Vladimir De Wet breaks down the second half of the Week 10 matchups for the 2015 NFL football season. Be sure to also check out part one of this week's matchups analysis for the later games.
Each week of the NFL season, we will be breaking down each of the NFL matchups and providing you with some fantasy football advice and lineup recommendations based on matchups that we love, matchups that we hate, and some high-risk/high-reward players, as well.
Below, you will find part two of our Week 10 NFL matchups & fantasy football start/sit analysis, which should help you prepare your lineups to win this week. It’s essential to analyze the weekly NFL matchups to find lineup sleepers and gems, while also avoiding those players who may turn out to be busts.
Jaguars @ Ravens - Sunday 11/15 @ 1:00 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Allen Hurns, WR, Jaguars - Hurns has been one of the best receivers in the year this league. Despite being outside of the top 40 in receptions in the league he's still top 10 in receiving yards. His big, explosive plays along with touchdowns in six straight games makes him a top-20 WR in all formats. The Ravens have been awful at stopping the pass all year so expect all Jaguars receivers to have a decent game.
Blake Bortles, QB, Jaguars - The Jaguars haven't been as bad as their 2-6 record would have you think. The main reason is that Blake Bortles has actually been good this season and has played a lot better than anyone is giving him credit for. Allen Robinson and Allen Hurns have combined to become very good weapons on the outside, with 12 receiving touchdowns between them. Bortles' 17 passing touchdowns is good for ninth-best in the league ahead of Andrew Luck and Cam Newton. The Jaguars offensive line, running game, and turnovers have done a lot to derail the team. The passing offense has been above-average and could have their best game this season against a reeling Ravens secondary.
Matchups We Hate:
Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens - The Jaguars held Chris Ivory to a season-low 26 yards on 23 carries last week. The Jaguars have given up the sixth -most fantasy points to opposing RBs but have given up the fewest rushing yards pet attempt in the league. A closer look at the stats shows that the Jags have given up a lot of goal-line touchdowns and passes to backs but have on the whole been able to stop teams from running the ball. Forsett hasn't had a good game in three weeks and that should continue as the Jags will focus on stopping him.
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Jaguars - The only thing the Ravens do well is stop people from running the football. They're top 10 in total rushing yards allowed, yards per attempt, and rushing touchdowns given up. Yeldon was shut down against a stingy Jets run defense last week and should have similar problems against the Ravens.
Ryan Tannehill, QB, Dolphins - I wouldn’t be starting Tannehill here unless I had to. The Jets have held opposing QBs to under 10 points in all three games this season. Furthermore, Tannehill just hasn’t looked that good. He will probably turn it around but not this week.
Notable Players:
Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens - Although he's a Super Bowl champion it is very obvious that this season just isn't going well for Flacco. If I had to pick one of these two QBs it would be Bortles without a doubt. With so many injuries to his skilled players it's hard to put all the blame on Flacco, but it's time to chalk this up as a lost season for him and the Ravens.
Crockett Gillmore, TE, Ravens - Gillmore has begun to establish himself as one of Flacco's only reliable targets. He might be one of the only Ravens on the field consistently, so he should be considered as a potential waiver wire add in deeper leagues.
Vikings @ Raiders - Sunday 11/15 @ 4:05 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Seth Roberts, WR, Raiders - Roberts is a second-year receiver that had the best game of his career last week. He has yet to catch more than three passes in a game so he's far from being a consistent part of the offense. Going against a decent Vikings secondary should make it tougher for the regular stars (Amari Cooper and Michael Crabtree) but maybe open some spaces for someone else. The Raiders passing offense has been effective lately and Roberts is slowly seeing more and more time on the field.
Kyle Rudolph, TE, Vikings - The Raiders have given up nine touchdowns to opposing TEs (most in the league). Kyle Rudolph currently leads the Vikings in receiving touchdowns and should see a target or two in the red zone this Sunday. Rudolph is always a touchdown-dependent TE, but this week he's got his best chance of getting one.
Matchups We Hate:
Michael Crabtree, WR, Raiders - I've been screaming "Crabtree's back!" to anyone that will listen. Being opposite Amari Cooper and having Derek Carr has revived his career, as he's on pace to break all of his individual season records. That being said, the Vikings have given up the fourth-fewest points to opposing WRs and will be focusing on Crabtree as a part of their defensive scheme. He has emerged as a genuine WR2, but after a few good weeks he is due for a clunker.
Notable Players:
Derek Carr, QB, Raiders - Carr is the real deal and a solid QB1. For all those who drafted Luck (me) he has been an amazing replacement and has gotten to the point where matchups don't really matter. The Raiders are playing for their wildcard lives every week, so expect Carr to continue his already great sophomore campaign.
Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders - I'm not sure if the running game helps set up the pass, or if the dangerous passing game leaves open lanes for the run. Either way Murray has become a matchup-proof nightmare that can run wild on any defense. The Raiders have four games with 300+ yards passing and 120 + yards rushing in what has become one of the league's most balanced offenses.
Teddy Bridgewater, QB, Vikings - After being knocked out cold last week by LaMarcus Joyner, all signs point to Bridgewater playing on Sunday after passing the concussion protocol. Teddy is the ultimate game manager, but he isn't worth rostering in fantasy this year.
