Start 'Em, Sit 'Em wide receivers: Week 10 fantasy football

Fantasy football team managers have had to contend with a lot of injuries to top wide receivers over the first half of the 2024 season. With four teams on bye during Week 10, figuring out which players to start and sit in a fantasy lineup becomes even harder.

The Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Las Vegas Raiders and Seattle Seahawks are all off this week. Fantasy football owners of wide receivers like DK Metcalf and Jayden Reed will need to look elsewhere for production at the wide receiver position. The same may go for fantasy players with Drake London on their team with the news that he's day-to-day with a hip pointer.

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 start 'em: Week 10 wide receivers

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

Samuel and the 49ers will be fresh off of their bye week when they take on the Buccaneers in Week 10. What's more, star running back Christian McCaffrey is trending towards making 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 of a game in which it allowed 291 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns. Second, Samuel returns to action another week removed from his "pneumonia-like illness" and rested up after a bye. Third, fellow top target Brandon Aiyuk is out for the season after suffering a knee injury, meaning a heavier reliance on Samuel in the passing game. Fourth and finally, San Francisco will likely work McCaffrey back into action slowly, meaning the other contributors in the 49ers' passing offense will still be leaned on more than the running back in his first week back.

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's developed a clear chemistry with his lead receiver. In fact, Nix is almost completely dependent on Sutton.

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

The Chiefs boast an excellent defense, particularly in the passing game, where they've allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to receivers. But if Denver is losing in a divisional rivalry game early, it will have to lean on its passing game, which means plenty more opportunities for its top target.

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills (at Indianapolis Colts)

Over the last three weeks, Shakir has begun to emerge as quarterback Josh Allen's favorite target. The third-year wideout had tallied just 20 catches on 21 targets in his first five games of the season, but he's secured 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 a similarly rough Colts defense that has also allowed more than 34 fantasy points per game to wide receivers, including a 137-yard outing allowed to the Vikings' Justin Jefferson in Week 9.

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

Fantasy football sit 'em: Week 10 wide receivers

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

The Broncos have allowed 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 breaking out and midseason acquisition DeAndre Hopkins surpassing Worthy on the depth chart.

The rookie receiver will continue to see some targets and a fair amount of usage in some gadget plays. In Week 10, his outlook is not great as he comes up against a strong passing defense. He's also coming out of 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 of two strong weeks since Hopkins departed for Kansas City, so why should he be benched for Week 10?

For one, the Titans are playing a much stronger passing defense this week. The Chargers have held opposing wideouts to the sixth-fewest fantasy points in the NFL so far this season and are the NFL's top-rated defense by EPA/play. Los Angeles has also allowed the fewest points per game of any team (12.6)

For another, Ridley's recent success has directly coincided with a new quarterback stepping in. Backup 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 are 11 targets, 11 catches and 127 yards more than what he had with Levis.

Titans head coach Brian Callahan said Monday that Levis is ramping up in practice this week in anticipation of a Sunday return. That could spell 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 meant a return to form for the former Ohio State star were likely let down by his two catches for 34 yards in Week 9 against the Bears.

The rookie wide receiver and 2024 No. 4 overall pick has been an incredibly volatile play in fantasy football so far this year. As he comes up against a Jets defense allowing 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 start 'em, sit 'ems, Week 10

Looking for more fantasy football advice? 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.

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

→ Need an edge under center? Here are the best quarterback options to start and 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 shut down your fantasy opponent's offense. Here are some D/ST options to start and sit for Week 10.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 10: 6 WRs to start or sit