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Week 10 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em

Jamey Eisenberg
Senior Fantasy Writer
  •  

Disclaimer ... Before you start reading, please understand that we are not in the business of stating the obvious and wasting your time (or ours), so you won't be reading here why you need to start Aaron Rodgers, Arian Foster, Calvin Johnson or any other top-tier players. We're here to help you make a decision on players you are on the fence about.

At some point Josh Freeman is going to slow down and stop posting astronomical stats, but Fantasy owners should buy in now. He's been amazing in his past four games.

I'm starting Freeman over ...
Michael Vick vs. DAL
Philip Rivers at TB
Matt Schaub at CHI
Jay Cutler vs. HOU
Ryan Fitzpatrick at NE

In matchups against Kansas City, New Orleans, Minnesota and Oakland, Freeman has combined for 1,247 passing yards, 11 touchdowns and just one interception. He is averaging 28 Fantasy points over that span and this offense is playing at an unbelievable level with Doug Martin, Vincent Jackson and Mike Williams.

We don't expect Freeman to have a letdown this week against the Chargers. Jackson should get some revenge against his former team, and San Diego has allowed three quarterbacks to reach at least 27 Fantasy points this season, including twice in the past four games against Drew Brees and Peyton Manning.

Freeman clearly isn't on the same level with Brees and Manning, but it's hard to overlook his production of late. He's getting the job done, and it's time to trust him as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback in the majority of leagues.

Full Disclosure from Week 9
Start of the Week
Player Fantasy Pts. (proj.) Fantasy Pts. (actual) Start % Pos. rank
Cam Newton, QB, Panthers 27 23 78 7
Steve Smith, WR, Panthers 16 10 93 21
Recommended starts that made us look good
Matt Schaub, QB, Texans 21 22 42 8
DeSean Jackson, WR, Eagles 12 16 85 4
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals 8 10 56 5
Recommended sits that made us look good
Steve Johnson, WR, Bills 8 2 44 67
Hakeem Nicks, WR, Giants 9 1 60 80
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings 7 0 44 35
Recommended starts that made us look bad
Matthew Stafford, QB, Lions 27 11 91 23
Fred Jackson, RB, Bills 13 3 70 44
Josh Gordon, WR, Browns 10 3 36 55
Recommended sits that made us look bad
Carson Palmer, QB, Raiders 18 36 26 1
Chris Johnson, RB, Titans 9 16 17 82
Michael Turner, RB, Falcons 9 16 77 10

Quarterback

Start 'Em

Tony Romo (at PHI): Romo has been erratic all season, but he's been productive of late for Fantasy owners with at least 18 points in three of his past four outings. He hasn't had more than 21 points since Week 1 and he's due for a big game. The Eagles have allowed multiple touchdowns to quarterbacks in each of the past three games and five of the past six outings. Only Ben Roethlisberger during that span failed to reach 19 points, and if Romo can cut down on the turnovers (he has 10 touchdowns compared to 13 interceptions on the year) he should do well.
Ben Roethlisberger (vs. KC): Roethlisberger has been a mediocre Fantasy quarterback lately with only two games with at least 19 Fantasy points in his past five outings. He does have five touchdowns in his past two games and hopefully another multi-touchdown performance will come this week. The Chiefs have allowed at least two touchdowns to an opposing quarterback in all but one game this season, which was Joe Flacco (on the road, of course) in Week 5. Facing Kansas City has been a good way for quarterbacks to pad their stats and we expect Roethlisberger to follow suit.
Carson Palmer (at BAL): Palmer probably won't get 36 Fantasy points again on the road at the Ravens like he got at home last week against the Bucs, but he could have a similar day with a lot of attempts (61) now that Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson both have high ankle sprains. Palmer has at least 18 Fantasy points in his past three games and Baltimore's defense has struggled of late because of injuries to Ray Lewis and Lardarius Webb, allowing at least 20 Fantasy points in two of their past three outings. In one of my leagues, I'm starting Palmer ahead of Michael Vick.
Eli Manning (at CIN): Big brother Peyton just faced the Bengals and we hope Eli called for some tips, because he needs some extra help to snap out of his recent funk. He has just eight Fantasy points combined in his past two games against Dallas and Pittsburgh and he hasn't had multiple touchdowns since Week 5. He also has just three games with more than 20 Fantasy points this year, so he's due. The Bengals have allowed five quarterbacks to get at least 19 Fantasy points this season, including two in their past three games. We hope Peyton pointed out some holes in this defense that Eli can exploit this week.
Andrew Luck (at JAC): We're going to back Luck on the road, which hasn't been a good thing this season. He is averaging 26 Fantasy points in five home games but just 11 in three games away from Indianapolis. Let's hope facing a familiar foe in a spotlight game Thursday night helps, because he already had 27 Fantasy points against the Jaguars in Week 3. Jacksonville has allowed multiple touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in five of the past six games and four quarterbacks have reached at least 20 Fantasy points against the Jaguars this season. It will help Luck if Donnie Avery (ribs) is 100 percent, but we still expect this to be the best road outing of his rookie year.

