Weekly Positional Rankings: Week Ten

In this series, I’ll give you my top 30 quarterbacks, 60 running backs, 60 wide receivers, and 30 tight ends each week to help you with your start/sit decisions in your leagues. To generate this list each and every week, I examine team trends, Vegas over/unders, implied points, pace of play, among various other factors to build a projection for each player and subsequently adjust rankings for upside and more detailed matchup specifics.

Among the rankings, there will surely be some that surprise you or that you may disagree with. At the end of each position section, I’ll give you my thoughts on some players that perhaps are ranked higher/lower than you might expect and insights as to why they are a good/bad play this week. Ultimately, these rankings should help your start/sit dilemmas and ensure you have the requisite resources to make an informed decision. As you start to push towards the fantasy playoffs, start/sit decisions can be the difference.

Without further ado, let’s dive into Week Ten’s positional rankings!

Quarterbacks

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 10 Rank
QB	Lamar Jackson	@CIN	1
QB	Drew Brees	ATL	2
QB	Jameis Winston	ARI	3
QB	Kyler Murray	@TB	4
QB	Jimmy Garoppolo	SEA	5
QB	Aaron Rodgers	CAR	6
QB	Dak Prescott	MIN	7
QB	Russell Wilson	@SF	8
QB	Josh Allen	@CLE	9
QB	Philip Rivers	@OAK	10
QB	Jared Goff	@PIT	11
QB	Matthew Stafford	@CHI	12
QB	Matt Ryan	@NO	13
QB	Jacoby Brissett	MIA	14
QB	Kirk Cousins	@DAL	15
QB	Derek Carr	LAC	16
QB	Ryan Tannehill	KC	17
QB	Sam Darnold	NYG	18
QB	Kyle Allen	@GB	19
QB	Baker Mayfield	BUF	20
QB	Matt Moore	@TEN	21
QB	Mitchell Trubisky	DET	22
QB	Daniel Jones	@NYJ	23
QB	Ryan Fitzpatrick	@IND	24
QB	Mason Rudolph	LAR	25
QB	Ryan Finley	BAL	26

 

Start ‘em: Philip Rivers, QB LAC

Over the past two weeks, Rivers has taken a step back in most statistical categories. He’s thrown just one touchdown pass and did not attempt more than 29 pass attempts in each game. Rivers does not have the efficiency of a player like Russell Wilson, who can thrive despite low volume. However, Rivers has been incredibly consistent over the course of the season. The veteran Charger has thrown for at least 293 yards in all but one game this season. In five of his nine games, Rivers has surpassed 300 yards while also throwing two touchdown passes. This is a reasonable stat line to expect once again in week ten, as the Chargers play the Raiders on Thursday night football. The Raiders have been a solid team this season, but their defense has been lackluster. They’ve allowed the third-most fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks, and their 2.75 passing touchdowns allowed per game ranks worst in the NFL. Rivers is in line for a solid performance this week and should be confidently started as a low-end QB1.

Sit ‘em: Kirk Cousins, QB MIN

After a slow start, Cousins has been a fantasy QB1 throughout most of the season. With 18.7 average points per game since week three, Cousins has certainly exceeded expectations from a fantasy perspective. In week ten, though, Cousins is merely a QB2 play against a good Cowboys defense. While the Cowboys haven’t played the best group of quarterbacks in the league, they’ve fared well against their competition, including limiting Aaron Rodgers to just 238 yards and no touchdowns in their week five matchup. Overall, the Cowboys defense ranks fifth-best in fantasy points per game allowed to opposing quarterbacks, including having allowed just seven passing touchdowns on the season. Likely without Adam Thielen after reinjuring his hamstring on Sunday, Cousins will rely on rookie Olabisi Johnson and the uninspiring Laquon Treadwell to be the next receivers up. In a sub-par matchup without one of his top targets, you can likely find better options for week ten.

