Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Patrick Mahomes, Christian McCaffrey, Davante Adams or Travis Kelce. Instead, I'll look at the players you have the most questions about to help you set the most effective starting lineup possible. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2021 NFL season.
Byes: Bears, Bengals, Giants, Texans
Week 10 Start ‘Em: Tight Ends
Start of the Week
Dalton Schultz vs. Falcons (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Schultz scored just 9.4 fantasy points last week, but he had produced 12-plus points in four of his previous five games. He has a safe floor for fantasy managers, and this week’s matchup against the Falcons is favorable. Their defense has allowed 14-plus fantasy points to all three of the fantasy relevant tight ends it’s faced, so look for Schultz to put up a nice line this weekend.
Week 10 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS | TEAM DEFENSES
Start ‘Em
Mike Gesicki vs. Ravens (Thurs. 8:20 p.m. ET, NFL): Gesicki’s numbers haven’t been great the last two weeks, but he’s still giving fantasy fans a floor of better than nine points. That’s not bad at a thin position. He should remain in all lineups this week, as the Dolphins host a Ravens defense that’s allowed six touchdowns and the second-most fantasy points per game of opposing tight ends in their first eight games of 2021.
Noah Fant vs. Eagles (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS): Fant, who missed last weekend’s game while on the reserve-COVID-19 list, is slated to return to face the Eagles. It’s a good matchup for the Iowa product, as their defense has allowed the most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends this season. What’s more, seven tight ends have scored at least 10.8 points against the Eagles, including three Chargers from last weekend.
Dan Arnold at Colts (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Arnold has become an absolute targets hog, ranking tied for sixth among tight ends in targets per game since Week 6. He’s also scored 10 or more fantasy points in three of his last four games, so Arnold has been a reliable option in the last month. I’d start him against the Colts, who have allowed four tight ends to score at least 10 fantasy points against them in their last five contests.
More Starts
- Pat Freiermuth vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
- Logan Thomas vs. Buccaneers (1 p.m. ET, Fox)
- Tyler Conklin at Chargers (4;05 p.m. ET, Fox)
DFS Bargains
- Logan Thomas vs. Buccaneers ($4,000)
- Pat Freiermuth vs. Lions ($3,900)
- Dan Arnold at Colts ($3,500)
Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends
Sit of the Week
Hunter Henry vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Henry has scored a touchdown in five of his last six games, so he’ll be tough to sit with four teams on a bye. Keep in mind that he’s seen just six combined targets in his last two games, and a matchup against the Browns isn’t favorable. Their defense has allowed just four touchdowns to tight ends, and only two players at the position have scored more than 12.9 fantasy points against them.
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Sit ‘Em
Tyler Higbee at 49ers (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN): Higbee put up a nice line last week, as he was targeted 10 times and scored 10.1 fantasy points against the Titans. The Rams had to throw the ball a bunch due to a negative game script, however, and I’m not sure that will be the case this week. The Niners have also held tight ends in check for the most part, allowing just three touchdowns to the position this season.
Jared Cook vs. Vikings (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Cook scored 10.8 points last week, but he’s been unreliable overall, alternating good and bad stat lines. He’s also in a tight end committee of sorts, as Donald Parham Jr. and Stephen Anderson continue to get more snaps and targets in the pass attack. The matchup isn’t great this weekend either, as the Vikings have allowed one tight end to score more than 10.4 points against them.
More Sits
- Adam Trautman vs. Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Jonnu Smith vs. Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
- Gerald Everett at Packers (4:25 p.m. ET, CBS)
DFS Fades
- Zach Ertz vs. Panthers ($4,600)
- Hunter Henry vs. Browns ($4,100)
- Jared Cook vs. Vikings ($3,200)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business!
