Fantasy Soccer is all concerning the matchups. Although you drafted your crew with sure hopes and intentions, your weekly lineup choices should not be decided by the order you picked your gamers in. You could examine who your gamers play and be sure you’ve obtained the appropriate guys in — and the flawed guys out.
We are able to take some educated guesses primarily based on coaches movie, significant information, wholesome personnel, defensive schemes, monitor information, and key particulars of offenses. The issues we all know may help us decrease the impression of the issues we do not know. This could result in higher choices being made.
We’ll undergo each sport and spotlight the gamers who aren’t apparent begins and sits (since you do not have to be advised to take a seat Noah Fant). You must really feel extra snug beginning or sitting gamers primarily based on the knowledge given, and feeling snug along with your Fantasy lineup earlier than the video games begin is the very best feeling on the earth.
All traces from Caesars Sportsbook.
Tre Tucker is locked in as an out of doors receiver like he is been for just about each sport for the Raiders, and with Jakobi Meyers’ 7.0 goal common out the door it stands to motive Tucker will see a number of greater than the 5.4 targets per sport he is gotten already. What may stand to alter is Tucker’s common depth of goal, which has clunked from 11.6 yards in his first 5 video games to three.1 in his previous three. Even Tyler Lockett, who ought to play greater than the 19 snaps he had in Week 9 with Meyers gone, had a better ADOT in his first sport with the Raiders than Tucker did in any of his final three. The Broncos have held opposing wideouts to 2.8 yards after the catch on the season with their finest week ever coming in Week 9 at Houston with out Pat Surtain II on the sphere. The Broncos are additionally third finest in catch price allowed on throws of 20-plus air yards, so even when the Raiders did decide to attempt utilizing Tucker deep they’d wrestle primarily based on how Denver’s completed. In 4 video games with six-plus targets this season, Tucker had one mammoth displaying at Washington in Week 3 and three video games with 11.1 or fewer PPR factors. I would not anticipate rather more than that from Tucker this week.
JK Dobbins has had single-digit PPR factors in three of his previous 4 video games however his position would not appear to be altering a lot. He is had not less than 15 touches in all however one in every of his previous six video games and he is averaged over 4.0 yards per rush in all however a type of six. He is doing what’s requested of him by the Broncos coaches however he isn’t fetching targets (13 on the 12 months for 9 receptions) and he isn’t scoring touchdowns (one in his previous six). Rookie R.J. Harvey, in the meantime, has scored in three straight and has 23 receptions on the 12 months (5 final week), but it surely’s not like his enjoying time or workload have modified. Sean Payton has not misplaced to a Pete Carroll-coached crew because the 2013 playoffs and the minus-9.5 level unfold suggests he’ll win once more. The Raiders have seen opposing RBs get not less than 30 carries in two straight video games and have nonetheless proven good effectivity (underneath 3.9 yards per carry in every). Nonetheless, if it’ll be a Denver win with a shot on the backs splitting 30 carries, then each are in play as not less than flexes.
MUST-STARTS: Brock Bowers
STARTS: Bo Nix, Courtland Sutton (No. 2 WR), Ashton Jeanty (No. 2 RB), JK Dobbins (low-end No. 2 RB), Broncos DST
FLEX: Troy Franklin, Tre Tucker (low-end PPR flex)
SITS: Geno Smith, R.J. Harvey (desperation RB), Evan Engram, Tyler Lockett, Michael Mayer, Raheem Mostert, Raiders DST
Colts defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo’s creatively used his cornerbacks by way of the years, however he is by no means had a man like Sauce Gardner. This week will probably be an attention-grabbing first check — will he play Gardner to 1 aspect of the sphere, or will he have him shadow Drake London? The reply lies in how the opposite Colts cornerbacks can carry out — Mekhi Blackmon has performed decently effectively instead of Charvarius Ward and not less than was higher tackling than Jaylon Jones was in Jones’ first sport again. My guess is that the Colts preserve issues straightforward to begin the sport and preserve Blackmon on one aspect of the sphere and Gardner on the opposite, altering issues up if London and others crush Blackmon (Gardner didn’t shadow London in a 2023 assembly). Michael Penix Jr. has been a bit of extra environment friendly throwing to his proper than his left this season (greater EPA per dropback, greater QB ranking, barely greater completion price and yards per try), so the Colts may open the sport with Gardner defending that aspect. Pair Gardner’s arrival with a Colts cross rush that must be free to blitz extra with the stud cornerback defending massive swaths of the sphere and a QB in Penix who would not get the ball out super-fast like Aaron Rodgers did in opposition to Indy final week and the Colts must be improved.
