Start 'em, Sit 'em, Smash 'em
The GameDay live chat kicks off at 10:30am eastern this Sunday and runs for one full hour. And yes, we’ll still be taking any and all questions relating to whether or not you should start Calvin Johnson, although most of you should already know the answer by now.
FADE OF THE WEEK (Season: 3-6)
Last week: PHILADELPHIA EAGLES (+3) at New Orleans Saints (loss)
If you’ve been fading these selections as advised, you’re in good shape entering Week 10. Assuming you laid the standard $110 to win $100, I’ve put $360 of profit in your pockets. No need to thank me. Picking losers is what I do.
SEATTLE SEAHAWKS (-6.5) vs. New York Jets: Russell Wilson and company are 4-0 both straight-up and against the spread at home this season. Even more appealing in this one is the fact that Mark Sanchez will once again be starting at quarterback for the Jets. Gotta love “The Sanchize.”
LVH SUPERCONTEST SELECTIONS
Last week’s 3-2 record wasn’t a bad thing, but at some point I’ve got to be due for a 4-1 or, God forbid, 5-0 week. Let’s see if the tenth time’s a charm.
TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS (-3) vs. San Diego Chargers
HOUSTON TEXANS (+1) at Chicago Bears
NEW YORK GIANTS (-4) at Cincinnati Bengals
ATLANTA FALCONS (-2.5) at New Orleans Saints
PITTSBURGH STEELERS (-12.5) vs. Kansas City Chiefs
CLICK HERE to check out all of the current lines.
FANDUEL WEEK 10 SALARY CAP CHALLENGE
Doug Martin’s ridiculous performances over the past two weeks have him as the fifth-most expensive running back on the board for Week 10. Is the former Boise State standout worth the $8,000 price tag for Sunday’s matchup against the San Diego Chargers?
CLICK HERE to enter.
START ‘EM UP
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. Chiefs): Big Ben is averaging 275.4 passing yards per game this season and has tossed five touchdown passes over his last two starts. With the Steelers in the midst of an impressive three-game winning streak, ride the lightning this Monday night against a Kansas City Chiefs team that ranks 30th in the league in scoring defense (30.0 pts/gm) while surrendering an average of 21.1 fantasy points per game to opposing signal-callers this season (t-tenth-most in NFL).
Ridley produced some big numbers the last time he went against this dreadful Buffalo defense.
Stevan Ridley, RB, New England Patriots (vs. Bills): The last time Ridley went head-to-head with this overpriced defense from Buffalo, the second-year running back rolled up 106 rushing yards and two scores. The Bills haven’t gotten any better since that meeting, ranking 31st in the league against the run (169.5 yds/gm) while giving up more fantasy points to opposing running backs than any other team in the league (26.9 pts/gm). Coming off the bye, Ridley is in line for a big outing Sunday afternoon.
Malcom Floyd, WR, San Diego Chargers (at Buccaneers): Floyd has been hit or miss for most of the 2012 campaign, but he’s got one of the best possible matchups on the schedule in Week 10, when San Diego heads east to take on the Buccaneers. Tampa Bay currently ranks dead last in the NFL against the pass (321.1 yds/gm) and is surrendering an average of 28.3 fantasy points per game to opposing receivers this season (third-most in NFL). Take note that Vegas has this total lined at 47.5 points, meaning the bookmakers are expecting some fireworks in this one.
Marcel Reece, RB, Oakland Raiders (at Ravens): This is a recommendation for owners in deeper fantasy leagues, but with starting RB Darren McFadden and backup RB Mike Goodson on the shelf with high ankle sprains, Reece is now in line to handle the workload for the Silver & Black. In relief duty last Sunday, Reece recorded eight receptions for 95 yards and a score and should be able to roll up similar numbers against a Ravens defense that ranks 28th in the league against the run (139.5 yds/gm) while surrendering an average of 21.3 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (seventh-most in NFL).
