SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult our Week 10 rankings. You can also listen to the Week 10 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
Despite all the injuries that Philly has been dealt, Wentz is still averaging the 12th-most fantasy points among quarterbacks. He posted over 30 fantasy points in two of his last three outings, including one against the Giants, who he’ll face again this week.
It’s still possible that David Johnson clears concussion protocol and suits up for Sunday’s game, but it’s seeming increasingly unlikely with each missed practice. That leaves Duke to handle the bulk of the Texans’ running back touches against his former team, the Browns.
After a strong start to the year, Cleveland’s run defense has sprung a leak, allowing at least 96 yards from scrimmage and/or a touchdown to seven different backs in the past five contests.
As we mentioned in Monday’s waiver wire column, Duke delivered 73 total yards and a score in relief duty last week and should see a similar workload as an RB2 in fantasy for this game.
With Odell Beckham Jr. out for the year, the Browns need Landry to re-emerge as their top receiver the rest of the way. That’s been difficult up to this point, as the 27-year-old has been playing through hip and rib injuries of his own. But after resting up during the Browns’ bye, we should get the healthiest version of Landry we’ve seen all year in a matchup he can capitalize on.
Houston has surrendered the seventh-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts, and its secondary has been annihilated by No. 1 receivers in the last two weeks.
Landry is a top-20 fantasy receiver this week and might sneak into that range on a regular basis if he’s back to 100 percent.
Boone’s projection: 89 receiving yards, TD
Other WRs to start
Tyler Boyd at Steelers
Jerry Jeudy at Raiders
John Brown at Cardinals
Eric Ebron, Steelers
vs. Bengals
Ronald Martinez / Getty Images Sport / Getty
The Bengals are giving up the second-most fantasy points to tight ends – which helps Ebron‘s Week 10 projection – but it might not even matter at this point.
Ebron is becoming a matchup-proof fantasy starter in Pittsburgh.
The 27-year-old has at least 43 yards and/or a touchdown in every game since Week 2 and has been a top-12 fantasy tight end during that stretch. He’s also seen his playing time increase to over 80% of the team’s snaps in each of the last three contests.
Ebron deserves to be treated as a TE1 moving forward.
Boone’s projection: 57 receiving yards, TD
Other TEs to start
Austin Hooper vs. Texans
Mike Gesicki vs. Chargers
Robert Tonyan vs. Jaguars
Sit
Cam Newton, Patriots
vs. Ravens
Timothy T Ludwig / Getty Images Sport / Getty
As fun as it was to watch Newton carve up the Jets’ defense Monday, it’s important to remember … it’s the Jets’ defense.
That was just the second time that Newton topped 200 passing yards in seven outings with the Patriots. And he’s only thrown two touchdown passes, both of which came in the opening three weeks of the season.
Though his rushing production has kept him afloat in fantasy, it’s hard to trust him in a tough matchup with the Ravens’ defense, which has held the last four opposing quarterbacks to 227 passing yards or fewer.
Find yourself a better streaming option this week.
It’s a repeat appearance for Singletary on the “Sit” list, and sadly, he’s inching closer to the “Quit” section.
Since Zack Moss returned to the lineup in Week 6, Singletary’s playing time has decreased every game as the rookie takes on a bigger workload.
After getting a season-low two carries in Week 9, there’s no reason to let Singletary anywhere near your starting lineup. He’ll need another injury to Moss in order to be fantasy relevant again in 2020.
Jones has been held to 43 yards or fewer in each of the past two games but managed to salvage his fantasy lines with three touchdowns during that span.
Unfortunately for him, Washington’s defense is allowing the fewest fantasy points to receivers and has conceded just three touchdowns to the position this year.
Due to the challenging matchup, Jones is a risky WR4 and better left on fantasy benches this week.
