Welcome to Week 10 of another NFL season of fantasy football start/sit lineup advice from The Sporting News.

Vinnie Iyer’s analysis, aka “The Decider,” remains your one-stop shop for fantasy start ’em/sit ’em advice in 2026, a unique mashup of rankings and matchup breakdowns to help you make those tough decisions on whom to play and whom to sit:

• Several high-drafted fantasy players who should be in lineups most weeks when healthy and active are the “must starts.”
• Borderline options with favorable matchups are “stronger starts,” while the recommended plays to avoid are “weaker starts.”
• The advice is based on 12-team, half-point PPR to split the difference between shallow and deep leagues and full-PPR and standard formats.

Going beyond redraft league starts and sits, “The Decider” also includes some DFS picks for different styles of games on DraftKings and FanDuel. Keep scrolling for tips on how to deploy the best fantasy football lineup for your league opener.

Teams on a bye in Week 10: Bears, Broncos, Eagles, Buccaneers

FANTASY FOOTBALL TOOLS: News | Stats | Transactions | Depth Charts | Injuries

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Must-start Week 10 QBs

1. Josh Allen, Bills (at NYJ)
2. Joe Burrow, Bengals (vs. PIT)
3. Brock Purdy, 49ers (at DAL)
4. Dak Prescott, Cowboys (vs. SF)
5. Drake Maye, Patriots (vs. DET)
6. Jared Goff, Lions (vs. NE)
7. Trevor Lawrence, Jaguars (at TEN)

Strong Week 10 QB starts

8. Jordan Love, Packers (vs. MIN): Don’t be fazed by the Vikings’ defense, as he can beat the blitz with favorable receiving downfield, especially in Green Bay.

9. Patrick Mahomes, Chiefs (at ATL): He had a get-well game against the Jets and fell just short of another three-TD game, and Burrow just ripped the Falcons.

10. Jayden Daniels, Commanders (at NYG): He’ll run and pass around to produce what’s needed.

11. Bryce Young, Panthers (at NO): Carolina is now the highest-volume passing team in the NFL, and the Saints are very giving in the Superdome.

12. C.J. Stroud, Texans (at CLE): He’s on fire with all of his receivers, including Tank Dell, and the Browns are not too challenging, even on the road.

13. Tyler Shough, Saints (vs. CAR): He should chuck his way to a nice day playing off the run while dueling Young at home.

14. Kirk Cousins, Vikings (vs. GB): He comes into play by avoiding the Raiders’ tough matchup and getting into a shootout with Love.

DFS QB Week 10 pick

Brock Purdy, 49ers (at DAL, $7,000 on DraftKings, $8,200 on FanDuel): Purdy should need to keep on passing on the road to make sure the Cowboys don’t catch up in the second half.

MORE: Week 10 NFL picks against the spread

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks

Weaker Week 10 QB plays

15. Matthew Stafford, Rams (at ARI): You can’t really feel good about him in a run-heavy script minus Puka Nacua and Davante Adams.

16. Drew Lock, Seahawks (at LV): He’s tempting, but no with his injuries and the limited work needed to beat the Raiders.

17. Fernando Mendoza, Raiders (vs. SEA): He’s only a two-QB or superflex play in his starting debut, with the Seahawks’ defense about to swarm him.

18. Geno Smith, Jets (vs. BUF): The Bills’ pass defense is vulnerable, but they also can make it a takeaway-filled day.

19. J.J. McCarthy, Giants (vs. WAS): The Giants should want to win with defense and the running game.

20. Aaron Rodgers, Steelers (at CIN): This can be a little rough under pressure in prime time on the road.

MORE: Week 10 NFL power rankings

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Running backs

Must-start Week 10 RBs

1. Kenneth Walker III, Chiefs (at ATL)
2. Christian McCaffrey, 49ers (at DAL)
3. Jahmyr Gibbs, Lions (vs. NE)
4. Bijan Robinson, Falcons (vs. KC)
5. James Cook, Bills (at NYJ)
6. Jonathan Taylor, Colts (vs. MIA)
7. Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins (at IND)
8. Derrick Henry, Ravens (vs. LAC)
9. Bhayshul Tuten, Jaguars (at TEN)
10. Chuba Hubbard, Panthers (at NO)
11. Kyren Williams, Rams (at ARI)
12. Javonte Williams, Cowboys (vs. SF)
13. Jaylen Warren, Steelers (at CIN)
14. Chase Brown, Bengals (vs. PIT) B
15. Breece Hall, Jets (vs. BUF)
16. Blake Corum. Rams (at ARI)
17. Tony Pollard, Titans (vs. JAX)
18. Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots (vs. DET)

Strong Week 10 RB starts

19. Quinshon Judkins, Browns (vs. HOU): The Texans can give it up on the ground and he will get enough volume in a tight game.

