The first game of Week 10 doesn't sound like a fantasy football bonanza. The Colts and the Titans will play on "Thursday Night Football" in what figures to be a run-heavy battle of attrition with limited scoring that undoubtedly has antasy owners scratching their heads while making their first start 'em, sit 'em decisions of the week. Derrick Henry and A.J. Brown are no-brainer must-starts, but if you're looking for lineup advice or DFS tips about what to do with Jonathan Taylor, Jonnu Smith, the Colts D/ST and others, you've come to the right place.
First, some good news: Indianapolis comes into this one rather healthy with wide receiver T.Y. Hilton (groin) returning and tight end Mo Alie-Cox (knee) expected to keep playing. The only key offensive skill player out will be tight end Jack Doyle (concussion). Tennessee is good to go with wide receiver A.J. Brown (knee), but wide receiver Adam Humphries (concussion) will miss a second consecutive game.
MORE TNF: DK Showdown lineup | FD Single-game lineup | Betting preview
Colts: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Sit: QB Philip Rivers
Rivers has had only just multiple-TD games this season and went back to being ice cold against a tough Ravens defense at home in Week 9. The Titans have allowed multiple TDs to QBs in every game but one this year, but Rivers' low ceiling makes him tough to trust in single-QB formats.
Start: RB Jonathan Taylor
The Titans are in the bottom 10 in allowing fantasy points to running back. Even with a lost fumble and not doing much else, Taylor was a viable flex play because of his TD against the Ravens last week. It's tough to trust what the Colts do with Taylor's volume of touches every week, but he's still a good bet to the most significant carries, so he can be deployed in 12-team leagues or deeper.
Sit: RBs Jordan Wilkins and Nyheim Hines
Wilkins exploded in Week 8 against the Lions but has literally done next to nothing when healthy. Hines had two random two-TD games in Weeks 1 and 8 but also has been irrelevant. This is why we still like Taylor, and we don't want anything to do with other Colts backs.
WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Sit: TEs Trey Burton and Mo Alie-Cox
Both Burton and Alie-Cox have had big short stretches as top tight ends in a season where the position has been mostly a production wasteland after the top tier. Even without Doyle (concussion) in the mix, however, it's hard to know who will be more involved for Rivers from week to week. You could end up with five catches, 50 yards and a TD by playing either. You also could get a zero from either. Start one of them at your own risk.
Start: WR Michael Pittman Jr. (in deeper leagues) | Sit: WRs Zach Pascal, T.Y. Hilton and Marcus Johnson
Getting relevant fantasy football production out of a Colts wide receiver in a given week in 2020 has been a Sisyphean task. But if there's anyone that could have some value going forward, it would be the rookie Pittman, who caught four of his seven targets for 56 yards against the Ravens in his first significant action since returning from a calf injury. He's the most talented option in the group with his versatility. Hilton has looked washed, while Pascal and Johnson have had only flashes. In this game, Pittman's skill set should allow him to be the most productive.
WEEK 10 STANDARD RANKINGS:
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Sit: Colts defense/special teams
The Colts' defense is strong in reality, but it's hit-or-miss in fantasy. It's had four double-digit games and four microscopic games. This feels like the latter on the road, where the Titans will take care of the ball and Ryan Tannehill doesn't get sacked often.
Sit: K Rodrigo Blankenship
Blankenship was hot from Weeks 2 through 5 but has been cool since with limited field-goal opportunities and overall scoring. You can do much better this week than the bespectacled rookie from Georgia.
WEEK 10 FANTASY: Sleepers | Busts | Start 'em, sit 'em
Titans: Who to start or sit in fantasy football on Thursday night
Start: RB Derrick Henry
Henry racked up 260 yards from scrimmage and two TDs in a combined 46 touches in two games against the Colts last season. Indianapolis' run defense has gotten tougher and Henry is coming off against rough sledding against the Bears, but he's your hammer. He might not hit 100 yards, but he's a good bet to score a short TD or two.
Sit: QB Ryan Tannehill
The Colts haven't allowed a strong fantasy game to a QB since Week 1, when Gardner Minshew threw for three TDs but fewer than 200 yards. Tannehill might hit multiple scores for a second straight week, but the yards and rushing won't be enough for a top-12 finish.
WEEK 10 DFS CASH LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Start: WR A.J. Brown
Brown needed nine targets against a tricky Bears secondary but came through with four catches and 101 yards. He also scored a touchdown for a fifth consecutive game since returning from his knee injury. He is matchup-proof with his volume and talent.
Sit: WR Corey Davis
Davis went Animal House aginst the Ravens with zero point zero. He is not matchup-proof with his volume and talent.
Start: TE Jonnu Smith (in deeper leagues)
The Colts allow the fewest fantasy points to tight ends, and they have yet to allow a TD to the position. That said, they allowed decent catch-and-yardage days to Austin Hooper and T.J. Hockenson, and the Ravens' TE committee put up seven catches for 68 yards last week. You can use Smith in deep leagues.
WEEK 10 DFS TOURNAMENT LINEUPS: DraftKings | FanDuel
Sit: TE Anthony Firkser
Let's hope we won't need to use the Harvard product's last name as an expletive in cutting into Smith's work.
Start: Titans defense/special teams
The Titans scored a defensive touchdown against Nick Foles at home last week, and they're generally better at home on defense. Philip Rivers is immobile and prone to turnovers, and there should be an emotional, home prime-time bump for the Titans, too.
Sit: K Stephen Gostkowski
There's no need to go here in seasonal leagues, a la Blankenship.
MORE WEEK 10 DFS: Best stacks | Best values | Lineup Builder
Colts-Titans DraftKings Showdown lineup for Thursday night
Captain: RB Derrick Henry $16,200
FLEX: QB Ryan Tannehill $11,200
FLEX: WR A.J. Brown $10,400
FLEX: WR MIchael Pittman Jr. $4,400
FLEX: K Stephen Gostkowski $3,800
FLEX: Titans defense/special teams $3,600
We are going all-in on the Titans in this game because we had to commit one way or another, so why not go with the home team? Henry, Tannehill and Brown give us their main triplets, while the defense can clean up when given a lead. Gostkowski in relation should be busy. With the money left, Pittman made the most sense.