Boone’s projection: 44 receiving yards
Other WRs to sit
Marquise Brown at Patriots
Darius Slayton vs. Eagles
A.J. Green at Steelers
Tyler Higbee, Rams
vs. Seahawks
MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images / MediaNews Group / Getty
For as thin as the tight end position has been in fantasy this year, you shouldn’t be desperate enough to consider using Higbee – even in a game that projects to be a shootout.
Higbee has been a nonfactor in the Rams’ passing attack aside from his three-touchdown outing in Week 2, managing over 50 yards in just one other game this season.
The Seahawks are also the sixth-hardest matchup for fantasy tight ends, further complicating his outlook.
To the 53% of fantasy managers still rostering Higbee entering Week 10, all we can do is ask … why?
Boone’s projection: 32 receiving yards
Other TEs to sit
Jimmy Graham vs. Vikings
Logan Thomas at Lions
Irv Smith Jr. at Bears
Stash
Troymaine Pope, Chargers
Matthew Stockman / Getty Images Sport / Getty
With Austin Ekeler and Justin Jackson sidelined, the Chargers’ backfield has become a real-life randomizer; the lead back has changed every single Sunday.
Kalen Ballage was the latest beneficiary, but he only got his opportunity because Pope (6% rostered) was out with a concussion. Pope has since cleared protocol and should return as the temporary starter until Jackson or Ekeler are healthy.
Prior to the concussion, Pope totaled 95 yards from scrimmage on 15 touches against the Broncos in Week 8.
Devontae Booker, Raiders
Jamie Sabau / Getty Images Sport / Getty
As bye weeks pass and your bench spots free up, you’d be wise to fill them with high-upside backup running backs since their value gets the biggest boost when late-season injuries occur.
Josh Jacobs is healthy at the moment, but if he were to go down, Booker (2% rostered) would step into the starting role.
Booker has racked up over 60 rushing yards in two of his last four outings, including 68 yards and a score in Week 9.
Quit
Devonta Freeman, Giants
Jim McIsaac / Getty Images Sport / Getty
Freeman (52% rostered) has missed the last two games with an ankle injury that he reportedly aggravated in Thursday’s practice, putting his Week 10 availability in doubt.
Even when he returns to the field, Freeman will be hard to trust behind a struggling Giants offensive line that has limited him to just 3.2 yards per carry this season.
Take a chance on someone with more upside.
Matthew Stafford, Lions
Icon Sportswire / Icon Sportswire / Getty
While there are individual pieces of the Lions’ offense you’ll want to start, Stafford (63% rostered) isn’t one of them.
We’ve seen enough of a sample size to know the veteran passer simply doesn’t have the same ceiling when Kenny Golladay is out of the lineup.
In five of his next seven games, Stafford will face defenses that rank inside the top-10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
Inter Milan winger Tajon Buchanan, recovered from a broken leg suffered in training at this summer’s Copa America, is back in Jesse Marsch’s Canada squad for the CONCACAF Nations League quarterfinal against Suriname.
The 25-year-old from Brampton, Ont., underwent surgery July 3 to repair a fractured tibia in Texas.
Canada, ranked 35th in the world, plays No. 136 Suriname on Nov. 15 in Paramaribo. The second leg of the aggregate series is four days later at Toronto’s BMO Field.
There is also a return for veteran winger Junior Hoilett, who last played for Canada in June in a 4-0 loss to the Netherlands in Marsch’s debut at the Canadian helm. The 34-year-old from Brampton, now with Scotland’s Hibernian, has 15 goals in 63 senior appearances for Canada.
Midfielder Ismael Kone, recovered from an ankle injury sustained on club duty with France’s Marseille, also returns. He missed Canada’s last three matches since the fourth-place Copa America loss to Uruguay in July.
But Canada will be without centre back Derek Cornelius, who exited Marseille’s win Sunday over Nantes on a stretcher after suffering an apparent rib injury.
