Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Justin Boone's Week 10 lineup advice

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Justin Boone provides a weekly look at undervalued fantasy players to consider starting this week and potential busts you might want to leave on your bench. 

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For the rest of your lineup decisions, consult his Week 10 rankings. 

vs. Panthers

Shough has been fairly predictable through the Saints’ first eight games this season. In the four games where he’s played defenses in the top half of the league for most points allowed to quarterbacks, Shough has finished as a top-eight fantasy QB each time. However, in the other four contests against stronger defenses, he’s been the QB15 or worse. 

While the Panthers are technically giving up the 13th fewest fantasy points to passers this year, those numbers are misleading when you factor in the injuries to starters like Jaycee Horn and Bobby Okereke. The Saints offense is also getting healthier after the returns of first-round rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson and left tackle Kelvin Banks Jr. last week. 

The most intriguing aspect of this contest is the potential volume. Both teams rank inside the top seven in neutral pace of play this season and the game has a very solid projected point total of 49.5. That has Shough firmly inside my top-10 at the position this week. 

Other QBs to start:

  • Patrick Mahomes at Falcons – While it might take Josh Downs some time to learn the offense in Kansas City, his presence is a boost for the Chiefs’ passing attack. Mahomes has multiple touchdown passes in six of his eight outings this year. Now, he gets a Falcons defense that’s permitted three top-10 QB results, including Joe Burrow’s four-touchdown effort last Sunday.  

  • Bryce Young at Saints – Young benefitted from an easier schedule in the early part of the season, before struggling in some tougher matchups. Fortunately, he’s coming off a quality performance versus a tough Broncos defense. That bodes well for him in what projects to be an uptempo game against the Saints, who are allowing the 12th most fantasy points to QBs. 

at Colts

Malik Willis heading to injured reserve is a concerning development for a young Dolphins offense that had been showing promise in recent weeks. While his absence will be a serious problem in tougher matchups, it shouldn’t derail Gordon this week against his easiest opponent yet.

The Colts are the fourth most generous defense to fantasy running backs and are heading in the wrong direction over the last couple of weeks after trading away defensive stalwart DeForest Buckner. Indy has been hit hard by Bhayshul Tuten (159 yards, two TDs), Chris Rodriguez Jr. (58 yards, TD), Javonte Williams (124 yards, TD) and Tyler Goodson (77 yards) over the past two games alone. 

Gordon continues to be productive, even in more difficult matchups, but this is a spot for a spike week as the offense leans on him with Kyle McCord under center. 

Other RBs to start:

  • Jonathan Taylor vs. Dolphins – Despite a brief decline in playing time the last couple of weeks while rumors swirled about a potential trade, Taylor remained with Indy. With the Colts being favored by four points, I’m expecting to see his touches rise against the Dolphins. Miami is also allowing the eighth most fantasy points to RBs, including double-digit fantasy points to at least one running back each week. 

  • Breece Hall vs. Bills – In his first game back from injury, Hall played fewer snaps than backup Braelon Allen, but dominated volume with 19 touches for 87 scrimmage yards against the Chiefs’ tough run defense. That’s a much tougher draw than this week’s opponent, the Bills, who are the 10th easiest defense for fantasy RBs in 2026. 

  • Zach Charbonnet at Raiders – Charbonnet assumed the lead back role in his second game since returning from a torn ACL, playing 56% of the snaps and turning 17 touches into 86 yards versus the Cardinals. Next up is a Raiders defense that’s been a springboard for fantasy RBs, allowing the third most points to the position, including seven top-12 weekly results in nine outings. 

vs. Saints

If you can’t tell, I’m targeting the Saints-Panthers game pretty heavily for fantasy. 

McMillan has been solid but not spectacular this season, especially when the matchups have been more challenging. He’s failed to top 60 yards in any of the past three games against the Bucs, Packers and Broncos, but thankfully a touchdown saved his fantasy day in Week 9.  

Though the Saints aren’t exactly a pushover this week, they have let six different receivers post double-digit points in the past five outings. That includes both Browns wideouts hitting the mark last Sunday with KC Concepcion amassing 85 yards and a touchdown, while Denzel Boston poured in 98 yards. 

This is a spot to confidently play both McMillan and Jalen Coker as fantasy WR2s. 

Other WRs to start:

  • Zay Flowers vs. Chargers – The arrival of Jacoby Brissett breathes life back into Flowers’ fantasy outlook. While it might take some time for their connection to form, Flowers should be productive this week against a Chargers defense that’s the fifth-softest matchup for receivers and allowed five touchdowns to the Texans’ wideouts in Week 9. 

  • Rashee Rice at Falcons – For all the flak sent in Rice’s direction this season, he’s managed to produce against a difficult schedule. All five of his appearances have come against defenses in the top-12 for fewest fantasy points allowed to his position, but he’s still averaging WR24 stats on a per game basis. The Falcons are actually the most generous defense he’s faced on paper, giving up the 13th most points to WRs. 

  • DJ Moore at Jets – In his three healthy games before last week, Moore had posted 100 yards and a TD versus the Texans, 67 yards against the Chargers, as well as 82 yards and a TD against the Ravens. Don’t let a down game in a matchup with a fierce Vikings defense scare you away. Moore is a fantasy WR2 with WR1 upside most weeks. 

vs. Dolphins

With Josh Downs and Keenan Allen traded away, Tyler Warren is the only proven pass-catcher remaining in the Colts offense. He’s currently averaging the fourth most targets among tight ends, but he’ll challenge for the league lead in that category the rest of the way. 

