Fantasy Football Week 10: NFL Eliminator Picks To Keep You in the Game

The Houston Texans were able to defend their home field against the Cleveland Browns in Week 9 and I remain perfect at 9-0 in the Eliminator Challenge on ESPN. The Texans, as I predicted, won handily 30-12. 

The risky pick I contemplated, taking the Arizona Cardinals at home against the St. Louis Rams, also came to fruition as the Cardinals pulled out a victory in OT. While I might be in a slightly better position now if I had taken the Cards last week, I'm not going to dwell on it.

I also have to eat a bit of humble pie as the New York Jets (a popular pick I questioned) were able to get their first road win of the season against the Buffalo Bills. 

The Kansas City Chiefs proved to be a stumbling block for a few perfect entries, as they lost to the previously winless Miami Dolphins, 31-3, at Arrowhead. With that being the main miss last week, the perfect entries in the challenge dropped to 8,630.

Here are my picks through Week 9:

Week 1: San Diego Chargers

Week 2: New York Giants

Week 3: Dallas Cowboys

Week 4: Green Bay Packers

Week 5: New Orleans Saints

Week 6: Cincinnati Bengals

Week 7: Carolina Panthers

Week 8: Tennessee Titans

Week 9: Houston Texans

This week, the Philadelphia Eagles are a hot pick at home against the Cardinals. The Eagles are coming off a Monday night defeat. I'm wary of the hangover after the short week and also the fact that it's a herd pick at almost 28 percent, the largest percentage we've seen in weeks. The reward of getting my win in another matchup with an upset happening here is a best-case scenario that I would like to leave intact.

About 13 percent of selections are going for the early win with the San Diego Chargers on Thursday night. The AFC West has been an unpredictable division this year. With Carson Palmer looking like he's getting the hang of things with the Oakland receivers (if not opposing defenses), I'm staying away from this one. 

At the other end of the football week are the Green Bay Packers, who should be able to take care of the Minnesota Vikings at Lambeau on Monday night. The Pack are receiving about seven percent of selections.

The 6-2 Bengals are hosting the 6-3 Steelers in an intriguing matchup of a good team that's hot and a good team on the rebound after a Sunday night loss.

Surprisingly, the Steelers, coming off of that Sunday night loss to the Ravens, are getting about seven percent of selections. If I had to pick a team in this matchup, it would be the Steelers. However, the beauty of an eliminator challenge is that I don't have to.

If you're looking for a high risk/reward pick, I'd take the Rams on the road in Cleveland. Steven Jackson has been running well and the Browns have looked like they might not win another game this year.

But that's not my pick.

I'm looking at the Baltimore Ravens this week, as they travel to Seattle to face the Seahawks. I worry a little bit about Joe Flacco, as he can pull a disappearing act in non-rivalry games. But the Ravens have another playmaker in the backfield in Ray Rice.

Even if Flacco doesn't play well, I don't see the Seahawks scoring more than 15 points against the Baltimore D. Flacco will throw at least one touchdown and they'll likely get two on the ground.  Sounds like a victory to me.

Week 9 Selection: Baltimore Ravens