After final week’s loss at Pittsburgh, Colts coach Shane Steichen expressed regret in how he prepped his offensive line for the Steelers cross rush and lamented not being extra balanced on offense. His probability at redemption comes this week in opposition to a Falcons cross rush ranked first in blitz price. He can negate that with a mixture of Jonathan Taylor runs and fast throws from Daniel Jones. Dink-and-dunk throws from Jones aren’t something new, and he may simply observe the footsteps Tua Tagovailoa had in opposition to Atlanta two weeks in the past when he obtained the ball out quick and turned in an excellent efficiency whereas negating the Falcons cross rush. If and when that occurs, do not anticipate both Josh Downs or Alec Pierce to be big-time contributors; despite the fact that Downs has a really excessive 37.2% goal per route price when Jones has gotten the ball out underneath 2.5 seconds, he hasn’t completed a ton with it. Pierce’s price is not even one-third of Downs’. And if Taylor will get again to attacking on the bottom then there will not be a lot upside for Jones’ numbers both.
MUST-STARTS: Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, Drake London, Michael Pittman
STARTS: Daniel Jones (borderline No. 1/2 QB), Tyler Warren, Kyle Pitts (borderline No. 1/2 TE), Colts DST (bye subsequent week)
FLEX: Josh Downs (low-end PPR flex)
SITS: Michael Penix Jr., Alec Pierce (desperation WR), Darnell Mooney, Tyler Allgeier, Ameer Abdullah, Falcons DST (vs. CAR subsequent week)
Rashid Shaheed averaged 7.3 targets and a 22.2% goal per route run price for the Saints. The void left by his absence will most likely be cut up up by everybody else on the crew however particularly reception machine Chris Olave and tight finish Juwan Johnson. In successfully six quarters of play with Tyler Shough in Weeks 8 and 9, Johnson noticed 10 targets and turned them right into a cumulative 6-66-1 stat line. Given the shortage of different high quality receivers in New Orleans, it is a fairly secure guess we’ll see Johnson proceed to get appears to be like from Shough, elevating his worth this week and remainder of season. 4 tight ends have topped 10 PPR factors in opposition to the Panthers this 12 months, a quantity that may have most likely been 5 if not for Tucker Kraft’s damage final week (he and Luke Musgrave mixed for 10.4). You possibly can actually add Johnson off waivers and begin him in Week 10.
MUST-STARTS: Rico Dowdle
STARTS: Chris Olave (flex in non-PPR), Tetairoa McMillan (low-end No. 2 WR), Panthers DST (one week solely)
FLEX: Alvin Kamara
SITS: Bryce Younger, Tyler Shough, Jalen Coker, Brandin Cooks, Devin Neal, Chuba Hubbard, Xavier Legette, Ja’Tavion Sanders, Devaughn Vele, Saints DST
It might be stunning if the Giants developed a run sport after bottoming out final week with Tyrone Tracy and Devin Singletary. Chicago’s run protection has been fairly nice over its previous 4 video games anyway, excluding rubbish time (3.7 yards per carry, 4.2% explosive run price allowed, two touchdowns to Derrick Henry). Financial institution on the Giants leaning into Jaxson Dart simply as they’ve since Week 4, particularly in opposition to a Bears protection that is had a tough time creating cross rush stress. It is enormous for Dart, who’s rather more efficient when unpressured (70% completion price, 7.0 yards per try, 6.9% TD price) than pressured (40% completion price, 6.0 yards per try, 2.2% TD price). Each Wan’Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton have seen a leap in targets per route run when Dart’s not pressured this season to not less than 24.7% for every. It is enormous, particularly in opposition to a Bears protection that gave up 17-plus PPR factors to 3 Bengals receivers final week. Theo Johnson’s additionally in play — a good finish has scored 10.8-plus PPR in opposition to Chicago in three of its previous 4, and the lone sport one did not Mark Andrews and Charlie Kolar mixed for 14.4.
