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Matt's running back (RB) fantasy football start 'em, sit 'em picks for Week 10 of 2025. His RB lineups advice for Week 10 fantasy football start/sit decisions.
Everyone knows that Jonathan Taylor, Christian McCaffrey, and James Cook II are locked in as must-start options every week, regardless of the matchup or what happened the week before. There is no need to overthink what those three bring to your fantasy lineups.
Outside of those three backs, there is some fluidity amongst the running back position. With Chase Brown, Javonte Williams, Tony Pollard, and even Kareem Hunt unavailable this week due to their Week 10 byes, fantasy managers must dig deeper into the data to determine which backs are worthy of starting this week.
With that said, here are your RotoBaller starts and sits at the running back position for Week 10 of the fantasy football season.
Week 10 - Fantasy Football Booms
Rico Dowdle - RB, Carolina Panthers vs New Orleans Saints
Other backs out there have better matchups, but none have been on the kind of heater that Carolina Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has been on in recent weeks. Entering Week 10, Dowdle currently resides as the RB15 in fantasy points per game; however, since Week 5, Dowdle has been a back-possessed, averaging 22.1 fantasy points per game, and that's after unfathomably losing touches to Chuba Hubbard in Week 8.
Carolina respectfully allowed Hubbard to return to lead-back status in Week 8, but his 34 rushing yards on 12 carries were simply less efficient than Dowdle's 54 yards rushing on four fewer attempts. Over the course of the Panthers' previous five contests, Dowdle has churned out 652 yards on the ground. That works out to 130.4 rushing yards per game. For perspective, only Cook averages more than 100 yards on the ground per game (108.4) this season.
If you take those five games alone, Dowdle would rank fifth in the NFL in rushing. If Carolina is smart, and it looks that way after they corrected course last week, then Dowdle would be in line for a majority of the touches again this week against a Saints defense that has allowed 4.20 yards per carry and 21.4 fantasy points per game to opposing backs since Week 5.
Rico Dowdle scores his second TD of the day!
📺:FOX pic.twitter.com/itkv81R0md
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) November 2, 2025
The only thing Dowdle should be cutting back on is celebratory pumps. Two or more usually result in a flag.
D'Andre Swift / Kyle Monangai - RB, Chicago Bears vs New York Giants
Last week, D'Andre Swift was a start recommendation who missed the contest and gave way to Kyle Monangai. I don't know if Swift will get himself Wally Pipp'd, but I won't say it isn't a possibility either. For that reason, both Bears backs make the list this week, and each has stand-alone value. As good as last week's matchup was, this week's showdown with the Giants promises to be just as fruitful, as New York has allowed 27.4 fantasy points per game over their last five contests.
Swift is tied with Kyren Williams as the RB12 in fantasy points per game this season, averaging 15.9 per contest, thanks to a healthy 4.6 yards per carry on 100 attempts. Swift's line had done an excellent job keeping the back cleaning as they ensured a 2.91 yards before being contact average heading into last week, which was the third-best mark among backs with at least 100 rushing attempts.
Last week, the boys upfront did their job once again, this time for the rookie who averaged 2.96 yards before contact per attempt against the Bengals. Even if Swift were to be a factor this week, no guarantee that he returns. Monongai has earned himself more touches moving forward. Against Cincinnati, Monangai is averaging 6.77 yards per attempt, finishing with 176 yards on the ground, with 99 of those rushing yards coming after contact. If I were the Giants, I'd be very concerned, considering they have allowed 5.78 yards per carry since Week 5, the third-most.
Jaylen Warren - RB, Pittsburgh Steelers at Los Angeles Chargers
Another back looking to take advantage of a great matchup his week is Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jaylen Warren. During the season, Warren is averaging 4.1 yards per carry, and this week, he'll have an opportunity to improve upon those rushing numbers as the Chargers have been allowing 5.74 yards per carry over their previous five outings.
