Joe Flacco is next quarterback to face the Browns, meaning he's a viable QB1 for Week 10.

Quarterbacks

Joe Flacco, BAL – Flacco isn’t a very exciting fantasy option, but he’s got one of the best matchups of Week 10, at home facing the winless Browns. Opposing QBs are adding on average about 33 percent more fantasy points to their weekly tally against Cleveland’s putrid pass defense. This week, byes have removed Tyrod Taylor, Matthew Stafford, Andrew Luck and Derek Carr from consideration and the only more beneficial fantasy matchup is Alex Smith. Flacco is owned in about 25-50 percent of fantasy leagues, so there’s a decent chance he’s available in yours.

UPDATE: With Steve Smith off the injury report and the Ravens sporting a bevy of healthy receivers, this could be a great week for a Flacco plug-and-play.

Alex Smith, KC – As I just mentioned, the Chiefs matchup (@CAR) is a favorable one, though it remains to be seen whether or not the Chiefs offense can bring the kind of vertical passing game that others have used to defeat the Panthers. Smith missed Week 9 because of a concussion (a fate that also befell his lead RB, Spencer Ware), but Nick Foles barely allowed the Chiefs to beat the Jaguars and Smith (25-35 percent owned) appears to be on track for a Week 10 return. He could also get Ware back, which would improve the entire offense.

UPDATE: There’s a “good chance” that Ware plays this week, which helps Smith and the entire Chiefs offense tremendously. Smith still comes in as an inferior fantasy option to about 15-20 QBs this week, but he could be worth a flier in DFS formats and two-QB leagues.

Updates

Dak Prescott, DAL – Prescott performed as expected, tallying 247-3-0 with 20 rushing yards against the Browns. He deserves another fantasy start in Week 10 against the struggling Steelers.

UPDATE: Despite whatever nonsense comes out of Jerry Jones’s mouth this week, Prescott is the starter in Dallas and it would take an injury or a five-INT game to change that.

Marcus Mariota, TEN – Despite turning it over three times against the Chargers, Mariota had a solid fantasy day throwing for 313 yards and three TDs, adding 14 rushing yards and a TD on the ground.

UPDATE: Mariota is looking more and more like a Top 10 fantasy QB and he should post decent numbers against the Packers in Week 10.

Sam Bradford, MIN – Bradford burned me in a couple of my DFS lineups, as I predicted a much better day than 273-1-0 against the Lions weak pass defense. He faces a similarly exploitable Washington unit in Week 10, though Josh Norman and company have played much better over the past several weeks.

UPDATE: I may be in the minority here, but something is telling me that Bradford posts solid fantasy numbers at Washington. He’s got plenty of dynamic receivers and there’s no need to throw at Norman.

Running Backs

Peyton Barber, TB – Barber (10-35 percent owned) is poised to inherit a big workload in Week 10, with injuries to the other Bucs RBs, including Doug Martin (hamstring), Jacquizz Rodgers (foot) and Antone Smith (knee), who is actually done for the year alongside Charles Sims (knee). Barber ran well in the loss to Atlanta on Thursday night and should be owned in all formats moving forward.

UPDATE: Barber will likely get the majority of touches in Week 10 (Rodgers is reportedly a “long shot” to play), and the Bears defense doesn’t scare me. Ivory (below) is the safer play, but Barber is a decent RB3/flex play this week.

Chris Ivory, JAC – Ivory (40-60 percent owned) rushed for 107 yards but lost a fumble and didn’t score against the Chiefs – a tough matchup in which he performed relatively well. An inefficient runner who favors contact over cutting, Ivory’s north-south style bodes well as a change-of-pace back or against poor tackling units, but he’s not much of a lead back anymore. Still, the Jaguars need someone to run the ball and the Texans (the Jags’ Week 10 opponent) are a weaker front-seven without J.J. Watt.

Paul Perkins, NYG – UPDATE: Perkins is probably the most talented back on the Giants depth chart and he’s finally getting more opportunities alongside Rashad Jennings. He had 32 rushing yards on 11 carries in Week 9 and has shown ability in the passing game. If there’s a higher-upside RB on this team – somebody who can break a big TD run or two – it’s probably Perkins. He should be owned in all 12-team formats.

