and Cleveland Browns.

For many fantasy leagues, the postseason is right around the corner. Whether you're trying to maintain a spot near the top or rebound enough to secure a playoff ticket, these next few weeks are going to be critical.

We're here to help with a rundown of the top remaining players of Week 10. We'll look at the top 10 at each skill position and provide point projections for each. We'll also examine some bench-worthy players for each.

Keep in mind that the Buffalo Bills, Detroit Lions, Indianapolis Colts and Oakland Raiders are on byes this week.

Quarterbacks

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Aaron Rodgers, GB	26.0	Start
2	Cam Newton, CAR	24.5	Start
3	Carson Palmer, ARI	24.5	Start
4	Tom Brady, NE	24.0	Start
5	Ben Roethlisberger, PIT	23.5	Start
6	Philip Rivers, SD	22.5	Start
7	Jay Cutler, CHI	22.0	Start
8	Jameis Winston, TB	21.5	Start
9	Dak Prescott, DAL	21.0	Start
10	Drew Brees, NO	21.0	Start
*	Case Keenum, LA	15.5	Sit
*	Ryan Fitzpatrick, SF	15.0	Sit
*	Colin Kaepernick, SF	14.5	Sit

Start 'Em: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears

Some of the quarterbacks on our "start 'em" list seem like common-sense options. Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler, on the other hand, might not be. However, if you're looking for a bye-week replacement or simply like streaming your signal-callers, he is a solid option.

Back at the helm for Chicago, Cutler has weapons to target like Alshon Jeffery, Cameron Meredith and Zach Miller. This week, he gets to utilize those targets against a so-so Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary.

Pro Football Focus currently rates Tampa just 27th in pass coverage.

Sit 'Em: Colin Kaepernick, San Francisco 49ers

Michael Zagaris/Getty Images

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick had a strong fantasy performance in his last outing, passing for 398 yards with two touchdowns and two turnovers. However, this doesn't mean Kaepernick is back.

It's worth noting that Kaepernick was playing against a New Orleans Saints defense that is rated 30th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus. This week, he travels to face the Arizona Cardinals, who are rated ninth in pass coverage and first overall in pass rush.

Expect Kaepernick to fall back to earth in Week 10.

Running Backs

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	David Johnson, ARI	31.0	Start
2	Le'Veon Bell, PIT	28.0	Start
3	Ezekiel Elliott, DAL	24.0	Start
4	Melvin Gordon, SD	21.0	Start
5	Devonta Freeman, ATL	17.5	Start
6	DeMarco Murray, TEN	17.5	Start
7	Lamar Miller, HOU	17.0	Start
8	Jay Ajayi, MIA	17.0	Start
9	Spencer Ware, KC	16.0	Start
10	Ty Montgomery, GB	16.0	Start
*	Y.J. Yeldon, JAX	7.0	Sit
*	Bilal Powell, NYJ	7.0	Sit
*	Matt Asiata, MIN	6.5	Sit

Start 'Em: David Johnson, Arizona Cardinals

When the 49ers do take the field in Arizona, they're likely to get a major dose of Cardinals running back David Johnson.

The Northern Iowa product has become a workhorse for Arizona and has already racked up 705 yards rushing, 407 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. Expect the Cardinals to grind him against the 49ers, who are atrocious against the run. Johnson certainly does.

"Obviously, I always expect to have a good running game with the blockers we have, not just on the line but receivers and tight ends," he said, per Craig Grialou of ArizonaSports.com. "I always expect to come out and show a good ground game.”

San Francisco is allowing an average of 193 yards per game on the ground.

Sit 'Em: T.J. Yeldon, Jacksonville Jaguars

You may be tempted to start Jacksonville Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon this week, as the Houston Texans run defense isn't a top-tier unit. In fact, the Texans are rated just 28th against the run by Pro Football Focus.

Based on workload, though, we're going to recommend leaving Yeldon out of your lineup. Since Chris Ivory is regularly cutting into Yeldon's carries—he has 63 snaps to Yeldon's 83 over the past two weeks, per Pro Football Focus—the fantasy ceiling for Yeldon simply isn't there.

Yeldon has just 58 yards rushing and 68 yards receiving with a touchdown and a lost fumble over the past two weeks.

