As we come to the halfway point of the NFL season, fantasy owners have the responsibility of putting their team in the best position to make a final playoff push.

There are four teams on a bye in week 10, the Baltimore Ravens, Kansas City Chiefs, Oakland Raiders and Philadelphia Eagles.  This four-some includes three of the league’s top five players in terms of fantasy points this season (Alex Smith, Kareem Hunt, Carson Wentz).

Aside from bye weeks, fantasy owners will be without the service of Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans who is serving a one game suspension, while his Tampa Bay teammate, quarterback, Jameis Winston will also be absent in week 10 as he has been shut down with a shoulder injury. In additional injury news, New England’s wide receiver, Chris Hogan is listed as doubtful for the Patriots matchup with the Denver Broncos. Hogan is ranked 18th among fantasy wideouts averaging 13 points per game along with 5 touchdowns on the season.

Quarterbacks

Quarterbacks are a scarcity this week with the previously mentioned absence of fantasy’s top two quarterbacks Smith and Wentz along with Winston and Derek Carr. Winston’s replacement, Ryan Fitzpatrick has potential for a big week as he takes on his former team the New York Jets. In week 6 Fitzpatrick threw for 290 yards and 3 touchdowns, turning in a solid 20 point performance against Arizona. In the opposing locker room, also facing one of his former teams,  Josh McCown has become a must start at this point in the season. McCown’s 16 total touchdowns, 13 through the air and three on the ground, ranks him as the 10th fantasy quarterback, yet the 15 year veteran is still owned in just 35% of leagues. If McCown has already been taken in your league Indianapolis Colts signal caller, Jacoby Brissett is another viable option. Brissett is owned in just 19% of leagues and has 126 fantasy points so far this season, more points than Matt Ryan and Derek Carr who are owned in more than 88% fantasy leagues.

Running backs

NFL trade deadline healinder Jay Ajayi, also headlined fantasy matchups in week 9 as he reached the end zone in his debut with his new team, the Philadelphia Eagles . Ajayi solidified himself as a top tier running back and a must start going forward. With Philadelphia on a bye this week, Washington Redskins running back Rob Kelley is a strong starting candidate at the position after scoring three touchdowns in the last two weeks. Additional fantasy performers at the position are Matt Forte of the Jets and Tarik Cohen of the Chicago Bears.  Forte reached the end zone twice last week in New York’s commanding 34-21 victory over the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football, and has now scored double digit fantasy points in 4 straight games while being owned in just 56% of leagues. Cohen has averaged 10 points a game so far ranking him 22nd among fantasy running backs and will take on a suspect Green Bay defense on Sunday.

Wide Receivers 

With Hogan listed as doubtful fantasy owners should look into Danny Amendola who will most likely pick up that workload. Amendola is owned in just 54% of leagues and will face a Denver defense that surrendered a season high 51 points last week. Staying in the AFC East Jets receiver Robby Anderson could be a better option than big name target, Will Fuller IV going forward due with the injury to Deshaun Watson. Anderson is coming off of 4 straight double digit fantasy performances along with 3 straight games with a touchdown. Anderson could be this week’s hottest waiver wire pickup as he is owned in just 45% of leagues, averaging 11 points per game.

Defense

Defenses worth starting with week would be the Pittsburgh Steelers as they are facing the Colts who rank 25th in the league in points per game. The Detroit Lions will take on the Cleveland Browns who are ranked 31st on the list of points per game this season, while Detroit’s defense is ranked 4th among fantasy defenses this season and will be home in week 10.