Sleeper Start 'Em, Sit 'Em - NFL Week 10: Sound Lineup Decisions Key to Playoff Run

As the adapted poem that the legendary John Facenda famously narrated in 1974 reads: “He laughs as he storms the country, a loud laugh and a bold; And the trees all quake and shiver and shake, as he robs them of their gold. The autumn wind's a pirate, pillaging just for fun; He'll snatch your hat as quick as that and laugh to see you run!” 

Those glorious words, which were later tweaked by NFL Films icon Steve Sabol for the Oakland Raiders, hold true for all fantasy football managers who yearn for bragging rights just as much as championship hardware but face some uphill battles — and potentially heart-wrenching defeats — along the way.

With the autumn wind giving way to the winter months soon enough, managers need to commence paying attention to the upcoming fantasy playoff schedules (typically held between Weeks 15-17 on the NFL calendar). And before fully looking ahead, Sleeper’s weekly waiver wire guide can assist you if you need immediate Week 10 help with the Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks all on bye. 

With most fantasy managers faced with only five more weeks to qualify for the fantasy playoffs, making moves not only involves scouring the waiver wire but also improving your rosters via trade — and perhaps most importantly by making sound lineup decisions.  

Our list of suggested Week 10 starts (all of whom are being started in 70% or less of Sleeper leagues at time of writing) kicks off with a flourishing wideout no one predicted would be a WR1 after nine weeks of action.

STARTS

WR Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons 

at New Orleans; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET  

Mooney, who has posted over 18 PPR fantasy points in his last two games, has quietly surged up to the overall WR12 in PPR formats.

Last week, Falcons WR1 Drake London was forced out of the team’s 27-21 win over Dallas with a hip pointer. If London is forced to sit Sunday, the emerging Mooney would be poised to enjoy increased target volume. 

On the other side, following the trade of All-Pro CB Marshon Lattimore to Washington on Tuesday, a poor Saints defense will struggle to contain the high-powered Falcons passing attack. Mooney will encounter a New Orleans secondary that, even with Lattimore, has allowed the fourth-most passing yards (2,279). 

A deeper dive also reveals that Mooney, who has hauled in a reception of at least 20 yards in seven of nine games, will face a Saints defense that has allowed the fourth-most 20+ receptions (31) as well as a league-high 40+ receptions (eight) this season.

Expect Kirk Cousins to target Mooney, who has over 85 receiving yards in three of his last five games, plenty in the Superdome.

QB Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers

vs. Tampa Bay; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET 

With the expected return of Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) this week, Purdy lands as a sneaky start with a high ceiling. Only being started in just 39% of Sleeper leagues, the third-year QB enters a favorable matchup fresh off a Week 9 bye.

On Sunday, Purdy faces a Tampa Bay defense that has allowed 17 passing touchdowns over their last five games. The overall QB10, who has posted 20+ points in three straight games, should easily finish as a high-end QB1 in Week 10.

WR Jordan Addison, Minnesota Vikings

at Jacksonville; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET 

Addison posted his first double-digit PPR performance since Week 4 after hauling in five receptions for 42 yards and a touchdown in Week 9 against the Colts. The second-year wideout, who owns a 92% snap share in consecutive games, should continue to find softer coverage with TE T.J. Hockenson demanding attention in the middle of the field. 

In Week 10, Addison draws a favorable matchup against a Jaguars pass defense that has allowed the most passing touchdowns (19) and the second-most passing yards (2,502) this season. Expect Addison and Justin Jefferson to be the latest WRs to dominate a weak Jacksonville secondary.  

WR Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, Tennessee Titans

at L.A. Chargers, Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET 

With a plethora of fantasy wideouts on bye or dealing with injuries this week, managers in need could do far worse than focusing their attention on a wideout who has quietly scored a touchdown in four consecutive games. 

Since DeAndre Hopkins was dealt to Kansas City, Westbrook-Ikhine has earned a more significant role in the Titans offense. His snap percentage has surged from 23% over the first five games to 94.5% since the trade.

In Week 10, Westbrook-Ikhine faces a tough Chargers defense that has only allowed six touchdowns to opposing wideouts this season. But with WR1 Calvin Ridley demanding the focus of the Chargers secondary, fantasy managers should feel confident that the 6'2" red-zone target will eclipse Sleeper’s projection of 6.6 points.

