Week 9 proved to be another big week for NFL quarterbacks.
Four quarterbacks went over the 30-point threshold, making it the second consecutive week that at least three or more quarterbacks have produced fantasy totals of more than 30 points.
New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees continued his hot streak with the fourth-most points, while Aaron Rodgers earned third-place honors after delivering a solid fourth quarter against Carolina.
But it was two running quarterbacks that offered the best quarterback starts. Cam Newton and Marcus Mariota were Nos. 1 and 2 respectively in fantasy scoring, and piled on the touchdowns, with four apiece from the two quarterbacks.
Week 10 offers more games to choose from with fewer teams on a bye week. Here’s our start ’em, sit ’em list for quarterbacks in week 10.
Daily fantasy start of the week
Tom Brady vs. New York Giants
We know Brady will be expensive, but if you’re looking for the inside track to getting the most points from a quarterback, Brady is the obvious answer in DFS.
Do you remember what the Giants did against the New Orleans Saints? Drew Brees went for 44 points and was worth any kind of investment in DFS.
That same scenario could play out this week with the Patriots. New England isn’t scared to run up the score and the Giants own the second-worst pass defense in terms of yards per game in the NFL.
And Brady owns the most fantasy points so far this season in the NFL. Go ahead and find steals at other positions in DFS. Brady is the best start and could go for a season-high in points.
Start
Jameis Winston vs. Dallas Cowboys
We’re growing more appreciative of Winston’s upside for fantasy owners.
He turned in another decent performance last week, giving him 20, 19 and 18 points respectively in the previous three weeks. He’s also been turnover-free for the past four games, which is significant going into a matchup against Dallas.
The Cowboys don’t turn quarterbacks over. Dallas has recorded a league-worst three interceptions this season and with Winston’s growing improvement of not turning the ball over, that should be an important statistic heading into week 10.
Fantasy owners won’t have to worry about negative points with Winston. Owners also should take note of the amount of drops Mike Evans had last game, signaling that Winston is putting the ball in the right place. His receivers will begin to catch more passes, and when that happens, he should deliver fantasy owners with more than 20 points.
This week should be that week. The Buccaneers’ skill positions should be getting healthier and they draw the Cowboys after another disheartening primetime loss. This should be a breakout performance for Winston.
Blake Bortles vs. Baltimore Ravens
Bortles is beginning to shed his negative label as a fantasy football player this season.
Last week was another plus-20 point performance, giving him three of those in the last four games. And last week’s occurred against a once-dominant secondary in the New York Jets.
He’s throwing for touchdowns and a good amount of yards, so that’s a good sign for fantasy owners. The biggest negative is his tendency to throw interceptions, as he’s accumulated six in the last three games.
But his receivers are making plays and last week, he spread the ball around to seven different receivers. That should continue this week against Baltimore. The Ravens own the fourth-worst pass defense in the NFL and have been a dumpster fire on a continual basis against starting quarterbacks.
The Ravens don’t register interceptions, with only three for the year and are allowing a QBR of 106.9, the third-worst mark in the NFL.
Bortles will throw all over the Ravens and will be a good option in week 10.
Daily fantasy sit of the week
Russell Wilson vs. Arizona Cardinals
We’re not sure if anyone’s still starting Wilson in DFS, but just in case you think this is the week he’ll start to turn it around, think again.
Wilson has been a major disappointment this season. The Seahawks have struggled through most of the season and Wilson’s average draft position put him in the top-tier of quarterbacks entering this season in fantasy football.
He’s responded by ranking 18th among quarterbacks in fantasy points. He’s running for his life behind a below-average offensive line, and we see this game as a low-scoring affair where many of the offensive options will be limited.
The Cardinals have been one of the best teams in the NFL against the pass, limiting the opposition to 6.4 yards per pass, the third-best number in the NFL. Arizona also has 13 interceptions, tied for the most in the NFL.
Sit
Ryan Tannehill vs. Philadelphia Eagles
The Miami Dolphins are who we thought they were, even when they went on that nice little two-game win streak.
The wheels are falling off for new coach Dan Campbell and that may continue this week with another road game. This will be Miami’s third straight road game, and so far the road trip has been a forgetful one for the Dolphins and Tannehill.
Tannehill has gone for seven and 11 points respectively in the last two weeks and hasn’t done much to move the ball against two quality defenses. He will go up against another good pass defense this week, so we’re not buying a rebound effort.
The Eagles intercept quarterbacks at the second-highest rate of any team with 12 and also limit the opposition to less than seven yards per pass play. We’re not sold on the Dolphins for a third consecutive road game, so this should be another difficult matchup for Tannehill.
Jay Cutler vs. St. Louis Rams
Cutler’s been pretty good since returning from injury.
Monday’s game was his second plus-300 yard performance in the last three games and he’s keeping the Bears at a competitive level. The only issue we had with him Monday was his two turnovers, but he’s doing enough in the yards and touchdown category that he’s minimizing the effect of those problems.
But no matter how good he’s been, we don’t see him having a quality game against the Rams, especially with this being a short week and the Bears enduring back-to-back road games.
The Rams owns the second-highest amount of sacks with 27 and that should disrupt anything that Cutler can get going this week. St. Louis also is limiting opponents to the fourth-fewest passing yards per game at 219.8 and quarterbacks have so far thrown five touchdowns compared to six interceptions against the Rams.
We won’t hate on Cutler as much as other outlets do, but this matchup isn’t one to exploit this week.
