JUMP TO:

---

Welcome to the Week 10 edition of fantasy football starts and sits from The Sporting News.

“The Decider” is your one-stop shop for fantasy start/sit lineup advice in 2025 — a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and not to play:

• There are several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups every week when they’re active. Those are the “regular starts.”
• For those borderline options with favorable matchups, they are “stronger starts,” while the recommended sits are “weaker starts.”
• We’re also basing our advice on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.

Going beyond the redraft league starts and sits, “The Decider” also includes some DFS picks for different styles of daily fantasy sports games on DraftKings and FanDuel.

Keep scrolling for how to put the best fantasy football lineups on “the field” for your critical seventh game with tips on starts and sits this week.

➕ UPGRADE YOUR TOOLS: Sign up for Yahoo Fantasy Plus

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Must-start Week 10 QBs

1. Josh Allen, Bills (at MIA)
2. Lamar Jackson, Ravens (at MIN)
3. Jalen Hurts, Eagles (at GB)
4. Baker Mayfield, Buccaneers (vs. NE)
5. Drake Maye, Patriots (at TB)
6. Jaxson Dart, Giants (at CHI)
7. Matthew Stafford, Rams (at SF)
8. Justin Herbert, Chargers (vs. PIT)

Strong Week 10 QB starts

9. Bo Nix, Broncos (vs. LV): Nix is back at home against a weak defense, so the beat goes on for his top production.

10. Daniel Jones, Colts (vs. ATL): Jones still compiled a decent day despite his turnovers last week so you can feel good about his floor and ceiling in Bearlin.

11. Jared Goff, Lions (at WAS): Goff is changing his road narrative with more aggressive passing and he should want to keep doing that on the Commanders.

12. Caleb Williams, Bears (vs. NYG): He should feed off last week’s Bengals breakout, this time with a lot more help from the wide receivers.

13. Sam Darnold, Seahawks (vs. ARI): He’s on fire and just got a new weapon to rev up downfield with JSN.

DFS QB Week 10 pick

• Jaxson Dart, Giants (at CHI, $5,700 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel): Dart keeps getting the job done with his legs and whatever backs, receivers and tight ends are out there with him. The Bears aren’t scary enough to stay away after he ripped the 49ers.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Weaker Week 10 QB plays

14. J.J. McCarthy, Vikings (vs. BAL): He’s borderline playable but watch out for more good play from the Ravens’ revamped D on the road.

15. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (at LAC): This is a bit risky given his arm limitations on the road against a good pass rush.

16. Brock Purdy, 49ers (vs. LAR): This is a rough first spot in which to return.

17. Justin Fields, Jets (vs. CLE): Fields is a cheat code but not against Myles Garrett and the Browns.

18. Jordan Love, Packers (vs. PHI): Here’s not loving a cold QB against a tough reinforced defense coming off a bye.

🗒️ LINEUP TIPS: Week 10 Waiver Wire

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Running backs

Must-start Week 10 RBs

1. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. ATL)
2. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (vs LAR)
3. James Cook, Bills (at MIA)
4. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (at WAS)
5. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. IND)
6. Josh Jacobs, Packers (vs. PHI)
7. De’Von Achane, Dolphins (vs. BUF)
8. Saquon Barkley, Eagles (at GB)
9. Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. NO)
10. Derrick Henry, Ravens (at MIN)
11. Kyren Williams, Rams (at SF)
12. JK Dobbins, Broncos (vs. LV)
13. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (at DeN)
14. D’Andre Swift, Bears (If he returns, or Kyle Monangai vs. NYG)
15. Bucky Irving, Buccaneers (if he returns, or Rachaad White vs. NE)
16. Travis Etienne Jr., Jaguars (at HOU)

Strong RB Week 10 plays

17. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (at NYJ): Check the shoulder, but the rookie should keep on chugging after the bye.

18. Breece Hall, Jets (vs. CLE): The matchup is not great but he can compile with his receiving yards.

19. David Montgomery, Lions (at WAS): He should find the end zone with Gibbs after an off game for the latter.

20. Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (vs. ARI): He has a good shot to score on the Cardinals’ defense at least once in the red zone.

21. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (at LAC): He got going well last week and it keeps up against a beatable run defense.

