Week 10 Thursday Night Fantasy Football Starting Options: Are Cincinnati's Chase Brown and Mike Gesicki Good Starting Options? What About Baltimore's Rashod Bateman, Diontae Johnson and Mark Andrews?

Week 10 of the NFL regular season opens with a big game between the Cincinnati Bengals and Baltimore Ravens.

Let’s take a look at the best starting fantasy football players for the contest.

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Quarterbacks

Baltimore’s Lamar Jackson and Cincinnati’s Joe Burrow will lead their teams into battle on Thursday.

Jackson has completed 68.2% of his passes for 2,379 yards, 20 touchdowns and two interceptions this season. He’s added 505 rushing yards and two more scores on the ground. 

Jackson has at least put up average fantasy numbers in every game he’s played, and he scored over 30 points the last time these teams met.

Burrow has 20 touchdowns, four interceptions, 2,244 passing yards and a 70.2 completion percentage. He’s added 117 rushing yards and a score.

He’s scored in double digits for fantasy points in every week since the opener. Burrow scored over 30 points as well the last time these teams met.

It’s a very favorable matchup for each quarterback, with Baltimore allowing 21 fantasy points per week, while Cincinnati gives up 19. Jackson is projected for 22 fantasy points, while Burrow is at 18.

I’d do what I could to get either of these QBs into my lineup. If I rostered both guys, Jackson gets the edge because of his running ability. There’s no fantasy QB I like more than Jackson this week, and Burrow could be argued as the No. 2 guy.

Running Backs

Chase Brown will power the Bengals’ backfield, with newcomer Khalil Herbert backing him up after the injury to Zack Moss.

Brown has 479 rushing yards and four scores on 105 attempts this season. He’s added 98 yards and two scores on 21 receptions and 28 targets. 

Brown got 15 touches the last time these teams met, going for 54 yards and a touchdown. He should be the clear workhorse in this contest.

Derrick Henry powers the Ravens’ backfield, while Justice Hill backs him up. Rasheen Ali and Keaton Mitchell could provide more depth, but are both questionable, and are really unlikely to factor in apart from a couple plays or touches.

Henry has 1,052 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns on 168 attempts so far. He’s added 92 yards and two scores on nine receptions and 11 targets. Henry had 96 total yards and a score on 16 touches the last time these teams met.

Hill has 272 receiving yards and two scores on 25 receptions and 28 targets. He’s rushed for 119 yards on 32 attempts. Hill had 25 total yards on six touches in the first matchup.

It’s a below-average matchup for all the backs in this contest, with both defenses allowing 20 fantasy points per game. In the week 10 projections, Henry is projected for 20 PPR fantasy points, while Brown is at 16. Hill is set for seven points and Herbert four.

Henry is also my favorite fantasy back in this game, but Brown is also a great starting option - I’d start both guys without much hesitation. I’d consider Hill and Herbert in deep PPR leagues, but prefer to stay away from both in the bit tougher matchups.

Wide Receivers

Tee Higgins (and Charlie Jones) are both doubtful for the Bengals, so Ja'Marr Chase will undoubtedly lead the Cincy wideout room in this one.

Chase has 717 yards and seven touchdowns on 55 receptions and 70 targets this season. He went for 193 yards and two scores on 10 catches and 12 targets in the team’s first matchup.

Andrei Iosivas would be the No. 2 wideout if Higgins and Jones are out. Iosivas has 199 yards and four scores across 15 grabs and 31 targets this season. He had a 39-yard catch across two targets in the first game.

Trenton Irwin and Kendric Pryor were the other Cincinnati wideouts to play in week 9 with Higgins and Jones out, but they only played 22 and 18 snaps, respectively. Irwin didn’t catch his only target, while Pryor had a nine-yard grab on his only target.

Zay Flowers is the top wideout in Baltimore and coming off a monster game. He has 654 yards and three scores on 46 grabs and 67 targets for the season. Flowers had 111 yards on seven catches and 12 targets in the first matchup.

Rashod Bateman is up to 447 yards and three scores on 25 receptions and 39 targets. He had 58 yards and a score on four grabs and eight targets in the first game.

Diontae Johnson was traded to the Ravens last week, and could factor in more this week. He only played 17 snaps last week, while not getting a target.

Last week, Tylan Wallace played 20 snaps, but got no targets. Nelson Agholor had a 29-yard catch across 19 snaps. Devontez Walker played just four snaps.

It’s a great matchup for the Bengals’ wideouts, as Baltimore allows 43 fantasy points per week. Cincy allows 31 points a week, which is slightly below average.

Chase is projected for 24 PPR fantasy points this week. Flowers is at 15 points, Higgins currently is at nine, Bateman eight and Johnson six. No others make the top 63.

I also like Chase the most in this contest - he’s a must start at this point. Flowers is another player who should be starting in just about every league, and I’d play him even in the bit tougher matchup. I’d probably start Higgins if he were a surprise active, unless a report comes out that he’s on a snap count.

If Higgins is out, I’d consider rolling the dice on Iosivas in a deep league and hope he scores at least once. I’d avoid the other Cincy wideouts if I could.

Bateman and Johnson are a couple flex options in my eyes, but I’d feel much safer playing them in deeper leagues. I’d take Bateman over Johnson, although all it would take is a big play from either guy to lead the way. I’d avoid the other Baltimore wideouts at all costs.

Tight Ends

Mark Andrews will lead the Baltimore tight ends with Isaiah Likely out with an injury. Mike Gesicki is the top fantasy TE for the Bengals.

Andrews has 289 yards and four scores on 24 catches and 29 targets this season. He only had two targets last week. With Likely out, Andrews should lead the way in snaps, while Charlie Kolar plays a bit more too.

Gesicki has 353 yards and two scores on 30 grabs and 36 targets this season, and he’s coming off his best game yet. What’s wild about his 100-yard, two-touchdown performance in week 9 is that he only played 27 offensive snaps.

Drew Sample leads the team’s TEs with 280 offensive snaps this season, but only has 42 yards and a score on eight grabs and nine targets. Erick All Jr. also was factoring in of late, but he’s now out for the season. Tanner Hudson should see an increase of snaps without All around.

The Bengals’ defense surrenders 15 fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. The Ravens’ defense gives up 13 points. Andrews is projected for 10 PPR points, while Gesicki sits at eight.

I actually like Gesicki more in this contest, but only if Higgins doesn’t play. Andrews is a good starting option with Likely out, and because he had 55 yards on four grabs and five targets the last time these teams squared off.

I wouldn’t want to play any other TE in this game.

Kickers

Evan McPherson kicks for the Bengals. He’s 13-of-17 on his field goals this season, along with going 25-of-26 on his extra points.

Justin Tucker is still kicking for the Ravens. He’s 15-of-19 on his field goals and has made all 34 of his extra points.

Tucker is projected for 10 points, while McPherson is at seven points. I also like Tucker more, but would be fine starting either guy. I expect a high-scoring game, and that will leave each kicker with several scoring chances.

Defenses/Special Teams

Baltimore’s defense allows 356.6 yards and 24.3 points per game. The Ravens have nine takeaways and six giveaways.

Cincinnati allows 342.9 yards and 25.2 points per contest. The Bengals had 10 takeaways and nine giveaways.

Baltimore is projected for seven fantasy points, while Cincinnati has only four. I also like Baltimore’s D/ST more, but would not feel great about starting either one this week.