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
Kirk Cousins, QB (LV)
Kirk Cousins has quietly become one of the more productive fantasy quarterbacks through five weeks, completing 112 of 172 passes for 1,269 yards, 12 touchdowns and four interceptions. He’s averaging 253.8 passing yards and 2.4 touchdowns per game, translating to 19.3 fantasy points per contest and a QB6 ranking. His passing volume has been particularly encouraging, with 34.4 attempts per game, while his 7.4 yards per attempt demonstrates that Las Vegas has been capable of generating meaningful yardage through the air. Cousins delivered three consecutive productive fantasy performances before struggling against New England in Week 5, when he finished with just 13.7 points. His lack of rushing production limits his weekly floor, but the Raiders have consistently given him enough passing opportunities to remain fantasy-relevant.
Buffalo presents one of the most appealing quarterback matchups in football, allowing 22.9 fantasy points per game to the position, the fourth-most in the NFL. The Bills also rank 30th in defensive EPA per play through five weeks and 30th in defensive dropback EPA, making them particularly vulnerable against the pass. That creates an opportunity for Cousins to capitalize on a defense that has struggled to consistently prevent opposing quarterbacks from sustaining drives and generating scoring opportunities. Buffalo has also allowed the most fantasy points to wide receivers at 37.5 per game, creating additional upside for Cousins’ receiving options. I’m expecting Las Vegas to lean heavily on its passing attack, particularly if Buffalo establishes an early lead. Cousins doesn’t offer much rushing upside, but his touchdown production and favorable matchup make him one of my preferred Week 6 streaming quarterbacks.
Jordan Love, QB (GB)
Jordan Love delivered his best performance of the season against Chicago, completing 25 of 31 passes for 367 yards and two touchdowns in Green Bay’s 31-7 victory. He averaged an impressive 11.8 yards per attempt while completing 80.6% of his passes, a significant improvement from his inconsistent accuracy over the opening four weeks. Through five games, Love has completed 112 of 185 attempts for 1,408 yards, 10 touchdowns and three interceptions, averaging 281.6 passing yards and two touchdowns per contest. His 60.5% completion rate remains disappointing, but his efficiency has improved to 7.6 yards per attempt. More importantly, Love has thrown multiple touchdowns in all five games while averaging 37 passing attempts per contest. His limited rushing production makes passing volume particularly important, but Green Bay has consistently provided enough opportunities for him to generate useful fantasy numbers.
Dallas presents arguably the best quarterback matchup of Week 6, allowing 21.5 fantasy points per game to the position, the sixth-most in the NFL. The Cowboys rank last in defensive EPA per play and last in defensive dropback EPA, making them particularly vulnerable against efficient passing attacks. That weakness is encouraging for a quarterback coming off a 367-yard performance, especially with Christian Watson and Matthew Golden providing explosive receiving options. Green Bay’s passing volume also gives Love a relatively dependable floor, and Dallas has struggled to consistently prevent opposing offenses from creating explosive plays and reaching scoring position. I’m expecting another aggressive passing performance from Love, with the opportunity to generate multiple touchdowns against one of the league’s weakest defenses. He’s firmly in my QB1 tier and one of my favorite quarterback starts of Week 6.
Tyler Shough, QB (NO)
Tyler Shough’s promising start took a significant hit against Minnesota, where he completed 16 of 25 passes for just 96 yards without a touchdown while throwing two interceptions. That performance was particularly disappointing after he opened the season with nine passing touchdowns across his first four appearances. Through five games, Shough has completed 137 of 205 passes for 1,299 yards, nine touchdowns and five interceptions, averaging 259.8 passing yards per contest. His 66.8% completion rate is encouraging, although his 6.3 yards per attempt demonstrates that New Orleans hasn’t consistently generated explosive passing plays. Shough has also added 72 rushing yards and a touchdown, providing some additional fantasy value. Despite his Week 5 struggles, he’s averaging 41 passing attempts per game, giving him enough volume to remain an appealing streaming option.
