The Sneaky Starts sensation is rapidly becoming a global phenomenon. That statement may or may not be true, but I feel like it should be. It was another very successful week, capped by my call of Carolina wide receiver Xavier Legette. I went 6-3 overall, using a standard roster in a 12-team league as a barometer. Of course, now that I have talked smack, this week’s picks will probably fail miserably. That has kind of been my thing. Well, there is only one way to find out. It is time to reveal my Week 10 Sneaky Starts! As always, these players have started in less than 50 percent of Fantrax leagues. I expect all of these players to, at the very least, exceed expectations based on the percentage started. The goal is to highlight players who can provide starter-level production in fantasy football leagues.
Week 10 Sneaky Starts for Fantasy Football
Quarterback
Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (16th among Quarterbacks)
My Current Week 10 Rank: QB14
This week 14 quarterbacks are being started in at least 50 percent of Fantrax leagues. I am kind of bummed because the last of that lot is Tua Tagovailoa at exactly 50 percent. Tagovailoa is my QB12 this week, so he would have been an ideal Week 10 sneaky start. Instead, I have to pivot a bit. I am going with Justin Herbert of the Los Angeles Chargers.
Los Angeles has adjusted their offensive philosophy in recent weeks. Before their Week 5 bye, Herbert attempted just 91 passes in four games. Since the bye, Herbert has thrown the ball 132 times. And this is not predicated on a negative game script, either. Los Angeles has had a PROE (pass rate over expected) of greater than five percent in each of their last three games. This change has helped lead Herbert to consecutive top-12 weekly fantasy finishes. The Chargers face the Tennessee Titans this week. Tennessee ranks fifth in DVOA against the run but just 14th versus the pass. This could lead to Los Angeles leaning toward Herbert even more. With Quentin Johnston healthy and Ladd McConkey proving to be a reliable option, the arrow is pointing up on the Chargers’ passing game.
Other Quarterbacks to Consider
- Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets
Current Start Percentage: 43 Percent (18th among quarterbacks)
My Current Week 10 Rank: QB15
Running Backs
Rico Dowdle, Dallas Cowboys
Current Start Percentage: 47 Percent (30th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: RB26
Public Service Announcement: Christian McCaffrey is currently only being started in 49 percent of Fantrax leagues. But I cannot in good conscience list him as a Week 10 sneaky start. If he ends up playing this week, that percentage will be at or near 100 percent. As it should be. Even if his workload is reduced a bit, McCaffrey should be started this week in all formats.
As for Rico Dowdle, he was one of my hits last week, and the Cowboys running back went way over expectations. He finished as the overall RB9 in Half-PPR scoring leagues. While fantasy managers are showing him more respect than they did a week ago at this time, he remains under the 50 percent threshold. There could be some hesitancy because quarterback Dak Prescott will be out this week with a hamstring injury. However, I believe that only bolsters Dowdle’s role going forward. Sure, the efficiency may suffer. But do we really think Cooper Rush is going to sling it all over the yard, especially with CeeDee Lamb possibly missing this game? I certainly do not. I am expecting Rico Dowdle to approach 20 touches in this game. That should be enough to make him a Flex option in most situations.
Bucky Irving, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Current Start Percentage: 41 Percent (34th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: RB29
As is the case with Rico Dowdle, I am running it back with Bucky Irving in Week 10. Unlike Dowdle, Irving was a miss last week. And a bad one at that. Irving finished outside the top 40 in Half-PPR scoring. But the rookie has still finished as a top-24 fantasy back in three of his last four and five of his last seven games. I think he can approach that threshold this week. The matchup is not ideal against the San Francisco 49ers. But San Francisco ranks second in the NFL in DVOA versus the pass compared to 19th against the run. With Tampa Bay missing their top two wide receivers in Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, I expect them to lean more on the run game. That means that Bucky Irving has a solid path to double-digit fantasy points.
Other Running Backs to Consider
- Tank Bigsby, Jacksonville Jaguars
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (31st among Running Backs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: RB31 - Jaylen Warren, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current Start Percentage: 31 Percent (37th among Running Backs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: RB32
Wide Receivers
Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions
Current Start Percentage: 32 Percent (44th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR34
Jameson Williams has hardly been the model of consistency, on or off the field. Williams has played six games this season. He has finished as a WR2 or better four times and has finished outside the top 100 wideouts (yes, really) in the other two. Williams has also missed the last two games due to a suspension. He should return this week in time for Detroit’s matchup with the Houston Texans. The Texans have given up production to the wide receiver position this year. Houston has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers while holding running backs and tight ends to bottom-five numbers. Based on his current percentage, fantasy managers are treating Williams like a WR4. However, I think he is a viable WR3/Flex, albeit with some volatility to account for.
