Week 10 Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Michael Vick and Top 10 Must Starts

Michael Vick and Maurice Jones-Drew lead the list of must-starts this week.

The first thing I look at in constructing the list is the average points per game given up by the opposing defense. The Indianapolis Colts at 35 points per game lead that list, followed by the Denver Broncos at 28 and the St. Louis Rams at 26.

The next thing I look at is any key injuries on the opposing team. This week it looks like Kevin Kolb will not be playing for the Arizona Cardinals.

So a winning strategy this week would include starting players facing the Rams, Cardinals, Colts and Broncos. Let's see who these players are.

Running Back Maurice Jones-Drew

With only three touchdowns and 12 pass receptions so far, Maurice Jones-Drew has not met the expectations of his owners this season.

However, this week he gets to play against the Indianapolis Colts, who are giving up 35 points per game on average this year.

Two touchdowns, 100 rushing yards, and four pass receptions is a reasonable expectation for MJD this week against the Colts defense.

Quarterback Matt Cassel

In the last three weeks, Matt Cassel of the Kansas City Chiefs has had only one touchdown pass but four interceptions. So this might lead an owner to bench him this week.

However, when we look back four games ago, against the Indianapolis Colts, he threw four touchdowns without an interception. This week he goes up against the Denver Broncos, a team with a similar poor defense.

So you need to start Cassel this week.

Quarterback Colt McCoy

Colt McCoy of the Cleveland Browns has thrown 16 touchdowns passes and 15 interceptions in his short NFL career. This is not usually a set of stats that would encourage you to start him.

However, this week the Browns have the St. Louis Rams at home. The Rams are giving up 26 points per game on average and are struggling to find enough healthy cornerbacks to play. The Rams only defense seems to be to hope that Steven Jackson can make a lot of rushing first downs.

This could be McCoy's best game of his career, so you need to start him.

Wide Receiver Jordy Nelson

I own Jordy Nelson of the Green Bay Packers in the fantasy league that I run. Each week I have a dilemma whether to start him or sit him.

This week the Packers play the Minnesota Vikings, who are giving up around 275 passing yards per game on average. On the other hand, the Packers are giving up around 300 passing yards per game. This tells me that there will be a high-scoring game.

Nelson will get his share of the passes from Aaron Rodgers and will reward you for starting him this week.

Running Back LeSean McCoy

The Philadelphia Eagles have been averaging about 435 yards per game on offense.  The Arizona Cardinals have been giving up around 390 yards per game.

Kevin Kolb is not likely to play this week. Beanie Wells is banged up. Arizona has lost 11 straight road games.

You need to get every Eagles player you can find into your lineup this week. Well maybe all of them except DeSean Jackson. He will probably have another off day, claiming that the defense has taken away his long routes.

LeSean McCoy has been a consistent producer for his owners, but this will be a breakout week for him.

Quarterback Michael Vick

Michael Vick of the Philadelphia Eagles is typically a boom or bust producer in fantasy leagues.

This week he won't have Brian Urlacher to worry about, so he should have a great game. The Arizona Cardinals have been giving up around 390 yards per game on average. It is easy to see Vick having 250 passing yards, two passing touchdowns, 75 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown.

The only issue here might be if Andy Reid takes Vick out in the third quarter because the Eagles have such a large lead.

Wide Receiver Jeremy Maclin

The Arizona Cardinals gave the Eagles their best cornerback in the trade for Kevin Kolb. Their current young cornerbacks, A.J. Jefferson and Richard Marshall, have had difficulties.

So Jeremy Maclin should be in for a good game. Look for 125 pass reception yards, six receptions and two touchdowns.

Wide Receiver Plaxico Burress

The New England Patriots have been giving up an astounding 315 passing yards per game. Certainly this will convince Rex Ryan that he needs to let Mark Sanchez air it out this week.

The major benefactor could be Plaxico Burress. He has rested his back and should be set to go on Sunday night.  Burress has been another boom or bust producer in fantasy leagues.

He did have three touchdowns recently against the San Diego Chargers. A repeat performance against the Patriots is not out of the question.

Running Back Brandon Jacobs

The New York Giants will likely play without Ahmad Bradshaw again this week.

This will leave Brandon Jacobs to handle the rushing load against the Seattle Seahawks. Jacobs should be a big producer this week.

Kicker Stephen Gostkowski

I'm thinking that the New York Jets' defense is going to keep the New England Patriots out of the endzone for most of the game. After all, the New York Giants did it last week, and the Jets' defense is better.

That means that kicker Stephen Gostkowski might get quite a few field goal attempts. The weather should be perfect on Sunday for the game. Four field goals plus one extra point is a reasonable expectation here.