Week 10 of the NFL season is upon us, which means the playoffs are right around the corner for fantasy leagues. With many players on bye week and injuries piling up, it can be difficult to find points, but here’s some advice to help.
Player to add: Isaac Redman
With Pittsburgh’s starting running back Rashard Mendenhall still out with an injury, Redman will once again be a good choice to play this week. Last week Redman had a monster game against the Giants, rushing for 147 yards and a touchdown. That was against a tough Giant defense. This week Redman will be licking his chops when he faces a struggling Kansas City team. Add him and play him. If last week’s performance was any indication of what he’ll do this week, playing him is a must.
Player to drop: Pierre Garcon
Garcon is a solid receiver and the Redskins are definitely missing him. Unfortunately for Garcon, his foot injury is not getting better and there is no timetable for his return. The Redskins are sitting at 3-6 on the season, and if they don’t get some wins in a hurry, the ‘Skins will be out of the playoff picture and it’s unlikely they’ll even try to bring Garcon back. He’s not coming back anytime soon and if he does come back it’s doubtful he’ll be productive. He’s a good receiver, but it’s time to drop him. He’s not going to be any help going forward for the rest of this year.
Player to keep an eye on: Doug Martin
The Tampa Bay running back has been a beast the past two weeks for the Bucs. Last week he rushed for 251 yards and four touchdowns. The week before, he rushed for 135 yards and added 79 receiving yards to that total. He’s emerging as an explosive threat and if he’s still available, picking him up is must. Everyone needs to keep an eye on this rookie, not just for this year, but in the future. If he can keep up these types of performances, he could be a yearly fantasy top pick.
Player to keep: Darren McFadden
The Oakland running back left the game against Tampa Bay early with an ankle sprain last week. While this is an obvious concern, it shouldn’t be blown out of proportion. He hasn’t been ruled out for this week and it’s likely he’ll play. In week eight, he went off against the Chiefs, rushing for 114 yards. He’s a good back who is getting better. Anyone who is in need of running backs can’t afford to drop him. He’ll still get a good amount of carries and will put up enough points to make him worthwhile.
Lucky to have: Adrian Peterson
It’s no secret that the Minnesota running back is good, but he just keeps proving it week after week. There’s a reason he’s drafted near the top in every fantasy league year after year. Last week Peterson rushed for 174 yards and two touchdowns against the Seahawks. He already has almost 1,000 yards on the season and six touchdowns. He’s good and he’s consistent. Anyone who has him on their roster is lucky and should never question playing him.
Kevin Bingaman can be reached at [email protected]