Week 10 Matchups - Fantasy Football Game Breakdowns (Part 2)

November 10, 2018

Fantasy football lineup advice based on Week 10 matchups. Pierre Camus gives his in-depth matchups analysis, lineups start and sit recommendations, and players he loves or hates for the late slate.

Welcome to the second part of our Week 10 matchups analysis and starts/sits column for fantasy football. We'll be covering every matchup from every Sunday game to help you make the best decisions for your fantasy lineups. We'll also be updating this as injury reports come in, so check back often for the latest advice.

This article will cover the late slate of games, beginning after 4:00 pm EST on Sunday as well as the Sunday night game. Don't forget to see our early game matchups analysis here and look for our MNF matchups analysis as well.

Check back here each week to get advice for your toughest start/sit decisions and take a look at our consensus rankings each week. For start/sit advice or anything fantasy football-related, find me on Twitter @Pfunk00 and I'll be glad to offer help.

4:05 PM ET Games

A handful of California teams highlight the afternoon matchups in Week 10, with the Rams battling divisional foe Seattle and the Chargers taking on the hapless Raiders. If you own Packers, it's a good time to stack them at home as the Dolphins come to visit. Finally, how about them Cowboys coming to prime time again (even though they are 3-5)? How will Golden Tate's presence affect the other players in the Philly offense? Read to find out...

Chargers at Raiders

Matchups We Love:

Philip Rivers (QB, LAC)
It is obvious that Rivers should be loved going against a Raiders defense that made Nick Mullens look like Joe Montana. Beware getting overly ambitious with your projections for him, as he will be all too chalky in DFS and consequently overpriced. The Raiders are certainly a bad defensive unit, ranking in the bottom 10 against the run and pass, but if they can't generate offense either, Rivers simply won't need to pass very often.

Melvin Gordon / Austin Ekeler (RB, LAC)
Gordon is a no-brain top-five RB each week. The decision gets less complicated upon realizing the Raiders allow the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season and have recently cut Derrick Johnson and Bruce Irvin, two of their top veterans. While Gordon will rack up points, Ekeler is also worth flex consideration as he could get more work than usual. He's been quiet recently and didn't take advantage of Gordon's absence in Week 7 when his hamstring betrayed him, so you may be gunshy about using Ekeler. He still has great potential in a choice matchup and shouldn't be forgotten about. Ekeler finished third last year in fantasy points per touch and currently ranks seventh in points per opportunity among RBs with more than five touches on the year.

Keenan Allen (WR, LAC)
Last week, we once again saw the Allen we expected this year. He caught six of 10 targets for 124 yards and even took two handoffs for 28 yards. Allen is going to have an even easier time facing Leon Hall and the struggling Raiders secondary. He went for eight catches and 90 yards in their Week 5 matchup, so expect an even higher floor against a team that is trending downward.

Jared Cook (TE, OAK)
*cues vinyl Journey record... Don't stop believing in Cook after one bad game. He came into Week 9 as the fourth-highest scoring fantasy tight end this year. It was a disaster all around for the Raiders but we can't assume they'll be blown out of the water each week from here on out. Cook has been boom or bust all year, posting huge games versus the Rams, Browns, and Colts. In the other games, he's been an absolute dud. You can't count on a big performance here, as he managed just 20 yards against the Chargers in Week 5, but the Raiders will likely go back to what worked best for them in the times when they were semi-competitive. Cook isn't a top-10 TE necessarily, although he is pretty close in this week's rankings.

Matchups We Hate:

Oakland WRs
Jordy Nelson has five catches for 36 yards in the last three games COMBINED and will be shadowed by Casey Hayward. Seth Roberts is a lightly-used slot receiver who gets a tougher assignment in Desmond King. Brandon LaFell is a 32-year old journeyman who is the fourth option on a bad team. If there's one lotto ticket that could be worth scratching in tournaments, it is Martavis Bryant. While he has gone over 50 yards just twice this year, his best game (three receptions, 90 yards) came against the Chargers in Week 5. If the Raiders are going to try stretching the field, Bryant is most likely to benefit as the most physically gifted receiver of this bunch.

