College Fantasy Football: Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em for Notre Dame Week 10

The Notre Dame football team returns to South Bend this week to take on Virginia Tech. The Irish are hoping to bounce back after a bad loss to Michigan last weekend.

The Notre Dame football team had an all-time bad performance on the football field in Michigan Stadium last weekend. As a result, all Irish players not named Cole Kmet had subpar day in fantasy football.

The expectations for Notre Dame players in fantasy football have certainly been lowered for the remainder of the season. However, they have a relatively favorable schedule over the next five weeks, and some Irish players can help you win games in the fantasy football playoffs.

In the off chance that you did not drop all Notre Dame players from your fantasy football roster after their last game, here is the latest installment of start ’em sit ’em.

Start ‘Em

Cole Kmet (TE)

Death, taxes, and Cole Kmet catching touchdowns. In what was a terrible game for Notre Dame, Kmet was one of the few bright spots. He continues to be one of the top red zone targets for the Ian Book and the Irish offense.

Kmet will command more and more attention from opposing defenses moving forward. Despite that, he has the talent to still be a productive tight end. You can keep him in your starting lineup for the next five weeks without thinking twice about it.

Notre Dame Defense (D/ST)

Last weekend, the Notre Dame defense surrendered the most points in a single since the season finale against USC in 2016. Though it was a poor performance, I do not believe it was indicative of how they will play the remainder of the season.

I think the Irish defense bounces back this week against the Hokies. They have not forced a turnover in their last two games. I think that drought ends on Saturday. It will either be a forced fumble from one of the defensive ends or an interception from one of the safeties (or maybe, just maybe, both).

Sit ‘Em

Ian Book (QB)

Everyone and their mommas are criticizing Ian Book this week. Some of that criticism is warranted, but some of it (shocker) is way over the top. Despite some calls for it, the Irish will not be making a change a starting quarterback this week.

Notre Dame fans have reason to be dissatisfied with Book’s performance. Against Power 5 opponents this season, Book has been average at best.

Until he shows some improvement, it is best to look for other options at quarterback in fantasy football.

Tony Jones Jr. and Jafar Armstrong (RB)

Going into the Michigan game, there were questions about how the workload would be divided among the Notre Dame running backs. That game did not give us many answers.

Tony Jones Jr. is still the lead back. He led all running backs last Saturday with eight carries and two catches. Jones likely would have received more touches if he did not have to leave the game with a rib injury. Jahmir Smith and Jafar Armstrong were not far behind in that game, but they were complimentary backs at best.

I think we will see Armstrong’s role expand this week, but I do not see that role being large enough to warrant putting him in your starting lineup. At best he is 1B to Jones’ 1A.

Jones should still have a solid workload this Saturday, but there is a small chance he sees a dip in snaps due to the injury he suffered against Michigan.