Week 10 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Ride Goff and Estime, Bench Jordan Love Against Minnesota

Week 10 brings three teams on bye, a Thursday night NFC East matchup and a handful of defenses that are practically asking to be attacked. Here is where the lineup calls stand this week, with the reasoning behind each one.

First, the housekeeping. Denver, Philadelphia and Tampa Bay are off this week, which takes Saquon Barkley, Bucky Irving and Jonah Coleman out of lineups, according to USA TODAY Sports ^[1]. The week opens Thursday night when Washington visits the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium, so set those lineups early ^[5]. And if you want a new place to put your football knowledge to work, the free Liberty Bell Fantasy games are open at /fantasy.

Start 'Em

Jared Goff, QB, Lions vs. Patriots. Goff was held without a touchdown pass against Miami in Week 9, but this is the week to go right back to him. USA TODAY's Jacob Camenker noted that New England has allowed a league-high 2,256 passing yards to quarterbacks and was torched by speed receivers Christian Watson and Matthew Golden last week ^[1].

Jameson Williams, WR, Lions vs. Patriots. Same logic, more upside. Watson and Golden combined for 17 catches, 335 yards and two touchdowns against New England in Week 9, and the Patriots give up the most fantasy points per game to receivers, per USA TODAY ^[1].

Matthew Stafford, QB, Rams at Cardinals. Stafford has thrown one touchdown pass in each of his last two games, but Arizona allows the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, and he has thrown multiple touchdowns against the Cardinals in three straight meetings ^[1].

Audric Estime, RB, Saints vs. Panthers. This is as close to a consensus call as you will find this week: USA TODAY, CBS Sports and Forbes all have Estime in lineups ^[1][2][3]. He took over the between-the-tackles work after the Saints released Kendre Miller, and Carolina has allowed a rushing touchdown in five straight games ^[1]. Forbes noted he turned 15 carries into 14.7 fantasy points last week ^[3]. Treat him as a flex with real touchdown upside.

Darren Waller, TE, Panthers vs. Saints. The 34-year-old caught eight passes for 90 yards and a touchdown against Denver in Week 9, and New Orleans ranks among the most generous defenses against tight ends ^[1][3].

Ravens D/ST vs. Chargers. Justin Herbert has been sacked 31 times in eight games, according to USA TODAY ^[1]. "There are precious few defenses that can't be started against the Chargers," Camenker wrote ^[1].

Related Thursday Night Fantasy Playbook: Skattebo and Nabers Are Cleared for Commanders-Giants as Daniels' Legs Lead the Way

Deep-league tight end: Michael Mayer, Raiders. Touchdown Wire's BJ Rudell called Mayer one of the better backup tight ends in the game and noted that Las Vegas is thin at receiver as the Fernando Mendoza era begins ^[4].

Sit 'Em

Jordan Love, QB, Packers vs. Vikings. Love is coming off a 36.2-point game, according to Forbes, but Minnesota allows the fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and ranks first in the league in pressure rate by Next Gen Stats ^[1][3]. He did throw for 387 yards and two scores against the Vikings in Week 1, so this is a call for leagues where you have a solid alternative, not a benching everywhere ^[1].

Tucker Kraft, TE, Packers vs. Vikings. Three different outlets agree on this one ^[1][3][4]. Minnesota has been the toughest defense in the league against tight ends, and Kraft managed just 1.9 points last week ^[3].

Tyler Allgeier, RB, Cardinals vs. Rams. He turned 19 touches into 46 yards in Week 9, and the Rams have allowed only three total touchdowns to running backs all season ^[1]. CBS Sports' Jamey Eisenberg rated him a flex at best ^[2].

DK Metcalf, WR, Steelers at Bengals. Metcalf has three or fewer catches in three of his last four games and a career-low 51.6% catch rate ^[1].

Travis Kelce, TE, Chiefs. The trade for Josh Downs crowds the Kansas City target tree, and Rudell moved Kelce to his sit list this week ^[4].

Where the Experts Split

Tony Pollard is the toughest call on the board. Pollard ran for 246 yards and five touchdowns in the two games before Tennessee's bye, but Jacksonville allows just 89.3 rushing yards a game, fifth-best in the league, and USA TODAY has him on the bench ^[1]. Eisenberg disagrees, writing that "you should start him in the majority of leagues," even after the Jaguars added defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Davon Godchaux ^[2].

My call: in 12-team leagues, Pollard stays in the lineup as a flex. A back who just put up five touchdowns in two games has earned the workload, and the workload matters more than one tough matchup.

The Saints defense is another split. USA TODAY has New Orleans on its sit list against Carolina, while Forbes ranks the Saints 11th among defenses this week because the Panthers have been generous to opposing defenses ^[1][3]. If you are streaming, the Ravens are the safer play.

Abby's Bottom Line

Trust volume and matchups over big names. Goff and Williams against New England is the best stack of the week, and Estime is the waiver-wire find who can win you a close matchup. Love and Kraft against Minnesota is a week to look elsewhere if you have a reasonable option.

And remember the rule that works in fantasy and in life: don't make big decisions out of panic. Good luck in Week 10.