What an incredible week of football it’s been! Once again, we were treated to a series of thrilling, down-to-the-wire games, with nine of them decided by eight points or fewer. It’s that familiar point in the season when we can’t help but marvel at just how quickly time is flying by. Week 10 already? It feels like we just blinked, and here we are, less than six weeks away from the end of the fantasy football season. The stakes are getting higher, the competition fiercer, and with so much still to play for, there’s no time to slow down. So, let’s buckle up, keep grinding, and ensure we’re setting our lineups for another action-packed week ahead. It’s going to be another one for the books!
Starts
QB - Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins (@ LAR)
Miami QB Tua Tagovailoa has now played two games since returning from his injury, and he’s been looking sharp. In Week 9 against a tough Buffalo defense, he threw for 231 yards and 2 touchdowns. However, perhaps the most impressive stat was that he didn’t turn the ball over. This was a major bounce-back performance after his rough outing against the Bills in Week 2, where he threw three interceptions. Now, heading into his third game back, Tua faces the L.A. Rams, who have struggled defensively. The Rams have allowed the 9th most passing yards and the 10th most points to opposing offenses, and just last week, gave up 363 yards and 3 touchdowns to Geno Smith on just 21 completions. With Tua still available in over 50 percent of fantasy leagues, he’s a solid option if you need a quarterback for the stretch run, including this week.
RB - Najee Harris, Pittsburgh Steelers (@Wsh)
A few weeks ago, Steelers RB Najee Harris earned a spot on our start list after a solid back-to-back stretch of 100-yard games. Well, he’s now on a remarkable three-game streak of 100-yard performances, marking the first time in his career he’s hit that milestone in three consecutive games. And with a much-needed bye week to recharge, Harris comes back with fresh legs, making him a must-start for Week 10. Looking back at the early part of the season, it was a different story. Through Weeks 1-5, he struggled to find his rhythm, averaging just 54 rushing yards per game and failing to score a single touchdown. But in his last three outings, he’s completely turned things around, accumulating 322 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. At this point, there’s no reason to second-guess his role; he’s the hot hand, and you’ve got to ride him. To top it all off, Harris faces a Washington defense that has been vulnerable against the run, allowing the 4th most rushing yards per game this year. With everything lining up in his favor, Harris should be in your starting lineup.
WR - Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (@ KC)
Rookie QB Bo Nix and veteran WR Courtland Sutton have quickly become a dynamic duo to keep an eye on, not just for the rest of this season, but also for the future. After a frustrating Week 7 performance where Sutton was held without a catch on zero targets, many fantasy managers gave up on him. However, the last two weeks have told an entirely different story. Sutton has hauled in 15 receptions on 21 targets for a total of 222 yards, showcasing the kind of production that many were hoping for all along. On the year, Sutton has surpassed 50 yards in 5 of his 9 games, and as Nix continues to settle into the starting role, Sutton’s involvement in the offense has only increased. With the chemistry between the two growing stronger, Sutton has become a reliable and consistent option. This week, they face a tough matchup in Kansas City, but that’s exactly the kind of game where Sutton is bound to get plenty of looks. With the volume he’s receiving and the way he’s been trending upward, Sutton is now a lineup lock for this week and the rest of the year. When a receiver gets this many targets, the production is sure to follow—plain and simple.
TE - Jonnu Smith, Miami Dolphins (@ LAR)
Miami TE Jonnu Smith is still available in around 85% of fantasy leagues, and if you need a tight end, now is the time to grab him. With QB Tua Tagovailoa back under center, the Dolphins offense is only going to improve, and Smith has already started to benefit. Additionally, despite being widely available, Smith has quietly been having a solid season. Over his last four games, he’s caught 21 passes for 224 yards and a touchdown. More importantly, in the four games played with Tua, three of them have seen Smith receive 6 or more targets. Given the consistency he's shown, it’s easy to see his target share continuing to rise as the season goes on. If you need a reliable tight end, don’t wait—make sure to pick him up this week before other managers catch on to the fact that he’s a potential gem sitting on the waiver wire.
