NFL Tickets
Fantasy football week 10 officially started on Thursday night with the Indianapolis Colts defeating the Jacksonville Jaguars. Hopefully, not too many of you have to rely on any Jaguars players for production because there was little to none. Andrew Luck continues to prove he’s worthy of the #1 pick the Colts used to draft him, and heck, he’s even a viable fantasy starter these days!
The next three weeks are crucial for those sitting in the middle of the packs in their leagues. You must not make mistakes or second guess yourself from here on out, or it might be goodnight for your 2012 fantasy football season.
As always, I’m not here to waste anyone’s time and/or state the obvious. If you have read my sit ’em lists, you should know I’m quite bold with my predictions, and always try to find that “elite” player that is going to have an off week. Just roll with me here, I’m running with a lot of confidence at the moment. Good luck in week 10, folks.
WEEK 10 SIT ‘EM:
QUARTERBACKS:
QB Peyton Manning, Denver Broncos
It’s hard to find anything negative to say about Peyton Manning. He has had 5 consecutive weeks with 3 touchdown passes, and has climbed to the #4 spot in the QB rankings. In terms of fantasy, Peyton has had one “off” game all season, and that was week 2 against the Atlanta Falcons.
So why in the world does he make my sit ’em list this week? The match up against the Carolina Panthers is such an intriguing one to me. Carolina has improved drastically over the past couple of weeks, particularly against the pass. In the past three weeks, Carolina has allowed only two passing touchdowns, and their red zone defense at home in very strong.
Here’s something to chew on. Drew Brees, Robert Griffin III, Eli Manning, and Tony Romo. These are all quarterbacks that have faced the Panthers D this season and have been held to 1 or zero touchdowns. Call it a gut call, but I truly believe that Peyton comes down to earth against the Panthers, and a few stalled drives result in some Matt Prater field goals, and not Manning touchdowns.
QB Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles
The misery continues for Michael Vick owners. Week 9 was supposed to be a fruitful day in terms of fantasy going up against the New Orleans Saints. It was anything but as Vick and the Eagles failed time and time again in the red zone. We have seen this over and over again this season. Vick couldn’t produce against one of the leagues worst defenses, and it’s not about to get any easier.
The Dallas Cowboys defensive unit is the real deal, ranking #3 in fantasy versus quarterbacks and sixth against both wide receivers and tight ends. Cowboys have only allowed 2 passing touchdowns the past four weeks, including two shutouts against QB Eli Manning and QB Matt Ryan. Let the nightmare continue.
RUNNING BACKS:
RB Steven Jackson, St. Louis Rams
The good news for the Rams is the fact that WR Danny Amendola is close to returning to the field. The bad news is this teams stinks. AGAIN. There is no one on the Rams roster that I would start this weekend against the San Francisco 49ers, and that includes Steven Jackson.
The 49ers rush defense ranks #1 in the league, and they don’t allow people to cross their goal line very often giving up only one rushing touchdown all season. Just move along folks, there’s nothing to see here.
RB Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers
Blah, blah, blah. I’m still continuing to read from the “experts” about how Matthews is a top ten option this week. How is that possible? How does Matthews continue to be plugged as a viable fantasy option week after week when he’s proved nothing.
Well, at least not to me anyway. Let’s face facts here, Matthews has one rushing touchdown on the season and has failed to rush for 100+ yards in a game this season. Look, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers defense is nothing to write home about, but neither is Matthews.
WIDE RECEIVERS:
WR Andre Johnson, Houston Texans
Andre has shown some life in these past few weeks, catching 25 balls for 279 receiving yards…but zero touchdowns. A road match up against one of the fiercest defenses in the NFL, the Chicago Bears, usually doesn’t bode well for all parties involved.
The Bears have yet to allow receivers to record more than one touchdown in a game, and that trend should continue in this prime time match battle. Johnson holds value in PPR formats if he keeps hauling in 8-9 receptions a game, but in standard formats, Johnson holds little value this week. Look elsewhere.
WR Dez Bryant, Dallas Cowboys
Dez Bryant owners have to be ripping their hair out at this point. One reception for 15 yards last week? You kidding me? This is the second time in three weeks Bryant has put up a stinker with 1 lousy fantasy point.
The staff says Dez was bothered by a hip injury, but I’m not buying it. I suspect QB Tony Romo has lost faith in Dez, and has put his focus on TE Jason Witten and WR Miles Austin, leaving Dez out of the equation. The Philadelphia Eagles defense can be vulnerable, but Austin and Witten will be the main beneficiaries in this match up, not Bryant.
TIGHT ENDS:
TE Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
First off, Daniels is nursing what head coach Gary Kubiak is calling “somewhat of a hip pointer,” and he’s a game-time decision for Sunday’s game against the Bears. Tough call for owners since the game is Sunday night and you won’t have many other options to look at if he’s ruled out later on in the day.
I will just make it easy for you Daniels owners, look elsewhere this week. The Bears defense is top 5 at defending the tight end position and have not allowed an opposing tight end to record a touchdown since week 4. Matter of fact, the Bears have not allowed more than 55 receiving yards to opposing tight ends since week 4. So, even if Daniels plays, lousy hip and all, he won’t be very effective and will not produce like the #2 tight end he currently his.
TE Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles
See Michael Vick. Brent Celek has been a major disappointment for the roughly 71% of fantasy players that own him. He blew up in week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, catching 8 balls for 157 yards, but has not been seen since. Vick’s struggles certainly have to do with the low production, but Celek also has had some mistakes himself, most recently a red zone fumble last week against the Falcons.
Week 10’s match up against the Cowboys will not help Celek’s cause either as they have shutdown the tight end position as of late. The Cowboys have given up the 7th-fewest points to the tight end positions. Opposing tight ends have not reached the end zone against the Cowboys in five consecutive weeks, and it will be six after this week. Celek’s confidence might also be in the dumps after last week’s red zone blunder. I’d be looking for a replacement if Celek is your starter this week.
Related Fantasy Football Articles: Fantasy Football Week 10: Featured Start ‘Em Players
Michael J. Igyarto is a featured columnist and fantasy football expert at Rant Sports
Follow Michael on twitter: @windycityiggy
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