Fantasy football managers know that every lineup decision can make or break a week, and choosing the right players to start or sit is where championships are won. With the 2025 NFL season underway, matchups, stats, and trends are more important than ever. From favorable matchups and scoring trends to players you should avoid in tough spots, my weekly positional start and sit guide is built to give you an edge.
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Quarterbacks to Start
Trevor Lawrence JAC
Trevor Lawrence couldn’t ask for a better opening matchup. Carolina was the worst defense in the NFL against quarterbacks last season, giving up the most fantasy points to the position while allowing 35 passing touchdowns and 40 total scores. Lawrence also has a history of starting strong, with two of his last four Week 1 games topping 21.8 fantasy points. With Travis Hunter back healthy and Jacksonville’s passing attack now under Liam Coen, Lawrence finally has some positive momentum working in his direction. All signs point toward a fast start for Lawrence against a defense that struggled badly in 2024.
Kyler Murray ARI
Kyler Murray enters 2025 in a great position to deliver for fantasy managers right away. The Saints struggled mightily against quarterbacks last season, ranking sixth-worst in passing yards allowed and second-worst in rushing yards allowed to the position. Murray averaged 33.6 rushing yards per game in 2024, and three of the last five QBs to face New Orleans topped 59 yards on the ground. While Arizona is favored to control this game, Murray’s dual-threat ability provides both a high floor and plenty of upside. He’s a safe start to open the season in what should be a favorable matchup on both fronts.
Drake Maye NE
If you waited on quarterback, Drake Maye is an intriguing Week 1 streaming option. In games where he played a full snap share as a rookie, Maye averaged 18.7 fantasy points per game, good enough to rank just outside QB1 territory, while also running for nearly 37 yards per contest, fifth-best among QBs. He now faces a Raiders defense that allowed the third-most fantasy points to quarterbacks last year and still looks shaky in the secondary despite some offseason changes. With Eric Stokes and Kyu Kelly manning the outside and a pass rush that ranked bottom-12 in pressure rate in 2024, Maye should have time to throw behind a rebuilt Patriots line. The matchup and rushing upside make him one of the more appealing sleeper starts this week.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Justin Fields NYJ
Justin Fields’ revenge game narrative makes for a great storyline, but it doesn’t translate to a good fantasy outlook. Pittsburgh was one of the toughest defenses against running quarterbacks in 2024, allowing the fourth-fewest rushing yards to the position. Fields has also been a slow starter throughout his career, failing to top 17.6 fantasy points in three straight season openers. The Steelers’ upgraded secondary now features Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey alongside Joey Porter Jr., giving them one of the league’s strongest cornerback trios. Combine that with Pittsburgh’s familiarity with Fields from last season, and this is a matchup to avoid.
CJ Stroud HOU
C.J. Stroud has a better group of receivers this season, but fantasy managers should temper expectations in Week 1. He has topped 20 fantasy points just once in his last 13 games and now faces a Rams defense that finished top-10 in quarterback pressure rate in 2024. Protection is a major concern after Houston traded away Pro Bowl left tackle Laremy Tunsil, and Stroud was already pressured at the second-highest rate in the league last season. While the Rams’ secondary showed cracks late last year, Stroud’s recent struggles and the Texans’ offensive line questions make him too risky to trust out of the gate in one-QB formats.
Jared Goff DET
Jared Goff has a troubling track record at Lambeau Field, making him a fade in Week 1. He’s averaged just 206 passing yards and 13.4 fantasy points per game across his last three trips to Green Bay, failing to crack 224 yards in any of them. The Packers allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks last year, and the addition of Micah Parsons only strengthens their pass rush. On top of that, Goff will be without former offensive coordinator Ben Johnson for the first time, which could lead to some early adjustment issues. In one-QB leagues, there are many safer options than Goff to start the season.
