Start Ollie Gordon, Lock In Jonathan Taylor and Wait on Kyle McCord: A Fantasy Game Plan for Dolphins-Colts

Two teams in the middle of a rebuild meet at 1 p.m. Eastern in Indianapolis, and that makes this one of the trickier fantasy games of Week 10. The 1-7 Miami Dolphins visit the 2-7 Indianapolis Colts, who have lost five straight, and the biggest name on the field may be a quarterback who has never taken a regular-season snap. Here is how I would handle the players you might be weighing before kickoff.

Miami placed Malik Willis on injured reserve with a groin injury, so Kyle McCord will make his first NFL start, CBS Sports reported. McCord, 24, came over from Green Bay before the season for a sixth-round pick, and in 2024 at Syracuse he threw for 4,760 yards, 34 touchdowns and 12 interceptions.

The matchup is friendly. Indianapolis has allowed 8.1 yards per pass attempt, 31st in the league, and a league-high 13.2 yards per completion, FanDuel Research noted. The problem is everything around McCord. FanDuel called him a reasonable add in deeper formats and a speculative flier in standard leagues, pointing to a thin group of weapons and an offense that has been inconsistent. Miami has also ruled out center Aaron Brewer and receiver Jared Wayne, according to Yahoo Sports.

Abby's call: In one-quarterback leagues, McCord stays on your bench or the waiver wire this week. In superflex and two-quarterback leagues, he is a playable QB2 because of the matchup, but expect a few rookie-style mistakes. Let him show you one game before trusting him.

This is the Miami player I want. Running back Ollie Gordon II has handled at least 17 touches in each of his past three games, and the Colts' run defense grades in the bottom five in success rate, Sharp Football Analysis reported. Bleacher Report also listed Gordon as a PPR start, noting Indianapolis has given up the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs this season.

With a first-time starter at quarterback, Miami has every reason to lean on the ground game, and Yahoo Sports reported that Gordon is expected to be the focal point of the run game.

Abby's call: Gordon is a solid RB2 with RB1 upside in PPR formats. Volume plus a soft run defense is the recipe you want.

If you need a receiver, Malik Washington is the Dolphins pass catcher I would trust most. Sharp Football Analysis singled him out as the best flex option in this game, averaging about 10 PPR points per game.

Abby's call: A flex in 12-team PPR leagues. Not a must-start in half-point formats.

On the Indianapolis side, the answer is easy. Jonathan Taylor remains the strongest volume play in this game, according to Sharp Football Analysis, and other Week 10 previews list him as a must-start. The Colts sold off pieces at the trade deadline and thinned out their receiver room, which only funnels more of the offense through their star running back.

Abby's call: Start Taylor in every format. Do not overthink it.

Daniel Jones remains the Colts' starter, but Week 10 projections for him are modest, and at least one recommends sitting him. Veteran receiver Keenan Allen is also on the sit list, because Miami's defense has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season.

Abby's call: Jones is a streaming option only in deep two-quarterback leagues. Bench Allen if you have a better option with a cleaner matchup.

This game will probably be decided on the ground. My lineup checklist for Colts-Dolphins:

Start: Jonathan Taylor, Ollie Gordon II.

Flex: Malik Washington.

Sit: Kyle McCord in one-quarterback leagues, Daniel Jones, Keenan Allen.

Check the final inactive lists about 90 minutes before kickoff, especially on the Miami offensive line, because a second missing starter in front of a first-time quarterback would change the outlook for everyone in a Dolphins uniform.

And if you want another way to put your football smarts to work this Sunday, the free Liberty Bell Fantasy games are waiting for you at /fantasy. Good luck with your lineups.