The Giants provide an opportunity for Shough to rebound after facing Minnesota’s top-ranked defense. New York ranks 22nd in defensive EPA per play and 22nd in defensive dropback EPA, making this a considerably more favorable matchup. The Giants have also allowed 19.9 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the ninth-most in the NFL, while surrendering 25.4 points per game to wide receivers. That combination suggests New Orleans should have opportunities to generate more consistent passing production than it managed against Minnesota. Shough’s five interceptions and three lost fumbles are legitimate concerns, and I’m not expecting him to suddenly become an elite quarterback. However, his substantial passing volume and favorable matchup create a realistic path toward 250-plus yards and multiple touchdowns. I’m treating him as a lower-end QB1 or strong streaming option in Week 6.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Patrick Mahomes, QB (KC)
Patrick Mahomes has remained productive through four appearances, completing 82 of 128 passes for 1,037 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. He’s averaging 259.3 passing yards, 2.3 touchdowns and approximately 21.4 fantasy points per game, while his 8.1 yards per attempt demonstrates that Kansas City’s passing offense has been relatively efficient. Mahomes has also contributed 41 rushing yards and a touchdown, providing additional fantasy upside despite not relying heavily on designed rushing opportunities. However, his season-long fantasy production has been heavily influenced by touchdown efficiency, and his limited rushing volume leaves him more dependent on passing scores than many of the other high-end fantasy quarterbacks.
The Chargers have been one of the NFL’s most effective defenses through five weeks, ranking sixth in defensive EPA per play and allowing just 15.8 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks, the 12th-fewest in the league. Los Angeles also ranks sixth in defensive dropback EPA and has held opposing offenses to a 42% success rate, reinforcing its ability to limit efficient offensive production. That creates a challenging matchup for Mahomes, particularly because Kansas City’s passing touchdowns have accounted for such a substantial portion of his fantasy scoring. I’m not expecting the Chargers to completely shut down Mahomes, and his ability to produce multiple touchdowns makes him difficult to bench outright. However, I’m treating this as a relative downgrade with the injuries in the wide receiver room for KC. If I have another legitimate QB1 with a favorable matchup, such as Jordan Love, I’m willing to make that switch this week.
Bryce Young, QB (CAR)
Bryce Young has produced some impressive fantasy performances this season, completing 101 of 162 passes for 1,268 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions through four appearances. He’s averaging 317 passing yards and 22.6 fantasy points per game, with a strong 7.8 yards per attempt despite completing just 62.3% of his passes. Young has also added a rushing touchdown, although his 19 rushing yards demonstrate that his fantasy production remains overwhelmingly dependent on passing efficiency and touchdowns. His early-season numbers have been encouraging, particularly after opening the year with consecutive strong fantasy performances. However, his lack of meaningful rushing production makes him more vulnerable to touchdown regression, especially if Carolina struggles to sustain the scoring efficiency that has supported his fantasy production.
Philadelphia presents an interesting matchup because its defensive results haven’t been particularly impressive through five weeks. The Eagles rank 24th in defensive EPA per play and 24th in defensive dropback EPA, while allowing 19.3 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks. Those numbers suggest Young could have opportunities to generate passing production, particularly if Carolina falls behind and needs to become more aggressive. However that same defense is only allowing 22.4 PPG. Philadelphia’s defensive personnel still has the ability to create pressure and disrupt drives, and will be Young’s toughest matchup of the season. He’s a high-upside QB2 rather than a quarterback I’m comfortable automatically starting in traditional one-quarterback leagues.
Aaron Rodgers, QB (PIT)
Aaron Rodgers has quietly delivered three consecutive strong fantasy performances, throwing nine touchdowns and averaging 275.3 passing yards per game during that stretch. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 235 yards and three touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 5, with Pat Freiermuth catching five passes for 44 yards and two scores and rookie Germie Bernard adding six receptions for 80 yards. However, Pittsburgh’s receiving corps is becoming dangerously thin. Michael Pittman Jr. is on injured reserve, while Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek have already been ruled out against Tampa Bay. That leaves DK Metcalf, Freiermuth and Bernard carrying much of the receiving workload. Rodgers has also rushed for just 18 yards through five games, leaving him heavily dependent on passing touchdowns to deliver strong fantasy performances.
Tampa Bay is a challenging matchup, ranking fifth in defensive EPA per play (-0.056), although injuries in its secondary could make the Buccaneers easier to attack than those season-long numbers suggest. Antoine Winfield Jr. and Ayden Garnes missed Wednesday’s practice, while Benjamin Morrison was limited, making their availability worth monitoring. Those potential absences give Rodgers an opportunity to maintain his recent success, especially if Pittsburgh continues leaning on shorter throws to Freiermuth and Bernard. However, the Steelers’ depleted receiving depth creates concerns about sustaining that efficiency, and Rodgers doesn’t have the rushing production to offset a game without multiple passing touchdowns. Despite his recent hot streak, I’m treating him as a lower-end QB2 rather than a preferred Week 6 starter.
