New Name Crashes List of Cincinnati Bengals Ranked Among the League Leaders

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If you were counting the number of Cincinnati Bengals who rank in the top five of league leaders in a category, some of the names would immediately come to mind.

Ja’Marr Chase? Yes. His 8.0 receptions per game are .1 behind Detroit’s Amon-Ra St. Brown.

Trey Hendrickson? Yes. He ranks fifth in pressure percentage (12.3), per Pro Football Focus. And he’s just outside the top five in sacks (sitting eighth with eight), just two behind league-leading Danielle Hunter of the Minnesota Vikings.

Logan Wilson? Yes. His three interceptions lead all linebackers and are tied for fourth among all players. And cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt is one of eight players tied with Wilson four fourth on the NFL interception list.

Who Are the Bengals Who Rank Among the League Leaders?

The fifth player, however, is a bit of a surprise. He’s one of the longest-tenured Bengals, yet one of the least used.

Fifth-year running back Trayveon Williams has been building on his solid showing as a kick returner in 2022 with an even better start this season, averaging 23.7 yards per return. Technically, he’s not among the league leaders because the minimum number of returns required is 1.25 per team game played. For Williams, that would be 10, and he only has seven.

Only three players currently have enough returns to qualify. Only 10 have Williams’ baseline of seven or more.

Using seven as the number, Williams ranks fourth in the league and second in the AFC with a 23.7-yard average, which is up from his 22.3 average of a year ago that ranked 17th. Green Bay’s Keisan Nixon leads the way at 25.9, followed Seattle’s DeeJay Dallas (25.7) and Miami’s Braxton Berrios (24.6).

“It’s another opportunity to get the ball in my hands and make plays, and I’m excited to have that role,” Williams said.

MORE: Irv Smith Jr. Rewards Bengals for Their Trust, Confidence

“The guys up front, they block their asses off, and they’ve done a great job of taking on the scheme each week and handling the twists and the movements, and it just makes it easy for me. I just catch the ball and run to the open gap.”

Special teams coordinator Darrin Simmons said he would like to see Williams get beyond that gap.

“He’s done a good job of running the plays that we run,” Simmons said. “He’s taken advantage of some pretty good sized holes. I’d like for him to continue and break through and not hit a double. I want him to hit a home run.”

Williams feels the same way. His season-long return was a 41-yarder at San Francisco, and he said he keeps thinking about what he could have done differently to make that one longer.

And there’s the one against the Seahawks, early in the first quarter. Bengals rookie Andrei Iosivas was engaged with Seattle’s Julian Love as Williams ran up on them. He elected to go outside, which is the way Iosivas pushed Love, who was able to make the tackle.

MORE: Bold Bengals Predictions for the Second Half of the Season

“I’d definitely like to have the Seattle one back,” Williams said. “If I could have anticipated how that block was gonna pan out, I would’ve cut inside and been one-on-one with the kicker. ”

Whether Williams can work himself into the conversation as the league’s leading kick returner depends on him stretching out one or two of those doubles Simmons talked about. It also depends on whether other teams want to give him an opportunity.

Williams had just two returns through the first six games, yet he has five in the two games since.

“We went through a stretch where we were just struggling to get a return. Nobody was kicking it to us,” Williams said. “As it gets colder, as the wind picks up, more returns are gonna come out. And sometimes, it just depends on the team you play. Some are more aggressive and they’re gonna force returns. Buffalo was one of those teams.”

The single-season franchise record is 31.6, set by Adam Jones in 2014.

Williams only returned one kick at Texas A&M before winning the starting tailback job and being pulled from special teams. But he said he did it all through high school, so he wasn’t starting from scratch at the NFL level.

“I’m taking on this opportunity, and I love it to death,” he said. “Darrin Simmons and Zac (Taylor) trust me, and I take pride in it, and I enjoy it.”

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

NFL Draft Tiebreaker Procedures: Strength of Schedule, Head-to-Head, and More

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The NFL Draft tiebreaking procedures are a set of simple but effective rules that help determine the NFL Draft order each season. On the surface, things are simple — with the worst team getting the top pick and the team that wins the Super Bowl getting the 32nd pick. However, when two or more teams are tied with the same record, we have to use the tiebreaking procedures to determine who picks where.

What Are the NFL Draft Tiebreakers?

First and foremost, strength of schedule (SOS) is the primary tiebreaker for teams with identical records when determining the NFL Draft order. The team with the lower SOS will receive the higher pick, as they are deemed to have faced the weaker set of opponents to achieve the same record.

SOS is the aggregate winning percentage of the team’s opponents. This is a simple process of summating all of the wins, losses, and ties that each team’s opponents have accumulated and dividing it by the total games played.

MORE: Free NFL Mock Draft Simulator With Trades

Often SOS is enough to break the majority of ties, but that’s not always the case. When two teams are tied on record and SOS, then we have to go deeper to determine the draft order. This is where things get complicated as the tiebreaking procedure applied varies based on circumstances.

The process applied depends on whether teams are in the same division or conference, with a third set of rules for breaking any ties that occur between teams in separate conferences. Divisional ties are broken first, then conference ties, before breaking non-conference ties.

Division NFL Draft Tiebreakers

When two teams from the same division are tied by both record and SOS, we have to use the following procedures to break any ties:

  1. Head-to-head record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other gets the higher pick in the draft order.
  2. Winning percentage in games played within the division: The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  3. Win percentage in common games: The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  4. Winning percentage in games played within the conference: The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  5. Strength of victory: The aggregate winning percentage for opponents each team defeated is calculated, and the team with the lower strength of victory is awarded the higher pick.
  6. Combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in conference games: For example, if Team A is ranked 10th in points scored and eighth in points allowed, Team A’s combined ranking would be 18. If Team B is ranked fifth in points scored and 14th in points allowed, Team B’s combined ranking would be 19. Team A’s combined ranking is better, so Team B would be awarded the higher pick.
  7. Combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games
  8. Best net points in common games: The difference between points scored and points allowed is compared for both teams, with the team with the worst net getting the higher pick.
  9. Best net points in all games
  10. Best net touchdowns in all games: The difference in the number of touchdowns scored and allowed is compared. The team with the lower net touchdowns gets the higher pick.
  11. Coin toss: If all other tiebreakers have been exhausted and teams still cannot be separated, a coin toss is used to determine the final NFL Draft order of those two or more teams.