Antonio Gates / Virgil Green (TE, LAC)
The Raiders are terrible so this might be a week to stream against them if you need a tight end, right? Wrong. Don't get carried away - Gates has one TD all season and it didn't come against the Raiders. He finished with 19 yards in Week 5, which is actually higher than his season average of 15.4 yards per game. Green did catch a TD against the Raiders but that is his only one of the season so far and he has caught a total of two passes in the three games since. Ignore these tight ends as you normally would.

Other Matchups:

Derek Carr (QB, OAK)
There's no other way to slice it - Carr was god awful in Week 9. What should have been a cake matchup turned into a complete dud, as the team only mustered three points with Carr contributing 171 passing yards. He was pretty efficient the week before, his first without Amari Cooper, throwing three touchdowns against the Colts. It's hard to explain how one of the better offensive lines in football allowed seven sacks to the 49ers, but that's football for you. Carr can't be trusted but shouldn't be outright dismissed either. He was adequate in the first matchup with the Chargers (268 yards, one TD) and has had some nice games against them in the past. He is strictly a bye-week filler for those missing Deshaun Watson or Kirk Cousins, assuming nothing better exists on the waiver wire.

Doug Martin / Jalen Richard (RB, OAK)
The performance of these running backs in their respective roles is similar to the run defense performance of the unit they'll face in Week 10. Meh. The Chargers are a middle-of-the-pack run-stopping DEF, with talented linebackers but no true force on the D-line. Martin has averaged five yards a pop since taking over for Marshawn Lynch but doesn't get enough carries to be fantasy-relevant and is lightly used as a pass-catcher. Richard catches five and a half passes per game and brings a decent PPR floor but rarely carries and hasn't scored all year. It's not that the matchup is bad; these are simply mediocre players on a bad team. Use in desperation only.

Mike Williams / Tyrell Williams (WR, LAC)
Tyrell Williams now has at least one TD in three straight games despite averaging 3.7 targets per game. Mike Williams has scored in the last two games despite having exactly one reception in each of the last three games. All this leads to the logical conclusion that both are mostly touchdown-dependent standard league options, with Tyrell having the higher upside.

Seahawks at Rams

Matchups We Love:

Jared Goff (QB, LAR)
Goff at home? Yes please. In four home starts, Goff averages 367 passing yards and three touchdowns. His 295-yard game against the Pack two weeks ago was his lowest output in L.A. Even though the Seahawks are statistically the stingiest pass defense in the league, that didn't stop Goff from throwing for 321 yards against them on the road earlier. He should be just fine as a top-10 QB this week.

Todd Gurley (RB, LAR)
This could be the week Todd Gurley is held out of the end zone and disappoints us all. Just kidding, he'll be fine. Gurley scored three times in Seattle a few weeks ago and looks to repeat the feat on his home turf this time.

Mike Davis (RB, SEA)
Much of Davis' value is predicated on the health of Carson (see below). Assuming Carson doesn't get the start, Davis immediately assumes low-end RB2 value. He has produced when given the opportunity and had a strong showing in Week 5 vs the Rams (12 carries, 68 yards, one TD) even with Carson in the lineup too. This means he can be considered as a flex play in deeper leagues regardless of Carson's status.

Brandin Cooks / Cooper Kupp / Robert Woods (WR, LAR)
Results from the first matchup between these teams may be skewed in the receiving department for L.A. because that was the game Cooks suffered a concussion and exited early, seeing no targets as a result. Kupp left the game in the second half as well. Despite that, Kupp went for 90 yards and a TD while Woods racked up 92 yards on five catches. Seattle's statistical rank against the pass looks great but when you focus on WR alone, they are 15th in fantasy points allowed. Their favorable schedule against teams like Dallas, Arizona, and Oakland have helped too. The Seahawks secondary has recently given up big games to Keenan Allen (6-124-0) and Marvin Jones (7-117-2). All three Rams receivers are in must-start territory again.

Tyler Lockett (WR, SEA)
Just because Lockett went for 98 yards and a TD the first time these teams met, it doesn't mean he'll do it again. But he very well could. Any receiver facing Marcus Peters has a great chance to come away with a big play. The fact this game is in L.A. doesn't hurt whatsoever, since Lockett is better in several statistical categories on the road this year. Plug him in with confidence this week.

Matchups We Hate:

David Moore / Jaron Brown (WR, SEA)
One of these receivers could very well score a touchdown in what could be a high-scoring game. Good luck picking which one. Moore's TD streak came to an end last week at the hands of Brown, who grabbed his third as a Seahawk. It was his only catch of the game and second in the past five weeks. Moore was targeted seven times but only came away with two receptions for 16 yards. Neither is especially desirable, especially in PPR leagues.