If you’re desperate: Ryan Tannehill, QB TEN

Since taking over the starting job three weeks ago, Tannehill has led the Titans to three straight 20+ point scoring performances. Before then, the Titans had broken the 20-point barrier just twice in five games. In week ten, the Titans host the Kansas City Chiefs, who may be getting star QB Patrick Mahomes back. The Chiefs defense, however, has been beatable over the season. In six of nine games, the Chiefs have allowed at least 23 points. Against opposing quarterbacks, they rank 11th-worst in fantasy points per game allowed. Overall, this a good matchup at home for Tannehill, who ranks as the QB9 in points per game himself over the last three weeks. If you’re hurting with Deshaun Watson and Tom Brady on bye or other injuries at the position, Tannehill is a solid play.

Running Backs

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 10 Rank
RB	Christian McCaffrey	@GB	1
RB	Saquon Barkley	@NYJ	2
RB	Dalvin Cook	@DAL	3
RB	Alvin Kamara	ATL	4
RB	Melvin Gordon	@OAK	5
RB	Le’Veon Bell	NYG	6
RB	Ezekiel Elliott	MIN	7
RB	Marlon Mack	MIA	8
RB	Josh Jacobs	LAC	9
RB	Mark Ingram	@CIN	10
RB	Derrick Henry	KC	11
RB	Todd Gurley	@PIT	12
RB	Nick Chubb	BUF	13
RB	Aaron Jones	CAR	14
RB	David Montgomery	DET	15
RB	David Johnson	@TB	16
RB	Joe Mixon	BAL	17
RB	Devonta Freeman	@NO	18
RB	Tevin Coleman	SEA	19
RB	Chris Carson	@SF	20
RB	Austin Ekeler	@OAK	21
RB	Devin Singletary	@CLE	22
RB	Jaylen Samuels	LAR	23
RB	Jamaal Williams	CAR	24
RB	Ronald Jones	ARI	25
RB	Matt Breida	SEA	26
RB	Kenyan Drake	@TB	27
RB	Latavius Murray	ATL	28
RB	LeSean McCoy	@TEN	29
RB	Damien Williams	@TEN	30
RB	Ty Johnson	@CHI	31
RB	Kalen Ballage	@IND	32
RB	Tarik Cohen	DET	33
RB	Nyheim Hines	MIA	34
RB	Alexander Mattison	@DAL	35
RB	Dion Lewis	KC	36
RB	Kareem Hunt	BUF	37
RB	Frank Gore	@CLE	38
RB	Darrell Henderson	@PIT	39
RB	Peyton Barber	ARI	40
RB	Dare Ogunbowale	ARI	41
RB	JD McKissic	@CHI	42
RB	Giovani Bernard	BAL	43
RB	Myles Gaskin	@IND	44
RB	Rashaad Penny	@SF	45
RB	Gus Edwards	@CIN	46
RB	Brian Hill	@NO	47
RB	Jalen Richard	LAC	48
RB	Tony Pollard	MIN	49
RB	Paul Perkins	@CHI	50
RB	Justice Hill	@CIN	51
RB	Darrell Williams	@TEN	52
RB	Jordan Wilkins	MIA	53
RB	Ito Smith	@NO	54
RB	Malcolm Brown	@PIT	55
RB	Mike Davis	DET	56
RB	Ty Montgomery	NYG	57
RB	Reggie Bonafon	@GB	58
RB	Dontrell Hilliard	BUF	59
RB	Raheem Mostert	SEA	60

 

Start ‘em: David Montgomery, CHI

The Bears have been an overall disaster on offense this season, but Montgomery has been a reliable fantasy option as of late. Involved regularly in the passing game as well as finally commanding RB1 duties by himself for the Bears, the rookie has shown capable of being an RB1 in fantasy as well. Over the past two weeks, Montgomery has commanded 41 carries, nine targets, and three touchdowns. The volume has certainly been there, and the production is starting to show as well. In week ten, the Bears take on the Detroit Lions at home. The Lions have been the worst team defending opposing running backs this season, allowing over 30 fantasy points per game to the position. This production has come both one the ground (allowing 4.5 yards per carry and nine touchdowns) as well as through the air (8 targets per game, seventh-most in the NFL). Overall, this is a great spot for David Montgomery, who should be confidently put in your lineups.

