It’s crunch time. Week 10 is here! This is the part of the season where every lineup call starts to feel like a playoff decider. (unless of course you’ve been completely dominating… then kudos to you!) We are deep in the grind now, but don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Just like every week, I’m breaking down the most-searched Start/Sit questions from the FootClan, powered by the Fantasy Footballers’ Start/Sit tool. Let’s make the right calls, stack some dubs, and keep that championship push rolling.
The Monangai hype train is rolling after that 198-yard eruption, but let’s keep it real, it came against Cincinnati. Still, he probably earned himself a bigger slice of the backfield, which means Swift may lose a few touches here and there. Even so, Swift remains the guy when healthy. He is back from his groin injury and was a full participant Thursday, so expect him to lead the way. Chicago ranks 4th in run plays per game, and Swift’s been elite on a per-touch basis — 6th in yards per touch and still RB15 on the season with two RB1 finishes despite missing time. The matchup couldn’t be much better. The Giants rank 31st against RBs and have surrendered 45+ fantasy points to the position in back-to-back weeks. Even if Monangai stays involved, there’s more than enough to go around in a backfield tied to a 25.5-point implied team total. The only wrinkle? Coach Ben Johnson said they will “ride the hot hand,” which adds a little uncertainty.
Ben Johnson on Chicago’s RB room:
“I believe in a guy having the hot hand. One guy, if he’s feeling it and giving us a spark, we might lean on that a little bit longer.”
( @CourtneyRCronin) pic.twitter.com/3FCV46UJ9U
— SleeperNFL (@SleeperNFL) November 7, 2025
Judkins is back and healthy at the perfect time. The Browns take on the Jets’ defense, which was already soft against the run—25th vs RBs, giving up 22.2 fantasy points per game—and now they are even weaker after trading away two of their best players at the trade deadline: Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams. I expect Cleveland to pound the rock to take pressure off rookie QB Dillon Gabriel, who has struggled. Judkins should see 20+ touches easily, and honestly, he’s been the only real spark in this offense.
Verdict: Judkins. With Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams gone, the Jets’ defense is in bottom-of-the-barrel territory. Judkins owns this backfield. There’s no real competition for touches. Meanwhile, after Monangai’s breakout game, the Bears’ coaching staff said they plan to keep him involved, which will likely cut into Swift’s workload as he works his way back from a groin injury. A shoulder issue like Judkins’ is far less concerning for re-injury than Swift’s soft-tissue one, so the safer (and higher-upside) play is Judkins. The Bears/Giants game might have a higher over/under, but volume is king, and Judkins should feast.
It’s been a frustrating stretch for Ken Bone managers. Zach Charbonnet keeps vulturing those goal-line touches and TDs, the receiving game work doesn’t exist, and the efficiency hasn’t been there either. Walker ranks just 36th in yards created per touch (per PlayerProfiler) and managed only 42 rushing yards last week, even with Seattle putting up 38 points. Still, there is a little light at the end of the tunnel this week against the Cardinals, who are not only middle of the pack against RBs (15th) but could be missing key defenders like Max Melton, Mack Wilson Sr., and Will Johnson. If Seattle leans into their ground game (it ranks 8th in run plays per game), Walker has a shot to bounce back against an injured Cardinals defense.
Kimani Vidal struggled to get anything going last week against the Titans: 12 carries for just 30 yards and no catches on his lone target. The Chargers’ offensive line is decimated with injuries, and Vidal felt the repercussions. The matchup with the Steelers doesn’t do him any favors. Pittsburgh has been been hit or miss against the run this year, but lately, they have tightened up. They held Jonathan Taylor to 3.2 yards per carry and Josh Jacobs to just 2.5.
Verdict: Give me Kenneth Walker this week against an injured Cardinals’ defense.
Pierce is quietly heating up. He just set a career-high with 13 targets and 115 yards last week against the Steelers, marking his third straight game with at least 50 receiving yards. Over the last three weeks, he’s averaged double-digit targets twice and looks locked in as a full-time complement to Michael Pittman Jr. The Colts lost to the Steelers after turning the ball over six times. This week, they will be motivated to bounce back, but they will have to travel to Berlin to do so. In an international matchup, the Colts take on the Falcons in a sneaky good matchup. Yes, the Falcons are currently 7th-best against WRs, but in the past two weeks, they have given up over 30 fantasy points to opposing receivers. Pierce should see another healthy dose of volume.
Darius Slayton has been quietly flying under the radar, earning a 23% target share despite not producing much for fantasy. He has been inches away from a TD or two that would change how we feel about him. This week, Mike thinks the scoring turns around, naming him his WR start of the week. I get it. The matchup doesn’t get much juicier: Chicago ranks 30th against opposing WRs, allowing a ridiculous 34.8 fantasy points per game to the position. They just gave up 74.4 combined fantasy points to Bengals wideouts. With a 46.5 over/under and Jaxson Dart slinging it, Slayton is a sneaky flex with legit breakout potential.
Verdict: As much as I agree with Mike that Slayton could finally find some positive TD regression against the Bears, I’m siding with Alec Pierce. Pierce is averaging almost double what Slayton has in FPPG, and the Colts will be looking to get back in the groove this week. It’s also impossible to ignore what the Bengals’ wideouts just did to the Falcons’ defense.
If you grabbed Oronde Gadsden off waivers after losing George Kittle, you might be wondering if the 5th-round rookie phenom should stay in your lineup even now that Kittle’s back. Wild times! Let’s debate it. Gadsden has been on an absolute heater. Over the last month, he’s led all TEs in receptions, yards, and fantasy points — with 377 receiving yards in that span, the most ever by a rookie TE in any four-game stretch. He’s been a consistent safety valve for Justin Herbert, with at least five receptions and 65 yards in four straight games. The Chargers are slinging it (2nd in pass plays per game), and now they face a Steelers defense that ranks 30th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points allowed to TEs. It’s no wonder Jason named him his Start of the Week.
Oronde Gadsden II’s 377 receiving yards over the last month is the MOST EVER for any rookie TE over any 4-game span. pic.twitter.com/8qg1ctj7WX
— Kyle Borgognoni (@kyle_borg) November 6, 2025
Kittle, meanwhile, has been all over the place since returning from injury — finishes of TE98, TE6, and TE31 — and is averaging under four targets per game despite San Francisco’s WR injuries. The 49ers get a home matchup against the Rams with a high-total matchup (49.5 O/U). The Rams are middle of the pack against TEs, allowing an average 9.6 FPPG to the position.
Verdict: Start Gadsden. He’s red hot, tied to a high-volume passing offense, and facing one of the worst defenses vs. TE. Kittle’s name value is the only thing keeping this close, but right now, Gadsden has the fantasy spotlight, and the matchup against the Steelers makes him a must-start.
Fantasy Playoffs are just around the corner, and one right (or wrong) decision could swing your season. Watch those matchups, stay sharp on injury updates, and trust your instincts. Need some backup before locking in your lineup? Drop a comment below or hit me up on X. Use the Ballers’ Start/Sit tool and weekly rankings to fine-tune those tough choices, and don’t miss Mike’s Sunday start/sit show for those last-minute pivots. Time to lock in and keep that playoff push alive.