Week 10 quarterback sleepers
Joe Flacco (vs. OAK) Has at least 23 Fantasy points in three of four home games this year.
Russell Wilson (vs. NYJ) Averaging 24 Fantasy points a game in past three home games.
Ryan Tannehill (vs. TEN) TEN has allowed a league-high 20 passing touchdowns this year.

Sit 'Em

Philip Rivers (at TB): Rivers has five games this season with multiple touchdowns, but he's only topped 18 Fantasy points twice in those outings. He has an interception in six of his past seven games with 10 over that span and he just isn't trustworthy as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback. The Bucs have given up some big passing games this season to Eli Manning, Brees and Palmer, but they've also shut down Cam Newton and Romo. I expect Rivers to post modest stats at best.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (at NE): Don't get caught up in Fitzpatrick's past performance against the Patriots in Week 4 when he had 31 Fantasy points, or even look at New England's pass defense this season, which includes four quarterbacks getting at least 28 Fantasy points. Look at Fitzpatrick on the road of late when he's combined for 17 Fantasy points at San Francisco, Arizona and Houston. Look at the Patriots last outing against the Rams when Sam Bradford was held to 11 Fantasy points. The Bills also want to get C.J. Spiller more involved and the Patriots should be ready coming off a bye.
Jay Cutler (vs. HOU): When Cutler is on his game he can be a solid Fantasy quarterback. We saw that last week at Tennessee when he had 26 Fantasy points behind three touchdowns to Brandon Marshall. He now has at least 21 Fantasy points in three of his past five games, but he should struggle this week. The Texans are among the league leaders in sacks and Peyton Manning and Aaron Rodgers are the only quarterbacks with more than 13 Fantasy points against them. This should be a tough game for Cutler to produce at a high level.
Andy Dalton (vs. NYG): Dalton has thrown an interception in nine straight games dating back to last year's playoff loss against Houston with 14 over that span. The Giants are tied with the Bears for the NFL lead in interceptions with 17. Now, Dalton has overcome his interception woes with four games this season with at least 25 Fantasy points despite the turnovers, but he's struggled of late with three games with 16 Fantasy points or less in his past four outings. We expect another bad performance this week with the Giants defense focused coming off a loss against Pittsburgh.
Matt Schaub (at CHI): Schaub has been stellar of late with 22 Fantasy points in each of his past two games against Baltimore and Buffalo and he now has at least 20 Fantasy points in four of his past six games. But he's facing a Bears defense that has been lights out this season. Romo has the best performance against Chicago with 19 Fantasy points, including matchups with Luck, Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Newton. This is not a good week to consider Schaub a starting Fantasy quarterback in the majority of leagues.

Bust alert: Michael Vick (vs. DAL): Vick has not played great this season with 17 turnovers and a completion percentage of 58 percent, but he's not getting much help from his teammates. His offensive line is a mess and his receivers are dropping easy passes. Despite all that, he's still managed at least 19 Fantasy points in five games this season and it doesn't seem like he'll lose his job -- yet. He has a tough matchup this week with the Cowboys, so use caution when setting your lineup. The Cowboys have only allowed one quarterback to reach at least 20 Fantasy points, which was Cutler in Week 4. Otherwise they have limited Eli Manning twice, Freeman, Newton and Matt Ryan to 17 Fantasy points or less. This might not be one of Vick's better games and we could be looking at his last start for the Eagles in Philadelphia if he struggles.

