The fantasy football playoff push is upon us. Our starts and sits that we make will be oh so crucial with just six weeks of action left. Our sits for Week 9 saw great calls in regards to Geno Smith, Marquise Brown, Alexander Mattison, and Logan Thomas. Sam Howell was a sit and delivered his fourth QB1 week in the last five games.
Dalton Kincaid and Rachaad White both finished top 10 in their position. White was the RB1 and has had three consecutive weeks as a RB1. He is a line-up lock going forward. In Week 10, there are four teams on a bye week and three of them are some of the best offenses in football. With the Eagles, Dolphins, and Chiefs on a bye week, a ton of managers will be having a rough week. Let’s find out who we should be starting with the bye week of death.
Week 10 Starts and Sits
Quarterback Sits
Trevor Lawrence vs. San Francisco 49ers
Trevor Lawrence has been playing at his floor for the first eight games of his third year in the NFL. Although there is only room to go up from here, Lawrence just has not been that guy we thought he was going to be this season. He is currently the QB19 on a ppg basis, worse than last season. He is also on pace to throw less than his 25 touchdown total from a year ago, too.
Now, a home game against the San Francisco 49ers awaits as both teams are fresh off a bye in Week 9. Newly added defensive end, Chase Young for the Niners will look to add more firepower to one of the best defensive lines in football. With allowing just 14.89 fantasy ppg to opposing QBs, Lawrence makes the sit side of things in starts and sits for Week 10.
Russell Wilson @ Buffalo Bills
The Buffalo Bills are currently sitting outside the AFC playoff picture. After a tough loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bills will look to beat the Denver Broncos to make themselves feel better and a much-needed win. Russell Wilson has improved in a major way from last season, too. The problem is the Bills are allowing the fifth-fewest ppg to opposing QBs and Wilson is no Joe Burrow.
Wilson has had 20 or more points after bye weeks in six of his 12 NFL seasons. At a 50% rate, there is no issue sitting Wilson against a Bills team angry after another loss to the Bengals.
Running Back Sits
Alexander Mattison vs. New Orleans Saints
Alexander Mattison is not good and should go back to being a handcuff for an NFL team. The only reason Mattison is not droppable is because of his snap share. He is currently ninth in snap share and opportunity share percentage. Still, he has a 1.3 TD rate which is just 17th overall, and a 0.63 fantasy points per opportunity, 57th overall.
With a Saints defense that is giving up the fifth-fewest points to the position AND Josh Dobbs’ rushing ability, Mattison is my favorite sit out of all the sits in starts and sits for Week 10. Don’t overthink it. Mattison was a miss this season and should be kept on the bench.
Gus Edwards vs. Cleveland Browns
The Cleveland Browns have a top-three defense in the NFL. Gus Edwards has been a touchdown-dependent play. Although he has paid off with six touchdowns over the past three games. The Browns have allowed just THREE total touchdowns to opposing RBs this season. With that being said, it is warranted to be cautious with Gus Edwards as he is averaging just 5.66 ppg in games with no touchdowns.
James Connor @ Atlanta Falcons
James Conner should be back for the Arizona Cardinals in Week 10. The only issue is two things. Kyler Murray will be back. Connor is averaging just 50 rush ypg and 20 receiving ypg with Murray as his QB. It also does not help as the Falcons have allowed just THREE touchdowns to RBs and they have been receiving touchdowns. James Connor has three receiving touchdowns in 16 games with Murray. Sit Connor in what should be a game where Kyler Murray is the sole star of the show.
Wide Receiver Sits
Tee Higgins vs. Houston Texans
Although the Buccaneers and Texans combined for 76 points, the leading receiver on the Buccaneers had 87 yards. The Texans are coming and they are closer than we all expect. Tee Higgins and Ja’Marr Chase never go off together. With Higgins having a good game in Week 9, it is Chase’s turn in Week 10. After his worst performance since Week 2, this superstar receiver will make sure he gets his in a Week 10 match-up. I’d sit Higgins against a team giving up the third-fewest ppg to opposing WRs.