STARTS: Jaxson Dart, Caleb Williams, Kyle Monangai, Rome Odunze, Wan’Dale Robinson (low-end No. 2 PPR WR)
FLEX: D.J. Moore, Darius Slayton
SITS: Devin Singletary and Tyrone Tracy Jr. (desperation RBs), Theo Johnson (high-end No. 2 TE), Colston Loveland (desperation TE), Bears DST, Giants DST
Anticipate a low-scoring sport right here, which is how most Texans video games go. Houston brings loads of cross rush stress however wrestle to rack up a ton of sacks. Behind that D-line is without doubt one of the finest secondaries in soccer; solely eight touchdowns have been caught on them and half had been by extensive receivers. The one two receivers with greater than 80 yards in opposition to the Texans? Jaxon Smith-Njigba and Puka Nacua, each of whom had eleven-plus targets. This isn’t the matchup to belief Jakobi Meyers in his first sport with the Jaguars in. As for Parker Washington, his nine-plus targets in two straight video games gives some hope that he might be simply the third receiver to have 10-plus PPR factors whereas enjoying not less than 40% of his snaps within the slot in opposition to the Texans.
STARTS: Nico Collins, Travis Etienne (No. 2 RB), Dalton Schultz, Texans DST (at TEN in Week 11)
FLEX: Parker Washington (high-end PPR flex), Woody Marks
SITS: Trevor Lawrence, Davis Mills, Dalton Schultz (high-end No. 2 PPR TE), Nick Chubb, Bhayshul Tuten, Christian Kirk, Xavier Hutchinson, Brenton Unusual (stash!), Jaguars DST (high-end No. 2 DST)
With Jaelan Phillips now in Philly and Chop Robinson not sure to play, it is particularly laborious to see how the Dolphins can rush Josh Allen and decelerate the Payments offense down. Miami could not cling with the Payments again in Week 3 once they did have Phillips (and Tyreek Hill), so it is unlikely they will cling now. Their finest guess is to run the ball with each De’Von Achane and Ollie Gordon to try to benefit from a protection that is allowed 4.9 yards per rush over its previous 4 video games excluding rubbish time. That will preserve the Dolphins shut within the first half but it surely’s straightforward to see the Payments draw back within the second half, doubtlessly with their very own run sport as Miami’s let up 5.3 yards per rush in its previous 5. Buffalo has scored 30-plus on Miami in three straight.
MUST-STARTS: Josh Allen, James Prepare dinner, De’Von Achane
STARTS: Jaylen Waddle, Dalton Kincaid, Payments DST
FLEX: Khalil Shakir (PPR)
SITS: Tua Tagovailoa, Ollie Gordon, Greg Dulcich, Malik Washington, Ray Davis, Keon Coleman, Elijah Moore, Ty Johnson, Dolphins DST
I believed J.J. McCarthy performed a lot better than anticipated final week in a hostile setting in opposition to a very good Lions cross rush. A dashing landing made all of the distinction in Fantasy however his mobility out of the pocket was once more a much-needed asset to assist the Vikings pull off the win. He’ll have a better matchup this week versus a Ravens protection that is struggled to get cross rush stress price greater than 27.6% on quarterbacks for 5 straight weeks (eight complete sacks). I do not view the addition of journeyman Dre’Mont Jones to be a significant difference-maker for Baltimore, and so long as the Vikings offensive line holds up then McCarthy must be in place to make some throws to his prime receivers whereas additionally using Aaron Jones out of the backfield.