Running back

Start 'Em

Mikel Leshoure (at MIN): Last week's performance at Jacksonville with 25 Fantasy points was not a fluke for Leshoure. He's been on the cusp of a big outing the past three games against Philadelphia, Chicago and Seattle, but he just didn't find the end zone. He won't score three times against the Vikings like he did against the Jaguars, but Minnesota has allowed a running back to score in each of the past four games. Consider Joique Bell a sleeper as well in this matchup.
Rashad Jennings (vs. IND): We keep waiting for Jennings to have a breakout game since taking over for the injured Maurice Jones-Drew (foot) as the starter the past two weeks, but he's combined for just 14 Fantasy points against Green Bay and Detroit. This is a great week for it to happen, since the Colts have allowed 10 touchdowns to opposing running backs and six to reach double digits in Fantasy points, including Jones-Drew in Week 3 when he had 28 carries for 177 yards and a touchdown and two catches for 16 yards. If Jennings gets half those total yards with a score we'd be ecstatic.
C.J. Spiller (at NE): The story out of Buffalo following the Week 10 loss at Houston was the Bills have to get Spiller more involved. He had just 11 total touches (six carries and five catches) against the Texans but still managed 102 total yards. He is averaging 7.2 yards per carry and even if he continues to share playing time with Fred Jackson, he should still do well against the Patriots. Last year at New England when Jackson was out for the year, Spiller had 13 carries for 60 yards and four catches for 40 yards and a touchdown. It's pretty simple -- give him the ball, and he will succeed.
Vick Ballard (at JAC): Donald Brown (knee) might not play Thursday night and if he does he could be limited. That should allow Ballard the chance to get at least nine Fantasy points for the fourth game in a row. He has yet to rush for a touchdown this season, but the Jaguars have allowed 10 rushing touchdowns to opposing running backs, including four last week against Detroit. We have high expectations for Ballard if Brown is out and this could be his best game of the season.
Pierre Thomas (vs. ATL): Thomas didn't get the majority of touches in Week 9 against the Eagles even with Darren Sproles (hand) out. He had six carries for 44 yards and two catches for 26 yards, but Chris Ivory had 10 carries for 48 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 2 yards and Mark Ingram had seven carries for 44 yards and two catches for 23 yards. But we expect Thomas to be more involved this week since this game should be more of a shootout than last week's 28-13 New Orleans victory. Thomas has a good history against the Falcons with at least 90 total yards or a touchdown in four of his past five meetings with Atlanta. The Falcons have also allowed either 100 total yards or a touchdown to a running back in seven of eight games this year.

Week 10 running back sleepers
Jonathan Dwyer (vs. KC) Dwyer and Isaac Redman should do well in tandem vs. KC.
Ronnie Brown (at TB) Has 20 catches in past four games and is a useful flex for PPR leagues.
Marcel Reece (at BAL) Gets his chance to shine with Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson banged up.
Daniel Thomas (vs. TEN) TEN has allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing running backs this year.
Andre Brown (at CIN) Has three touchdowns in his past three games and could score again.

Sit 'Em

Felix Jones (at PHI): Jones had his best game since taking over for the injured DeMarco Murray (foot) in Week 9 at Atlanta with nine carries for 39 yards and five catches for 70 yards, but he's still averaging just seven Fantasy points in three outings as a starter. The Eagles have done a nice job in run defense with only two rushing touchdowns allowed to opposing running backs and three reaching double digits in Fantasy points. We would still consider Jones a flex option, but he's been a disappointment since taking over for Murray, who hopefully will return soon.
Steven Jackson (at SF): Many Fantasy owners, myself included, are forced to start Jackson this week with Trent Richardson and Alfred Morris on a bye and Darren McFadden (ankle) hurt, but it's going to be tough for him. He has just one touchdown on the season and he continues to lose carries to Daryl Richardson. Jackson had 26 carries for 95 yards and two catches for 26 yards with no touchdowns in two games against the 49ers last year and San Francisco has only allowed one touchdown to an opposing running back this season.
Shonn Greene (at SEA): Greene has been fantastic of late with his worst performance over the past three games a nine-point Fantasy outing against Miami in Week 8. Prior to that he had 14 points at New England and 34 points against the Colts. Going to Seattle will be tough even though the Seahawks have given up double digits in Fantasy points to a running back in two of the past three games against Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson. But Seattle has also held Jackson, Stevan Ridley and Leshoure to six Fantasy points or less, and Greene might not have much running room this week. Consider him just a flex option.
BenJarvus Green-Ellis (vs. NYG): Green-Ellis helped Fantasy owners who started him last week against Denver with a short touchdown run and that's what you're hoping for if you keep him active. He hasn't topped 70 total yards in his past four games and Week 9 was his first outing with double digits in Fantasy points since Week 2. The Giants have allowed four touchdowns to opposing running backs this year, but Green-Ellis failed to score against the Giants in two meetings in 2011, including the Super Bowl. We just don't have enough faith in Green-Ellis to consider him a starting option in the majority of leagues.
Jonathan Stewart (vs. DEN): Stewart is worth using as a flex option this week, but this backfield continues to be a mess. It appeared like the Panthers were committed to making Stewart the featured rusher, but he had 10 carries against the Redskins in Week 9 while DeAngelo Williams and Mike Tolbert combined for nine, with Williams scoring a touchdown. Newton also scored a rushing touchdown at the goal line and Stewart only has one game this season with double digits in Fantasy points. He could easily have a big game against the Broncos and his former coach in John Fox, but it's just risky to start him in all leagues. He should only be started where needed.

