Fantasy Football Start 'em or Sit 'em: Week 10

Trying to decide who you should start or sit this week?  Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them:

Quarterback

Start – Ryan Fitzpatrick – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit

Fitzpatrick has had a surprisingly good season, and as of late, the Bills have been giving him more attempts.  Just look at the past three weeks:

• Week 7 at Baltimore – 43 attempts (382 yards, 4 TD, 2 INT)
• Week 8 at Kansas City – 48 attempts (223 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT)
• Week 9 vs. Chicago – 51 attempts (299 yards, 1 TD, 2 INT)

Granted, the extra attempts have brought some interceptions, but it’s hard to argue with the results.  He has forged a great rapport with Steve Johnson and has helped justify the Bills decision to cut bait on Trent Edwards earlier this season.

Now he draws a Lions defense that has allowed 233.2 passing yards per game, as well as 12 TDs.  In Week 9, they allowed Mark Sanchez, who had never thrown for more than 272 yards in a game (which came in his NFL debut), to throw for 336 yards on 39 attempts.

Other quarterbacks to start:

• David Garrard – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston
• Kyle Orton – Denver Broncos – vs. Kansas City

Sit – Matt Cassel – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver

The Broncos are a good defense against the pass, allowing 204.4 passing yards per game (though, they have allowed 12 TDs with just 5 INTs). 

Maybe the passing yards are down due to how bad they’ve been against the run, having allowed the second most rushing yards per game (154.6) and the most rushing TDs (14) in the league.

That certainly helps to play into the Chiefs’ offensive strategy, with Jamaal Charles and Thomas Jones likely being allowed to run wild. 

While Cassel has been throwing TDs of late (eight in his last four games), he has had more than 216 yards in a game just once this season.  In fact, he’s been below 200 yards in five of his eight starts.

Given the chance of the rushing game leading the way, Cassel is too big of a risk.

Another quarterback to sit:

• Donovan McNabb – Washington Redskins – vs. Philadelphia

Running Back

Start – LeGarrette Blount – Tampa Bay Buccaneers – vs. Carolina

Blount regressed in his second start, picking up just 46 yards on 13 carries against the Falcons.  That was expected, however, as the Falcons have been shutting down top backs the past few weeks and have only allowed three rushing touchdowns on the season.

This week, however, he draws a Panthers’ defense that has allowed 124.8 rushing yards per game (only marginally worse then the Cardinals’ defense who he thrashed for 120 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8).

Start – Peyton Hillis – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets

The Jets are a tough defense, but you have to like the potential Hillis brings to explode at any moment.  Against the Patriots in Week 9, he posted a career day, logging 184 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries.

The last time he faced the Jets (Week 13 of 2008), he had 129 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries.  Obviously, that was a different time in Jets history, but at least it’s something to go on. 

Plus, given the Jets cornerbacks and the questionable Browns quarterback play, it wouldn’t be a surprise to see the Browns again try to ride Hillis.

Other running backs to start:

• Thomas Jones – Kansas City Chiefs – at Denver
• Jahvid Best – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo

Sit – Beanie Wells – Arizona Cardinals – vs. Seattle

In Week 9, Wells got just one carry for –2 yards in part due to missing time in practice with injuries. 

It’s easy to say that we should see how things play out during the week and then make a determination, but all we heard last week was that Wells was going to play.

Exactly who is going to receive the bulk of the carries this week is anyone’s guess.  Even if it is Wells, he’s averaging a paltry 3.3 yards per carry and has been fairly ineffective.  There’s too much risk involved in trusting him right now.

Sit – Felix Jones – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants

Can we really trust any Cowboys running backs at this point?  Last week the Cowboys attempted just 14 rushes: Jones got five, Marion Barber got six and Tashard Choice got three.

There’s talk that the Cowboys want to get Choice more involved, but the Cowboys are in disarray and the Giants are atop their game. 

It is impossible to predict who is going to get the bulk of the carries.  If they go down early, they could be forced to go pass-happy once again.

Other running backs to sit:

• Donald Brown – Indianapolis Colts – vs. Cincinnati
• BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – at Pittsburgh

Two Wide Receiver Formats

Start – Mike Sims-Walker – Jacksonville Jaguars – vs. Houston

The Texans boast the worst passing defense in the league, allowing 298.2 yards per game.  They’ve also allowed 20 TDs vs. just five interceptions.

While Sims-Walker has been sporadic this season, he is coming off a big game (eight receptions for 153 yards and a touchdown against Dallas in Week 9 and has touchdowns in three of his last four games.  Add this with the matchup and you have to like his chances to produce.

Other receivers to start:

• Steve Johnson – Buffalo Bills – vs. Detroit
• Jeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at Washington

Sit – Steve Smith – Carolina Panthers – at Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay’s passing defense has been pretty good, allowing just 213.5 passing yards per game.  That would be bad enough, but with Matt Moore now out, it looks like Jimmy Clausen will reassume starting duties at quarterback in Carolina. 

That just makes matters worse for Smith, who already has three games of 22 yards or less.  It’s just impossible to trust him.

Another wide receiver to sit:

• Braylon Edwards – New York Jets – at Cleveland

Three Wide Receiver Formats

Start – Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – at Miami

He’s a gamble, because we really don’t know exactly what you are going to get from him.  He’s had two weeks to learn the offense, but this is still going to be Chris Johnson’s team offensively.

It’s very possible that he is used more like a decoy, getting a few opportunities but not really amassing gaudy numbers. 

The risk is there (especially given his lack of performance in Minnesota) for those in shallower formats until we know what to expect, but those in three receiver leagues can take the gamble.

Other wide receivers to start:

• Dez Bryant – Dallas Cowboys – at New York Giants
• Michael Crabtree – San Francisco 49ers – vs. St. Louis

Sit – Mohamed Massaquoi – Cleveland Browns – vs. New York Jets

He’s scored just one touchdown on the season.  He hasn’t had more than 58 yards or five receptions in a game.  If he wants to be productive, he’s going to have to beat either Darrelle Revis or Antonio Cromartie.  Is there really any reason to trust Massaquoi this week?

Other wide receivers to sit:

• Jordan Shipley – Cincinnati Bengals – at Indianapolis
• Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – at Buffalo

What are your thoughts on these decisions?  Who would you start?  Who would you sit?

Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 10 Rankings:

• Top 25 Quarterbacks
• Top 40 Running Backs
• Top 60 Wide Receivers
• Top 20 Tight Ends
• Top 15 Kickers (coming soon)
• Top 15 Defenses (coming soon)
• Waiver Worthy
• Sunday Sleepers (coming soon)

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