Conference NFL Draft Tiebreakers

If teams within the same conference but not the same division are tied, the conference tiebreaking procedure is enacted. The only difference between divisional and conference procedures is that the step of looking at their divisional record is skipped.

  1. Head-to-head record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other gets the higher pick in the NFL Draft order.
  2. Winning percentage in games played within the conference: The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  3. Winning percentage in common games (minimum of four common opponents): The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  4. Strength of victory: The aggregate winning percentage for opponents each team defeated is calculated, and the team with the lower strength of victory is awarded the higher pick.
  5. Combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in conference games
  6. Combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games
  7. Best net points in common games
  8. Best net points in all games
  9. Best net touchdowns in all games
  10. Coin toss

Non-Conference Tiebreaking Procedures

If two teams from separate conferences are tied in terms of record and strength of schedule, then a third set of tiebreaking procedures needs to be used. The main difference here is that conference records are disposed of, moving up the common games tiebreaker to No. 2.

MORE: 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Profiles

There is also an additional tiebreaker using the team’s points scored and points allowed rankings for the season.

Here are the full tiebreaking procedures when teams in separate conferences are tied:

  1. Head-to-head record: The team with the worse record in games played against each other gets the higher pick in the NFL Draft order.
  2. Winning percentage in common games (minimum of four common opponents): The team with the lower winning percentage gets the higher pick.
  3. Strength of victory: The aggregate winning percentage for opponents each team defeated is calculated, and the team with the lower strength of victory is awarded the higher pick.
  4. Combined ranking among all teams in points scored and points allowed in all games
  5. Best net points in all games
  6. Best net touchdowns in all games
  7. Coin toss

For any teams where tiebreakers have to be used based on a tied record, teams will alternate draft positions in the following rounds. For example, if Team A and Team B were tied at 1-17 and tiebreakers granted Team A the first pick in Round 1, Team B would have the first pick in Round 2, before Team A in Round 3, and so on.

When three or more teams are tied on the same record, the pick order rotates through the round. For example, if Team A, Team B, and Team C are all tied at 1-17, and Team A is determined to have the top pick after applying the tiebreakers, they will then pick third in Round 2. In Round 3, they pick second, before picking first again in Round 4. This rotation would continue through the draft.

NFL Team Over/Under Standings: Is New York Giants vs. Dallas Cowboys Set To Be Low Scoring?

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When it comes to betting on NFL games, knowing which teams are consistently involved in the highest and lowest-scoring games each week can give you an edge. Now that we have nine weeks of data, we are starting to see some trends occurring in terms of game totals for the 32 NFL teams.

Let’s examine the current standings for NFL game overs and under for each of the 32 teams.

Team Over/Under NFL Standings Entering Week 10

1) Indianapolis Colts | 6-3
T2) San Francisco 49ers | 5-3
T2) Dallas Cowboys | 5-3
4) Chicago Bears | 6-4
T5) Philadelphia Eagles | 5-4
T5) Miami Dolphins | 5-4
T5) Arizona Cardinals | 5-4
T8) Cleveland Browns | 4-4
T8) Detroit Lions | 4-4
T8) Jacksonville Jaguars | 4-4
T8) Denver Broncos | 4-4
12) Washington Commanders | 4-5
T13) Cincinnati Bengals | 4-3-1
T13) Green Bay Packers | 4-4
T13) Seattle Seahawks | 4-3-1
T13) Houston Texans | 4-4
T13) New York Jets | 4-3-1

MORE: Week 10 Odds and Trends

T18) Baltimore Ravens | 3-6
T18) Atlanta Falcons | 3-6
T18) Carolina Panthers | 3-6
T18) Los Angeles Rams | 3-6
T18) New England Patriots | 3-6
T18) Buffalo Bills | 3-6
T24) Los Angeles Chargers | 2-6
T24) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 2-6
T24) Tennessee Titans | 2-6
T27) Minnesota Vikings | 2-7
T27) Kansas City Chiefs | 2-7
T27) Las Vegas Raiders | 2-7
T27) New Orleans Saints | 2-6-1
31) Pittsburgh Steelers | 1-7
32) New York Giants | 1-8

Which Teams Are Involved in Higher and Lower Scoring Games Than Expected?

The Colts have been involved in most games that have been higher scoring than expected (6-3). Meanwhile, the Giants have been involved in the most games where the under has hit (1-8).

Indianapolis has seen the over hit in six of their games — including three of the last four. On average, games involving the Colts have gone over by 9.3 points per game. However, their most recent game saw the under hit, as their opponents (Carolina Panthers) only scored 13 points.

MORE: Unders Are Hitting at a Historic Rate

The interesting element with Indianapolis’ record in terms of game totals is that the outcome is almost entirely dependent on the opposition. In seven of their nine games, Indianapolis has scored between 20 and 27 points. Just twice have they gone over that 27-point mark, and they’ve yet to score under 20 points in a game.

This week, the Colts face a New England Patriots team that has seen the over hit just three times, in large part due to their 31st-ranked scoring offense. The Colts held the 26th-ranked Panthers to just 13 points last week, and there’s every chance they could stifle the Patriots’ offense this week.

At the bottom of the standings are the Giants, who have been involved in just one game this year where the over hit. That was back in a Week 2 shootout with the Cardinals. That was also the only time this year the Giants managed to score more than 16 points.