Kenneth Dixon, BAL – Terrance West continues to struggle in his lead role and it’s only a matter of time before Dixon (8-58 percent owned – a huge disparity based mainly on redraft versus dynasty/keeper format) gets more carries. For now, he’s stuck behind a veteran with more experience and less talent and if you’ve followed my column, you’d know I’ve been cautioning against adding him for several weeks, while many other fantasy writers have been wasting your time with promises of some sort of impending offensive explosion. Sometimes it pays to be patient because a lot of valuable backs have come and gone since the other pundits started recommending picking up the rookie. A favorable matchup against the Browns provides the perfect opportunity for the Ravens to let him loose.

UPDATE: Dixon (chest) was a full participant at practice Monday and could get more carries this week if the Ravens jump out to a lead.

Kapri Bibbs, DEN – UPDATE: Bibbs isn’t getting the volume of touches typical for one of my waiver wire recommendations, but Booker isn’t what I’d call a durable guy, and Bibbs already has one monster home-run score – an impressive 69-yard TD reception that the coaching staff admitted will earn him more touches. Some are even hinting that Bibbs could take over lead-back duties and out-touch Booker against the high-powered Saints offensive in Week 10.

James Starks, GB – UPDATE: I’m not too enthusiastic about the prospect of a less-than-100-percent Starks trying to supplant Ty Montgomery as the Packers lead back in Week 10, but the veteran hasn’t been ruled out and he’s got the requisite experience and talent to succeed. Stay tuned, but make sure you temper your expectations since he probably won’t be getting close to a full workload.

Updates

Darren Sproles, PHI – Sproles gained 57 tough yards on 13 carries and caught 3-17-0 on nine targets in Sunday's 38-23 win over the Giants. He’s not much of a red zone tool outside his pass-catching abilities and he’s only available in about 10-30 percent of leagues after being such a hot pickup following Week 8.

Tim Hightower, NO – Hightower came through with flying colors on Sunday, rushing for 87 yards and a TD on 23 carries (1-15-0 receiving) even though the 49ers also yielded 15 carries and a huge fantasy day to Mark Ingram (158 rushing yards, TD; 2-13-1 receiving). Big ups if you owned the pair and had the foresight to start both of them.

Charcandrick West, KC – I’m not much of a West fan (Charcandrick or Terrance – though you know I love Kanye if you check the name of this column) because there’s just not the upside despite ample opportunity. However, I included him in the update after some readers pointed out his conspicuous absence, and he was a relative bust in both DFS and season-long fantasy. He finished with 39 rushing yards on 13 carries and 3-35-0 on four targets.

UPDATE: If Ware plays in Week 10, West is a desperation flex play at best and low-upside handcuff.

Rob Kelley, WAS – On a Week 9 bye, we’ll see what he can do next week facing the Vikings.

UPDATE: Kelley is getting a lot of hype from other writers this week, and for good reason – he’s got the confidence of the coaches and has played well with limited touches while Matt Jones (knee) has steadily lost favor. Consider him a low-end RB2/high-end RB3 or flex play this week.

Antone Smith, TB – See the Barber writeup above. Smith fumbled early against the Falcons, totaled 25 rushing yards (3-37-0 receiving), got hurt and is done for the year with a knee injury.

Derrick Henry, TEN – What is happening? Henry tweaked a calf injury in pre-game warmups and missed the entirety of Week 9 action. Stay tuned.

UPDATE: The prognosis on Henry is already infuriating, as we are hearing he could practice this week or be out for several games. I’m cutting bait.

C.J. Prosise, SEA – UPDATE: Prosise was second fiddle this week despite playing more snaps. He touched the ball just four times, totaling 15 yards of offense. He’s clearly the passing down back and one they don’t trust much to catch the ball.

Alfred Morris, DAL – Morris rushed for 56 yards on 17 carries in Week 9 and needs to be owned in all formats for his latent value.

Dion Lewis, NE – He could make his season debut in Week 10, though he may be eased into action.