Bust alert: Jamaal Charles (at PIT): When Charles has been good he's been great. He had 68 Fantasy points in three games against New Orleans, San Diego and Baltimore, but in his five other games he's combined for 18 points. In his past three outings against Tampa Bay, Oakland and the rematch with San Diego, he is averaging just three Fantasy points a game and hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 4. He's also dealing with a neck injury sustained in Week 9 and the Steelers are looking stout on defense again. In the past three games, Pittsburgh has held Green-Ellis, Alfred Morris and Ahmad Bradshaw to 15 combined Fantasy points. It's hard to bench Charles because he's always capable of a big performance with only one long run. But just be aware of his recent play and a tough matchup on the road when setting your lineup.

Wide receiver

Start 'Em

Mike Williams (vs. SD): This game should be all about Jackson facing the Chargers, but Williams will still get plenty of attention. He has a touchdown or 100 receiving yards in all but two games this season, including two in a row. The Chargers have allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing receivers, including seven since Week 5. We expect Williams and the Tampa Bay passing game to remain hot in this matchup, especially with the Chargers coming to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. kickoff, which is never easy for West Coast teams.
Titus Young/Ryan Broyles (at MIN): You're starting Calvin Johnson in all leagues, especially after his solid outing in Week 9 at Jacksonville, but secondary receivers have done well against the Vikings this season, especially of late. Minnesota has allowed four touchdowns to No. 2 receivers in the past three games, including Andre Roberts, Williams and Golden Tate. That should bode well for Young, who can be considered a No. 2 Fantasy receiver in most formats, and Broyles, who is more of a No. 3 receiver in standard leagues. Young has 32 Fantasy points in his past three games and Broyles has 25 Fantasy points over that same span.
Torrey Smith (vs. OAK): Smith has done well at home and he has a favorable matchup this week against the Raiders. In his past three home games against New England, Cleveland and Dallas, Smith has combined for 47 Fantasy points with four touchdowns. The Raiders have allowed nine touchdowns to opposing receivers this season, including four in the past three weeks against Cecil Shorts, Dexter McCluster, Jackson and Williams. In total, 11 receivers have reached double digits in Fantasy points against the Raiders and we expect Smith to add to that list.
Brian Hartline (vs. TEN): The past eight No. 1 receivers to face the Titans -- Malcom Floyd, Calvin Johnson, Andre Johnson, Percy Harvin, Mike Wallace, Steve Johnson, Reggie Wayne and Marshall -- have combined for 50 catches, 815 yards and seven touchdowns with only Andre Johnson and Wayne failing to reach double digits in Fantasy points. Hartline is coming off a solid game against the Colts with eight catches for 107 yards on 12 targets and he should have the chance for a productive outing based on how the Titans have defended receivers. For the season, Tennessee has allowed nine receivers to reach double digits in Fantasy points.
Michael Crabtree (vs. STL): There's no team that Crabtree enjoys facing more than the Rams. In his past four games against St. Louis, Crabtree has 22 catches for 365 yards and five touchdowns. He is coming off his best game of the year with five catches for 72 yards and two touchdowns in Week 8 at Arizona and hopefully he can build off that performance against the Rams, who have allowed six touchdowns to opposing receivers in their past three games.

Week 10 wide receiver sleepers
Darrius Heyward-Bey (at BAL) Maryland native is averaging eight Fantasy points in his past three games.
Emmanuel Sanders (vs. KC) Should see an increase in targets with Antonio Brown (ankle) likely out.
Cecil Shorts (vs. IND) IND has allowed 12 touchdowns to opposing receivers this year.
T.Y. Hilton (at JAC) Had 17 Fantasy points vs. JAC in Week 3 and could shine again.
Nate Washington (at MIA) No. 2 receivers have scored five touchdowns vs. MIA in the past six games.