This week, New York faces a rematch of their most embarrassing loss of the year, a 40-point demolition by the Dallas Cowboys. With Tommy DeVito under center due to injuries to Daniel Jones and Tyrod Taylor, we’re likely going to be relying on the Cowboys’ offense to get us close to the 38.5-game total currently available on this matchup.

Dallas has been involved in some high-scoring games this year. Five of their eight games have seen the over hit — including three of their last four contests. The games where the under came into play were twice caused by the inefficient offense provided by the opponents (Giants in Week 1 and Patriots in Week 4).

Our Betting Lines page has the freshest lines and promos to get BANG for your buck. PFN’s FREE Parlay Calculator and Betting Odds Calculator are also available for your betting process! New to sports betting? Check out our guide on How to Bet on the NFL. Visit our Sports Betting Legal Tracker on how to bet legally in the U.S.

Miami Dolphins News: The Bradley Chubb Trade Looks Better by the Day

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MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. — Bradley Chubb is the Miami Dolphins‘ newly minted PFN Midseason Defensive Player of the Year after a marvelous opening half to 2023.

Chubb, in his first full season with the Dolphins, ranks first on the team in forced fumbles (4), sacks (6), and tackles for loss (7). He’s also top three on the team in hurries (4), pressures (15), quarterback hits (10), and QB knockdowns (6).

But it wasn’t so long ago that there were real questions about the wisdom of Chris Grier’s blockbuster trade that brought Chubb to Miami. Chubb got off to a terribly slow start in Miami, recording 3.5 sacks and five tackles for loss in his first 13 games in aqua and orange. (He did record 17 quarterback hits over that stretch).

Revisiting the Miami Dolphins’ Bradley Chubb Trade

He expected and demanded more from himself.

“Like I said earlier in the season, I just didn’t feel like I was making that big of an impact on the field, and I was kind of letting it get to me,” Chubb said Tuesday. “I’m supposed to be this guy and all that. But that’s when I had to look at the man in the mirror and understand, hey man, ‘You do this. It’s not about what people who put expectations on you; it’s not about that. It’s about what you know you can do and how you prepare to do that.’

“I just started tapping into that a lot more, and I did that; I started bringing guys along with me,” Chubb added. “I feel like that’s kind of shifted the energy for all of us as a defense. It’s allowed us to grow better because everybody had that same mindset of looking in the mirror and understanding what they need to do better. It allows all of us to grow.”

Chubb has fought through a frustrating start to his Dolphins tenure and is playing some of the best football of his career.

And for the first time, he’s making the king’s ransom the Dolphins surrendered to acquire him at the 2022 trade deadline — RB Chase Edmonds, the No. 29 overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft and a fourth-rounder in 2024, not to mention the $110 million contract extension that came with it — look like solid value.

Chubb’s $22 million AAV is sixth among all outside linebackers, trailing only:

  • T.J. Watt, Steelers ($28 million)
  • Joey Bosa, Chargers ($27 million)
  • Montez Sweat, Bears ($24.5 million)
  • Rashan Gary, Packers ($24 million)
  • Khalil Mack, Chargers ($23.5 million)

Chubb’s production matches up favorably with all of them. No player, regardless of position, has forced more fumbles, and Chubb is in the top 20 league-wide in sacks.

Slim Pickings in Draft, Free Agency

Now that we’ve established that Chubb’s compensation is in line with his production, let’s take a quick moment to look at what the Dolphins could have done with the resources they dedicated to acquiring and keeping him.

Grier made the trade with the understanding that Chubb would be better than any pass rusher the Dolphins would have been able to get in 2023 free agency or the draft.

MORE: Miami Dolphins Depth Chart

Turns out, he was right.

As we show here, there were no good options at that particular position beginning with the 29th pick.

2023 NFL Draft

  • No. 29: DT Bryan Bresee (1.5 sacks, 3 TFLs, 5 PDs)
  • No. 30: LB Nolan Smith (1 sack, 1 TFL, 2 QB hits)
  • No. 31: DE Felix Anudike-Uzomah (.5 sacks, 5 QB hits, 1 FF)
  • No. 32: CB Joey Porter Jr. (1 INT, 4 PDs, 70.6 passer rating against)
  • No. 33: QB Will Levis (60.3%, 4 TDs, 1 INT, 7.4 Y/A, 96.4 rating)
  • No. 34: TE Sam LaPorta (43 catches, 434 yards, 4 TDs)
  • No. 35: TE Michael Mayer (13 catches, 159 yards, 0 TDs)
  • No. 36: G Steve Avila (9 starts, 2 sacks allowed, 2 penalties)
  • No. 37: OLB Derick Hall (0 sacks, 4 QB hits, 1 TFL)
  • No. 38: G Matthew Bergeron (9 starts for Falcons, 2 sacks allowed, 3 penalties)

As for free agency, that would have been wasted money. Here are the six highest-paid pass rushers of the 2023 class:

  • Dre’Mont Jones ($17.2M AAV): 2 sacks, 4 TFLs
  • Zach Allen ($15.9M): 3 sacks, 6 TFLs
  • Marcus Davenport ($13M): 2 sacks, 2 TFLs
  • Yannick Ngakoue ($10.5M): 2 sacks, 4 TFLs
  • Larry Ogunjobi ($9.6M): 2 sacks, 2 TFLs
  • Samson Ebukam ($8M): 4 sacks, 6 TFLs

MORE: NFL Defense Rankings 2023

In short, the Dolphins spent big resources to address one of their biggest needs, and Chubb has rewarded that commitment with a Pro Bowl-caliber season. He was the best of all options available to the Dolphins, who have zero regrets at this point about making the move.

“I think Bradley Chubb represents everything that I believe in,” Dolphins coach Mike McDaniel said this week. “… Since the second he’s been here, he’s felt the responsibility to the organization to make right of our investment into him. I think as he’s found his niche and his role within the defense, he’s been able to exorcise some of the pressure demons that he self-imposes because it’s really important to him that he does right by the organization.

