Start ’Em, Sit ’Em: How to set your fantasy lineups for Week 10
It’s time for our weekly stroll across the league, looking at all the start and sit possibilities for every fantasy-relevant player. Remember, the conditional start players will depend on your roster and league parameters. Use those in conjunction with our weekly rankings to build your best possible lineup.
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Chicago Bears at St. Louis Rams
Must start: Jeremy Langford, Todd Gurley, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, Rams DST
When Gurley takes the field against the Bears on Sunday, he will be exactly one year removed from tearing his ACL against Auburn in his final season with the Georgia Bulldogs. Since then, he has made a much faster than expected recovery and become one of the best running backs in the league. Expect him to celebrate in style on Sunday. Langford opened a whole lot of eyes in his first career start last week, but he faces a much tougher test against the Rams. Think of him as a low-end RB2 this week. In three games since returning from his hamstring injury, Jeffery has 28 catches for 414 yards and two touchdowns, good for an average of 17.73 points per game in standard-scoring leagues. You can safely bet on he and Bennett both getting 10-plus targets from Jay Cutler.
Conditional start: Jay Cutler, Tavon Austin
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This is undoubtedly a tough draw for Cutler, but there’s no ignoring that he has been a steady fantasy performer since returning from a hamstring injury. He has scored at least 18.2 points in all five games since getting back in the lineup and has averaged 19.24 points per game. Austin, the Most Frustrating Man in Fantasy Football, was at it again last week, catching four passes for 15 yards but picking up 66 yards on the ground on eight carries. His ceiling, combined with his unpredictability, makes him forever a high-end WR3.
Sit: Nick Foles, Matt Forte (knee), Marquess Wilson, Eddie Royal (knee), Brian Quick, Jared Cook, Bears DST
The Bears’ pass defense is nowhere near as bad as you’ve heard. That’s not to say it’s good, but it has now held five of eight opposing quarterbacks below their season average, including Philip Rivers last week. Foles needs a dream matchup to make it into fantasy lineups. Forte is expected to miss at least one more game because of his sprained knee.
Detroit Lions at Green Bay Packers
Must start: Aaron Rodgers, James Starks, Calvin Johnson (ankle), Randall Cobb, Eric Ebron, Packers DST
Risers/Sliders: Jaguars' Robinson a solid WR1, Browns' Barnidge falling
The Lions have allowed the fourth-most points per game to quarterbacks. The Packers have lost two straight games with Rodgers under center for the first time since 2010. Sometimes it’s good to bet on the narrative. Starks is officially the No. 1 back in Green Bay, even when Eddie Lacy is healthy. The Lions have struggled similarly against the run, surrendering the third-most points per game to backs and ranking 29th in rush defense DVOA. This has the feel of a vintage game for the Rodgers-led Packers. Johnson has been a bit slowed by an ankle injury in practice this week, though it’s not going to keep him from playing Sunday. It hasn’t been an explosive season for the ninth-year receiver, ranking just 24th among receivers in points per game. Ebron’s consistency puts him just on the right side of the TE1/2 line every week, and the Packers have allowed the 11th-most points per game to tight ends.
Conditional start: Matthew Stafford, Joique Bell, Golden Tate, Davante Adams, James Jones
The good news for Stafford is that he’ll likely have to throw the ball 40 times to keep up with Rodgers. He could theoretically volume his way to a QB1 performance, but this Green Bay pass defense has been very good all season. It’s awfully hard to believe in the Detroit run game, but if you’re looking for a fantasy play from this team, it has to be Bell. He was the lead back in Detroit's last game before the bye, running seven times for 56 yards. Adams is clearly the No. 2 receiver in Green Bay this week, and he’s very close to a must-start in my estimation. He has played 97% of the snaps since returning from his ankle injury and had seven catches on 11 targets for 93 yards last week. The overall matchup for the Packers keeps Jones on the fantasy radar, but you need him to score a touchdown to show up in meaningful fantasy fashion. He’s just not going to do it with yards.
Sit: Ameer Abdullah, Eddie Lacy (groin), Lions DST
Abdullah and Lacy are two of the most disappointing backs this season. No one should be starting them until further notice.
