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
Tyler Shough, QB (NO)
Tyler Shough is the QB16 in fantasy points per game, but he’s been more useful than that rank suggests, with five top-10 weekly finishes in eight starts. His rushing gives him a ceiling most streaming quarterbacks don’t have. Shough has rushed 34 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns, ranking eighth among quarterbacks in rushing yards, and he’s coming off a season-high 10 carries for 51 yards against Cleveland. His best game came against the Giants in Week 6, when he threw for just 144 yards but found the end zone four times, three through the air and one on the ground, to finish with 26.9 fantasy points. That rushing production can swing week to week, though. He didn’t record a carry against Minnesota in Week 5, his worst game of the season, and he ran for only five yards against Atlanta. Among 31 passers with at least 150 dropbacks through Week 9, Shough ranks sixth in catchable pass rate and 13th in completion percentage over expectation, but only 25th in yards per attempt.
Carolina’s lack of pressure makes this a better spot for Shough, who took five sacks against Cleveland last week. The Panthers rank 26th in pressure rate, which should give him more time to work through his reads and more chances to scramble when the first option is covered. Carolina has also allowed 18.6 rushing yards per game to quarterbacks, the 11th-most in the league. Over the defense’s last five games, the Panthers have allowed the eighth-highest passing success rate, so drives should have a chance to stay alive even if big plays are limited. The concern is coverage. Carolina plays zone on 74% of dropbacks, the sixth-highest rate in the league, and Shough has been less productive against zone this season. He likely won’t win this game with big passing numbers, but his rushing gives him a path to a solid fantasy day. I’m starting Shough as a low-end QB1 because his rushing upside and Carolina’s low pressure rate give him a good chance at another top-12 finish.
Bryce Young, QB (CAR)
Bryce Young is the QB10 in fantasy points per game, with 17 total touchdowns through eight starts and four games of at least 20 fantasy points. His passing volume has been one of his biggest strengths, as he’s attempted at least 36 passes in seven of eight games. Among qualifying passers, Young is 10th in passing touchdown rate, 14th in completion percentage over expectation, and 15th in yards per attempt. He bounced back against Denver in Week 9, completing 28 of 39 passes for 276 yards and three touchdowns. Pressure has been the biggest problem in his bad games. Young has been pressured on 39% of his dropbacks, and his yards per attempt falls from 7.13 overall to 5.64 when pressured. He took 11 sacks in back-to-back games against Tampa Bay and Green Bay, scoring just 5.4 and 10.4 fantasy points. Turnovers have also been an issue, with six over his last three games.
Young has the passing volume to start this week, and New Orleans gives him a better chance to avoid the sacks that hurt him against Tampa Bay and Green Bay. The Saints rank 27th in pressure rate. Over the defense’s last five games, New Orleans has allowed the third-highest yards per attempt and the 11th-most fantasy points per dropback. The Saints play zone on 62% of dropbacks and have allowed 8.21 yards per attempt against it this season, the fifth-highest mark in the league, while Young ranks ninth among qualifying passers in fantasy points per dropback against zone. He won’t add much as a rusher, and his recent turnovers could limit his ceiling. Still, a defense that hasn’t consistently pressured quarterbacks and has given up plenty of yardage creates an appealing setup. I’m starting Young as a QB1 because his passing volume and a favorable matchup give him a strong chance at another 20-point performance.
Patrick Mahomes, QB (KC)
Patrick Mahomes is the QB13 in fantasy points per game, but he’s played much better recently, throwing for 563 yards and five touchdowns without an interception over his last two games. Kansas City’s offense has changed this season. Mahomes has the lowest average depth of target among qualifying passers, including a 2.9-yard mark against the Jets, as the Chiefs have relied on shorter throws and yards after the catch. That approach has kept the offense moving, as he ranks third in passing success rate, eighth in fantasy points per dropback and ninth in yards per attempt. He’s also handled pressure well, leading qualifying passers in yards per attempt when pressured, and only 14.5% of his pressured dropbacks have ended in sacks, the third-lowest rate in the league. Mahomes injured his right elbow in Week 9, but the MRI reportedly showed a strain or sprain without significant damage, and Kansas City listed him as a full participant Wednesday. The Chiefs also acquired Josh Downs at the deadline, although I expect Downs to play a limited role in his first game as he learns the offense.
