A perfect storm? More like a perfect mess. “I need Jay Cutler to get no points, negative points if possible. Then I need Andre Williams to get two touchdowns. Maybe my kicker will get 8 field goals, and then I’ll win!” These are the things one hears when hanging out with fantasy football team owners. Do all these things happen for us? Not usually. Sometimes your opponent has a defense that goes OFF for 20 plus points, and you lose.By one point. But these are the risks we take and the heartaches we endure when playing the wonderful, terrible game of fantasy football.
Busts
Philip Rivers, San Diego Chargers (QB)
Rivers ended the 37-0 loss against the Dolphins with negative fantasy points. Rivers suffered a hand injury Sunday that forced him from the game, though there is speculation that he was pulled due to the score of the game. He completed 12-of-23 passes for 138 yards with three interceptions, a lost fumble, and three yards rushing. Hopefully P Riv owners have a better option for Week 10.
Andre Johnson, Houston Texans (WR)
While Andre Johnson hasn’t had a STELLAR performance this year…. Week 9 was even worse. Johnson had two catches on seven targets for 12 yards Sunday against the Eagles, falling behind Deandre Hopkins who had 11 catches. Johnson has not yet had a 100-yard game this season, leaving fantasy owners looking for greener pastures.
Surprises
Jeremy Hill, Cincinnati Bengals, (RB)
Jeremy Hill had to step in for the injured Giovani Bernard. Hill ended the game 154 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Since Bernard will sit out again this week, Hill may see a similar workload.
Mike Evans, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, (WR)
Evans had seven catches on 11 targets for a career-high 124 yards on Sunday. He also recorded two touchdowns, and over 20 fantasy points. Evans may have another great game in Week 10, as the Bucs play the Falcons, who have allowed the third-most passing yards per game this season.
Predictions
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers, (QB)
Roethlisberger completed 25-of-37 passes for 340 yards and six touchdown in Sunday’s 43-23 win over the Ravens. Big Ben has recorded three solid fantasy performances three weeks in a row, and may continue to do so in Week 10, as the Steelers go up against the faltering New York Jets. Roethlisberger set an NFL record for most passing scores in two weeks, and we think he will continue the trend.
Julio Jones, Atlanta Falcons, (WR)
While Julio Jones has had a pretty soft season thus far, there is one bright and shining week for fantasy points: Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 10 Jones and the Falcons head to Tampa Bay to play this division rival again, and hopefully with similar results. Tampa allows the MOST fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, and Jones may have another fantastic performance.
