Week 10 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Smart Matchup Plays, Sleepers and More

The deeper the NFL probes into the 2024 schedule, the less margin for error fantasy football managers have.

All weekly performances might technically count the same, but the stakes certainly feel magnified the closer you get to the finish line. And if the early portion of the campaign hasn't gone as planned, you're racing against the clock to lock down a playoff spot.

It has never been—or at least felt—more important to maximize your lineup, in other words, so we're here to help with a couple of our top start or sit recommendations for Week 10.

Start: Sam Darnold at Jacksonville Jaguars

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MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA - NOVEMBER 03: Sam Darnold #14 of the Minnesota Vikings warms up prior to the game against the Indianapolis Colts at U.S. Bank Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Stephen Maturen/Getty Images)

After a couple of quiet outings, Sam Darnold is heating back up again. After managing just a single touchdown pass against two interceptions in Weeks 5 and 7, he has tallied five touchdown passes (and two picks) in the two games since.

He wasn't perfect Sunday night—two interceptions and a lost fumble—but he was very good outside of this miscues. His 82.4 completion percentage and 290 passing yards were both season-highs, while his three touchdown passes tied for the second-most he's thrown this year.

If that's the kind of damage he could do against a middle-of-the-pack Indianapolis defense, he could have a field day against a Jacksonville defense that has allowed the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks, per Yahoo.

Sit: Kyler Murray vs. New York Jets

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 03: Kyler Murray #1 of the Arizona Cardinals warms up prior to a game against the Chicago Bears at State Farm Stadium on November 03, 2024 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)

It's never easy to sit Kyler Murray, because he's always capable of running his way to fantasy relevance. However, when he isn't adding much as a rusher—he's had fewer than 20 rushing yards in four of his last six contests—then he probably isn't helping your team.

He has nine games under his belt this season and only two of them featured more than 215 passing yards. He hasn't even cracked the 200-yard mark in five different contests. In fact, he has just as many games with less than 150 passing yards as he does outings with multiple touchdown passes (two apiece).

The Cardinals won't force themselves to pass if they don't need to, and even if their ground game gets busy, it won't always involve Murray (he had two of their 34 rushing attempts Sunday). It's tough to plot a trustworthy path to a starting-caliber performance in Week 10 against a Jets defense allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to the position.

Start: Rico Dowdle vs. Philadelphia Eagles

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ATLANTA, GA - NOVEMBER 03: Dallas Cowboys running back Rico Dowdle #23 during the Sunday afternoon NFL game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Dallas Cowboys on November 3, 2024 at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by David J. Griffin/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

In what increasingly feels like a wasted season, the Cowboys at least got one thing right on Sunday. They entrusted Rico Dowdle with control of their backfield and saw him produce like a featured running back should.

With Ezekiel Elliott scratched for disciplinary reasons, and Dalvin Cook doing very little with his limited chances, Dowdle was front and center of this rushing attack. He handled 12 of the team's 21 carries and saw all six of the targets that went to running backs. More importantly, he produced with those chances, turning his 17 touches into 107 scrimmage yards and a touchdown.

This feels like a(n overdue) changing of the guard, and if it is, Dowdle should garner weekly consideration for a starting spot. That's why he's getting the start recommendation here, even though the Eagles haven't been a great fantasy matchup for running backs so far.

Sit: Austin Ekeler vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

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EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 03: Austin Ekeler #30 of the Washington Commanders runs the ball during the first quarter against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium on November 03, 2024 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Austin Ekeler just produced one of his finest performances in a Washington uniform, totaling 83 scrimmage yards and scoring his second touchdown of the season.

We'd caution against anyone relying on a repeat. Between the potential return of top rusher Brian Robinson Jr., the fact Ekeler was sharing field time with Chris Rodriguez Jr. even with Robinson sidelined and a trickier matchup on the docket, the stars aren't exactly aligning for Ekeler.

His 11 carries and 14 touches were both season-highs, so there's not a lot of trustworthy volume here. Plus, he's about to lock horns with a Pittsburgh defense that has allowed the 10th-fewest fantasy points to running backs and just had a chance to refresh during its Week 9 bye.