Perhaps more than ever, fantasy football owners will have start 'em, sit 'em questions in Week 10. Whether it's because of injuries or the dreaded six-team bye, chances are you're hunting for waiver wire sleepers or worrying about playing potential busts. Fortunately, Sporting News NFL writer Vinnie Iyer is here to help with lineup advice and NFL DFS picks ahead of this week's matchups.
As a reminder, the six teams on bye are the Broncos, Eagles, Jaguars, Patriots, Redskins, and Texans. Key injuries to watch include Le'Veon Bell (knee), Patrick Mahomes (knee), David Johnson (ankle, back), Alvin Kamara (ankle), A.J. Green (ankle), Adam Thielen (hamstring), Jacoby Brissett (knee), Brandin Cooks (concussion), and James Conner (shoulder).
WEEK 10 NON-PPR RANKINGS
Quarterback | Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end | D/ST | Kicker
Fantasy Football Week 10 Start 'Em: Quarterbacks
Regular starts
Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at CIN), Drew Brees, Saints (vs. ATL), Russell Wilson, Seahawks (at SF), Aaron Rodgers, Packers (vs. GB), Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at TEN)
Stronger starts
Jameis Winston, Buccaneers (vs. ARI). He’s sizzling again, and the matchup is fantastic at home for him and his wideouts.
Kyler Murray, Cardinals (at TB). Murray will have fun on the other side of the shootout against the Buccaneers’ equally weak pass defense.
Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. MIN). Dak did devastating damage against the Giants, and the Vikings’ pass defense isn’t scary anymore.
Matt Ryan, Falcons (at NO). He may have some turnovers, too, but Atlanta won’t be able to run here and he’ll be throwing a lot to get back to three hundy with multiple garbage scores.
Jimmy Garoppolo, 49ers (vs. SEA). He’s on fire with Manny, and Monday he should do work on the Seahawks’ weak pass rush and coverage.
DFS bargains
Jacoby Brissett or Brian Hoyer, Colts (vs. MIA, $6,000 on DraftKings, $7,600 on FanDuel, or $5,900 on DraftKings, $7,100 on FanDuel). The matchup is great and this is a “pass-to-score” team. Either Indy QB will do nicely with a floor of likely 250 yards and two TDs.
Daniel Jones, Giants (at NYJ, $5,700 on DraftKings, $7,400 on FanDuel). For a few Danny Dimes less, you can get access to the better young New York NFL QB in a very friendly matchup in a “home away” game.
Deep streamers
Ryan Tannehill, Titans (vs. KC), Sam Darnold, Jets (vs. NYG)
WEEK 10 PPR RANKINGS: Running back | Wide receiver | Tight end
Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit 'Em: Quarterbacks
Weaker starts
Kirk Cousins, Vikings (at DAL). This totally feels like an uncomfortable big game for him on the road against a good defense.
Matthew Stafford, Lions (at CHI). He’s been awesome, but it’s really hard to light up the Bears.
Jared Goff, Rams (at PIT). He's a shaky play here against a good pass rush and secondary on the road without Brandin Cooks (concussion).
Josh Allen, Bills (at CLE). He’s getting OK digits, but it hasn’t been pretty and can turn uglier here on the road.
Deep traps
Ryan Fitzpatrick, Dolphins (at IND), Mitchell Trubisky, Bears (vs. DET)
WEEK 10 DFS LINEUPS:
Y! cash | Y! GPP | DK cash | DK GPP | FD cash | FD GPP
Fantasy Football Week 10 Start 'Em: Running backs
Regular starts
Saquon Barkley, Giants (at NYJ), Christian McCaffrey, Panthers (at GB), Ezekiel Elliott, Cowboys (vs. MIN), Dalvin Cook, Vikings (at DAL), Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. ATL), Nick Chubb, Browns (vs. BUF), Le'Veon Bell, Jets (vs. NYJ), Derrick Henry, Titans (vs. KC), Marlon Mack, Colts (vs. MIA), Mark Ingram, Ravens (at CIN), Chris Carson, Seahawks (at SF), Josh Jacobs, Raiders (vs. LAC), Aaron Jones, Packers (vs. CAR), Todd Gurley, Rams (at PIT), David Johnson, Cardinals (at TB)
Stronger starts
David Montgomery, Bears (vs. DET). The Lions are terrible at defending backs, and the Bears should feed their rookie beast often.
