Fantasy Football Week 10: These 10 Moves Will Save Your Season

Week 10 of the NFL season is right around the corner, and for fantasy football gurus, it is time to buckle down and finalize your team.

There have definitely been some trends, surprises and unbelievable events so far this season, and I expect plenty more before it is all said and done.

Going into Week 10, it seems a bit harder to find missing pieces to complete your fantasy puzzle. The drastic decision to sit, start, drop and trust certain players will either make you look like a fool or a genius.

With a little bit of guidance though, I think there are still viable options to save your season.

Here are 10 moves going into Week 10 that can increase your chances of FF glory.

1. Add Roy Helu

After an impressive performance on Sunday vs. the San Francisco 49ers, Roy Helu looks to have grabbed the starting running back role for the remainder of the season.

Helu has been up and down all year, but he should be receiving a ton of looks from here on out. John Beck consistently checked down to the young back all game, and he was a massive threat just as much throw the air as he was on the ground.

And considering how tough of a personality Mike Shanahan has, Helu may have done enough to get back on his coach’s good side, and should be given ample chances to produce.

2. Add Heath Miller

The tight end spot is always a tricky position to examine, because their production is dependent on their role in the offense.

Heath Miller has quietly put up good numbers the passed few weeks, and his stat line from last week’s game against the Baltimore Ravens indicate the trust him and Ben Roethlisberger have right now. The race atop the AFC North is very tight, and heading into their game vs. the Cincinnati Bengals, the play of role player’s like Miller could swing things in a positive direction for Pittsburgh.

Picking up the Steelers’ tight end could get a team a few crucial fantasy points, and at this point in the season, a few extra points go a long way.

3. Add Jonathan Baldwin

Despite how poor the Kansas City Chiefs looked against the winless Miami Dolphins, they are still contending for their division. They have a lot to play for still and Todd Healy’s team needs to focus on playing a little more consistent.

I still like Jonathan Baldwin going forward too. His emergence as a reliable second option for Matt Cassel has not only taken the pressure off of All-Pro receiver Dwayne Bowe, but also has stimulated his numbers.

He didn’t have as big impact in his last game, but I still feel Baldwin is going to become even more involved with KC’s offense. Grab him if you can.

4. Trust Eli Manning

When you are the younger brother of a future hall of fame quarterback, the scrutiny of Eli Manning is perhaps unwarranted at times.

I have always hated on Eli, but this season he is proving a lot of detractors wrong. He is coming off a monster day vs. the New England Patriots, where he orchestrated a game-winning drive complete with two 80-yard marches in the fourth quarter.

I think fantasy owners should continue to trust Eli, and based off his latest display, he should continue to put criticism to rest.

5. Trust Jay Cutler

Jay Cutler has been the talk of Chicago since he arrived from Denver, and amid massive expectations, the Vanderbilt alum has found life in the Windy City to be full of criticism.

While many blame Cutler for a lot of the Bears’ downfalls, it is horribly inaccurate to do such a thing. Last night’s gutsy play against the Philadelphia Eagles should put to rest a lot of speculation surrounding the quarterback.

Trust Cutler for the remainder of the season, because he is a proven quarterback who deserves a lot more credit than he receives. Jay is multi-faceted and has one of the more fiery and competitive personalities in the league, which is always a good thing in my eyes.

6. Trust Philip Rivers

Many fantasy managers are debating whether or not to go with Rivers during crunch time, but I advise that you should even after another turnover-fueled performance..

Rivers, a notorious late-season bloomer, is the undisputed leader of the Chargers’ offense and has the ability to reflect on his mistakes and change them. While many, including the owner of San Diego, feel this is an “off year” for the veteran QB, the AFC West is wide open and someone tested like Rivers can singlehandedly snatch the division.

For fantasy owners, patience is most certainly a virtue when it comes to fielding Rivers, but I feel he can come back to form when it really matters.

7. Drop Dallas Clark

Even though Dallas Clark is one of the best tight ends of the last decade, the absence of Peyton Manning has dramatically hurt his fantasy value.

Clark has game-changing abilities but has been virtually absent the entire year. He has gone through spurts that show he might effectively return, but doesn’t look to be as efficient as he has always been, especially with Matt Painter leading the offense.

I would cut your loses and drop the Pro Bowl tight end, as crazy as it sounds. And if the injury he picked up Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons is as serious as they think, he could be out of action anyway.

8. Drop Tampa Bay’s Defense.

The young Tampa Bay defense came into this season with a lot of hype, and they have failed to live up to the billing so far.

Equally as disappointing on offense, the Bucs have a lot of soul searching to do if they want to salvage what is left of this campaign. Carless mistakes and immaturity have hurt the Bucs all year, and with news breaking that a big name on defense is shelved for the season, Raheem Morris’ men might not have the defensive personnel to capture the division.

I would drop the Bucs’ defense and find a replacement. You should be able to find a solid alternative, with Houston and Oakland both being prime examples.

9. Drop Carson Palmer

Palmer was brought in to bring experience to Oakland, and in his first two games he has been nothing short of a let down.

The Raiders gave up a lot in order to get the former Cincinnati Bengal, and I presume Oakland fans are second guessing this decision. His last outing wasn’t as bad as his first, but he is turning the ball over far too often and is definitely not up to speed after holding out for so long.

Perhaps next year Palmer will be the quarterback the Raiders expected him to be, but the remainder of the schedule is not going to be friendly for him and his fantasy owners. Drop him and add Mark Sanchez or Andy Dalton for better production.

10. Sit Peyton Hillis

The Madden curse lives on through Peyton Hillis, who has experienced a surprising downfall in 2011.

After a breakout 2010 season, Hillis has been in the spotlight for all the wrong reasons this year, and hasn’t been able to stay on the field long enough to merit all of his complaining. His attitude has definitely changed after his popularity skyrocketed, and I expect him to be a shadow of his former self the rest of the way.

Hillis is on the “no cut” list in most fantasy leagues, and sitting him the remainder of the season is something prideful FF owners will have to accept. Suitable substitutions include Roy Helu, Willis McGahee, LeGarrette Blount and even Reggie Bush.