Dallas Cowboys at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Must start: Darren McFadden, Doug Martin, Dez Bryant, Mike Evans
As good as Bryant and Evans are, we could see the running backs dominate this game. The Cowboys clearly want to lean on McFadden, giving him 47 carries over the last two games. He looked great in a tough matchup with the Eagles last week, racking up 117 yards. Meanwhile, Martin has an excellent matchup with a Cowboys unit that is 27th in rush DVOA and has surrendered the second-most points to running backs. Bryant and Evans are easy plays, even with uneven quarterback performance, but McFadden and Martin will be the stars of this one.
Conditional start: Matt Cassel, Jameis Winston, Austin Seferian-Jenkins (shoulder), Cowboys DST
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Before you get too excited about Cassel’s three-touchdown game last week, remember that Bryant was entirely responsible for the third one, and there was also an interception in the mix. The matchup, however, is undeniably great, making Cassel a solid play in two-quarterback leagues. The same goes for Winston, though he desperately needs Seferian-Jenkins to get back on the field. The song remains the same for the second-year tight end. If he can return, he’s well worth starting. He’s part of the glut at the backend of the TE1 class, but he’s more talented and has a better role than, say, Julius Thomas, Jason Witten and Jordan Cameron.
Sit: Christine Michael, Charles Sims, Terrance Williams, Vincent Jackson (knee), Jason Witten, Buccaneers DST
Witten had 60 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against the Giants. Since then, he has 343 yards and zero scores in seven games. If you’re starting him, you’re blindly trusting a name brand.
Carolina Panthers at Tennessee Titans
Must start: Cam Newton, Jonathan Stewart, Greg Olsen, Delanie Walker, Panthers DST
Newton’s not going to get his fantasy points in the traditional manner, like Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Andy Dalton. What he will do, however, is get those points in his own fashion, and that’s just fine for his fantasy owners. Newton is third among quarterbacks in total points and second in points per game, trailing only Brady. Both teams have been tough on running backs, but this game sets up excellently for Stewart. Even in Nashville, the Panthers should be able to control the matchup with relative ease. We know how Carolina wins its games, and it’s not with Ted Ginn and Corey Brown. Walker’s on the right side of the TE1/2 border this week, but don’t plan on another fortunate 61-yard touchdown.
Conditional start: Marcus Mariota, Antonio Andrews, Dorial Green-Beckham
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Mariota returned from his knee injury in a big way last week, throwing for 371 yards and four touchdowns in an overtime win against the Saints. He’s one of two quarterbacks to have multiple games this season with four touchdowns and zero interceptions. The other is Tom Brady. The Panthers, however, are second in overall and pass defense DVOA. Remember that Andrews is really a matchup guy. I’d feel bad about him as my RB2, and only decent with him in a flex spot. We’ll also probably see a decent amount of David Cobb this week. Green-Beckham got a season-high 10 targets last week, catching five of them for 77 yards. He’s likely the team’s top fantasy receiver from this point forward, though you should still think of him as a low-end WR3 this week.
Sit: Ted Ginn, Devin Funchess, Corey Brown, Justin Hunter, Kendall Wright (knee), Titans DST
The Panthers may be 8–0, but they could use someone stepping up alongside Olsen consistently. We know exactly what Ginn and Brown are, but the jury is still out on Funchess. He’s the one Carolina receiver with an attractive fantasy ceiling. None of them has an attractive floor, and that’s why all of them should be on your bench this week.
New Orleans Saints at Washington Redskins
Must start: Drew Brees, Mark Ingram, Brandin Cooks, Willie Snead, DeSean Jackson, Ben Watson, Jordan Reed
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Brees has thrown for fewer than 300 yards twice this season. He has thrown for more than 350 yards four times. After a surprisingly low touchdown rate through six games, he has 10 scores in his last two. Now he gets a Washington defense that will likely be without at least two starters in its secondary (DeAngelo Hall and Bashaud Breeland). He’s a top-three quarterback this week. Cooks and Snead should also take advantage and are similarly easy starts against Washington. Ingram continues to rack up touches, getting 26 more a week ago. As long as he finds the end zone, he’s a near lock for 15 points in standard-scoring leagues. Jackson looked spry in his return to the field and was already practicing fully on Wednesday. He, too, should find a friendly secondary on the field this week. Reed saved his game in Week 9 with a late touchdown. The Saints won’t present him or Kirk Cousins with nearly the same challenge New England did.