“… And I think you have a chance as an organization when the people that you select to pay a good portion of your salary cap to, that they take that for what it is and it’s a responsibility heavy is the crown. And he’s in a really cool spot now because he’s allowing the game to come to him and understanding that all this team needs from him is his 100 percent commitment each and every day, which he exercises on the daily.”

From the current NFL standings to team depth charts to coverage of every game in the 18-week NFL schedule, we have all the news from around the league to keep you up to speed!

NFL Against the Spread Standings: Can the Detroit Lions and Jacksonville Jaguars Keep Covering?

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When it comes to NFL betting, covering the spread is one of the most important team-specific statistics to know. With half the season now in the books, let’s look at which teams are the best and worst at covering with our against-the-spread (ATS) NFL standings entering Week 10 of the 2023 season.

Against the Spread NFL Standings Entering Week 10

T1) Jacksonville Jaguars | 6-2
T1) Detroit Lions | 6-2
3) Philadelphia Eagles | 5-2-2
T4) Miami Dolphins | 6-3
T4) Kansas City Chiefs | 6-3
T4) Baltimore Ravens | 6-3
7) Minnesota Vikings | 5-3-1
T8) Pittsburgh Steelers | 5-3
T8) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5-3
T8) Dallas Cowboys | 5-3

T11) New York Jets | 4-3-1
T11) Cincinnati Bengals | 4-3-1
T11) Seattle Seahawks | 4-3-1
T11) Cleveland Browns | 4-3-1
15) Indianapolis Colts | 5-4
T16) Washington Commanders | 4-4-1
T16) Los Angeles Rams | 4-4-1
T18) Tennessee Titans | 4-4
T18) Green Bay Packers | 4-4
T18) Houston Texans | 4-4
T18) Los Angeles Chargers | 4-4
T18) San Francisco 49ers | 4-4

T23) Arizona Cardinals | 4-5
T23) Las Vegas Raiders | 4-5
25) Chicago Bears | 3-5-2
26) Buffalo Bills | 3-6
27) Denver Broncos | 2-5-1
T28) New York Giants | 2-6-1
T28) New Orleans Saints | 2-6-1
T30) New England Patriots | 2-7
T30) Atlanta Falcons | 2-7
T32) Carolina Panthers | 1-6-2

Which Teams Are the Best and Worst at Covering the Spread in 2023?

When it comes to covering the spread, two teams stand atop the pile with a 6-2 record. The Lions and Jaguars have each covered in 75% of their games and have been the two best teams to back in 2023. Meanwhile, the Panthers sit at the other end of the spectrum with a 1-6-2 record.

MORE: Which NFL Team Will Finish With the Worst Regular-Season Record? 

Detroit covered in their last game against the Las Vegas Raiders after failing to cover on the road in Baltimore back in Week 7. As favorites, the Lions are 5-1 against the spread, while they’re 3-1 both at home and on the road.

Meanwhile, Jacksonville has covered in each of their last five games after starting the year 1-2 against the spread. The Jaguars are underdogs this week at home to the San Francisco 49ers, but as dogs, they’re 2-1 against the spread — having won outright both of the last two times.

The Lions and Jaguars both face teams that are 4-4 against the spread — the Chargers and 49ers, respectively. Los Angeles has a 1-2-1 record against the spread at home and 1-2 ATS when underdogs. Meanwhile, San Francisco has not covered for three weeks after starting the year 4-1. They have been favored in every game this year, and despite three straight losses, they’re favored again this week.

As for Carolina, they have only covered once this season, which happened in Week 7 against Houston. The Panthers have not been favored once this year and have lost six of their nine games by more than a touchdown. And after their Thursday Night Football loss, Carolina is 0-4-1 ATS in road games.

Our Betting Lines page has the freshest lines and promos to get BANG for your buck. PFN’s FREE Parlay Calculator and Betting Odds Calculator are also available for your betting process! New to sports betting? Check out our guide on How to Bet on the NFL. Visit our Sports Betting Legal Tracker on how to bet legally in the U.S.

Should You Start Calvin Ridley or Tank Dell in Fantasy Football Week 10?

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Congratulations! If you’re reading this, then that means your fantasy football team is still in the hunt for the playoffs. Week 10 shapes up to be a challenge as elite offenses such as the Philadelphia Eagles and Miami Dolphins are on bye for the week.

With so many elite offenses on the couch, this Sunday’s slate will be without star receivers such as A.J. Brown, Tyreek Hill, and Puka Nacua. With that in mind, who should you start between Calvin Ridley and Tank Dell to fill in for a star?

Calvin Ridley Fantasy Outlook This Week

It’s been a frustrating season for Ridley, who was being drafted early in fantasy drafts during the summer. In eight games this season, though, Ridley has finished as a top-24 fantasy receiver only twice. His highest-scoring game of the season, in fact, was way back in Week 1 against the Colts.

MORE: Should You Start Diontae Johnson or Deebo Samuel in Week 10?

Ridley gets plenty of run as the Jacksonville Jaguars outside receiver, as he’s boasted a snap share of 80% or higher in every game this year. He’s also had only two games this season with five targets or less, so he figures to be a key contributor in the passing game.

The Jaguars are fresh off a bye week, so they’re well-rested. And against the San Francisco 49ers — who are also coming off of a bye — they’ll need all the strength they can muster. San Francisco’s pass defense ranks 19th in the NFL, taking a step back from last year’s No. 1 finish.

Tank Dell Fantasy Outlook This Week

Dell and the Houston Texans are flying high after last week’s offensive explosion, where C.J. Stroud had 470 passing yards. Dell finished with six receptions, 114 yards, and two touchdowns, including a thrilling game-winning touchdown catch with less than 10 seconds left on the clock.