Sit 'Em

Dwayne Bowe (at PIT): Bowe's season has gone completely downhill after what looked like a solid start. He had at least 16 Fantasy points in two of his first four games, but since Week 5 he has combined for 19 Fantasy points in four outings. He has another tough matchup this week at the Steelers, who have only allowed three receivers to reach double digits in Fantasy points this year despite allowing seven touchdowns. In the past three games the Steelers have held A.J. Green, Santana Moss, Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz to an average of five Fantasy points and Bowe should again be limited.
Sidney Rice (vs. NYJ): Rice is playing well of late with three touchdowns in his past four games and he scored last week despite tough coverage from Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield. He gets another tough assignment this week with Antonio Cromartie, who has helped limit Hartline, Brandon Lloyd, Wayne and Andre Johnson to eight Fantasy points or less. Rice is starting to look like the receiver we remember from his breakout campaign in 2009, but he's still not someone to start in all leagues when he's facing a quality cover corner who should be able to limit his production.
Danny Amendola (at SF): Amendola is expected to return this week after missing the past three games with a shoulder injury. But that doesn't mean you have to start him in a tough matchup with the 49ers. San Francisco has only allowed two receivers to score this season and two to reach double digits in Fantasy points, and Amendola has just one touchdown in four career meetings with the 49ers. He will eventually work his way back to being a starting Fantasy option, but let him prove himself first. We're glad Amendola is back, but that doesn't mean he should be active in most leagues.
Steve Johnson (at NE): The Patriots secondary has been abused this season with 11 touchdowns allowed to opposing receivers and eight reaching double digits in Fantasy points, but Johnson was surprisingly quiet against New England in Week 4 with two catches for 23 yards on 10 targets. He could have a breakout game this week since he does have four touchdowns on the season, but he has just one game with more than 80 receiving yards. In the three games where he didn't score he has 13 combined Fantasy points. We would use him as a No. 3 Fantasy receiver at best in the majority of leagues.
Hakeem Nicks (at CIN): Nicks is still dealing with a nagging knee problem and he continues to struggle on the field. In his past four games he has just 14 Fantasy points combined and he only has one touchdown on the season, which was Week 2. We probably won't see Nicks playing at his best until after the Giants' bye in Week 11 and hopefully his knee will improve by then. It's hard to bench Nicks when he's active, but you might consider it this week if you have other alternatives.

Bust alert: Jeremy Maclin (vs. DAL): Maclin was a colossal disappointment in Week 9 at New Orleans since he failed to take advantage of a dream matchup. Granted, he had only four targets against the Saints, but he managed just two catches for 28 yards. He now has just one touchdown since Week 2 and he's combined for five Fantasy points in his past two games. The Cowboys have done a nice job against opposing receivers with only four touchdowns allowed and four reaching double digits in Fantasy points. Maclin did score in both meetings with the Cowboys last year, but they have an improved secondary. Their pass rush should also make it difficult for Vick to look downfield for Maclin to make plays.

Tight end

Start 'Em

Vernon Davis (vs. STL): The Rams have started to struggle with tight ends of late, allowing three touchdowns in their past three games to Anthony Fasano and Rob Gronkowski (two). Davis has been miserable lately with six Fantasy points combined in his past three games and he hasn't scored since Week 3. But he has a good history against the Rams with at least 70 receiving yards in four of his past five outings and Alex Smith spoke during the bye week about trying to get Davis more involved. This is a good time to buy into Davis, who closed last season with a touchdown or 100 receiving yards in four of his final eight games. A similar stretch run could be on the horizon.
Jermaine Gresham (vs. NYG): We had Gresham as a starter last week against the Broncos and we'll stick with him again even though this is a tougher matchup. The Giants have only allowed one touchdown to an opposing tight end and only four to reach seven Fantasy points, but only three tight ends (Greg Olsen, Logan Paulsen and Jason Witten) have more than six targets against the Giants with all three reaching at least 75 receiving yards. Gresham has at least six targets in five games this season and has at least six Fantasy points in four of those outings. If he continues to get the targets this week then he should be able to produce.
Dustin Keller (at SEA): This isn't a great matchup for Keller since the Seahawks have only allowed two touchdowns to opposing tight ends and none have reached double digits in Fantasy points, but Keller could still be successful. In two games since coming back from a hamstring injury, he has 14 catches for 170 yards and a touchdown on 18 targets and he should be heavily involved as the Jets best receiving option in a game where they will probably be chasing points.

Week 10 tight end sleepers
Martellus Bennett (at CIN) CIN has allowed five touchdowns to opposing tight ends this season.
Anthony Fasano (vs. TEN) TEN has allowed seven touchdowns to opposing tight ends this year.
Greg Olsen (vs. DEN) DEN has allowed six tight ends to reach double digits in Fantasy points.

Sit 'Em

Brent Celek (vs. DAL): Celek has just one touchdown on the season and has not reached double digits in Fantasy points since Week 2. In his past three games against Detroit, Atlanta and New Orleans, he has eight Fantasy points combined. He scored twice against the Cowboys last year, but Dallas has improved in defense of tight ends of late. After allowing three touchdowns to opposing tight ends through Week 3, the Cowboys have held Dennis Pitta, Olsen, Martellus Bennett and Tony Gonzalez to a combined 11 Fantasy points and should be able to contain Celek.
Jared Cook (at MIA): Maybe the Titans should have traded Cook like he asked because he's done nothing productive of late. In his past four games, Cook has combined for 10 Fantasy points, including a minus-2 showing in Week 9 against Chicago with two catches for 6 yards and a lost fumble. The Dolphins and Jaguars are the only teams yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing tight end and Cook has only topped 55 receiving yards just once this season.
Kyle Rudolph (vs. DET): It's a shame to see Rudolph completely disappear because he was having such a great season prior to Week 7. In his past three games against Arizona, Tampa Bay and Seattle he has combined for one Fantasy point on just eight targets. The Vikings have taken him out of the offense and even though he could be needed this week with Percy Harvin (ankle) banged up, you can't trust him. Prior to his recent struggles, his worst game was Week 4 at Detroit when he had two catches for 8 yards and the Lions should be able to contain him once again.