22. Kimani Vidal, Chargers (vs. PIT): The Steelers got stinger against the run last week but he’s an easy volume play.

23. Jordan Mason, Vikings (vs. BAL): Speaking of volume, he should get it again with Aaron Jones hurting again and the matchup isn’t so daunting at home.

DFS RB Week 10 Pick

• Rico Dowdle, Panthers (vs. NO, $6,300 on DraftKings, $8,000 on FanDuel): Dowdle has taken over the job for good and he should rip the Saints in a positive game script and smash matchup.
• Kyren Williams, Rams (at SF, $6,600 on DraftKings, $8,200 on FanDuel): Williams did well in the first game despite the key fumble and will come through again well from scrimmage.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Running backs

Weaker RB Week 10 plays

24. Kenneth Walker III, Seahawks (vs. ARI): He’s not walking, running or receiving enough to trust.

25. Tyrone Tracy Jr., Giants (at CHI): Brian Daboll cannot quit Devin Singletary.

26. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (at TB): Check the lingering toe woe and this also means no for TreVeyon Henderson with the team’s fickle RB ways.

27. Bam Knight, Cardinals (at SEA): He goes from potential boom back to bust.

28. Alvin Kamara, Saints (at CAR): It’s hard to remember he’s playing still for them.

29. Nick Chubb, Texans (vs. JAX): This is too rough with the split so no.

30. Jacory Croskey-Merritt, Commanders (vs. DET): Bill has folded pretty fast along with the rest of the offense.

👮 PROTECT YOUR BACKFIELD: RB handcuff rankings and depth charts

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers

Must-start Week 10 WRs

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at ARI)
2. Puka Nacua, Rams (at SF)
3. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (at WAS)
4. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (vs. BAL)
5. Drake London, Falcons (vs. IND)
6. Davante Adams, Rams (vs. NO)
7. Nico Collins, Texans (vs. JAX)
8. Courtland Sutton, Broncos (vs. DAL)
9. Jaylen Waddle, Dolphins (vs. BAL)
10. Emeka Egbuka, Buccaneers (vs. NE)
11. Rome Odunze, Bears (vs. NYG)
12. Zay Flowers, Ravens (at MIN)
13. A.J. Brown, Eagles (at GB)
14. Marvin Harrison Jr., Cardinals (at SEA)
15. Michael Pittman Jr., Colts (vs. ATL)
16. DK Metcalf, Steelers (at LAC)
17. Ladd McConkey, Chargers (vs. PIT)
18. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. NO)
19. DeVonta Smith, Eagles (at GB)
20. DJ Moore, Bears (vs. NYG)
21. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (vs. LAC)

Strong WR Week 10 starts

22. Brian Thomas Jr., Jaguars (if he plays, at HOU): He needs to try to go with his low-ankle sprain and now has a legitimate No. 2 again.

23. Jameson Williams, Lions (at WAS): The Commanders couldn’t stop any of the big downfield passes from the Seahawks last week.

24. Jauan Jennings, 49ers (vs. LAR): He’ll need to be the busy target with Kittle.

25. Jordan Addison, Vikings (vs. BAL): He was quiet for McCarthy’s initial return but he will be needed more inside.

26. Stefon Diggs, Patriots (at TB): With Kayshon Boutte hurting, it’s a no-brainder to work him in for this seconary.

27. Troy Franklin, Broncos (vs. LV): He’s settled in the best No. 2 to Sutton and he can blow through the Raiders’ secondary.

DFS WR Week 10 picks

• Rome Odunze, Bears (vs. NYG, $6,000 on DraftKings, $7,200 on FanDuel): The squeaky wheel will get the grease here to rip through an overmatched cornerback corps.
• Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (vs. NO, $5,700 on DraftKings, $7,700 on FanDuel): McMillan can be busy using his size through the red zone to make plays.
• Jameson Williams, Lions (at WAS, $4,900 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel): The Lions can make some big plays again and have made it a point to get him the ball. The Commanders folded with covering all Seahawks wideouts in Week 9.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers

Weaker Week 10 WR plays

28. Keenan Allen, Chargers (vs. PIT): Gadsden, McConkey and Johnston have pushed him down again.

29. Deebo Samuel, Commanders (vs. DET): You can’t go here in a compressed offense against decent coverage with a backup QB.

