Week 10 Fantasy Picks

Start ‘Em

Ryan Fitzpatrick – QB – BUF (vs. DET) – Fitzpatrick has been incredible the past few weeks, with an 11:5 touchdown-to-interception ratio since Week 4.  Showing terrific rapport with Steve Johnson and Lee Evans, look for Fitzpatrick to keep it rolling against the Lions in Week 10.  He’s an excellent bye-week fill-in for Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, or Philip Rivers.

Mike Sims-Walker – WR – JAX (vs. HOU) – In a game that should see an incredible amount of offense, we like Sims-Walker coming out of his bye to face the Texans’ 32^nd-ranked passing defense in Week 10.  Sims-Walker is coming off his best performance of the season, a 153-yard effort against the Cowboys.

Andre Johnson – WR – HOU (@JAX) – We could pretty much list every skill player on Houston or Jacksonville in our Start ‘Em column this week, but we’ll settle with Sims-Walker and Andre Johnson.  Johnson should have one of his biggest games of 2010 against the hapless Jaguars’ secondary.  We’d put the unofficial over/under at 150 yards for Johnson this week.

LeGarrette Blount – RB – TB (vs. CAR) – We didn’t like Blount last week against Atlanta, but he should see more touches this week against Carolina.  The Bucs figure to employ a ground-based ball control offense in this one. 

Ahmad Bradshaw – RB – NYG (vs. DAL) – The Giants’ offense is firing on all cylinders right now, and we look for Bradshaw and Hakeem Nicks to tear up the defeated Cowboys’ defense this week.  Bradshaw ran for 126 yards against Dallas a few weeks ago.

Terrell Owens – WR – CIN (@IND) – Owens is a clear must-start following a dominant Monday night performance against Pittsburgh in which he proved to be “matchup-proof”.  Owens is producing at a WR1 level right now, while Chad Ochocinco is clearly frustrated with the way things are going in Cincinnati.

Jacob Tamme – TE – IND (vs. CIN) – Producing at a much higher rate than most people expected, Tamme should again see a lot of targets this week against a Bengals’ team featuring talented duo Leon Hall and Johnathan Joseph at cornerback.  With those two covering Reggie Wayne and Pierre Garcon, Tamme should see space in the middle of the field.  If Austin Collie (concussion) is unable to go, Tamme could lead the team in receiving this week. 

Sit ‘Em

Steve Smith – WR – CAR – As bad as Matt Moore was this season, he at least kept Steve Smith hovering around WR2 status.  Smith can’t be trusted until Tony Pike or Jimmy Clausen show some semblance of belonging in the National Football League.

Wes Welker – WR – NE – Welker has been held under 54 yards in every game since the Randy Moss trade.  There’s no reason to see that changing this Sunday against a Steelers’ defense that rolled double-coverage to Bengals’ theoretical #1 receiver Chad Ochocinco last week.  Expect Welker to receive the same double-coverage treatment.

Santana Moss – WR – WSH – Moss was shut out the first time these two teams played.  With Eagles CB Asante Samuel sure to be on him again this week, we’d avoid Moss.  Samuel held Colts’ WR Pierre Garcon to just 15 yards last week.

Bernard Berrian – WR – MIN – Berrian doubled his catch total for 2010 last week against Arizona, but don’t be fooled, he still lacks the explosion that once made him a promising talent.  He’ll be shuffled out of the offense when Sidney Rice (hip) returns, which could be as soon as this week.

Jay Cutler – QB – CHI – With just a 4:6 touchdown-to-interception ratio at home this season, Cutler is not a recommended play against a Vikings’ defense that finally got to the quarterback last week against Arizona.  Look for Cutler to end up on his back more often than not this week. 

Beanie Wells – RB – ARI – Despite Coach Ken Whisenhunt’s proclamation that Wells was used sparingly in Week 9 due to a lack of practice time, we feel there’s more to Wells’ knee problems than meets the eye.  Wells experienced swelling in his surgically-repaired knee last week, which is never a good sign for a running back.  He clearly hasn’t been healthy all season.

Waiver Wire Pickups

Shaun Hill – QB – DET – Hill will regain fantasy relevance with Matt Stafford (shoulder) sidelined, assuming his own fractured forearm is healed.  Whether Hill returns this week or next, he’s worth an add for desperate owners.

Mike Goodson – RB – CAR – It’s unclear if DeAngelo Williams (foot) or Jonathan Stewart (concussion) will be able to play this week against Tampa Bay.  If neither are able to play, Goodson could be a solid play this week.

Jacoby Ford – WR – OAK – The Raiders are on bye this week, but Ford has likely earned a bigger role in the offense due to his big performance against Kansas City.  It’s possible he could supplant Darrius Heyward-Bey as the team’s #2 wide receiver.

Seyi Ajirotutu – WR – SD – Ajirotutu is also on bye this week, but it’s possible he could draw the start in Week 11 if Malcom Floyd (hamstring) is still unable to go.  He’s not a long-term option with Vincent Jackson’s return looming, however. 

Featured Game Picks

Houston Texans (+1.5) @ JAX

Tampa Bay Buccaneers (-6.5) vs. CAR

Minnesota Vikings (-1) @ CHI

Week 9 Results

Start ‘Em

Matt Forte – CHI – 49 rush yards, 3 rec., 12 yards

James Jones – GB – 8 rec., 123 yards, TD

Patrick Crayton – SD – 3 rec., 70 yards

Jonathan Stewart – CAR – 30 rush yards, 1 fumble lost

LeSean McCoy – PHI – 95 rush yards, 3 rec., 8 yards

Jason Witten – DAL – 3 rec., 44 yards

Pierre Garcon – IND – 2 rec., 15 yards

Results:  James Jones tore apart the Cowboys’ reeling secondary for the biggest game of his career…McCoy topped 100 total yards yet again…Crayton was OK, but was overshadowed by Seyi Ajirotutu…Witten was shut down by the Packers…Forte’s outlook for the remainder of the season is bleak after this one…Stewart was averaging 6.0 yards/carry before leaving early with a concussion…Garcon was surprisingly covered by Asante Samuel, not Dmitri Patterson as expected.

Sit ‘Em

Jahvid Best – DET – 48 rush yards, 5 rec., 40 yards

Chad Ochocinco – CIN – 1 rec., 15 yards

Kellen Winslow – TB – 3 rec., 31 yards

Jason Campbell – OAK – 19-33 for 229 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

Percy Harvin – MIN – 9 rec., 126 yards, 1 fumble lost

Dustin Keller – NYJ – 4 rec., 59 yards

Results:  Ocho was our best Sit ‘Em pick of 2010 so far, as not only did he catch just one pass, he also had a temper-tantrum on national TV…Campbell was bad most of the game without a lot of offensive weapons…Best was bottled up, but produced solid IDP numbers…Winslow and Keller are TE2 options at best the rest of the season…Harvin had an excellent game despite being hobbled.

Featured Game Picks

New York Jets (-3.5) @DET (L)

New England Patriots (-5) @CLE (L)

Kansas City (+2.5) @OAK (L)

Results:  One of these days, luck will be on our side…The Chiefs and Jets missed a wash by half a point each…Cleveland continues to impress…Our first winless week puts us at a miserable 9-18 on the season.