Fantasy Football Week 10 Wide Receiver Start Decision: Khalil Shakir, Quentin Johnston, Ladd McConkey, Xavier Legette, Josh Downs and More

It’s time for another start decision, this time looking at several wide receivers.

We’ll cover Josh Downs, Khalil Shakir, Keenan Allen, Quentin Johnston, Ricky Pearsall, Ladd McConkey, Xavier Legette, Jauan Jennings, Jameson Williams, Xavier Worthy, Calvin Ridley, Jaylen Waddle and Rome Odunze. Let’s get right to it! 

Looking for start/sit help? Be sure to check out the FantasySP Who Should I Start tool.

Season Numbers

Downs has 411 yards and three touchdowns across 38 receptions and 56 targets this season despite missing a couple games. He’s gone for 169 yards and a score on 10 catches and 18 targets the past two weeks.

Shakir is up to 471 yards and two touchdowns on 42 catches and 45 targets. Since Amari Cooper was acquired, Shakir has six or more catches, 50 or more yards and at least seven targets in every game. The Bills will be without Keon Coleman this week, and Cooper has been banged up.

Allen has 197 yards and two scores across 21 catches and 42 targets. He’s tallied at least 30 yards in four straight games, but hasn’t gone over 45 yards in any of those games, or on the season overall. 

Johnston has accumulated 282 yards and four scores on 18 receptions and 27 targets. He returned to the field last week and had 118 yards and a score on four grabs and five targets. It was just the second time he topped 50 yards this season.

Pearsall has 59 yards on seven grabs and nine targets across two games played so far. He’s had at least four targets and three catches in the two games, but also has been taking advantage of a couple teammate’s absences. 

McConkey is up to 440 yards and four touchdowns on 35 catches and 52 targets. He’s had at least 40 yards in six straight games, and has gone over five catches in three straight.

Legette has totaled 244 yards and four scores on 26 receptions and 41 targets this season. He’s had eight catches, 67 yards and two scores over the past two games.

Jennings has been one of the Niners out with an injury, but he’s expected back this week. He has 404 yards and three scores on 25 catches and 36 targets. Jennings had 11 catches, 175 yards, three touchdowns and 12 targets in one game.

Williams is returning from a two-game suspension, but is expected to play in week 10. He has 361 yards and three scores on 17 grabs and 30 targets this season. Williams has four good fantasy showings and two absolute duds this season.

Worthy is up to 235 yards and three scores on 19 catches and 39 targets - he’s also added 37 yards and two scores on the ground. He is a boom-or-bust fantasy player, with four games in double figures and 13 total fantasy points in the other four contests.

Ridley has 399 yards and a touchdown across 27 catches and 59 targets this season. He’s had 15 catches and 216 of his yards over the past two weeks, after the team traded away DeAndre Hopkins.

Waddle has 310 yards and a score on 28 receptions and 38 targets so far. The return of Tua Tagovailoa hasn’t helped Waddle much, and he’s searching for his first double-digit outing since week 1.

Odunze has 391 yards and a touchdown on 25 catches and 44 targets as a rookie. He went over 100 yards last week, marking the second time he’s done that. Odunze had three straight games with 40 or more yards before that.

Week 10 Matchups

Downs and Shakir are part of the same game. It’s a slightly above-average matchup for Shakir, as Indianapolis allows 34 fantasy points per game to opposing fantasy wideouts. Buffalo only gives up 27.

McConkey, Johnston and Ridley are all in the same game. It’s a tough matchups for all the wideouts, with Los Angeles allowing 27 fantasy points and Tennessee 26.

Pearsall and Jennings have a great matchup against the Buccaneers, who allow 36 fantasy points a week. The matchup against the Patriots for Allen and Odunze is pretty average, with New England allowing 33 points per week.

It’s a pretty average matchup for Legette against the Giants, who allow 32 points. Williams has a pretty favorable clash against the Texans, who allow 36 points per week.

Worthy takes on the Broncos, who give up only 28 points per game. Waddle has a favorable matchup against the Rams, who allow 34 points per week.

Week 10 Projections and Starting Recommendations

I was a bit surprised to see Shakir as the No. 1 projected receiver of this bunch. He sits at 16 PPR fantasy points.

Downs checks in at 13 points, while Odunze and McConkey are at 12 each. Allen, Ridley and Waddle are all projected for 11 points.

Legette sits with 10 points. Williams and Johnston are at nine points, while Worthy, Pearsall and Jennings are all at eight.

While I was surprised to see Shakir atop the projections, that wasn’t because I didn't see a big game for him coming - I was more surprised that the projections lined up with what my line of thinking was.

I like Shakir the best of the group and think he’s destined for a monster fantasy showing. The tough matchup would usually scare me off a player like Shakir, but with Coleman out and Cooper banged up, I think it’s going to be the Shakir show - and anytime that receiver has an elite quarterback throwing to him is never a bad bonus.

I’m taking Waddle after that. I know he’s underperformed this season, but I like the matchup this week and think it gets Waddle going for the remainder of the season. This is kind of a gut feeling, but I think there’s enough here to expect a big outing.

I’d take Downs third. I really like the matchup, but the overall state of the Colts’ offense scares me off him enough to drop him here. His upside is too good to pass on any longer though.

Give me Ridley here. The matchup isn’t great, but he’s been a target machine the past couple weeks. I think that continues here, and with a decent chance to score, or simply rack up a ton of catches, I think he delivers a solid fantasy score.

I’ll take a swing on Odunze here. It’s hard to trust any Chicago pass catcher right now, but the matchup is solid and Odunze is coming off a big game, so I’m banking on him staying hot.

I have Legette after that. He hasn’t necessarily stood out of late, but I like the way he’s been trending, and the matchup is solid enough to give him a start.

Give me Williams next. It’s a bit risky with him coming off a two-week layoff, but the matchup is really good. One big play could help him deliver a good fantasy score, and I think he gets at least one this week.

I’ll then take McConkey. Things are starting to bunch up for me, so I’m turning to the most consistent performers over some more favorable matchups. I think McConkey leads the Chargers this weekend.

I’d then take Jennings. The matchup is elite, but it’s hard to trust a player coming off a long layoff and injury. Again though, one big play could help Jennings deliver for fantasy owners, and I think he gets the job done.

Jennings is the last wideout in the conversation who I’d want to start. Everyone else is a deep-league option, but I’d do my best to avoid them in standard leagues.

I like Pearsall here. Even with the Niners closer to full health, I see Pearsall remaining involved. The reason he falls below the start line is simply because we haven’t seen this offense with all these players involved.

I’d take Allen next, mostly because he’s got the best matchup remaining. He’s good for a few catches and 40-50 yards at least, and that’s enough production for some of you in deeper leagues.

I’d take Johnston here. I want to take him sooner after his monster showing, but in a tougher matchup, I simply don’t trust him. If he proves me wrong, he’ll probably be on the right side of the start line going forward.

That leaves Worthy for the last spot. Hopkins emerged in the Chiefs’ offense last week, and with Travis Kelce still around, there’s not many touches left for Worthy. Throw in a tougher matchup and I’m doing what I can to avoid Worthy this week.