Bust alert: Joel Dreessen (at CAR): We had Dreessen as a starter last week and he scored against the Bengals with four catches for 38 yards. It was his fourth touchdown in his past six games, and he has been a solid target for Peyton Manning, especially in the red zone. But the Panthers have allowed just three touchdowns to tight ends this season and only one since Week 3. Since then they have held Gonzalez and Witten to a combined nine Fantasy points and no tight end has reached double digits. There's always the chance Dreessen scores, but when he doesn't get in the end zone this year he has six Fantasy points combined in four games.

Defense/Special teams

Start 'Em

Week 10 sleeper DSTs
Cowboys at PHI
Dolphins vs. TEN
Patriots vs. BUF

Lions (at MIN): The Lions DST has done a nice job of late with double digits in Fantasy points in a standard league in four of their past five games, including a matchup with the Vikings in Week 4. Since that game the Lions have five interceptions, 11 sacks and two fumble recoveries while holding their opponents (Minnesota, Philadelphia, Chicago, Seattle and Chicago) to 24 points or less in each matchup. Christian Ponder has been a mess of late with two games with fewer than 65 passing yards in his past three outings and the Vikings might be without Harvin. This should be another good week for the Lions (4-4) as they try to get back into playoff contention after a 1-3 start.

Sit 'Em

Chargers (at TB): The Chargers DST was the No. 1 unit in Week 9 with 29 Fantasy points in a standard league. Playing the Chiefs will do that. The Chargers actually have two games with at least 24 Fantasy points this season, both against Kansas City. Otherwise they have struggled for the most part, especially on the road. In games at Oakland, New Orleans and Cleveland, the Chargers have a combined 24 Fantasy points. The Bucs offense is clicking right now with at least 36 points in three of their past four games and only one interception, two fumbles and four sacks allowed over that span. If you added the Chargers DST last week for the matchup with the Chiefs you can now drop them for a better option like the Lions, Dolphins, Cowboys or Patriots.

Kicker

Start 'Em

Week 10 sleeper Ks
Matt Prater at CAR
Dan Bailey at PHI
Dan Carpenter vs. TEN

Shaun Suisham (vs. KC): Suisham is quietly having a productive season with at least nine Fantasy points in five of eight games. He has double digits in Fantasy points in three of his past five outings and is the No. 10 kicker in standard leagues. He has a favorable matchup this week against the Chiefs, who have allowed four kickers to make at least three field goals this season. Suisham also has at least nine Fantasy points in three home games this year and has only missed one field goal this season.

Sit 'Em

Greg Zuerlein (at SF): Zuerlein, or "Legatron" as he's been called, got off to a hot start with at least 11 Fantasy points in three of his first four games, but he has cooled off of late. He has just one game with double digits in points in his past four outings and his last game against New England in London was his worst of the season with only one extra point. He should rebound against the 49ers, but he's struggled outdoors with 15 Fantasy points combined in three games at Chicago, Miami and in London. The 49ers also have allowed just two kickers to score more than six points this season, which were Jason Hanson in Week 2 and Lawrence Tynes in Week 6.

Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Jamey at @JameyEisenberg and on Facebook .

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Player News
Rob Gronkowski
Gronkowski slated for fourth surgery
Rob Gronkowski, TE, NE
2:00 PM
News: New England tight end Rob Gronkowski will undergo a fourth surgery on his left forearm Monday at Massachusetts General Hospital, the Boston Herald reports Sunday. Dr. Jesse Jupiter is expected to perform the surgery. A new plate is expected to replace the one already in his arm and he will begin a new 10-11 week recovery period.
Analysis: The doctors will take a culture from Gronk's arm and if it shows the infection has lingered, it could be "back to square one," for the tight end. He could miss regular season games if that happens so Fantasy owners will want to watch out. It goes without saying that his Fantasy draft stock will be affected negatively if he has all the procedures and isn't ready for training camp or preseason games. Count on us to keep you posted on the latest news on Gronkowski between now and when the season starts.