UPDATE: The Boston Herald is reporting that the Pats are “holding out hope” Lewis will be available for Week 10 against the Seahawks — a game where they’d love to have all their offensive weapons at their disposal. He’s definitely worth adding for his upside down the stretch, it’s just difficult to predict if he’ll get any touches this week.

Wide Receivers / Tight Ends

Mike Wallace, BAL – Wallace is about 70-95 percent owned, which means he could be available in more shallow formats despite his best season since his days in Pittsburgh. After his big week against his former team in Week 9 (4-124-1), he’s a must-add in a great matchup against the Browns.

TE Jason Witten, DAL – Witten hauled in 8-134-1 against the Browns, who blew several coverages against him and had no answer for the Cowboys offensive weaponry. They seemingly focused all their attention on the still-injured Dez Bryant. Silly, isn’t it? It’s unlikely that Witten (about 75 percent owned) will be easy to acquire or that he’ll have another game even close to that in Week 10 against the Steelers, but he’s worth including here if somebody recently dropped him.

TE Zach Ertz, PHI – I should have included Ertz as a possible pickup for his Week 9 matchup with the Giants. They’ve been hinting that he could have a breakout game and his 8-97-0 qualifies, though he’s yet to find paydirt this season. Ertz is about 25-50 percent owned and looks like a moderate-upside TE2 for Week 10 facing the Falcons.

Quinton Patton, SF – Patton’s 6-106-0 could be a sign of things to come as the Niners have essentially thrown away 2016 and have to be looking to the future. Patton was targeted nine times against the Saints and the playmaker in his fourth season could be in for a similar workload facing the Cards. He’s available in all formats.

WR Rishard Matthews, TEN – UPDATE: I should have been more attuned to the developing rapport between Mariota and Matthews, who seems to excel in unheralded spots and grind out solid fantasy numbers as a popular red zone target. He’s a good pickup and could easily snag another TD this week against the Packers.

TE Zach Miller, CHI – UPDATE: This could be a good time to check out which TEs got dropped in Week 9 – because Miller (55-75 percent owned) is a high-upside player who could be available. The Bears TE has a great matchup facing the Bucs and is a Top 10 TE play this week.

TE C.J. Fiedorowicz, HOU – UPDATE: Fiedorowicz (20-50 percent owned) doesn’t have as good of a matchup as Miller (and isn’t as highly owned), but he gets consistent targets from the new check-down king of Houston, Brock Osweiler, and he’s caught three TDs in his last five games.

Updates

Mohamed Sanu, ATL – Sanu had 5-74-0 on Thursday and could get some looks facing the Eagles in Week 10.

Tyreek Hill, KC – Hill’s 3-11-0 and 21 rushing yards were a disappointment, but Week 10 could yield better results especially if Jeremy Maclin (groin) is sidelined.

Sammie Coates, PIT – Coates failed to haul in a catch despite five targets from Ben Roethlisberger, who was clearly not 100 percent in his hurried return from a knee injury.

Kendall Wright, TEN – Wright’s 2-65-0 on five targets may have been a more robust stat line had Delanie Walker not played – or had Rishard Matthews not hauled in two of Mariota’s three TD passes.

J.J. Nelson, ARI – Nelson was on a Week 9 bye, but we’ve been promised that he’s taken over as a starter in three-WR sets.

Jamison Crowder, WAS – Crowder was also on a bye, and also needs to be on your radar for Week 10.

TE Dennis Pitta, BAL – The Ravens preferred the quick-hitting deep ball approach against the Steelers and Pitta finished with just 2-14-0 on three targets.

TE Cameron Brate, TB – Brate’s 4-53-1 only came together as a solid stat line after a late TD from Mike Glennon, who may or may not get the start in Week 10 depending on Jameis Winston’s (knee) status.

UPDATE: Winston is practicing without a brace so far this week, so that’s a good sign for Brate and the Bucs offense. Mike Evans (concussion) is also practicing, which means he’s on track to play.

TE Austin Hooper, ATL – Hooper’s 3-46-1 was a welcome fill-in for fantasy production in a pinch, and he’s on my list for Week 10 pickups as well. Hooper is still available in about 80-90 percent of fantasy leagues.