The only question is whether he can capitalize on the volume in a struggling Colts offense. While the added defensive attention will be a problem in tougher matchups, I’m not as concerned about it this week. 

The Dolphins are the fourth easiest opponent for fantasy tight ends and the Colts are somehow favored in this game. That means you can start Warren as a top-five option at the position. 

Other TEs to start:

  • Darren Waller at Saints – Waller is a boom-or-bust fantasy TE2, who’s coming off his biggest boom of the year with eight catches, 90 yards and a touchdown on 10 targets against the Broncos. The Saints are another favorable opponent, allowing the seventh most fantasy points to TEs. 

  • Tyler Higbee at Cardinals – Higbee had a three-game streak with over 60 yards in each outing, before failing to reach 25 yards in any of his past four appearances. However, with Puka Nacua, Davante Adams and Terrance Ferguson sidelined, Higbee is back in the mix as a volume-based TE2 streamer. 

at Packers

Jonathan Gannon has the Packers defense playing extremely well and that’s been without Micah Parsons, who is nearing a return in the coming weeks. Green Bay has held six of the last eight quarterbacks it’s encountered to one touchdown or less. 

The excitement around Cousins' return to Minnesota is well deserved and will result in some fantastic fantasy performances between now and the end of the season. But I’m taking a cautious approach in his first start since the trade. 

Cousins projects as a risky QB2 versus the Packers and there are simply better streaming options available at the position. 

Other QBs to sit:

  • Matthew Stafford at Cardinals – Stafford hasn’t thrown for more than 228 yards in any game over the last month and has been held to just a single touchdown in each of his past two contests. Now, he’ll try to get by without Puka Nacua. Even in a good matchup, it’s hard to trust Stafford given his current weapons. 

  • Fernando Mendoza vs. Seahawks – While I’m optimistic that Klint Kubiak can get the most out of Mendoza over the final two months, this isn’t the game for fantasy managers to start the rookie. Seattle is the second worst matchup for fantasy QBs. 

vs. Texans

Judkins has only played 39% and 34% of the snaps during his last two games, which coincides with the return of backup Dylan Sampson. 

We might want to put backup in quotes since Sampson has out-snapped (96-52) and out-gained (117-94) Judkins during that span, with Judkins being held under 50 scrimmage yards in both contests and not finding the end zone. 

To make matters worse, Sampson has the bigger role as a pass-catcher, limiting Judkins’ fantasy outlook even more. The Texans aren’t a bad matchup, but if Judkins didn’t come through in an ideal setup against the Saints last week, I don’t have much faith in him delivering here. 

Consider this backfield a 50-50 split with Judkins being more of a TD-or-bust fantasy RB3 moving forward. 

Other RBs to sit:

  • Tyler Allgeier vs. Rams – With Bam Knight expected to return this week, Allgeier won’t dominate work the way he did in Week 9. Arizona will also be dealing with a Rams defense that’s allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to RBs. 

  • Kaleb Johnson vs. Vikings – Johnson will likely lead the Packers’ backfield with Josh Jacobs sidelined, but unfortunately the next three weeks involve bad matchups with the Vikings and Rams, sandwiched around a bye. He’s a TD-or-bust flex option due to a limited receiving role. 

  • Omarion Hampton at Ravens – Hampton is still in a three-way committee and hasn’t topped 60 scrimmage yards in six games. He’s another TD-or-bust flex option. 

at Bengals

Metcalf is preparing for another battle with DJ Turner and the Bengals defense. We know Metcalf is the kind of streaky receiver who can erupt in any contest, but he’s been held to 50 yards or less in each of his last three meetings with Cincinnati. 

That includes a three-catch, 31-yard outing against them in Week 3, which he salvaged with a touchdown. 

The outlook is similar here, with Metcalf being a risky fantasy WR3 who will likely need a TD to come through for his managers. 

Other WRs to sit:

  • Tre Tucker vs. Seahawks – Tucker had three spike-weeks this season, but has been held under 60 yards in every other game. This isn’t the week to chase a big performance against the Seahawks defense that’s allowing the fewest fantasy points to WRs. 

  • Keenan Allen at Cowboys – After being traded to San Francisco, Allen is suiting up against the Cowboys for the second straight week. As a member of the Colts, he only managed 26 yards on four catches last Sunday. While he’s the type of veteran receiver who could get up to speed quickly with his new club, it’s very risky to trust him in his first game with a Niners team that has only had one WR top 40 yards in each of their last five contests. 

  • Khalil Shakir at Jets – Shakir is a low-ceiling volume play who hasn’t topped 25 yards in any of his last three games versus the Jets. He’s an option if you’re in a bye-week pinch, but don’t get your hopes up for a big game this week. 

at Titans

Strange has only seen two targets each of the last two weeks, as the Jags have been able to lean on their rushing attack en route to easy victories. 

It seems logical we’ll see more of the same with Jacksonville entering this game as 10.5-point favorites over the Titans. 

That makes Strange a low-volume fantasy TE2, who will likely need to score a touchdown before things get out of hand. 

Other TEs to sit:

  • Mike Gesicki vs. Steelers – Six touchdowns in eight games has been impressive, but Gesicki is threading a very thin needle with 11 yards or less in three of his last four outings. He’s just a TD-or-bust TE2 against Pittsburgh. 

  • Mark Andrews vs. Chargers – While the arrival of Jacoby Brissett is good news for the Ravens’ passing attack, it doesn’t change the outlook for Andrews. The veteran hasn’t eclipsed 30 yards in five straight games. His playing time is also on the decline, at under 60% of the snaps the last three weeks.

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