This article takes a look at players from each of the positions in your starting lineup who have interesting matchups. Not all players covered are your classic sleepers who might outperform expectations. Some are nominal starters with tricky matchups or players who might be starters in smaller leagues, but deep sleepers in larger leagues. Realizing that leagues and roster sizes vary wildly; your mileage could vary, too.
Quarterbacks
Jake Locker, Ten vs. Jac
Unlike many other bye weeks, Week 10 is filled with solid matchups for those quarterbacks that typically fall into the QB2 bucket, beginning with Locker, who faces a Jaguars defense that lacks a legitimate pass rush (their 11 sacks are second fewest in the league), has intercepted only three passes (tied for fewest) and allowed the fourth most points to opposing QBs. Seven out of eight have produced 18 or more points and produced at least two TDs against them.
Nick Foles, Phi at GB
It’s almost disingenuous to tab Foles as a sleeper a week after he threw seven touchdowns against the Raiders and finished with a perfect quarterback ranking, but in his prior start against the Cowboys, Foles basically face planted, completing 11-of-29 for 80 yards before leaving with a concussion. The Packers would likely rank higher in points allowed if they hadn’t faced Brandon Weeden, Christian Ponder and Josh McCown in their last three games. They’ve allowed the 12th most points, and picked off only three passes (tied for fewest in the league), while allowing quarterbacks a combined passer rating of 95.3.
Terrelle Pryor, Oak at NYG
The Giants have allowed the 13th fewest points but they’ve also had the good fortune of facing Matt Barkley and Josh Freeman in their last two games, otherwise, they’d easily rank among the top 10 quarterback friendly matchups. The Giants pass rush is anemic with a league-low 10 sacks this year and the previous six teams all threw at least two touchdowns and produced 20+ fantasy points against them. Pryor has produced 18 or more points in five straight games and six out his seven starts this year. If he stays healthy, he’s also on pace for 1,000 yards rushing with 50+ yards in five out of seven games.
Ryan Tannehill, Mia at TB
A lot of streaks have been broken recently in the NFL so we wouldn’t want Tannehill to be the first quarterback this year to not throw for 200+ yards against the Buccaneers. Russell Wilson’s 217 yards are the low mark for the Bucs, but Wilson and the previous three quarterbacks (Cam Newton, Matt Ryan and Nick Foles) that faced them produced 3 or more touchdowns. All four topped 24 fantasy points and every quarterback except for Carson Palmer yielded 18 or more points against them. Tannehill lacks the explosive upside of Foles and Pryor above, but he has consistently been in the 16-to-20 point range in all eight of his starts this year.
Ben Roethlisberger, Pit vs. Buf
Roethlisberger should be able to produce some big plays against a Bills’ secondary that has allowed 12 pass plays of 40+ yards and 20 passing touchdowns – both are most in the league – and the 11th most points allowed. On the flipside, the Bills have picked off 12 passes (2nd most), sacked the quarterback 29 times (3rd most) and they’ve held opponents to just a 58% completion rate. Pass protection and turnovers could be an issue this week for Roethlisberger, but he remains among the best in the league at evading tackles, extending plays and finding his receivers for big gains. The way this matchups looks on paper, I would expect to see plenty of that along with perhaps a couple of turnovers to boot.
Eli Manning, NYG vs. Oak
It’s hard to have much faith in Eli this year after a horrid first half of the season wrought with interceptions and underwhelming play in general, but this week I’m nervously warming up to him yet again against a Raider defense that gave up 7 touchdowns to Nick Foles on Sunday. Oakland’s defense has only five interceptions while allowing 17 TDs (third most), a completion percentage of 68.7% and the fifth most points allowed to opposing quarterbacks.
Josh McCown, Chi vs. Det
McCown faces a Lions defense that has allowed 284 passing yards per game and the seventh most points allowed over the last four weeks. With Jason Jones out for the year and Ziggy Ansah limited by a high ankle sprain their already weak pass rush is even less of a worry. McCown is one of three bottom feeders with attractive matchups this week. Christian Ponder (vs. Was) and Seneca Wallace (vs. Phi) might also be worth a look in deeper leagues, or those that start two. I prefer McCown over those two based on his solid outing against the Packers on Monday Night and by virtue of the weapons at his disposal. Ponder has some intrigue with his running ability (4 TDs this year) but neither he nor Wallace are very compelling except in the most dire of circumstances.