20. Cam Skattebo, Giants (if he plays, vs. WAS): The optimism is there he can go on a short week and he has to be played with no Tyrone Tracy Jr.

21. Zach Charbonnet and 22. Jadarian Price, Seahawks (at LV): The Raiders’ run defense is so bad it will allow Seattle to take plenty of pressure off Lock.

23. Audric Estime and 24. Alvin Kamara, Saints (vs. CAR): The Panthers’ run defense is so bad it will allow New Orleans to take plenty of pressure off Shough.

25. Rachaad White, Commanders (at NYG): He still should be getting the key high-leverage touches over ancient Austin Ekeler.

DFS RB Week 10 Picks

Zach Charbonnet, Seahawks (at LV, $5,600 on DraftKings, $6,700 on FanDuel): Pick the veteran here for better chances of scoring touchdowns than Price.

Audric Estime, Saints (vs. CAR, $4,500 on DraftKings, $5,700 on FanDuel): Pick the youngster here for better chances of scoring touchdowns than Kamara.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Running backs

Weaker RB Week 10 plays

26. Braelon Allen, Jets (vs. BUF): He deserves to play more than Hall but that’s sadly not happening.

27. Woody Marks, Texans (at CLE): The Texans will need to pass more to win on the road.

28. Jordan Mason, Vikings (at GB): This running game is uninspiring still despite the QB, and you can’t trust him on the road.

29. Omarion Hampton, Chargers (at BAL): This offense isn’t moving the ball well enough to feel good about playing him.

30. Ashton Jeanty, Raiders (vs. SEA): He’s been rough and the Seahawks’ run defense won’t cure what ails his running production.

31. Tyler Allgeier, Cardinals (vs. LAR): You can try here but keep in mind Carson Beck starting may limit their offensive success against a loaded Rams front.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Wide receivers

Must-start Week 10 WRs

1. Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at LV)
2. Amon-Ra St. Brown, Lions (vs. NE)
3. CeeDee Lamb, Cowboys (vs. SF)
4. Ja’Marr Chase, Bengals (vs. PIT)
5. Tee Higgins, Bengals (vs. PIT)
6. Nico Collins, Texans (at CLE)
7. Christian Watson, Packers (vs. MIN)
8. Parker Washington, Jaguars (at TEN)
9. Justin Jefferson, Vikings (at GB)
10. Malik Nabers, Giants (vs. WAS)
11. Chris Olave, Saints (vs. CAR)
12. Matthew Golden, Packers (vs. MIN)
13. Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at NO)
14. Drake London, Falcons (vs. KC)
15. Zay Flowers, Ravens (vs. LAC)
16. Jameson Williams, Lions (vs. NE)
17. D.J. Moore, Bills (at NYJ)
18. Garrett Wilson, Jets (if he plays, vs. BUF)
19. Rashee Rice, Chiefs (at ATL)

Strong WR Week 10 starts

20. George Pickens, Cowboys (if he plays vs. SF): The 49ers’ secondary is limited, and Dak should chuck plenty, so feel good about him or Ryan Flournoy.

21. Stefon Diggs, Commanders (at NYG): He was quieter last week, but the Giants are a great spot for him to get open often.

22. Demario Douglas, Patriots (vs. DET): He should be the busiest target for Drake Maye in a shootout.

23. Jalen Coker, Panthers (at NO): The Saints are not great against all wideouts.

24. Tank Dell, Texans (at CLE): He’s back well in the fold for Stroud.

25. Germie Bernard, Steelers (at CIN): The rookie is the only Steelers wideout to trust.

26. Carnell Tate, Titans (vs. JAX): Their secondary can give it up to him late in garbage time.

27. Josh Downs, Chiefs (at ATL): He should get busy right away with a great matchup inside on the fast track.

28. Caleb Douglas, Dolphins (at IND): He’s their best receiver, and the Colts stink even with the QB change.

DFS WR Week 10 picks

Jaxon Smith-Njigba, Seahawks (at LV, $9,300 on DraftKings, $9,500 on FanDuel): The lesser 51-yard game he had last week only says he will show big with Klint Kubiak watching on the other side. 

Tetairoa McMillan, Panthers (at NO, $6,700 on DraftKings, $7,100 on FanDuel): McMillan looked solid again with Young at home and he can smoke the Saints’ secondary for some big plays.

