In seasonal fantasy football, matchups often boil down to which owner makes the right start/sit decisions. You can’t hold allegiances to projections or name recognition, you simply have to play the guys you think will wind up with the most fantasy points.
Here are the fringe options that might / should be in your fantasy lineup in Week 10.
QB Ryan Fitzpatrick vs. WAS
Ryan Fitzpatrick was at it again on Sunday, completing 24-of-40 passes for 243 yards and 2 TDs against a solid Panthers defense. The Bucs horrendous defense ensures that he’ll have heavy volume and as long as he doesn’t turn the ball over at a high rate, he’ll continue to play ahead of Jameis Winston. Washington’s secondary has struggled badly and could be without LCB Quinton Dunbar (shin), who tapped out of Sunday’s beatdown loss to the Falcons. Atlanta shredded the Redskins secondary and Washington is now giving up the ninth-most FPPG to opposing QBs this year. With Mike Evans poised to rebound in an easier matchup this week, Adam Humphries emerging as a solid slot WR and O.J. Howard getting healthier at TE, Fitz has the weapons necessary to post another useful fantasy line.
RB Matt Breida vs. NYG
While he took a backseat last Thursday night in Nick Mullens’ stellar debut, Matt Breida should have better games going forward with the entire 49ers offense trending up. Raheem Mostert (arm) is done for the season, and Alfred Morris has been completely ineffective behind Breida. An extra three days of rest should do wonders for Breida, who has been playing through ankle and knee injuries for weeks. And a matchup against a Giants team that’s given up 5 receiving TDs to opposing RBs this season is nothing to worry about.
RB Mike Davis @ LAR
After Chris Carson (hip) departed Sunday’s loss, Mike Davis clearly emerged as the Seahawks go-to back. He handled 22 touches while rookie Rashad Penny saw seven, and played on a season-high 58 offensive snaps (71.6%) against the Chargers. In Week 5, Davis totaled 75 yards and a TD on 14 touches as the Seahawks rolled up 184 rushing yards on the Rams. Surprisingly enough, the Rams have given up the ninth-most rushing yards (841) to opposing RBs this season and Seattle remains the most run-heavy team in the NFL.
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WR DeSean Jackson vs. WAS
If you need to swing big as the underdog in your matchup this week, DeSean Jackson makes sense as a high-upside play. The veteran still has excellent wheels and blew up over the first three weeks with Fitzpatrick at quarterback. Now he’ll face a Redskins team that’s been routinely burned down the field and is giving up six pass plays of 40-plus yards this season. Fitzpatrick is willing to target Jackson on deep throws aggressively and that gives him a ton of potential.
WR Marquez Valdes-Scantling vs. MIA
The Packers have already established a new pecking order at WR with promising rookie Marquez Valdes-Scantling seeing 27 targets over his last four games. With Geronimo Allison (core) out for the season, “MVS” should have an even more reliable role opposite Davante Adams. Dolphins top CB Xavien Howard should shadow Adams this week, while MVS draws a good matchup against 5-foot-11 CB Bobby McCain. Aaron Rodgers has shown a willingness to target MVS when he’s covered, and the 6-foot-3 WR should be able to come down with jump balls even if McCain is right on him.
TE Jack Doyle vs. JAX
In PPR formats, Jack Doyle is a locked-in TE1 at a thin position. He caught 6-of-7 passes for 70 yards and a TD after returning from a lengthy absence due to a hip injury last week and should only grow stronger after resting during the Colts’ bye week. Jacksonville has an elite pass defense, but has been more vulnerable on the interior over the past two seasons, and ranks 18th in DVOA pass defense against opposing TEs this year. Doyle doesn’t have tremendous upside, but you could do worse at TE if you’re in a league with 12 or more teams.
