Fantasy Football Week 10 Wide Receiver Start/Sit: Wan'Dale Robinson, Keenan Allen and More

Welcome to Week 10's fantasy football wide receiver start/sit breakdown! 

As always, I'd like to start by looking back at how my picks for last week fared … and this week, it's a victory lap. 

My biggest miss in Week 9 was Travis Hunter, and even that isn't a real miss, given that he was surprisingly put on IR well before Sunday. My other two start picks, Jauan Jennings (12.1 half-PPR points) and Marvin Harrison Jr. (19.1), both finished in the top 24.

Meanwhile, my three sit picks all failed to do so. Stefon Diggs (11.3 points) was solid thanks to a TD, but Matthew Golden (1.9 points, albeit with an early injury exit) and Keenan Allen (5.1) were straight-up duds. 

Heading into Week 10, I plan to keep the good vibes (and good results) flowing … perhaps with the help of a few of the same names from last week. Without further ado, here are my picks for wide receivers to start and sit in Week 10.

For more help with your toughest Week 10 start/sit decisions, check out FantasySP's start/sit tool!

Wide Receivers to Start Week 10

Wan'Dale Robinson, New York Giants

Robinson was featured in my weekly wide receiver waiver column for each of the first seven weeks of the season, as the fantasy community was simply too slow to give the slot receiver the respect he deserved. Now, he is finally rostered in the majority of leagues, but his projected start rate is still far too low.

For the season, even including games with Malik Nabers healthy, Robinson has averaged a 23% target share and a 24% air yards share in the Giants' offense. He ranks 15th among WRs in total targets and a respectable 34th in half-PPR points per game.

He also has an excellent matchup this week against the Bears, who rank second in terms of fantasy points allowed to opposing WRs. He can be started as a high-end WR3 in all formats, and might even be a WR2 in PPR leagues. 

Alec Pierce, Indianapolis Colts

Speaking of players who deserve more respect for the usage they've seen all season, we have Pierce. Pierce's usage this season has been genuinely excellent: He leads all receivers (minimum five games) with 124 air yards per game. That's even including a contest he left early due to injury.

Pierce's rate stats are also solid. He has a 19% target share and an unsurprisingly excellent 45% air yards share in the Colts' offense, which has been the league's best so far this season.

The only question left to answer is why this usage hasn't turned into production. The thing is, it has. Pierce ranks as the WR12 with over 71 receiving yards per game (still including his one early departure). He rises to WR10 if we exclude players with fewer than five games played. 

The only thing holding Pierce back from a fantasy breakout is that he has scored zero touchdowns. With how excellent his usage has been, that's bound to change eventually. Even in a bad matchup with a tough Falcons' defense, I wouldn't be surprised if it happens this week. Pierce can be started as a high-upside flex play in all formats.   

Jauan Jennings, San Francisco 49ers

Jennings is the first repeat pick from last week, and my reasons for picking him are more or less the same as they were a week ago. Over the last few weeks, Jennings has clearly operated as the 49ers' WR1. Since Week 7, he has led San Francisco in route participation rate (79%), target share (23%) and air yards share (33%). 

Those are all respectable WR1 numbers, and the 49ers' offense is still at least an average unit. The WR1 on an average (if not better) offense is a startable fantasy option. Jennings' matchup isn't great, as the Rams have allowed a slightly below-average number of fantasy points per game to opposing receivers. But I have faith he will come through with another solid outing this week (perhaps even a less TD-reliant one than he provided in Week 9).  

TNF Special: Troy Franklin, Denver Broncos

This pick is a bit scary, as I never like to put my faith in Sean Payton keeping his usage decisions consistent. But Franklin's usage has been genuinely excellent in recent weeks.

Over the last two weeks in particular, he has even usurped Courtland Sutton as Denver's WR1. The sophomore leads the veteran in route share (87%), target share (26%), and air yards share (44%). 

If Jennings' numbers were respectable, Franklin's are excellent. His matchup is also better, as the Broncos face a Raiders' defense that has given up the fourth-most points to opposing receivers this season. Fire him up with confidence for tonight's Thursday Night Football matchup.

Wide Receivers to Sit Week 10

Keenan Allen, Los Angeles Chargers

Last week, I recommended sitting Allen because he saw just a 50% route participation rate in Week 8. Well, his route participation rate was higher in Week 9 … at 51%. Keenan is still an excellent target-earner, but even he isn't turning that low participation rate into fantasy reliability — he caught just two passes for 41 yards on five targets last week.

Now, Allen's matchup this week with the Steelers' defense is actually excellent. Pittsburgh has allowed the third-most points per game to opposing WRs. But, even in a good matchup, I simply can't recommend playing someone whose usage is this suspect.

Allen will have some more good games this season; he might even have one this week. But I recommend starting someone with more reliable usage if you have that option. 

Khalil Shakir, Buffalo Bills

I've recommended benching Shakir multiple times this season, to varying success. Like Allen, Shakir's issue is usage, not talent.

For the season, he is averaging a 21% target share (that's fine) and an 11% air yards share (that's not) in Buffalo's offense. Once we factor in that, as an undersized slot specialist, Shakir has seen zero end zone targets so far this season, it becomes clear that his is not a fantasy-friendly profile.

According to Fantasy Points Data, Shakir ranks as the WR57 in expected half-PPR points per game, right behind Parker Washington, Tre Tucker, and Xavier Legette.

Now, we can expect Shakir to continue outperforming his expected points. He's a playmaker with the ball in his hands, and catching passes from Josh Allen will always boost your efficiency. But this is not a week to bet on Shakir's ability to run hot.

The Dolphins' defense has shut down opposing receivers this season, allowing the second-fewest points per game to the position. This might be more a factor of their terrible run defense than an elite secondary, but we know that Buffalo will happily lean into the run game if they can. With the bad matchup added to his already suspect usage, sitting Shakir for Week 10 is the safe decision. 

Jameson Williams, Detroit Lions

With Allen and Shakir, I feel the need to explain why I am confidently fading genuinely productive players. With Jamo, it's almost the opposite. His usage is bad, and his production hasn't been much better … but I'm still terrified to list him here. Williams has the explosive ability to have a good fantasy day on one play, so he's not a must-bench.

But on days when he doesn't hit a big play, it's hard to see Williams providing much fantasy value. He is averaging just 4.5 targets per game, a 15% target share in Detroit's offense. His 35% air yards share is more encouraging, but a couple of deep shots per game does not translate to consistent fantasy success. 

On paper, Williams' matchup this week is good, as the Commanders' defense allows the fifth-most points to opposing receivers. It's also nice that Detroit is back at home in the dome, where the offense has historically been more efficient. (Did I mention that I'm scared of this pick?)

But those factors don't outweigh the simple fact that Williams' usage this season is mediocre at best. Especially in PPR formats or in shallower leagues where you have true high-volume options, you probably won't regret leaving him out of your lineup this week.