Conditional start: Kirk Cousins, Pierre Garcon
Forget about Cousins as just a starter in two-quarterback leagues. He can get into traditional lineups, especially if you just lost Ben Roethlisberger or Andrew Luck, or have Matt Ryan or Philip Rivers on bye. The Saints have allowed the most points per game to quarterbacks this year. They’ve held just two quarterbacks below 20 points. One was Sam Bradford, and he had 333 yards and two touchdowns, but also threw two interceptions. The other was Brandon Weeden, but even he had a good game by his low standards, throwing for 246 yards and a score. Thanks to the matchup, both Cousins and Garcon should be on your radar this week.
Sit: C.J. Spiller, Matt Jones, Alfred Morris, Chris Thompson, Marques Colston, Brandon Coleman, Jamison Crowder, Saints DST, Redskins DST
If you’re thinking about starting Jones or Morris, please refer back to the Week 9 Droppables to get your mind right. You’ll also find more on Spiller there, whom the Saints apparently wanted to turn into the priciest sideline ornament in the league.
Miami Dolphins at Philadelphia Eagles
Must start: Ryan Tannehill, Lamar Miller, DeMarco Murray, Jarvis Landry, Eagles DST
Since Joe Philbin’s ouster in Miami, Miller has been among the very best fantasy backs in the league. In four games with Dan Campbell at the helm, Miller has 347 rushing yards, 116 receiving yards and six touchdowns in four games, which translates to an average of 20.58 points per game. Philadelphia presents a tough matchup, but Miller has the look of a top-five or top-seven back for the rest of the season. Similarly, Murray has turned back into an RB1 over his last four games, also thanks in part to finally getting the ball with significant frequency. He has had at least 18 carries in every game of Philadelphia’s 3–1 run, and that pattern is going to continue for the rest of the season. No matter what we thought about the Eagles’ offense before the year, it’s a true old school, run-first unit. Tannehill was frustratingly held out of the end zone last week, despite throwing for 309 yards and 8.58 yards per attempt. He should be considered a low-end QB1 against the Eagles. Malcolm Jenkins, who should get primary duty on Landry in the slot, has allowed a 114.9 quarterback rating when covering slot receivers.
Conditional start: Sam Bradford, Ryan Mathews, Jordan Matthews, Dolphins DST
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Bradford and Matthews hooked up nine times for 133 yards and a touchdown last week, but both their days would have looked rather pedestrian if not for overtime. The Dolphins pass defense isn’t scaring anyone, but there’s no reason to dive in head first on the Bradford–Matthews connection. The quarterback is no more than a mid-tier QB2, while the receiver is a low-end WR2, at best. Mathews with one T, on the other hand, has found the end zone in three of the Eagles’ last four games and is doing a ton of damage with limited opportunity. He’s a legitimate flex play, even though he’s not going to get more than 12 or 14 touches.
Sit: Jay Ajayi, Darren Sproles, Rishard Matthews, Kenny Stills, Nelson Agholor, Riley Cooper, Jordan Cameron, Zach Ertz
Matthews is the one guy here who will likely draw considerable fantasy attention this week, but he has been pretty quiet since two straight 100-yard games early in the season. Over his last two games, he has just 116 yards on 11 catches. He’s a low-end WR3, at best.
Cleveland Browns at Pittsburgh Steelers
Must start: DeAngelo Williams, Antonio Brown, Gary Barnidge, Steelers DST
The Ben Roethlisberger effect is back. With the starter out again, Brown has nowhere near the ceiling or floor that he typically does. If Roethlisberger were healthy, Brown would be the No. 1 receiver for Week 10. With Landry Jones, he’s barely a WR1. The effect does not apply to Williams, at least beyond the fact that it does limit the explosiveness of the offense as a whole, just like it didn’t bring down Le’Veon Bell. Count Barnidge among those hoping that Josh McCown will be able to return this week. In six games with McCown under center, Barnidge has 36 catches for 512 yards and six scores. In three games with Manziel, he has six grabs for 90 yards and zero touchdowns.
