Week 10 Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Running Backs (PPR): Kalen Ballage with another shot at success

Last week, many unexpected running backs hit the standings higher than owners anticipated. J.D McKissic, Kalen Ballage, Rex Burkhead, Duke Johnson, and Wayne Gallman all hit the top ten fantasy standings for running backs in week nine. Dalvin Cook and Christian McCaffrey led the way in fantasy points last week. There are many interesting matchups to consider for next week in fantasy. Check out who to start and sit for running backs next week in fantasy football. Need more help? Check out the fantasy football section of the website to get rankings and projections for week 10 of fantasy football. Don’t miss out on any injuries or matchup previews in the NFL section of the website as well.

Start ‘Em

Kalen Ballage surprised fantasy owners by putting up the fourth-most points in fantasy last week with 16.4 fantasy points against the Raiders. Ballage was called up to the active roster just before the game and will surely see another shot at the active roster after receiving 15 carries in that contest. Justin Jackson is likely to sit out the next game, as well as Troymaine Pope with a concussion. This gives a great opportunity for Ballage again in the run game against Miami, who has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to running backs this season. Ballage has projected a lowly 7.5 fantasy points this week but will be a great waiver wire add and start for week 10, even with Joshua Kelley taking a share of the carries in the backfield.

Zack Moss has been on a hot streak of fantasy over the past two weeks of play. It looks as if Moss may be taking over the starting duties in front of Devin Singletary. With nearly 100 rushing yards and three touchdowns over the past three weeks, he has the hot hand for the Bills’ backfield. Over the last three weeks, he has had over 10+ fantasy points in each contest. He is averaging just under 12 fantasy points in the past three weeks and just under 10 on the year. The Cardinals are below average at defending the run and allow an average of 4.35 yards per attempt to opposing running backs. Moss would be a solid flex play or RB2 streamer for Week 10 as he is projected 9.15 fantasy points.

Melvin Gordon and the Broncos’ run game has been inconsistent in the past three weeks for their running backs, as most of their 25.1 rushing attempts per game go through Drew Lock. However, I have strong senses that Melvin Gordon will take advantage of the Raiders defense that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs this season and 4.63 yards per attempt, which is one of the worst in the NFL for a defense. Gordon has averaged 13.1 fantasy points this season and only has two games under 10 points. He will compete with Phillip Linsday in touches, but he has projected 11.3 fantasy points next week and should be a solid RB2.

Kareem Hunt will be going up against a favorable matchup against the Texans, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs this season. However, the growing concern for Hunt is the return of his partner, Nick Chubb, from IR after not having played since week four. Luckily for Hunt owners, while Chubb was active in the first four weeks Hunt averaged 14.5 touches per game and averaged over 17 fantasy points per game. If anything, his numbers should stay the same with Odell Beckham Jr. out for the season with injury forcing the Browns to become more of a rushing team. Hunt has projected 16.65 fantasy points next week and should remain a low-end RB1.

James Conner and the Steelers had an ugly outing last week against the Dallas Cowboys where they barely slipped away from a win. The Steelers reverted to the passing game to make a comeback and left Conner with his second-lowest scoring fantasy outing this season with 4.0 fantasy points. He only received nine carries for 22 yards in a busted game. However, Conner will go up against the Cincinnati Bengals this week, who have allowed the eight-most fantasy points to running backs this season and 5.4 yards per attempt. Conner has projected a fair 16.8 fantasy points in what should be a top 10 fantasy week for him next week.

Sit ‘Em

Chase Edmonds had a pretty disappointing outing in the Cardinals’ loss last week after only putting up 70 yards and zero touchdowns from 25 carries. A backup running back would rarely see this many touches even when filling in for a starter. Kenyan Drake is back to practice this week and is taking the right direction to return this Sunday. The Bills allow a decent amount of points to running backs this season, but I envision this to be a bigger passing game than the running game on Sunday. Edmonds is projected 14.4 considering the injury status to Drake, but I would not count on him to have more than flex numbers in this contest.

Mike Davis should resume the starting role after Christian McCaffrey looks doubtful with a shoulder injury for this upcoming week. However, he has only averaged 8.7 fantasy points in the last three weeks of play, two of them while McCaffrey was still injured. Plus, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have allowed the ninth least amount of fantasy points to running backs this season and they allow the least amount of yards per carry from the defensive line to opposing running backs with an average of 3.28 yards. I suggest leaving Mike Davis out of the lineup even though he has projected 14.3 fantasy points next week.

Wayne Gallman put up a shocking 10th standing fantasy outing last week against Washington with 14.7 fantasy points. He has gotten in the endzone each game in the past three weeks. However, Gallman shares touches with Dion Lewis and Alfred Morris while Devonta Freeman is also posied for a possible comeback from injury. The Eagles defensive front is one of the best in the league as well. They allow the tenth least amount of fantasy points tho running backs and only 3.49 yards per attempt to opposing running backs. I like Gallman as a possible flex option, but his production is bound to slow down. He has projected 8.65 fantasy points next week.