X
Lost password?

Don't have an account?
Gain Access Now

X

Receive free daily analysis

NFL
NBA
NHL
NASCAR
CFB
MLB
MMA
PGA
ESPORTS
BETTING

Already have an account? Log In

X

Forgot Password


POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

Flex Heroes and Zeroes - Week 10 Fantasy Football Picks

RotoBaller editor Pierre Camus provides his favorite sleeper picks at QB, RB, WR, and TE, as well as star players to fade for Week 10 of the 2018 NFL season for fantasy football lineup prep.

The playoffs are coming... but not yet. With all the talk of trade deadlines and ROS prep, we should keep one thing in mind - you have to get there first. I've seen teams sell high and buy low right out of contention because they forgot to actually win games in the process of preparing for their championship run. Not saying I've done it personally... I just know a guy who has a cousin whose boss told him about that particular turn of events.

This week's heroes may not be appealing the rest of this year, maybe not in a single game the rest of the way. But they could help you win Week 10. Likewise, don't give up on these zeroes altogether because as they say, it's a weekly game. Except for Agholor, that guy's value is toast.

Now, here are my fantasy flex and streamer "heroes" and "zeroes" at each position for Week 10 of the NFL season. These players are borderline start considerations for your flex (and superflex) spots that I believe will perform unexpectedly well or that might fare poorly relative to expectations in this week's matchups. To see how our staff feels about all the players you might possibly care about, look no further than our very own RotoBaller consensus weekly rankings.

Editor's Note: Steer clear of costly draft mistakes with RotoBaller’s expert Fantasy Football Bust analysis. We break down overvalued players, potential letdowns, and risky ADPs to avoid, so you can build a smarter, safer roster.

 

Week 10 Lineup Heroes

QUARTERBACK

Josh Rosen, Arizona Cardinals

Andy Dalton and Alex Smith are both trap plays this week, Eli Manning can't be trusted, and I'm not buying into Marcus Mariota after his once-in-a-blue-moon quality game. An off-the-radar name that my gut tells me is a sneaky good play this week is Josh Rosen. The gut is the overlord of all decision-making processes after all. Rosen hasn't put together a great game just yet but the same could be said for the entire Cardinals offense. Hope springs eternal after a switch at OC and a bye week to figure things out. There's promise also in the fact that Rosen's pass attempts have gone up for each of the last four games, up to a season-high of 40 in Week 8 under Byron Leftwich. They may have no choice but to unleash him in Kansas City this weekend, as their defense will try to avoid becoming part of the Pat Mahomes highlight-reel package that will air on ESPN's New Year Special. The Cards should be throwing more than ever, even if it's strictly garbage time. Many a QB on a bad team has become a fantasy hero through garbage time - it's about time the rookie gets a taste of what's to come in the next few seasons. It'll take a deep TwoQB or superflex league to make Rosen a starter this week but I'd go so far as to say he might outscore guys like Matthew Stafford this week.

RUNNING BACK

Austin Ekeler, Los Angeles Chargers

Yes, this is mainly due to the fact the Raiders suck. They allow the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs this season and are actively working to get worse on defense by releasing Derrick Johnson and Bruce Irvin, two of their top veterans. While Melvin Gordon is a no-brain top running back this week, 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 is still being uber-efficient, ranking seventh in points per opportunity after finishing third last year in fantasy points per touch. If this game goes as expected, Ekeler could see double-digit carries with a handful of receptions. That might be good enough to earn him between 12-15 points in full PPR leagues based on how explosive he is with the ball.

WIDE RECEIVER

Tyler Lockett, Seattle Seahawks

Doug Baldwin reappeared on the fantasy radar with 77 yards last week. David Moore has emerged as a viable target. Tyler Lockett finally went a game without a touchdown last week. All things considered, he might be forgotten among the myriad of WR3 options out there. There is still good reason to have faith in the speedy receiver, however. Any receiver facing cornerback Marcus Peters has a great chance to come away with a big play. Lockett did just that in Week 5, catching three balls for 98 yards and a touchdown. 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 and the Hawks will likely be passing more than recent weeks, especially if Chris Carson is a no-go. The floor is low, but Lockett can deliver a high point total as well as anyone.