Sit ‘em: Kalen Ballage, RB MIA

This “sit ‘em” suggestion seems pretty obvious, as Ballage is objectively one of the worst running backs in the league. Excluding one 75-yard touchdown run on 71 career carries, Ballage averages just 2.66 yards per carry. In 2019, he’s exceeded three yards per carry in just one game. This season, he’s also caught just 33% of his targets and has an overall yards per touch of just 2.8. Ballage is a size-speed freak who has yet to put it together as a football player. With Kenyan Drake out of town and Mark Walton suspended, Ballage walks into a situation where he’s the clear lead back on a bottom-five offense in the league (being generous). While it’s tempting to potentially start him just because of the possible volume, he’s a very risky play in week ten. The Dolphins travel to take on the Colts on the road this week. The Colts defense has been one of the best in the league against opposing running backs, allowing the sixth-fewest points per game to the position. While Ballage may be a tempting play for the RB-needy team, look elsewhere if possible. He’s a low-end RB3 on the week solely because of potential volume.

If you’re desperate: Jamaal Williams, RB GB

Jamaal Williams is here to stay. Over the past four weeks, Williams has cleared 13 PPR fantasy points in every game and is the RB7 in points per game. Over this stretch, he actually has more fantasy points than teammate Aaron Jones, with 72.2 to Jones’ 71.8. Both have been active in all aspects of Green Bay’s offense and arguably look like the best running back duo in the league. With the return of Davante Adams, it’s fair to expect a slight decrease in Jamaal Williams’ overall production. However, the veteran back still was able to record six targets in Adams’ return in week nine. While Aaron Jones is still the better play of the two for touchdown upside and overall volume, Williams is a great start this week as well. The Packers play the Carolina Panthers who, just a few weeks ago, let the 49ers run all day on them. This hasn’t been just a one-time occurrence. While certainly an extreme game, the Panthers have allowed over 120 rushing yards in six of eight games this season. It’s shaping up for another strong day for Williams, who should be in your lineup as a low-end RB2/FLEX play.

Wide Receivers

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 10 Rank
WR	Michael Thomas	ATL	1
WR	Mike Evans	ARI	2
WR	Julio Jones	@NO	3
WR	Cooper Kupp	@PIT	4
WR	Tyreek Hill	@TEN	5
WR	Keenan Allen	@OAK	6
WR	Davante Adams	CAR	7
WR	Chris Godwin	ARI	8
WR	Amari Cooper	MIN	9
WR	Tyler Lockett	@SF	10
WR	Kenny Golladay	@CHI	11
WR	Allen Robinson	DET	12
WR	Stefon Diggs	@DAL	13
WR	Christian Kirk	@TB	14
WR	DJ Moore	@GB	15
WR	Calvin Ridley	@NO	16
WR	John Brown	@CLE	17
WR	Emmanuel Sanders	SEA	18
WR	Odell Beckham Jr	BUF	19
WR	JuJu Smith-Schuster	LAR	20
WR	Tyler Boyd	BAL	21
WR	Robert Woods	@PIT	22
WR	Golden Tate	@NYJ	23
WR	Zach Pascal	MIA	24
WR	Tyrell Williams	LAC	25
WR	Jamison Crowder	NYG	26
WR	Marquise Brown	@CIN	27
WR	Michael Gallup	MIN	28
WR	AJ Green	BAL	29
WR	Larry Fitzgerald	@TB	30
WR	DK Metcalf	@SF	31
WR	Robby Anderson	NYG	32
WR	Mike Williams	@OAK	33
WR	Marvin Jones	@CHI	34
WR	Curtis Samuel	@GB	35
WR	Sterling Shepard	@NYJ	36
WR	Corey Davis	KC	37
WR	Deebo Samuel	SEA	38
WR	Chester Rogers	MIA	39
WR	AJ Brown	KC	40
WR	Jarvis Landry	BUF	41
WR	Geronimo Allison	CAR	42
WR	Dionte Johnson	LAR	43
WR	Devante Parker	@IND	44
WR	Ted Ginn Jr	ATL	45
WR	Mecole Hardman	@TEN	46
WR	Cole Beasley	@CLE	47
WR	Hunter Renfrow	LAC	48
WR	Anthony Miller	DET	49
WR	Danny Amendola	@CHI	50
WR	Marquez Valdes-Scantling	CAR	51
WR	Josh Reynolds	@PIT	52
WR	Auden Tate	BAL	53
WR	James Washington	LAR	54
WR	Albert Wilson	@IND	55
WR	Dante Pettis	SEA	56
WR	Demarcus Robinson	@TEN	57
WR	Randall Cobb	MIN	58
WR	Olibisi Johnson	@DAL	59
WR	Darius Slayton	@NYJ	60