Tevin Coleman and Matt Breida, 49ers (vs. SEA). You gotta take a shot with both in their excellent rushing offense even in a semi-tough spot.
Damien Williams, Chiefs (at TEN). He’s the man again as the hot hand, and the Titans’ defense has gotten weaker.
Jaylen Samuels, Steelers (vs. LAR). You keep rolling with him with James Conner and Benny Snell down.
Latavius Murray, Saints (vs. ATL). He can clean up well in a lesser role behind Alvin Kamara in this spot.
Jamaal Williams, Packers (vs. CAR). All he does is do work in the offense behind Aaron Jones.
DFS bargains
Devin Singletary, Bills (at CLE, $5,000 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel). Take advantage of this cheap new feature back when you can in a fine spot, even on the road.
Ronald Jones, Buccaneers (vs. ARI, $4,300 on DraftKings, $6,300 on FanDuel). He’s starting, and there’s nothing special about the Cardinals’ run defense. He can get around 80 yards and a score at this price.
MORE WEEK 10 DFS: Stacks | Values | Lineup Builder
Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit 'Em: Running backs
Weaker starts
Joe Mixon, Bengals (vs. BAL). The bye won’t help Mixon much because the line isn’t better and the QB is worse.
Devonta Freeman, Falcons (at NO). The Saints are truly nasty against the run, and he won’t make up for it in the passing game.
Kenyan Drake, Cardinals (at TB). David Johnson is expected to be back and get most of the work here, and the matchup isn’t pleasant.
LeSean McCoy, Chiefs (at TEN). This venerable veteran has faded hard.
Frank Gore, Bills (at CLE). This venerable veteran has faded hard.
Kalen Ballage, Dolphins (at IND). There’s no Mark Walton, but you can’t trust him on the road against a sound front seven.
All Lions (at CHI). They have a half-chance to score from here this week, but not one you should reach to take.
Fantasy Football Week 10 Start 'Em: Wide receivers
Regular starts
Julio Jones, Falcons (at NO), Michael Thomas, Saints (vs ATL), Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, Buccaneers (vs. ARI), Tyreek Hill, Chiefs (at TEN), Kenny Golladay, Lions (at CHI), Amari Cooper, Cowboys (vs. MIN), Odell Beckham Jr., Browns (vs. BUF), Tyler Lockett, Seahawks (at SF), Cooper Kupp, Rams (at PIT), Keenan Allen, Chargers (at OAK), Davante Adams, Packers (vs. CAR), Stefon Diggs, Vikings (at DAL), Allen Robinson, Bears (vs. DET) Emmanuel Sanders, 49ers (vs. SEA), D.J. Moore, Panthers (at GB)
Stronger starts
Michael Gallup, Cowboys (vs. MIN). The Vikings’ cornerbacks are overrated, and he can have more fun opposite Amari Cooper.
Calvin Ridley, Falcons (vs. NO). His ability to move into the slot now will help get him free away from Julio.
Golden Tate, Giants (at NYJ). He underwhelmed against the Cowboys, but he can smash in the slot here.
Marquise Brown, Ravens (at CIN). The excellent running game should set him up for a scoring deep shot against a bad secondary.
Robby Anderson and Jamison Crowder, Jets (vs. NYG). Anderson will make a big scoring play himself on the Giants, while Crowder will eat again in the slot with Darnold.
A.J. Brown, Titans (vs. KC). The matchup might feel a little tricky, but the Chiefs struggle with receivers of his ilk and he will be targeted a lot with Corey Davis out.
Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals (at TB). The Bucs don’t have answer for him in his sweet revenge game vs. Bruce Arians.
DFS Bargains
Zach Pascal, Colts (vs. MIA, $5,300 on DraftKings, $6,400 on FanDuel). It doesn’t look good for T.Y. Hilton (calf) again and Parris Campbell (hand) is banged-up, too. He is an excellent fill-in in a terrific spot at home with either QB.
Christian Kirk, Cardinals (at TB, $5,200 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel). He’ll be a lot more active and productive this week in a smash spot.
Ted Ginn Jr. Saints (vs. ATL, $3,700 on DraftKings, $5,300 on FanDuel). He’s a nice tournament dice roll with Drew Brees back and the Falcons giving up a ton of big pass plays to wideouts.
