Update (Nov. 10, 2026, 9:15 a.m. ET): ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported that Patriots running back Rhamondre Stevenson has a knee tendon issue that isn’t expected to require surgery but could sideline him for a short period. That keeps Corey Kiner in line for early-down work against Detroit; watch the Wednesday practice report.
Our Week 10 start sit calls begin with Monday night, because Bills vs. Vikings changed a few lineup decisions on its own. Buffalo leaned on James Cook for 31 carries, Minnesota’s offense managed six points, and the Vikings’ defense once again showed why fantasy managers should think twice before starting anyone against it.
Four teams are on bye this week: the Chicago Bears, Denver Broncos, Philadelphia Eagles and Tampa Bay Buccaneers. USA Today Sports noted that takes out running backs Saquon Barkley, Bucky Irving and Jonah Coleman, so plenty of managers need a fill-in. Here’s where we land, built from the matchup data and this week’s injury news.
Week 10 start sit fallout from Bills vs. Vikings
Start: James Cook, Bills (at Jets). Cook carried 31 times for 107 yards and a touchdown in Minneapolis, one carry short of his career high, according to the Bills. CBS Sports noted during the game that he had six straight games with at least 75 rushing yards and a touchdown, matching an O.J. Simpson streak from 1975 for the longest in team history. The Jets are 2-7 and Buffalo’s coaching staff just showed it will feed him when the passing game stalls. He’s an RB1.
Start: Josh Allen, Bills (at Jets). Allen threw for only 234 yards with a touchdown and an interception against the league’s stingiest defense. Don’t overreact. Footballguys’ projections had him as the No. 1 quarterback for Week 10 before Monday’s game, and one quiet night against Brian Flores’ defense doesn’t change that. Our Bills vs Vikings recap has the full picture of why Monday was an outlier.
Sit: Jordan Love, Packers (vs. Vikings). This is the toughest call of the week. Love threw for 372 yards and three touchdowns in New England, plus a rushing score. But Minnesota allows a league-low 10.6 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, according to The Big Lead’s analysis via Yahoo, with only four touchdown passes allowed and eight interceptions in seven games before Monday. USA Today also noted the Vikings lead the league in pressure rate. In one-quarterback leagues, he’s a sit. In superflex, start him and hope.
Sit: Tucker Kraft, Packers (vs. Vikings). USA Today ranks Minnesota as the best defense against tight ends this season, and Kraft has become the third option behind Christian Watson and Matthew Golden.
Downgrade: Justin Jefferson, Vikings (at Packers). Jefferson saw 11 targets Monday and caught three for 58 yards. The talent hasn’t changed, but Minnesota still hasn’t named a quarterback for Sunday, with Kyler Murray working back from a hamstring strain and Carson Wentz coming off an 81-yard night. Keep him in lineups because there’s no one to replace him with, but expect a WR2 floor rather than a WR1 ceiling until the quarterback answer arrives.
The Lions-Patriots game in Munich is the one to chase
The 9:30 a.m. ET game in Germany is the best fantasy environment of the week, and both teams’ passing games are worth a look.
Start: Jared Goff, Lions. He had no touchdown passes against Miami last week, but USA Today points out that New England has allowed a league-high 2,256 passing yards to quarterbacks.
Start: Jameson Williams, Lions. The Patriots gave up 17 catches, 335 yards and two touchdowns to Watson and Golden last week, per USA Today, and they allow the most fantasy points per game to receivers. Bleacher Report adds that cornerback Christian Gonzalez may draw Amon-Ra St. Brown, which pushes more opportunity Williams’ way. He topped 16 PPR points in four straight games before a quiet Week 9.
Start: Drake Maye, Patriots. He topped 20 fantasy points in Week 9 despite three interceptions, and Bleacher Report notes no team has given up more fantasy points to quarterbacks than Detroit.
Start (deep leagues): Eli Raridon, Patriots. Detroit has allowed the most fantasy points to tight ends, per Bleacher Report. The rookie caught three passes for 52 yards against Green Bay.
Running backs to fill bye-week holes
Audric Estime, Saints (vs. Panthers). Carolina has allowed a rushing touchdown to running backs in five straight games, according to USA Today. Estime ran 15 times for 72 yards and a score as the early-down back on Sunday and is a flex as long as Travis Etienne Jr. stays out.
Jadarian Price, Seahawks (at Raiders). Las Vegas has allowed the third-most fantasy points to running backs, per Bleacher Report. Price had four catches for 54 yards last week.
Ollie Gordon II, Dolphins (at Colts). He had a rushing touchdown in four straight games before cooling off, and Indianapolis allows the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs.
Corey Kiner, Patriots (vs. Lions). If Rhamondre Stevenson’s knee keeps him out, Kiner is the likely starter, as we covered in our Week 10 waiver wire pickups. Check the Wednesday and Thursday practice reports before you lock him in.
Matchups to fade this week
| Player | Matchup | Why we’d sit him |
|---|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins, LV | vs. SEA | Seattle allows 12.2 fantasy points per game to QBs, second-fewest; Cousins threw three INTs in Week 9 |
| Chase Brown, CIN | vs. PIT | Pittsburgh allows the third-fewest points to RBs, and Samaje Perine led Cincinnati in carries last week |
| Tony Pollard, TEN | vs. JAX | Jacksonville allows 89.3 rushing yards per game, fifth-best, per USA Today |
| Tyler Allgeier, ARI | vs. LAR | The Rams have allowed only three total touchdowns to running backs |
| DK Metcalf, PIT | at CIN | Three or fewer catches in three of his last four games |
| Harold Fannin Jr., CLE | vs. HOU | Houston allows the fourth-fewest points to tight ends |
Two receivers sit just below that line. Tank Dell had 105 yards and a touchdown on nine targets in Week 9, but he played under half the snaps, and USA Today wants another game before trusting him. Raiders receiver Tre Tucker draws a Seattle defense that has held receiving corps to about 20 fantasy points per game, per Bleacher Report.
Streaming quarterbacks and defenses
Geno Smith, Jets (vs. Bills). This one stings for Bills fans. Buffalo allows 20.7 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, 28th in the league, and opposing passers had averaged 269 yards against the Bills, according to The Big Lead via Yahoo. Smith had only 165 yards in Kansas City, but a 2-7 team trailing Buffalo will be throwing a lot, and Garrett Wilson’s possible return from the concussion protocol would help.
Seahawks quarterback (at Raiders). Las Vegas gives up 22.4 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, 31st in the league. Sam Darnold has a quad injury and a cracked rib, and Mike Macdonald called the situation “kind of up in the air.” Drew Lock is the backup and is dealing with his own elbow and oblique issues. Wait for Friday’s injury report.
Ravens D/ST (vs. Chargers). Justin Herbert has been sacked 31 times in eight games, per USA Today, and he’s playing through a finger injury. The Chargers are 0-8.
Rams D/ST (at Cardinals). RotoBaller ranks Los Angeles as the No. 1 defense this week, with Arizona possibly turning to rookie Carson Beck and a depleted receiver group.
Thursday night comes first
Week 10 opens Thursday at 8:15 p.m. ET with Commanders at Giants on Prime Video, so set any J.J. McCarthy or Washington decisions before then. This week’s injury reports for Seattle’s quarterbacks, New England’s backfield and Minnesota’s starter will settle the last few spots, and we’ll update this list if any of them change the calls above.
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