The following is an excerpt from the latest edition of Yahoo’s fantasy football newsletter, Get to the Points! If you like what you see, you can subscribe for free here.
Start-sit questions can worry even the best fantasy managers. Here’s a traffic light report to help you prepare for week 10.
✅ Green light
RB Chuba Hubbard vs. Giants (Germany)
Jonathon Brooks returns and could be an impactful fantasy player one day. Hubbard is already dynamic, sitting as the RB9 through the first nine games. Carolina gave Hubbard a juicy contract extension this week, making clear his immediate intentions.
RB Tyrone Tracy Jr. vs. Panthers (Germany)
Tracy Jr. has gotten rid of Devin Singletary in New York’s offense, and the Panthers are by far the easiest defense for opposing running backs to exploit.
RB Najee Harris at Commanders
Jaylen Warren is recovering nicely and starting to play more, but don’t think Pittsburgh isn’t committed to Harris either. The featured defenseman had 22 and 21 touches in the two games before the Week 9 bye match, and he is averaging 19 touches per game. Harris no longer has to worry about former starting QB Justin Fields stealing goal line work.
WR Amon-Ra St. Brown at Texans
We’re missing the volume of previous seasons, but the Sun God is making it work through hyper-efficiency: he’s taken his last 30 goals and scored a touchdown in six straight games.
Subscribe Yahoo Fantasy Prediction on Apple podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you listen.
🫤 Yellow light
WR DeAndre Hopkins vs. Broncos
We cannot ignore his dynamic play last Monday, or the chic “Remember the Titans” end zone celebration. But all that came against a high schooler from Tampa Bay who can’t guard anyone; the Broncos secondary is one of the best in football, led by shutdown corner Patrick Surtain II. Be realistic with your Hopkins projections.
WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine at Chargers
The four-game touchdown streak may feel a little awkward, and it’s clear the Chargers are a nasty tie. But NWI is a full-time player now that DeAndre Hopkins is gone; he’s been over 90% snaps for two straight games. If the Titans manage to catch a touchdown pass this week, Westbrook-Ikhine is the man likely to catch it.
RB Ray Davis at Colts
He’s still the understudy in Buffalo, but Davis may have more touchdown equity than you think; Josh Allen has just three rushing scores this year after racking up 15 last season.
TE Taysom Hill vs. Falcons
You have to be careful with expectations because Hill never offers a fantasy floor. But he did look dynamic on a red zone touchdown run last week, and the Saints can’t hand the ball to Alvin Kamara on every play.
🛑 Red light
QB CJ Stroud vs. Lions
Detroit’s defense is no longer a punching bag and the Texans have struggled to protect Stroud all season. Worse still, Nico Collins seems unlikely to return this week.
RB Tank Bigsby vs. Vikings
The fantasy outbreak turns into a fantasy outbreak. Travis Etienne Jr. has returned, and even though he’s been in the mud all year, it’s hampering Jacksonville’s backfield. Bigsby is rarely asked to work in the passing game and starting Mac Jones could limit the offense’s buoyancy. And Minnesota has been light against the run this year. Too many red flags.
WR DJ Moore vs. Patriots
I need a show-me game before I put Moore back in the Circle of Trust. He torched the Carolina secondary in Week 5, but otherwise his four most recent games have compiled a disappointing total of 102 yards. The Bears try to manage Caleb Williams carefully each week, and it’s possible Chicago can beat New England with a very conservative offense.
WR Xavier Worthy vs. Broncos
He hasn’t reached double-digit fantasy points since Week 4, and the Chiefs seemed to sour on Worthy last week after some first-half mistakes. Andy Reid has never been the type of coach to force new players into the mix, no matter how exciting the theoretical benefits.
