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NFL Fantasy Football: Who to start and sit in Week 10

Who you should start and sit as the fantasy playoffs draw ever closer.

NFL: Miami Dolphins at Atlanta Falcons Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

There are only a few games before playoffs start, and some of you may already be in do-or-die situations. No matter the case here are the players you should be starting and sitting this week in fantasy football.

NFL bye weeks: The Ravens, Chiefs, Raiders and Eagles

Must Starts

Le’Veon Bell (Steelers RB): Bell should be in your lineup anyway, but he has the best matchup of the week going up against the Colts after his bye week. You should expect quite the explosion of points for him against the Colts defense that allows over 20 points per game, according to Fantasy Pros.

Julio Jones (Falcons WR): Jones has been disappointing for owners this season. He probably went in either the first or second round of the draft, but he only has one touchdown this season. He also dropped a easy touchdown last week against the Panthers. The Cowboys defense though has been kind to opposing receivers, so you should expect one of those huge Jones games.

Favorable matchups

Lamar Miller (Texans RB): Without Deshaun Watson the Texans will lean heavily on their running game. Fortunately for the Texans, the Rams allow the second most points to running backs in the NFL. The only thing holding Miller back is if the Texans can stay in the game.

Doug Baldwin (Seahawks WR): Baldwin has been Russell Wilson’s favorite target, but he has been inconsistent so far this season.The Cardinals’ defense has been soft against opposing pass catchers, and Baldwin is coming off one of his best games where he recorded over 100 yards and a touchdown.

Eli Manning (Giants QB): I know what you’re thinking, but if you need a waiver wire quarterback you can’t do much better than Manning this week. The 49ers let opposing quarterbacks do whatever they please against them, so it is fair to say Manning can be productive for you. For this week at least.

Darren Fells (Lions TE): The Browns don’t cover tight ends well, and Fells is emerging as the top tight end for the Lions. Last week he caught a touchdown in the Lions win over the Packers, and it is fair to say he could do the same thing this week against the Browns.

Good but not great

C.J. Anderson (Broncos RB): Anderson should get all the carries he can handle with Brock Osweiler at the helm of the offense. Luckily for Anderson, the Patriots defense has been down right awful. The only thing holding Anderson back is if Osweiler can manage to not throw the ball to the other team.

Demaryius Thomas (Broncos WR): The one bright spot from Osweiler returing for the Broncos is he targets Thomas early and often. Thomas had 12 targets last week, and he scored his first touchdown. Against a much softer Patriots defense he should be able to replicate a similar result.

Unfavorable matchups

Todd Gurley (Rams RB): Gurley has been having quite the season, but the Texans have shutdown plenty of running backs this season. It is hard to sit Gurley, but I wouldn’t expect him to have a huge game this week against the defense that allows the second fewest fantasy points to running backs.

Chris Hogan (Patriots WR): Hogan is dealing with a shoulder injury, so you should already be looking for a secondary option. The Broncos’ defense got destroyed against the Eagles offense last week, but their defense is better than that. Odds are one of the Patriots receivers will have an okay day, but most of the Patriots production will probably come via Rob Gronkowski as the Broncos give up the second most points to tight ends in the NFL.

Just sit them

Kenyan Drake (Dolphins RB): He had a decent outing against the Raiders soft defense, but most of his production came on a 42 yard carry. Also Damien William only received two less carries, although Drake was clearly more effective. This isn’t Jay Ajayi, and he isn’t a must start against the Panthers stout run defense.

T.Y. Hilton (Colts WR): I feel like I pick on T.Y. Hilton a lot, but a boom or bust player going up against one of the pass defenses in the NFL shouldn’t have a place in your lineup if you have another halfway decent option.