Parker Washington, Jaguars (at TEN, $6,200 on DraftKings, $6,800 on FanDuel): Speaking of big plays, the Titans have no one would to slow him down on deep shots from Lawrence.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Wide receivers

Weaker Week 10 WR plays

29. Denzel Boston and 30. KC Concepcion, Browns (vs. HOU): Here’s not trusting the front end with Deshaun Watson enough against the Texans’ pass rush, and the Texans’ secondary got some more help right after the bye.

31. Omar Cooper Jr., Jets (vs. BUF): It’s tough to trust him and Adonai Mitchell, as the Bills’ pass rush will make Smith get the ball out quickly.

32. Deebo Samuel and 33. Keenan Allen, 49ers (at DAL): Samuel may return and Allen might make his debut, but it can get crowded with Jaylen Watkins and Demarcus Robinson along with the other weapons.

34. Jordan Addison, Vikings (at GB): Wait and see with him and Cousins, as Jefferson is bound to be greased a ton.

35. Quentin Johnston, Chargers (at BAL): He’s their default No. 1 with the injuries, but the Ravens can contain him with coverage downfield.

36. Jakobi Meyers, Jaguars (at TEN): It’s becoming more difficult to see consistency from any targets who aren’t Washington.

37. DK Metcalf, Steelers (vs. CIN): The fade has been real again with Rodgers.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Start ‘Em: Tight ends

Must-start Week 10 TEs

1. George Kittle, 49ers (at DAL)
2. Trey McBride, Cardinals (vs. LAR)
3. Brock Bowers, Raiders (vs. SEA)
4. Isaiah Likely, Giants (vs. WAS)
5. Tyler Warren, Colts (vs. MIA)
6. Travis Kelce, Chiefs (at ATL)

Stronger Week 10 TE starts

7. T.J. Hockenson, Vikings (at GB): He comes back into play for making some big plays with Cousins at QB.

8. Dalton Kincaid, Bills (at NYJ): He’ll go back to being busy in a much easier matchup downfield.

9. Kyle Pitts Sr., Falcons (vs. KC): He should be busy with the best garbage-time passing volume matchup.

10. Mike Gesicki, Bengals (vs. PIT): He scored in the first meeting and will dent the end zone again at home in prime time.

11. Juwan Johnson, Saints (vs. CAR): Johnson should get open plenty at home to stretch the field a few times, with a good chance to score.

12. Darren Waller, Panthers (at NO): They’re going nuts with tight end usage for Young, and he should also score in the game.

DFS TE Week 10 pick

George Kittle, 49ers (at DAL, $6,500 on DraftKings, $6,600 on FanDuel): Kittle is due to explode and with the wide receiver injuries and transition, he will be the most reliable guy for Purdy downfield against shaky Cowboys coverage.

Fantasy Football Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Tight ends

Weaker TE Week 10 starts

13. Tucker Kraft, Packers (vs. MIN): The Vikings keep erasing the position and there’s a lot more wide receiver “Love” in their passing game.

14. Sam LaPorta, Lions (vs. NE): He is getting forgotten too often so let’s hope this is a reverse jinx for Munich.

15. Brenton Strange, Jaguars (at TEN): He’s not needed as much and now Nate Boerkircher is quite involved.

16. Harold Fannin Jr., Browns (vs. HOU): He’ll be back to not connecting with  Watson as he does with Shedeur Sanders.

17. Mark Andrews, Ravens (vs. LAC): You can’t go here with his little production and Jacoby Brissett can’t change that much.

18. Darnell Washington, Steelers (at CIN): It’s too much of a coin flip between him and Pat Freiermuth.

Fantasy Football Week 10: Defense/special teams best starts

Best DST Week 10 starts

1. Jacksonville Jaguars (at TEN)
2. Los Angeles Rams (at ARI)
3. Houston Texans (at CLE)
4. Seattle Seahawks (at LV)
5. Buffalo Bills (at NYJ)
6. Baltimore Ravens (vs. LAC)
7. Indianapolis Colts (vs. MIA)
8. Kansas City Chiefs (at ATL)
9. Miami Dolphins (at IND)
10. Green Bay Packers (vs. MIN)
11. Minnesota Vikings (at GB)
12. Cincinnati Bengals (vs. PIT)
13. New Orleans Saints (vs. CAR)
14. Detroit Lions (vs. NE)

D/ST Week 10 pick

Houston Texans (vs. CLE, $3,400 on DraftKings, $3,500 on FanDuel): Deshaun Watson looks like he will return to start in his revenge game, which will lead to only a lot more sacks and multiple turnovers from a defense showing its true colors.