Fantasy football Week 10 advice recap: Who to start and sit

Renee Miller answers your fantasy football lineup questions leading up to kickoff.

Renee Miller

(Photo: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)

Onto the games!

The Athletic has live coverage and analysis of all Week 10 games here.

Find more live, in-depth coverage of Browns-Ravens here, Lions-Chargers here and Jets-Raiders here.

Further reading:

Chasing the upside

Riskier Week 10 fantasy football sleepers to take if you need a Hail Mary:

QB: Taylor Heinicke, ATL

RB: Zach Charbonnet, SEA; Keaton Mitchell, BAL

WR: Quentin Johnston, LAC; Wan’Dale Robinson, NYG

TE: Trey McBride, ARI

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Week 10 fantasy football sleepers

QB: Baker Mayfield, TB

RB: Brian Robinson, WSH; James Conner, ARI

WR: Jahan Dotson, WSH; Gabe Davis, BUF

TE: Dalton Schultz, HOU

Fantasy scoring challenge for Ravens TE Mark Andrews

Baltimore tight end Mark Andrews has been a very consistent scorer at a position where it is tough to get that, but today’s matchup against Cleveland could put a lower than usual ceiling on Andrews’ production.

The Browns ranked second in TE PPR PPG allowed in Weeks 6-9, allowing only seven completions on 13 attempts for 49 yards and zero touchdowns, a pace that rates to only 2.98 PPG allowed (per TruMedia).

This isn’t to say to sit Andrews, as it’s never a good idea to sit consistently high scorers, but rather to note to take that into account when making other roster decisions, as you may need to find upside potential elsewhere.

Packers' inactive list delivered more good news than bad

The Packers will be without two defensive starters against the Steelers, but their inactives list largely delivered good news as all five players who were listed as questionable are active. That group includes three starting offensive linemen: left tackle Yosh Nijman, center Josh Myers and right guard Jon Runyan Jr.

It's a welcome development considering the daunting task ahead of facing the Steelers defensive line.

Jaguars' inactives

Here are the inactives at Jacksonville:

Jon Feliciano will replace Banks at left, while both Curtis Robinson and Dee Winters are active to replace Flannigan-Fowles. And yes, this does confirm that Trent Williams will be active for this big game.

Ryan Tannehill is inactive

(Photo: Alex Pantling / Getty Images)

Ryan Tannehill won’t begin his stint as backup quarterback to Will Levis today — Tannehill is out with the high ankle sprain that gave rookie Levis the opportunity to take the job.

Second-year quarterback Malik Willis will serve as the backup today for Levis’ third start, at Tampa Bay. The Titans will try to take advantage of the Bucs defense the way rookie C.J. Stroud and division rival Houston did a week ago, but Levis won’t have Treylon Burks (concussion) or right guard Daniel Brunskill (ankle). Right tackle Chris Hubbard is active, but Brunskill’s injury means Dillon Radunz likely has to replace him — which means Andre Dillard back at left tackle. Which is not good for Levis’ hopes of having consistent time to throw.

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T.J. Hockenson is active

The Vikings TE will play Sunday vs. the Saints. He was questionable with a rib injury.

The Vikings' inactives are Lewis Cine, K.J. Osborn, Brian Asamoah II, Dean Lowry, Nick Muse, Hakeem Adeniji and Jaren Hall.

Most notably, the Vikings will be without Osborn, a starting wide receiver. Replacing him will be a grouping of players: Jordan Addison, Hockenson, Brandon Powell, Trishton Jackson and Jalen Nailor. Nailor is playing for the first time since Week 2 against the Philadelphia Eagles. He does not have a target this season, but head coach Kevin O'Connell has spoken optimistically about what Nailor could provide going back to OTAs.

Thoughts on Kyler Murray

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Q: C.J. Stroud or Kyler Murray? Last week this chat helped me pick Stroud over Derek Carr and DeShaun Watson. Trying to keep it going! Thanks in advance. — Robert L.

Should I hop on the Kyler Murray train right away this week, or should I keep starting C.J. Stroud until we've actually seen Murray play? — Chris R.

Wow, two of the exact same decision. I’m going to stand by Jake’s rankings and go with Stroud here. The Bengals are big home favorites suggesting Houston will need to play aggressive to stay level and Stroud is without Nico Collins this week, but Tank Dell and Dalton Schultz should be able to pick up the slack — Cincy has been beaten bad by tight ends this season. Stroud has been so consistently good that he’s impossible to sit for a rusty QB on a team that has been awful on both sides of the ball.

Yes, career-wise, Murray is one of the best for fantasy, but it’s been a long time since we’ve seen peak Murray (Week 12, 2022). Some managers won’t have this decision and will need to start Murray today, which is fine, but not over Stroud.

Ja'Marr Chase is active

The inactive list means Ja’Marr Chase (back, questionable) will officially play after working out pregame. Look for Andrei Iosivas and Trenton Irwin to share work filling in for Higgins.

The Bengals have six receivers and six cornerbacks active for what should be a pass-heavy afternoon.

Rookie corner DJ Ivey will be active and contribute on special teams along with receivers Stanley Morgan and Shedrick Jackson called up from the practice squad.

Look for Cam Sample, Myles Murphy and Joseph Ossai to share responsibilities filling in for Sam Hubbard.

