Week 10 Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em

It's Week 10 of the 2025 fantasy football season, and the stretch run for the fantasy playoffs is almost here. For many managers, the pressure to get a win this week is immense.

A fortunate few are 8-1 or 7-2 and cruising along, but 9-0 teams are performing even better.

However, there are a ton of fantasy managers who are 5-4, 4-5 or worse. Those teams are fresh out of margin for error. If they start stacking wins, the goal of making the playoffs could still be realized. At this point in the season, though, every loss moves teams closer to disappointment.

Those fantasy managers walking the tightrope can't afford to make poor lineup decisions, and we're here to ensure they don't, by highlighting players who should be in starting lineups and others who need to be glued to the bench.

Author's Note: "Starts" have a started percentage at NFL.com of less than 60 percent or do not exceed a maximum DFS salary threshold at DraftKings. "Sits" have a started percentage over 70 percent or exceed a minimum salary threshold. "Sleepers" have a started percentage of less than 30 percent or don't exceed an even lower salary threshold.

Quarterbacks

AP Photo/Rick Osentoski

Lions QB Jared Goff

Start 'Em

Jaxson Dart, New York Giants (at CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,700]

Dart hasn't hit 200 passing yards the past two weeks, but his fantasy value gets a sizable boost from his rushing ability—the rookie has a score on the ground in four straight games. The Bears are struggling defensively, allowing the seventh-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions (at WAS) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,900]

Goff has been a bit of a disappointment statistically this year, ranking 14th among quarterbacks in fantasy points after nine weeks. However, the Lions are seething after falling at home to the Minnesota Vikings last week, and the Commanders secondary has been hit hard by injuries.

Sit 'Em

Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles (at GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,700]

Given the state of the quarterback position in fantasy leagues, few managers are in a position where sitting Hurts is a realistic possibility. But a relatively down week is coming—the Packers are ninth in the NFL in pass defense and have given up the 10th-fewest fantasy points per game to quarterbacks.

Daniel Jones, Indianapolis Colts (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,100]

Jones had a nightmarish outing last week against Pittsburgh, turning the ball over five times. Now he heads to Germany to take on an Atlanta defense that ranks first in the NFL against the pass at 158.1 yards per game and has given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season.

Sleeper

J.J. McCarthy, Minnesota Vikings (vs. BAL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,900]

McCarthy's yardage last week wasn't especially impressive, but he threw for two scores and ran for another against the Detroit Lions. The Ravens may be getting better, but Baltimore has still been generous to opposing quarterbacks, surrendering the ninth-most fantasy points per game.

Running Backs

AP Photo/Charles Krupa

Patriots RB TreVeyon Henderson

Start 'Em

TreVeyon Henderson, New England Patriots (at TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

Henderson had his best game as a pro last week against the Atlanta Falcons, and with Rhamondre Stevenson still not practicing with a toe injury, he should again see 15-20 touches against a Buccaneers team allowing the seventh-most PPR points per game to running backs.

Kyle Monangai, Chicago Bears (vs. NYG) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,600]

D'Andre Swift is back on the practice field and appears to be on track to play this week against a New York Giants team that sports the worst run defense in the NFC at 150.0 yards allowed per game. But after Monangai's monstrous outing against the Cincinnati Bengals, the rookie is still going to be a significant part of the Bears offense.

Sit 'Em

Breece Hall, New York Jets (vs. CLE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,000]

Hall somewhat surprisingly wasn't part of New York's trade deadline fire sale, but he's likely going to struggle this week. The Browns are giving up less than 95 yards per game on the ground this year and have surrendered the fewest fantasy points per game to running backs in the AFC.

Rachaad White, Tampa Bay Buccaneers (vs. NE) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,400]

Buccaneers running back Bucky Irving still isn't practicing, so White will likely be Tampa's lead back against the Patriots. But New England has been stingy to opposing running backs in 2025—it sports the NFL's best run defense and has given up the fourth-fewest PPR points per game to the position.

Sleeper

Ray Davis, Buffalo Bills (at MIA) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,500]

Selecting Ray Davis is, admittedly, not a safe play for risk-averse managers. But while James Cook is practicing, he's nursing an ankle injury that could mean more touches for Davis this week. The Dolphins have been atrocious against the run this season, allowing 145.6 yards per game on the ground. They have also given up the sixth-most PPR points per game to running backs.

Wide Receivers

AP Photo/Ella Hall

Saints WR Chris Olave

Start 'Em

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers (vs. PIT) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,500]

Allen's production has tailed off of late—he has just six catches for 85 yards over the past two weeks combined. Sunday night's showdown with the Steelers sets up well for a bounce back, as Pittsburgh is dead last in the NFL in pass defense, allowing 278.3 yards per contest.

