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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Tight Ends to Start
Dallas Goedert, TE (PHI)
Dallas Goedert returned from his knee injury in Week 5 and immediately became one of Philadelphia’s most important receiving options. Against Jacksonville, he caught six of nine targets for 38 yards, leading the Eagles in both receptions and targets. Through three appearances, Goedert has caught 11 passes for 119 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets, averaging 11.6 PPR fantasy points per game. His role could become even more important with Philadelphia dealing with significant injuries to Saquon Barkley and DeVonta Smith. However, the biggest development is Jalen Hurts being ruled out for Week 6 after a superficial blood clot was discovered in his calf. Tanner McKee is expected to start against Carolina, creating uncertainty about the Eagles’ overall offensive efficiency but potentially increasing their reliance on short, high-percentage passes to Goedert.
Carolina provides a favorable matchup, having allowed three tight ends to score at least 11 fantasy points this season, including two performances exceeding 22 points. That’s encouraging for Goedert, particularly if Smith remains unavailable and McKee relies on his tight end as a dependable underneath target. Philadelphia could emphasize shorter throws and quick completions to help its backup quarterback, giving Goedert an opportunity to maintain the substantial target share he received against Jacksonville. However, Hurts’ absence also lowers the offense’s overall scoring ceiling and could limit Goedert’s touchdown opportunities. His nine-target performance in Week 5 makes me optimistic about his involvement, but the quarterback change introduces more uncertainty than his favorable matchup might suggest. I’m still starting Goedert as a TE1 against Carolina, although I’d lower his ceiling slightly with McKee replacing Hurts.
Pat Freiermuth, TE (PIT)
Pat Freiermuth has quietly become one of Aaron Rodgers’ most dependable scoring options, and his involvement in Pittsburgh’s passing offense has been encouraging. Through five games, he’s caught 19 of 26 targets for 169 yards and four touchdowns, averaging 3.8 receptions and 33.8 receiving yards per contest. He caught five of seven targets for 44 yards and two touchdowns against Indianapolis in Week 5, giving him four receiving touchdowns through five games. More importantly, Freiermuth ran 27 routes on Rodgers’ 38 dropbacks, giving him approximately 71% route participation. That’s an encouraging sign for a player whose fantasy production has been heavily dependent on touchdowns. Pittsburgh is also dealing with injuries at wide receiver, with Roman Wilson and Ben Skowronek unavailable and Michael Pittman Jr. on injured reserve. However, rookie Germie Bernard has emerged as another receiving option after catching six passes for 80 yards against Indianapolis, so Freiermuth isn’t guaranteed to inherit every available target.
Tampa Bay presents an appealing matchup for Freiermuth because the Buccaneers have struggled to consistently defend opposing tight ends. They’ve allowed the fifth-highest EPA against the position, creating opportunities for offenses to attack the middle of the field. That aligns well with Freiermuth’s role in Pittsburgh, particularly because Rodgers has consistently looked his way near the goal line. The Steelers could also rely more heavily on their tight ends with several receivers unavailable, although Bernard’s emergence gives Rodgers another option outside of DK Metcalf. I’m not expecting Freiermuth to continue scoring touchdowns at his current pace, especially when he’s averaging fewer than 35 receiving yards per game. However, his increased route participation gives him a better opportunity to maintain useful fantasy production even when he doesn’t score. I’m comfortable starting Freiermuth as a lower-end TE1 with significant touchdown upside against Tampa Bay.
Tyler Higbee, TE (LAR)
Tyler Higbee has quietly become one of the more dependable tight ends in fantasy football over the last three weeks, and injuries in Los Angeles’ tight end room have played a significant role in his resurgence. Through five games, he’s caught 20 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown, but the season-long numbers don’t fully capture his recent production. Higbee caught eight passes for 62 yards and a touchdown in Week 3 before adding five receptions for 67 yards against Philadelphia and five catches for 83 yards against Buffalo. That’s 18 receptions for 212 yards and a touchdown over his last three games. His increased involvement coincided with an injury to Terrance Ferguson that landed him on injured reserve, while Colby Parkinson also missed time before returning in Week 5. Those absences created additional opportunities for Higbee, and he’s taken advantage of them. However, the Rams continue using multiple-tight-end formations, with Parkinson and Davis Allen also involved, so his workload isn’t necessarily guaranteed to remain this productive every week.
Arizona presents an appealing opportunity for Higbee to continue his recent success, as the Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to opposing tight ends. Los Angeles has one of the league’s most productive passing offenses, and Matthew Stafford has been willing to spread the football around when defenses focus on Puka Nacua and Davante Adams. Higbee has particularly benefited from his involvement in three-receiver formations, which allows him to work underneath while opposing defenses concentrate on preventing explosive plays outside. Parkinson’s return creates some uncertainty about Higbee’s weekly route participation, but his five-catch, 83-yard performance against Buffalo demonstrated that he can remain productive even when the Rams rotate their tight ends. I’m encouraged by three consecutive games with at least 62 receiving yards, and I believe his current role gives him a realistic opportunity to continue that streak. Higbee is a TE1 for Week 6, particularly in PPR formats, although his target floor could fluctuate depending on Los Angeles’ personnel packages.
