You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers -- at least we hope so. Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Ja'Marr Chase. But that's too obvious, so you won't see such simple analysis here. Instead, we're exploring more debatable situations. And if you can't find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats come from NFL Pro, Next Gen Stats or NFL Research.
Start 'Em
Week 5 felt like the final test for Daniels. Prior to that game, he had proven he belongs in the league and that he's a top fantasy QB. But the one thing he still had to do was put up numbers against a good defense. Well, he went out and threw for 238 yards and a score, while rushing for 82 yards to finish with 19.7 fantasy points against the Browns. He has a tougher matchup this week against the Ravens, but I do not see how you get away from him. Baltimore has allowed the second-most passing yards per game in the NFL entering Week 6. Identifying a rookie as a must-start against the Ravens defense is the ultimate respect.
It wasn’t a huge fantasy day for Love, scoring roughly 16 fantasy points against the Rams, but he has another opportunity against the Cardinals, who rank in the middle of the pack in passing yards allowed per game this season. They also have struggled against running quarterbacks. We have seen Josh Allen and Jayden Daniels put up impressive fantasy performances against them. Plus, the Cards can put up points of their own, which could force Love to keep throwing. He is a safe start this week.
It has been a pedestrian fantasy season so far for Prescott. He has only one game with 17 or more fantasy points. However, this is the week to get him into your starting lineup. The Lions are elite at stopping the run but can be carved up through the air. Over their last three games, they allowed Baker Mayfield and Geno Smith to finish as top eight fantasy QBs. We also know the Lions will put up points, which should force Dak and the Cowboys to throw more in an attempt to keep it close. If he disappoints here, we’ll need to have a talk. But I am inserting him into all my lineups where I have him this week.
Fields had a floor performance in a rain-soaked Sunday Night Football game that had a significant weather delay. He struggled to get much going in the pass game but did throw a pair of touchdowns against the Cowboys. An elevated floor is a very good thing for Fields, who we know brings a ton of upside each week. He has an opportunity to reach that upside against a Raiders team that ranks in the middle of the pack against the pass but has struggled against the run. We know Fields can run with the best of them with nearly 200 rushing yards this season, and that should only help open up the passing attack. He is not a must-start, but with four teams on bye and a lot of mediocre QB play across the league right now, Fields is certainly worthy of consideration.
Williams is coming off his best game as a pro. He threw for 304 yards and two scores, while running for 34 yards and finishing with 23.6 fantasy points against the Panthers. He did so even after having a rushing TD nullified due to penalty. He looked so much more comfortable in Week 5. Now he gets a fantastic matchup against the Jaguars, who have allowed the most fantasy points per game to QBs. They’ve allowed the most passing yards per game and third-most passing touchdowns in the NFL. The game being in London gives me a little pause, but given how the rookie looked last week and the matchup, he is certainly in play.
Sit 'Em
Dallas has been stingy against the pass so far this season. The only QB to top 250 passing yards against the Cowboys this season was Daniel Jones in Week 4, while Derek Carr and Justin Fields are the only players with multiple passing TDs against them. They have allowed just six passing TDs in five games. They have struggled against the run, though. We know the Lions have one of the best rushing attacks in the league. Plus, it's not like Goff has been regularly lighting up the scoreboard this year. He had one monster game where he caught a touchdown, but he was held under 15 fantasy points in each of his other three games. This was a harder week to find QB sits and Goff is certainly not a must-sit. But I am playing Daniels, Love and Prescott over him in the leagues where I have the Detroit QB.
Smith has come through as a start option the last couple of weeks largely because of his legs. I love that he is running more, but I do question if it is sustainable. He has only one passing TD in each game, and while I will continue to contest that positive TD regression is coming, I am not sure this is the week. In three games against the Niners over the last two seasons, Smith has thrown only one touchdown pass to two interceptions. Twice he was held under 200 passing yards (his high mark was 238). Sam Darnold is the only QB to throw multiple passing TDs and top 225 passing yards against San Francisco in 2024. Plus, it's a short week with this game being played on Thursday night. I would go in another direction.
With the arrival of Jim Harbaugh, I have been vocal about this offense tearing down Herbert's fantasy value, but even I didn’t think it would be as bad as it’s become. He is averaging just 145 passing yards per game. He has five passing TDs in four games. Oh, and he is not gaining yards with his legs as he deals with an ankle injury. He has just 24 rushing yards on the season. That’s why he is averaging 10.4 fantasy points per game and has yet to reach 12 points in a game this season. He also is up against a Broncos defense that has allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points per game to QBs. Get away from Herbert now and moving forward.
Lawrence is coming off his best game of the season, as he threw for 371 yards and two scores versus Indianapolis. I think that says more about the Colts defense, though. In his other four games, Lawrence has averaged just 182 passing yards and 12.2 FPPG. Plus, the Bears are not the Colts. Chicago has allowed the fewest FPPG to quarterbacks, giving up just two passing touchdowns and generating six interceptions. This is also a London game, which tend to be lower-scoring affairs. Do not chase the points.
That Week 3 game against the Patriots was fun, wasn’t it? Against non-Patriots opponents, though, Rodgers is averaging 203 passing yards per game. He has five touchdown passes in those four games with four interceptions. In total, that is good for 11.8 fantasy points per game. Now Rodgers gets the Bills, who have been good against the pass. They have allowed the 10th-fewest FPPG. Even with the head coach change this week, there has been far too little fantasy production against quality opponents to trust Rodgers in this one.