 

Start ‘em: Christian Kirk, WR ARI

A popular second-year breakout candidate, and rightfully so, Kirk hasn’t disappointed much when he’s played this season. Before his ankle injury against the Seahawks, Kirk saw at least eight targets in every game, including two 12-target games. Upon his return in week eight, Kirk wasted no time to dominate targets once again, recording 11 in that game. While he predictably struggled against a strong 49ers defense, Kirk’s week ten matchup against the Buccaneers is the polar opposite. The Buccaneers have been the worst team against opposing wide receivers this season and are fresh off a game where they allowed Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf to combine for 275 yards and three touchdowns. With the highest over/under of the week at 52.5, this game is projected to be another shootout, in which Kirk should dominate high-quality targets. With a 23% target share in games he’s played this season, Kirk will once again be a focal point of this Cardinals passing attack. Start him with confidence as a high-end WR2 this week.

Sit ‘em: Jarvis Landry, WR CLE

The Browns have had it rough since their bye week. Their last two opponents – the Patriots and the Broncos – ranked among the best in the league against opposing wide receivers. Things don’t get any easier in week ten, as the Browns take on the Bills and their solid passing defense. Per DLF’s Ryan McDowell’s Flow Chart, Buffalo has allowed the fewest top 24 games to opposing wide receivers in the NFL. Landry himself has consistently hovered around 11 PPR fantasy points per game this season, including a few spike weeks of increased production. One of these games even occurred last week in a tough matchup. However, Landry’s 51 yards and a touchdown came on 13 targets. With the Browns set up to struggle once again against a solid defense in week 10, Landry should be considered just a WR4 play with minimal upside.

If you’re desperate: Chester Rogers, WR IND

The Colts WR room has been shaken up recently, and teammate Zach Pascal is the clear leader of the current pack. With TY Hilton and Parris Campbell both likely out for week ten, Pascal and Rogers will lead the way for the Colts against a woeful Miami defense. Rogers commanded five targets in week nine, hauling in a touchdown on his three receptions. Rogers isn’t flashy, but he’s shown capable in the past of having big games and earning volume, including a stretch in 2018 where he commanded 10+ targets in three consecutive games. Zach Pascal is clearly the more startable asset in this Colts receiver room, but against a Miami defense that has allowed the most touchdowns to WRs in the NFL, Rodgers is an upside WR4 play this week in a game where the Colts should move the ball well. Even with the possibility of Brian Hoyer at the helm for the Colts this week, Rogers is a solid play if you’re really desperate at the WR position.