TIGHT END

Jack Doyle, Indianapolis Colts

The beginning and end of my recommendation lies with this statement: Doyle shouldn't even be a flex consideration, he's an every-week TE1 the rest of the season. Many owners forgot about Doyle's value or simply didn't want to burn a roster spot stashing him through his weeks-long injury, as he was barely 30% owned prior to last week. The fact he is only 58% owned and currently starting in 27% of fantasy lineups after putting up a 6-70-1 line last week says there is still a lot of doubt out there. Is it the existence of Eric Ebron, which we never possibly imagined would be a thing again? Shouldn't be - Ebron was active and played 22% of the offensive snaps in their last game while Doyle played 73% of them. It's probably a bit of forgetfulness and the fact that the Colts face the Jaguars. While I fully acknowledge the Jags are still an elite pass defense, they aren't the best of the best against TEs (ninth actually) and are banged up in the secondary with A.J. Bouye out and Barry Church coming off the concussion protocol. Doyle is going to be a set-it-and-forget-it tight end down the stretch - a stretch that begins in Week 10.

Vernon Davis, Washington Redskins

If Doyle isn't a deep enough pick then, for what it's worth, I'm starting Vernon Davis in a couple of leagues this week. The Bucs are an abomination on defense, including a league-worst ranking against the tight end. Jordan Reed is starting to accumulate those bumps and bruises and was limited in practice mid-week. Davis may actually be the safer pick between the two.

 

Week 10 Lineup Zeroes

QUARTERBACK

Andy Dalton, Cincinnati Bengals

By now, you should be aware that A.J. Green is out for multiple weeks. Some may argue that Tyler Boyd is now the WR1 in Cincinnati anyway, but that's a debate for another time. With Green and his team-leading 79 targets (26% share) gone, someone else will have to get involved, whether it's John Ross, C.J. Uzomah, or Gio Bernard. Do any of these options sound enticing enough to keep Dalton in your lineup? A matchup with the Saints and their 31st-ranked pass defense might entice some to give him a shot in superflex. Don't do it. The Saints have given up some huge games to opposing QBs but have also held four of them under 280 passing yards with one or zero touchdowns. If ever a defensive unit was boom-bust, it's the Saints. That said, Dalton is known to bust quite a bit himself. Plus, the last time Green missed extended time, from Weeks 10-17 in the 2016 season, Dalton averaged 236 yards and 1.1 TD per game, a drop of almost 50 yards from the first half of that season. Don't let the matchup fool you, Dalton should be avoided this week.

RUNNING BACK

Kerryon Johnson, Detroit Lions

Hope you didn't invest too much in Johnson as a buy-low candidate before the trade deadline. This is a good time to remind you that he is indeed a running back on the Detroit Lions not named Sanders. Not only does this make it hard for me to have interest in him, the misleading label reminds me for some reason of Winnie the Pooh, which is never a good comparison for a running back.

Also like Pooh, he's not getting enough hunny to keep his owners happy. Johnson is averaging 11.1 rush attempts per game on the season. Even sadder, his huge day in Miami spurred no uptick at all in usage, as he went from 19 carries for 158 yards in that game to a total of 20 carries the next two weeks for 59 yards. The return of Theo Riddick also promptly ate into his snap share and that trend should continue. Going on the road to face the Bears, the second-toughest defense toward RBs, one can't be too inspired that it will improve. This could be a week to keep him on the log... er, bench.

WIDE RECEIVER

Nelson Agholor, Philadelphia Eagles

The Eagles recently acquired Golden Tate to give them another weapon in the passing game. Wait, what happened to Agholor's breakout third season in 2017? Apparently it wasn't good enough for the Eagles, who instead of opting for bigger-bodied Demaryius Thomas or Dez Bryant, chose to add Tate instead. His presence moves Agholor to the outside once more, which go so great the first time around. Agholor struggled in his first two seasons with a catch rate well below league average. It dipped even further as depth of target increased, as shown by the chart below courtesy of airyards.com.

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 in this week's matchup for much of the night makes him a must-sit everywhere.

TIGHT END

Austin Hooper, Atlanta Falcons

For the record, I don't feel great about this pick but there's only so far you can go down the TE rankings before it gets to Jonnu Smith, Ed Dickson, MyCole Pruitt, Gary Barnidge, and the ghost of Dave Moore (who was my backup TE in the 2001 season and I believe is still alive and kicking). Hooper is a fringe TE1 in 14-team leagues as usual, but perhaps a bit fringier because of his inconsistent usage. Once Calvin Ridley had his breakout game and scoring binge, Hooper suddenly became a factor over the next two weeks as defenses focused their attention on Ridley. It also helps that the Falcons faced the Steelers and Bucs, two of the worst teams defending tight ends. The last two weeks, Hooper has dropped down to four and three targets respectively and hasn't been worth our attention. Truth be told, Hooper should only start in the easiest of matchups. While the Browns might typically qualify in that category, we can't call them the worst team in the NFL any more (thank you Oakland). Hooper will be TD-dependent, much like our old dear friend, Dave Moore.

