Fantasy Football Start or sit, Week 10: Start Jared Goff vs. Seahawks

INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images)
INGLEWOOD, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 13: Jared Goff #16 of the Los Angeles Rams looks to pass during the second half against the Dallas Cowboys at SoFi Stadium on September 13, 2020 in Inglewood, California. (Photo by Katelyn Mulcahy/Getty Images) /
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Fantasy football starts and sits for Week 10 of the 2020 NFL season.

Approaching the home stretch of the fantasy football season, we are now at the midway point of the 2020 NFL season. At this point in the year, you mostly know who your studs are but are also aware of your draft busts. Regardless of the strength of your fantasy team, there are always tough start and sit decisions every single week.

In Week 10, the Kansas City Chiefs, Dallas Cowboys, Atlanta Falcons, and New York Jets are all on bye. This means that players that may have carried your fantasy team so far like Patrick Mahomes, Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, and Calvin Ridley will not be available this week.

Here are some players that may be sitting on your bench that you should feel confident in starting this week, and others that you are better off searching for a replacement on the waiver wire.

Note: All stats and info via Fantasy Pros.

Fantasy Football Starts for Week 10

QB Jared Goff, Los Angeles (vs. Seattle)

Jared Goff has had an incredibly mediocre year thus far, but none of that matters when playing Seattle. They are currently giving up 362.1 passing yards and 26.7 fantasy points per game, both league worsts. Even though Goff is not someone you want to start on a weekly basis, he should put up a QB1 performance this week and has a nice fantasy playoff schedule with matchups against the Jets and Seahawks in Weeks 15 and 16.

Projection: 313 passing yards, 3 touchdowns, 1 interception, 23.5 fantasy points.

RB James Conner, Pittsburgh (vs. Cincinnati)

After putting together an uncharacteristically healthy season, Conner flopped in Week 9 against the Cowboys, turning 11 touches into 20 yards. This was mostly due to an unexpected game script, with the Cowboys surprisingly playing the Steelers close. Conner only played on 46 percent of the snaps, though they ran a lot of empty back sets.

All this may lead Conner owners to be skeptical to throw him back in the lineup. Make no mistake, as Conner is still the back end RB1 you drafted, and has another great matchup in Week 10 against Cincinnati, who is allowing 21.9 fantasy points per game to the running back position.

Projection: 108 total yards, 4 receptions, 1 touchdown, 18.8 fantasy points. 

RB Antonio Gibson, Washington (vs. Detroit)

Gibson has been one of the most promising running backs from the rookie class and currently sits as the RB15 in half-point PPR scoring. Unfortunately, he is losing all third-down work to JD McKissic, who is currently fourth in receptions among running backs. Therefore, Gibson has become incredibly game script dependent, which can be seen in Washington’s past two games, as he received twenty carries in a blowout but only six in a close loss.

However, there should be plenty of points to go around against Detroit, who is allowing a league-worst 32.7 fantasy points per game to the running back position. Continue firing up Gibson, but know that his lack of receiving work limits his big game potential.

Projection: 98 total yards, 3 receptions, 1 touchdown, 17.3 fantasy points. 

WR Brandin Cooks, Houston (vs. Cleveland)

Through the first four weeks, it looked like Cooks’ fantasy-relevant days were over. Starting in Week 5, he turned things around and has now seen at least nine targets in four straight games.

Now he gets an incredible matchup against Cleveland and with a 54.5 over-under, there should be plenty of fantasy points to go around. Fire up Cooks as a borderline WR1 this week and a weekly WR2 even when his schedule gets tougher.

Projection: 7 receptions, 102 yards, 1 touchdown, 19.7 fantasy points. 

TE Austin Hooper, Cleveland (vs. Houston)

Hooper may not be on many people’s radar, as he missed his last two games and is coming off a bye. While he was gone, quite a bit changed in the Cleveland offense, most notably the season-ending injury to Odell Beckham Jr. In Hooper’s absence, backup tight ends Harrison Bryant and David Njoku both managed strong performances.

Hooper draws a great matchup with Houston in his first game back and has a real chance to be Mayfield’s second target in the offense. With the return of Nick Chubb, the Browns should also see more red zone opportunities.

Projection: 5 receptions, 68 yards, 1 touchdown, 15.3 fantasy points. 

Fantasy Football Sits for Week 10

QB Teddy Bridgewater, Carolina (vs. Tampa Bay)

Bridgewater surprisingly put up his best game of the year in Week 9 against Kansas City, throwing for 310 yards and two touchdowns, adding 19 yards and a touchdown on the ground. However, it was clear that Bridgewater had dearly missed McCaffrey, as he found him ten times for 82 yards and a touchdown.

Unfortunately for Bridgewater, it looks like McCaffrey is going to miss their Week 10 matchup with Tampa Bay, and considering he only put up 10.7 fantasy points when they first faced off, it’s best to keep him out of your lineup this week.

Projection: 277 yards, 1 touchdown, 2 interceptions, 25 rushing yards, 15.6 fantasy points. 

RB Damien Harris, New England (vs. Baltimore)

Harris looked solid in Week 9, turning 14 carries into 71 yards. Unfortunately, it has become clear he offers no points through the passing game and therefore needs a touchdown to be fantasy relevant.

On top of that, he left the game early on Monday with a chest injury and has been limited in practice thus far. If he is good to go, his daunting matchup against Baltimore is certainly one to avoid.

Projection: 53 yards, 5.3 fantasy points. 

WR Marvin Jones Jr., Detroit (vs. Washington)

Many fantasy managers were eager to slide Jones Jr into their lineup with the injury to Kenny Golladay, and while he found the end zone, he only received four targets. Now he gets a matchup against Washington, who is allowing a league-best 20.7 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers.

Whether Golladay is active or not, Jones Jr is a situation to avoid in Week 10 with much better options on most waiver wires.

Projection: 3 receptions, 41 yards, 5.6 fantasy points. 

WR Jakobi Meyers, New England (vs. Baltimore)

Meyers exploded in Week 9 with 12 receptions and 169 yards on 14 targets. However, it is important to understand the circumstances that led to this. The Patriots were missing both Julian Edelman and N’Keal Harry and they were facing the New York Jets.

Though Newton and Meyers clearly have a connection, it will be put to the test against a tough Baltimore defense allowing the fifth-fewest points to fantasy wideouts. Though Meyers is worth a speculative add, keep him on your bench this week for better matchups in the future.

Projection: 6 receptions, 52 yards, 8.2 fantasy points. 

TE Jonnu Smith, Tennessee (vs. Indianapolis)

After looking like a top-five tight end the first four games, Jonnu Smith has only caught six balls in the four games since. Even though he finally managed to find the end zone in Week 9, he still only received two targets.

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Combine this with the fact that backup tight end Anthony Firkser out targeted him six to two, and you should certainly keep Smith on the bench or even on the waiver wire against an Indianapolis defense only allowing 5.6 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends.

Projection: 2 receptions, 31 yards, 4.1 fantasy points.