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
Justin Fields NYJ
Fantasy football managers who trusted Justin Fields in Week 1 were rewarded with a monster performance. Fields finished as the QB2, putting up over 30 fantasy points with 218 passing yards, a touchdown through the air, and two more scores on the ground. His dual-threat ability was on full display with 12 carries for 48 rushing yards, giving him a safe floor and high ceiling. This week, Fields draws a Buffalo defense that just gave up 238 rushing yards to the Ravens and struggled to contain Lamar Jackson’s mobility. With the Jets likely playing from behind, Fields should have plenty of opportunities to pile up stats as both a passer and a runner. He’s a strong fantasy football start in all formats for Week 2.
Justin Herbert LAC
Justin Herbert reminded fantasy football players why he’s a weekly QB1 option by lighting up Kansas City’s defense in Week 1. Throwing for 318 yards and three touchdowns, Herbert finished inside the top five at the position. The Chargers’ revamped receiving corps with Keenan Allen, Ladd McConkey, and Quentin Johnston looked explosive, giving Herbert multiple reliable weapons. Now he gets a juicy matchup against the Raiders, who just allowed Drake Maye to throw for 287 yards in sloppy conditions. Herbert has a proven track record of success in Las Vegas, including a 346-yard, two-touchdown outing in his last visit. With volume, efficiency, and weapons all lining up, Herbert is a must-start fantasy football quarterback for Week 2.
Drake Maye NE
Drake Maye’s 2025 debut didn’t deliver huge fantasy football numbers, but the underlying usage is encouraging. He threw 46 passes in a rain-soaked game, finishing with 287 yards and a touchdown, while also flashing some mobility. The matchup gets much better this week against a Dolphins secondary that allowed Daniel Jones to torch them for 272 yards and 31.5 fantasy points. Miami generated one of the league’s lowest pressure rates in Week 1, meaning Maye should have more time to operate from the pocket. With New England trusting him to air it out and facing a vulnerable defense, Maye profiles as one of the top streaming starts in fantasy football for Week 2.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Patrick Mahomes KC
Patrick Mahomes is usually an automatic fantasy football start, but Week 2 sets up as a tough spot. He managed 26 fantasy points in Week 1 but needed his legs to get there, and the Chiefs’ receiving corps looks shaky without Rashee Rice (suspension) and Xavier Worthy (shoulder). Philadelphia’s defense just shut down Dak Prescott to the tune of 7.8 fantasy points and allowed the fewest quarterback fantasy points in the league last season. When Mahomes last faced the Eagles, he was sacked six times and turned the ball over multiple times in a lopsided loss. Given his lack of weapons and the matchup against a tough pass rush, Mahomes is best treated as a sit in 1QB fantasy football leagues this week.
Trevor Lawrence JAC
On paper, Trevor Lawrence’s Week 2 matchup with Cincinnati looks like a potential shootout, but fantasy football managers should be cautious. In Week 1, Lawrence completed just 24-of-38 passes for 178 yards, one touchdown, and one interception, despite facing minimal pressure. He struggled with accuracy, missing open receivers from clean pockets, which is a red flag heading into a tougher matchup. The Bengals pressured quarterbacks at an above-average rate in Week 1 and just held Joe Flacco to negative EPA per dropback. While the game script may boost his attempts, Lawrence hasn’t shown the efficiency needed to trust him as a fantasy starter. He’s better left on your bench in Week 2 unless you’re desperate.
CJ Stroud HOU
C.J. Stroud looked more like the 2024 version of himself in Week 1 than fantasy football managers had hoped. He threw for just 188 yards with no touchdowns and one interception while facing pressure on over 40 percent of his dropbacks. Unfortunately, things may not get better in Week 2, as Tampa Bay generated an even higher pressure rate than the Rams, and they blitz less often, meaning they can still drop into coverage effectively. Houston’s offensive line continues to be a major liability, limiting Stroud’s time to throw and suppressing his fantasy ceiling. While the Buccaneers’ secondary isn’t elite, their front seven poses too much of a problem. Until the Texans’ protection improves, Stroud is a fantasy football sit in Week 2.
