QUARTERBACK
SWIM
Ben Roethlisberger (Pittsburgh Steelers):
You can hold on to the “Ben on the road” narrative, but he and the Steelers offense were really starting to pick up before the bye, and I expect them to come out firing in this easy match up. This Colts defense is in shambles per usual, and won’t be able to contain all of the Steelers weapons on Sunday.
Matt Ryan (Atlanta Falcons):
As long as Julio Jones is playing this weekend, Ryan should be a fine QB option and finish as a QB1 for the 4th straight week. The Cowboys defense has been favorable for opposing QB’s, and this has potential to be a shootout in Atlanta.
Josh McCown (New York Jets):
McCown has been a steady back-end QB1 option for most of the season and gets a juicy match up against one of the leagues worst passing defense in week 10. He’s a fine play in all formats this weekend.
Deep Dives–Eli Manning, Andy Dalton
SINK
Kirk Cousins (Washington Redskins):
Despite his late game heroics last week, I find it hard to trust Cousins this week against that Vikings defense with a banged up offensive line and receiving group.
Marcus Mariota (Tennessee Titans):
Mariota hasn’t been the QB1 we had all hoped for at the beginning of the season and this match up shouldn’t do anything to prove otherwise.
Phillip Rivers (San Diego Chargers):
Do not start any QB against Jacksonville. That is all.
RUNNING BACK
SWIM
Bilal Powell (New York Jets):
When Matt Forte doesn’t play, Powell is putting up RB1 type numbers. That combined with the Buccaneers terrible defense make him a must start option this weekend in all leagues. With no Mike Evans or Jameis Winston, the Jets may also find themselves playing with a lead in the second half, boosting Powell’s overall touch upside as well.
Alfred Morris (Dallas Cowboys):
The Cowboys keep talking about a 3 man committee at RB without Ezekiel Elliot, but don’t expect that to last long. Ideally they will look to ride one guy for the bulk of the carries, and the best option for that looks like Alfred Morris right now. It’s a good match up too, as the Falcons are vulnerable against the run this season.
Orleans Darkwa (New York Giants):
Darkwa is averaging 5.4 yards per carry on the ground over his past 4 games as the Giants lead back and now gets a positive match up for once. As big of a dumpster fire as the Giants have been, they shouldn’t get blown out by the 49ers and if the game is close, Darkwa should be in for 20+ touches against a soft, injury riddled defense.
Deep Dives–Devontae Booker, Kenyan Drake
SINK
Doug Martin (Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
It’s not so much that the Jets run defense is great (it isn’t), but Martin has been trending downward since his debut in week 5 anyway and may lose some snaps to other RB’s. It also doesn’t help that the team will be without its two best offensive players this weekend, so the Jets should be able to stack the box if they need to.
Aaron Jones (Green Bay Packers):
Neither GB running back can be trusted this weekend, but I think the backfield split may be going back towards being in Ty Montgomery’s favor, as he was clearly the better back last week. It’s a situation to avoid if possible.
WIDE RECEIVER
SWIM
Mohamed Sanu (Atlanta Falcons):
He’s still providing WR3/Flex value every week and should be in for a ton of targets with Julio Jones hurting and potential for a high scoring affair here. The Cowboys blah secondary helps of course too.
Sterling Sheppard (New York Giants):
He saw about a quarter of the Giants targets in his return to the lineup this past weekend, and has potential for a monster game against the worst secondary group in football right now.
Cooper Kupp (Los Angeles Rams):
It’s been the Robert Woods show for the past few weeks, but I think this match up is best for the slot receiver Kupp. He has only had value this year when he’s scored a TD, but that is certainly a possibility this weekend while I also see a good opportunity to set career highs in catches and yards.
Deep Dives–Cole Beasley, Martavis Bryant
SINK
Jordy Nelson (Chicago Bears):
Nelson is still a playable Flex option due to volume in the passing game, but he has almost no upside anymore with Brett Hundley under center. I’d still rather start someone like Sanu or Sheppard over him this weekend though.
Keenan Allen (San Diego Chargers):
The Jaguars effect limits Allen this week to no better than a flex option. His targets have been on the decline as well, although there is potential for him to have some success in the middle of the field in this game.
TIGHT END
SWIM
Cameron Brate (Tampa Bay Buccaneers):
He could get an increase in targets with Mike Evans out and can be a safety valve for Ryan Fitzpatrick. The Jets allowing the second most touchdowns to opposing tight ends also makes him an appealing option this week.
Kyle Rudolph (Minnesota Vikings):
The Redskins rank 29th in points allowed to opposing tight ends, making Rudolph a fine play this weekend. He hasn’t done much this season, but this is a good match up with a good possibility for a TD as well.
Hunter Henry (San Diego Chargers):
The Jaguars defense funnels everything to the middle of the field, with the corners and pass rush locking down the perimeter every week. That should leave Henry with plenty of opportunity in this game, as long as they don’t ask him to stay in and block the majority of the time.
SINK
Charles Clay (Buffalo Bills):
Expected to return this week, I am staying away from Clay if possible giving his extended absence and the fact the Saints defense have actually been playing well as a unit.
Austin Seferian-Jenkins (New York Jets):
The one thing Tampa’s defense is good for is holding tight ends in check, and that shouldn’t be too hard to do again this weekend. ASJ has yet to go over 50 yards this season and despite the revenge game narrative here, is a touchdown or bust play this Sunday.