Dwight Freeney
Freeney signs with Chargers
Dwight Freeney, DE, IND
10:44 AM
News: The Chargers have signed linebacker Dwight Freeney to a two-year contract, NFL.com reports.
Analysis: The 33-year-old Freeney had 12 tackles and five sacks last year for the Colts. The Chargers needed a pass rusher and this was a good fit. Still, we're not sure he'll carry much Fantasy value in IDP formats.

EJ Manuel
Manuel could start Week 1
EJ Manuel, QB, BUF
5/17/2013
News: The Bills official team website reports that new general manager Doug Whaley was asked in an appearance on the NFL Network about the chances of rookie quarterback E.J. Manuel being ready to start Week 1 of the regular season. Whaley didn’t rule out the possibility. “Time will tell,” said Whaley. ”He does have the work ethic and the leadership qualities that he’ll have a chance. But we believe competition brings out the best in everybody. Between him, Kevin Kolb, Tarvaris Jackson, even Jeff Tuel, we’re excited to see who comes out on top of that position battle.” Buffalo’s season opener is a home game against New England.
Analysis: We'd like to see Manuel start from Week 1 because he presents the most upside of the quarterback group in Buffalo. Keep an eye on Manuel's progress this offseason, and he has the chance to be a No. 2 Fantasy quarterback in standard leagues. In rookie-only drafts, Manuel should be considered a Top 15 overall selection.

Mike Goodson
Goodson arrested Friday
Mike Goodson, RB, NYJ
5/17/2013
News: Jets running back Mike Goodson was arrested on drug and weapon charges early on Friday morning, reports News 12 in New Jersey. According to the report, Goodson and another man were found intoxicated in a parked SUV along Route 80 in Denville, New Jersey, which is about 15 miles northwest of the Jets' headquarters in Florham Park. A loaded .45-caliber handgun with hollow-point bullets was found in the SUV and when the 25-year-old running back was transported to a hospital for evaluation, marijuana was discovered in his possession. The Jets signed Goodson to a three-year, $6 million contract on March 15 to compete for a starting job this season. Goodson's deal with the Jets included a $1.93 million guaranteed. CBSSports.com blogger Will Brinson researched that illegal possession of hollow point bullets is a "crime of the fourth degree" in New Jersey, which appears to be among the states with the strictest laws regarding the ammunition.
Analysis: Goodson could be headed to prison, not to mention an NFL suspension, if found guilty of this crime. Before this incident we expected him to be No. 2 on the depth chart behind Chris Ivory. Now there's no telling just how far he'll fall. For the time being there's no reason to spend anything more than a late-round flier on Goodson since his playing time was going to be fairly limited to begin with.

Bruce Irvin
Irvin suspended four games
Bruce Irvin, LB, SEA
5/17/2013
News: Seattle defensive end Bruce Irvin has been suspended without pay for the first four games of the 2013 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance enhancing substances, the team reported Friday. Irvin will be eligible to return to the Seahawks' active roster on Monday, Sept. 30 following the team's Sept. 29 game against the Texans. Irvin is eligible to participate in all offseason and preseason practices and games. "I want to apologize to my teammates, coaches and Seahawks fans for making a mistake when I took a substance that is prohibited in the NFL without a medical exemption," Irvin said in a statement. "I am extremely disappointed in the poor judgment I showed and take full responsibility for my actions. I will not appeal the discipline and instead will focus my energy on preparing for the season so I can begin earning your trust and respect again. I look forward to contributing to the team the moment I return."
Analysis: Irvin had a solid year in 2012 with eight sacks. He didn't provide much else with only 16 total tackles and one fumble recovery, but he now will miss the first four games of the season. He is only worth drafting with a late-round flier in IDP leagues.

Josh Cribbs
Cribbs still not healthy
Josh Cribbs, WR, OAK
5/17/2013
News: The Raiders official team website reports that newly signed receiver Josh Cribbs hopes to have a role on offense as much as just being a return man. "Definitely. I feel like it’s a definite possibility for competition at that position," Cribbs said. "At this point, my job is to come in and be a special teams' guru to help solidify our special teams unit in the NFL and to raise our goals and our standards. If we do that, we will become an elite unit." Cribbs also addressed the health of his knee. "I’m doing well," Cribbs said. "If we were lining up to play football in June then it would be a hot topic. I will be ready to play football when it’s time to play football, and I think that is the important thing."
Analysis: It sounds like Cribbs is still dealing with his knee issue, but he should be ready for the start of training camp. He also could see time at receiver, but he'll have to prove himself first. He's not worth drafting in standard leagues, but he could be worth a late-round flier in leagues where you get points for return yardage.

