Fantasy Football Week 10: Dallas Cowboys at New York Giants

Week 10 Matchup:  Dallas Cowboys (1-7) at New York Giants (6-2)

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Dallas Cowboys (Cowboys Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

New York Giants Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 2nd - TDs Allowed T-12th

New York Giants Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 2nd – TDs Allowed T-8th

Dallas Offensive Cast

Jon Kitna (QB Week 10 Ranking: Not ranked) 2010 Season: 69/112 – for 749 yards & four TDs

Kitna has the weapons to work with, but against one of the best pass defenses in the league, I just can’t rank him this week.

Marion Barber (RB Week 10 Ranking: Not ranked) 2010 Season: 71 carries for 211 yards & two TDs || Seven receptions for 28 yards & zero TDs

The Giants don’t let up a lot of rushing TDs, which is what Barber is good at, so he won’t be worth much in the fantasy world come Sunday.

Felix Jones (RB Week 10 Ranking: No. 32) 2010 Season: 73 carries for 302 yards & zero TDs || 24 receptions for 157 yards & zero TDs

With his talent, he could easily be in the Top-20 RBs this year, but Wade Phillips held him back considerably during his tenure.  Hopefully the recently anointed Jason Garrett will do his best to make sure the ball is in his hands starting today.

Miles Austin (WR Week 10 Ranking: No. 24) 2010 Season: 45 receptions for 657 yards & two TDs

The reason why Jon Kitna has developed a better rapport with rookie Dez Bryant thus far is because they worked together quite a bit on the second team earlier in the year.  Sooner or later, though, Kitna and Austin will get on the same page and Austin will rise back up to elite status.  After another full week of work together, it could start this weekend against the Giants.

Roy Williams (WR Week 10 Ranking: Not ranked) 2010 Season: 23 receptions for 333 yards & five TDs

Two catches in the past three weeks combined isn’t going to give fantasy owners any sort of confidence.  You know what?  They’re right.

Dez Bryant (WR Week 10 Ranking: No. 21) 2010 Season: 38 receptions for 435 yards & four TDs

Dez has been Kitna’s favorite target since he took over, a trend that could continue for the rest of the year.  If the Giants don’t knock Kitna into the next century this Sunday, Dez could be looking at a pretty nice game versus the same team he put up two TDs against just three weeks ago.

Jason Witten (TE Week 10 Ranking: No. 2) 2010 Season: 45 receptions for 506 yards & three TDs

Witten has clearly become one of Kitna’s favorite targets, and he’s going to need him this Sunday with the Giants likely rushing down his throat all game.  Three weeks ago against New York, Jason racked up 13 targets, nine catches, 95 yards and a TD.  He’ll have every chance to repeat those numbers this weekend.

New York Giants (Giants Schedule)

Opponent Defensive Ranks

Dallas Pass Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 14th - TDs Allowed 31st

Dallas Rush Defense – 2010: Yards Allowed/Game 24th – TDs Allowed T-15th

New York Giants Offensive Cast

Eli Manning (QB Week 10 Ranking: No. 2) 2010 Season: 178/271 – for 2,075 yards & 17 TDs

The other, younger Manning quarterback is starting to scratch at his big brother’s ankles.  Eli has thrown for 290-plus yards in three of the past four weeks while also tossing up three TDs/game during that stretch.  On the other hand, Dallas has slid the other direction as they’ve given up an average of 285 yards passing/game with 11 passing TDs over the past three contests.  Considering that Eli went for 306 with three TDs just two games ago against these guys, I’m actually having a hard time not sliding him in at the No. 1 slot.

Ahmad Bradshaw (RB Week 10 Ranking: No. 4) 2010 Season: 153 carries for 765 yards & five TDs || 20 receptions for 140 yards & zero TDs

Bradshaw is a working man’s work of art.  Every single play is his last; every single rush looks for six points; every single down means the Super Bowl to him.  Dallas has given up on their season, and all the Giants will need is one long gain out of Bradshaw to deflate the Cowboys into oblivion.  He’ll do it in the first quarter… and then do it some more.

Brandon Jacobs (RB Week 10 Ranking: No. 23) 2010 Season: 68 carries for 360 yards & five TDs || Four receptions for 26 yards & zero TDs

He’s starting to get some carries, around 10-plus per game, which combined with his goal-line duties could amount to a decent game against a Cowboys team that is not only falling apart, but sucks in the first place.

Hakeem Nicks (WR Week 10 Ranking: No. 4) 2010 Season: 51 receptions for 653 yards & nine TDs

Hakeem’s ankle is a bit dinged up, but that won’t stop him from dominating the Cowboys this weekend.  Dallas has given up a combined 121 points, 855 passing yards, and 11 receiving touchdowns over the past three games (all losses) with 108 of those yards and two of the TDs going to Nicks in Week 7.  There’s no reason to think he won’t put up those same numbers again on Sunday.

Steve Smith II (WR Week 10 Ranking: Not ranked) 2010 Season: 47 receptions for 517 yards & three TDs

Smitty will be out for at least this week’s game with a pectoral injury.  Stash him on your bench for the time being.

Mario Manningham (WR Week 10 Ranking: No. 22) 2010 Season: 25 receptions for 385 yards & three TDs

With Steve Smith out of the lineup due to a pectoral injury, Manningham takes over as the WR2 for the Giants.  As the second option for Eli against the Cowboys three weeks ago, Smith put up nine catches for 101 yards and a TD.  Mario will be looking to match those numbers this time around.

Kevin Boss (TE Week 10 Ranking: Not ranked) 2010 Season: 14 receptions for 215 yards & one TD

Boss won’t be a bad backup plan if your regular starter is either injured or on a bye this weekend.