30. Rashid Shaheed, Seahawks (vs. ARI): Let’s see how it plays out with him and Tory Horton behind JSN first before trusting him.

31. Chris Olave, Saints (at CAR): Olave should in theory get more work without Shaheed but now draws tough coverage.

32. Romeo Doubs, Packers (vs. PHI): You can’t trust any of their wideouts even without Tucker Kraft.

33 Alec Pierce and 34. Josh Downs, Colts (vs. ATL): This is a tough downfield coverage matchup for either wideout.

34. Wan’Dale Robinson, Giants (at CHI): He is underwhelming in non-PPR even with massive target volume.

35. Khalil Shakir, Bills (at MIA): The Bills are still facing a tough pass defense despite the changes for the Dolphins.

36. Jakobi Meyers and 37. Parker Washington, Jaguars (at HOU): They cancel each other out should Thomas play in a tough matchup on the road.

↕️ Track our Week 10 Fantasy Rankings

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Tight ends

Must-start Week 10 TEs

1. Trey McBride, Cardinals (at SEA)
2. Brock Bowers, Raiders (at DEN)
3. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at MIA)
4. Sam LaPorta, Lions (at WAS)
5. George Kittle, 49ers (vs. LAR)
6. Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. ATL)
7. Oronde Gadsden II, Chargers (vs. PIT)

Stronger Week 10 TE starts

8. Mark Andrews, Ravens (at MIN): Andrews got hot with TDs with Jackson and it keeps up.

9. Dallas Goedert, Eagles (at GB): The Packers are vulnerable to big-play field-stretchers at the position.

10. Kyle Pitts, Falcons (vs. IND): Pitts can keep it going as the Colts are very vulnerable here and just upgraded in coverage.

11. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (at NYJ): The rookie should find the end zone for rookie Dillon Gabriel.

12. Colston Loveland, Bears (vs. NYG): The rookie should find the end zone and stay involved again.

13. Theo Johnson, Giants (vs. SF): All he does is score for Dart in the red zone.

14. Juwan Johnson, Saints (at CAR): Sometimes he scores and looks good with new QB Tyler Shough.

DFS TE Week 10 pick

• Mark Andrews, Ravens (at MIN, $3,400 on DraftKings, $6,000 on FanDuel): Andrews is worth the play for how cheap he is and the Vikings do give up numbers to the position through the red zone.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends

Weaker TE Week 10 starts

15. Zach Ertz, Commanders (vs. DET): The matchup stinks and there’s no Jayden.

16. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (vs. BAL): Don’t expect the McCarthy TDs to be enough again.

17 Evan Engram, Broncos (vs. LV): Not with other guys and the wideouts getting more involved.

18. Pat Freiermuth, Steelers (at LAC): The matchup is OK but the usage is inconsistent and Rodgers seems fading.

19. Hunter Henry, Patriots (vs. ATL): The Falcons’ safety play really contains the position.

20. Cade Otton, Buccaneers (vs. NE): No need to force him back. in there.

21. Mason Taylor, Jets (vs. CLE): This is hard to expect anything positive against the Browns’ defense.

🧰 NEW – FANTASY TOOLS: NFL Player Stats | NFL Transactions | NFL Depth Charts | Fantasy Injury Reports

Fantasy Football Week 10: Defense/special teams best starts

1. Denver Broncos (vs. LV)
2. Houston Texans (vs. JAX)
3. Cleveland Browns (at NYJ)
4. Buffalo Bills (at MIA)
5. Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)
6. Carolina Panthers (vs. NO)
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (at HOU)
8. Los Angeles Rams (at SF)
9. Chicago Bears (vs. NYG)
10. New York Jets (vs. CLE)
11. Baltimore Ravens (at MIN)
12. Indianapolis Colts (vs. ATL)
13. Los Angeles Chargers (vs. PIT)
14. Pittsburgh Steelers (at LAC)

DFS Week 10 D/ST pick

• Cleveland Browns (at NYJ, $2,900 on DraftKings, $4,600 on FanDuel): Speaking of the Browns’ defense, they are a great play again much like the Dolphins game when they crushed it against an AFC East opponents, this time with an angry Myles Garrett after the bye.

---

🎙️LISTEN: Get more of Vinnie Iyer’s weekly fantasy football analysis five days a week by subscribing to the Locked On Fantasy Football podcast.