What I’m hearing about Bijan Robinson

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Over the past few weeks, Atlanta Falcons rookie Bijan Robinson has probably been the most talked about running back in football. Fantasy managers, gamblers and fans have been demanding to know why coach Arthur Smith hasn’t used the dynamic back more in the red zone. Smith spent the last week answering the question and providing stats to support his decision-making. Here’s what you need to know based on my conversations with people with knowledge of the situation:

Don’t give up on Robinson, because the Falcons haven’t. He’s not in the doghouse. He’s not hurt. He’s not in a funk. He’s just a rookie the team is hoping to encourage, protect and lean on during the second half of the season.

Robinson is in line to see plenty of opportunities, I’m told, including in the red zone. One source shared, “We are confident we will see the best of him down the stretch.”

This has to happen because the Falcons know they need their best route-runner and playmaker if they want to make the playoffs.

WR > RB

Q: In a half-PPR league, I need two flex players. Which two should I start between Gabe Davis, Tyler Boyd, Jaylen Warren and Gus Edwards? — Michael R.

Take the receivers! There’s a lot of potential in those two this week. It is anecdotal, but when Buffalo needs a statement win in a good matchup, it’s often Davis that gets it done. Timeshares for Warren and Edwards could go either way today and both have lower team totals than the Bills and Bengals.

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Ja'Marr Chase update

Ja'Marr Chase going through a pregame workout with WRs coach Troy Walters, strength/conditioning director Joey Boese and head trainer Matt Summers observing closely.

Running routes on air, sprinting, etc., to see how his back feels.

Who should I start from the Bengals?

(Photo: Jeff Dean / Getty Images)

Q: If Ja’Marr Chase is out, are any of Cincy’s receivers outside of Tyler Boyd of any interest in PPR format? — Richard J.

Possibly tight end Irv Smith Jr. but I’m not going to recommend any other Bengals’ WRs. Houston has been very good at defending opposing wide receivers while giving up the fifth-most fantasy points to tight ends. Joe Burrow has shown the willingness to get anyone open involved, especially in the end zone, so no guarantee that it would be Smith and not Drew Sample or Tanner Hudson.

Brock Purdy or Geno Smith?

Q: Better start this week, Brock Purdy or Geno Smith? — Michael K.

I know there’s a lot of Geno love this week, and I wrote about him earlier, but I’m still going Purdy over him for the same reasons I’m using him over Sam Howell.

Brock Purdy or Sam Howell?

(Photo: Thearon W. Henderson / Getty Images)

Q: Brock Purdy or Sam Howell? And in PPR: Michael Thomas or Quentin Johnston? — Tn K.

Tough QB decision for you. Howell and the Commanders have been leading the league in passing yards over the last few weeks. On the season, the two are pretty similar in terms of yards and passing touchdowns per game. Getting Deebo Samuel back is bound to help Purdy some, but how much against a sneaky good Jaguars defense isn’t clear to me. Both are on the road. I will be starting Purdy this week, mostly because his receiving options are superior but also because of better weather and a higher implied team total than Howell’s Commanders.

I’m not going to lie, I was tempted to ignore the second question. It’s really hard to know how off-field issues affect players’ performances and I don’t think there’s one right answer there. Thomas will play today and it’s a better matchup than Johnston’s, so I’d start him.

Volume > matchup

Q: With all the injuries to the Bills defense is Jerry Jeudy viable coming off the bye? Or stick with Zay Flowers? Also, in order pick two between Brian Robinson, Jerome Ford and Zach Charbonnet for this week (PPR). Thanks! — Matt

As I’ve said a few times, I try to avoid defensive battles like CLE-BAL will be today. I’d roll the dice with Jeudy this week. At RB, it’s Robinson and Ford for me. It’s not quite going back on what I just said, since the Ravens really excel vs. the pass and you don’t have a better option. Charbonnet is coming on more and more, but I don’t see him overtaking Kenneth Walker Jr.

Gotta follow the volume over the matchup this time.

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Diontae Johnson has a solid floor

Q: Who to start at flex? Calvin Ridley (vs. 49ers) or Diontae Johnson (vs. Packers)? — Conner K.

Johnson has been great since coming back from his brief IR stint with almost 10 targets per game and about 85 receiving yards per game. It’s been consistent production, so if you can live with a solid floor of 10-15 fantasy points (depending on your scoring), I’d go with Johnson.

Ridley, as I’m sure you know, has a wide range of outcomes. If you’re already down big or projected to be, you might go with Ridley and hope for a rare multi-touchdown ceiling game from him.

Pick up Brian Robinson here

(Photo: Scott Taetsch / Getty Images)

Q: Khalil Shakir, Zay Flowers or Keaton Mitchell as the flex in a PPR league? Thanks! I could also pick up Brian Robinson for either of those guys. — Johnny R.

Pick up Brian Robinson. Shakir is far down the pecking order in Buffalo, where my favorite plays are Gabe Davis and James Cook this week. Mitchell needs to do it again before I start him over a teams’ RB1 and Flowers needs a lot to go right to be worth a play even in full PPR.

Cleveland is the worst overall defense for fantasy, second-worst to WRs. Meanwhile, Robinson is averaging 12.7 fantasy points per game and is likely to get the higher end of his workload if the rain proves disruptive in Seattle.

Avoid the Ravens-Browns matchup

Q: Full PPR: James Conner or Jerome Ford? — David L.

I’m really trying to avoid the BAL-CLE game, which could be one of those excruciating 6-3 defensive ordeals the AFC North is famous for. I’d be starting Conner here.

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