Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 10: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More

The New England Patriots narrowly escaped the New York Jets on Monday night to wrap Week 9. The game featured its fair share of drama, and a couple of surprise fantasy performances.

Patriots quarterback Cam Newton had another solid outing, with 274 passing yards, 16 rushing yards and two rushing touchdowns. Against the Jets' 27th-ranked scoring defense, that wasn't a shock. However, the breakout game for Jets wideout Breshad Perriman—five catches, 101 yards, two touchdowns—was a bit surprising. New England ranks seventh in passing yards and 12th in points allowed.

As we head into Week 10, managers can assume that more players with unfavorable matchups will find ways to deliver. However, banking on fringe starters in such situations is never ideal. Instead, managers should be looking to exploit the best matchups to maximize scoring potential.

Here, you'll find a look at some fringe starters—those ranked outside of their positional top 10 by FantasyPros—worth starting and some to avoid. We'll also dive into a couple of potential sleepers to target on the waiver wire.

All picks are based on point-per-reception (PPR) scoring.

Start 'Em

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Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers

Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

Nick Chubb, RB, Cleveland Browns

Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

Adam Thielen, WR, Minnesota Vikings

A.J. Brown, WR, Tennessee Titans

Brandin Cooks, WR, Houston Texans

Eric Ebron, TE, Pittsburgh Steelers

Mark Andrews, TE, Baltimore Ravens

Start 'Em: Jared Goff, QB, Los Angeles Rams

If you're streaming quarterbacks or looking for a bye-week replacement for Patrick Mahomes or Matt Ryan, Los Angeles Rams signal-caller Jared Goff should be a solid play. He has thrown a touchdown pass in every game except one this season and has a tremendous matchup against the Seattle Seahawks.

The Seahawks defense ranks dead-last in passing yards and 30th in points allowed. Last week, it surrendered 415 passing yards and three passing scores to Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen.

While Goff may not top the 400-yard mark, he's likely to have a big day in the yardage department. Russell Wilson and the Seahawks offense rank first in scoring, meaning this game carries legitimate shootout potential.

Additionally, the Seattle defense ranks fourth against the run, which should lead to L.A. staying pass-heavy for the majority of the contest.

Sit 'Em

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Matthew Stafford, QB, Detroit Lions

Derek Carr, QB, Las Vegas Raiders

D'Andre Swift, RB, Detroit Lions

David Johnson, RB, Houston Texans

Jerick McKinnon, RB, San Francisco 49ers

Marquise Brown, WR, Baltimore Ravens

Antonio Brown, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Sterling Shepard, WR, New York Giants

Jordan Reed, TE, San Francisco 49ers

Tyler Eifert, TE, Jacksonville Jaguars

Sit 'Em: David Johnson, RB, Houston Texans

Houston Texans running back David Johnson suffered a concussion against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 9, and there's a chance that he won't play this week against the Cleveland Browns. Even if he does, he isn't a high-upside play and is better left on the bench.

Johnson has some PPR value, but he's likely to be out-produced in that department by receiving back and former Brown Duke Johnson Jr.

The Browns, meanwhile, have been mostly stout against the run this season. The Cleveland defense collapsed against Josh Jacobs and the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 8, but it still ranks 11th against the run and eighth in yards per carry allowed.

David Johnson has yet to reach the 100-yard mark rushing in a game this season, and he's unlikely to do so against Cleveland.

Waiver-Wire Target: Duke Johnson Jr., RB, Houston Texans

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With David Johnson out, Duke Johnson Jr. stepped into the primary-back role for Houston in Week 9. The Texans don't believe they are missing much, if anything, with him in the lineup.

"Both of them can execute the game plan." interim coach Romeo Crennel said, via the team's official website.

Duke Johnson is worth scooping up in case he gets the start against Cleveland. Even if David Johnson plays, though, Duke Johnson's PPR value makes him a viable fantasy fill-in. He has caught at least four passes in each of his last two games.

Against Jacksonville, Duke Johnson had 73 scrimmage yards and a touchdown. He is rostered in just 16 percent of Yahoo and ESPN leagues.

Waiver-Wire Target: Jimmy Graham, TE, Chicago Bears

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With Travis Kelce on bye, fantasy managers may need a fill-in at tight end this week. Though he hasn't been particularly consistent this season, Chicago Bears tight end Jimmy Graham could be that fill-in.

Against the Tennessee Titans in Week 9, Graham caught all six of his targets for 55 yards and a touchdown. He should be able to produce similar numbers against a lackluster Minnesota Vikings defense in Week 10.

The Minnesota Vikings rank 30th in pass defense and 25th in points allowed.

Graham has been targeted at least six times in each of his past four outings and should once again be a significant piece of the passing game plan. He is currently rostered in 49 percent of Yahoo leagues and 56 percent of ESPN leagues.

Yahoo and ESPN roster percentages from FantasyPros.