Key Fantasy Starters and Tough Calls - Lineup Spotlights For Week 10 - J.D. McKissic, Van Jefferson And More

Scott Engel provides Week 10 fantasy football lineups analysis, spotlighting key NFL players to start and tougher lineup start/sit decisions to make. He also adds some betting tips.

Below you will find some of my spotlight choices and players to go with when dealing with challenging lineup decisions in Week 10. These selections are based off my Premium Weekly Lineup Rankings, available as part of the RotoBaller NFL Premium Pass. Enter promo code KING at checkout for a discount and get access to my ranks in all formats, plus a full roster of tools and analysis for the 2021 season. Skill position analysis here is based on my PPR rankings.

We now add in some betting tips, as many of the recommendations here naturally work into some prime player props. Plus, I also share some over/under, ATS, and money line picks for selected games. All odds and prop plays are via DraftKings Sportsbook.

For a significant betting edge, check out RotoBaller's Premium Betting Tools and content.

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• Tight end fantasy football rankings

Running Backs

-D’Ernest Johnson has a rushing TD in two of his past three games. He will start for Cleveland against New England and should be expected to carry a heavy rushing load. But Bill Belichick will always look to take away the biggest strength of the opposition, and this week, that will be the Browns running game. If you have a good alternative to Johnson, pivot to the other option this week.

Betting Tip: Take the Under of 45 in what should be one of the lowest-scoring games of the week.

-Zack Moss had 72 scrimmage yards in his last meeting with the Jets. The Jets allow the most Fantasy Points Per Game to running backs and have allowed the most TD runs to the position (14). After the Jaguars took away the deep ball from Buffalo last week, they must adjust and show they can run effectively this week, and this is an ideal matchup to do so. Start Moss with confidence as an RB2 or flex.

Betting Tip: Take Moss to score at +140. A very interesting play is Moss to score two-plus TDs at +850.

-J.D. McKissic had eight receptions and 93 scrimmage yards (83 receiving) in Week 8. Since 2020, he ranks second among RBs in receptions (113) and receiving yards (921). McKissic is a quality flex start when Washington plays from behind, and it surely will against Tampa Bay this week.

Betting Tip: Lock in McKissic over 4.5 receptions at +120.

-Jordan Howard had 71 rushing yards and his third rushing TD of the season last week. He is aiming for his third game in a row with 50-plus rushing yards and a rushing TD. Howard was a hot waiver wire pickup in Week 10. He should continue to be a goal-line option for the Eagles. But have we suddenly forgotten that Howard rushed for 60 yards all of last season? In six of nine games in 2019, he failed to reach the 65-yard mark. Boston Scott was the most productive Philadelphia runner two games ago and the Eagles backfield is unpredictable. You cannot count on Howard for anything more than a possible TD run.

Betting Tip: The prop play of Howard as a TD scorer is a good one at +230. Don’t be surprised, though, if he does not hit the Over of 40.5 rushing yards.

Wide Receivers

-Tyler Lockett had 12 catches and 142 yards in Week 8, his sixth career game with 10-plus receptions. That was a pretty impressive performance when you consider he was working with Geno Smith. By Smith’s third start of the season, though, he and Lockett seemed to be developing a stronger on-field connection. Now that Russell Wilson is back and has been cleared with no reported significant limitations, it is time to get Lockett back into your lineup as a surefire fantasy WR2.

Betting Tip: Take Lockett over 5.5 receptions at -110, as the Seahawks may start showing they will take more of what the defense gives them in the passing game, which means some high percentage completions to Lockett.

-Emmanuel Sanders had 65 receiving yards in Week 9 and has 50-plus receiving yards in six of eight games this season. The Jets rank 30^th in pass defense, so Buffalo will exhibit a lot of offensive balance. Expect a respectable amount of receiving yards from Sanders and an end zone visit.

Betting Tip: Take the Bills team total Over 30.5 at -115.

-Deonte Harris had a career-high six receptions and 52 receiving yards in Week 9. The diminutive wideout won’t be reliable in the long run, but he also has deep play ability and Trevor Siemian seemed to have a pretty good rapport with him last week. If you are digging deeper at WR, consider Harris, as Tennessee allows the most Fantasy Points Per Game to WRs. Harris may catch New Orleans’ only passing TD of the day.

Betting Tip: Take the Under of 43.5 in Saints-Titans, as both teams are missing key offensive pieces.

-Jerry Jeudy had six catches for 69 yards in Week 9. He has six-plus catches and 65-plus receiving yards in two of three games this season. The Eagles have been fourth-best in FFPG allowed to WRs this season, but Jeudy is just too talented to not deliver an impressive performance very soon. A good running game can loosen up the Eagles defense against the pass and Jeudy can break loose for a big play or two. Sometimes you have to go against the FFPG numbers and ride with the upside guy.

Betting Tip: Take Jeudy over 65.5 receiving yards at -115.

-Van Jefferson has 20 targets in his past three games. He is also averaging 16 yards per reception this season. Robert Woods is out and Odell Beckham Jr. is new to the Rams playbook. Cooper Kupp will draw a ton of defensive attention and Jefferson should step forward and play a bigger role in the Los Angeles passing game this week. He is a good WR3 and DFS play.

Betting Tip: Lay the points with the Rams at -4.

Quarterback

Matt Ryan has 300-plus passing yards in three of four road starts this season and is shooting for his seventh game in a row on the road with two-plus TD passes.  Ryan is a fine and underrated streamer against Dallas’ 25^th-ranked pass defense. He continues to gun the ball effectively enough even though he has lost both Julio Jones and Calvin Ridley.

Betting Tip: Take the Falcons at +8, as Atlanta can certainly stick within a TD with Ryan leading the way.

Tight End

-Dan Arnold has 60-plus receiving yards in his past two games. The Colts are 28^th in FFPG allowed to TEs. Arnold is not a sexy pick, but he also has 17 targets in his past two games. He is an adequate option for decent TE output.

Betting Tip: Take the Jaguars +10. They are playing with some confidence and can stick close enough in a divisional game

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