Conditional start: Duke Johnson, Martavis Bryant
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Just like Brown becomes a low-end WR1 without Roethlisberger, Bryant falls to a conditional start without the star quarterback available. Bryant would easily qualify as a must-start receiver if Roethilsberger were healthy, but it’s hard to trust him when Landry Jones isn’t going to be someone who pushes the ball down the field too aggressively. He can still be thought of as a high-end WR3 or flex play. Johnson had just two catches for 38 yards last week, though one did go for a touchdown. He’s a strong choice in PPR leagues, but no more than a low-end RB3 in standard formats.
Sit: Johnny Manziel, Josh McCown (shoulder), Landry Jones, Isaiah Crowell, Travis Benjamin, Heath Miller, Browns DST
Guys like Kirk Cousins, Jay Cutler and Ryan Fitzpatrick are far better streaming options than either of this game’s likely starting quarterbacks. That means Manziel and Jones should only be on your radar if you’re desperate in two-QB leagues. If McCown is able to go, he would be a potential streamer, but Cousins, Cutler and Fitzpatrick would all be superior to him, too. The gap just wouldn’t be as wide.
Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens
Must start: Blake Bortles, T.J. Yeldon, Justin Forsett, Allen Robinson, Allen Hurns (foot)
The Ravens have allowed the second-most points per game to quarterbacks and receivers this year. Bortles is ninth among quarterbacks in points per game, while Robinson and Hurns are seventh and 11th, respectively, at receiver. In other words, this is a dream matchup for the Jaguars. Even Yeldon, who managed to top 100 total yards against the tough Jets defense last week, should thrive in this game. Get all your Jaguars active, other than perhaps Julius Thomas. On the other side, only Forsett warrants guaranteed fantasy attention. Understand, however, that the Jaguars have allowed the fewest yards per carry in the league this year.
Conditional start: Kamar Aiken, Julius Thomas, Jaguars DST
Aiken has filled in admirably for Steve Smith this year, catching 22 passes for 217 yards and a touchdown in the three games Smith has missed either largely or entirely. At the very least, he should get seven or eight targets, which places him in the WR2/3 discussion. Thomas is always in the TE1/2 discussion, but guys like Charles Clay, Eric Ebron and, if he can finally return, Austin Seferian-Jenkins would all be better options.
Sit: Joe Flacco, Buck Allen, Crockett Gillmore, Ravens DST
This isn’t a bad matchup for Flacco, but matchup isn’t everything. In those same three games with Smith injured, Flacco has averaged 239.3 passing yards and one touchdown per game. His fantasy PPG average is skewed by a pair of one-yard rushing touchdowns against the Browns, but the fact remains that he’s simply a bad fantasy quarterback when he doesn’t have Smith at his disposal.
Minnesota Vikings at Oakland Raiders
Must start: Derek Carr, Adrian Peterson, Stefon Diggs, Amari Cooper, Michael Crabtree
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Carr has been on fire the last three weeks, throwing for 923 yards, 8.32 YPA and 11 touchdowns against one interception. The Vikings’ defense is 15th in pass DVOA, and they’ve reached that league-average ranking by beating up on bad quarterbacks, notably Matthew Stafford (twice), Colin Kaepernick and Nick Foles. Carr, Cooper and Crabtree will give this defense everything it can handle. Plus, if Latavius Murray is out because of his concussion from last week, the passing game will have to play an even larger role than it usually does for the Raiders. The Raiders have been a bit better than league average against the run, and a bit worse than league average against the pass. Diggs presents a matchup nightmare for D.J. Hayden, who has been the third-worst cover corner in the league, according to Pro Football Focus.
Conditional start: Latavius Murray (concussion), Vikings DST
The only reason Murray appears here is because his status for this game is still up in the air. If he goes for the Raiders, he should go for 100% of his fantasy owners. This is a late start on Sunday afternoon, so hopefully we get some clarity before the early games begin. I hate using a defense on the road against a good offense, but there’s no reason to fade Minnesota for a significantly worse unit. Some stream possibilities I’d consider over them are Pittsburgh and Dallas.
