Welcome to Week 10. You might have looked at your lineup and saw multiple players on a bye. This week, we have six teams not playing (Denver Broncos, Houston Texans, New England Patriots, Baltimore Ravens, Jacksonville Jaguars, Philadelphia Eagles); it’s what we refer to as “Byepocalypse.”

If you’re missing some key players, I did my best to find you some reliable streaming options as we get closer to the playoffs.

Here are my starts and sits for Week 10.

Quarterback Starts of The Week

Kyler Murray at Tampa Bay

Last week Murray faced a tough defense in San Fransisco and still managed to have a 20+ point game after failing to score 20 points combined the previous two weeks.

He’s going to maintain that momentum against a much friendlier matchup. Tampa Bay is giving up the third-most fantasy points to the quarterback and allowed Russell Wilson to be the QB1 last week.

Daniel Jones at New York Jets

Although this is technically a road game, the Giants get the benefit of sleeping in their own beds this week. Jones has not been a reliable fantasy option this year; five of his seven starts scoring below 15 points.

The Jets passing defense has been getting torched lately, giving up back-to-back 23 point games to Gardner Minshew and Ryan Fitzpatrick. Six teams on a bye, he’s most likely on your waiver wire, he’s an option for this week.

Others Quarterbacks To Start:

Jimmy Garoppolo, Brain Hoyer/Jacoby Brissett, Josh Allen, Philip Rivers, Jameis Winston, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Ryan Tannehill

Sleeper Quarterback of The Week

Sam Darnold vs. New York Giants

Darnold has struggled since his breakout return against Dallas averaging 188 passing yards with three touchdowns and eight interceptions in the last three games.

He gets an excellent matchup to bounce back this week; the Giants are allowing the third-most points the quarterback, including at least the QB9 in four of their last five games.

Quarterback Sits of The Week

Matt Stafford at Chicago Bears

Through a fantasy perspective, Stafford has been impressive this season as he’s currently the QB5 in 2019.

This week he gets a tough matchup. The Bears are allowing an average of under 10 fantasy points to quarterbacks at home. With six teams on a bye this week, you may have to start him, but I’d be reluctant.

Derek Carr vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Carr has ranked at QB5 over the last two weeks thanks to friendly matchups against the Lions and Texans.

This week, he goes against a Chargers defense that is only giving up an average of 13 fantasy points-per-game to opposing quarterbacks and halted Aaron Rodger’s recent hot streak.

Others Quarterbacks To Sit:

Kyle Allen, Baker Mayfield, Derek Carr, Mason Rudolph, Mitch Trubisky

Quarterback Bust of The Week

Jared Goff at Pittsburgh Steelers

Goff went into the bye with back-to-back 20+ point games thanks to favorable matchups against Atlanta and Cincinnati.

Even with the extra time to prepare, it won’t help. The Steelers are only allowing 187.2 passing yards per game and 12 takeaways in their last three home games. Along with no Brandon Cooks, not a good week to start him.

Wide Receiver Starts of The Week

Keenan Allen at Oakland Raiders (Thursday)

When Allen apologized to the fantasy world a couple of weeks ago for his dud performance, he said he owed us one.

He was referring this week; the Raiders are allowing slightly under 30 fantasy points to wide receivers this season, and have allowed a receiver to score 20+ points in three of their last four games.

DeVante Parker at Indianapolis Colts

For what it’s worth, the Dolphins have improved every week, and Parker has seen his fantasy relevance climb.

Parker is averaging eight targets over his last three games, and with Preston Williams out for the remainder of the season, his volume could increase.

The Colts are in the middle of the pack in terms of defense against the wide receiver, but with six teams on a bye, Parker has a chance to be a high WR2 this week.

Other Wide Receivers To Start:

Christian Kirk, Golden Tate, Mike Williams, D.J. Moore, Robby Anderson, Michael Gallup, Corey Davis, Cole Beasley

Sleeper Wide Receiver of The Week

Zach Pascal vs. Miami Dolphins

T.Y. Hilton will miss the next few weeks with a calf injury. In his absence last week, Pascal led the team in snaps, targets, and receiving yards.

He gets a great matchup against the Dolphins, who are allowing 25.6 points-per-game to receivers. Regardless of whether Jacoby Brissett or Brian Hoyer gets the start, I like Pascal to have a big game this week.

Wide Receiver Sits of The Week

Odell Beckham Jr. at Buffalo Bills

It’s hard to trust OBJ with how this offense has played the last few weeks. He and Baker Mayfield haven’t found their chemistry, and Beckham hasn’t seen the end zone since Week 2.

I don’t think Beckham finds the end zone this week either: the Bills are only behind the Patriots in touchdowns allowed to wide receivers with two this season.

D.K. Metcalf at San Fransisco 49ers

I’ve been telling you to start Metcalf the last couple of weeks, and it’s paid off. This week, I’d bench him if you can.

He’s been Russell Wilson’s go-to guy in the red zone. The percentage of red zone opportunities opposing teams have converted against the 49ers at home? Zero. Point. Zero.

Other Wide Receivers To Sit:

Robert Woods, Curtis Samuel, Tyler Boyd, Jarvis Landry, Marvin Jones, Hunter Renfrow

Wide Receiver Bust of The Week

JuJu Smith-Schuster vs. Los Angeles Rams

This isn’t just for this week, it’s for the season.