Running Backs
Zac Stacy, Stl at Ind
With three straight games of 14+ fantasy points and back-to-back 100 yard performances, Stacy has taken his game to NBA Jams proportions – he’s on fire! Stacy also scored twice last week marking the first two rushing touchdowns of the year for the Rams. This week the rookie 5th round rookie should continue to rack up the yards against the Colts 27th ranked run defense that is allowing 125 yards per game. The Colts have allowed only the fourth fewest points, largely because they’ve only been scored on four times by running backs, but three of the last four and six out of eight have produced 10+ fantasy points.
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jac at Ten
If Jones-Drew is going to have a breakout game, this week could be it. In the Titans’ last three games, Zac Stacy, Frank Gore and Marshawn Lynch all scored twice, produced 22+ fantasy points and produced 100+ yards. Actually, the last five backs have gone for more than 100 yards against the Titans 26th ranked run defense. They’ve allowed then 8th most points and the 3rd most over the last four weeks. Jones-Drew has produced 12+ points in two of his last three games and he has produced 15+ points in each of his last three games against Tennessee.
Mike James, TB vs. Mia
In each of the Dolphins last seven games an opposing running back has produced at least 14 points. They’ve allowed the 2nd most points to RBs and have the 21st ranked run defense allowing 117 yards per game. James isn’t flashy, but he’s effective and he runs hard. More importantly, he’s a great bet to get a majority of the touches this week, even though Brian Leonard will continue to get snaps on passing downs. James has not found the end zone yet, but he has a good shot to do so this week and he’s a safe bet for 80+ yards.
Pierre Thomas, NO vs. Dal
Barring a setback, Darren Sproles is on track to play this week after returning to practice today after going through the NFL’s mandated concussion protocol. Thomas should remain productive, though, against a Cowboy defense allowing the 9th most points. Five out of the last six backs finished with 14 or more fantasy points. If you’re worried about Sproles returning and taking a bite out of Thomas’s numbers just know that four of the last six opponents produced two backs with 5+ fantasy points. Injuries have made the Cowboys vulnerable to pass-catching backs allowing 7-57-0.3 per game - 10 different backs have caught 4+ balls against them. That favors Thomas, but it means that as long as Sproles is good then he could rebound from his concussion with a strong game.
Shonn Greene, Ten vs. Jax
Greene and Chris Johnson are coming off excellent games against the Rams as both players easily went over 10 fantasy points. This week, the matchup gets even juicier as they welcome the Jaguars to town along with their 32nd ranked run defense that is at the bottom of the league by allowing the most rushing attempts(34) and the most rushing yards (162) per gameto RBs. The Jaguars have also allowed the most runs of 20 yards or longer (12). The coaches made it clear last week that they want to get him the ball so look for another 10+ touches and probably another 60-to-100 yard effort along with a touchdown.
Roy Helu Jr., Was at Min
The Vikings have struggled to stop pass-catching running backs allowing a whopping 8-63-0.3 per game to them catching the football. The Vikings have allowed the 7th most points, 1.3 TDs per game and an opposing back has caught 4 or more passes against them in every game this year. Catching the ball is Helu’s strength, so maybe Mike Shanahan will work him more into the mix this week given Helu’s strengths match up well against the Vikings’ weakness.
Wide Receivers
Keenan Allen, SD vs. Den
Like Zac Stacy, Allen is another rookie that is on fire with at least 9 targets, 6 catches, 100 yards and a touchdown in three of his last four games. He left the game against the Jaguars in Week 7 otherwise he might very well have made it four weeks in a row. This week, Allen faces a Broncos defense allowing the 7th most points to receivers. Unlike other opponents, the Broncos should score plenty of points giving the Chargers ample opportunity for either garbage time or to play from behind. Either scenario should lead to Allen continuing along with the blistering pace he has set since emerging as Philip River’s No. 1 target.
Emmanuel Sanders, Pit vs. Buf
Sanders is another young player that has come on strong over the last month scoring his first two touchdowns of the year while seeing 11 targets in each of the last two games and hauling in 13 catches for 186 yards in those games. The Bills have also allowed the 2nd most points to opposing receivers, over 200 receiving yards per game and the most touchdowns (15). The Bills have also allowed the most completions of 40 yards or more this year. It’s also worth noting that Markus Wheaton returns to the lineup this week and it wouldn’t be a surprise if he somehow broke into the scoring column with a long touchdown even though he’s playing behind Jerricho Cotchery as the team’s No. 4 WR.
