The fantasy football season is entering its home stretch, which means that start and sit decisions are more important than ever. Chances are, at least one of your teams is on the verge of a playoff birth, and making the right choice with guys like Keaton Mitchell and Kyler Murray could determine whether or not your squad makes the postseason.
As always, let’s begin this article with a disclaimer. If you have an elite player like Christian McCaffrey, you should start them in fantasy football no matter what. This article is strictly for flex-caliber and matchup-specific players.
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Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em
Quarterbacks
Start: Justin Fields**
Editor’s note: the Bears listed Justin Fields as doubtful literally one minute after this article published.
This should go without saying, but you should only start Justin Fields in fantasy football if he actually plays on Thursday Night Football. The former first-round pick is currently questionable, but if he plays, he’s a must-start. Last we saw Fields, the Chicago Bears offense was starting to put it together, and it’s hard to find a better matchup than the Carolina Panthers. This team is all-around awful, and the defensive line will be even worse than usual with Brian Burns unlikely to play thanks to a concussion. If he plays, Fields should be able to carve up this defense both through the air and on the ground.
Sit: Kyler Murray
When he’s at his best, Kyler Murray is one of the biggest cheat codes in fantasy football. However, he probably won’t be at his best in Week 10. The former first-overall pick is making his season debut less than a year after he originally suffered the injury. This impressive recovery time means that he’s probably not 100% and won’t be able to use his legs as efficiently as usual. Even if he has the physical ability to run like he used to, he’s going to be rusty.
Running Backs
Start: Rhamondre Stevenson
Rhamondre Stevenson is one of the biggest disappointments of the fantasy football season, but you can finally start him in Week 10. Just based on the film, the running back is starting to look like his old self again, and he has a favorable matchup in Week 10. The Indianapolis Colts have one of the worst defenses in the league, and Stevenson’s hard-nosed style of running should lead to a lot of yards after contact.
Sit: Keaton Mitchell
Anyone stashing Keaton Mitchell in their dynasty league had to feel pretty good about last week’s results. The undrafted free agent recorded 138 yards and one touchdown en route to 20.4 PPR points. The only other running backs of note on the Ravens roster are Gus Edwards and Justice Hill, so it shouldn’t be too hard for Mitchell to climb this depth chart. However, you can’t trust him in Week 10. Most of Mitchell’s production came in garbage time, and the Seahawks were simply outmatched in this one. He’s definitely worth a waiver claim, but you’ll have to keep him on the bench and monitor his usage in this one.
Start: D’Onta Foreman If Khalil Herbert Doesn’t Play
After starting the season at the bottom of the depth chart, journeyman D’Onta Foreman has officially taken the starting job from Roschon Johnson. Last week, Foreman recorded 20 carries, while Johnson had just two carries for six yards. If this dynamic stays the same, then Foreman should have a great game against a terrible Carolina Panthers defense. The only Wild Card here is Khalil Herbert. Herbert suffered an ankle injury earlier in the season but seems to be close to making a return. If he comes back for Thursday Night Football, he could take over starting duties. However, if he remains sidelined, then Foreman is an easy start in fantasy football.
Sit: Dameon Pierce and/or Devin Singletary
The Houston Texans as a team are on the rise, but their running backs are not a part of the overall success. Dameon Pierce has been one of the most inefficient starters in the league, as his running style doesn’t seem to meld with the new scheme. If he plays, you shouldn’t expect too much from him. Of course, he might not play, but that doesn’t mean you should start his backup. As predicted, Devin Singletary did not make the most of his opportunity last week, logging just 4.6 PPR points in a game where the Texans scored 39 points. No matter who starts, there is probably a better fantasy football option out there.
Wide Receivers
Start: Jahan Dotson
As of this posting, it appears as though Curtis Samuel is unlikely to play in Week 11. If that remains the case as the week progresses, then Jahan Dotson is a must-start in fantasy football. The former first-round pick is in the midst of a hot stretch, recording 12 receptions for 178 yards and two touchdowns over the past two weeks. Quite frankly, he’s playing up to his draft capital, he clearly has a strong rapport with Sam Howell, and he has a phenomenal matchup. Nobody gives up more fantasy points to wide receivers than the Seattle Seahawks, which means Dotson should have yet another huge game.
Sit: Michael Thomas
The glory days of Michael Thomas are officially over. The man who once was one of the most valuable weapons in fantasy football is finally healthy again, but it’s clear that he’s not the same guy as before. Thomas only had one target last week, and he hasn’t had more than five receptions since Week 3. Basically, at this point in his career, he’s nothing more than an unremarkable starter on an average offense with a lot of targets. Chances are, you can find someone better to start in fantasy football.
Start: Tank Dell
Yes, we are chasing the points. Dell went off in Week 9, recording six receptions for 114 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday’s shootout against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Obviously, he’s not going to put up that type of performance for a second consecutive week, but what’s encouraging is that he saw 11 targets. Volume is key in fantasy football, and this isn’t the first time he’s seen a heavy workload. The Texans should be throwing it early and often to keep up with a good Cincinnati Bengals offense, so look for Dell to have another strong out.
Sit: Jaxon Smith-Njigba
Seattle Seahawks first-round rookie Jaxon Smith-Njigba is starting to see a larger role in this offense, but he’s not quite ready to be a weekly start in fantasy football quite yet. Last week, the rookie outpaced Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf, but most of his production came in garbage time. When the score is equal, he’s still third in the pecking order, and Seattle’s game against the Washington Commanders shouldn’t be nearly as one-sided as last week’s blowout loss to the Baltimore Ravens. The future is bright for Smith-Njigba, but for the time being, he’s nothing more than a touchdown-dependent dart throw.
Tight Ends
Start: Gerald Everett
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Gerald Everett just faced arguably the worst matchup possible in the New York Jets. Now, he gets one of the best. The Detroit Lions simply do not know how to defend tight ends, as they allow a league-worst 16.9 fantasy points per game to the position. With Mike Williams and Josh Palmer injured and Quentin Johnston looking awful, Everett should get a few looks and make the most of his opportunities.
Sit: Cade Otton
Cade Otton went off in Week 9, hauling in six of his nine receptions for 70 yards and two touchdowns. It was a genuinely great performance, but it was probably a fluke. Otton’s never had a game even remotely that good in his career, and his Day 3 draft capital suggests that he’s not a special talent either. You can start Cade Otton in fantasy football if you’re really desperate, but chances are he’ll only help your lineup if he happens to find the endzone.
Main Photo: Jessica Rapfogel – USA Today Sports