More Start/Sit Advice




POPULAR FANTASY TOOLS

Expert Advice
Articles & Tools
Import Your Leagues
Draft Rankings
Draft Simulator
Enter League Settings
Value Picks
Compare Any Players
News and Alerts

REAL-TIME FANTASY NEWS

Tallison Teixeira

Suffers First-Round TKO
Derrick Lewis

Scores First-Round TKO
Michael Lorenzen

Royals Put Michael Lorenzen on Injured List With Oblique Strain
Stephen Thompson

Loses Controversial Split Decision
Stefon Diggs

Likely to Begin Camp Working on the Side
Gabriel Bonfim

Wins Controversial Split Decision
Calvin Kattar

Gets Outclassed At UFC Nashville
Xavier Legette

Should be More Productive
Steve Garcia

Extends His Win Streak
Cole Bishop

has Good Shot to Win a Starting Job
Nate Landwehr

Gets Knocked Out
Nate Wiggins

Ravens Think Nate Wiggins has Star Potential
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere Scores Third-Round Knockout
Kel'el Ware

Collects 21 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Austen Lane

Suffers Submission Loss
Vitor Petrino

Scores First-Round Submission In Heavyweight Debut
Cam Spencer

Contract Being Restructured
Drew Timme

Scores 30 Points in Summer League Loss to Wizards
Quinshon Judkins

More Details Emerge on Quinshon Judkins' Arrest
Tuco Tokkos

Earns His First UFC Win
Alexandre Sarr

Logs Impressive Outing in Summer League Action on Sunday
Junior Tafa

Unsuccessful in his Light-Heavyweight Debut
Kaden Elliss

Could be Atlanta's Most Impactful Pass-Rusher
Kyle Filipowski

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss to Warriors
Darius Robinson

Ready to Make his Mark in 2025?
Jauan Jennings

Expected to Report for Training Camp
Trey Smith

the Only Player Still on the Franchise Tag
Cody Williams

Collects 22 Points in Summer League Loss on Sunday
Chase Elliott

Charges to A Finish of Third At Sonoma
Chase Briscoe

Finishes Second With his First Career Road-Course Top-Five at Sonoma
Christopher Bell

Rollercoaster Day Ends With Top-5 Finish at Sonoma
William Byron

Maintains the Regular-Season Points Lead
Kyle Busch

Earns A Hard-Fought Top-10 Finish At Sonoma
Jauan Jennings

Seeking New Deal or Trade From 49ers
Alex Ovechkin

Not Thinking About Retirement
PIT

Penguins Acquire Arturs Silovs
NHL

Nikolai Kovalenko Returns to Russia
Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Tosses Gem Against Giants
Shota Imanaga

Shuts Down Yankees on Sunday
Nathan Eovaldi

Dominant Again in Seventh Win
Tyler Reddick

Evades Near Upset to Remain Alive in In-Season Challenge
Ty Gibbs

One of Three Tylers to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinals
Kyle Larson

Curiously Mediocre at Sonoma Before Late-Race Crash
NASCAR

John H. Nemechek Edges Out Teammate to Make In-Season Challenge Semifinal
Alex Bowman

Ty Dillon Bumps Alex Bowman to Advance to In-Season Challenge Semifinal
A.J. Dillon

Not a Lock for a Roster Spot?
Chicago White Sox

Billy Carlson Goes 10th Overall to White Sox
Cincinnati Reds

Steele Hall Selected Ninth by Cincinnati
Toronto Blue Jays

Blue Jays Select JoJo Parker with Eighth Overall Pick
Boston Celtics

Damian Lillard Drawing Interest from the Celtics
Miami Marlins

Marlins Select Aiva Arquette With Seventh Overall Pick
Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Select Seth Hernandez with Sixth Overall Pick
Kyle Stowers

Punishes Former Team with Three-Homer Game
St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals Select Liam Doyle with Fifth Overall Pick
Daniel Gafford

Agrees to Contract Extension with Dallas
Colorado Rockies

Rockies Select Ethan Holliday Fourth Overall
Seattle Mariners

Kade Anderson Selected Third Overall by Seattle
Ha-Seong Kim

X-rays on Ha-Seong Kim's Foot Come Back Negative
Los Angeles Angels

Tyler Bremner Selected Second Overall by Angels in 2025 MLB Draft
Washington Nationals