Other Matchups:

Russell Wilson (QB, SEA)
Wilson's Week 5 stat line against the Rams reads similarly to most of his starts in 2018: high TD total, low yardage total based on few pass attempts. Despite the 33-31 final score, Wilson only threw the ball 21 times and finished under 200 yards, but three scores saved his fantasy day. Russ has tossed at least two TD in all but one game this season but it's always tricky relying on touchdowns, which are hard to predict for specific players. He was held under 200 yards in each of last year's matchups with the Rams too. Wilson is a fringe QB1 this week, depending on what you need out of your quarterback spot. There's a chance for a big game but if you need a safe floor then you may want to look elsewhere.

Chris Carson (RB, SEA)
If Carson somehow managed to stay healthy all year, he could be a true RB1 in fantasy leagues. His hip betrayed him again midway through Week 9 and has left him questionable for Week 10. If he goes, owners should be cautiously optimistic about putting him in lineups. He ran for 116 yards against the Rams earlier this year and had gone over 100 yards in three of the last four games before his injury-shortened performance last week.

Doug Baldwin (WR, SEA)
The unpredictable season continues for Baldwin with a rematch of Week 5 when he came away with one catch for exactly one yard. Just when we thought his knee injury may have been worse than suspected, he followed with a 91-yard outing. Then came 26 yards, then 77. He's only been targeted more than four times in two games this season and is yet to reach the end zone, so he can't be considered a strong play in any format. He still is the best receiver Seattle has (don't @ me, Lockett lovers) and could wind up performing better than expected. Consider him a fringe flex play.

Nick Vannett / Ed Dickson (TE, SEA)
Much like the third and fourth receivers for Seattle, neither tight end is guaranteed enough volume to warrant starting in fantasy leagues. Vannett's strong Week 9 follows Dickson's decent Week 8 debut and it's hard to say who will be used more in the passing game this week. More likely it's Vannett, although that's not an endorsement to start him.

Dolphins at Packers

Matchups We Love:

Aaron Rodgers (QB, GB)
The Dolphins were actually tough on QBs at one point this season. Heading into Week 6, they were a top-five pass defense and were holding opposing QBs to a negative TD/INT ratio. Then the schedule kicked in and so did reality. Mitch Trubisky went for 316 yards and three TD and Deshaun Watson lit them up for five TD on Thursday Night Football. They got a nice reprieve by playing the Jets last week but this is a defense reeling with injuries and now a possible suspension to Pro Bowl safety Reshad Jones. Even if he plays, this is not a defense to be scared of. Rodgers hasn't put up great numbers the last two weeks but he returns home against a softer opponent, rather than a Super Bowl contender in the Rams or Patriots. Expect high-end QB1 stats.

Aaron Jones / Jamaal Williams (RB, GB)
I'm lumping these two together because both can deliver strong value, even if Jones is at a higher tier. As the undisputed starter at RB (finally), Jones has run for 162 yards on just 26 carries since the bye. He could stand to see more involvement in the passing game, however, he is still a solid RB2 in a game where the Pack should be able to establish the run. For the same reason, Williams can be considered an RB3/flex play. The Dolphins have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season and Williams could definitely find some red zone rushing opportunities.

Davante Adams (WR, GB)
While CB Xavien Howard will shadow Adams and do his best to slow the receiver down, there's no reason to lower your expectations. Adams has delivered strong fantasy value in every game this season and hasn't seen less than seven targets in any contest. In fact, he has put up his most prolific target totals against weaker opponents like the Bills (eight catches on 14 targets), 49ers (10 catches on 16 targets), and Lions (nine catches on 12 targets). Don't be concerned that he'll see less volume based on the fact the Pack may not need to throw as much. Mike McCarthy doesn't think that way.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling (WR, GB)
We've recommended him enough as a waiver wire add and late-season savior, so hopefully, you were able to scoop him up wherever available. Now it's time to reap the benefits. Not only does MVS step into Geronimo Allison's WR2 role permanently, he gets a terrific matchup with backup CB Torry McTyer. With Cordrea Tankersley out for the year, McTyer, an undrafted free agent in 2017 has started the first two games of his career out of necessity. MVS has come up with either a touchdown or a 100-yard game in each of the last four contests. Expect at least one, if not both, to come to fruition this week.

