Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 10: Running Backs - Sleepers, Fades, Matchups, DFS Bargains
Week 10 Start ‘Em: Running Backs
Byes: Chiefs, Cowboys, Falcons, Jets
Start of the Week
Antonio Gibson at Lions: Gibson isn't putting up huge numbers this season, but he has produced double digits in six of his last seven games, including two games with 18-plus points. He's in a smash spot this week, as Gibson faces a Lions team that's surrendered 15 total touchdowns and the most fantasy points (35.0 PPG) to opposing running backs. What’s more, seven different backs have scored 20-plus points against Detroit. Consider Gibson a solid No. 2 runner in this matchup.
Week 10 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em
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Start ‘Em
Mike Davis vs. Buccaneers: Christian McCaffrey will miss this week’s game against the Buccaneers due to an injured shoulder, which puts Davis right back into a featured role in Carolina. During his time as the top back, he put up at least 15.5 fantasy points four times, including against Tampa Bay. With 20-plus touches a virtual guarantee in an offense that likes to throw to its running backs, Davis is again on the radar as a potential No. 1 runner in this NFC South battle.
Chase Edmonds at Bills: Edmonds didn’t have a great stat line last week, as he put up a modest 11.8 fantasy points in a loss to the Dolphins. However, he did play 66 snaps and saw 28 touches, while no other Cardinals back had more than five snaps or two touches. This week's matchup against the Bills isn't great, but their defense has allowed 14-plus fantasy points to five backs. If Kenyan Drake is active this weekend, however, Edmonds is more of a flex starter.
Jerick McKinnon at Saints: This weekend's matchup against the Saints isn't at all favorable, as their defense has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs. But with the position being as thin as it is this week, McKinnon is at worst a flex option based on volume. Raheem Mostert, Tevin Coleman and Jeff Wilson Jr. remain out, so McKinnon should see plenty of work and maybe even more so as a pass catcher if game script is negative (which is very likely).
Duke Johnson at Browns: Revenge! Johnson looks like he'll be the featured back for the Texans this week as David Johnson is dealing with the effects of a concussion. Duke saw 52 snaps and 20 touches last week in David's absence, so a true featured role should be expected. Duke should also be motivated to produce against his former team, the Browns, who have allowed 15-plus fantasy points to four backs. Another four runners have scored double digits against them.
More Starts
- Giovani Bernard at Steelers
- Leonard Fournette at Panthers
- J.D. McKissic at Lions
DFS Bargains
- Antonio Gibson at Lions (DraftKings: $5,600)
- Duke Johnson at Browns (DraftKings: $5,000)
- Mike Davis vs. Buccaneers (DraftKings: $4,000)
Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Running Backs
Sit of the Week
D’Andre Swift vs. Football Team: Swift has the best ceiling in the Lions backfield, but he's not getting enough volume to be a reliable fantasy option. Over the last three weeks, the rookie leads Adrian Peterson and Kerryon Johnson in snaps, but he's averaged 12.7 touches. That's just three more than A.D. What’s more, Swift has averaged just 10.9 points in that time. What's more, the Football Team has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to opposing runners.
Sit ‘Em
Ronald Jones at Panthers: Jones has a great matchup on paper, as the Panthers have allowed 11 total touchdowns and the fifth-most fantasy points to runners. But here's the problem: Jones is averaging fewer than eight fantasy points in games where Leonard Fournette has been active. What's more, Fournette has seen vastly more snaps (83 to 33) and eight more touches than Jones over the last two weeks. This is a confusing backfield, and RoJo is the lesser of the two options.
Devin Singletary at Cardinals: Singletary is losing his grip on the top spot on the depth chart in Buffalo, as Zack Moss has led the backfield in snaps and touches in the last two weeks. What's more, Moss has seen eight red-zone looks in that time compared to Singletary's two. So while this week's matchup in Arizona isn't all that bad on paper, Singletary's lack of consistent touches, including those in the red zone, make him a huge risk even as a flex starter. Keep him on the sidelines.
Kalen Ballage at Dolphins: Ballage is coming off a surprisingly big game against the Raiders, but I wouldn't chase the points when he faces his old team, the Dolphins. While Justin Jackson will be inactive, Troymaine Pope looks likely to return from a concussion. Remember, Pope ran ahead of Joshua Kelley in Week 8. I believe Pope or Kelley is likely to start ahead of Ballage, a practice squad player, in Week 10. This confusing committee is one to avoid this weekend.
DeeJay Dallas at Rams: Dallas has been on the starting radar for each of the last two weeks, but his Week 9 usage is a concern. While he led the Seahawks backs in fantasy points (11.9), Travis Homer was tops in snaps and tied Dallas with nine touches. Seattle could also get back one or both of Chris Carson and Carlos Hyde, which would move Dallas into a backup role. Even in a best-case scenario, the rookie will be a fade against a Rams defense that’s been tough on backs in 2020.
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More Sits
- Damien Harris vs. Ravens (SNF)
- Wayne Gallman vs. Eagles
- Jordan Howard vs. Chargers
DFS Fades
- Darrell Henderson vs. Seahawks (DraftKings: $5,900)
- Ronald Jones II at Panthers (DraftKings: $5,300)
- D’Andre Swift vs. Football Team (DraftKings: $5,100)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for the latest news and analysis!
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