At the end of this year, JuJu will be in the running for the biggest bust of the season. It’s not his fault entirely, Ben Roethlisberger going down completely changed the course of his year. Mason Rudolph does not have the skills to get him the ball downfield, and as a result, the Steelers offense relies on check-downs to the running back.

He’s a dynasty league keeper, but I’d keep him benched for the remainder of the season.

Running Back Starts of The Week

Devin Singletary at Cleveland Browns

Singletary was part of the group of rookie running back expected to make an impact, being in a committee with Frank Gore and then missing a few weeks with a hamstring derailed that for the first half of the year.

Last week we saw him get his first taste as the lead back with 20 carries for 95 yards.

He’ll make himself known in the fantasy community against the Browns who are allowing the third-most rushing yards-per-carry and over 20 fantasy points-per-game.

Jaylen Samuels vs. Los Angeles Rams

He only got you ten rushing yards last week, but his 13 receptions are what helped him reach double-digit fantasy points.

Check downs to the running back is what the Steelers are allowing Mason Rudolph to do in this offense. Samuels is a strong flex play this week.

Other Running Backs To Start:

David Montgomery, Tevin Coleman, Ronald Jones, Latavius Murray, 

Running Back Sleeper of The Week

Jamaal Williams vs. Carolina Panthers

Although this is Aaron Jones’ backfield, the Packers have utilized Williams effectively; as a result, he’s seen the end zone in the four straight games.

The Panthers have allowed the most rushing touchdowns this year, Williams will find the end zone again this week.

Running Back Sits of The Week

David Johnson at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Johnson will return this week, but won’t be eased back in with a good matchup.

The Bucs have been good against the run, allowing the third-least amount of points this year. Kenyan Drake played well last week and he may cut into Johnson’s snap count.

Kalen Ballage at Indianapolis Colts

If you handcuffed Ballage because of Mark Walton’s suspension, it’s a smart move, but not a good one for this week.

The Colts have only allowed five rushing touchdowns and the sixth-fewest fantasy points this year.

Other Running Backs To Sit:

Frank Gore, LeSean McCoy, Kenyan Drake, Todd Gurley, Lions’ running backs, 

Running Back Bust of The Week

Joe Mixon vs. Baltimore Ravens

Mixon is ranked RB36 on the year and does not have a rushing touchdown through eight games.

The Ravens are allowing the second-least amount of rushing yards-per-game in 2019. Secondly, he has a rookie quarterback in his debut with a bad offensive line. This will not go well.

Tight End Starts of The Week

Kyle Rudolph at Dallas Cowboys

We haven’t talked much about Rudolph because he hasn’t done much; he only has one game with over four receptions and has three games with just one.

He has a favorable matchup this week with the Cowboys allowing the fifth-most receiving yards to tight ends. With six teams on a bye in a year of little talent in the position, Rudolph can be a top tight end this week.

Greg Olsen at Green Bay Packers

Olsen is another former stud tight end that hasn’t done much this season, at this point, he’s a matchup based start. That’s why he’s a start against Green Bay; he’s had three previous matchups against bottom 10 defenses against the tight end (two against Tampa Bay and Arizona) in those games he’s averaging 14.3 points.

Olsen is a good option for this week if you need a streamer.

Other Tight Ends To Start:

Gerald Everett, Jack Doyle, Jonnu Smith, Vance McDonald, Mike Gescki

Sleeper Tight End of The Week

O.J. Howard vs. Arizona Cardinals

It’s too early in the holiday season for the spiked egg nog, so I am of sound mind when I tell you to start Howard.

Currently, at TE46, he’s ranked behind Charles Clay, Irv Smith Jr., and Rhett Ellison. He gets that great matchup against Arizona, who is allowing nearly 15 points to the position (coincidently the number of fantasy points he has in 2019) and gave Ellison 55% of his total fantasy points this year.

Tight End Sits of The Week

Trey Burton vs. Detroit Lions

It’s the byepocalypse, with how bad the tight end position is, you might be scraping the bottom of the barrel for a tight end to stream, but Burton isn’t it.

With as bad as Howard has been, Burton is worse at TE56. The Bears passing offense is not reliable to start any pass-catchers besides Allen Robinson.

Ryan Griffin/Chris Hernon vs. New York Giants

It seems to be a coin flip on who will get the start for the Jets, but neither shouldn’t start for your fantasy team.

The Giants secondary is so bad against wide receivers, the tight ends won’t get enough opportunities to make an impact.

Other Tight Ends To Sit:

Tyler Eifert, Jimmy Graham, Dawson Knox, Jason Witten

Tight End Bust of The Week

Jacob Hollister at San Fransisco (Monday)

Hollister was the TE4 thanks to great matchup against Tampa Bay. This week he has the toughest defense in terms of fantasy points allowed and receiving yards per game.

 

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John “Supi” Supowitz is a graduate from Quinnipiac University with a Masters in Sports Journalism. He is also currently a part of the Game Day Production Staff for a minor league baseball team. If you want to pique his interest, bring up the Yankees, pro-wrestling, or King of The Hill. You can follow him on Twitter @Imthatsupi85 and Instagram @Imthatsupi.