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
Caleb Williams CHI
Caleb Williams should stay firmly on your fantasy football start radar this week. The Bears QB has topped 19 fantasy points in three of his five games and has only dipped below 16 once, showing a reliable floor for managers. He’s currently sitting as the QB8 in fantasy points per game, with three top-10 finishes, including a QB1 performance earlier this season. While Williams has struggled with efficiency metrics, his rushing ability and favorable matchups have kept him afloat. His legs remain a valuable fantasy asset, saving his Week 5 line with a rushing touchdown that otherwise would have left him under 14 points.
Williams’ matchup with the Saints lines up well for another QB1 finish. New Orleans has been one of the weakest pass defenses in football, allowing the second-most passing touchdowns, the eighth-most yards per attempt, and the seventh-highest success rate per dropback. Just as importantly, they generate pressure at a below-average rate, and Williams owns a 109 passer rating when kept clean. Given his rushing upside, matchup, and consistent fantasy production, managers should treat him as a strong start in Week 7. He might not always pass the eye test as a real-life QB, but fantasy football is about points, and Williams has proven he can deliver them.
Jared Goff DET
Jared Goff is another quarterback who deserves a fantasy football start this week. He has found success in recent weeks, topping 16.8 fantasy points in consecutive road matchups against Cincinnati and Kansas City. Now returning home, Goff should be in a strong position to deliver again. He scored 34 points and threw for 5 touchdowns in Week 2 at home in a favorable matchup. Efficiency has been his calling card, as he ranks top-10 in yards per attempt, passing touchdowns, and catchable target rate among all qualifying quarterbacks.
This week’s matchup against Tampa Bay offers plenty of upside. The Buccaneers are giving up the seventh-highest yards per attempt, the tenth-most passing yards per game, and the sixth-highest success rate per dropback. They’ve allowed a top-12 fantasy quarterback in four of their six games, and their aggressive blitzing tendencies may actually backfire. Goff ranks first in yards per attempt and third in passer rating when blitzed, making him well-equipped to exploit Tampa’s pressure-heavy scheme. With Detroit’s defense banged up and Baker Mayfield keeping the Bucs offense competitive, this game could turn into a higher-scoring environment. That sets Goff up as a solid fantasy football start with top-10 potential in Week 7.
Justin Fields NYJ
Justin Fields remains the ultimate boom-or-bust fantasy football start, but this week tilts the odds in his favor. Through five games, Fields has finished with fewer than five points twice and more than 25 in three others, joining Lamar Jackson and Patrick Mahomes as the only QBs with three 25+ outings in 2025. His legs continue to be the driving force, as he’s averaging 47 rushing yards per game with three touchdowns on the ground. The passing side has been shaky, as Fields ranks outside the top 20 in most accuracy metrics, but the rushing upside makes up for it in fantasy. That profile makes him a volatile but enticing starting option against Carolina.
The Panthers are a defense to target in fantasy football, particularly for quarterbacks with rushing ability. Carolina ranks dead last in pressure rate, meaning Fields should enjoy clean pockets more often than usual. They’ve also allowed three passing touchdowns and a top-nine QB fantasy finish in each of the past three weeks. Even without Garrett Wilson, Fields should be able to create production through his rushing floor and occasional big passing plays. The Panthers sit middle-of-the-pack in efficiency against the pass, but their lack of pressure creates a soft matchup that plays directly into Fields’ strengths. He’s a start-worthy quarterback with legitimate QB1 upside in Week 7, even if managers must accept the volatility.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Bo Nix DEN
Bo Nix has been too inconsistent to trust as a start, and this week, he lands firmly in sit territory. Outside of one big outing, Nix has scored more than 20 points just once in his last four games and comes off a middling 13.4 fantasy-point performance against the Jets. His passing production has been limited, with only one game over 250 yards and two games with multiple passing touchdowns. While his rushing ability has offered some fantasy value, it hasn’t been enough to compensate for the lack of ceiling in his passing numbers. As the QB19 in fantasy points per game, Nix hasn’t provided enough stability for managers to rely on.
This week’s matchup only makes things tougher. The Giants’ pass defense has surged since Week 4, ranking top-10 in pressure rate, passer rating allowed, and success rate per dropback. They’ve consistently limited opposing quarterbacks, and Nix’s efficiency issues make him a poor bet to break through. Among qualifying passers, he ranks bottom 10 in yards per attempt, passer rating, and catchable target rate. With Denver likely to lean on its ground game in this matchup, Nix’s fantasy football outlook is limited. Sit him this week, as he’s unlikely to return starter-worthy production.
Jaxson Dart NYG
Jaxson Dart has shown plenty of fantasy football promise in his first three starts, but this is a week where he belongs on the sit list. He’s scored at least 15.6 points in every game so far and posted 23.6 last week against Philadelphia. His rushing has been a big factor, with at least 54 yards in each game and two touchdowns on the ground. That rushing floor gives him weekly QB1 upside, but the matchup against Denver presents a completely different challenge. The Broncos are one of the NFL’s toughest defenses, ranking second in fewest fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks and dominant against mobile passers.
The concern for Dart is that Denver’s pass rush is overwhelming. They lead the league in pressure and sack rate, collapsing pockets at an unmatched pace. They’ve allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to QBs, the fewest passing touchdowns, and the third-fewest passing yards among teams with six games played. Against the run, they’ve been just as stingy, giving up only 46 total rushing yards to quarterbacks all season. While Dart has been impressive as a rookie and sits as the QB10 in fantasy points per game since Week 4, his efficiency metrics as a passer remain below average. In just his fourth career start, on the road against an elite defense, he’s best left on the bench. Fantasy managers should sit Dart this week and wait for a softer matchup.
Daniel Jones IND
Daniel Jones has been a pleasant surprise this season, but Week 7 presents a difficult matchup that pushes him into sit territory. He’s scored at least 22 fantasy points in three of six games, ranking as the QB9 overall. His success has largely come at home, however, as his two road games have resulted in 15.8 points or fewer. While he’s added some rushing production with four touchdowns on the ground, his passing efficiency has been the real key to his breakout. Jones currently ranks top-10 in yards per attempt, highly accurate throw rate, and catchable target rate, reflecting much-improved play as a passer.
The problem is the Chargers’ defense, which has smothered opposing quarterbacks this season. Los Angeles ranks near the top of the league in yards per attempt allowed, passing yards allowed per game, and success rate per dropback. No quarterback has thrown multiple touchdowns against them, and only three have surpassed 200 passing yards, with Patrick Mahomes topping out at just 258. That makes it an extremely tough spot for Jones on the road. While his overall fantasy football production has been strong, this matchup sharply lowers his ceiling and floor. He’s best left on the bench in one-QB formats, though he remains an option in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
