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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Running Backs to Start
Jacory Croskey-Merritt WAS
Jacory Croskey-Merritt has officially arrived on the fantasy football radar again after erupting for 150 total yards and two touchdowns last week. The Commanders finally unleashed him as the feature back, and he rewarded them by averaging 7.9 yards per carry while ripping off chunk gains at will. His 6.6 yards per carry and 4.7 yards after contact per attempt both lead all qualified running backs, showcasing elite efficiency. The Bears’ defense presents another mouthwatering matchup; they’ve allowed a league-high 6.1 yards per carry and rank near the bottom in explosive run rate allowed. That combination gives Croskey-Merritt massive upside in Week 6.
Given how dynamic he looked against the Chargers in Week 5, Croskey-Merritt should remain the centerpiece of Washington’s backfield ahead of Chris Rodriguez Jr. and Jeremy McNichols. Chicago has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs, and five different backs have scored at least 13 PPR points against them this season. Everything lines up for another strong performance, especially with the Commanders likely to lean on their ground game early. Consider him a confident RB2 start with legitimate RB1 upside in Week 6.
Rico Dowdle CAR
Rico Dowdle exploded in Week 5 for 206 rushing yards and a touchdown, adding another 28 yards through the air in one of the most dominant rushing performances by a Panther in over a decade. His 206-yard outing was the fifth-highest single-game total in the NFL over the last five seasons, showing he’s more than capable of handling lead-back duties. This week, he faces a Dallas defense that has allowed the fifth-most fantasy points to opposing running backs and the sixth-most PPG overall to the position. The Cowboys are giving up explosive runs at the fourth-highest rate and have struggled to contain backs in the passing game, yielding the most receiving yards to RBs. For Dowdle, this matchup is both a revenge game and a prime opportunity to stay hot.
Dowdle’s vision and physicality were on full display last week, and he should continue to thrive against a soft Cowboys front. Dallas has already allowed three running backs to post 18+ PPR points, including back-to-back weeks with Josh Jacobs and Breece Hall. That bodes extremely well for Dowdle, who has the volume and matchup to deliver another big fantasy day. Fantasy managers should confidently start Dowdle as a high-end RB2, with a real shot at finishing among the top 10 running backs in Week 6.
Tony Pollard TEN
Tony Pollard maintained his lead role in the Titans’ backfield despite Tyjae Spears returning from injury last week, handling 17 touches for 78 total yards and a score. He played 58% of the snaps and continued to dominate carries, proving that Tennessee still views him as their workhorse. Pollard has quietly been a model of consistency, scoring 13.9 or more PPR points in two of his last three games and seeing steady involvement in the passing game with at least three targets per contest. His efficiency metrics remain strong, ranking 16th among 47 backs in yards after contact per attempt. With his dual-threat usage, Pollard is set up for another solid outing against a Raiders defense that’s allowed seven rushing touchdowns in the past three games.
Las Vegas has been extremely vulnerable to the run, ranking in the bottom 12 across multiple categories, including missed tackle rate and yards before contact allowed. They’ve also surrendered 13.8+ PPR points to a running back in three straight games, and Pollard should exploit that. The Titans are starting to find offensive rhythm, and Pollard’s steady workload makes him one of the safer fantasy football start options this week. Expect him to flirt with 80-100 total yards and a strong chance to find the end zone. He’s a rock-solid RB2 start with top-15 potential in Week 6.
Running Backs to Sit
Jaylen Warren PIT
Jaylen Warren returns from injury just in time for one of the worst matchups imaginable against Cleveland’s dominant front seven. The Browns rank third in fewest fantasy points allowed to running backs and have completely shut down elite rushers like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, and David Montgomery. They’ve given up the second-fewest rushing yards in the league, along with the lowest yards before contact per attempt. That spells major trouble for a Steelers offense that already struggles to open running lanes. With Kenneth Gainwell also likely to be involved after his explosive Week 4 performance, Warren’s touch share becomes even murkier.
Pittsburgh’s run game has lacked identity all year, and facing a defense this stout doesn’t inspire much optimism. Cleveland has yielded just three runs of 10+ yards and remains equally stingy against pass-catching backs, allowing the fourth-fewest receiving yards to the position. Warren’s best path to fantasy production is through volume, but that’s far from guaranteed this week. Even in PPR formats, he’s unlikely to provide much upside unless he breaks a big play, which is highly unlikely against this defense. Fantasy managers should sit Warren in Week 6, as he’s a low-ceiling flex play at best in one of the league’s toughest matchups.
Alvin Kamara NO
It’s becoming difficult to trust Alvin Kamara as a weekly fantasy starter, as he’s failed to reach 12 PPR points in three straight games and hasn’t scored a touchdown in four. His efficiency has completely cratered, ranking below league average in yards per carry, yards before contact, and explosive run rate. Even worse, Kendre Miller out-carried him last week and saw a season-high 39% of snaps, hinting at an emerging timeshare. Kamara’s age and declining burst may finally be catching up with him, and this Saints offense hasn’t done him any favors. The matchup doesn’t help either; New England ranks fifth in fewest fantasy points allowed to running backs and hasn’t allowed a 50-yard rusher all season.
The Patriots have neutralized some of the league’s most efficient backs, including James Cook and De’Von Achane, holding each under double-digit fantasy points. They’re especially effective at clogging running lanes early, allowing one of the lowest yards-per-carry figures in the league. Kamara’s usual safety net as a receiver also isn’t reliable this week, as the Patriots’ linebackers have limited receiving backs to minimal gains. With his floor collapsing and the Saints starting to phase in Miller more often, Kamara is trending in the wrong direction. Treat him as a sit in Week 6 and only consider starting him if your options are extremely thin.
Derrick Henry BAL
Derrick Henry’s production has fallen off dramatically over the past month, and things don’t get any easier in Week 6 against the Rams. He’s been held under 50 rushing yards in four straight games and hasn’t topped 10.7 PPR points in any of them. With Lamar Jackson sidelined due to a hamstring injury, defenses are stacking the box, forcing Henry to run into brick walls behind a banged-up offensive line. The Rams present another brutal challenge; they’ve allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to running backs and are the only team yet to give up a rushing touchdown to the position. Without Jackson’s mobility to keep defenders honest, Henry’s efficiency has cratered, averaging just 2.2 yards per carry last week.
The concerning part is that Henry’s trademark power and tackle-breaking ability appear to be fading, as he’s failed to force a missed tackle in each of his last two games. With negative yards before contact and an offense that’s frequently trailing, the Ravens haven’t been able to give him his usual workload. Los Angeles also ranks fifth-best in yards before contact and third-best in overall fantasy points allowed to running backs, meaning there’s no obvious path to a bounce-back. Henry remains a legendary talent, but this matchup sets up as another disappointment. If you have a reliable alternative, it’s best to sit Henry in Week 6 and hope Baltimore’s offense gets Lamar back sooner rather than later.
