Week 10 features a bevy of matchups that will inevitably have a significant impact on specific team’s chances of making the playoffs—Titans versus Dolphins for example—therefore, some of these games could potentially produce more output from the receivers.
On the other side of the table are some key matchups that are literally fantasy gold—Jaguars versus Texans anyone?—and it is within these games, that owners are sure to rack up the points.
You will notice I have shortened the risk list for readability purposes. This doesn’t really affect anything since most of you—my faithful readers—present your own specific questions anyhow.
So sit back, peruse the list, and then fire your questions
| The Start List: |
| 1. Hakeem Nicks – NYG: Dallas is extremely bad at covering, and the Giants need this win to keep separation from those pesky Eagles. Hakeem Nicks—our number one ranked fantasy receiver— is a weekly must start no matter who he faces.
Nicks already has nine TDs on the season, four 100+ yard games, and is literally unstoppable at this point. Also, if you are worried about that lateral ankle sprain, don't be, it isn't serious according to the team. |
| 2. Andre Johnson – HOU: If this game doesn’t get owners licking their chops, then they don’t have a pulse. The two worst pass defenses in the league face off against each other, which means good things for a guy like Andre Johnson. |
| 3. Steve Johnson – BUF: Steve Johnson is finally separating himself from an average receiver, to near elite. This week he faces a very porous Lions secondary. |
| 4. Megatron – DET: On the other side of the field will be Megatron who destroys secondaries that get burned easily, like Buffalo! |
| 5. Roddy White – ATL: White would be higher on this list, but there is a very, very slight concern here with that knee injury. He will play in this game, and he will be effective, but again, I’m just taking a precautionary step in the list. |
| 6. DeSean Jackson – PHI: Well, I really believed Jackson wasn’t going to be all that effective last week, and look where that got me. Jackson is back, and deserves a weekly start consideration. |
| 7. Mike Sims-Walker: Sims-Walker on a start list? Is it time for me to pee in the little cup? No, it’s just that Houston’s secondary is horrible, and the matchup should bode well for him and the Jags. |
| 8. Brandon Lloyd – DEN: Lloyd is the leading receiver in Denver and produces no matter who is covering him. Brandon Flowers should have his hands full with this one. |
| 9. Reggie Wayne – IND: The Bengals have been systematically declining in their pass coverage over the last few weeks, and Indy is very tough to beat at home. Look for Wayne to have a nice day against a weak Bengals D. |
| 10. Terrell Owens – CIN: Owens is presenting all sorts of mis-matches on a weekly basis which explains why he has at least one TD in his last five games (two each in his last two). He is decent start against Indy this week. |
| The Risk List: |
| 1. Anquan Boldin – BAL: Atlanta is very hard to beat at home, but has given up 16 offensive TDs this year and rank 26th against the pass.
The only issue I have with Boldin is the fact that the Ravens have been using him a lot in the slot position, which isn't usually a TD producing area of the lineup. They will, at times, move him to the outside. But he will ultimately have to deal with coverman Brent Grimes; a matchup that doesn't exactly favor Boldin. He remains risky due to the aforementioned, and the uncertainty as to how Baltimore will use him tonight (Thursday). |
| 2. Nate Washington – TEN: Randy Moss’ presence should create a world of distraction for defenses which will really open the door for RB Chris Johnson and might bode well for WR Nate Washington. The Titans are expected to go run heavy this week, and Washington’s work may suffer slightly because of that. |
| 3. Mike Williams – TB: Williams to show great talent each week, but hasn’t quite taken that last step to fantasy elite. He’s a low end WR2 this week. |
| 4. Miles Austin – DAL: New York’s defense is way too good to expect anything eye-popping from Miles Austin this week. He remains a risk start. |
| 5. Braylon Edwards – CLE: Edwards’ homecoming may not be all warm and fuzzy, but he usually excels in games where is public enemy number one. He’s very risky, but a nice start if you have no other options. |
| The Sit List: |
| 1. Johnny Knox – CHI: If you listened to me last week when I told you to sit him, congrats! If you didn’t, then listen to me this week and keep him grounded if you have better options. If you have to start him, don’t expect too much from him.
If you look at what Knox does against good defenses, you'll notice it isn't much, and the Vikings are not only good, but highly aggresive. Knox is also, a poor source for TDs, leaving very little argument against sitting him this week. |
| 2. Steve Smith – CAR: Smith is having one of his worst seasons as a player despite it not being his fault. Keep him grounded against Tampa’s D. |
| 3. Mohammed Massaquoi – CLE: Massaquoi has a long day ahead of him against the elite Jets’ corners. Sit him for sure. |
| 4. Dwayne Bowe – KC: Bowe only garners success against poor coverage, and a meeting with Champ Bailey doesn’t bode well for fantasy owners. Sit him this week. |
| 5. Randy Moss – TEN: Don’t’ get all silly just because Moss is a resident of the Smokey Mountains, he won’t do much this week other than draw coverage his way. |
