Will Levis Named Starter | Must Starts and Sits: NFL Week 10

by Aditya Fuldeore · Matchups Start/Sit

Quarterback Carousel

Every week of the NFL season, fantasy gamers juggle players to insert into lineups at each position. Are you questioning which players face easy matchups and which players face tougher paths to production? You are in the right place! The Chiefs, Rams, Dolphins, and Eagles are on bye in Week 10. This leaves key QBs like Patrick Mahomes, Tua Tagovailoa, and Jalen Hurts out, in addition to the various QB sidelined by injury. Fantasy managers face some interested decisions at QB. For seasonal leagues, DFS, and more, this week’s must start and sit picks can give you some guidance on setting your lineups. Good luck!

Quarterback

Start: Will Levis

Through two games, Will Levis has 500 passing yards and four passing touchdowns. The rookie has stepped onto the scene in Tennessee to replace Ryan Tannehill and potentially take the reins of the franchise.

Levis’ matchup against the Buccaneers is juicy enough to start him in Week 10. Tampa Bay is allowing the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks and just gave up 470 yards and five touchdowns to C.J. Stroud in Week 9. Opponents average nearly 300 passing yards per game against the Buccaneers and have attempted at least 37 passes six times this season. Levis has shown he can utilize DeAndre Hopkins and make the Titans offense serviceable through the air. With several QBs out due to bye weeks and injury, fire up Levis in a good matchup for Week 10.

Sit: Trevor Lawrence

The Jaguars are 6-2, but Trevor Lawrence is averaging 15.6 (No. 19) Fantasy Points Per Game. Lawrence has had a solid season, but Travis Etienne has driven the Jaguars offense and taken scoring opportunities. Lawrence has nine touchdowns through eight games with a little rushing production and three top-12 fantasy finishes. None of those three, however, were in the top-seven.

This week, Lawrence faces a 49ers defense that is intercepting the ball at the same rate that it is allowing touchdowns. Zay Jones is likely still out and Etienne remains the Jaguars’ top offensive weapon. Lawrence will find himself under pressure from Nick Bosa and the newly acquired Chase Young. In a tough matchup, don’t bet on Lawrence’s fantasy output increasing from its pedestrian levels.

Running Back

Start: Rhamondre Stevenson

Fresh off a big performance with 129 total yards and a touchdown, Rhamondre Stevenson is gaining the trust of fantasy managers again. He had a rough stretch from Weeks 3-5, facing tough defenses, but is now productive again. Stevenson’s pass-catching is especially helping as he has a 54.3-percent (No. 9) Route Participation on the season. The Patriots face a middling Colts defense this week. The Colts are allowing just under five RB receptions per game and more than one rushing touchdown per game. That means the scoring and receiving opportunities will be there for Stevenson this week. Ezekiel Elliott has cut into his workload, but Stevenson is still leading the backfield in Snap Share. Fire up Stevenson in a good matchup this week.

Sit: Gus Edwards

The good news is that Gus Edwards has five touchdowns over his last two games. The bad news is he got just five carries in Week 9 and is averaging a career-low 4.4 Yards per Carry and 4.0 (No. 28) True Yards per Carry. Keaton Mitchell has burst on the scene and looks to split some of Justice Hill‘s work between the 20s and on passing downs. He will make the Ravens backfield more of a committee.

Edwards has the most utility in a positive Game Script and in the red zone, but efficiency will be tough to achieve against a good Browns defense. In the Ravens’ last matchup against Cleveland, Edwards had 17 touches for 49 yards and no scores in a 25-point victory. Game Script should favor Edwards again this week, but Mitchell’s emergence lowers scoring opportunities. Against a good defense, Edwards is a sit.

Wide Receiver

Start: Michael Pittman Jr.

As the Colts’ No. 1 receiver, Michael Pittman has seen a 29.1-percent (No. 12) Target Share. He has six games of at least eight receptions and seven games of at least 13 fantasy points. Gardner Minshew gives him a stable floor and a weekly WR2 ranking.

This week, Pittman faces the Patriots, who have allowed 10 touchdowns to wide receivers this season. They just allowed over 250 receiving yards to Commanders WRs and opponents are top-eight in WR receptions against them. Colts rookie Josh Downs is hurt, opening up more opportunities for Pittman. The Colts don’t have a whole lot of serviceable receiving options outside of him, so the volume will continue to flow. Follow the targets in a solid matchup against the Pats this week for Pittman.

Sit: George Pickens

Once again, George Pickens finds himself playing second fiddle to Diontae Johnson, and he doesn’t seem too happy about it. Pickens has 21 receiving yards over his last two games, seeing a decrease in Target Share with Johnson back. Pickens’ 1.28-yard (No. 81) Target Separation leads to him seeing more contested targets – 16 on the season. For Week 10, Pickens faces a Packers defense that has allowed the 27th-most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. They yield just over 11 receptions to wideouts per game. The bulk of those targets in the Steelers offense will go to Johnson, with sprinklings of Connor Heyward and the running backs. Pickens has a small slice of a small pie in Week 10 against the Packers.

Tight End

Start: Juwan Johnson

With five receptions in Week 9, Juwan Johnson is back to producing for the Saints offense after missing several weeks to a calf strain. He receives short-yardage targets in his role, which will lead to high volume from Derek Carr. Johnson’s return slowly has him taking a few targets away from Alvin Kamara, who has seen plenty of checkdowns this season. Meanwhile, tight ends have gotten at least six targets in all but three games against the Vikings. They are allowing the 16th-most TE fantasy points, but ninth-most receiving fantasy points.

In a week without Travis Kelce (on bye) and Dallas Goedert and Darren Waller out due to injury, tight end streaming will be popular. Johnson is getting healthier and seeing a defined role in the Saints offense. He has minimal tight end target competition outside of the do-it-all Taysom Hill. In a high-volume-yielding matchup in the Vikings, Johnson is a start.

Sit: Luke Musgrave

This is the third time Luke Musgrave has appeared in this series, as either a start or a sit. He is on the cusp of graduating from tight end streamer territory, but has teetered back-and-forth, leaving managers debating whether to put him in lineups every week. Musgrave has two top-12 finishes, including one in Week 9. He also has seen more than four targets in just three games this season. The Packers face the Steelers defense in Week 10. The Steelers have allowed one touchdown to opposing tight ends this season. Musgrave is in the tier of tight ends with low enough volume that they need a touchdown to be a top-12 fantasy tight end. With a very good Steelers defense playing against a middling Jordan Love and company, Musgrave is a sit this week.

Home Stretch

Entering Week 10, there is just about a third of the fantasy regular season left to play. Now rosters are shaping up to be contenders or pretenders. Lineup decisions are more crucial now with just a few more games left to make a fantasy playoff push. So set those lineups and good luck!

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