Dell was a late-round dart throw at the end of fantasy drafts, and he’s provided a few massive games in return. But although he’s had three weeks where he finished as a top-20 receiver, he also has three finishes with a fantasy ranking of WR60 or worse.

In Week 10, the Texans are set up to be in another shootout — this time with the Cincinnati Bengals and Joe Burrow. Both Nico Collins and Robert Woods have injuries this week, leaving the opportunity for plenty of targets to go Dell’s way.

Should You Start Ridley or Dell in Fantasy Football Week 10?

In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, PFN’s Consensus Rankings say that Dell is the player to start. His projected 12.5 points include a projection of 59 receiving yards with five receptions. That slightly outranks Ridley and his projected 12 fantasy points.

My rankings for the two receivers align with the consensus primarily because I expect both of these receivers to finish similarly — with Dell slightly outscoring Ridley. Choosing between these two comes down to what your team needs most.

MORE: Katz’s Week 10 Wide Receiver Start/Sit

If you need a receiver with a safe fantasy floor, then Ridley is your guy. On the contrary, if you’re projected to be the underdog in your fantasy matchup, then the upside that Dell brings can win you your week!

Remember to keep an eye on the injury reports from Houston because Dell could be in for an increased role without two other starting receivers.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Katz’s Fantasy Week 10 QB Start/Sit: How Should You Handle Geno Smith and Deshaun Watson?

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Making lineup decisions can be the most frustrating or most rewarding part of fantasy football. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.

Fantasy decisions are more important than ever with playoff spots and positioning on the line, so let’s look at our Week 10 start/sit plays for the QB position.

Which QBs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks (vs. WAS)

I believe the phrase being used is, “Geno Smith is turning back into a pumpkin,” which is apropos coming off the heels of Halloween.

There’s no denying Smith’s quality of play has declined from last season to this one. He has just one 300-yard passing game and only three multi-touchdown games. He’s peaked with 16.5 fantasy points just once all season. Here’s to hoping this week can be No. 2.

MORE: Week 10 Start/Sit Options — TE | WRRB 

The Washington Commanders have been quite generous to opposing fantasy quarterbacks. They are allowing 20.8 fantasy points per game — the second-most in the league.

Prior to Week 8, the last time the Seahawks got blown out was back in Week 1. Smith played his best game of the season in a bounce-back performance the following week. Let’s see if he can do it again in a favorable matchup against Washington.

Which QBs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

Deshaun Watson, QB, Cleveland Browns (at BAL)

If you started Deshaun Watson last week, you were probably pleased with the results. 18.96 fantasy points is definitely good enough for QB1 numbers this season. But did Watson really impress?

He threw for just 219 yards and only ran three times for 22 yards. Watson just didn’t have to do much with Clayton Tune being an unserious starting quarterback for the Arizona Cardinals.

Watson was out with an injury the last time the Browns played the Baltimore Ravens, but that doesn’t mean I’m any more optimistic about what he can do. The Ravens just completely stymied QB Geno Smith and the Seahawks’ offense. Now, it’s Watson’s turn to travel to Baltimore — where the Ravens play their best football.

This season, the Ravens are allowing 11.4 PPG, the fewest in the league. There is no tougher matchup for an opposing quarterback, and it’s even worse on the road. I want no part of Watson this week.

Trending Searches for QB Start/Sit

Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network? It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter up to six players to find the best option for your starting lineup!

It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve listed below to provide some clarity on.

Should You Start Geno Smith or Kyler Murray?

There’s no way to spin Smith’s performance this year as anything other than a disaster. He’s been incredibly disappointing. But as I mentioned above, I like him this week in a great matchup.

A fully healthy Kyler Murray, though, is a clear QB1 and firmly ahead of Smith in weekly rankings. But is that this week?

This is a situation where I sincerely hope I am wrong. I want to see Murray healthy, and I want to see him running. I want to see him looking like the guy he was before getting hurt. If he is, then he will be a weekly start over Smith.

But in Murray’s first game back, it’s just unrealistic to expect them to fully unleash him. He may prove me wrong, and I hope he does. But much like the Start/Sit Optimizer, which has Murray projected for 17.0 points against Smith’s 15.1 points, I would prefer to take a wait-and-see approach with Murray and stick with Smith this week.

Should You Start Joshua Dobbs or Deshaun Watson?

Is there a player that’s easier to root for than Joshua Dobbs? I can’t think of one. “The Passtronaut” (incredible nickname) now has four games with 23+ fantasy points. Care to guess how many Deshaun Watson has? Here’s a hint. Look in the mirror. It’s the same number as the person looking back at you — zero.

As detailed above, the matchup this week for Watson is horrible. Last week, in the most perfect of matchups, he was only able to throw for 219 yards and two touchdowns. I wouldn’t be surprised if he threw for zero touchdowns against the Ravens.

Dobbs’ matchup isn’t great, either, but he brings a lot more to the table than Watson. For starters, he runs more, which is not something I would’ve expected to use as an argument against Watson. The new Minnesota Vikings signal-caller has at least 40 rushing yards in six starts this season.

Additionally, the Vikings are a pass-first offense. That will come down a bit with Dobbs at QB, but having Dobbs isn’t going to suddenly make RB Alexander Mattison an efficient runner, nor is it going to make the New Orleans Saints a bad run defense.

This is a spot where the Vikings should have to throw. When Dobbs is dropping back to pass, good things happen for fantasy.

Surprisingly, the Start/Sit Optimizer has Watson projected for 14.6 points and Dobbs with 13.7. I would strongly advise fantasy managers to start Dobbs over Watson this week.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Katz’s Fantasy Week 10 WR Start/Sit: How Should You Handle DeAndre Hopkins, Jakobi Meyers, and Marquise Brown?

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There is nothing easy about making lineup decisions in fantasy football. It is a necessary part of the game. Getting these decisions correct is key to your success as a fantasy manager. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.