Marvin Jones, Cin at Bal
Jones is another red hot player who should definitely remain in your lineups this week against a Ravens defense allowing the 12th most points to receivers. Jones would have had a much bigger box score last week if it weren’t for a weak holding call on Jermaine Gresham that robbed him of a long touchdown. Jones has been targeted 5 or more times in his last four games for an average of 5 catches, 79 yards and 1.5 TDs. Last week, the Browns’ No. 2 receiver Greg Little had a career day against the Ravens going for 7-122-0 before leaving the game early due to injury. Jones should continue his roll, so ride him while you can.
Rueben Randle, NYG vs. Oak
You might want to look on the proverbial milk carton for Randle the last two weeks because he hasn’t graced any box scores. Coming off a Week 9 bye, Randle was targeted just once in the prior week against the Eagles as he posted a big fat goose egg. He’s been a boom or bust player all year with four games in double digits and four games with four or fewer points. There has literally been no middle ground for him. This week, he could return to prominence against a Raider defense allowing the fourth most points that was smoked by Riley Cooper for 5-139-3 and DeSean Jackson for 5-150-1. The Giants are at home, coming off a bye in a must win situation against a West coast team fresh off an embarrassing loss to the Eagles.
Riley Cooper, Phi at GB
Like Rueben Randle, Cooper is a boom/bust pick with a pair of games of 100+ yards and at least one touchdown in the last month intermixed with a lot of two-catch games and even a goose egg in his other outings this year. On the upside, in three of his last four games he’s produced 4+ catches and 88+ yards with 5+ targets in all four. His best games have also come with Nick Foles behind center, so even if he’s as streaky or inconsistent as they come, the arrow is pointing straight up with a solid matchup against the Packers on tap for Sunday.
Chris Givens, Stl at IND
Givens has been terribly disappointing in his sophomore season, but ironically his production has improved with Kellen Clemens behind center the last two games. He still isn’t worthy of starting in smaller or even normal sized leagues, but his 4-59-0 and 4-55-0 stat lines offer a glimmer of hope as they go into Indianapolis against a Colts defense allowing the 8th most points. It’s not just because of Andre Johnson dropping the bomb on them last week three times. They’ve allowed eight touchdowns in their last five games to receivers and, well, Givens is flat out overdue for a 50 yard bomb of his own. The bigger question is can Clemens hit him.
Kris Durham, Det at Chi
Nate Burleson has returned to practice this week, but he still might not be ready to return to game action. Assuming that Burleson is inactive again, Durham will continue to start opposite Megatron. Durham produced 3-58-0 against the Bears back in Week 4, which was his first significant action following Burleson’s injury. The Bears aren’t necessarily a good matchup at all, but Durham has consistently been targeted 6-to-10 times for 4+ catches and around 50 yards a game in that stretch. His teammates call him White Chocolate and, as Matt Stafford’s former collegiate teammate, he definitely has a nice rapport going with him.
Doug Baldwin, Sea at Atl
Baldwin was a key player in the Seahawks come-from-behind win in Tampa Bay on Sunday as he and Russell Wilson connected repeatedly for big plays down the stretch, including the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter. This week, Baldwin faces a Falcons defense allowing the 10th most points to opposing receivers. Jermaine Kearse might also be worth a look in really deep leagues, but Baldwin saw 10 targets as Wilson’s go-to guy with Darrelle Revis locked onto Golden Tate. That won’t be the case this week, of course, but Baldwin’s adept at working from the slot where he can get open easily on short, underneath and intermediate routes while Wilson evades pressure and extends plays. He’s no guarantee, but with Sidney Rice out for the year and Percy Harvin not ready yet, he should continue to see more quality targets.
Jarrett Boykin, GB vs. Phi
Boykin has been a very reliable player in the wake of Randall Cobb’s injury but with Aaron Rodgers now also sidelined his appeal has waned for sure - even more so now that James Jones is back in the lineup. The good news here is that Boykin has a super matchup against an Eagle defense allowing the most points to opposing receivers. He’s still a bit of a dodgy start with Seneca Wallace at quarterback, but in deeper leagues he’s well worth a shot as a ‘what-the-heck’ flex play.
