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 2026 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
Jacoby Brissett ARI
Jacoby Brissett has become a legitimate fantasy streaming option because Arizona is giving him enough passing opportunities to overcome his inconsistent efficiency. Through four games, Brissett has completed an average of 25.8 passes on 38 attempts for 204.5 yards, 1.5 touchdowns, and one interception per game. Those numbers aren’t particularly impressive on their own, but the willingness to increase his workload when Arizona falls behind is important. Brissett attempted 52 passes against San Francisco in Week 3 and delivered 25.6 fantasy points, demonstrating that he can produce a strong fantasy performance when the Cardinals need to become aggressive. His value isn’t built around elite passing efficiency or rushing production; it’s built around Arizona’s willingness to put the football in his hands.
Detroit gives me a reason to expect another relatively aggressive passing approach. The Lions have struggled to prevent opposing offenses from sustaining drives and creating explosive plays through the air, which is particularly concerning against an Arizona offense built around Trey McBride and its receiving weapons. McBride gives Brissett a dependable option in the middle of the field, while Arizona’s other receivers provide opportunities to attack outside the numbers. The biggest question is whether the Cardinals can turn their passing volume into touchdowns rather than simply accumulating short completions. Detroit has surrendered 11 passing touchdowns through four games, so the scoring opportunities should be available. I’m not expecting Brissett to suddenly become one of the league’s most efficient passers, but the matchup and potential for another high-volume performance make him one of my favorite Week 5 streaming options.
Jordan Love GB
Jordan Love has been a frustrating quarterback to evaluate because his passing volume and touchdown production have been much better than his overall efficiency. Through four games, Love has completed 87 of 154 passes for 1,041 yards, eight touchdowns, and three interceptions. He’s averaging 38.5 attempts and 260.3 passing yards per game, but his 56.5% completion rate and 6.8 yards per attempt illustrate how much production he’s leaving on the field. His completion percentage over expected is approximately seven points below expectation, while his passing EPA per play has been close to neutral. Love also hasn’t provided meaningful rushing production, making his eight passing touchdowns particularly important. He’s throwing enough to generate strong fantasy performances, but he needs to become more accurate to consistently capitalize on those opportunities.
Chicago’s defense has improved considerably since its difficult opening game, which makes this a more challenging matchup than the Bears’ early-season reputation suggests. The Bears have allowed only 776 passing yards and four passing touchdowns through four games, with opposing quarterbacks completing just 58.6% of their attempts. They’ve also held three consecutive opponents to 12 points or fewer, including a Jets offense that managed only 157 total yards last week. I’m not ignoring those numbers, but Green Bay’s offensive approach gives Love a realistic opportunity to overcome the matchup. The Packers are averaging nearly 39 passing attempts per game, and Love has thrown two touchdowns in every appearance despite his accuracy struggles. Chicago has been effective limiting passing production, but I still trust Green Bay to create enough scoring opportunities for Love to deliver a usable fantasy performance. He’s a lower-end QB1 for me this week.
Aaron Rodgers PIT
Aaron Rodgers has completely changed the outlook of Pittsburgh’s passing offense over the past two weeks. After throwing for only 408 yards and one touchdown across his first two games, Rodgers has produced 591 passing yards, six touchdowns and three interceptions in consecutive performances against Cincinnati and Cleveland. He completed 19 of 34 passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns against the Bengals before following that with 299 yards and another three scores on 40 attempts against the Browns. Through four games, Rodgers has thrown for 999 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 38.3 attempts per contest. PFF has charted seven big-time throws and four turnover-worthy plays, along with a 9.2-yard average depth of target. The interceptions remain concerning, but Pittsburgh has clearly become more willing to attack downfield.
Indianapolis is an appealing opponent for a quarterback whose fantasy value depends almost entirely on passing production. The Colts have allowed 1,105 passing yards and six passing touchdowns through four games, an average of 276.3 yards per contest. Opposing quarterbacks have averaged 8.1 yards per attempt and a 98.4 passer rating against Indianapolis, while the defense has generated only nine sacks. PFF also notes that the Colts rank 25th in blitz frequency, which could help Rodgers operate without facing additional pressure packages. That’s particularly important after Cleveland sacked him five times last week. Rodgers still offers essentially no rushing floor, and PFF projects him for 236.7 passing yards and 1.8 touchdowns, so I’m not treating him as a guaranteed QB1. However, his recent passing volume and Indianapolis’ defensive weaknesses make him a strong streaming option in Week 5.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Jalen Hurts PHI
Jalen Hurts is becoming one of the more uncomfortable fantasy decisions because his passing production has been nonexistent. Through four games, Hurts has completed 68 of 114 passes for 713 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions while adding 105 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. He’s averaging only 178.3 passing yards per game, and his most recent performance against the Rams was particularly concerning. Hurts completed just 12 of 27 passes for 93 yards and two touchdowns, averaging only 3.4 yards per attempt. That’s now consecutive games with fewer than 155 passing yards, and his rushing production hasn’t consistently compensated for those limitations. The touchdowns have kept him fantasy-relevant, but the underlying yardage is becoming difficult to overlook.