Defense - Chicago Bears (NE)
It feels like streaming defenses have become the norm for many fantasy managers this season, with most of the top defenses available on the waiver wire. One defense that stands out in particular is the Chicago Bears. Despite being a top-10 fantasy defense this year, they’re still only owned in about half of the leagues. After allowing more than 21 points for the first time this year, the Bears are back home this week, where they’ve been nothing short of dominant. In their four home games, they’ve surrendered just 61 total points (an average of 15 points per game), while racking up 14 sacks, 5 fumble recoveries, and 5 interceptions. Those are some seriously impressive numbers. This week, they face the New England Patriots, which should provide a favorable matchup. With all that in mind, Chicago should remain a top-10 defense this week. If they’re available in your league, make sure you’re adding them to your lineup, as you won’t want to miss out on their potential.
Sits
QB - Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals (NYJ)
Arizona QB Kyler Murray has had a solid season but hasn’t done quite enough to earn must-start status. Take his performance in Week 9 against the tough Chicago Bears defense, for example—things didn’t go well. Murray completed just 13 passes for 154 yards and failed to throw a touchdown. Now, things don’t get any easier. After facing the 8th-best pass defense, he’ll be up against the top-ranked secondary in the NFL: the New York Jets. The Jets are allowing a league-low 158 passing yards per game, and honestly, there’s no need to dive deeper into the stats to understand how tough this matchup will be. With that in mind, this is not the week to expect a bounce-back performance. To that end, it’s best to keep him on your bench until at least Week 11 when his matchups become more favorable.
RB - Javonte Williams, Denver Broncos (@ KC)
I don’t love putting a player on the "shit list" for back-to-back weeks, but in this case, it just makes sense. Denver RB Javonte Williams is coming off a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens, and now faces another stiff test with the Kansas City Chiefs. Williams has been held under 50 rushing yards in 6 of his 9 games and has scored a touchdown in just one of those outings. While he’s been involved in the passing game with 29 catches, his overall production has been limited—three catches for 23 yards just isn’t going to cut it, especially if he’s not finding the end zone. To make matters worse, the Chiefs have allowed the 3rd fewest rushing yards in the league, making this a very tough road matchup. Given his lack of consistency and the tough defense, it’s best to leave Williams on your bench and look for better options this week.
WR - Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (Buf)
Earlier this year, Colts WR Michael Pittman Jr. found himself on the "sit list," and after a brief stretch of strong performances between Weeks 4 and 6 where he racked up 14 catches for 185 yards and 2 touchdowns, it looked like he had turned things around. However, his play over the last three weeks has been nothing short of disappointing. Over those three games, he’s managed just 5 catches for 93 yards—well below expectations. In fact, in seven of his nine games this year, Pittman has failed to break the 40-yard mark. At this point, it doesn’t seem to matter who’s under center for the Colts—the offense is in disarray, and Pittman hasn’t been able to produce consistently. With the games growing more critical, it’s becoming clear that Pittman is unstartable right now. Until we see a significant shift in the Colts’ offensive flow, you should keep him on your bench.
TE - Mike Gesicki, Cincinnati Bengals (@Bal)
There’s always that one big tight-end performance that propels a player off the waiver wire and into fantasy lineups. Bengals TE Mike Gesicki just had that game. He exploded with 5 catches for 100 yards and 2 touchdowns, showing the kind of upside that makes fantasy managers take notice. However, Gesicki’s season has largely been a tale of inconsistency, as he’s been far too boom-or-bust to trust as a regular starter. While he’s had three games with over 70 yards receiving, he’s been held to fewer than 20 yards in four games. If WR Tee Higgins misses extended time, Gesicki could be worth considering in deeper leagues as a potential fill-in. However, if both Higgins and WR Ja’Marr Chase are healthy and in the lineup, there’s no real reason to start Gesicki. His value is entirely dependent on the health of the Bengals’ wide receivers and his ability to deliver a big game when called upon. Until we see more consistency, Gesicki is a risky play.
Defense - Houston Texans (Det)
As we’ve already discussed, most defenses are being streamed this year, with very few truly reliable elite options. Houston’s defense has been a solid performer and currently ranks in the top 10 for fantasy points, but this week should be avoided, as they’re facing a Detroit Lions offense that has been nothing short of dominant. The Lions are currently ranked 7th in total yards, 6th in rushing, and 1st in total scoring offense—they are a high-powered unit that’s been putting up points at will. On the other hand, Houston’s defense has been consistently "softly" reliable, allowing between 20 and 24 points in each of their last six games. While that’s solid in most matchups, the Lions are going to break that streak, and Houston’s defense will likely have a tough time. Given the strength of Detroit’s offense, there’s no reason to start the Texans’ defense this week. It’s best to look elsewhere for your streaming options.