DJ Moore vs. Carolina Panthers
Yes, a “revenge” game narrative can be said for DJ Moore. I think that is partially true and only IF Justin Fields suits up. He has had back-to-back games of under 10 fantasy points and it is clear he needs Fields. Moore has a 100% (1st) route participation and 93.9% (5th) snap share but has not done anything impressive since his consecutive games as a top-five receiver.
The Panthers are currently allowing the fifth-fewest ppg to opposing WRs and I fear if Fields does not see the field in Week 10, it will be a long night for Moore against his former team.
Amari Cooper @ Baltimore Ravens
Amari Cooper is in store for a tough game in Week 10. He was the WR98. Yes, the WR98 the last time he faced the Ravens in Week 4. The Ravens seem to key in on the opposing offenses top weapon and they did that in Week 4. It will happen again in Week 10 as the Ravens are arguably, the best team in all of football.
Baltimore is giving up the sixth-fewest ppg to WRs and has allowed just four receiving touchdowns all season, the fourth fewest. Cooper is my favorite receiver sit in starts and sits this week.
Tight End Sits
Cole Kmet vs. Carolina Panthers
The same thing I said about Gus Edwards can be said about Cole Kmet. Currently the TE5 on a ppg basis coming off a two-touchdown game. Kmet has been Tyson Bagnet’s safety blanket as Kmet has seen consecutive games of over 17 fantasy points. The issue is without TDs in games, Kmet is averaging just 7 ppg. The Panthers have allowed just two touchdowns to opposing TE’s in nine weeks. I’d rather avoid a dud and sit Kmet for the Week 10 Thursday night game.
Jake Ferguson vs. New York Giants
Week 1 saw Jake Ferguson’s worst game this season. The problem is that he faces that same team in Week 10. The New York Giants have given up just ONE touchdown to TEs. They have also given up just 31 receptions which is the third best. In a game that was dominated by the Cowboy’s defense, the same should be said for Week 10.
A rookie by the name of Tommy Devito will be starting for the Giants as Tyrod Taylor is out and Daniel Jones tore his ACL in Week 9. It should be a fun time for fantasy managers rostering the Cowboys’ defense. I would be hesitant to start any Cowboys player besides Ceedee Lamb (he is HIM) and Tony Pollard. Even with the lackluster play, the Giants give up the sixth most points to opposing RBs.
Quarterback Starts
Jared Goff @ Los Angeles Chargers
Jared Goff is a top-five option at the QB position in Week 10. With three of the five top QBs on a bye, this is what it has come to. This is not to take Goff lightly as he is having his best fantasy season since 2018. In Week 10, he gets the Chargers, the team giving up the third most ppg to opposing QBs.
This game has the chance to be the highest scoring game featuring two lethal play callers on each offense. I expect Goff to have his first QB1 performance since Week 6 and is a must-start everywhere.
Bryce Young @ Chicago Bears
There is no need to give an obvious answer. These decisions must be key with research. This might be Bryce Young’s best chance to finish as a QB1 this season. The Bears are the worst team in terms of ppg to opposing QBs. Also, they have given up 20 touchdowns which is the most, and 256.9 ypg (5th most).
This is Young’s best chance to prove he deserved to be the 1.01 and if not, dynasty managers across the globe will start panicking in a big way.
Running Back Starts
Chuba Hubbard @ Chicago Bears
I am running it back again with Chuba Hubbard. He was a start a couple of weeks ago in starts and sits, but did not produce enough. Now, he gets a redemption shot against the eighth-worst team in terms of ppg allowed to RBs. Hubbard has also taken over the RB1 crown for the Carolina Panthers. Miles Sanders signed with them this past off-season, too. After Sanders came back from injury, he never got the starting gig back.
In the past two weeks, Hubbard has had a higher snap share with 65.7% and 66.2% snap share. This is compared to Sanders snap share which has been 17.9% and 26.8%. It is safe to say that Sanders is not getting that RB1 spot back. Hubbard is in one of the best spots for an RB and should see 20 or more touches in a Thursday night showdown.
