Every Friday throughout the NFL regular season I will be sending you this lineup helper that I like to call: Tough Decisions. In this article I will breakdown players with similar value, ranking and projection heading into this coming week.
Since this piece does come out on Fridays, injury news may pop up after posting time. Make sure you’re checking all your sources so you have up to date information regarding injuries, playing status, etc. Once again, if you want your lineup question featured in this piece, just hit me up on Twitter and your question could be featured. Anyways, let’s get into it.
Let's take a look at the TOUGH DECISIONS for Week 10:
QUARTERBACKS
Andy Dalton (@NYG) or Jay Cutler (@TB)
The Case for Dalton: The Giants are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, mainly because they’ve been able to limit the touchdowns. The New York defense has allowed just seven touchdowns on the year, while tallying eight interceptions. The Red Rifle has notched at least 20 fantasy points in three of his last four games and despite facing a tough Giants defense, there’s no reason he shouldn’t extend this streak. When you have A.J. Green and Tyler Eifert at your disposal like Dalton does, the threat for a big game is always legitimate. He’s a reliable starting option on Monday Night Football.
The Case for Cutler: While his fantasy stat line wasn’t all that significant, he played darn good football in Week 8 against a stout Minnesota defense. One has to look his prospectus this week, seeing as he faces a Tampa Bay unit that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points per game to opposing signal callers this season. They simply have been unable to stop opposing teams. In eight games this season, the Bucs have allowed 18 passing touchdowns, while managing to pick off just four passes. Tampa Bay is going to have their hands full slowing down Jordan Howard on the ground, which will only make play-action deep balls to Alshon Jeffery more effective. I like Cutler a lot this week.
The Verdict: Cutler. I like Dalton this week, just not as much as Cutler.
RUNNING BACKS
Jonathan Stewart (vs. KC) or Jeremy Hill (@NYG)
The Case for Stewart: Stewart struggled last week against the Rams, but to his credit, the Rams have been tough on opposing running backs all season. Before last week’s disappointing outing, Stewart had back-to-back two-touchdown games. He toted the rock a total of 44 times for 180 yards during those two games, good enough for a 4.0 yards per carry mark. The Chiefs just allowed Chris Ivory to rush for 107 yards last week on 18 carries. Coming into that game, Ivory had 129 rushing yards for the entire season. Carolina needs Stewart to be involved and they are going to give him the ball at least 18 times on Sunday.
The Case for Hill: The Giants defense has allowed 3.87 yards per carry to opposing running backs and Jeremy Hill is in a groove right now. Sure, his last two games have come against the Cleveland Browns and the Washington Redskins, which are two of the softest run defenses in all of football. Regardless, he’s averaging 8.4 yards per carry and all cylinders are firing for Hill. He’s going to need a touchdown to be fantasy relevant, but he’s scored in two straight games and has found the end zone five times this season. Gio Bernard will get plenty of work as well, but Hill’s more physical style should translate well against this New York defense on Monday.
The Verdict: Stewart. He will beat Kansas City on the ground for at least 80 yards and a score.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Stefon Diggs (@WSH) or Tyrell Williams (vs. MIA)
The Case for Diggs: Diggs has 21 receptions for 156 yards and a touchdown over the past two weeks. However, things are going to get a bit tougher this week against Josh Norman and the Washington Redskins. Some reports have said that Diggs won’t see much of Norman, which would be great for Diggs’ fantasy value this week. The fact remains that Diggs hasn’t been stretching the field of late, but when you’re getting the workload he is, you just have to take the fantasy points and run with it. Sam Bradford has shown great trust with Diggs, which makes him a reliable WR3 on Sunday.
The Case for Williams: Williams has been a bit inconsistent, but the fact remains that he continues to have ample opportunities in the San Diego aerial attack. His 15.6 yards per reception leads this Chargers squad, and he’s run the second-most total routes on the team. If you have Williams on your team, you should be excited about him in Week 10. The Miami Dolphins have allowed the eleventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers so far this season, including nine touchdowns in eight games. There has only been one game this season where a wide receiver hasn’t scored a touchdown against this Miami squad. Williams is a quality WR3 in Week 10.
The Verdict: Diggs. Quarterback Sam Bradford continues to lean heavily on his top wideout.
THE FLEX CONUNDRUM
Kenny Britt (@NYJ) or Darren Sproles (vs. ATL)
The Case for Britt: In the last three games, Britt has 14 receptions, three of which have gone for touchdowns. He gets another quality matchup against the New York Jets, a team that has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers through the first nine weeks of the season. Sure, Case Keenum isn’t the most reliable quarterback in the National Football League, but the Jets have been nice enough to let just about every signal caller in the league put up good numbers. Britt is the first or second option in the team’s passing attack, and the team will likely throw a good bit in this one. Lock in Britt as your flex player this week.
The Case for Sproles: The Falcons have been good against the run the past two weeks, but come on, Antone Smith and Ty Montgomery aren’t the cream of the crop. With that in mind, I’m not saying Sproles is the best in the league, but he’s much better than the two guys Atlanta just faced. Over the last two weeks, Sproles has carried the ball 28 times for 143 yards, while adding eight receptions for 31 yards. Sproles is the lead-back and he’s the best option that team has in the backfield. I like Sproles as a reliable RB2 in Week 10 against an Atlanta defense that has allowed 10 touchdowns in nine games this season to opposing running backs.
The Verdict: Sproles. He finds the end zone this week and I trust him more than I do Britt.
TIGHT ENDS
Lance Kendricks (@ NYJ) or Kyle Rudolph (@WSH)
The Case for Kendricks: Here’s a little treat for you Playbook Pro subscribers reading this. Kendricks is one of my favorite plays of the week, if not my absolute favorite bargain play. The Jets have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends and I don’t see the Jets slowing Kendricks down on Sunday. The St. Louis tight end has seven receptions in each of his last two games and he would have had a touchdown last week if it weren’t for a horrendous dropped ball a yard inside the end zone. Case Keenum has sucked this season, but he’s developed a nice rapport with his tight end in recent weeks. Once again, he’s my favorite bargain play of the week. Lock it in.
The Case for Rudolph: Rudolph had quite the stat line last week against the Detroit Lions. He caught one pass for one yard and that lone catch was good for his fourth touchdown on the season. It was an excellent matchup for Rudolph, but he just wasn’t involved that much. He gets another tough matchup against a Redskins defense that has allowed just two touchdowns on the season to tight ends. However, Cincinnati’s tight end Tyler Eifert torched Washington for 102 yards and a touchdown back in Week 8. Rudolph is a low-end TE1 that will need a touchdown to be useful in fantasy formats.
The Verdict: Kendricks. Given the write-up on Kendricks, you shouldn’t be surprised. He’s trustworthy this week.
You can find me on Twitter: @colbyrconway