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6 WRs to start or sit
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6 WRs to start or sit

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Fantasy football managers have had to deal with a slew of top-line injuries in the first half of the 2024 season. With four teams bye in Week 10, figure out which players to start and where in a fantasy line it gets even harder.

The Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks they are all closed this week. Fantasy football holders of wide receivers like DK Metcalf and Jayden Reed will have to look elsewhere for production at the wide receiver position. The same may be true for fantasy players with Drake London on their team, with the news that he is day-to-day with a hip indicator.

Here are some options at the wide receiver positions for fantasy football players looking for a boost in Week 10, as well as some players to avoid:

Fantasy football begins: Week 10 wide receivers

Deebo Samuel, San Francisco 49ers (at Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

Samuel and the 49ers will be fresh off their bye week when they take on the Buccaneers in Week 10. Also, star quarterback Christian McCaffrey is tipped to make his season debut on Sunday.

The decision to start Samuel comes down to several factors:

First, Tampa Bay has given up the sixth-most points to wide receivers in 2024 and is coming off a game in which it allowed 291 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Second, Samuel returns to action for another week, sidelined by his “pneumonia-like illness” and rested after a bye. Third, fellow top end Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season after suffering a knee injury, meaning a greater reliance on Samuel in the passing game. In the fourth and final, San Francisco will likely bring McCaffrey back into action slowly, meaning the other contributors in the 49ers’ passing offense will continue to lean on more than the running back in his first week .

Courtland Sutton, Denver Broncos (at Kansas City Chiefs)

Sutton’s impact on the Broncos’ passing attack cannot be overstated. As rookie quarterback Bo Nix continues to improve, he has developed clear chemistry with his leading receiver. In fact, Nix is ​​almost completely dependent on Sutton.

The seventh-year wide receiver is Denver’s most targeted — by far. Sutton’s 68 targets are more than double the number of the next closest receiver (Lil’Jordan Humphrey, with 32) on the Broncos’ roster this year. In the two weeks since Nix inexplicably didn’t target Sutton against the Saints, the receiver has tallied 15 catches on 21 targets for 222 yards.

The Chiefs boast an excellent defense, especially in the passing game, where they allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to receivers. But if Denver loses early in a divisional rivalry game, it will have to lean on the passing game, which means a lot more opportunities for its top target.

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (at Indianapolis Colts)

Over the past three weeks, Shakir has started to become quarterback Josh Allen’s favorite target. During his third year, he had just 20 catches on 21 targets through the first five games of the season, but has 22 catches on 24 targets in the three games since.

In Week 8 against the Seahawks, Shakir completed his third career 100-yard game with 107 receiving yards on nine receptions. This week, he faces an equally tough Colts defense that has also allowed more than 34 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, including a 137-yard outing to the Vikings’ Justin Jefferson in Week 9.

Add in Amari Cooper and Keon Coleman battling respective wrist injuries, and Shakir’s value to the Bills’ passing attack only increases for Sunday’s game against the Colts.

Fantastic football sit ’em: Week 10 wide receivers

Xavier Worthy, Kansas City Chiefs (vs. Denver Broncos)

The Broncos have given up the ninth fewest fantasy points per game to wide receivers this year. There are also other, more viable options in the Chiefs’ passing offense, with tight end Travis Kelce finally out and midseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins surpassing Worthy on the depth chart.

The rookie wide receiver will continue to see some targets and a fair amount of use in some gadget plays. In Week 10, his outlook isn’t great as he faces a strong pass defense. He’s also coming off a two-target, zero-catch day against a weaker Tampa Bay defense in Week 9.

Calvin Ridley, Tennessee Titans (at Los Angeles Chargers)

Ridley is coming off two strong weeks since Hopkins left for Kansas City, so why should he be benched for Week 10?

First, the Titans are playing a much stronger defense this week. This season, the Chargers have held the NFL’s sixth-fewest fantasy point differential and are the NFL’s top-rated defense by EPA/play. Los Angeles also allowed the fewest points per game of any team (12.6)

On the other hand, Ridley’s recent success has coincided directly with the arrival of a new quarterback. Linebacker Mason Rudolph has started the Titans’ last three games as usual starter Will Levis recovers from a shoulder injury. Ridley has 35 targets, 19 catches and 263 receiving yards with Rudolph, which is 11 targets, 11 catches and 127 yards more than he had with Levis.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Monday that Levis is stepping up his workouts this week in anticipation of his return on Sunday. That could be bad news for Ridley.

Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals (vs. New York Jets)

Fantasy football players hoping that Harrison’s 6/111/1 performance in Week 8 against the Dolphins signaled a return to form for the former Ohio State star were likely disappointed by his two catches for 34 yards in week 9 against the Bears.

The rookie receiver and No. 4 overall pick in 2024 has been an incredibly volatile game in fantasy football so far this year. As he faces a Jets defense that allows the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers in Week 10, Harrison will have a harder time putting up the numbers he did two weeks ago.

Fantasy football starts in, wait, week 10

Looking for more fantasy football tips? USA TODAY Sports has you covered:

→ Kickers Are People Too: Here are some of the most clutch kickers to have on your fantasy team in Week 10.

→ The wide receiver position has been decimated this season. Protect yourself in Week 10 with tips for start ’em, ased ’em for wideouts.

→ A good runner makes the difference. A bad runner can cost you a lot of points. Here’s who to start and who to sit in Week 10.

→ Tight ends can be the perfect X factor for any fantasy team. Here’s who you should start and sit in Week 10.

→ A good defense can stop your fantasy opponent’s attack. Here are some D/ST options to start and stay week 10.