Fantasy decisions are more important than ever with playoff spots and playoff positioning on the line, so let’s look at our Week 10 start/sit plays for the WR position.

Which WRs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans (at TB)

DeAndre Hopkins completely won me over with his performance over the past two weeks, with Will Levis taking over at quarterback. I thought DHop had lost a step, but he proved me wrong. He’s maybe lost a quarter of a step. Hopkins is no longer a threat to be a WR1, but he’s also nowhere near cooked. There was plenty of vintage Hopkins on display over the past two weeks. Or, as he would say, current.

This week, Hopkins finds himself in a much more advantageous position than last week. The Titans will be coming off an extended rest, and they get a Bucs defense that was just roasted into oblivion by C.J. Stroud.

MORE: Week 10 Start/Sit Options — TE | RB | QB

The Bucs allow the second-most PPG to WRs. A whopping 69.7% of their total receiving yards allowed go to the wide receiver position.

With the Titans lacking any semblance of a secondary option in the passing game behind Hopkins and the Bucs having a pass-funnel defense, we could be looking at another heavy volume game for the former Texan and Cardinal, who is coming off an 11-target performance against the Steelers. Get DHop in lineups.

Demario Douglas, New England Patriots (vs. IND)

I’m sold on the sixth-round rookie out of Liberty. The Patriots should just never draft Day 1 or Day 2 WRs. They only seem to hit on receivers when they’re Day 3 picks (Demario Douglas) or UDFAs (Jakobi Meyers). Guys like N’Keal Harry and Tyquan Thornton didn’t quite work out. But that’s neither here nor there.

The point is Douglas has assumed the role of the Patriots’ WR1. He’s seen 20 targets over his last three games and caught at least four passes in all of them.

This week, the Patriots get a Colts defense that has been better against WRs as of late, but largely due to facing teams with struggling QBs or WRs (or both). They still allow the 17th-most PPG to the position.

Fantasy managers who picked up Douglas off the waiver likely view him as just a bench player. I think he can be started as a WR3.

Which WRs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders (vs. NYJ)

We have a current Patriot as a start, but a former one as a sit. I am very concerned about Jakobi Meyers going forward. Aidan O’Connell may be an upgrade for the Raiders offense, but I don’t think he’s an upgrade for Meyers.

The Raiders WR2 has been a godsend for fantasy managers who spent very little to acquire him. He’s scored at least 13.5 fantasy points in four of his last five games, including three games with over 17 points.

With that said, over his past two games, Meyers has seen target counts of five and one. He salvaged last week’s outing with a rare 17-yard rushing score. Had that carry come up short, fantasy managers might be wondering if Meyers is still startable, and I’m still wondering.

The Jets present the single toughest matchup for wide receivers. They allow the fewest ppg to the position by a 3.8-point margin. Teams don’t even throw to WRs against the Jets because they are so terrified. Gang Green is the only team on defense seeing lower than a 50% target share to wide receivers.

Sauce Gardner is going to try and lockdown Davante Adams, so it’s possible that makes Meyers the better option this week. Either way, I’m not expecting much from a rookie QB facing the toughest pass defense in the NFL. Sit Meyers if you can.

Marquise Brown, WR, Arizona Cardinals (vs. ATL)

Kyler Murray’s return will be a boon for Marquise Brown. I’m just skeptical it will start this week.

One of the reasons I like Conner is that I’m expecting Murray, in his first game back, to be cautious, not run as much, check more, and be a bit tentative, leading to more work for the running backs. That will come at the expense of wide receiver targets.

Furthermore, the Falcons have been pretty good against wide receivers. They allow the 11th-fewest PPG to the position. Just 61.5% of their total receiving yards allowed have gone to WRs.

Where the Falcons have excelled is in defending outside receivers. Their 7.5 PPG allowed out wide is the lowest in the league. That is bad news for Brown, who runs over 80% of his routes from the outside. He is a sit this week if your team can swing it.

Trending Searches for WR Start/Sit

Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!

It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!

Should You Start DeAndre Hopkins or Deebo Samuel?

When I plugged this into the Start/Sit Optimizer, I genuinely wasn’t sure what I expected it to spit out. Fitting with that feeling, it was razor thin, with Hopkins edging out Deebo Samuel 13.1-12.9.

I understand why this is close. Samuel hasn’t played in three weeks and hasn’t been healthy in over six. Hopkins was underwhelming most of the season but has started to pick things up with Will Levis taking over. Both of these guys have serious upsides, but they also both have their concerns.

MORE: 2023 WR Fantasy Football Rankings

The 49ers are coming off their bye. Samuel is fully healthy and ready to rock. But he still is competing with Christian McCaffrey, Brandon Aiyuk, and George Kittle for touches. Hopkins isn’t competing with anyone for his targets.

I do like the spot for Samuel against a Jaguars defense allowing the 11th-most fantasy points to wide receivers. I also expect the 49ers to come out very strong after three straight losses heading into their bye.

With all that said, though, Samuel is just not the engine of this offense. He’s a cog in a machine. He’s also not the primary target earner, as that is Aiyuk.

Much like the Optimizer, I have this very close in my rankings. But I also give the edge to Hopkins.

Should You Start Zay Flowers or Jakobi Meyers?

I had been treating Zay Flowers as an every-week WR3 for quite some time. Unfortunately, the last two weeks have thrown that into question.

Two weeks ago, Flowers caught five passes for 19 yards. Last week, he saw just one target.

This week, the Ravens have to contend with a Browns defense allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. They are limiting their opponents to a paltry 51.6% catch rate, by far the lowest in the league.

At the same time, things aren’t exactly peachy for Meyers against the only defense that has been better against WRs than the Browns.

