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
Drake Maye NE
Drake Maye cashed in as a must-start last week, finishing with 26.3 points and finishing top five in passing EPA in Week 2. Maye’s rushing numbers also jumped to where they were last year, as he saw 10 carries last week. The rushing part of his game gives him a safe floor weekly. Now he draws another favorable matchup at home against Pittsburgh. The Steelers have surrendered five touchdowns to opposing quarterbacks in just two games, while also allowing 62 points so far for the 1st time since 1989. Maye has the matchup to remain a start-worthy low-end QB1 in Week 3 fantasy football lineups.
Dak Prescott DAL
After a slow Week 1, Dak Prescott bounced back hugely, throwing for 361 yards, two scores, and 22 fantasy football points in Week 2. The matchup couldn’t be better in Week 3, as Prescott faces a Chicago defense that has allowed a league-high seven passing touchdowns already. The Bears also rank near the bottom of the league in completion percentage allowed, passer rating, and yards per attempt. J.J. McCarthy and Jared Goff scored 22 points against this unit, with the Lions recently scoring 52 points. With Vegas projecting this game’s total at 50.5, Prescott carries top-five quarterback upside and is a must-start in all fantasy football formats.
Justin Herbert LAC
Justin Herbert is simply too hot to sit right now in fantasy football. He’s scored at least 18.5 points in back-to-back weeks against division opponents in the Chiefs and Raiders. His rushing production has been a key boost, averaging 31.5 yards per game on the ground. Herbert also had success against Denver last season, posting a 20-point performance in Week 16. With the Broncos fresh off allowing Daniel Jones to have a nice day, Herbert looks locked in as a strong fantasy football start, even in a matchup that might normally give managers pause.
Quarterbacks to Sit
Jared Goff DET
Jared Goff torched Chicago for 36 fantasy points in Week 2, but he’s in danger of crashing back to Earth in Week 3. Goff has historically struggled against Baltimore, throwing for 713 yards with zero touchdowns and three interceptions in three career matchups. The Ravens defense may have bent against Josh Allen in Week 1, but they quickly bounced back to hold Joe Flacco to just 8.8 points in Week 2. Goff’s road struggles are another concern, as he’s rarely posted strong fantasy football numbers outside of Detroit. With sub-20 points likely, Goff is better off as a sit in standard leagues and only worth starting in deeper Superflex formats.
Trevor Lawrence JAC
Trevor Lawrence continues to leave fantasy football managers wanting more. Despite a slight improvement in Week 2, he has yet to finish as a QB1 this season. His struggles against Houston are glaring: in six full games against the Texans, he has thrown multiple touchdowns just once while tossing more interceptions (9) than touchdown passes (7). Houston also just made life difficult for Baker Mayfield and Matthew Stafford. Lawrence ranks bottom third among qualified quarterbacks in passer rating, yards per attempt, and turnover-worthy throw rate. Until we see some improvement, Lawrence will be a sit-in in fantasy football lineups.
Sam Darnold SEA
Sam Darnold hasn’t shown enough upside to warrant starting in fantasy football. Through two weeks, he has just 21.2 combined points and only three red-zone pass attempts. Seattle’s offense also isn’t helping his case, ranking sixth-lowest in pass rate so far this year. While the Saints are a neutral matchup, they’ve still managed to limit explosive plays through the air. Darnold ranks outside the top 20 quarterbacks in passer rating, highly accurate throw rate, and fantasy points per game. Even if he delivers serviceable QB2 numbers, his lack of rushing upside and low passing volume make him a clear sit in Week 3 fantasy football.