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants (at CHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,300]

Robinson has been racking up catches, averaging six receptions per game over the last month with at least 13 PPR points in three of those outings. He should keep amassing stats this week against a Bears defense that has given up the fourth-most PPR points per game to wide receivers this year.

Sit 'Em

Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints (at CAR) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,200]

Olave wasn't dealt at the deadline, but Rashid Shaheed was. That means the Ohio State product should see bracket coverage moving forward, starting with a Panthers team quietly allowing the fifth-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers in 2025.

Michael Pittman Jr., Indianapolis Colts (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $6,300]

Pittman has at least 18 PPR points in three straight games and 20-plus in each of the last two. But the sledding won't be easy in Berlin this weekend. As noted, the Falcons have the league's best pass defense and have surrendered the seventh-fewest PPR points per game to wide receivers this season.

Sleeper

Darnell Mooney, Atlanta Falcons (vs. IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,000]

Mooney has been a complete non-factor for the Falcons this season, with just 12 catches for 176 yards for the season. However, overseas games often contain some strange happenings, such as a previously quiet WR going off against a Colts defense allowing the eighth-most PPR points per game to the position this year.

Tight Ends

AP Photo/Vera Nieuwenhuis

Falcons TE Kyle Pitts

Start 'Em

Harold Fannin Jr., Cleveland Browns (at NYJ) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,200]

Fannin has been a rare bright spot in another dismal season in Cleveland. The rookie is pacing the team in both receptions and receiving yards. He should keep the good times rolling this week against the woeful Jets, who have been solid against wide receivers but far more generous to opposing tight ends in 2025.

Kyle Pitts, Atlanta Falcons (at IND) [DraftKings DFS Value: $4,100]

Last week, Pitts had just four receptions for 38 yards, but the Colts have had issues defending the pass this season. Indy is 26th in the NFL in that regard and has surrendered the fourth-most PPR points per game to tight ends this year.

Sit 'Em

Luke Musgrave, Green Bay Packers (vs. PHI) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,500]

More than a few fantasy managers who lost Packers tight end Tucker Kraft to an ACL tear last week are looking to pivot to Musgrave this week. His first game as Green Bay's No. 1 tight end could be a quiet one—the Eagles have given up the third-fewest PPR points per game to tight ends this year.

Tyler Warren, Indianapolis Colts (vs. ATL) [DraftKings DFS Value: $5,400]

Warren has been mostly stellar as a rookie, ranking third in PPR points among tight ends. However, he is coming off his second-worst fantasy outing of the season, and Atlanta's excellent pass defense sits dead-last in the NFL in PPR points per game given up to tight ends this season.

Sleeper

A.J. Barner, Seattle Seahawks [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,100]

Barner has had his moments for the Seahawks this season, topping 10 PPR points five times in eight games for Seattle. He'll hit that benchmark again Sunday against the Cardinals. Arizona has long been a favorable matchup for tight ends, giving up the ninth-most PPR points to the position.

Team Defenses

AP Photo/Nick Wass

Ravens S Kyle Hamilton

Start 'Em

Baltimore Ravens Defense (at MIN) [DraftKings DFS Value: $3,300]

For most of the season, the Ravens have not played well defensively. But Baltimore is coming off easily its best defensive effort of the season last week against the Miami Dolphins. The Ravens are getting healthier by the week, and the Vikings have given up the fourth-most fantasy points per game to defenses this year.

Pittsburgh Steelers Defense (at LAC) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,800]

The Steelers have had their own defensive struggles this season, especially against the pass. However, Pittsburgh took it to the NFL's hottest team in the Indianapolis Colts last week, and with Joe Alt joining Rashawn Slater on the shelf, the Chargers are again down both of their starting tackles. That's not ideal when facing Steelers edge-rusher T.J. Watt.

Sit 'Em

New England Patriots Defense (at TB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,600]

The Patriots are fantasy football's No. 1 defense after nine weeks, but they are coming off their worst fantasy effort of the season last week against the Atlanta Falcons. This week, New England takes on a Buccaneers team that has played well offensively despite a number of injuries at the skill positions.

Philadelphia Eagles Defense (at GB) [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,900]

The Eagles beefed up the pass rush and secondary with trades for edge-rusher Jaelan Phillips and cornerback Jaire Alexander. But it will take those players a little while to acclimate to their new team, and the Packers have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to defenses this year.

Sleeper

New Orleans Saints Defense [DraftKings DFS Value: $2,400]

Make no mistake, the Saints are bad. However, while the Carolina Panthers may be 5-4, they are also 27th in the NFL in scoring offense and have surrendered the ninth-most fantasy points per game to defenses this season.

Gary Davenport is a two-time Fantasy Sports Writers Association Football Writer of the Year. Follow Gary on X at @IDPGodfather.