After plodding through a rough Thursday night matchup, fantasy football managers now focus their attention on the crucial start and sit decisions for the Week 10 slate of games.
For the second week in a row, four teams will be on a bye, including the Kansas City Chiefs, Miami Dolphins, Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Rams.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11), or check out our start/bench list for Week 10:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals vs. Atlanta Falcons: This is not to say Murray is a must-start. However, with the bye weeks hitting hard, it’s understandable if Murray is needed. Fortunately, the Falcons have allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (20.2) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. I’d prefer to not start Murray, if possible, but there certainly are worst matchups against which to debut.
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders: This is purely matchup-based considering the Commanders have allowed the second-most fantasy points per game (21.8) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks while ranking fourth in adjusted fantasy points allowed to the position this season.
Deshaun Watson, Cleveland Browns at Baltimore Ravens: Making his return in Week 9, Watson found the end zone twice through the air but looked far away from the elite fantasy option he was early in his career. Now, he gets to go on the road to face a Ravens defense that has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game (10.2) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks. It’s an easy pass here.
Jordan Love, Green Bay Packers at Pittsburgh Steelers: Regression has finally caught up to Love after starting the season with a ridiculous 11.5% touchdown rate during the first two weeks. Since then? He has a 2.9% touchdown rate and has thrown multiple touchdowns in a game just once. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh’s defense is allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game (11.3) to opposing quarterbacks over the last five weeks.
Running Back
Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills: Coming out of the bye week and off his first RB1 finish of the season in Week 8, Williams should be leading a Denver backfield against a Bills defense allowing the 10th-most PPR points per game (23.1) over the last five weeks. He’s an RB2 play with upside.
James Cook, Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos: In the same game, the usage for Cook has been a bit frustrating, especially his sporadic target share riding a see-saw every week. But the Broncos provide a get-right opportunity, allowing the ninth-most PPR points per game (23.3) to the position over the last five weeks.
Rhamondre Stevenson, New England Patriots vs. Indianapolis Colts: This game takes place in Germany, so keep that in mind. Stevenson should run all over a Colts defense that’s allowing the second-most PPR points per game (28.8) over the last five games and the most rushing touchdowns to the position this season.
Sit ‘Em
Devin Singletary, Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals: Sure, the peripheral numbers support Singletary as a fringe RB2 or flex option. But we also have to acknowledge that Singletary simply hasn’t looked good, and Houston doesn’t care about forcing the run when C.J. Stroud can put up historic games if needed. Singletary is more of a desperation flex play, at best, despite the potential for a shoot-out in this game.
Gus Edwards, Baltimore Ravens vs. Cleveland Browns: I’m not all that confident in this take, because as we saw in Week 9, Edwards can score twice on just five carries. Consider this a sign saying Edwards isn’t a must-start against Browns defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest PPR points per game (16.1) to running backs over the last five weeks. But it’s understandable if he’s the best of flex options.
Zack Moss, Indianapolis Colts at New England Patriots: It’s Jonathan Taylor‘s backfield now, and Moss is likely going to be used as a change-of-pace back, dashing any hopes of a potential sleeper performance in Germany.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
DK Metcalf, Seattle Seahawks vs. Washington Commanders: Typically Metcalf wouldn’t qualify because most managers would be starting him regardless. However, he’s failed to finish inside the top-20 yet this season and hasn’t finished as a WR2 since Week 3. This is this get-right game as the Commanders have allowed the seventh-most PPR points per game (37.6) to the position over the last five weeks.
Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Though, Aiyuk didn’t put up the type of numbers we’d hoped during Deebo Samuel‘s absence, he has posted a stout 29% target share over his last five games. Meanwhile, the Jaguars have allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game (41.1) over the last five weeks.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Hopkins has posted a 27% target share in the two games with Will Levis under center and now gets to take on a Bucs defense that is allowing the most PPR points per game (52.5) to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Jakobi Meyers, Las Vegas Raiders vs. New York Jets: Part of me wanted to put Davante Adams here, but my cowardice got in the way. Meyers salvaged his day in Week 9 with a rushing touchdown but otherwise posted a 2-38-0 line on five targets. The Jets have been an utterly brutal matchup for wideouts, allowing the fewest PPR points per game (17.1) to the position over the last five weeks.
Jerry Jeudy, Denver Broncos at Buffalo Bills: The matchup against the Bills is a favorable one on paper, but Jeudy needs to earn our trust back coming out of the bye week. He’s averaging just four receptions and 48 yards per game this season, and he’s found the end zone only one time. It’s best to keep Jeudy on the bench if possible until he shows more consistency.
Zay Flowers, Baltimore Ravens at Cleveland Browns: I’ve been calling Flowers a starting option over the last few weeks hoping his talent would win out, but that hasn’t been the case. With just one WR2 finish since Week 2, Flowers has to stay on the bench against a Browns defense allowing the third-fewest adjusted fantasy points to the position.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Dalton Schultz, Houston Texans at Cincinnati Bengals: There may not be a better play at the position this week than Schultz. Over his last five games, he’s averaged 15.7 PPR points per game and a 25% per-game target share. In Week 10, he gets to take on a Bengals defense allowing the seventh-most PPR points per game (16.2) over the last five weeks to the position.
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints at Minnesota Vikings: Yes, Hill is back in our lives as a suitable fantasy asset. His touchdown rate probably isn’t sustainable, but the position is so barren he’s a worthy start in almost every matchup. They are using him more as a receiver, which helps, and the Vikings have allowed the eighth-most PPR points per game (16.1) to the position over the last five weeks, which also helps.
Sit ‘Em
Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals: Pitts hasn’t played more than 60% of the snaps in a game since Week 4, and the Cardinals have allowed the 11th-fewest PPR points per game (10.7) to the position over the last five weeks.
Cade Otton, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs. Tennessee Titans: The second-year tight end made me look like a fool with a 6-70-2 line in Week 9 after listing him as a sit. Maybe I’m just stubborn, but the matchup against the Titans isn’t all that exciting as they’ve allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (9.0) to the position over the last five weeks, which includes zero touchdowns allowed in that span.
