NFC North Bye Week Saviors: Players to start during Week 10

In what might be the toughest week of fantasy football— with the most teams on bye this season— the NFC North is all in action with plenty of players to fill the voids.

The Green Bay Packers look to redeem themselves against the Carolina Panthers on Sunday afternoon just after the Bears and Lions face off in a midday tilt. Meanwhile, the Vikings will square up against the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday night. So if one plays their cards right, one can also watch all the players from the NFC North that are in play on fantasy rosters.

While six NFL teams are taking the week off, this Week 10 is crucial for fantasy seasons. Whether you’re gearing up for a playoff run or still have time to turn things around, it’s not great to have three NFL games off the slate. So let’s look into who are solid starts and who might be possible streaming options.

David Montgomery, RB

If you’re worried about the Bears offense, you don’t have to worry too much about Montgomery because I expect him to continue producing as he’s broken out over the past two weeks. He’s scored over 20 PPR points the past two games and has three TDs to show for it. The Detroit Lions haven’t been as sound against the run game as their depth chart might suggest. They’ve allowed over 1,000 yards rushing to opponents already this season and 4.7 yards per carry. Despite all the passing game questions, Montgomery should still be able to churn out some yards on the ground.

Jamaal Williams, RB

Aaron Jones is another good nod here as well, but if you’re desperate for a flex play, Williams can slot in well against the Carolina Panthers. Even with the Packers laying an egg in Los Angeles last weekend, Williams eclipsed double-digit PPR points for the fourth week in a row (16.9 points).

The Panthers have been solid on defense for most of the year, but despite being third in DVOA against the pass, they’re actually dead last in DVOA against the run. Similar to the Lions, the Panthers have already allowed over 1,000 yards on the ground, but have also surrendered 14 rushing TDs.

Kyle Rudolph, TE

The Cowboys haven’t been great against tight ends and Rudolph’s increased role in the passing offense could be of benefit during a general lack of viable TE options. Rudolph has two touchdowns in the past three weeks and Adam Thielen is expected to miss his second straight game after playing for part of the Vikings’ first series last week. With only six catches in the first five games, Rudolph has 14 catches in the past four games, which can make him a viable PPR asset.

Danny Amendola, WR

Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. have been enjoying good seasons so far this year, but Amendola can’t be counted out of the bunch. Amendola has been a much bigger part of the offense with a heavier emphasis on the pass recently. He has two games of over 17 points over the past three weeks and when he receives eight or more targets, he clears that fantasy point threshold. Golladay and Jones could be blanketed by a stout Bears secondary which could free up Amendola to garner some Matthew Stafford passes.