Atlanta has struggled to get off the field against the pass. Over the defense’s last five games, the Falcons have allowed the third-highest passing success rate, the 10th-most yards per attempt, the 11th-highest passing touchdown rate, and the sixth-highest passer rating. That gives Kansas City a good chance to keep drives moving with the short, quick throws it has relied on. Atlanta also ranks 25th in blitz rate, and the pressure it does generate hasn’t been a major problem for Mahomes this season. The Falcons have also intercepted passes at the third-lowest rate in the league. Mahomes’ shorter passing approach limits his ceiling, and the 30-point games haven’t shown up this season. But his recent efficiency gives him a stable floor. I’m starting Mahomes as a QB1 because his ability to keep drives alive with short throws matches up well with Atlanta’s recent struggles against the pass.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Matthew Stafford, QB (LAR)
Matthew Stafford is expected to be without both Puka Nacua and Davante Adams this week, leaving him without the two receivers who have driven his best games. Nacua has been ruled out with a knee injury, while Adams remains on injured reserve with a hamstring injury. The Rams’ tight end group is also banged up, as Colby Parkinson and Davis Allen were estimated as limited during Wednesday’s walkthrough. Stafford’s production had already been sliding before the latest injuries. He’s scored 8.3 and 11.2 fantasy points over his last two games and has finished below 12 points in four of nine starts. He’s also averaged just 6.4 yards per attempt over his past six games. Among qualifying passers, Stafford ranks 19th in yards per attempt, 17th in passing touchdown rate, and 17th in fantasy points per dropback. He’s still ninth in passing success rate, but the explosive plays have largely disappeared.
Arizona is the reason this is a difficult call. Over the defense’s last five games, the Cardinals have allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per dropback, the ninth-highest passing touchdown rate, and the seventh-highest passer rating, and Stafford threw two touchdowns against them in Week 6. However, the Cardinals play zone on 72% of dropbacks, and Stafford has had lower fantasy production against zone this season, ranking 17th in fantasy points per dropback against it compared to 11th against man. Losing Nacua makes that matchup more difficult. The Rams are also 9.5-point favorites, which could lead to a run-heavy second half if they build an early lead. The matchup gives Stafford a path to a useful game, but the receiving-corps injuries make it hard to trust him. I’m sitting Stafford in one-quarterback leagues because the loss of his top two receivers and his recent production outweigh a favorable matchup.
Kirk Cousins, QB (MIN)
Kirk Cousins was the QB8 in fantasy points per game with Las Vegas, throwing 20 touchdowns, the second-most in the NFL, with 2,340 yards and eight interceptions across nine starts. Among qualifying passers, he ranks fifth in passing touchdown rate and passing success rate and seventh in fantasy points per dropback, and he finished with at least 12 fantasy points in every start with the Raiders. That production came in a different situation, though. The Raiders traded him to Minnesota this week, and Kevin O’Connell said the team is working toward having him play Sunday without officially naming him the starter. Minnesota did not practice Wednesday, but its estimated report listed Kyler Murray as a non-participant with a hamstring injury and Carson Wentz as limited with an ankle injury. Even if Cousins starts, he’ll be working with new receivers after only a few practices in an offense that has run just 57.4 plays per game, the third-fewest in football. He also threw three interceptions against San Francisco in Week 9.
Green Bay is a difficult matchup for a quarterback getting up to speed with a new team. Over the defense’s last five games, the Packers have allowed the fifth-fewest yards per attempt, the fifth-fewest fantasy points per dropback, the 10th-lowest passing success rate, and the third-lowest passer rating. They also have the third-highest interception rate in the league this season and rank 10th in pressure rate. No quarterback has scored 20 fantasy points against them. Cousins’ history in O’Connell’s offense should help him adjust more quickly than most quarterbacks could, but learning new receivers against one of the league’s best pass defenses creates considerable risk. If he’s named the starter, he’s a reasonable superflex option. I’m sitting Cousins in one-quarterback leagues because his uncertain role and Green Bay’s pass defense make him too difficult to trust this week.
Aaron Rodgers, QB (PIT)
Aaron Rodgers is the QB20 in fantasy points per game, and his passing volume has fallen off since his best stretch of the season. He threw nine touchdowns from Weeks 3 through 5, scoring at least 19.9 fantasy points in each game, but he’s averaged about 11.3 fantasy points over his last three starts. Pittsburgh has also asked him to throw less, as his attempts have dropped from 49 in Week 6 to 30 and then 25. He scored just 4.9 fantasy points against Cleveland in Week 8 before the Steelers’ bye. Among qualifying passers, Rodgers ranks 23rd in yards per attempt and passing success rate and 20th in fantasy points per dropback. He’s also taken a sack on 28.8% of his pressured dropbacks, the ninth-highest rate in the league. With just 23 rushing yards this season, Rodgers needs passing touchdowns to deliver fantasy value.
Rodgers did throw for 292 yards and three touchdowns against Cincinnati in Week 3, and the Bengals’ offense could push this game into a shootout. However, Cincinnati has allowed only nine passing touchdowns in eight games, and over the defense’s last five games, it has held quarterbacks to the 12th-lowest passing touchdown rate. The Bengals also play man coverage on 45.5% of dropbacks, the sixth-highest rate in the league, and Rodgers has been below average against man this season. More importantly, Pittsburgh won four straight games before its bye by leaning on Jaylen Warren and the running game. That approach could continue after two weeks of rest, limiting Rodgers’ passing volume again. I’m sitting Rodgers in one-quarterback leagues because his declining volume and limited rushing production give him too low a floor, although he remains a viable superflex option.