The Canadian men will prepare for Suriname next week at a camp in Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
“We are looking forward to getting the group together again with the mindset that there is a trophy on the line,” Marsch said in a statement. “We want to end 2024 the right way with two excellent performances against a competitive Suriname squad and continue building on our tremendous growth this past summer.”
The quarterfinal winners advance to the Nations League Finals at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif., with the two semifinals scheduled for March 20 and the final and third-place playoff March 23, and qualify for the 2025 CONCACAF Gold Cup.
Thirteen of the 23 players on the Canadian roster are 25 or younger, with 19-year-old defender Jamie Knight-Lebel, currently playing for England’s Crewe Alexandra on loan from Bristol City, the youngest.
Bayern Munich star Alphonso Davies captains the side with Stephen Eustaquio, Jonathan Osorio, Richie Laryea, Alistair Johnston and Kamal Miller adding veteran support.
Jonathan David, Cyle Larin and Theo Bair are joined in attack by Minnesota United’s Tani Oluwaseyi.
Niko Sigur, a 21-year-old midfielder with Croatia’s Hadjuk Split, continues in the squad after making his debut in the September friendly against Mexico.
Suriname made it to the Nations League quarterfinals by finishing second to Costa Rica in Group A of the Nations League, ahead of No. 104 Guatemala, No. 161 Guyana and unranked Martinique and Guadeloupe.
“A good team,” Osorio said of Suriname. “These games are always tricky and they’re not easy at all … Suriname is a (former) Dutch colony and they’ll have Dutch players playing at high levels.”
“They won’t be someone we overlook at all,” added the Toronto FC captain, who has 81 Canada caps to his credit.
Located on the northeast coast of South America between Guyana and French Guiana, Suriname was granted independence in 1975 by the Netherlands.
Canada has faced Suriname twice before, both in World Cup qualifying play, winning 4-0 in suburban Chicago in June 2021 and 2-1 in Mexico City in October 1977.
The Canadian men, along with Mexico, the United States and Panama, received a bye into the final eight of the CONCACAF Nations League.
Canada, No. 2 in the CONCACAF rankings, drew Suriname as the best-placed runner-up from League A play.
Canada lost to Jamaica in last year’s Nations League quarterfinal, ousted on the away-goals rule after the series ended in a 4-4 draw. The Canadians lost 2-0 to the U.S. in the final of the 2022-23 tournament and finished fifth in 2019-20.
Canada defeated Panama 2-1 last time out, in an Oct. 15 friendly in Toronto.
Goalkeepers Maxime Crepeau and Jonathan Sirois, defenders Joel Waterman, Laryea and Miller and Osorio took part in a pre-camp this week in Toronto for North America-based players.
Canada Roster
Goalkeepers: Maxime Crepeau, Portland Timbers (MLS); Jonathan Sirois, CF Montreal (MLS); Dayne St. Clair, Minnesota United FC (MLS).
Defenders: Moise Bombito, OGC Nice (France); Alphonso Davies, Bayern Munich (Germany); Richie Laryea, Toronto FC (MLS); Alistair Johnston, Celtic (Scotland); Jamie Knight-Lebel. Crewe Alexandra, on loan from Bristol City (England); Kamal Miller, Portland Timbers (MLS); Joel Waterman, CF Montreal (MLS).
Midfielders: Ali Ahmed. Vancouver Whitecaps (MLS); Tajon Buchanan, Inter Milan (Italy); Mathieu Choiniere, Grasshopper Zurich (Switzerland); Stephen Eustaquio, FC Porto (Portugal); Junior Hoilett, Hibernian FC (Scotland); Ismael Kone, Olympique Marseille (France); Jonathan Osorio, Toronto FC (MLS); Jacob Shaffelburg, Nashville SC (MLS); Niko Sigur, Hadjuk Split (Croatia).
Forwards: Theo Bair, AJ Auxerre (France); Jonathan David, LOSC Lille (France); Cyle Larin, RCD Mallorca (Spain); Tani Oluwaseyi, Minnesota United (MLS).
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