Jacksonville presents another challenge for a Philadelphia offense that hasn’t consistently generated efficient passing production. The Jaguars have been one of the more difficult quarterback matchups through four weeks, and Philadelphia will also be traveling to London for this contest. The supporting cast introduces additional uncertainty, with Saquon Barkley dealing with a hamstring injury and DeVonta Smith missing Wednesday’s practice. Those situations could change how Philadelphia approaches the game, particularly if the Eagles need to rely more heavily on Hurts around the goal line. That rushing-touchdown potential is exactly why I’m not treating him as an automatic bench in every league. However, I’m concerned about trusting a quarterback averaging fewer than 180 passing yards against a defense that has consistently limited opposing fantasy quarterbacks. If I have another legitimate QB1 with a stronger matchup, I’m willing to pivot away from Hurts this week.
Kyler Murray MIN
Kyler Murray’s transition to Minnesota has been considerably more frustrating than I expected, particularly because his rushing production hasn’t provided the fantasy floor we’ve historically associated with him. Through three appearances, Murray has accounted for only one passing touchdown and two interceptions while rushing for 42 yards on the season. That’s just 14 rushing yards per game, a disappointing number for a quarterback whose mobility has traditionally been one of his biggest fantasy advantages. His Week 4 performance against Miami was more encouraging from a passing-volume perspective, as Murray completed 27 of 37 attempts for 247 yards. However, he failed to throw a touchdown, meaning even an efficient 73% completion rate wasn’t enough to produce a particularly useful fantasy performance. The passing volume is improving, but the scoring production hasn’t followed.
New Orleans isn’t a defense I’m particularly afraid of, which makes Murray’s individual performance the primary reason I’m sitting him. The Saints have allowed 912 passing yards and seven passing touchdowns through four games, with opponents completing 84 of 123 attempts. They’ve also struggled against the run, allowing 591 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns. That creates opportunities for Minnesota’s offense, but Murray hasn’t demonstrated that he can consistently take advantage of favorable situations. His 247 passing yards against Miami were encouraging, yet he still finished without a touchdown and contributed very little as a runner. The matchup gives him a path toward improvement, but I’m not comfortable projecting a breakout based solely on New Orleans’ defensive struggles. Until Murray begins creating more rushing opportunities or consistently converting passing volume into touchdowns, I’d rather leave him on the bench in traditional one-quarterback leagues.
Jayden Daniels WAS
Jayden Daniels is one of the more difficult quarterbacks to evaluate entering Week 5, particularly after missing Washington’s last two games with a dislocated left elbow. Through two appearances, Daniels has completed 29 of 51 passes for 260 yards, three touchdowns, and no interceptions while adding 100 rushing yards on 12 attempts. His 50 rushing yards per appearance demonstrate the upside he can provide with his legs, but the passing production has been underwhelming. He managed only 164 passing yards against Philadelphia in Week 1 before throwing for 96 yards against Dallas in an injury-shortened Week 2. Daniels is now expected to return against the Giants after practicing fully on Wednesday, although he’ll be wearing a protective brace on the same elbow he’s injured twice.
The Giants aren’t a matchup I’m particularly concerned about, especially with Washington playing at home against a divisional opponent Daniels has defeated in all three of his previous meetings. However, I’m hesitant to trust him immediately after another significant elbow injury. Washington’s offensive line has struggled with injuries and inconsistent play, while Terry McLaurin and Stefon Diggs both missed Wednesday’s practice with hamstring injuries. Those potential absences would make an already difficult return even more challenging. Daniels has averaged 8.3 yards per rushing attempt this season, but I’m not willing to assume he’ll maintain that aggressiveness while protecting his elbow. The rushing upside makes him difficult to bench, but with limited passing production, an unsettled supporting cast, and uncertainty surrounding his mobility, I’d rather give him another week before trusting him as my fantasy starter.