Xavier Legette, Carolina Panthers
Current Start Percentage: 36 Percent (43rd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR39
Panthers wide receiver Xavier Legette has been a touchdown-dependent fantasy commodity so far this year. Legette has scored in four of his last six games, finishing as a top-36 fantasy wideout each time. In the five games in which he has not scored, Legette has scored a combined 13.9 fantasy points. But Legette could see more volume going forward. The Panthers traded away both Diontae Johnson and Jonathan Mingo. Veteran Adam Thielen is unlikely to return from injured reserve this week. That could leave Legette to soak up more targets. His Week 10 outlook is positive against the New York Giants. New York ranks in the bottom 10 in fantasy points allowed to perimeter receivers this season. This is a good spot Legette to keep his modest hot streak going, making him an ideal Week 10 sneaky start.
Quentin Johnston, Los Angeles Chargers
Current Start Percentage: 36 Percent (42nd among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR40
Quentin Johnston is another “all or nothing” fantasy wide receiver. Johnston has also played six games this year. He has finished inside the top 30 three times, including two top-10 weekly finishes. In his other three games, he has finished no better than WR59. I think Johnston has a solid chance to surpass expectations in Week 10. As I mentioned when discussing Justin Herbert, the Los Angeles Chargers have relied more on their passing game in recent weeks. Johnston missed two games during the beginning of that wave, but posted a 4-118-1 line last week, resulting in an overall WR6 finish. A repeat of last week’s line is unlikely, but Johnston could very well clear double-digit fantasy points and post Flex-worthy numbers.
Other Wide Receivers to Consider
- Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers
Current Start Percentage: 24 Percent (57th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR41 - Rome Odunze, Chicago Bears
Current Start Percentage: 49 Percent (37th among Wide Receivers
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR42 - Keon Coleman, Buffalo Bills
Current Start Percentage: 43 Percent (39th among Wide Receivers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: WR45
Check out all of our Week 10 Rankings: QB | RB | WR | TE | Flex
Tight End
Taysom Hill, New Orleans Saints
Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (20th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 10 Rank: TE11
Taysom Hill appears to be fully healthy for the first time since early in the season, and it showed last week. The Saints’ Swiss Army knife had four catches for 41 yards and added five carries for 19 yards including a rushing touchdown. That touchdown boosted Hill to third among tight ends in fantasy scoring last week. And it is that part of his game that makes Hill a weekly candidate to enter TE1 territory. New Orleans trusts Hill with the ball down by the goal line. His touchdown upside in the run game separates him from all other players at the tight end position. With the team expected to miss top wide receiver Chris Olave for the foreseeable future, their reliance on Hill in the red zone is only likely to increase. Hill has a great chance to finish inside the top 12 again this week.
Other Tight Ends to Consider
- Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals
Current Start Percentage: 35 Percent (19th among Tight Ends)
My Current Week 10 Rank: TE19
Kicker
Chris Boswell, Pittsburgh Steelers
Current Start Percentage: 39 Percent (12th among Kickers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: K2
I do not blame fantasy managers for Chris Boswell being under 50 percent started at present. The Pittsburgh Steelers were on a bye last week, and there is no reason to stash a second kicker. Having said that, he should be added where available. Boswell enters Week 10 third in total fantasy points as well as points per game among kickers. He has also finished inside the top six in his last two games. That is significant because those are the two games started by quarterback Russell Wilson. Pittsburgh has scored 63 total points in those two games and appeared to have kicked their offense up a notch with the former Super Bowl Champion under center. Boswell should be able to post starter-level fantasy numbers and is one of my favorite sneaky starts this week.
Other Kicker to Consider
- Jake Moody, San Francisco 49ers
Current Start Percentage: 25 Percent (16th among Kickers)
My Current Week 10 Rank: K9
Defense/Special Teams
New York Giants
Current Start Percentage: 45 Percent (11th among D/STs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: D/ST6
The New York Giants defense/special teams unit has been the most added of the week. However, they are still below the 50 percent starting threshold. New York is tied for 13th among D/STs in fantasy points per game, and they have a great Week 10 matchup against the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points to opposing defense and special teams units. Bryce Young is once again slated to start for Carolina this week. The former number-one overall draft pick has thrown three interceptions in two games since returning to the starting lineup. The Giants are a solid streaming option at the D/ST position in Week 10.
Other Defense/Special Teams to Consider
- Detroit Lions
Current Start Percentage: 44 Percent (12th among D/STs)
My Current Week 10 Rank: D/ST11
Make sure to check out all of our Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings and Analysis!