MUST-STARTS: Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry, Justin Jefferson (No. 2 WR)
STARTS: Zay Flowers, Mark Andrews, Aaron Jones (low-end No. 2 RB)
FLEX: Jordan Addison (borderline No. 2/3 WR)
SITS: J.J. McCarthy, T.J. Hockenson (high-end No. 2 TE), Jalen Nailor, Rashod Bateman (desperation WR), Jordan Mason, Ravens DST, Vikings DST
Clearly there have been some wholesale modifications to the Jets protection this week. Cleveland can be nuts to not assault on the bottom contemplating Quinnen Williams’ departure, security Andre Cisco’s absence and Quincy Williams’ benching. With these guys the Jets allowed 4.0 yards per carry, two touchdowns and a 4.3% explosive run price over 16 carries — not too dangerous. With out them I simply do not assume the Jets have sufficient past Jamien Sherwood and Malachi Moore to make loads of stops. Each Sherwood and Moore will probably be a part of the protection assigned to the Browns tight ends as effectively, and each have been fairly good at making tackles and limiting yards after the catch. That’ll be essential since each Harold Fannin (23.9%) and David Njoku (25.6%) have the 2 highest goal per route run charges amongst pass-catchers with Dillon Gabriel this season. Each must be busy.
MUST-STARTS: Garrett Wilson, Breece Corridor (No. 2 RB)
STARTS: Quinshon Judkins, Harold Fannin Jr., David Njoku, Browns DST
SITS: Justin Fields (high-end No. 2 QB), Dillon Gabriel, Mason Taylor (high-end No. 2 TE), Tyler Johnson, Isaiah Davis, Adonai Mitchell (deep stash), Dylan Sampson, Jerome Ford, Jets DST
Two video games in the past each Baker Mayfield and Emeka Egbuka did not look proper within the Bucs’ lopsided loss on the Lions. One sport in the past the Bucs protection helped them construct a lead on the Saints and the offense opted for a slow-paced, run-heavy strategy over simply 9 drives in a blowout win. That is to counsel that we’ve not seen the Bucs offense appear to be themselves since Week 6, and even then they leaned on the run. New England’s run protection has been superb, holding RBs over their previous 5 video games excluding rubbish time to three.0 yards per carry with zero rush TDs and a 1.4% explosive rush price allowed. That is insanely good. Nevertheless, the Patriots cross rush hasn’t been dominant since their win over the Titans and the Bucs offensive line mustn’t solely be rested however deeper with deal with Luke Goedeke having an opportunity to return. Christian Gonzalez’s presence would assist the protection in an enormous manner, particularly in opposition to Egbuka, however even when he performs this appears like a bounce-back sport for Baker Mayfield since he ought to need to do loads of passing.
STARTS: Drake Maye, Baker Mayfield, Emeka Egbuka, TreVeyon Henderson and Rachaad White (each low-end No. 2 RBs), Patriots DST (low-end DST)
FLEX: Stefon Diggs, DeMario Douglas, Tez Johnson
SITS: Cade Otton (borderline No. 1/2 TE), Hunter Henry, Sean Tucker (stash!), Terrell Jennings (desperation RB), Kyle Williams (deep stash), Buccaneers DST
Jacoby Brissett has been nice in his previous three begins and has conquered a very good cross rush already this 12 months, however enjoying at Seattle will probably be very tough. The Seahawks, a zone-heavy protection, tends to persistently get cross rush stress with out blitzing. That is an enormous downside for Brissett, who when pressured has a 44.2% completion price, 6.0 yards per try, zero touchdowns and a drop in catchable cross makes an attempt from 95.7% to 67.4%. It will be even worse for his run sport because the Seahawks have been unreal in opposition to the run of their previous 4 video games, so it is honest to anticipate Brissett to throw so much. That quantity may end in some excessive numbers, however some excessive turnovers too. Simply two QBs have scored greater than 20.8 Fantasy factors on the Seahawks, and each confronted them with not simply cornerback Devon Witherspoon out however different Seahawks defensive starters lacking the sport. They’re anticipated to be wholesome for Week 10. It is a good week to keep away from Brissett should you can since he has rather more draw back than common.