Patriots @ Giants - Sunday 11/15 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Brandon LaFell, WR, Patriots - LaFell has seen an increase in targets, receptions, and yards each of the three weeks he's been back from injury. Despite dropping a lot of balls his first week back he has gotten more snaps than Danny Amendola in the last two weeks. The Giants have given up 250+ yards passing in every game this season but one. Drew Brees threw for seven touchdowns on them and Jameis Winston would have had a career day if not for eight dropped passes. I shudder to think what Tom Brady will do, and I know LaFell will have a great day.
Will Tye, TE, Giants - I expected Tye to have a good game last week but instead he was just a waste of space. I am doubling-down and saying that with another week of practice as the starter under his belt both Tye and Eli will be more confident going into this week. The Patriots are famous for focusing on (and taking out) the opposing team's most dangerous offensive weapon. Assuming the focus is on Odell Beckham, Jr. the whole game then it should leave the middle of the field open for Tye to operate.
Rob Gronkowski, TE, Patriots - Okay, this is an obvious one but the Giants have given up the fourth-most points to opposing TEs this season. That, plus the fact that two of their more athletic linebackers and Prince Amukamara will be out of this game means Gronk should be spiking the football early and often.
Matchups We Hate:
Giants RBs - I don't need to tell you to stay away from the Giants backfield. It must be said that the last two weeks Rashad Jennings has looked the best of the four-headed monster. The only thing guaranteed about the Giants running attack is that the rotation of Jennings, Andre Williams, Orleans Darkwa, and Shane Vereen isn't going anywhere. This Patriots are really good at stopping the run so this week makes all of these backs even less appealing than usual.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots - After Dion Lewis went down everyone will be assuming that Blount will put up huge numbers. The Patriots seem to have designated Blount as their bruiser back and James White will be tasked with the Lewis role. The offensive line of the Patriots has been decimated and I expect them to rely a lot more on Brady's golden arm as opposed to trying to piece together a running game.
Notable Players:
Odell Beckham Jr, WR, Giants - Beckham saw 17 balls come his way last week. The Giants have built their offense around him and look for him during every critical situation if they can. After two weeks of dealing with a hamstring injury he looks fully healthy and will be chasing Randall Cobb and DeAndre Hopkins for the top spot at wide receiver.
Chiefs @ Broncos - Sunday 11/15 @ 4:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
Charcandrick West, RB, Chiefs - The last two weeks West has averaged 21 carries for 103.5 yards and a score. The Chiefs seem comfortable feeding him the ball and trying to find the balance that made them a dangerous team last year. The Broncos have had the league's best defense but were shredded last week by Andrew Luck and his lacerated kidney. The Broncos have given up over 100 yards rushing four times this season, including last week. If the Chiefs have any hope of winning this game they'll need to depend on West.
Matchups We Hate:
Vernon Davis, TE, Broncos - Davis barely saw the field in his first week with the team and disappointed everyone silly enough to start him. I was against Davis because not only was it his first week but it was with arguably the most inconsistent QB in the league. Peyton Manning went back to being awful again, throwing for two more interceptions and bringing his season totals up to nine touchdowns and 13 interceptions. Davis might be a key piece to the Broncos playoff run but he won't have any fantasy value as long as Peyton keeps playing at such a low level.
Jeremy Maclin, WR, Chiefs - Maclin has suffered from West's production on the ground. After seeing 11+ targets for three straight games he hasn't seen more than five over the last two. Maclin won't be a good start because of the renewed focus on the run game and the fact that he is going against the best corner tandem in the league.
Notable Players:
Emmanuel Sanders/Demaryius Thomas, WR, Broncos - Despite my feelings on Peyton Manning I still view both of these guys as WR1s. Sanders and Thomas make more plays after the run than most receivers. Manning just has to get the ball in their vicinity and they tend to do the rest. At this point I think it's safe to say that they are making sure Manning doesn't get benched.
Ronnie Hillman, RB, Broncos - Hillman barely played last week because of a thigh injury but should be good to go against the Chiefs. The weak running game, consistent rotation and Hillman's injury make him a very risky start against the Chiefs.
Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs - Kelce has been one of the better TEs in the league despite rarely finding the end zone. He is basically good for five catches and 60 yards every game. The Broncos have a stingy defense but Alex Smith and Kelce's chemistry is matchup-proof--just not in the end zone.
Cardinals @ Seahawks - Sunday 11/15 @ 8:25 PM EST
Matchups We Love:
No one. These two defenses have been getting better every week and look to be rounding into form. Both teams have several must-start options but none of them have been consistent enough over the past few weeks to think they'll have a great game going against a good defense.
Matchups We Hate:
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals - Fitzgerald has historically had trouble against the Seahawks secondary. Despite the fact he's looked like one of the most dangerous receivers in the game this year, Fitzgerald is still old and can't keep up this pace all season, right? Right?
Notable Players:
Russell Wilson, QB, Seahawks - Wilson has been running for his life all season and the result is a wildly inconsistent offense. Wilson has still been a top-20 fantasy QB but this week there should be better options available.
Jermaine Gresham, TE, Cardinals - The Seahawks have given up a lot of fantasy points to opposing TEs, and with Daniel Fells out Gresham is now the sole TE on the roster worth considering. Gresham and the TE aren't big parts of the Cardinals offense, but this might be the week to consider him.
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