Empty the Bench

Plugging in your studs at RB, QB, and WR is easy. Filling in the outer fringes of your roster every week is not. We agonize over these decisions until 7 minutes before kickoff, then kick ourselves about the guys we started 10 minutes after kickoff. We’re talking about the WR/TE Flex and WR/RB Flex plays, and they’re a bitch.

Down the stretch of the Fantasy Football regular season, ETB has made a small change in policy. We have expanded our Position Rankings to include more running backs and wide receivers, so you can now refer to those ranks for your WR3 and RB2 options. From here on out, our Cheat Sheet will only focus on those crucial flex-position rankings.

It’s time to get wild and ka-wazy with ETB’s Week Ten Fantasy Cheat Sheet.

Week 10 Cheat Sheet Rankings

Week 10 Wide Receiver/Tight End Flex Plays

1. David Patten, New Orleans vs. STL
2. Roddy White, Atlanta @ CAR
3. Chris Henry, Cincinnati @ BAL
4. Vernon Davis, San Francisco @ SEA
5. Donald Lee, Green Bay vs. MIN
6. Shaun McDonald, Detroit @ ARZ
7. Tony Scheffler, Denver @ KC
8. Randy McMichael, St. Louis @ NO
9. Jeff King, Carolina vs. ATL
10. Sidney Rice, Minnesota @ GB

Fortune Cookies: David Patten has been a major beneficiary of the Saints rediscovered passing game, going over 100 yards twice and scoring a touchdown in the last month, and he should keep it up at home… The Carolina Panthers sport a thoroughly average pass defense this year, and Roddy White is in the midst of a breakout season. Expect 80 yards with a possible score… Chris Henry is a good bet for a touchdown against a struggling Ravens secondary in his first game back, especially if Chad Johnson is limited or out… Vernon Davis is back on track, and should be counted on heavily on the road against a strong Seattle defense. Look for 6 receptions and 70 yards… Donald Lee hasn’t been a top-tier TE, but he’s remarkably consistent and has a great shot at a TD versus this porous secondary… He cooled off for a couple of weeks, but Shaun McDonald has returned to elite flex-play status the last two games and Arizona doesn’t have a nickel back who can keep up with him… Tony Scheffler should have his BFF under center and should post a solid number of receptions, but the KC defense could keep Denver out of the endzone… Randy McMichael has been limited by all the injuries and poor play around him, but he’s still talented enough to put up a strong game against a poor New Orleans secondary… Jeff King has been largely feast or famine this year, but we expect him to get at least 4-5 receptions at home against the Falcons… Sidney Rice is the most talented receiver on this roster, and he was impressive last week. Green Bay has solid corners, but Rice should earn more looks and is as likely as anybody not named Adrian to catch a TD for Minnesota…

Week 10 Wideout/Running Back Flex Plays

1. Priest Holmes, Kansas City vs. DEN
2. Justin Fargas, Oakland vs. CHI
3. Warrick Dunn, Atlanta @ CAR
4. Bobby Engram, Seattle vs. SF
5. Reggie Brown, Philadelphia @ WSH
6. James Jones, Green Bay vs. MIN
7. Bernard Berrian, Chicago @ OAK
8. Brandon Marshall, Denver @ KC
9. Kolby Smith, Kansas City vs. DEN
10. Chris Chambers, San Diego vs. IND

Fortune Cookies: We never thought we’d see the day when Priest Holmes would be at the top of any list not titled “Washed-Up Fantasy Gods of Yesteryear.” And yet here he is, likely starting at home against the NFL’s worst rushing defense… With LaMont Jordan all but out of the picture, Justin Fargas is running well and should see 20 carries or so against a not-what-they-used-to-be Bears defense… He’s defied logic by sticking in the starting lineup all season long, and Warrick Dunn finally rewarded his coach’s stubbornness with a good effort in Week Nine (100 yards, 1 TD). Carolina has been very average against the run… At 34 years of age, Bobby Engram is enjoying one of the finest three-week stretches of his nine-year career: 29 receptions, 332 yards, and 1 TD, including 14 (!) for 139 in Week Nine… The Eagles aren’t throwing for many touchdowns, but Reggie Brown is back in the mix with 19 receptions over the last four weeks and the Redskins pass defense has slipped to the middle of the pack… James Jones draws a juicy matchup against a Vikings secondary giving up the second-most yards in the NFL, and Antoine Winfield will be occupied with Green Bay’s other receivers… This is a tough situation for Bernard Berrian against a solid Oak Town secondary led by Nnamdi Asomugha, but the Bears are coming off a bye and Berrian has been active all year… This won’t be a cakewalk for Brandon Marshall against a surprisingly good Chiefs D, but we think Kansas City will have trouble with his size and athleticism—just like everybody else… The second Chiefs RB on this list, we think Kolby Smith will end up with double-digit carries in this one, which makes him a reasonable option this weekend against the NFL’s worst rush defense… Chris Chambers appears to be right at home in San Diego, but Philip Rivers has taken several steps back this season and the Colts pass defense has been one of the best units in the NFL all season…

More Week Ten Fantasy Goodness:

ETB’s Week Ten Matchups

ETB’s Week Ten Position Ranks

ETB’s Week Ten Stock Report

Week Ten Quick Hits