Sit: Teddy Bridgewater (concussion), Taiwan Jones, Marcel Reece, Mike Wallace, Charles Johnson, Andre Holmes, Kyle Rudolph, Raiders DST
It appears Bridgewater will be able to start this week, but that’s really better news for Peterson and Diggs than it is for anyone who might be considering going with the quarterback in their lineups this week. If Bridgewater can play, he’d be a low-end QB2. The Raiders have allowed the sixth-most points per game to quarterbacks this year.
New England Patriots at New York Giants
Must start: Tom Brady, Eli Manning, LeGarrette Blount, Shane Vereen, Julian Edelman, Odell Beckham Jr., Rob Gronkowski, Patriots DST
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The over/under on this game is 55.5. That alone is a green light to get pretty much any realistic fantasy starter into your lineups. I’m not going to waste any time talking about Brady or Gronkowski here. Edelman is fifth among receivers in points per game, and this is a particularly good matchup for someone with his skill set. The Giants have allowed the second-most yards and catches to receivers this year, and Trumaine McBride, the team’s primary man in slot coverage, has surrendered 28 catches on 35 targets for 304 yards, two touchdowns, and a quarterback rating of 110.
The lone concern for Blount is that this game won’t be enough of a blowout for him to be featured in the second half. The loss of Dion Lewis doesn’t really affect him. In fact, you could say that it has a negative impact on him, since he doesn’t shine until he’s protecting a big lead, and the absence of Lewis will make it harder on the Patriots to create those deficits. Vereen might come as a surprise, but the Giants are going to have to lean on Manning and the passing game to stay in this one. Vereen has come on strong recently, scoring in three of his last five games and catching 22 passes for 187 yards over that span.
Conditional start: Brandon LaFell
LaFell is always going to be intriguing simply because he’s on the Patriots, but he is trending in the right direction. After two straight ho-hum games, he caught five of his nine targets for 102 yards last week. He’s never going to be a slam dunk WR2, but he always has that capability because this offense is just so potent.
Sit: Brandon Bolden, James White, Rashad Jennings, Orleans Darkwa, Rueben Randle, Danny Amendola, Giants DST
Everyone wants to know who will be the next Dion Lewis now that he’s done for the season after tearing his ACL. The answer is no one. Lewis is a special player. Neither Bolden nor White can just step in the starting lineup and replicate what he did. That role, as we knew it in 2015, is gone. There will probably be a little of Bolden, a little of White, perhaps a few more targets for Blount, and likely a little of someone you haven’t heard of yet. What we’re not getting is Dion Lewis reborn in Bolden’s or White’s body.
Kansas City Chiefs at Denver Broncos
Must start: Peyton Manning (foot), Charcandrick West, Demaryius Thomas, Emmanuel Sanders (ankle), Travis Kelce, Broncos DST
The Chiefs have been much better against the pass over the last month or so, but this was one team Manning was able to get to earlier this year. After a terrible first half in their first meeting, he ended up throwing for 256 yards and three touchdowns in the Broncos’ Week 2 win. Hopefully we get some encouraging news on Sanders before the early games kick off, but for now you can plan on having him at your disposal. Thomas likely has a date with Marcus Peters, who’s 34th among cornerbacks in coverage this season. That shouldn’t scare you or Thomas. West has been very good in his last two games, and we know he’s the man in the Kansas City backfield, but this is a brutal matchup, and if the game gets out of hand he could be phased out of the offense. Kelce is the safest fantasy play on the Chiefs this week.
Conditional start: Ronnie Hillman, C.J. Anderson, Jeremy Maclin
Anderson and Hillman both had seven carries last week. Anderson had 34 yards, and Hillman had one. Yep, one. Game flow could grant both of them more totes in this game, but neither inspires much confidence. They both have an RB2 ceiling but enter the game more as high-end RB3s. Aqib Talib will be serving his one-game suspension, but that just means Maclin will deal with Chris Harris instead. It’s an equally bad matchup.
Sit: Alex Smith, Albert Wilson, Owen Daniels, Vernon Davis, Chiefs DST
Even with Talib out, there’s no way Smith should be in starting lineups in any format. Those of you in two-QB leagues should still be able to find someone with more upside than Smith on the road against this defense. Davis has now had another week to get up to speed in the Denver offense, but Daniels is coming off his best game of the season. We could see a situation similar to what has transpired in Indianapolis in recent seasons, where two solid, though not quite standout, tight ends cancel each other out of the fantasy community’s plans.