Matchups We Hate:

Brock Osweiler (QB, MIA)
The sun appears to have set on Osweiler's value the moment his first start came to an end. It's pretty obvious now that the Bears didn't deem it necessary to defend very hard in their Week 6 loss to the Phins, not expecting Osweiler to go nuts for a career-best 380 yards and three touchdowns. It's been ugly ever since, with Osweiler averaging 206 passing yards and throwing just two touchdowns in three starts. Injuries at wide receiver have played a part but there's still no reason to consider Osweiler in fantasy leagues, especially when Nick Mullens is out there...

Frank Gore (RB, MIA)
The 15-year veteran has shown that he's a warrior and an inspiration to young players in the league. He has been getting 13.3 carries per game over the last six contests and has a decent floor in standard leagues as a flex play but the touchdowns are being ceded to Drake, while he has almost no involvement as a receiver. It's unlikely Gore will see enough volume to be worth starting even in the deepest of leagues.

Randall Cobb (WR, GB)
His individual matchup with Bobby McCain isn't the main factor here. While McCain may be slightly better than advertised, it's a matter of Cobb not being involved enough to catch our attention. Even with Allison out, Cobb has fallen to fourth in the pecking order for targets. When he does get targeted, it's for short yardage and nothing more. Not including his Week 1 that was heavily boosted by the 75-yard miracle play, Cobb is averaging 29 receiving yards in the last four games (he's played five all season). Cobb is taking a backseat to MVS and fantasy owners should too.

Danny Amendola (WR, MIA)
This recommendation is mainly based on the fact Jaire Alexander, who has looked downright impressive in his rookie year, will be covering Amendola in the slot. Albert Wilson's season-ending injury has given Amendola more action lately, leading to 31 targets over the last four games. That hasn't come with huge yardage, however, so he is nothing more than a PPR consideration if you need a couple of points to get you by. Those numbers could be suppressed further based on matchup, so it's best to chase upside elsewhere.

Other Matchups:

Kenyan Drake (RB, MIA)
If he is still the RB2 on his own team, should he be the RB2 on yours? Drake has been a disappointment based on draft stock undoubtedly but there is still some hope. Even running behind Frank Gore, Drake had delivered consistently between Weeks 5-8 until last week's 36-yard dud. Weather and field conditions certainly played a part but it's also a stark reminder that Drake's floor is rock bottom at times. A road matchup against the high-scoring Packers could work against him unless he is more heavily involved in the passing game than usual or manages to sneak in a score, something he has done four times in the last five games.

Devante Parker (WR, MIA)
So you're saying there's a chance?? Parker isn't a hate this week because he faces newly signed Bashaud Breeland, who was beaten like a drum last week by Josh Gordon. Parker showed him immense talent in Week 8 with a six-catch, 134-yard performance but then fell victim to last week's terrible conditions (and gameplay). There is still hope that he can post decent enough numbers based on what should be a very different game script against the Packers, but he's a big risk in 12-team leagues.

Kenny Stills (WR, MIA)
Like Parker, Stills is likely to see much more than the lone target he received in Week 9. His groin doesn't seem to be an issue worth monitoring. The fact he's only caught one pass in each of the last three games is. Stills doesn't seem to be on the same page with Osweiler, which is concerning. He is always a home run threat, however, so consider him a standard league lotto ticket.

Jimmy Graham (TE, GB)
Good not great. That describes this matchup and Graham's fantasy season in a nutshell. Despite a pair of big games and a pair of touchdowns, there have been a few duds mixed in. The Dolphins have allowed five TD to the tight end this year but haven't been eviscerated by the position like they have to running backs. Graham's knee issue shouldn't keep him out of action so feel free to plug him in with the expectation of a decent game.

Sunday Night Football - Cowboys at Eagles

Matchups We Love:

Carson Wentz (QB, PHI)
In last year's game against the Cowboys, Wentz threw two scores but finished with just 168 yards. That was more a result of the Cowboys putting up little resistance and the Eagles not needing to pass very much. The Cowboys were without Elliott at that time due to suspension and obviously did not have Amari Cooper on their side either. The Eagles also had the luxury of watching Jay Ajayi run for 91 yards and LeGarrette Blount another 57. This is a team that simply must pass to win; adding a WR like Tate rather than a running back shows the direction this team is taking. Wentz should get enough volume to land within the top 10 fantasy QBs this week despite what looks like a mediocre matchup on paper.