Adding to Warren's appeal this week is that Los Angeles has allowed 25.9 fantasy points per game over that stretch, the seventh-most, and has conceded the most rushing touchdowns to backs since Week 5, with seven.
Last week, Warren was relatively quiet, running for a disappointing 31 yards and 1.94 yards per carry against a stout Indianapolis Colts front that has allowed the fifth-fewest yards per carry over the last five weeks. The positives in that contest, for Warren, were that he continued to dominate the backfield opportunities with 18 (16 carries and two targets) and found himself in the endzone on several occasions. In comparison, Kenneth Gainwell had three carries and five targets.
Suppose Warren garners another opportunity share like he did last week, this week against an inferior opponent. In that case, there is a solid chance he will flirt with another top-12 finish this week in fantasy, like he did last week and back in Week 7.
Week 10 Sits - Potential Fantasy Football Busts
Jacory Croskey-Merritt - RB, Washington Commanders vs Detroit Lions
With the loss of Jayden Daniels, it's all but certain that Jacory Croskey-Merritt reverts to a matchup-based flex play at best, the rest of the season. In the previous three contests ( weeks 3,4, and 8) in which Daniels missed, Croskey-Merritt averaged 32.7 rushing yards per game. Meritt's yards per carry were healthy enough at 4.08, but the Commanders abandoned the run game.
Against Detroit this week, the game script will likely involve Marcus Mariota throwing early and often in an attempt to keep pace with the Lions' offense or because Washington is playing from behind. Either way, Merritt is projected to be an afterthought.
If Washington can keep it close, I'm not sure they can be productive on the ground against this Lions defense, at least not in fantasy. Since Week 5, Detroit has held opposing backs to 1.7 fantasy points per game; only the Kansas City Chiefs have allowed fewer. Most of that lack of production can be attributed to the Lions' offense, as teams have only run the ball 60 times in four games, which limits any opportunity to produce on the ground.
Rachaad White / Bucky Irving - RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs New England Patriots
Will Bucky Irving return this week? That is still to be determined, but considering that Tampa Bay is coming off its bye and Irving has had five full weeks to recover, it is possible to happen here in Week 10. But even if Irving plays, there is no guarantee that an infusion of fantasy success will follow.
Since the start of Week 5, New England has been tied with the Lions as the second-stingiest team against opposing backs, limiting them to 223 yards on the ground over those five contests. In fact, over nine games on the season, New England has allowed a league-low 75.4 rushing yards per game, which is 11.5 fewer yards per game than the next closest team, the Seattle Seahawks.
Irving could still be a factor in the pass game, as the Patriots have allowed 193 yards on 32 receptions, but I'm not sure 38.6 receiving yards or 6.4 receptions split between Irving and Rachaad White would net much of a result. If Irving's unable to suit up, White could be considered a flex play, as the Buccaneers' back has averaged 14.3 fantasy points per game during Irving's absence, but if Irving were to play, White isn't of much use.
Did I mention that no back has scored a touchdown against this Patriots defense since Week 4?
Tyrone Tracy Jr. - RB, New York Giants at Chicago Bears
Another back facing a daunting challenge this week is Tyrone Tracy Jr. as the Giants head to Chicago for a date with the Bears. In the previous four Bears contests, Chicago has held opposing backs to 15.9 fantasy points per game, the fourth-fewest.
In the last four games, Chicago has held opposing backs to 65.25 yards per game on the ground and 28.25 in the passing game. If you were hoping for a Tracy takeover post-Cam Skattebo injury, it didn't occur last week, as Tracy carried the ball just five times, resulting in 18 rushing yards and 19 receiving yards on four receptions.
Look, 6.7 fantasy points is not going to cut it. Brittain Brown, Bhayshul Tuten, Kenneth Gainwell, and even his teammate Devin Singletary were more productive options for fantasy managers than Tracy was last week. With the lack of production and an undesirable matchup this week, Tracy and the Giants' run game are a hard no from me.
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