Fantasy: Start, Sit, Stash, Quit - Week 10
SSSQ is a weekly look at under-the-radar fantasy players to consider starting and potential busts you should leave on your bench. We also identify breakout candidates to stash on your roster and players you can safely cut.
Consult our Week 10 rankings for the rest of your lineup decisions. You can also listen to the Week 10 preview episode of theScore Fantasy Football Podcast.
Start
Brock Purdy, 49ers
at Jaguars
After a couple of turnover-filled games in the last month, Purdy is returning from the 49ers' bye week with a much healthier supporting cast. That includes Deebo Samuel, who hasn't played since Week 6, and possibly even stud left tackle Trent Williams, who was back at practice on Thursday.
Before their injuries, Purdy was averaging the eighth-most fantasy points per game among quarterbacks through the first five weeks of the season.
The best way to attack the Jaguars' defense is through the air, so you can expect the 49ers to put their pass-catchers to work this Sunday. Jacksonville is giving up the seventh-most passing yards this year and is a top-10 matchup for fantasy QBs.
Boone's projection: 304 passing yards, 2 passing TDs, 7 rushing yards
Other QBs to start
- Jared Goff at Chargers
- Sam Howell at Seahawks
Rhamondre Stevenson, Patriots
vs. Colts
Stevenson is coming off his best outing of the season, with 129 scrimmage yards, four catches, and a touchdown versus the Commanders.
Now, he'll be looking to carry that momentum into a matchup with the Colts, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Just remember to get Stevenson in your lineup early since this game takes place in Germany, with a 9:30 a.m. ET kickoff.
Boone's projection: 68 rushing yards, 39 receiving yards, 4 receptions, TD
Other RBs to start
- Javonte Williams at Bills
- David Montgomery at Chargers
- James Conner vs. Falcons
DeAndre Hopkins, Titans
at Buccaneers
Will Levis' willingness to push the ball downfield makes Hopkins a much more exciting fantasy option moving forward.
Get ready for a boom week from the veteran wideout as he faces a banged-up Buccaneers secondary that's been exposed recently, serving up at least 70 yards and/or a touchdown to six different receivers over the last two weeks. That's six top-24 WR fantasy finishes allowed by Tampa in the past two games.
With Treylon Burks in concussion protocol and very little target competition otherwise, Hopkins is going to feast in Week 10.
Boone's projection: 116 receiving yards, 6 receptions, TD
Other WRs to start
- Tank Dell at Bengals
- Christian Kirk/Calvin Ridley vs. 49ers
- Diontae Johnson vs. Packers
Dalton Schultz, Texans
at Bengals
Schultz has been benefitting from rookie C.J. Stroud's emergence as a difference-maker in Houston. He's fresh off a 10-catch, 130-yard, one-score game in Week 9 and now has four touchdowns over his last five appearances.
With Nico Collins and Robert Woods nursing injuries that could impact their availability or effectiveness this weekend, the Texans will likely need to rely on Schultz again.
To sweeten his outlook even more, the veteran tight end gets to square off with the Bengals, who are giving up the most fantasy points to his position.
Boone's projection: 81 receiving yards, 7 receptions, TD
Other TEs to start
- Taysom Hill at Vikings
- Trey McBride vs. Falcons
Sit
Deshaun Watson, Browns
at Ravens
Watson might not look completely comfortable in the Browns' offense yet, but he posted three top-10 weekly fantasy finishes over the four games he's been healthy.
Unfortunately for him, a date with the division-rival Ravens is on tap this week, and Baltimore is the most difficult matchup for quarterbacks this season.
The Ravens have registered the most sacks while giving up the fewest passing touchdowns and the fourth-fewest passing yards.
Boone's projection: 212 passing yards, TD, 2 INTs, 19 rushing yards
Other QBs to sit
- Gardner Minshew at Patriots
- Jordan Love at Steelers
Gus Edwards, Ravens
vs. Browns
The Browns-Ravens game projects to be an old-school AFC North battle, highlighted by the defenses.
Aside from one long receiving touchdown a couple of weeks ago, Edwards normally doesn't offer much as a pass-catcher. Meanwhile, Cleveland's defense has only let one running back top 70 rushing yards, and the unit's permitted just two rushing touchdowns to the position.
To make matters worse, rookie Keaton Mitchell has likely turned Baltimore's backfield into a three-way committee.
Boone's projection: 46 rushing yards, 5 receiving yards, 1 reception
Other RBs to sit
- Jerome Ford at Ravens
- Brian Robinson Jr. at Seahawks
- Zack Moss at Patriots
Amari Cooper, Browns
at Ravens
Cooper has been on a tear lately, with 89 or more receiving yards in five of the past seven outings.
One of the games where he failed to reach that mark was versus the Ravens in Week 4, when he put up his worst stat line of the season with just one catch for 16 yards on six targets.
Having Watson back this time around helps, but Baltimore is the sixth-toughest opponent for fantasy receivers.
Boone's projection: 42 receiving yards, 4 receptions
Other WRs to sit
- Zay Flowers vs. Browns
- Jakobi Meyers vs. Jets
- Christian Watson at Steelers
Michael Mayer, Raiders
vs. Jets
With Travis Kelce on bye and injuries to tight ends like Dallas Goedert and Darren Waller, the idea of benching a quality tight end becomes a fool's errand.
You likely weren't playing Mayer, anyway, since he hasn't topped 20 yards in three straight games and is limited by a fourth-round rookie quarterback.
It's not that the Jets are a particularly bad matchup for tight ends, but with target hogs like Davante Adams and Jakobi Meyers at receiver, Mayer is a touchdown-or-bust desperation streamer only.
Boone's projection: 19 receiving yards, 2 receptions
Other TEs to sit
- David Njoku at Ravens
- Juwan Johnson at Vikings
Stash
Past stashes that still qualify: Rico Dowdle, Zamir White, Kendre Miller
Tank Bigsby, Jaguars
Bigsby (9% rostered) hasn't lived up to his preseason hype, which has led to him being dropped in many leagues.
Though he may not offer weekly flex value like some had hoped, he remains the top backup behind Travis Etienne.
If anything were to happen to Etienne, Bigsby would become an intriguing low-end RB2.
Ty Chandler, Vikings
With Cam Akers out for the season, the Vikings will turn back to Chandler (6% rostered) as their No. 2 runner behind Alexander Mattison.
Head coach Kevin O'Connell expressed a desire to see Chandler take over some of the touches Akers was getting in the offense, which could result in some flex value in deeper leagues.
But Chandler's main fantasy appeal is as an injury-away bench stash.
Quit
Quarterback (1QB): Matthew Stafford, Jordan Love
Running back: Miles Sanders, Roschon Johnson
Wide receiver: Elijah Moore, K.J. Osborn
Tight end: Darren Waller, Tyler Higbee