RB Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers

vs. New York Giants; Sunday, 9:30 a.m. ET

This suggestion will face resistance due to the expected debut of rookie running back Jonathon Brooks. However, it's highly likely that Dave Canales and the Panthers will ease Brooks into the rotation, considering how cautiously they’ve handled his return from a torn ACL, thus not drastically reducing the role of fantasy football’s overall RB9 in Germany. 

Hubbard, who is fifth in the NFL in rushing (665), draws a favorable matchup against a Giants defense that is allowing an NFL-high 5.2 yards per rush this season. 

Fantasy managers should start Hubbard with confidence as he aims to become the 10th RB to post double-digit PPR production against the Giants this season. Sleeper’s projected RB23 (11 PPR points) is primed to surpass a total he has eclipsed in seven of nine games.

SITS

RB Travis Etienne Jr., Jacksonville Jaguars

vs. Minnesota; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

Drafted as a high-end RB1 this past summer, Etienne is arguably one of the biggest disappointments in fantasy football. The versatile back, who has posted a total of 4.9 PPR fantasy points since Week 6, has fallen to overall RB40.

Splitting backfield time with Tank Bigsby, Etienne has not topped a 38% snap share since Week 4 and has not scored since Week 2. Next, he draws a tough matchup against a Vikings defense that has allowed only 73.8 rushing yards per game and three rushing TDs to opposing running backs this season.

WR Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts

vs. Buffalo; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET  

It appeared safe to show faith in the Colts WR1 after he previously had posted 12+ PPR fantasy points in three games with Joe Flacco at QB. However, managers who trusted Pittman were burned with a second straight game of fewer than three PPR fantasy points in Week 9. 

The overall WR50 draws a tough matchup against a Bills defense that has only allowed six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers. Normally a reliable PPR asset, Pittman has been battling a lower back issue and has become too risky to trust.  

On top of that, fellow WR Josh Downs appears to have become the top option in the Indianapolis passing attack, topping 9+ targets in five of his last six games. Until we see more consistent production, Pittman needs to hit the bench. 

QB Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

vs. New York Jets; Sunday, 4:05 p.m. ET 

Despite guiding the Cardinals to a dominant 29-9 win over Chicago, Murray produced his worst statistical performance of the season. The dual-threat QB posted only 4.8 fantasy points after failing to throw a touchdown for the first time in nine games. 

While New York has clamped down on opposing aerial attacks, it has been susceptible to being gashed on the ground by mobile quarterbacks due to their inability to maintain their gap integrity. Expect the elusive Murray, who has 45+ rushing yards in five of nine games, to try and exploit New York on the ground. 

Despite the solid rushing potential, though, fantasy managers need to temper expectations for the overall QB9, who has only thrown for multiple scores in four of his last 17 regular season games dating back to last season. The matchup against a Jets defense that has surrendered the third-fewest passing yards (1,631) and second-fewest passing touchdowns (six) to opposing signal-callers is one to avoid, if possible.

TE Sam LaPorta, Detroit Lions

at Houston; Sunday, 8:20 p.m. ET  

Look away if you invested high draft capital in LaPorta. It is shocking to see how little impact the talented tight end has made for a 7-1 Lions squad. 

LaPorta has caught two or fewer passes in five of his eight games this season. He is only averaging 37.5 receiving yards per game and has only posted double-digit PPR points twice. It’s not exactly the return you were expecting.

The overall TE18 in PPR will now face a Texans defense that is only allowing an average of 20.1 receiving yards and three touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Temper your expectations for LaPorta once again.

WR Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs

vs. Denver; Sunday, 1 p.m. ET

The explosive Chiefs rookie is the epitome of a boom or bust player. While Worthy has rewarded managers with four games of 11+ PPR points, he has also disappointed with four games of 5.4 PPR points or less. 

In Week 9, Worthy finished with -1 PPR points (-10 rushing yards) after failing to keep his feet in bounds to haul in either of his two targets. Upon the arrival of DeAndre Hopkins, the electric wideout appears to be third, at best, in the pecking order behind D-Hop and resurgent TE Travis Kelce. 

On top of all of that, Worthy is facing a tough matchup against a Broncos defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest yards per attempt (6.5) and only six touchdowns to opposing wide receivers.

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