Nationals Select Eli Willits First Overall
Jake Meyers

to Miss More Than Three Weeks With Calf Injury
Cooper Flagg

Shut Down for Rest of Summer League
LeBron James

Hasn't Requested a Trade
Quinshon Judkins

Following Quinshon Judkins Arrest, NFL Declines Comment
Travis Hunter

Earning Praise in Jaguars Camp for Work Ethic
Memphis Grizzlies

Cole Anthony, Grizzlies Agree to Contract Buyout
Edward Cabrera

Hopeful to Avoid Injured List
Oneil Cruz

Absent on Sunday
Lars Nootbaar

Placed on 10-Day Injured List
Jake Burger

Scratched on Sunday
Shane Van Gisbergen

Can Anyone Beat Shane van Gisbergen at Sonoma?
Tyler Reddick

Better at Sonoma Than Record Shows
Chase Elliott

a Prime DFS Option at Sonoma
Julius Chestnut

Kalel Mullings Competing for RB3 Role
Michael McDowell

Struggling a Bit at Sonoma
Kimani Vidal

Fighting for No. 3 Job
Cam Hart

Recovering From Shoulder Surgery
NASCAR

Christopher Bell Has Never Finished Better Than Ninth at Sonoma
Ryan Blaney

Has Top-10 Upside at Sonoma
Quentin Johnston

Might Not Get Many Chances to Prove Himself
Tre Harris

Officially a Holdout
NASCAR

Sunday at Sonoma Will Likely Be a Long Race for Bubba Wallace
Kyle Larson

Is A Likely Top-Five Contender for Sonoma
Ryan Preece

Points Position Could Affect Race at Sonoma
Todd Gilliland

Struggling to Find Speed at Sonoma
Ty Gibbs

May be an Underrated Favorite to Compete for the Win at Sonoma
Travis Etienne Jr.

Needs to Bounce Back in 2025
Wan'Dale Robinson

Wants More Downfield Opportunities this Season
Quinshon Judkins

Arrested on Saturday for Battery and Domestic Violence
Alexandre Sarr

Plays Well in Summer League Loss to Phoenix
Yang Hansen

Looks Good on Friday Night
Erik Karlsson

Open to Move Away From Pittsburgh
Zach Hyman

Hopes to be Ready for Start of Next Season
SJ

Jeff Skinner Joins Sharks on One-Year Contract
Kon Knueppel

Struggles in Summer League Win
Walter Clayton Jr.

Plays Well on Friday Night
Cody Williams

Scores 21 Points in Summer League Loss
Kyle Filipowski

Leads the Way on Friday Night
Isaiah Jackson

Signs Three-Year Extension
Marvin Bagley III

Joining the Wizards
Herbert Jones

Signing Extension with Pelicans
Jacob Toppin

Returning to Hawks
Ryan Reaves

Traded to Sharks
Vladislav Kolyachonok

Moves to Dallas
Matt Dumba

Lands in Pittsburgh
Mackie Samoskevich

Re-Signs with Panthers on One-Year Deal
Josh Manson

Inks Two-Year Extension with Avalanche
EDM

Isaac Howard Signs Three-Year, Entry-Level Contract With Oilers
Tallison Teixeira

Set For His First UFC Main Event
Derrick Lewis

Set To Headline UFC Nashville
Gabriel Bonfim

Looks For His Third UFC Win
Stephen Thompson

Returns At UFC Nashville
Steve Garcia

Looks To Extend His Win Streak
Calvin Kattar

In Dire Need Of Victory
Morgan Charrière

Morgan Charriere A Favorite At UFC Nashville
Nate Landwehr

Aims To Bounce Back
MMA

Austen Lane Looks To Get Back In The Win Column
Gary Woodland

Looking to Find Rhythm at Scottish Open
Aaron Rai

Brings Consistent Play to Scottish Open
Maverick McNealy

a Solid Value Play at Scottish Open
Aldrich Potgieter

Making Scottish Open Debut
Tom Kim

Looks to Rebound at Scottish Open
Brian Harman

a Safe Option at Scottish Open
Luke Clanton

a Sneaky Value Play at Scottish Open
Sam Burns

Looking to Stay Hot at Scottish Open
Nicolai Hojgaard

May Feel More at Home in Europe
Harry Hall

Showing Fine Form Heading to Scotland
Ryan Fox

Playing Well Since Early Spring Struggles
Max Greyserman

has Solid History at the Genesis Scottish Open
Harris English

Aims High for Scotland Next
Corey Conners

Primed for the Genesis Scottish Open
Daniel Brown

Attempts the Scottish Swing Again
Jacob Bridgeman

Needs Putter to Work at Genesis Scottish Open
Scottie Scheffler

Headlines Field at Genesis Scottish Open
Rory McIlroy

a Smart Play for Scottish Open
Adam Scott

Looking to Build on History at The Renaissance Club
Justin Rose

Hopes Month Hiatus Helps Him Bounce Back at Scottish Open
RANKINGS
C
1B
2B
3B
SS
OF
SP
RP

RANKINGS

QB
RB
WR
TE
K
DEF