Stevie Johnson, WR, Buffalo Bills (at Patriots): Johnson is battling a thigh injury suffered in last week’s loss at Houston, but if he’s in the lineup Sunday, you should go ahead and start him as well. The five-year veteran is averaging 8.9 targets per game this season and takes on a Patriots secondary in Week 10 that currently ranks 28th in the league against the pass (281.1 yds/gm) while giving up an average of 26.2 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers (seventh-most in NFL).
Greg Olsen, TE, Carolina Panthers (vs. Broncos): Olsen’s numbers have been far from productive this season, so we can understand your hesitation to insert the six-year veteran into the starting lineup this weekend. Just take note that the Broncos are giving up an average of 10.9 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season (third-most in NFL) and have already surrendered six touchdowns to the position through eight games.
Dallas Cowboys, D/ST (at Eagles): Dallas currently ranks fifth in the NFL in total defense (312.5 yds/gm) while the Eagles are surrendering an average of 13.8 fantasy points per game to opposing D/STs this season (second-most in NFL). Between Philly’s offensive line woes and Michael Vick’s turnover problem, the Cowboys should have no issues recording a very healthy fantasy total this weekend.
SIT ‘EM DOWN
Matt Schaub, QB, Houston Texans (at Bears): Schaub and the Texans have been cooking with gas over the first half of the season, but Sunday night’s showdown with Charles Tillman and that nasty Bears defense is no place to roll the dice. The Bears currently rank second in the NFL in scoring defense (15.0 pts/gm) and are giving up an average of just 14.3 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season (second-fewest in NFL). Vegas has this game lined at 40.5 total points for a reason.
It's hard to roll up the numbers when you're not getting the touches.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Kansas City Chiefs (at Steelers): The Chiefs don’t know what the hell they are doing. The team is 1-7, hasn’t led for a second in any game this season and has given the ball to their best player on the team exactly 29 times over their last three outings. I wouldn’t expect much from Charles Monday night at Pittsburgh against a Steelers defense that ranks seventh in the NFL against the run (88.6 yds/gm) and is giving up just 13.4 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (fifth-fewest in NFL).
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Philadelphia Eagles (vs. Cowboys): Maclin was a total bust against the Saints’ poor excuse for a defense last Monday night, catching just two pas ses for 28 yards in a 28-13 loss. The Eagles now rank 29th in the league in scoring offense (16.6 pts/gm) and face a Dallas defense on Sunday that ranks fifth in the NFL against the pass (312.5 yds/gm) while surrendering an average of just 18.6 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts in 2012 (sixth-fewest in NFL). Leave Maclin on the bench.
Matt Forte, RB, Chicago Bears (vs. Texans): This will be a tough sit for many of you, but be advised that Chicago’s offensive line is really going to struggle with Houston’s front seven. The Texans rank second in the NFL in run defense (81.9 yds/gm) and are surrendering an average of only 11.6 fantasy points per game to opposing running backs this season (third-fewest in NFL). Don’t say you weren’t warned.
Dwayne Bowe, WR, Kansas City Chiefs (at Steelers): Bowe hasn’t topped 80 receiving yards in a game or scored a touchdown in any of his last four outings as the Chiefs continue to fall further and further down the rabbit hole. We advise you to go in a different direction again in Week 10, as the Steelers currently lead the league in pass defense (262.6 yds/gm) while giving up an average of only 18.0 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers this season (fourth-fewest in NFL). There are better options out there.
Jason Witten, TE, Dallas Cowboys (at Eagles): Witten has found the end zone only one time this season and has recorded a grand total of just 98 receiving yards over his last three starts against the Eagles. And for as bad as Philadelphia has been on both sides of the ball this year, the team is still giving up only 6.6 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends (tenth-fewest in NFL).
New York Jets, D/ST (at Seahawks): The Jets may be coming off the bye, but take note that Seattle is 4-0 at home this season with only two turnovers committed and just six sacks allowed. Add everything together and you get a Seahawks offense that is giving up an average of only 6.9 fantasy points per game to opposing D/STs in 2012 (t-fifth-fewest in NFL).
Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh