5 Players With Tough Week 10 Matchups

We all have those superstars on our rosters who should be automatic starters week after week, right? Not so fast. I don’t believe in the old adage “always start your studs”, as it’s sort of lazy and not entirely accurate if you want the most out of your fantasy squad.

In this new article at 4for4, each week I take a look at individual matchups and point out players who I think could struggle, even if they’re elite. I’m not saying to sit them without question, but as the title goes, these are players with tough matchups, meaning you'll have tough lineup decisions to make.

Week 9 Wrap-up

It was another solid week for this column, except for Lamar Jackson who is proving to be legit matchup-proof. Both running backs Sony Michel and Chris Carson largely underperformed as RB43 and RB24, respectively, while Larry Fitzgerald was a disappointing WR49 with just 7.8 PPR points. Mark Andrews also torpedoed fantasy rosters as TE30 with a measly 4.1 PPR points.

Now for this week’s crop of players to start with caution, or not at all.

Week 10 Risky Plays

Russell Wilson (Seahawks) @ 49ers

I’m fairly certain none of you will sit Wilson this week based on the way he’s been playing, but fair warning, it could be a tough one for the eighth-year quarterback. Seattle traves south to the Bay Area to face a 49ers defense that has been lights out so far in 2019. They rank second in schedule-adjusted fantasy points (aFPA) to quarterbacks and first in the league in aFPA to both the wideout and tight end positions.

If anyone can contain Wilson and his receiving corps it’s this 49ers defense, so temper your expectations for not only the signal-caller but for Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf as well.

Austin Hooper (Falcons) @ Saints

In another divisional road game, Hooper is also a player who could struggle this week based on a specific matchup. The Saints are currently ninth at defending opposing tight ends, allowing a stingy 10.2 PPR points per contest to the position this season.

Yes, Hooper has been a pleasant surprise for those who drafted him and has the most PPR points of any tight end so far this season, but he could come down to earth in Week 10 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. With the position so sparse, it’s doubtful anyone will actually sit Hooper this week, but be mentally prepared for a diminished output from the Atlanta tight end.

Joe Mixon (Bengals) vs. Ravens

Those who drafted Mixon this season have certainly taken their lumps. Sadly, this week won’t be the time he redeems himself. Normally a bye week is helpful for any rusher, but the Bengals still have the same shoddy offensive line and now have an inexperienced quarterback under center.

To top it off, the Ravens defense is allowing the second-fewest rushing yards per tilt this season with just 83 and sit 10th in aFPA to opposing backfields. Mixon may already be riding the pine for you after a brutal first half of the season but if he’s not, it might be a good idea to sit him this week.

David Johnson (Cardinals) @ Buccaneers

He’s back and expected to take on a full workload for Week 10, or so we are being told. I’d like to think that the backfield drama in Arizona is behind us, but now that Kenyan Drake is in the mix, it’s really tough to tell how the touches will pan out.

Also stacked against Johnson is who’s on the other side of the ball. Tampa Bay’s rush defense is ranked first in the league in running back aFPA, surrendering a mere 11.3 PPR points to opposing backfields this season. You may have to start Johnson on Sunday but be prepared for him to post a possible stinker.

Matthew Stafford (Lions) @ Bears

Stafford is quietly having a stellar season and is on pace for close to 5,000 passing yards and 40 touchdowns. He’s found a nice rhythm with both Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. so far in 2019, but the trio can potentially be disrupted this week in Chicago.

The Bears are only giving up 14.0 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks this season, ranking sixth in the NFL against the position through nine weeks. With Deshaun Watson, Carson Wentz and Tom Brady all sitting this week out, it could be difficult to bench Stafford, but you may want to at least mull it over.