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Craig Rondinone looks at some fantasy football lineup sleepers and busts for Week 10 of the NFL season. Under-the-radar booms and busts for fantasy football.
Oh, how time has flown by quicker than a Matthew Stafford pass.
It feels like just last week that Kareem Hunt and Tyreek Hill were ravaging the New England Patriots defense, Adrian Peterson was on the New Orleans Saints and Aaron Rodgers was healthy. A lot has changed over the past two-plus months, but one thing that hasn’t is the need for picking out the right booms and busts, no matter what kind of fantasy football league or contest you are in.
Here are some under-the-radar booms and busts for the 10th week of NFL action to help you set a winning lineup. Good luck RotoBallers!
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Week 10 Under-the-Radar Booms
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB, TB) vs. NYJ
Tampa Bay is shutting down Jameis Winston for a couple weeks because his injured shoulder was making him throw like Scott Tolzien. Fitzpatrick probably has a monster-sized chip on his own shoulder because the Jets did not have any interest in bringing him back this offseason, so he has plenty of personal ammunition this week. While Fitzpatrick will not have top target Mike Evans at his disposal due to a one-game suspension, he will be throwing against the 24th-ranked pass defense in the NFL and still has DeSean Jackson and the tight end twosome of Cameron Brate and O.J. Howard to pass to. Do not be surprised to see Fitzpatrick tear the Jets to shreds. Cocaine might be a hell of a drug, but so is revenge.
Robby Anderson (WR, NYJ) at TB
Do not expect the Anderson train to be derailed by Tampa Bay’s shoddy secondary this weekend. The Buccaneers’ 30th-ranked pass defense has made every receiver from Stefon Diggs to Chris Hogan look uncoverable. Deonte Thompson has had two great games against the Bucs --- with TWO DIFFERENT TEAMS (Buffalo and Chicago) --- and he is a journeyman receiver who had two touchdowns in four years entering the 2017 campaign. With slot receiver Jeremy Kerley suspended for four games, Anderson should get even more passes thrown his direction. Look for Josh McCown’s favorite greyhound to catch a touchdown pass for the fourth straight game.
Orleans Darkwa (RB, NYG) at SF
This a match made in fantasy heaven. Darkwa is averaging 5.1 yards per carry and has emerged as the best back of New York’s uninspiring lot. San Francisco has the worst run defense in the NFL for the second season in a row, so kudos to the 49ers front office for “upgrading” the front seven this past offseason. Eli Manning and the Giants will probably stay conservative since they are light on pass catchers, so Darkwa could come out of this game with 18-25 touches, and that could translate into 100 yards and a touchdown or two against this wretched defense.
Week 10 Under-the-Radar Busts
Rob Kelley (RB, WAS) vs. MIN
Kelley just scored two touchdowns this past week and had a season-high 14 carries against the Seattle Seahawks, so fantasy owners might be apt to use him now that it appears his balky ankle is healthy and Washington seems more comfortable about running him between the tackles. This is the not the week to jump on his bandwagon, however. Minnesota is ranked third in run defense and has only allowed three rushing touchdowns this season. The Vikings have yet to allow a 100-yard rusher this year as well, even though they have faced upper-tier tailbacks like Pittsburgh’s Le’Veon Bell and Chicago’s Jordan Howard. Kelley would find easier sledding in Alaska during a winter blizzard, and he offers nothing in the passing game since he gets subbed out on passing downs for wunderkind Chris Thompson.
Ted Ginn Jr (WR, NOR) at BUF
Ginn Jr. has been a pleasant fantasy surprise this season as he is on pace for the first 900-yard season of his solid, lengthy career. Are Ginn Jr.’s days as a decent fantasy start numbered, though? New Orleans’ former No. 2 receiver, Willie Snead, is slowly working his way back into the fold and seeing the field for more snaps as the weeks go on. If Snead sees more action and targets on Sunday, it could be at Ginn Jr.’s expense. And while Buffalo’s 26th-ranked pass defense might not be the reason Ginn gets shut down, Drew Brees throwing outside in cold conditions instead of the friendly confines of the Mercedes-Benz Superdome could be another reason to sit the Saints speedster.
Hunter Henry (TE, LAC) at JAC
Henry has been helpful for fantasy owners during four of his past five games, either catching a touchdown or having 70-plus yards in those contests. The trend stops this weekend, though, because Henry has to find room against the top-ranked pass defense in football. Jacksonville’s much-improved defense only allows 156 passing yards per game. Even if L.A. QB Philip Rivers throws for 200 yards, how many of them will be Henry’s when Keenan Allen, Melvin Gordon and Tyrell Williams are usually targeted more? This is a good week to steer clear from Henry as if he is the drunk uncle making inappropriate comments at a wake.