Matt Ryan
Ryan speaks on O-line
Matt Ryan, QB, ATL
5/17/2013
News: Matt Ryan's receiving threats are well documented and the Falcons' run game got a strong upgrade in Steven Jackson. But the offensive line is undergoing some changes as center Todd McClure retired and Tyson Clabo was released. Ryan says not to worry about it. "We've got a guy in Peter Konz that played guard for us last year, but during practice, I got a lot of snaps with Peter. Joe Hawley has played a little bit for us when Todd’s been out for a series or two throughout games the last couple of years. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine with those guys in terms of the snap," Ryan told 790 The Zone in Atlanta. "It’s a little different and that takes some getting used to so it becomes something you don’t even think about. ... We've got Mike Johnson who has played a number of different roles for us. Then a young guy like Lamar Holmes, he’s a guy we drafted high last year that we feel really good about. He’s extremely talented and I think he’s beginning to learn the offense more and more and this offseason has been productive for him. I’m excited about those guys. I think they’re fully capable of coming in and playing good football for us. They just need to do it."
Analysis: The Falcons' offensive line is actually a significant factor for Ryan. Last season when he was not under pressure and not blitzed he completed over 70 percent of his passes. When he was blitzed or under pressure that completion percentage fell to under 62 percent according to Pro Football Focus. That's probably typical for most quarterbacks but we've seen passers' numbers completely decline when they're under duress (think of Arizona last year, Chicago and St. Louis in years past). Granted, Ryan's a very talented passer and the O-line shouldn't be what does him in, it's just something to watch in camp this summer. He remains a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback who will fall to Round 4 in drafts this summer.

Falcons
Ryan speaks on O-line
Falcons, TQB ATL,
5/17/2013
News: Matt Ryan's receiving threats are well documented and the Falcons' run game got a strong upgrade in Steven Jackson. But the offensive line is undergoing some changes as center Todd McClure retired and Tyson Clabo was released. Ryan says not to worry about it. "We've got a guy in Peter Konz that played guard for us last year, but during practice, I got a lot of snaps with Peter. Joe Hawley has played a little bit for us when Todd’s been out for a series or two throughout games the last couple of years. I’ll be fine. We’ll be fine with those guys in terms of the snap," Ryan told 790 The Zone in Atlanta. "It’s a little different and that takes some getting used to so it becomes something you don’t even think about. ... We've got Mike Johnson who has played a number of different roles for us. Then a young guy like Lamar Holmes, he’s a guy we drafted high last year that we feel really good about. He’s extremely talented and I think he’s beginning to learn the offense more and more and this offseason has been productive for him. I’m excited about those guys. I think they’re fully capable of coming in and playing good football for us. They just need to do it."
Analysis: The Falcons' offensive line is actually a significant factor for Ryan. Last season when he was not under pressure and not blitzed he completed over 70 percent of his passes. When he was blitzed or under pressure that completion percentage fell to under 62 percent according to Pro Football Focus. That's probably typical for most quarterbacks but we've seen passers' numbers completely decline when they're under duress (think of Arizona last year, Chicago and St. Louis in years past). Granted, Ryan's a very talented passer and the O-line shouldn't be what does him in, it's just something to watch in camp this summer. He remains a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback who will fall to Round 4 in drafts this summer.

Kendall Wright
Wright in better shape
Kendall Wright, WR, TEN
5/17/2013
News: The Titans official website reports that receiver Kendall Wright has never felt better physically. “I’m in the best shape I’ve ever been,” Wright said. The second-year receiver is tipping the scales around 187 pounds, approximately 14 pounds lighter than when he arrived last year. Wright attributed part of the transformation to workouts at Baylor after his rookie campaign ended. A bigger difference maker, however, may have been his routes through grocery stores that passed by junk food. “For the most part, it wasn’t about the running,” Wright said. “I just started taking care of my body and eating right. I wasn’t eating right at all. I was eating a lot of junk food because that’s what I like and that’s what I’d buy, but I cut down on that and just started eating right. When you don’t buy it, you’re not going to eat it, so I just stopped buying it.”
Analysis: Wright finished his rookie season with 64 catches for 626 yards and four touchdowns in 15 games. He enters this season with the chance to start for the Titans, and we like him as a key reserve receiver with upside. Plan on drafting Wright with a mid-round pick.

Thomas Keiser
Keiser rumbles to Bolts
Thomas Keiser, LB, SD
5/17/2013
News: Days after his release from the Panthers, the Chargers have signed linebacker Thomas Keiser.
Analysis: Keiser played in four games last year before landing on IR with an elbow injury. He'll try and help replace Melvin Ingram in the team's pass rush. He's unlikely to be a relevant Fantasy option.

 
 
 
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