Week 10 FanDuel Tournament Pivots

Running Back

Chalk:

David Johnson should pace the position in ownership in a premium matchup against the San Francisco 49ers. Fellow talented second-year backs Melvin Gordon and Jay Ajayi also are in good spots for production, and they'll be popular options.

Pivots:

Ezekiel Elliott, $8,900 (at Pittsburgh Steelers): Ezekiel Elliott has taken the league by storm in his rookie year and is coming off of a week in which he was the chalk at running back -- he will not have low ownership. However, David Johnson and Melvin Gordon are at the top of everyone's boards this weekend, while many more have interest in Le'Veon Bell given Pittsburgh's 26.25-point implied team total. With several elite receivers in great spots as well, people are going to have a tough time fitting Elliott's salary into their lineups.

Elliott's matchup might not be quite as tasty as that of Johnson or Gordon, but the Pittsburgh Steelers are far from an intimidating defense. Pittsburgh has allowed the fifth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing running backs this season, along with a healthy 4.2 yards per carry on the ground.

Don't get me wrong, Johnson and Gordon's paths to success are slightly more clear this week and they are the preferable cash game options. However, the possibility is there that the Arizona Cardinals (13.5-point favorites) choose to rest Johnson in the second half while playing with a huge lead. The possibility is there that Rivers accounts for the majority of the scoring for San Diego and Gordon is left with just an average game. If one or both of those players flop from a fantasy perspective and Zeke goes off, you will be at a huge advantage over the field in tournaments.

Tim Hightower, $6,200 (vs Denver Broncos): On the cheaper end, Tim Hightower has assumed the role of the starting running back for the New Orleans Saints, out-snapping Mark Ingram 84-to-39 and out-touching him 51-to-20 over the past two weeks. He's topped 100 yards from scrimmage in back to back weeks and should continue to dominate the early down work for the Saints.

With New Orleans listed as 2.5-point home favorites, Hightower could see a huge workload against a Denver Broncos defense that has really struggled against the run. Denver has allowed 4.4 yards per carry (eighth-worst), the ninth-most FanDuel points per game to opposing backs, and just allowed Latavius Murray to garner 114 yards and 3 touchdowns.