Amari Cooper (WR, DAL)
As expected, the team involved Cooper heavily in his first appearance. He saw eight targets, two in the end zone. One went for a touchdown, the other was a terrible forced throw by Prescott that was nearly picked off. Cooper took a 63-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr last year against these Eagles and should have a chance to exploit embattled Jalen Mills once again. He's a firm WR3 in Dallas and his prospects are good for Week 10.

Golden Tate (WR, PHI)
They didn't bring in another receiver to use as a decoy. Tate goes from being Matthew Stafford's favorite target to Carson Wentz's newest weapon - a move that should only help his value. With Zach Ertz already drawing a lot of attention from interior defenders, the Eagles can spread the ball around at will. Expect plenty of action for Tate in his Philly debut, as they lean more pass-heavy than they already were.

Alshon Jeffery (WR, PHI)
The addition of Golden Tate helps Jeffery as well. He shouldn't face any double teams and has a very winnable matchup with Chidobe Awuzie on the other side. In the one game last year when Jeffery faced the Cowboys with Wentz at QB, he went for four catches, 67 yards and a TD.

Matchups We Hate:

Josh Adams / Corey Clement / Wendell Smallwood (RB, PHI)
There is now speculation that UDFA Adams may be taking over as the lead back on early downs after going for 61 yards on nine carries last week, compared to six yards on four carries for Clement. It's not only premature to make that assumption, but it's also better to avoid this backfield altogether for now. The Cowboys remain a strong run-stopping unit, ranking ninth in least fantasy PPG to RBs. We don't know where the touches will go, or if the Eagles will simply go pass-heavy now that Golden Tate is around.

Michael Gallup (WR, DAL)
Unless you're a dynasty owner, you shouldn't be rostering Gallup at this point anyway. His potential ROS upside has been dashed by Cooper. He also should be covered closely by Ronald Darby, making it less likely he'll come up with any splash plays.

Nelson Agholor (WR, PHI)
Tate's presence moves Agholor to the outside once more, which is the worst possible thing for his value. Agholor struggled mightily in his first two seasons with a catch rate well below league average. Only once he moved to the slot was he able to be an effective weapon. It's enough reason to have concern about Agholor for the rest of the season, but the fact he will face stud CB Byron Jones for much of the night makes him a must-sit everywhere.

Other Matchups:

Dak Prescott (QB, DAL)
At this point, we must acknowledge that Prescott is what he is - a middling QB2 who must make plays with his legs to produce a big fantasy day. He stopped running last week, settling for 11 yards on two rush attempts against Tennessee. He is yet to top 300 yards passing or throw more than two TD in a game this year. Amari Cooper helps, but only so much.

Ezekiel Elliott (RB, DAL)
It's rare that Zeke isn't in the love column but we can't overlook the fact that the Eagles are the top-ranked defense against the run for fantasy purposes, allowing just 12.2 fantasy points and 50 rushing yards per game. It's good to see that he's been more involved as a receiver lately, catching four balls for 51 yards last week. That isn't enough to propel him into the top-five RB field this week, however. It's obvious that you still must start Elliott in all leagues as long as you don't expect as great a return as usual.

Cole Beasley (WR, DAL)
How did Cooper's arrival affect their leading receiver heading into Week 9? It wasn't good, that's for sure. Beasley caught three of four targets for 16 yards. Sadly, that wasn't his lowest output of the year, nor his second-lowest. Beasley's low floor makes his super-risky but a decent head-to-head matchup with Sidney Jones and the probable need for the Cowboys to pass more than they'd like keeps him within the range of possibilities for PPR owner needing a replacement for Adam Thielen.

Zach Ertz (TE, PHI)
If there is one player who could be negatively affected by Tate, it's Ertz. His team-leading 27% target share and TE-leading 61 receptions could start to decline a bit. The Cowboys are fairly stingy against the TE anyway, allowing less than five receptions and 40 yards per game to the position. He remains a top-tier tight end undoubtedly but one who may not put up as prolific numbers.

More Week 10 Lineup Prep