Tight Ends to Sit
Dalton Kincaid, TE (BUF)
Dalton Kincaid has become one of the most frustrating tight ends in fantasy football because his playing time hasn’t translated into consistent receiving opportunities. Through five games, he’s caught 16 passes for 277 yards and one touchdown on 21 targets, averaging 55.4 receiving yards per contest. Those season-long numbers are heavily influenced by his early performances, as his involvement has declined significantly over the last three weeks. Kincaid caught two passes for 38 yards against the Chargers in Week 3 before recording just one reception for seven yards against New England in Week 4. He followed that with another one-catch, seven-yard performance against the Rams in Week 5, giving him only four receptions for 52 yards over his last three games. Buffalo has also continued using Dawson Knox and Jackson Hawes in multiple-tight-end formations. Through five weeks, Knox has played 222 offensive snaps compared to Kincaid’s 215, demonstrating that Kincaid hasn’t separated himself as Buffalo’s clear lead tight end.
Las Vegas is an appealing matchup on paper, but I’m not willing to overlook how little Kincaid has contributed recently. The Raiders have allowed four tight ends to score at least 10 fantasy points this season, and their defense has struggled to consistently limit production through the middle of the field. However, a favorable matchup doesn’t guarantee Kincaid will suddenly become a featured part of Buffalo’s passing attack. Kincaid’s recent target totals suggest Buffalo isn’t consistently designing enough opportunities for him to deliver dependable fantasy production, regardless of the opponent. He certainly has the talent to take advantage of this matchup, but I’m not comfortable starting someone who has caught just two passes for 14 yards over his last two games. Until his target volume improves, I’m treating Kincaid as a risky streaming option rather than a dependable TE1.
Colston Loveland, TE (CHI)
Colston Loveland has been one of the most disappointing tight ends in fantasy football, particularly after entering the season with expectations of becoming a major part of Chicago’s passing offense. Through five games, he’s caught just 13 of 23 targets for 110 yards without a touchdown, averaging only 22 receiving yards per contest. His playing time hasn’t been the issue, as he’s participated in more than 85% of Chicago’s offensive snaps, but those opportunities haven’t consistently translated into targets. Loveland appeared to be turning things around against the Jets in Week 4, catching six of nine targets for 57 yards while playing more than 90% of the offensive snaps. Unfortunately, that progress disappeared against Green Bay in Week 5, when he caught just two of five targets for 19 yards. Caleb Williams could return from his hamstring injury this week, but that doesn’t automatically guarantee Loveland will receive a larger role.
The Falcons have been effective defending opposing passing attacks, ranking seventh in defensive EPA per play, and frequently use single-high safety coverage. Loveland has struggled against those looks, averaging just 0.67 yards per route run while earning targets on only 14% of his routes against single-high coverage. That’s concerning for a tight end who hasn’t consistently demonstrated the ability to generate production without a substantial target total. Williams’ potential return could improve Chicago’s overall offensive efficiency, but it could also shift more opportunities toward the team’s established wide receivers. Loveland’s talent remains appealing, and his playing time suggests the Bears still want him involved. However, I’m not willing to rely on a player averaging just 2.6 receptions per game without a touchdown this season. He’s a touchdown-dependent streaming option rather than someone I’m comfortable starting in Week 6.
Kyle Pitts, TE (ATL)
Kyle Pitts finally delivered a productive fantasy performance in Week 5, but I’m not convinced that one strong game means his role has fundamentally changed. Through five games, he’s caught 10 passes for 109 yards and one touchdown on 15 targets, averaging just three targets and 21.8 receiving yards per contest. His Week 5 performance against Baltimore was encouraging, as he caught five of six targets for 42 yards and his first touchdown of the season. Those five receptions matched his combined total from the previous four games, highlighting just how limited his involvement had been entering the matchup. Pitts has also dealt with inconsistent route participation, making it difficult to trust his weekly opportunities. One encouraging development is that Michael Penix Jr. practiced fully Wednesday after suffering a rib injury against Baltimore. Penix took first-team repetitions and is expected to start against Chicago, assuming he avoids any setbacks.
Chicago makes Pitts a difficult player to trust despite his encouraging Week 5 performance. The Bears have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points per game to tight ends, with Tucker Kraft being the only player at the position to exceed six fantasy points against them this season. That’s a concerning matchup for someone who has averaged just two receptions per game and hasn’t consistently been a featured part of Atlanta’s passing offense. Penix’s expected return provides stability, but it doesn’t automatically mean Pitts will maintain the six targets he received against Baltimore. I understand the temptation to start him after finally seeing a productive performance, but I’m not willing to chase one strong outing following four disappointing weeks. Until Atlanta consistently gives Pitts a larger receiving role, I’m keeping him on the bench in favor of tight ends with more dependable workloads.