Given the tough spot both of these talented receivers find themselves in, the tiebreaker needs to be a team situation. Flowers is his team’s WR1, and his quarterback is Lamar Jackson. Meyers is his team’s WR2, and his quarterback is Aidan O’Connell. For those reasons, I side with the Start/Sit Optimizer, which has this in favor of Flowers, 12.0-10.9.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer, Start/Sit Optimizer, and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Katz’s Fantasy Week 10 RB Start/Sit: How Should You Handle James Conner, Zack Moss, and Alexander Mattison?

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One of the key components to fantasy football success is making the correct lineup decisions. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.

Fantasy decisions are more important than ever with playoff spots and playoff positioning on the line, so let’s look at our Week 10 start/sit plays for the RB position.

Which RBs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

James Conner, Arizona Cardinals (vs. ATL)

I’m going out on a bit of a limb here with James Conner. The Cardinals are expected to open his window to practice, but that doesn’t guarantee he returns on Sunday. We saw this play out with Kyler Murray, where the Cardinals designated him to return but used up all 21 days before activating him.

If Conner does return, though, I am willing to start him, even against a very challenging Falcons run defense.

MORE: Week 10 Start/Sit Options — TE | WRQB

This one is about volume. Over the first three weeks of the season, Conner averaged 19.3 touches per game. In his absence, the Cardinals have tried out Emari Demercado, Keaontay Ingram, and Damien Williams, and they even resorted to actually putting Tony Jones Jr. on an NFL field. That’s when you know things have hit rock bottom.

Once Conner is back, I’m expecting him to handle all the work he can. Even if he’s inefficient, he should be able to volume his way to near-RB1 numbers, and he’ll reach RB1 numbers if he scores.

Plus, everything about the Cardinals’ offense is about to improve with Murray’s return. If you’ve been sitting on Conner, have no reservations about starting him in his first game back.

Tyler Allgeier, Atlanta Falcons (at ARI)

I capitulate. You win, Arthur. I am just a lowly fantasy football analyst. The fact that I would give the ball to Bijan Robinson near the goal line is irrelevant.

Tyler Allgeier has 10 carries inside the five this season. Robinson has just two. It’s abundantly clear that if the Falcons get close to scoring, it will be Allgeier who gets the chance to do so.

The Cardinals allow the third-most points per game (PPG) to running backs. This is finally a nice spot for the Falcons to be effective on the ground.

I’m not saying Robinson won’t be involved — he’s still outsnapping Allgeier. But the rookie has only carried the ball 11 times in his past two games. Playing more snaps doesn’t matter if you don’t touch the ball.

Last week, Allgeier out-carried Robinson 12-11. While Robinson is far more efficient with his carries, don’t let performance get in the way of proving a point about not needing to use the player your team spent the eighth overall pick on. Can you tell I’m bitter?

Nevertheless, Allgeier is touching the ball just as much as Robinson and has a monopoly on the high-leverage work, specifically at the goal line. With the Cardinals allowing 1.0 rushing touchdowns per game, I expect Allgeier to score, which will be enough to give him RB2 numbers.

Which RBs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

Alexander Mattison, Minnesota Vikings (vs. NO)

It seems counterintuitive to recommend sitting Alexander Mattison the week after Cam Akers goes down for the season. We are back to Mattison seeing all the work he can handle.

The issue here is the matchup. While the volume will be there for Mattison, he hasn’t been able to do much with it.

The fifth-year RB is averaging 3.56 YPC on the season. He’s turned exactly 16 carries in each of his last two games into 31 and 44 yards, respectively. While I’m willing to start James Conner despite likely inefficiency because I’m expecting the passing game to work. That’s not the case for Mattison, who averages just two targets per game over his last three.

The New Orleans Saints allow just 16.1 PPG to the running back position, the fourth-fewest in the league. They are also quite adept at defending running backs in the receiving game, with just 12.6% of their total receiving yards allowed going to running backs. Even if Mattison does see increased targeting, it’s not likely to go well.

Given all the teams on bye and all the running backs injured, you may not be able to bench Mattison. But expectations should be tempered, for sure.

Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts (at NE)

It might be over for Zack Moss. It was a helluva run for the once-discarded former Buffalo Bill.

Once again, I want to sing Moss’ praises. He went from a legitimately bad football player trending toward being out of the league by age 25 to one of the better running backs. He worked on his craft and improved significantly in a way few players can do during their careers. Kudos to him.

While Moss deserves a chance to start somewhere, that was never going to come at the expense of Jonathan Taylor. The Colts gave their franchise RB a boatload of money, and they want to cash in.

But this isn’t just about money. Taylor is one of the best backs in the league, and it was only a matter of time before talent won out.

Since returning in Week 5, Taylor’s snap share has increased in every game, topping out at 74% last week. I thought there was a chance this remained a 60/40 timeshare, but that doesn’t appear to be the case. Moss is being phased out.

Taylor saw 23 opportunities last week, while Moss saw seven and wasn’t targeted for the first time all season. After a season-low 21% snap share, I just can’t endorse continuing to trot Moss out there.

Trending Searches for RB Start/Sit

Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!

It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, which we’ve jotted down here to help provide some clarity!

Should You Start James Conner or Najee Harris?

At the time in which you’re reading this, we likely won’t have clarity on James Conner’s status. The Cardinals have until Saturday at 4 p.m. ET to activate him from IR, and they don’t have to do it for another two weeks if they don’t want to.

I am tentatively expecting Conner to play. If he does, I do think he’s startable, as explained above. However, I can’t say I’d go so far as to start him over Najee Harris.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

The Steelers RB1 is not nearly as good as his first-round NFL Draft pedigree would suggest he should be. But the pendulum has swung too far in the other direction over the past two years. Harris isn’t this awful running back who shouldn’t be in the NFL. He’s fine.

In fact, over the past three weeks, Harris has been quite good. He’s hit double-digits in all three and topped 15 fantasy points in two. That works here.

