NFL Fantasy Starts and Sits of Week 10: Adrian Peterson All Day
By Erik Lambert
Nov 3, 2013; Arlington, TX, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) runs with ball against Dallas Cowboys safety Barry Church (42) at AT
After a wild week nine, could NFL fantasy league be in for more surprises in week 10. Here are some players to consider starting and sitting.
Start – Adrian Peterson against Washington Redskins
First of all before anything else, it’s Adrian Peterson. He’s reliable in an of himself. So put him in a Thursday Night game on a short week against a Washington Redskins defense that is 22nd against the run and has not tackled well all season. It’s at home, on that fast track too Minnesota is going to feed him, regardless if the Redskins expect it or not.
Sit – Andre Johnson against Arizona Cardinals
After his enormous game carving up Indianapolis, one would wonder why anybody would not start Andre Johnson. The upcoming game is on the road. Johnson is bound to draw coverage from Pro Bowl corner Patrick Peterson and perhaps most importantly, the Texans won’t have Gary Kubiak on the sideline. Those are a lot of things to overcome for Johnson to have a big NFL fantasy day. Better to play it safe for this week.
Start – Chris Johnson against Jacksonville Jaguars
Some might feel deceived by his outburst against St. Louis. Before that Chris Johnson was averaging 3.2 yards per carry for the season. His 150 yards came against a Rams defense that was third-worst in the league against the run. So why have faith? Simple math. The Jacksonville Jaguars have the worst run defense, allowing 161 yards per game. Fantasy owners should take advantage while they can. Johnson clearly isn’t running hard but he makes defenses pay when he gets a hole.
Sit – Andrew Luck against St. Louis Rams
It’s getting harder and harder to even consider sitting the second-year star in Andrew Luck in any game considering how well he’s played. However, this particular game against the St. Louis Rams reeks bad matchup. The Rams have one of the best pass rushes in the league and are going against a Colts offensive line that is improved but still allows pressure on Luck more frequently than anyone would prefer. If Indianapolis can’t run the ball with Trent Richardson, it could allow the Rams to unleash their lightning fast front four.
Start – Victor Cruz against Oakland Raiders
After watching Nick Foles carve up what was thought to be a strong Oakland Raiders defense in week nine, it’s easy to think any quarterback can do the same. That’s likely not the case. The Raiders probably walked into a bad matchup against a team boasting lots of speed. That is why the Giants game should be closer, but they could problems handling Victor Cruz . He’s had two weeks to prepare, and if Eli Manning gets protection like Foles did then there is no question he will look deep for Cruz at some point.
Sit – Ben Roethlisberger against Buffalo Bills
There was nothing Ben Roethlisberger could do about last week. He wasn’t the one who gave up 55 points to the Patriots. That being said, don’t expect him to put up 31 points against the Buffalo Bills. Not only do they come in with E.J. Manuel returning, they also bring the third ranked pass rush led by Mario Williams as well. Buffalo has 29 sacks on the season. Pittsburgh has allowed 32, good for 31st in the league. Roethlisberger is in for a rough afternoon.
Sleeper – Mike Glennon against Miami Dolphins
His surprisingly efficient game in Seattle opened a lot of eyes. Mike Glennon still has lots to learn but he proved in week nine that he can make some very smart and big time throws. Given what has happened to the Miami Dolphins, he could see some extra opportunities coming if his defense can harass Ryan Tannehill. That should lead to some surprising points production for fantasy owners.