Week 10 Players I Hate in Fantasy Football

Each week, I’ll be looking to spotlight players and defenses that I think have a tough matchup that could prevent them from producing their usual value. However, this is not intended as blanket advice to play fringe players ahead of established studs—for example, even if I call out a negative matchup for Josh Allen, it doesn’t mean he should be benched for Cam Ward—so always consider your own lineup alternatives.

With that out of the way, let’s look at Week 10:

Quarterbacks

Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

It hasn’t always been smooth sailing for Prescott, who has managed just one touchdown pass in five of his last seven starts. That has knocked him from surefire QB1 to someone you need to consider the matchup before using. He’ll try his luck against the San Francisco 49ers in Week 10. The Niners are among the 10 toughest teams to generate value against for quarterbacks, allowing 229 yards and 1.4 TDs per game this season.

Others I Don’t Like

• C.J. Stroud, Houston Texans: Stroud torched the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 9 (384 yards, 5 TDs). Things figure to be tougher this week. The Cleveland Browns rank eighth in fantasy points allowed to QBs.
• Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings: Cousins’ return to Minnesota should help the offense. Still, despite his familiarity, it’s tough to get up to speed in five days. Add a Green Bay Packers defense that’s among the NFL’s best in limiting quarterback success, and this is a tall task.
• Fernando Mendoza, Las Vegas Raiders: With Cousins gone, Mendoza is ready to make his first NFL start. That’s the good news. The bad news is his first start comes against the Seattle Seahawks, who have surrendered just 169 passing yards per game.

Running Backs

Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans

Pollard played some excellent football heading into the Week 9 bye, racking up 246 yards and five touchdowns. He’s in for a tough test this weekend. The Jacksonville Jaguars rank second in fantasy points allowed to running backs, and they’d doubtless rank first if not for a long garbage-time touchdown run by Justice Hill last Thursday night. Jacksonville’s run D is legit.

Others I Don’t Like

• Chase Brown, Cincinnati Bengals: Brown has been largely disappointing this season. He was serviceable (69 yards) in a Week 3 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, but it’d be optimistic to expect more than that in the rematch.
• Tyler Allgeier, Arizona Cardinals: When Arizona upset the Los Angeles Rams earlier this year, Allgeier managed just 48 yards on 19 touches. With fewer weapons to worry about, the Rams could lock him down even further in Week 10.
• Corey Kiner, New England Patriots: Injuries could push Kiner into the lead role in Week 10. While he’s played well in limited use, the Detroit Lions currently sit fourth in fantasy points allowed to RBs.

Wide Receivers

Drake London, Atlanta Falcons

Over his last four games, London is averaging 4.3 catches for 51 yards. That’s a far cry from what fantasy owners were anticipating, especially after he totaled 21 receptions and 408 yards in Michael Penix Jr.’s first three games under center. It may not get better in Week 10. Only Seattle has allowed fewer fantasy points to wideouts than the Kansas City Chiefs–that includes an NFL-low two touchdowns.

Others I Don’t Like

• George Pickens, Dallas Cowboys: Pickens (hamstring) logged a DNP in Week 9. If he returns in Week 10, he’s staring down a tough matchup against a 49ers defense that is one of just six to hold opposing WRs to less than 1,000 yards this season.
• DJ Moore, Buffalo Bills: Faced with a tough matchup in Week 9, Moore posted a 3-25-0 line. While the New York Jets aren’t on the same level as the Vikings, they do rank eighth in fantasy points allowed to receivers.
• Tre Tucker, Las Vegas Raiders: A first-time starting QB versus the toughest defense for receivers to generate value against. What could go wrong for Tucker?

Tight Ends

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns

It has been a crazy ride for Fannin owners recently. In Weeks 5 and 6, he caught two passes for 13 yards. In Weeks 7 and 8, Fannin tallied 16 receptions and 245 yards. Last week, it was a 2-42-1 line, though that was with Shedeur Sanders. Where will he end up in Week 10? The Houston Texans have surrendered 46 yards per game and just one touchdown all year to tight ends.

Others I Don’t Like

• Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions: Saddled with bad matchups recently, LaPorta has just 83 yards in his last three games combined. There’s no relief in sight as the Pats rank seventh in fantasy points allowed to tight ends this year.
• Chig Okonkwo, Washington Commanders: Okonkwo has been solid recently, catching 19 passes in his last four games. The New York Giants have allowed 45 yards per game to TEs.

Defensive Teams

• San Francisco 49ers: The Cowboys have issues, but there’s a lot of talent on that offense against a 49ers defense that hasn’t faced a top-10 offense since Week 1.
• New England Patriots: After watching Green Bay’s duo of Christian Watson and Matthew Golden carve up the Pats, do you trust them against Amon-Ra St. Brown and Jameson Williams?
• Pittsburgh Steelers: In Week 3 against the Bengals, the Steelers had no sacks and one takeaway before a strip sack of Joe Burrow ended the game. I don’t trust them against Joe Cool.