MORE WEEK 10:
Waiver pickups | FAAB planner | Snap counts | Trade values | Fantasy playoff SOS
Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit 'Em: Wide receivers
Weaker starts
JuJu Smith-Schuster, Steelers (vs. LAR). He’s getting Jalen Ramsey, and that’s a bad development for him after a bad game.
Marvin Jones Jr. Lions (at CHI). Kenny Golladay can fight through this tough matchup to be OK, but Jones can’t.
John Brown, Bills (at CLE). He’ll get Denzel Ward and doesn’t have the size to overcome him.
Robert Woods, Rams (at PIT). He hasn’t done much to trust him in a tougher matchup than you think, and it’s been all Cooper Kupp and it will be more tight ends with Brandin Cooks (concussion) out.
DK Metcalf, Seahawks (at SF). The rookie cools off big time against a nasty pass defense.
Tyler Boyd, Bengals (vs. BAL). It’s hard to trust him with the Ravens having Marlon Humphrey working the slot.
Curtis Samuel, Panthers (at GB). The Packers are good at stopping quicker, faster receivers outside with Jaire Alexander.
DeVante Parker, Dolphins (at IND). The Colts’ cornerbacks are better than you think, and he will get the focus with no Preston Williams (knee).
Sammy Watkins, Chiefs (at TEN). The Titans lost Malcolm Butler, but you still can’t trust him outside.
Fantasy Football Week 10 Start 'Em: Tight ends
Regular starts
Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at TEN), George Kittle, 49ers (vs. SEA), Hunter Henry, Chargers (at OAK), Darren Waller, Raiders (vs. LAC), Austin Hooper, Falcons (at NO)
Stronger starts
Greg Olsen, Panthers (at GB). It’s easier to work the intermediate middle of the field on the Packers, and that’s why he and D.J. Moore are solid plays.
T.J. Hockenson, Lions (at CHI). He came on and did more in Oakland, and this road spot is similarly good.
Kyle Rudolph, Vikings (at DAL). If Adam Thielen (hamstring) is out again, he can do work against the Cowboys’ biggest coverage weakness.
Jack Doyle and Eric Ebron, Colts (vs. MIA). Doyle was the one who scored last week, and both could find the end zone in a very easy spot.
Mike Gesicki, Dolphins (at IND). He should see his targets ramped up with Preston Williams down, and his athleticism is starting to manifest in a big way.
Vance McDonald, Steelers (vs. LAR). You can exploit the Rams’ linebackers and safeties in coverage.
Gerald Everett, Rams (at PIT). He will be busier with no Cooks, and the matchup is favorable.
DFS Bargain
O.J. Howard, Buccaneers (vs. ARI, $3,300 on DraftKings, $5,000 on FanDuel). It’s a big dart throw for a tournament with him returning from a hamstring injury against the tight end-friendliest defense in the NFL, but he could yield a sudden big return.
Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit 'Em: Tight ends
Weaker starts
Jacob Hollister, Seahawks (at SF). Don’t chase his Will Dissly-like game in a tougher spot.
Jonnu Smith, Titans (vs. KC). Delanie Walker (ankle) might return, and this matchup is a bit of a trap.
Jimmy Graham, Packers (vs. CAR). You can’t feel good going here.
Jared Cook, Saints (vs. ATL). You can’t feel good going here because the wideouts can do plenty of damage.
Jason Witten, Cowboys (vs. MIN). He will be quieted against their linebackers and safeties.
Chris Herndon and Ryan Griffin, Jets (vs. NYG). They should work on attacking the corners more.
Fantasy Football Week 10 Start 'Em: Defenses
Stronger starts
Ravens (at CIN), Bills (at CLE), Colts (vs MIA), Saints (vs. ATL), Rams (at PIT), Browns (vs. BUF), Packers (vs. CAR)
DFS Bargains
Giants (at NYJ, $2,800 on DraftKings, $4,500 on FanDuel), Jets (vs. NYG, $2,700 on DraftKings, $3,900 on FanDuel)
Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit 'Em: Defenses
Weaker starts
Bears (vs. DET), Cowboys (vs. MIN), Vikings (at DAL), Steelers (vs. LAR), Lions (at CHI), Panthers (at GB), Chiefs (at TEN)