Arizona’s protection is wholesome and had many good moments final week at Dallas however nonetheless could not wrangle a cross rush stress price greater than 36%, which was their second-highest mark in a sport this 12 months. That ought to bode effectively for Sam Darnold, who has scored not less than 18.1 Fantasy factors in 5 of six video games when he is been pressured underneath 40% of the time with 20.7 factors in 4 of these 5. And it completely helps him to have Rashid Shaheed, a downfield receiver who performed on this similar offensive system in 2024. Shaheed must be acclimated rapidly and will alter how defenses plot in opposition to the Seahawks, together with how they strategy the Seattle run sport. Now not can defenses key in on Jaxon Smith-Njigba and take their possibilities with different Seahawks pass-catchers with out paying. It ought to imply extra mild containers for Seattle to run into and, theoretically, higher effectivity for his or her operating backs. Higher blocking would assist. Arizona’s run protection remained suspect final week and could possibly be ripe for some modest numbers versus Seattle’s dashing duo. I believe Darnold might be fairly good, however the Cardinals cross protection deserves not less than a bit of credit score, so do not anticipate an enormous sport.
MUST-STARTS: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Trey McBride
STARTS: Marvin Harrison Jr., Kenneth Walker III (low-end No. 2 RB), Seahawks DST
FLEX: Zach Charbonnet (low-end flex)
SITS: Sam Darnold (high-end No. 2 QB), Jacoby Brissett (bye-week QB), Michael Wilson, Emari Demercado (desperation RB), Zonovan Knight, Tory Horton, Cardinals DST
The 49ers took it to the Rams of their Week 5 matchup, overcoming their cross rush by getting the ball out quick (2.4 seconds on common by Mac Jones, who leaned on his reference to Kendrick Bourne to assist break the Rams). Since then the 49ers protection has misplaced a number of extra key starters and has struggled to develop a cross rush, and the Rams have improved their secondary and stay among the best total defenses within the league. There hasn’t been a blowout within the collection since late October 2022 when the Niners gained 31-14. Determine the 49ers scheme to maintain issues shut with brief passes once more, however this time George Kittle and Jauan Jennings assist out rather more than Bourne.
MUST-STARTS: Christian McCaffrey, Kyren Williams, Puka Nacua, Davante Adams
STARTS: Matthew Stafford, George Kittle
FLEX: Jauan Jennings
SITS: Mac Jones, Kendrick Bourne, Tyler Higbee, Blake Corum, Brian Robinson Jr., Rams DST (high-end No. 2 DST), 49ers DST
No Jayden Daniels, no Terry McLaurin, no high quality cross rush and a Lions crew coming to D.C. after a troublesome house loss. You could not have give you a worse nightmare state of affairs for the Commanders in Week 10. Towards Seattle final week the Commanders obtained a cross rush stress on 12.5% of the Seahawks’ dropbacks. That is actually dangerous and doubtlessly a inexperienced mild for Jared Goff to tee off in opposition to a Commanders secondary that prefers to play man-to-man protection. Normally man-to-man protection brings out the very best goal per route run price in Amon-Ra St. Brown, not Sam LaPorta or Jameson Williams. And LaPorta’s worst video games are usually when the Lions and particularly Jahmyr Gibbs cannot get going (Week 9 is the latest instance). Beginning LaPorta is one thing we’ll all do, however perhaps do not anticipate something like final week. Gibbs ought to bounce again and even David Montgomery has a shot at one other rating in what figures to be a Lions blowout.
