NFL Fantasy Football Best/Worst Positional Matchups Week 10

Welcome to Week 10 of the NFL fantasy football season. How ya doing? Week 10 brings another international game, the Atlanta Falcons versus the Indianapolis Colts. So, don’t forget to put in Jonathan Taylor, Bijan Robinson, and Drake London in your early lineups.

There are also four teams on a bye this week. The Cincinnati Bengals, the Dallas Cowboys, the Kansas City Chiefs, and the Tennessee Titans are all on a bye. So, don’t forget to take out Joe Flacco, Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins, Dak Prescott, Cee Dee Lamb, George Pickens, Javonte Williams, Patrick Mahomes, and Ray Rice out of your lineups.

Who does that leave for the best/worst positions to roster in Week 10? Let’s check it out.

Best/Worst Quarterback Matchup Week 10

Best Quarterback Matchup Week 10, Jaxson Dart @ Chicago Bears, Bears -3.5, 48.5 o/u

First things first, we are getting to that time of year where the weather can start to play an important part in game script. Pay attention, nevertheless, right now let’s go with Dart against the Bears’ defense.

Why, well, the Bears’ defense is 28th in pressure rate and second in giving up explosive plays downfield. Dart, when not pressured, is completing 66% of his passes. He is averaging 34.9 passing plays per game, and the Giants are seventh in pace of play (2.09).

But what makes him one of the best quarterback matchups for Week 10 is that his floor is raised with his 22% carry share. Dart is averaging 6.38 carries per game and is second among quarterbacks with 3.25 designed runs per game and five rushing touchdowns.

Week 8, Baltimore Ravens’ backup quarterback Tyler Huntley rushed for 53 yards against the Bears, and in Week 7, New Orleans Saints quarterback Spencer Ratler averaged six yards per carry against them.

Worst Quarterback Matchuo Week 10, Bryce Young v New Orleans Saints, Panthers -4.5, 40.5 o/u

Young is not allowing his team to lose; that’s a good thing. But his record against Cover-3 defenses is the third-worst in the league. Per @numbersgameshow, Young is 40-of-70 for 374 yards with only one of his 11 touchdowns against this defensive scheme. He has thrown three of his six interceptions against Cover-3, which the Saints play at 48%, the most in the league.

Best/Worst Running Back Matchup Week 10

Best Running Back Matchup Week 10, Rico Dowdle v New Orleans Saints, Panthers -4.5, 40.5 o/u

But all is not lost, Panthers’ fans, because Dowdle has one of the best matchups this week (not to mention he is just one of the best running backs in a loaded running back week). Dowdle leads the league with 652 rushing yards since Week 5. He has a 56% success rate when rushing outside and leads all rushers with 144 yards per game on outside runs.

Last week, the Los Angeles Rams duo of Kyren Williams and Blake Corum combined for 175 rushing yards against the Saints. In their last three games, the Saints have allowed an average of 160.3 rushing yards per game.

Worst Running Back Matchup Week 10, Rachaad White v New England Patriots, Buccaneers -2.5, 48.5 o/u

The Buccaneers’ run game isn’t what it used to be. White is only on the field for a 52% snap share and and it drops to 45.5% for his opportunity share. The Buccaneers are 22nd in run plays per game (25.4), and when we used to rely on the passing game for the floor, White is averaging a target share of 9.2% running routes 45.1%.

And then there is the Patriots’ defense. The Patriots are first in the league against the run. They are giving up an average of 75.4 rushing yards per game. In their last three games, they have only allowed an average of 59.3 rushing yards. Last week, they held Bijan Robinson to 46 total rushing yards. In fact, for the season, no running back has rushed for more than 50 yards against the Patriots’ defense.

Best/Worst Wide Receiver Matchup Week 10

Best Wide Receiver Matchup Week 10, Romeo Doubs v Philadelphia Eagles, Packers -2.5, 44.5 o/u

The Eagles’ defense is 18th in passing yards allowed per game, allowing an average of 215.9 passing yards per game for the season and 223.3 in their last three games.

The Packers aren’t setting the world on fire, only averaging 34.3 passing attempts per game, but this is all about efficiency and opportunity. The Packers are eighth in passing yards per game with 26,4, and now with the Tucker Kraft injury, Doubs is the de facto WR1.

Last week, Doubs was on the receiving end of 10 targets, seven receptions, and 91 yards. In a close game at Lambeau Field with the Eagles coming off a bye week, look for Doubs to see plenty of targets.

Worst Wide Receiver Matchup Week 10, Justin Jefferson v Baltimore Ravens, Ravens -3.5, 47.5 o/u

You certainly are not benching Jefferson; this is just a cautionary tale. In his three games with J.J. McCarthy, Jefferson has averaged 4.3 receptions per game and 57.3 receiving yards. Now McCarthy will not only be fighting to get Jefferson the ball, but he will be under the watchful eye of Kyle Hamilton, and that won’t be good (for McCarthy).

Best/Worst Tight End Matchup Week 10

Best Tight End Matchup Week 10, Harold Fannin @ New York Jets, Jets -1.5, 37.5 o/u

Cleveland Browns’ head coach Kevin Stefanski has called for more explosive plays from his offense. He has also given up play-calling duties to his offensive coordinator, Tommy Rees.

In an offense short on playmakers, Fannin is one bright spot on the offensive side of the ball.

Fannin has a 65.8% route participation and is on the field for a 75.3% snap share. The rookie is seventh among tight ends, averaging 6.4 targets per game. And now the Browns and presumably their new play caller want an offense that averages 40.3 passing attempts per game, wants to be more “explosive”.

The main caveat is that before the bye, Fannin was nursing a hamstring injury. Monitor his status.

Worst Tight End Matchup Week 10, Pat Freiermuth @ Los Angeles Chargers, Chargers -3, 44.5 o/u

The Steelers are employing three tight ends. Fortunately, last week, Freiermuth scored a touchdown, which helped his fantasy production. He was also third in targets among the tight ends. You can’t let your fantasy fortunes hang with the hope for a touchdown, especially against a defense that has allowed the seventh fewest fantasy points to the tight end position (8.1).

And so…

Best versus worst is relative. Jefferson’s production is worse compared to his draft capital, whereas Fannin’s is best compared to his. But one of the things we know is that in fantasy football, matchups matter.

Now is the time when our fantasy football teams are fighting for playoff positions. Pay attention to the matchups, and after you do all your research, trust your gut.

Good luck and play nice.