We wanted more from the NFL trade deadline — new team for Jonathan Taylor, anyone? Nevertheless, we did get some action, and action that affects the Week 10 fantasy football rankings. Kirk Cousins has a ripple effect; Josh Downs and Keenan Allen step into top-two receiving roles; and well, there wasn’t much else outside of even more injuries to discuss! I break it all down with the start-or-sit decisions we have pending, plus a fun ranks where I want your input.
Fantasy football concierge
If you haven’t seen this yet, here’s how The Fantasy Concierge works: Type in the names of up to five players, select your scoring format and the position(s) you want to compare, and click the analyze button to see who I’d recommend starting this week, along with recent related coverage from The Athletic’s NFL and Fantasy teams.
Week 10 notes, starts, sits
* Ranks need context. This year, each skill position will still have notes for potential changes based on news, injuries, weather, etc. Rankings are updated all week and always before kickoff on game day (except Monday, because they’re locked). Tiers are Disney afternoon-cartoons style because it was the best time ever.
- Tier (1) — #1 Dime: If they fail you, it would be surprising.
- Tier (2) — Gold Doubloon: Close to elite; need a good reason to bench.
- Tier (3) — Launchpad. Better than most, but can still crash.
- Tier (4) — Rescue Ranger: Might save your day; as likely to spoil it.
- Tier (5+) — Let’s Get Dangerous: The “Hail Mary” fliers.
BYES: Bears, Broncos, Buccaneers, Eagles
* Referenced stats are since Week 4 to account for recency (changes, etc.)
Quarterbacks
- Deshaun Watson is set to return. If Shedeur Sanders starts, he’d essentially take Watson’s place in the rankings, but give all the Browns receiving options a slight boost for some slightly improved downfield throwing.
- Kirk Cousins is back with the Vikings. His target percentage from 2020-23 with the Vikings and Justin Jefferson plus T.J. Hockenson: 16.3% RBs, 58.4% WRs, 20.6% TEs. In his final season, with Jordan Addison in the mix: 16.7%, 54.7%, 25.7%. Kyler Murray was 16.9%, 50.0%, and 26.0%. Obviously, Cousins’ Raiders numbers skew heavily away from their weak WR corps, but we could see a resurgence not just for Jefferson but also possibly for Addison who could get back into the WR3/4 range. Hockenson should remain a fringe — albeit inconsistent — TE1.
- Even with injuries, including A.J. Brown again, the Patriots are second only to the Bengals in touchdowns per drive (33.8% to 40.4%), so we are hoping for a Lions’ bounce back and potential shootout.
Running backs
- Rhamondre Stevenson is out, and the rankings assume TreVeyon Henderson (illness) is too. If Henderson plays, he would be an RB2 ahead of Woody Marks, and Corey Kiner would drop to RB4 territory.
- David Montgomery isn’t in the rankings, but if he plays, Marks would slip to fringe-RB2 territory, and Montgomery would be an RB3.
- Back to the Packers’ backfield madness. Reports have Kaleb Johnson leading the way, making him a mid-high RB3 and Pierre Strong an RB4 without MarShawn Lloyd. However, if Lloyd or Chris Brooks plays, that adds more risk to Johnson, making him a low-end RB3 and kicking out Strong.
- Justice Hill accumulated more rushing yards (85, thanks largely to a 65-yard rushing TD) against the Jaguars than any RB since Week 18 of 2024 when Jonathan Taylor rushed for 177. Taylor also has the second-most yards since then with 74 in Week 14 of 2025.
- Given the Saints are still deciding whether they want to open Travis Etienne’s practice window, he’s not in the rankings. If activated, I’d consider him on the RB2/3 line, with Alvin Kamara a low-end RB3 and Audric Estime getting the Emanuel Wilson “thanks for your help, enjoy a warm butt on the bench” treatment.
- While Jadarian Price saw double the targets of Zach Charbonnet (four to two), I wouldn’t expect that to continue, and even so, Charbonnet handled 56.7% of the RB touches and 75.0% of the third- and fourth-down touches.
- I have Bam Knight in the rankings to start given the time off for his concussion. If he’s out, Tyler Allgeier still wouldn’t reach the RB2 tier against the Rams, especially given how much the Rams will likely run (and drain the clock) now without Puka Nacua.
Wide receivers
- Even though he’s traveling to Germany, A.J. Brown is not in the rankings. If he plays, he’d be a boom/bust WR3 given the uncertainty of his health — knee and game shape. That would push Mack Hollins into the WR5 range.
- The Tank Dell ranking might feel aggressive, but it’s an upside chase. I mentioned it in waivers, but he ran only 55% of the routes last week. Xavier Hutchinson actually led the team. If the Texans believe Dell’s health is near 100%, I can’t see not using him 75% of the time or more.
- Similarly, Jordyn Tyson was out there even less for the Saints: 34.8% of the routes. He was targeted on 31.3% of those routes, which is great to see, but unlike Dell, it was Tyson’s first game, and the Saints are going to be more cautious with their future franchise wide receiver.
- The Colts trades of Keenan Allen and Josh Downs leave their wide receiver room with Ashton Dulin, Laquon Treadwell, Deion Burks and Nick Westbrook-Ikhine, who was promoted from the practice squad. So, five touchdowns in the remaining eight games coming for NWI, right?