This week, Harris gets a Packers run defense that allows the ninth-most fantasy points to the position. Their 96 rushing yards allowed per game is the eighth-most in the league.

While Conner is a worthwhile start, even in his first game back, I would start Harris regardless.

Should You Start Zach Charbonnet or Tyler Allgeier?

The Start/Sit Optimizer has Tyler Allgeier projected for 8.0 fantasy points and Zach Charbonnet at 7.7 fantasy points. That is pretty close. I don’t think this will be close…in either direction.

Given the favorable matchup for Allgeier, combined with the goal-line role, I like him to score this week. A touchdown would almost certainly make him the correct choice over Charbonnet.

However, there is one scenario in which Charbonnet would be worth starting. That is if Kenneth Walker III is out.

Walker did not practice on Wednesday because of a chest issue. It’s not the first time he’s missed a practice this season, and Walker has yet to miss a game. I think it was precautionary, and I expect Walker to play, but if he doesn’t, Charbonnet would step into a lead back role against a mediocre Commanders run defense allowing the 16th-most fantasy points to running backs.

For now, assume Walker plays and that you’re starting Allgeier. But if Walker is surprisingly out, Charbonnet becomes a top-18 play this week.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!

Katz’s Fantasy Week 10 TE Start/Sit: How Should You Handle Dalton Schultz and Luke Musgrave?

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Making fantasy football lineup decisions can be incredibly frustrating or incredibly rewarding; it all depends on how often you get it correct. Here to help you make those decisions are our positional start ’em and sit ’em picks.

Fantasy decisions are more important than ever with playoff spots and playoff positioning on the line, so let’s look at our Week 10 start/sit plays for the TE position.

Which TEs Should You Start in Fantasy This Week?

Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans (at CIN)

I know what you’re thinking. I’m just point-chasing from last week’s career effort from Dalton Schultz. I promise that’s not the case.

It’s certainly encouraging to see Stroud playing so well and targeting his tight end. Schultz caught 10 of 11 targets for 130 yards and a touchdown last week. He has reestablished himself as an every-week TE1.

MORE: Week 10 Start/Sit Options — WRRB | QB

The reason I’m so bullish on Schultz this week is the matchup. The Bengals have been quite a favorable opponent for tight ends this season. They’re allowing 15.7 ppg to the position, the third-most in the league. Only the Los Angeles Rams and Denver Broncos have seen a higher percentage of their total receiving yards allowed go to tight ends than the Bengals’ 26.2%.

With the Bengals’ offense humming, the Texans should be trailing and throwing once again. Plus, the Texans have no semblance of a running back. We could be looking at another strong week from Schultz.

Which TEs Should You Sit in Fantasy This Week?

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (at PIT)

I still like Luke Musgrave long-term. He has the makings of an everyday TE1 of the future. It probably won’t be this year with Jordan Love at QB, but the talent is there. Right now, Musgrave is a spot starter … and this is not the spot.

Musgrave posted TE1 numbers last week purely because he found the end zone. Otherwise, he’s now seen target counts of five, three, and four over his last three games. That’s simply not enough.

This week, the Packers get a Pittsburgh Steelers defense that has been suffocating tight ends all season. They allow just 8.5 ppg to the position, the fourth-lowest in the league. Just 14.6% of their total receiving yards allowed have gone to the tight end position.

Love is barely capable of moving the ball through the air to his wide receivers in good situations. In one of the toughest matchups for tight ends, I’m expecting Musgrave to be minimally involved once again. Better days are ahead for the ascending rookie, but this week will not be one of them.

Trending Searches for TE Start/Sit

Did you know that we have a Start/Sit Optimizer here at Pro Football Network?! It’s completely free to use, and it allows you to enter in up to six players to find the best option to plug into your starting lineup!

It also allows us to see the most popular trending searches, and we’ve jotted some of them down here to help provide some clarity!

Should You Start Dalton Schultz or Taysom Hill?

Things are going to take a turn for Dalton Schultz soon…but not yet. I love him in this spot this week. If you have both of these guys, congratulations on your embarrassment of riches, at least for one week.

While Schultz is a great start, Taysom Hill is the start. He’s not a matchup guy — he’s an every-week guy.

MORE: Fantasy News Tracker

The Saints have decided to go all in on Hill around the goal line. That gives him a predictable weekly touchdown upside. He’s scored in three straight games.

As if that isn’t enough, Hill is getting consistent usage on the ground, with 20 carries over his last two games. The Saints are also letting him throw the ball around the goal line.

Hill does it all. He’s been the best TE in fantasy over the past month.

The Start/Sit Optimizer has Schultz projected for 8.9 fantasy points against 8.1 for Hill. That is quite surprising to me. In my rankings, I have Hill a good three spots ahead of Schultz. Given Hill’s usage and role, you have to start him.

Should You Start Luke Musgrave or David Njoku?

Last week, I would’ve answered Luke Musgrave to this, and I would’ve been wrong but also right. Both of these guys scored, which is all we can ask for from a tight end.

This week, however, I am out on Musgrave. As mentioned above, the matchup is as tough as it gets against the Steelers.

While things aren’t great for David Njoku, either, the Ravens are at least a little bit worse against the tight end than the Steelers.

If these are your two options, it might be a rough week for you at tight end. Both are worthwhile players to roster and will have their weeks, but this is shaping up to be a down week for both.

Neither is likely to score a touchdown, and both defenses are excellent at defending the tight end. But given that the Steelers are a little bit better, and Musgrave’s quarterback is quite a bit worse, I agree with the Start/Sit Optimizer, which has Njoku at 8.5 points and Musgrave at 7.3 points and would start Njoku in this scenario.

Looking to make a trade in your fantasy league? Having trouble deciding who to start and who to sit? Setting DFS lineups? Check out PFN’s Free Fantasy Football Trade Analyzer and DFS Lineup Optimizer to help you make the right decision!