Browns Fantasy Football: Start / Sit Advice in Week 10 vs. Cincinnati

We take a look at which members of the Cleveland Browns should you start or sit heading into your Week 10 fantasy football match-ups as the Browns take on the Cincinnati Bengals.

(Key: Start / Sit / Enticing)

• QB Brian Hoyer - I don't expect a big day from Hoyer, but one could see how he is somewhat of an enticing start for the second week in a row. Cincinnati has allowed 10 touchdown passes this season, which isn't a lot, and they've logged 10 interceptions. The Browns' running game has lacked, but Hoyer has still been able to find targets wide open down the field off of playaction. Cincinnati is also without Leon Hall this week, which disrupts the secondary a bit. If you need an 18-20 yard fantasy performance in a pinch, go with Hoyer.
  
  
• RB Ben Tate - How can you start Tate when he's averaged just 1.58 yards per carry over the past three weeks? It's not necessarily his fault, as the run blocking has been atrocious since Alex Mack's departure, but Tate hasn't been able to make something out of nothing.
  
  
• RB Terrance West & RB Isaiah Crowell - With Tate's struggles, either West or Crowell could be in line for a decent day. Cincinnati yields the 5th most fantasy points to opposing running backs, but who is going to get the carries? It was West last week, but what if the Browns really do want to throw a fresh Crowell in there this week? The running back situation could see a breakout from one of the team's three backs, but we don't know who that will be.
  
  
• WR Andrew Hawkins - After suffering an injury this past Sunday, if Hawkins is able to play, I think his reps will be limited, meaning fewer targets and catches.
  
  
• WR Taylor Gabriel - If Hawkins is ruled out this week, then Gabriel becomes a compelling start. He would see some of Hawkins' targets, and he's probably had the highest target-to-catch rate with Hoyer than any other receiver. He's notorious for the big play, and that might be available off of playaction this week.
  
  
• WR Miles Austin, Travis Benjamin - The Bengals allow the 5th fewest fantasy points to wide receivers this season, so don't gamble with a receiver besides Hawkins or Gabriel.
  
  
• TE Jim Dray, Gary Barnidge - The Bengals were decimated by Rob Gronkowski, Tim Wright, Greg Olsen, and Dwayne Allen from Weeks 5-7. Missing two linebackers can't help. However, neither Dray nor Barnidge are going to be targeted a lot, and Jordan Cameron is still out.
  
  
• K Billy Cundiff - He is 8/8 in his past three games and Cleveland has struggled to score touchdowns, but kicking might be tougher tonight with winds near 18 MPH. I'd probably find a better alternative than Cundiff this week, but he's not a sit because he's been accurate.
  
  
• DEF/ST Cleveland - In the Bengals' first four games, they were sacked once and threw just one interception. Over their last four games, they've been sacked 9 times and had 5 interceptions. However, besides being shut out by the Colts, Cincinnati still puts points on the board. The Browns' defense is averaging a respectable 9.5 fantasy points per week over their last four games. It's not the worst defensive start, but it's not money in the bank.
  

-----------

Editor's Note: FanDuel is hosting a one-week fantasy football "Double Up" league this weekend. It's $10 to join and nearly half the field doubles their money. League starts Sunday 1 PM ET and ends on Monday night. Here's the link.