- Garrett Wilson should be back this week, but if not, Adonai Mitchell and Omar Cooper will be boom/bust WR3s again.
- I threw out Zay Jones’ name in waivers — signed to the practice squad on Oct. 28 — and he and Reggie Virgil are mere Hail Mary plays. However, if Jones is out, Virgil carries a bit more intrigue with Devin Duvernay and Simi Fehoko as the other options … oh, and some prince, I think — Sir Harrison Wallace the Third.
- Mike Evans isn’t in the rankings, but Deebo Samuel is, and now the 49ers have Keenan Allen. If Samuel still can’t go, Jordan Watkins would get the bigger boost with it being Allen’s first game in San Francisco.
- George Pickens is uncertain for Week 10 with a hamstring injury, but he’s in the rankings to start. Be aware that Dallas plays at 4 p.m. ET. If out, Ryan Flournoy would only see a half-tier uptick — see my reasoning in the “Pitfall” section of waivers. It does help a bit that Jake Ferguson is out.
- Even though I have him in, I wouldn’t risk waiting on Ladd McConkey for Monday night given the Justin Herbert finger injury and that McConkey has spent more time hurt or disappointing managers than producing.
Tight ends
- Hunter Henry is a strong option at tight end given how susceptible the Lions are to them, but Eli Raridon is a decent desperation flier too … as long as Brown is out.
- When Kyle Pitts hasn’t scored a touchdown, he’s averaged 2.4 fantasy points per game. When he has scored one, he averages 11.0 — 41% of his fantasy points come from touchdowns. That’s the definition of touchdown or bust, but hey, the Chiefs have given a TD up to a tight end in five of their eight games.
- The Mason Taylor ride seems to be over, again, with Kenyon Sadiq back on his heels in routes (22 to 20 last week), and that’s before the return of Wilson taking his share of the targets.
- Only the Lions allow more tight end receiving yards per game than the Bengals. In their first matchup with the Steelers, both Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington had four targets. Since that game, Washington has three double-digit fantasy tallies to two for Freiermuth. Both are decent streamers, so don’t overlook Washington.
#CheckTheLink age
Fun with Ranks
So, this one is a bit selfish in that I’m also looking for suggestions outside of what a Google search tells me. I want to hear from the people! Being an adult who enjoys “couples parties” with food and games seems rare — maybe I just need more friends. Obviously, I went through the Cards Against Humanity phase like everyone, and we’ll still break it out … with the right group (and having thrown away a few over-the-top cards — there is a line at some point). This list includes that, but it’s only based on my/our experience, and I feel like this has untapped potential … with your help!
Best group games
10. Taboo: More of a classic at this point, as you get your team to guess a word without using the five words on the card. It has an annoying buzzer that will get abused by opponents … and kids if they’re around.
9. Sorry What?!: There is a Cards Against Humanity-like version and family version, but it’s essentially how good of a lip-reader you are.
8. Guesstures: It’s charades with added stress. You act out as many cards as you can before the timer drops the card inside. Who doesn’t want charades with added anxiety?
7. Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza: This can get dangerous from a physicality standpoint. Don’t put drinks on the table. This is “Spit” taken up a few notches.
6. Decrypto: You need people invested, so maybe it’s not for everyone, as it’s team-based where you try to guess the opposing team’s code.
5. Catchphrase: Beware of people throwing this disk at you. You sit with every player next to someone from the opposing team, and you try to get your team to guess the word. The timer ticks down, and if you’re holding it when it goes off, the other team scores. There’s nothing like the argument over who was actually holding it.
4. Cards Against Humanity: You know the deal. This is not something you play with family.
3. Monikers: We tried this after seeing recommendations for this as a “better version” of Codenames (I never played that, so don’t kill the messenger). You have three rounds of getting people to guess the “celebrity” by describing the card, using only one word, and then with charades.
2. Telestrations: Only discovered it thanks to Nicole, but take Pictionary and smash it together with the telephone game, and laugh your tails off at the results.
1. Jackbox: Many of our favorites are on here, and there is a plethora of games at this point (12 party packs). Drawful is arguably the best, but Fibbage, Quiplash, Fakin’ It and Trivia Murder Party make our favorites list and regular rotation. Fibbage and Quiplash rely a bit on quick humor from the players, especially Quiplash, so take note. I could have done a top 10 of Jackbox games.
All In Speed Run podcast
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Week 10 fantasy football rankings
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- There is no perfect widget out there, sadly, still. I know many view this on your phone, but 1) use the rankings widget on a PC/laptop/etc. if possible or 2) open in your phone’s browser, especially for Android users, to get the scrolling to work (or Android people can try a two-finger scroll).
- ECR = “Expert” Consensus Ranking (which isn’t updated by everyone consistently).
- Updated regularly, so check up to lineups locking.
Week 10 fantasy football projections
🚨 HEADS UP 🚨
- These will differ from my rankings, which are built through Rotowire, and they’re based on 4-point TDs for QB, 6-point rest, and Half-PPR.
- MY RANKS are the order I’d start players outside of added context, such as “Need highest upside, even if risky.”
- They are updated Wednesday and before kickoff on game days.
Projections Download Link (Nov. 15 inactives update)
Source: www.nytimes.com
