Start ‘Em, Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the best and worst matchups based on a PPR scoring system in fantasy football. This column will not cover the elite players in the NFL like Josh Allen, Austin Ekeler or Cooper Kupp. Instead, I'll look at the players you have questions about who could exceed or fail to meet expectations at each position. For all of your final fantasy lineup decisions, be sure to check out my weekly player rankings which will be updated daily throughout the 2022 NFL season.
Fabs Top 10 quarterbacks
1. Josh Allen vs. Vikings
2. Patrick Mahomes vs. Jaguars
3. Jalen Hurts vs. Commanders (MNF)
4. Justin Fields vs. Lions
5. Kyler Murray at Rams
6. Tua Tagovailoa vs. Browns
7. Dak Prescott at Packers
8. Geno Smith at Buccaneers (Munich)
9. Tom Brady vs. Seahawks (Munich)
10. Justin Herbert at 49ers
Byes: Bengals, Jets, Patriots, Ravens
Week 10 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: QUARTERBACKS | RUNNING BACKS | WIDE RECEIVERS | TIGHT ENDS | KICKERS & TEAM DEFENSES
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Week 10 Start ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Start of the Week
Justin Fields vs. Lions (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Fields has been the best quarterback in fantasy football over the last four weeks, averaging a bananas 27.6 fantasy points including 42.7 points against the Dolphins in Week 9. He needs to be active in all leagues against the Lions, who have allowed the third-most points to quarterbacks. Their defense has allowed 24-plus points to the position four times this season.
Start ‘Em
Tua Tagovailoa at Browns (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Tagovailoa is coming off a terrific stat line, scoring 24.1 points in a win over the Bears. This week’s game against the Browns isn’t great on paper, as their defense has allowed an average of fewer than 16 fantasy points to quarterbacks this season. However, Tua has the advantage of having the best duo of wideouts in Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle at his disposal.
Tom Brady vs. Seahawks (Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network): Brady has not been a great fantasy option this season, scoring fewer than 16 points in three of his last four games. Nevertheless, he showed he still has some of that old Brady magic in his pocket last week against the Rams. He also has a good matchup against the Seahawks, who have allowed 17-plus points to four quarterbacks.
Trevor Lawrence at Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Lawrence hasn’t been consistent in the stat sheets, scoring fewer than 17 fantasy points in three of his last five games. But if you’re in need of a quarterback with a good matchup this week, he’s worth a roll of the dice. He could have to throw often against the Chiefs, who have given up 17-plus points to five quarterbacks, including four who have scored over 20 points.
Russell Wilson at Titans (1 p.m. ET, CBS): Wilson has been tough to trust this season, scoring 17-plus points just twice in his first seven games. Still, I consider him a low-end No. 1 quarterback in this week’s plus matchup against the Titans. Their pass defense has allowed 17-plus fantasy points to quarterbacks five times this season, including to the likes of Carson Wentz, Derek Carr and Matt Ryan.
More Starts
• Geno Smith at Buccaneers (Munich, 9:30 a.m. ET, NFL Network)
• Jimmy Garoppolo vs. Chargers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC)
DFS Bargains
• Daniel Jones vs. Texans ($5,700)
• Jared Goff at Bears ($5,500)
• Trevor Lawrence at Chiefs ($5,400)
Week 10 Sit ‘Em: Quarterbacks
Sit of the Week
Aaron Rodgers vs. Cowboys (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Rodgers has been a shell of his former fantasy self this season, scoring fewer than 17 points in every game while averaging a gross 13.9 points. He should be on the sidelines (or even the waiver wire) this week against the Cowboys, who have allowed just one enemy quarterback to score more than 16.9 fantasy points against them this season.
Sit ‘Em
Justin Herbert at 49ers (8:20 p.m. ET, NBC): I was dead wrong about Herbert last week, as he scored just 12.1 points in a win over the hapless Falcons defense. I still don’t consider him a must-sit, so take this as a warning. With Keenan Allen at less than 100% and Mike Williams out, Herbert is a risk against a 49ers team that’s coming off a bye and has allowed just 14.1 points per game to quarterbacks.
Kirk Cousins at Bills (1 p.m. ET, Fox): Cousins is a top-10 quarterback based on his fantasy points per game average, but he can have his share of stinkers. That could be the case this week, as he’ll face a tough matchup in Buffalo. Their pass defense has allowed just one quarterback (Patrick Mahomes) to beat them for more than 15.2 fantasy points, so Cousins is in a bad position this weekend.
Derek Carr vs. Colts (4:05 p.m. ET, CBS): Carr has been a disappointment in the stat sheets this season, scoring fewer than 15 fantasy points in three of his last five games while averaging a modest 14.5 points per game overall. The Colts defense has given up an average of just 15.1 points to enemy signal-callers, and a potential positive game script could keep Carr from finding much success in Las Vegas.
Matthew Stafford vs. Cardinals (4:25 p.m. ET, Fox): Sitting Stafford has nothing to do with the matchup, as the Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. It’s more about Stafford and the Rams themselves. He’s failed to score more than 11.8 points in all but two games, and he’s been sacked 28 times on the season. Outside of two-quarterback leagues, I simply can’t start Stafford.
More Sits
• Ryan Tannehill at Chiefs (1 p.m. ET, CBS)
• Taylor Heinicke at Eagles (Mon. 8:15 p.m. ET, ESPN)
DFS Fades
• Kirk Cousins at Bills ($6,000)
• Aaron Rodgers vs. Cowboys ($5,800)
• Derek Carr vs. Colts ($5,600)
- Waiver Wire Pickups for Week 10
- Fantasy Fallout: Justin Fields Isn’t the Only Quarterback on the Run
- Top 10 Week 9 Fantasy Takeaways
- Week 10 Early Waiver Wire Pickups
- MMQB: Midseason Power Rankings
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on Sports Illustrated and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Click here to read all his articles here on SI Fantasy. You can follow Michael on Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram for your late-breaking fantasy news and the best analysis in the business to help you win a fantasy championship!
