Fantasy football Week 10 sit, start: Managing injuries

Fantasy football managers sweating significant injury concerns ahead of Week 10 in the NFL schedule might be pressing their hands together all the way up until kickoff Sunday.

Some of those prayers won’t be answered.

Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen's availability is in question for Sunday's game versus the Minnesota Vikings as he deals with an injury to the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow.

In addition to Allen, fantasy football's top-ranked quarterback, Arizona Cardinals mobile QB Kyler Murray (NFL's sixth-ranked fantasy football QB) is nursing a hamstring injury.

And we haven't even mentioned bye weeks to Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow (third-ranked fantasy QB) and Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson (fourth-ranked fantasy QB).

FrontPageBets takes a peek at potential options at quarterback and other positions in Week 10:

Seattle Seahawks QB Geno Smith vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Two months ago, we all would’ve circled Tom Brady's name as the quarterback to start in this game in Munich. After all, the G.O.A.T. set franchise passing records for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers last season and would face a Seattle Seahawks team that was expected to be more concerned with tee times at this point in the season.

Geno Smith leads the NFL with seven games with at least two touchdown passes, including a 275-yard, two-TD performance in Seattle's 31-21 win over Arizona last week. Smith also has rushed for at least 38 yards in three of his last six contests.

The Buccaneers' defense has not been as good as advertised this season. Expect more of the same on Sunday. 

Verdict: Start

Minnesota Vikings QB Kirk Cousins vs. Buffalo Bills

Allen's potential absence will go a long way in determining whether one can trust Kirk Cousins. After all, the Vikings may not need to keep up with the high-octane Bills should the latter be unable to drive that fast with Case Keenum behind the wheel.

Cousins also will encounter a stingy Bills defense that is surrendering an NFL fourth-best 299.6 total yards of offense and league-low 14.8 points per game.

Cousins has star wideout Justin Jefferson and recent trade acquisition T.J. Hockenson at his disposal, but Dalvin Cook may be the focus of a Vikings team that is bidding for its seventh straight victory. 

Verdict: Sit

Pittsburgh Steelers RB Najee Harris vs. New Orleans Saints

Najee Harris entered the Pittsburgh Steelers' bye week likely lamenting his season-low eight carries for just 32 yards in the team's last game. 

This week, Pittsburgh coach Mike Tomlin did little to quiet the noise surrounding an expected larger workload for fellow running back Jaylen Warren.

That's not comforting news for fantasy owners who spent a first-round pick on Harris just two short months ago.

Verdict: Sit

Cleveland Browns WR Donovan Peoples-Jones vs. Miami Dolphins

With Bengals wideout Tee Higgins on bye, perhaps go to the other end of Ohio and take a look at Donovan Peoples-Jones. The wideout has at least 71 receiving yards in four of his past five games, including a season-high 81 in the Cleveland Browns' 32-13 victory over the Bengals in Week 8.

The Browns are expected to be playing catch-up against the Miami Dolphins, and Peoples-Jones should benefit with Miami's secondary likely keying on Amari Cooper.

With plenty of garbage time on tap, Peoples-Jones might actually find the end zone for the first time this season.

Verdict: Start

Indianapolis Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. vs. Las Vegas Raiders

The Indianapolis Colts are an admitted dumpster fire, and Michael Pittman is being singed by the flames.

The Sam Ehlinger experiment hasn't started off too well, and now interim coach Jeff Saturday has been ushered in to replace the fired Frank Reich. Jonathan Taylor's ailing ankle is cause for concern for an offense that now will be directed under the unproven Parks Frazier.

It's best to look elsewhere.

Verdict: Sit

Waiver wire

Fantasy football managers are aware that Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson and free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. likely reside on the waiver wire ... but for how long?

Considering Watson is eligible to return to play on Dec. 4, he's worth your time should you be saddled with quarterbacks who haven't panned out this year. Yes, we're looking at the fantasy managers who still employ Brady and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Now, let's address Beckham. While potential fantasy-lucrative landing spots haven been bandied about, one must consider that the player's name is bigger than his likely production as he attempts to return from a torn ACL suffered in Super Bowl LVI on Feb. 13.

If you have the means to stash Beckham and play the waiting game, please do. But don't expect WR1-type numbers. He's likely a flex play at best. 

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