It seems like only yesterday that the Baltimore Ravens and Kansas City Chiefs kicked off the 2024 season. But here we are, in Week 10. The stretch is right around the corner — and for every fantasy manager taking Easy Street, there’s another one taking Desperation Drive.

And let me tell you, this is a bad part of town.

For teams sitting at 4-5 or 3-6, there is little margin for error — if any. There were too many losses and not enough gains. Bad decisions. Bad beats. Injuries.

The thing is, it doesn’t matter how we got here (Yes, I said “we”. No, I don’t want to talk about that.). All that matters now is the reversal of this trend. Stacking some gains. Make a push for the postseason.

It can be done. I once won a championship with a team that was 3-7 after 10 weeks. He snuck in as the No. 1 seed. 6, got hot in the playoffs and pissed off a lot of people with better records.

Of course, getting those wins means earning points. Getting everything possible out of your roster and into your starting lineup. And that means “taken over” positions like team defense and kicking become much more important. Connecting the right defense can be the difference between winning and losing. And a win in Week 10 can be the difference between the playoffs and a disappointing end to the season.

I’m not sure if that puts more pressure on you or me, but either way, let’s get to it.

THOSE WHO DO NOT DOUBT

Los Angeles Chargers (vs. Tennessee Titans)

The Los Angeles Chargers have been a pleasant surprise at 5-3 this season, with Khalil Mack, Derwin James and the NFL’s No. 1 defense giving up just 12.6 points per game. Chargers are too fourth among all defenses this season in fantasy points, the game is at SoFi Stadium and the Titans surrendered more fantasy points per game on defense this season than any team in the NFL. We didn’t come into the season looking at the Bolts as a starter every week on defense – but that’s essentially where we are.

Minnesota Vikings (at Jacksonville Jaguars)

After a Week 8, the Vikings defense was at it again for fantasy managers against the Indianapolis Colts – three sacks, two takeaways and only six points allowed to the Fighting Flaccos offense. On paper, the Vikings face a better offense in the Jaguars this week. But games aren’t played on paper, and the Jaguars have been a mess more often than not this season. The Jaguars are short-handed at receiver, battered at running back, and the team traded its starting left tackle to the, um, Minnesota Vikings.

Chicago Bears (vs. New England Patriots)

The Bears are coming off a lopsided loss to the Arizona Cardinals, but that was more for Caleb Williams and the offense than the Bears defense. I know, you are amazed. Only the Minnesota Vikings have scored more fantasy points on defense this season than the Bears, and while Drake Maye has given the Patriots offense a boost, we’re still talking about a team that ranks outside the top-20 in yards per game, 30th in the league in points per game and fifth in fantasy points per game allowed to the team’s defense.

Buffalo Bills (at Indianapolis Colts)

The Bills won the shootout last week against the Miami Dolphins, but Buffalo has been decent defensively this season – eighth in the league in points allowed per game and 10th in the NFL in fantasy points. The Colts made a move on Joe Flacco at quarterback last week, but he didn’t shake up the offense — he scored just six points against the Vikings and managed just 227 yards of offense. For the season, the Colts have surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points per game to the defense over the last two weeks.

San Francisco 49ers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

It’s been an up-and-down 2024 season for the 49ers, but the defense has been a relatively consistent presence — 10th in the league in yards per game allowed and seventh among all defenses in fantasy points. The Niners face Baker Mayfield and the Buccaneers have been struggling since the week at guard, and with injuries piling up, Mayfield has pressured the action in the passing game. That opens up the possibility of mistakes, and those are a good thing for opposing defenses. Mayfield’s nine interceptions this season are second-most in the NFL.

Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)

The Denver Broncos are an impossible team to figure out. One week in, it looks like the Broncos are making real strides offensively. Then, just like last week’s scrimmage in Baltimore, all that progress seemingly evaporates in a cloud of blah, and Bo Nix is ​​back to looking very much like a rookie quarterback. Denver is unlikely to be able to carry the ball against Kansas City’s third-ranked run defense. That will force Nix to throw the ball — and that means passing opportunities and a chance to rebound.

Don’t miss the episodes from Fantasy Football Happy Hour with Matthew Berry and Rotoworld football show all season for the latest player news, waiver help, starting/seating tips and more.

STREAMERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE!

Philadelphia Eagles (at Dallas Cowboys)

The Philadelphia Eagles have struggled defensively this season — especially against the pass. For this year, the Eagles ranked in the middle of the pack in fantasy points. But that has more to do with who the Eagles play than how the Eagles play. The Cowboys have already been a favorable fantasy matchup for the defense – ranking 11th in fantasy points per game given up on defense this season. Now, with Dak Prescott out indefinitely with a hamstring injury, the Cowboys will move Cooper Rush to quarterback.

New York Giants (at Carolina Panthers)

Who’s ready for some bratwurst and lederhosen? Next week, the Giants face the Panthers in Germany in a game that could reset international relations with that country for years. The Giants haven’t been a particularly good defense this year, but the team has more than a little talent on that side of the ball — especially in the front seven. The Panthers have been one of the worst offenses in the league this season – 30th in yards per game and 29th in points per game. The Panthers have also surrendered the third-most fantasy points per game to the team’s defense over the past month.

Atlanta Falcons (at New Orleans Saints)

The Falcons are first in the NFC South, but the defense hasn’t done much for fantasy managers – Atlanta is 25th in the league in fantasy points among defenses. But this week’s matchup with the Saints is extremely favorable — no team in the NFC has given up more fantasy points per game to a defense in the past month, and New Orleans got quarterback Derek Carr back just in time to fire their coach main and to lose. No. 1 wide receiver. If ever there was a week for the Falcons to post a fat stat line, this is it.

New England Patriots (at Chicago Bears)

It’s been a rough season for the New England Patriots, and last week’s loss to the Tennessee Titans was a new low. For the season, the Patriots are 26th in total defense and 29th in fantasy points among defenses. But the Pats have deeper streaming appeal in the league this week, in large part because of their opponent. The Bears are a .500 team, but the offense has been all over the place. The last two weeks have been tough – the Bears are allowing double-digit points per game during this stretch and Caleb Williams was hurt in last week’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

CAVEAT EMPTOR, PEOPLE

Pittsburgh Steelers (at Washington Commanders)

The Steelers come out of their bye week an impressive 6-2 on the season, thanks in large part to TJ Watt, Cameron Heyward and a Steelers defense that ranks ninth in yards allowed per game, second in points allowed per game and fifth among all fantasy defenses in points per game. However, the Steelers will have their hands full this week with Jayden Daniels and the Washington Commanders – Washington is third in the NFL in scoring and has surrendered the defense in 2024, the third fewest fantasy points per game.

Gary Davenport was a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow X at @IDPSharks.