The fantasy football season comes to a close for the majority of leagues this week, which means managers have just one more weekend of making start/sit decisions in their lineups.
Doing start/sit articles can be a little challenging. The players featured on the list below should not be taken as “must starts” or “must sits.” Instead, these are more suggestions on what we believe managers should do with fringe players heading into the weekend. The choice is ultimately up to the manager.
Just because a player is listed as a “start” doesn’t mean he should be put in the lineup over the secure, bona fide studs. Vice versa for the “sits.” If there’s no better option on the waiver wire or the bench, a manager shouldn’t automatically sit the player. That’s why these can be tricky waters to navigate.
Feel free to ask any specific start/sit questions via X, formerly Twitter, (@KevinHickey11), or check out our start/bench list for Week 17:
Quarterback
Start ‘Em
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers at Washington Commanders: We should simply chalk up last week to a poor performance against an elite defense. Purdy should bounce back in a huge way against a Commanders defense allowing the most fantasy points per game (20.4) on the season and the fifth-most (19.6) over the last five weeks.
Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals at Philadelphia Eagles: Entering Friday, Murray (illness) hadn’t practiced, but he’s still expected to play against Philly. While Murray has been difficult to trust since his return from a torn ACL, he’s a fringe QB1 option against an Eagles defense that’s allowed the third-most fantasy points per game (22.2) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks along with the second-most touchdown passes (31) on the entire season.
Sit ‘Em
Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins at Baltimore Ravens: The Ravens showed last week that even a stellar supporting cast may not be enough for a quarterback to provide a strong fantasy outing. Tagovailoa has averaged 12.9 fantasy points per game over his last five and has thrown multiple touchdown passes in a game just once during that span. Baltimore’s defense is elite against quarterbacks, and they’ll be hungry to lock up the No. 1 seed with a win at home.
Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Carolina Panthers: The third-year quarterback has been put through the wringer this season when it comes to injuries, and now he’s dealing with a shoulder sprain. Carolina may not be a good team, but they’ve allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per game (11.9) to quarterbacks over the last five weeks and the second-fewest (12.8) on the entire season.
Running Back
Start ‘Em
D’Andre Swift, Philadelphia Eagles vs. Arizona Cardinals: Swift came through big time for fantasy managers with a 20-92-1 performance last week. Now, he gets to take on the best matchup for running backs against a Cardinals defense that has allowed the most PPR points per game (36.2) and rushing yards (632) to opposing backs over the last five weeks.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Kansas City Chiefs vs. Cincinnati Bengals: CEH is dealing with an illness, so that will be something to monitor over the weekend. Assuming he’s good to go and Isiah Pacheco (concussion) is declared inactive (both are questionable), CEH will have the backfield to himself in a matchup against a Bengals defense that has allowed 20.2 PPR points per game to running backs over the last three weeks.
Chuba Hubbard, Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars: Though Hubbard (hamstring) has been limited for the first two practices of the week, he’s in an advantageous spot to produce for fantasy during championship week. Hubbard has averaged 15.7 PPR points and 73.2 rushing yards per game over his last five, averaging 22 opportunities per game during that span. He takes on a Jaguars defense that has allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game (24.8) to running backs over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Tony Pollard, Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions: We should be trying to get as many pieces of this game as possible because of the projected total, but Pollard is a tough sell. Over his last two games, Pollard has averaged just 6.5 PPR points and now he takes on a brutal Lions defense that has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards (261) and third-fewest PPR points per game (15.8) to running backs over the last five weeks. If anything, temper expectations.
Khalil Herbert, Chicago Bears vs. Atlanta Falcons: Everything came together for Herbert last week. D’Onta Foreman was a healthy scratch due to personal reasons, and the Bears played against the Arizona Cardinals. It all led to Herbert posting a strong 20-112-1 rushing line. However, he’s far more risky this week. Foreman is back, making this a three-way committee again, and the matchup against the Falcons isn’t a favorable one. They’ve allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (18.5) and just one rushing touchdown to opposing backs over the last five weeks.
Washington Commanders RBs vs. San Francisco 49ers: There’s a chance Brian Robinson Jr. (hamstring) returns to the fold after missing the last two games. Both he and Antonio Gibson will be tough plays against a 49ers defense that has allowed the 12th-fewest rushing yards (376) to running backs over the last five weeks.
Wide Receiver
Start ‘Em
Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Despite dealing with an ankle injury, Olave popped off for a 9-123-0 line on 13 targets last week. He’s a fantastic start against a Bucs defense that has allowed the most receptions (77), sixth-most receiving yards (927) and ninth-most PPR points per game (37.4) to wideouts over the last five weeks.
Adam Thielen, Carolina Panthers at Jacksonville Jaguars: The veteran wideout hasn’t been all that great for fantasy over the better part of the last two months, but he produced 94 yards last week—his highest total since Week 6. Now, the Panthers take on a Jaguars defense that has allowed the fifth-most PPR points per game (40.3) and fourth-most receiving yards (937) to wideouts over the last five weeks.
Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs vs Cincinnati Bengals: Though Rice had a bit of a down game last week, he still posted 12 targets and a 29% target share. He hasn’t seen less than a 26% target share since Week 12, and the Bengals have allowed the eighth-most receiving yards (917) and PPR points per game (38.0) to the position over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Drake London, Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears: Things simply aren’t going well enough for London’s talent to push through. He has seven targets combined over his last two games and has reached double-digit PPR points just twice since Week 8. Meanwhile, Chicago has allowed the fewest receptions (37) and fifth-fewest receiving yards (525) to the position over the last five weeks.
DeAndre Hopkins, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans: This isn’t to say Hopkins can’t have a big game. But trusting him in the starting lineup during championship week when he has four receptions for 41 yards combined over the last two weeks is a bold move.
Gabe Davis, Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots: Unless you’re simply looking for a player who has a slight chance at giving you a massive game, Davis is extremely difficult to trust, especially against a Patriots defense that has been a bottom-half matchup for wideouts over the last five weeks.
Tight End
Start ‘Em
Jake Ferguson, Dallas Cowboys vs. Detroit Lions: This game could be a shoot out, and the Lions have allowed the ninth-most PPR points per game (14.8) and seventh-most receiving yards (290) to tight ends over the last five weeks. Meanwhile, Ferguson has four consecutive weeks with eight targets.
Chigoziem Okonkwo, Tennessee Titans at Houston Texans: This one is mostly about the matchup, even though Chig did show some life last week with a season-best 6-63-1 outing. The Texans have allowed the sixth-most receiving yards (308) to tight ends over the last five weeks.
Sit ‘Em
Dalton Kincaid, Buffalo Bills vs. New England Patriots: Over the last three weeks, Kincaid is averaging a paltry 2.9 PPR points per game. Maybe he bounces back against the team he originally had his breakout performance against, but New England has allowed the seventh-fewest PPR points per game (10.0) and the sixth-fewest receiving yards (202) over the last five weeks.
Tucker Kraft, Green Bay Packers at Minnesota Vikings: If there are no better options, Kraft is still fine considering the landscape of the position. Still, expectations should be tempered. The Vikings have allowed the second-fewest receiving yards (167) to tight ends over their last four games.