With the Lions run protection so robust, this must be the sport the Commanders lean into Deebo Samuel on screens and slants as a change-up to handing off. Downside is that Samuel has not appeared like himself since getting back from damage a number of weeks in the past. He did get unfastened for a 19-yard catch-and-run final week however he in any other case was merely a short-area goal. And it will get worse with Marcus Mariota underneath heart: On the 12 months Samuel has an 18.3% goal per route run price. By comparability, Terry McLaurin’s was 26.7% with Mariota, that is actually good. In video games with out McLaurin, Samuel’s price has gone down to 12.5%! Samuel is OK as a PPR flex however I might be nervous beginning him even then.
MUST-STARTS: Jahmyr Gibbs, Amon-Ra St. Brown
STARTS: Jared Goff, David Montgomery, Sam LaPorta, Lions DST
FLEX: Deebo Samuel (PPR), Jameson Williams
SITS: Marcus Mariota, Zach Ertz, Jeremy McNichols (desperation PPR RB), Jaylin Lane (deep stash), Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Chris Rodriguez, Commanders DST
The Steelers edge rushers and defensive position had been amped up final week, rattling the Colts offensive line and making huge performs within the backfield each in opposition to Daniel Jones and Jonathan Taylor. I am undecided how a lot of that’s transferable to this week’s matchup however it is going to completely assist them that the Chargers will not have Joe Alt at left deal with. Many Chargers metrics, together with their offensive EPA and Justin Herbert’s passing effectivity, are starkly completely different with out Alt on the sphere. That features Herbert’s time to throw common (3.01 with Alt, 2.85 with out Alt) and common depth of throw (9.1 air yards with Alt, 6.9 with out Alt), each clearly hinting at Herbert throwing shorter in order to keep away from getting shellacked. This figures to particularly assist not simply Ladd McConkey but in addition Keenan Allen and Oronde Gadsden II whereas hurting Quentin Johnston (Allen much less as a lot as a result of his route price has dipped in consecutive weeks). We have already seen the Steelers enable 15-plus PPR factors to a number of extensive receivers in 4 video games this 12 months (together with final week!), and so they’ve given up not less than 9.8 half-PPR factors to tight ends in 5 of their previous seven. Anticipate Herbert to get the ball out rapidly to short-area targets.
I additionally would not pencil in a heavy workload for Kimani Vidal. By the second half, Jaret Patterson was mixing in with Vidal and truly outproduced him, a lot in order that the coaches gave Patterson the snaps to shut out their seven-point win over the Titans. This doesn’t suggest that Patterson is out of the blue an choice in Fantasy, however any work he picks up in consequence clearly diminishes Vidal’s upside. It would not assist that the Steelers are recent off of slowing down Jonathan Taylor and limiting Josh Jacobs in consecutive weeks.
MUST-STARTS: Ladd McConkey
STARTS: Justin Herbert, Jaylen Warren, Kimani Vidal (low-end No. 2 RB), Oronde Gadsden II, DK Metcalf, Chargers DST (low-end DST)
FLEX: Quentin Johnston and Keenan Allen (Johnston greater in non- and half-PPR)
SITS: Aaron Rodgers, Calvin Austin III (desperation WR), Kenneth Gainwell, Pat Freiermuth (stash), Jonnu Smith, Steelers DST (powerful matchups till perhaps Week 15)
All season lengthy, Jordan Love’s Achilles heel has been cross rush stress. He has but to throw a landing underneath stress, has accomplished simply 37.7% of his throws when pressured, has a catchable try price of 68.8% when he is pressured and averages a weak 4.7 yards per try when pressured. And now he’ll tackle an Eagles protection that was already higher than league common in cross rush stress price and added edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who has expertise working on this particular defensive scheme. It positive would not assist that Tucker Kraft, the man with an 18.7% goal per route run price when Love’s been pressured, is out for the 12 months.
MUST-STARTS: Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, Josh Jacobs
STARTS: DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Dallas Goedert, Eagles DST
FLEX: Romeo Doubs (high-end flex), Christian Watson
SITS: Jordan Love, Luke Musgrave, Matthew Golden, Emanuel Wilson, Packers DST