Arizona Cardinals at Seattle Seahawks
Must start: Carson Palmer, Chris Johnson, Marshawn Lynch, Larry Fitzgerald, Jimmy Graham, Cardinals DST, Seahawks DST
This should be a great real-life game on Sunday night, but it could be a frustrating one for fantasy owners looking for a big game out of some of their regular starters. I’d still roll with Palmer, but I do have Blake Bortles and Derek Carr ranked ahead of him this week. The Seattle matchup isn’t the death sentence it was in 2013 or 2014, but it’s still no cakewalk. I have more confidence in him than I do in Johnson, however. The Seahawks have allowed the second-fewest points per game to running backs and are eighth in rush defense DVOA. The same can be said for Lynch, who squares off with Arizona’s No. 3-ranked rush DVOA. Don’t shy away from Fitzgerald because of the matchup. Is it a tough one? Of course. But we’re still talking about the No. 4 receiver in points per game. You don’t sit him because of a bad matchup. Again, this could be beautiful football, but ugly fantasy football.
Conditional start: Russell Wilson, John Brown (hamstring), Michael Floyd
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Wilson is 23rd among quarterbacks in points per game this season. He has scored more than 20 points once, and that was all the way back in Week 2. Conversely, he has had fewer than 15 points three times, and all of those have come in his last four games. I’m only turning to him if I’m absolutely desperate, and that goes for two-QB leagues, as well. There’s no way Fitzgerald, Brown and Floyd all show up for their fantasy owners this week. That just doesn’t happen against this caliber of defense. Fitzgerald is the only Arizona receiver who is matchup proof. The others are more high-end WR3s than they are WR2s this week. I have more confidence in Floyd, simply because I don’t trust speed receivers coming off hamstring injuries.
Sit: Andre Ellington, David Johnson, Thomas Rawls, Doug Baldwin, Tyler Lockett
Let’s get to Monday night.
Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals
Must start: Andy Dalton, Giovani Bernard, DeAndre Hopkins, A.J. Green, Tyler Eifert, Bengals DST
Those of you who are invested in Cincinnati players are going to feel pretty good about having the Monday night hammer in your hands this week. Houston’s defense is 21st in DVOA and is below average against both the run and pass. It shouldn’t present much of a challenge to the Bengals’ offense, which is second in overall DVOA and first in pass DVOA (yes, ahead of New England). Dalton, Green and Eifert are all top-four plays at their respective positions this week. The Texans have allowed the sixth-most points per game to running backs this year, so it stands to reason that at least one Bengals runner will do well this week. The smart money is on Bernard, who simply has a more lucrative role in the offense at this point. Hopkins will have to deal with Adam Jones, but you know he’s getting force-fed at least 12 targets in this game. He’s a top-five play at receiver every week. To be fair, Jones is ranked fourth in coverage by Pro Football Focus through nine weeks. This could be Hopkins’s toughest test to date.
Conditional start: Brian Hoyer, Jeremy Hill, Nate Washington, Marvin Jones
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We’ve seen Hoyer volume his way to big games time and time again this year. He’s 14th among quarterbacks in points per game despite the Texans being 3–5, and has had at least 20.9 points in three of his last four starts. The Bengals bring a pass defense that is 11th in DVOA, but they could have this game locked up, for all intents and purposes, by halftime. That would play right into Hoyer’s hands. That would also benefit Hill, who has received at least 15 carries in the Bengals’ last three games, but hasn’t turned that into meaningful fantasy production. His high water mark for yards on the year is 63, and he has scored touchdowns in just two games. The lack of consistency and explosion explains why he’s down here and Bernard is a must-start. He is still a low-end RB2. In Houston’s last two games, with Cecil Shorts out, Washington had 13 total catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns. Shorts should return in this one, but Washington is a decent dart throw if you need help at receiver.
Sit: Alfred Blue, Chris Polk, Cecil Shorts (hamstring), Texans DST
I don’t care that Blue is Houston’s starter, and you shouldn’t either. In the first game after Arian Foster’s season-ending injury, he had 14 carries for 39 yards. He did catch five passes for 33 yards, but he inhabits a low-value spot on a low-value offense. You shouldn’t have to dip this far down into the running back pool this week.