Wide Receivers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Mike Evans, TB	21.5	Start
2	Odell Beckham Jr., NYG	20.5	Start
3	Julio Jones, ATL	18.5	Start
4	Jordy Nelson, GB	17.5	Start
5	A.J. Green, CIN	17.5	Start
6	Alshon Jeffery, CHI	17.5	Start
7	Larry Fitzgerald, ARI	17.0	Start
8	Antonio Brown, PIT	17.0	Start
9	Dez Bryant, DAL	16.5	Start
10	Emmanuel Sanders, DEN	16.0	Start
*	DeVante Parker, MIA	8.5	Sit
*	Kendall Wright, TEN	8.0	Sit
*	DeSean Jackson, WAS	0.0	Sit

Start 'Em: Odell Beckham Jr., New York Giants

The Cincinnati Bengals know they are going to have their hands full with New York Giants receiver Odell Beckham Jr. this Monday night. 

"Oh, yeah, of course he's in that top tier," Bengals cornerback Adam Jones said of Beckham, per Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com. "The kid is a freak."

The problem for Cincinnati is that knowing it needs to stop Beckham and actually doing it are two completely different things. The Bengals secondary has struggled often this season and could again on Monday.

The Bengals are currently allowing an average of 262.4 yards per game through the air and are rated just 31st in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

This should all result in a big day for Beckham and his fantasy owners.

Sit 'Em: DeSean Jackson, Washington Redskins

Washington Redskins wide receiver Desean Jackson is another player who has seen his role diminish a bit this season. The emergence of Jamison Crowder in the Washington offense is partially to blame.

This doesn't really matter, though, as it appears Jackson won't even take the field against the Minnesota Vikings this week. According to Master Tesfatsion of the Washington Post, Jackson has been ruled out:

Make sure you aren't playing Jackson if you own him. Also, make sure to play Crowder and Pierre Garcon accordingly. Both should see an uptick in fantasy value with Jackson sitting on the sidelines.

Tight Ends

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Jordan Reed, WAS	16.5	Start
2	Greg Olsen, CAR	16.0	Start
3	Rob Gronkowski, NE	16.0	Start
4	Travis Kelce, KC	15.0	Start
5	Antonio Gates, SD	14.0	Start
6	Tyler Eifert, CIN	13.0	Start
7	Zach Miller, CHI	12.5	Start
8	Delanie Walker, TEN	12.0	Start
9	Jason Witten, BAL	12.0	Start
10	Kyle Rudolph, MIN	11.5	Start
*	Virgil Green, DEN	6.5	Sit
*	Jesse James, PIT	6.0	Sit
*	Vance McDonald, SF	5.0	Sit

Start 'Em: Jordan Reed, Washington Redskins

Jackson's absence should also increase the value of Redskins tight end Jordan Reed, who is already a fantasy stud on his own. In six games this season, he has amassed 42 receptions, 415 yards and three touchdowns.

Expect Reed to have a heavy workload and a productive day, even against a stout Vikings defense. This should be especially true if Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins can find time in the pocket with which to get the ball to Reed downfield.

Minnesota is rated a solid 11th in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus but a less impressive 17th in pass rush. Don't be surprised if the Redskins continually test the Vikings with deeper crossing patterns and seam routes from Reed.

Sit 'Em: Jesse James, Pittsburgh Steelers

There are a couple of reasons why Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Jesse James could see his value drop dramatically this week. One is that quarterback Ben Roethlisberger might still not be 100 percent after suffering a torn meniscus. 

Another reason is that the Steelers are hosting a Dallas Cowboys team that is rated first overall in pass coverage by Pro Football Focus.

In addition, James might not even be the primary pass-catching tight end on Sunday. According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, there's a chance that former San Diego Chargers tight end Ladarius Green will make his Steelers debut this week:

Green was acquired in the offseason but ended up undergoing ankle surgery and being sidelined for much of the year. He can be a speedy deep threat at the position when healthy and should cut significantly into James' playing time.

If you're weak at the tight end position, consider adding Green. If he jumps into a significant receiving role, he could be starting material by playoff time.

Kickers

Rank	Player	Proj. Points	Start/Sit
1	Stephen Gostkowski, NE	11	Start
2	Dan Bailey, DAL	10.5	Start
3	Josh Lambo, SD	10	Start
4	Matt Bryant, ATL	10	Start
5	Nick Novak, HOU	9.5	Start
6	Chandler Catanzaro, ARI	9.5	Start
7	Caleb Sturgis, PHI	9.0	Start
8	Will Lutz, NO	8.5	Start
9	Robbie Gould, NYG	8.5	Start
10	Graham Gano, CAR	8.0	Start
*	Blair Walsh, MIN	6.5	Sit
*	Phil Dawson, SF	6.0	Sit
*	Greg Zuerlein, LA	6.0	Sit