Lots has happened this week including Dez Bryant finally finding a new home in New Orleans, and new stars making their first appearances with their news teams. We will discuss who to start, bench, and who to scoop up off the waiver wire ahead of week 10. Point totals are done in the basic ESPN PPR point format.

Must Start:

Vance McDonald- Tight End- Pittsburgh Steelers- The Steelers take on the Panthers this week, and the Panthers have allowed the most fantasy PPG to opposing TE. McDonald and Jesse James have kind of cancelled out each other in the Steeler offense, but McDonald should see the biggest amount of points and targets this week, and is a very appealing play. He has a very high risk/reward, and could be a good play if your lacking a solid TE.

Ito Smith- Running Back- Atlanta Falcons- Obviously Tevin Coleman is the number one back in the RB committee that has developed in Atlanta, but Smith is the better rusher of the two. The Falcons take on the Browns who have allowed the most rushing TDs all season, and third most total fantasy PPG to opposing RB as well. The Falcons should be up in this game, so should do a lot more handing off of the ball to Smith. Smith has four rushing TDs in his last five games (Coleman only has one rush TD in last five games), and should get goal-line carries as well. Smith has huge potential upside this week.

Alex Smith- Quarterback- Washington Redskins- The Redskins head to Tampa Bay tp take on the Bucs and their tragic secondary. The Buccaneers have allowed the most fantasy PPG to opposing QB, and the most passing TDs in the NFL (three more then then the next closest). The Bucs secondary is historically bad, and Smith and the Skins should be able to capitalize on this come Sunday. Smith has huge upside this week, and he will look to have his first break out game in Washington.

Do not Start:

T.Y. Hilton- Wide Receiver- Indianapolis Colts- Hilton is so boom or bust that I really do not like him this week against Jacksonville. The Jaguar defense has not been has outstanding as it was last year, but it is still the top ranked defense against opposing WRs. The Jaguars are tied for a league low in passing TDs allowed to WR all season with five, and also allows the lowest total fantasy PPG to opposing wide-outs. The Colts do pass a lot, so that should help bring up point totals for Hilton. People like Jack Doyle or maybe even Chester Rogers could be used more with Hilton getting focused on by the Jaguar defense.

Sony Michel- Running Back- New England Patriots- Michel has missed the passed two weeks with injuries, and finally looks like he may be eligible to play this week against the Titans. Unfortunately the Titans are top three in fewest total fantasy PPG allowed to opposing RBs, and have only allowed two total (yes total) TDs to opposing RBs all season. They were able to hold Ezekiel Elliot to 3.5 YPC and to only 61 yards as they beat the Cowboys on Monday. Michel will have a very tough match-up in his first game back from injury.

Kerryon Johnson- Running Back- Detroit Lions- The Lions finally seemed to have found their feature back in Johnson, but things do not line-up well for him this week. The Lions take on the Bears on the road in Chicago this Sunday, and it does not look promising for this young RB. The Bears are yet to allow a single rushing TD all season long are ranked in the top six in fewest fantasy PPG to opposing RBs. Johnson should have a rough time against the Khalil Mack led Bear rush defense, and most likely will not find the endzone on the ground.

Waiver Wire Pickups

Mike Davis- Running Back- Seattle Seahawks- Davis and Chris Carson have recently started to split carries in the back field for Seattle, but Carson has recently seen injuries take his carry number lower and lower. Davis will step into the feature back role for Seattle whenever Carson is injured (which is often), and this will lead to high RB2 numbers. He is only owned in 34.7% of ESPN leagues, and could end up being a RB1 for the Seahawks in the near future.

Ito Smith- Running Back- Atlanta Falcons- Smith has been great since Freeman went down with a season ending injury. Smith has four rushing TDs in his last five games, and is also the goal line back for the Falcons. He is only owned in 41.6% of ESPN leagues, and I personally believe this guy is an amazing pickup if you are struggling at the FLEX position.

Marquez Valdes-Scantling- Wide Receiver- Green Bay Packers- Geronimo Allison is most likely out for the season with a groin injury, so that should open up the door for “MVS”. MVS has double digit points in all four of his last four games, and has massive huge play potential. If you add in the fact his targets will go up more now you have a very solid WR2. MVS is only owned in 50% of ESPN leagues, and is a great pickup for FLEX or WR2.