Tight Ends

Pos	Player	Matchup	Week 10 Rank
TE	George Kittle	SEA	1
TE	Travis Kelce	@TEN	2
TE	Hunter Henry	@OAK	3
TE	Evan Engram	@NYJ	4
TE	Mark Andrews	@CIN	5
TE	Austin Hooper	@NO	6
TE	Darren Waller	LAC	7
TE	Jimmy Graham	CAR	8
TE	TJ Hockenson	@CHI	9
TE	Gerald Everett	@PIT	10
TE	Kyle Rudolph	@DAL	11
TE	Vance McDonald	LAR	12
TE	Greg Olsen	@GB	13
TE	Eric Ebron	MIA	14
TE	Jared Cook	ATL	15
TE	Jonnu Smith	KC	16
TE	Jason Witten	MIN	17
TE	OJ Howard	ARI	18
TE	Jack Doyle	MIA	19
TE	Chris Herndon	NYG	20
TE	Mike Gesicki	@IND	21
TE	Tyler Higbee	@PIT	22
TE	Tyler Eifert	BAL	23
TE	Irv Smith	@DAL	24
TE	Dawson Knox	@CLE	25
TE	Foster Moreau	LAC	26
TE	Jacob Hollister	@SF	27
TE	Hayden Hurst	@CIN	28
TE	Ricky Seals-Jones	BUF	29
TE	Charles Clay	@TB	30

 

Start ‘em: Kyle Rudolph

With Adam Thielen injured early on in week nine, Rudolph was more of a focus of the Vikings offense. While he was out-targeted by rookie Irv Smith six to five, Rudolph was able to find paydirt on the day. On the season, Rudolph has been more of a focus in the red zone than any other location, seeing nearly 29% of the Vikings’ targets in that area of the field. While the volume hasn’t been there consistently on the season, with just 25 total targets on the year, Rudolph’s opportunity in week ten along with a solid matchup against the Cowboys make for an intriguing start. The Cowboys have allowed the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends, including solid games from Dallas Goedert and Jimmy Graham. Overall, Rudolph falls among the “best of the rest” category. There’s a clear step down from Gerald Everett, who is ranked one spot above. Nonetheless, Rudolph is a good start this week with opportunity in a good matchup.

Sit ‘em: Jacob Hollister, TE SEA

Hollister had a fantastic game in week nine, scoring two touchdowns and finishing as the TE4 on the week. Over the past three weeks, Hollister has earned 14 targets. He’s seemingly taken over as the TE1 in Seattle’s explosive offense, which is a position that certainly will have value throughout the season. While it’s easy to look at last week’s performance and want to start Hollister again this week, his matchup against the 49ers is not favorable for the former UDFA. The 49ers have one of, if not the, best defenses in the league, and they have allowed just 165 yards to tight ends on the season. This is by far the fewest in the league. To the tight end position as a whole, the 49ers have allowed just 5.8 PPR fantasy points per game. While Hollister is a good pickup this week off the waiver wire, avoid starting him in the most difficult matchup a tight end could face.

If you’re desperate: OJ Howard, TE TB

If there was ever a week to start Howard, this would be it. A massive disappointment this season, Howard has yet to score more than 10 PPR points in any game. Coming off a hamstring injury, Howard should be ready to roll this week in the best matchup one could want for a tight end: the Arizona Cardinals. This game is a projected shootout, and the Cardinals have allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends on the season. With Cameron Brate phased out of the offense, Howard has a chance to come back and truly earn a fantasy-relevant role for the remainder of the season. Even in a dream matchup, Howard can rank no higher than a mid TE2, but in a TE landscape void of reliable options past the first handful of players, he’s one of the best upside plays there is. Keep in mind, his realistic zero-point floor, but at this point in the rankings, that’s a worthwhile risk to take.

That concludes this week’s rankings article! As this series is released on Thursdays, be sure to follow any lingering injuries and changing injury status updates for players as Sunday approaches. If you’re wondering about a player I didn’t dive into detail about, feel free to reach out to me @FFzinger on Twitter. Best of luck this week, and I’ll be back next week to give Week Eleven’s positional rankings.