Tight Ends
Jordan Reed, Was at Min
Reed has been remarkably consistent as a rookie with 4 or more catches in all but one game this year. He has only one game in double digits, but it’s that consistency of scoring 5+ points in his last six that make him a solid, reliable middle-to-low TE1 option against a Viking defense allowing the third most points to tight ends. Jason Witten finished with 8-102-1 against them on Sunday and five out of eight tight ends have yielded 8 or more points against them.
Garrett Graham, Hou at Ari
Graham has been mostly a bust since Owen Daniels went down a month ago, but this week he has a chance to rebound nicely against a Cardinal defense that has been regularly abused by opposing tight ends, allowing the most points in the league. With Case Keenum at quarterback, Graham has been targeted 14 times for 7 catches and 84 yards the last two weeks. Nothing to get excited about, but with a serious lack of strong tight end options in recent weeks, Graham is a solid TE1 in this matchup.
Tim Wright, TB vs. Mia
Wright is a Greg Schiano guy who was recruited by him and played for him at Rutgers only to follow him to Tampa as an undrafted free agent. When injuries mounted, Wright emerged out of relative obscurity in Week 4 with a 5-41-0 outing against (you might have guessed it) the Cardinals. Since then, Wright has taken the job and never looked back. With touchdowns in back-to-back games and 9+ points in three of his last four, he’s the kind of free agent pickup that can give fantasy owners a big boost during these heavy bye weeks. This week, he faces a Dolphin defense allowing the fourth most points to tight ends.
Delanie Walker, Ten vs. Jac
Walker has a lot in common with the next guy on this list – Brandon Pettigrew. Both have plenty of talent, but they are inconsistent and have questionable hands. Walker has a solid matchup against a Jaguar defense allowing the fifth most points to tight ends.
Brandon Pettigrew, Det at Chi
Pettigrew had a strong game against the Bears back in Week 4 when he caught 7 balls for 54 yards. The Bears defense has been gutted by injuries and they’re allowing the 12th most points to tight ends. He’s more of a flyer for owners in PPR or deeper leagues, and his butter fingers are frustrating to deal with, but he’s a good bet to see 4-to-7 targets and 30-to-50 yards for desperate owners.
Defense/Special Teams
Tennessee vs. Jacksonville
The Jags have allowed 29 sacks and the Henne/Gabbert turnover train has been intercepted 12 times in eight games. The Titans held the Chiefs, Jets and Chargers to an average of 19 points and forced 7 turnovers at home. They were less effective against the 49ers, but the Jaguars are more comparable to the Jets (if any of these teams) and the Titans defense sacked them 5 times, generated four turnovers, held them to 13 points and had a return for a touchdown. Advantage: Tennessee D.
Arizona vs. Houston
The Texans have allowed a lot of points to defenses, but most of that carnage came when Matt Schaub was throwing pick-sixes on a weekly basis. Things have settled down under Case Keenum’s watch, but anything could really happen on the road against an aggressive Cardinals defense. Keenum fared well against the Chiefs, though, and there’s plenty of room for the Cardinals to flop here.They’ve been good at home so we’ll see if Keenum can continue his turnover-free play in another challenging atmosphere.
Tampa Bay vs. Miami
Tampa is at home and the Dolphins line was a wreck even before losing Richie Incognito and Johnathan Martin. The Dolphins have turned over the football 2 or more times in five out of eight games and have been sacked four or more times in six out of eight. The young Bucs defense should get to Tannehill a few times and force a turnover or two at a minimum.
Buffalo, Houston, Washington, Indianapolis and Pittsburgh also have good matchups that could be streaming options or opportunistic plug-n-play options.
Pittsburgh’s defense has been just awful, so it’s hard to get excited about that, unless they see Jeff Tuel in a home field scenario, and then you might have something. On the other side of this game, Buffalo’s front four could be a handful for the Steelers line and they should have Roethlisberger on the move all day. I’m looking for big plays by the Bills defense and by Roethlisberger here.
The Texans defense has been firing blanks most of the season, but their line could be difficult for the Cardinals to handle. Palmer throws his share of picks, too. The Colts get Kellen Clemens at home, but the flipside of that is they get more Zach Stacy. Washington will give up tons of yards, but they should force Christian Ponder into doing some bad things, too. It’s a great week to rent a defense.