Khalil Herbert vs. Carolina Panthers
In what should be his first game back, it is Khalil Herbert’s time. I apologize to the fantasy managers who have been starting D’Onta Foreman. Since his three-touchdown game, he has had just 12.4 points in the past two games combined. Herbert is averaging practically an entire ypc more than Foreman (0.9).
The Panthers have also allowed the most total touchdowns to RBs this season. If Herbert does not play, this turns into a D’Onta Foreman start account. If Herbert is playing, he is a top-20 RB in his first game back from injury.
Pittsburgh Steelers Running Backs vs. Green Bay Packers
The Green Bay Packers can not stop the run and will never be able to. It seems every single season, the defense has the same weakness. A lot of the top-tier Running Backs have fantastic match-ups and do not need a write-up to justify starting them. Now, a third-round ADP Najee Harris who has not lived up to his ADP needs a write-up.
Harris and Jaylen Warren were both able to produce double-digit games (15.6 & 14.3). Now, going against a team giving up over 20 fantasy ppg and 131.7 total yards to RBs, the Steelers RBs are both great options in Week 10.
Wide Receiver Starts
Washington Commanders WRs @ Seattle Seahawks
The Washington Commanders against the Seattle Seahawks might be the most high-scoring game in Week 10. Both of these defenses are in the bottom 10 of most ppg allowed to WRs. The last time Sam Howell faced off against a bottom ten defense against WRs was the New England Patriots in Week 9.
Howell has faced bottom ten defenses in consecutive weeks and has thrown for 722 yards in both games combined. This is fabulous news for his receivers who are constantly getting passes thrown their way. The Commanders are also a bottom-three team in defending the WR position. Both QBs should each have over 300 yards with the top three Commander WRs all being starts in starts and sits for Week 10.
DeAndre Hopkins @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Just like with Chuba Hubbard, I am running it back with DeAndre Hopkins. The Buccaneers just got torched by CJ Stroud and gave up 100-plus receiving yards to three different receivers in Week 10. Now, the veteran receiver gets a jab against this horrid secondary who is giving up over 200 ypg to WRs.
Plug Hopkins in as your WR2 in Week 10. With another week under center, expect Levis to be relaxed early on and find his top option for over eight catches in Week 10.
Marquise Brown @ Atlanta Falcons
Kyler Murray is returning from his ACL injury and Marquise Brown couldn’t be any happier. The Falcons are 18th in terms of ppg allowed to WRs. The issue is that they have given up 11 touchdowns to WRs which is third most. Josh Dobbs had Brown as a top 20 WR in total points and a top 32 WR in ppg. Both of these numbers should be expected to take a bump up with Murray back under center. Brown is the most intriguing player in starts and sits, not knowing how Kyler Murray will bounce back in his season debut.
Tight End Starts
Trey McBride @ Atlanta Falcons
Trey McBride’s 5.2-point game in Week 9 is okay. He faced the Browns who have one of, if not, the best defense in all of the NFL. He gets a softer match-up against the team giving up the 12th most ppg to TEs. With Murray back, every Cardinal pass catcher gets a severe bump up in terms of what their production can be. This is for the Travis Kelce manager. You are missing your first-round pick and need the most upside you can get. This is one of the better options in Week 10.
Dalton Kincaid vs. Denver Broncos
This is my lock. My smash start in starts and sits and whatever else you want to call it. In Week 9, my bold take was that Dalton Kincaid would be the overall TE1. He finished as the TE8 but saw over 10 targets and had ten catches. With Knox out for at least two more weeks, Kincaid might of earned himself the TE1 crown on the Buffalo Bills.
Kincaid faced the worst team against TEs in Week 9 and now gets the second-worst team in the Denver Broncos. Josh Allen and the Bills have won the following week after suffering a loss the prior week. Look for Allen and Kincaid to connect early in this Monday night game and for him to have another TE1 finish, but this time, the overall TE1.
Week 10 Fantasy Football Rankings: Quarterback | Running Back | Wide Receiver | Tight End | Half-PPR by Position | Flex Rankings | Positional Ranks w/ K & DST | Dynasty | Superflex Dynasty