Both Joe Mixon and Tony Pollard were expected to be big focal points of their offense this year. At times, the two running backs have put up big numbers. However, what has hurt them in fantasy is they have been too inconsistent. Both of these guys are capable of having big games but have also had games that have left their fantasy managers scratching their heads.
So, which is the best choice to start on your fantasy football team in Week 10?
Should You Start Tony Pollard or Joe Mixon This Week?
In the Pro Football Network Start/Sit Optimizer, our Consensus Rankings say Mixon is the player to start. His projected 14.1 points include 50 rushing yards, two receptions, and 23 receiving yards. That stat line slightly outperforms the consensus projections for Pollard (13.5 points).
Both guys are expected to have big weeks, but I will go with Pollard on this. He is going up against the New York Giants this week, a team he has had a lot of success against.
Fantasy Outlook for Pollard This Week
In the opener this year, he carried the ball 14 times for 70 yards and two touchdowns in the win against the Giants. Since then, though, he hasn’t gotten in the end zone at all. The Cowboys have a pretty good offensive line, but it is much better at pass-blocking than rushing.
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In the loss against the Eagles last week, he had 12 carries for 51 yards, and he is starting to get back to being an efficient runner. He is averaging 4.4 yards the last two weeks, after averaging 2.8 in the previous two.
Dallas figures to be in control of this game early, so Pollard could find himself getting a lot of carries.
It would be a welcome sight for Cowboys fans and fantasy managers, who’ve had to endure Pollard’s 35.3 rushing yards per game and 3.1 yards per carry over the running back’s last three contests.
In what is obviously a tough decision between these two players, the pick here is Pollard, with the matchup serving as the tiebreaking factor. Pollard has a solid recent track record facing this Giants team.
Dating back to the beginning of the 2021 season, Pollard is averaging 76.8 rush yards per game in five meetings against New York, and he’s tallied at least two receptions in four of those contests.
Fantasy Outlook for Mixon This Week
Mixon, in his last four games, has two outings under 40 rushing yards and two above 80. That has been the issue with him the entire season. When Mixon is at his best, he is capable of being a top-10 RB in fantasy. He is also an effective receiver out of the backfield, as he has 24 catches on the season.
He has gotten the ball a lot as of late, as he is averaging 20.5 touches in his last four games. Catching the ball has been a big part of his resurgence, as he has at least three catches in his last four games.
While Pollard draws the lowly Giants defense, Mixon’s Bengals take on the Texans, a team that has held each of its last four opponents under 100 total rushing yards.
Both of these guys could have a big game, but the Cowboys figure to get up on the Giants early and run the ball a lot.
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