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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Running Backs to Start
Blake Corum, RB (LAR)
Blake Corum has scored a touchdown in five consecutive games, and he’s coming off 11 carries for 58 yards and a score against Washington in Week 9. He’s still the Rams’ No. 2 back behind Kyren Williams, and he hasn’t played more than 45% of the snaps in any game this season. But his share of the workload has grown, as he’s handled at least 38% of Los Angeles’ carries in each of his last four games. Corum has made the most of those opportunities, rushing for 447 yards on 86 carries, an average of 5.2 yards per carry. He’s also been one of the league’s most consistent runners on a per-play basis, ranking second among qualifying running backs in rushing success rate through Week 9. His limited role in the passing game is the main concern, as he’s caught just three passes over his last four games, so his weekly production depends on how many carries the Rams give him.
That’s why the matchup sets up so well for him. The Rams are 9.5-point favorites against an Arizona offense that has struggled to score, and when Los Angeles plays from ahead, Corum’s carries have grown as the team leans on its running game to close out wins. He also had success against the Cardinals in Week 6, totaling 60 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown for 14.0 PPR points. Arizona’s run defense has been close to league average, which makes this more about game script than an exploitable matchup. Corum’s touchdown streak will eventually end, and a quiet game is possible if Williams handles most of the work near the goal line. Still, he has earned a steady role, and this is the type of game where that role should grow. I’m starting Corum as a flex option because his efficiency and a favorable game script should give him enough carries to deliver a useful performance.
Ollie Gordon II, RB (MIA)
Ollie Gordon II has handled at least 16 carries in five of his last six games, including 35 over the last two weeks. That volume is the foundation of his fantasy value, as he’s handled 61%, 83% and 76% of Miami’s carries over his last three games. He’s recorded 107 carries for 463 yards and four touchdowns this season, but his last two games show the risk of relying on carries alone. Those 35 carries produced just 124 rushing yards and 6.9 and 7.4 PPR points. Gordon has been held to 3.6 and 3.4 yards per carry in those games, and he offers very little as a receiver, with seven catches for 23 yards all season. Miami’s offense also faces a significant change, as Kyle McCord will make his first NFL start with Malik Willis on injured reserve. That could make it harder for the Dolphins to sustain drives, but it also gives them more reason to keep the ball on the ground.
Indianapolis has been one of the easier run defenses to attack recently. Over the defense’s last five games, the Colts have allowed the fourth-most yards per carry and the sixth-most yards after contact per attempt. That’s a much better matchup than the ones Gordon faced against New England and Detroit, and it gives him a chance to turn his workload into more efficient production. Miami will want to protect a quarterback making his first start, which should help keep Gordon heavily involved as long as the game stays competitive. If the Dolphins fall behind early, his role could shrink, and his limited receiving work would leave him with little to fall back on. That’s the main risk with this call. I’m starting Gordon as an RB2 because his carry volume and a softer Colts run defense give him a good chance to rebound after two disappointing games.
Zach Charbonnet, RB (SEA)
Zach Charbonnet’s role in Seattle’s backfield took a major step forward in Week 9. After handling six carries in his season debut against Chicago, he rushed 16 times for 77 yards against Arizona while adding a nine-yard catch. He played 56% of the snaps and handled 58% of Seattle’s running back opportunities, giving him the lead role in the backfield. His usage also extended beyond early downs. Charbonnet was on the field for nine of Seattle’s 12 third downs with at least three yards to go, showing the coaching staff trusted him in passing situations as well. Jadarian Price still caught four passes and remains involved, but Charbonnet’s workload looked like that of a lead back. He also ran efficiently against the Cardinals, averaging 4.8 yards per carry and 3.7 yards after contact per attempt. Two games is a small sample, but the jump from six carries to 16 is difficult to ignore.
Las Vegas is the best rushing matchup Charbonnet could have asked for. The Raiders have allowed the most rushing yards per game to opposing running backs this season, and their run defense has only gotten worse recently. Over the defense’s last five games, they’ve allowed 5.2 yards per carry and the highest rushing success rate in the NFL, consistently allowing opposing offenses to stay ahead of the chains. That’s an ideal setup for Charbonnet if his workload looks anything like it did in Week 9. Price’s involvement gives this backfield some uncertainty, and Seattle could still split the work more evenly than it did last week. However, Charbonnet’s role on third downs suggests he’s more than an early-down option. I’m starting Charbonnet as an RB2 because his expanded workload and one of the league’s worst run defenses give him one of the best rushing matchups of the week.
Running Backs to Sit
Corey Kiner, RB (NE)
Corey Kiner rushed eight times for 55 yards and his first career touchdown against Green Bay in Week 9, but the context of that performance matters. Rhamondre Stevenson left the game with a knee injury, and Lan Larison handled the next 12 snaps while Drake Maye was still in the game. Much of Kiner’s work came after Tommy DeVito entered with New England trailing by 24 points in the fourth quarter. Stevenson missed practice Wednesday, while TreVeyon Henderson has been ruled out with an illness for a third straight game. That should give Kiner more work than usual, but Larison appears likely to share the backfield. Kiner has been efficient with limited carries this season, averaging 4.9 yards per carry, but he’s handled more than eight carries only once. He also has just two catches all season, making his fantasy production almost entirely dependent on carries and touchdowns.
Detroit’s run defense makes that a difficult combination to trust. The Lions have allowed only two rushing touchdowns over their last five games, and opposing backs have struggled to consistently pick up positive yardage against them. Kiner would need a substantial workload and likely a touchdown to produce a useful fantasy performance, and neither is guaranteed with Larison involved. His lack of receiving work also lowers his floor in a game where New England could have trouble sustaining drives. Kiner’s explosiveness gives him some upside if he receives 12 to 15 carries, and he’s worth considering in deeper leagues. But it’s difficult to project a reliable role in a backfield that still has several moving parts. I’m sitting Kiner because his uncertain workload, minimal receiving role, and a difficult Detroit run defense make him too risky to start.
Quinshon Judkins, RB (CLE)
Quinshon Judkins is still leading Cleveland in carries, but his role has changed in ways that hurt his fantasy value. He rushed 15 times for 43 yards against New Orleans in Week 9, finishing with just 5.5 PPR points. Judkins has played fewer than 40% of the snaps in each of his last two games and ran routes on only 10% of Cleveland’s dropbacks against the Saints. Dylan Sampson played every snap in overtime, further showing how the Browns are dividing the work. Judkins’ receiving role has also declined sharply. He caught 18 passes from Weeks 1 through 5, but has just four receptions from Weeks 7 through 9. That shift explains how he can lead the team in carries and still finish under seven PPR points in back-to-back games. His rushing efficiency hasn’t helped, as he’s gained 385 yards on 116 carries, averaging 3.3 yards per carry.
Houston’s run defense has softened recently, making this a more difficult sit than his recent production suggests. The Texans have allowed six rushing touchdowns over their last five games, the fourth-most in the league, giving Judkins a realistic path to a score. However, an early-down role with limited receiving work leaves him with a low floor in PPR formats, particularly if Cleveland falls behind. The Browns have also averaged just 17.9 points per game, the fourth-fewest in the league, which limits his touchdown opportunities. Judkins can still be used as a flex option in deeper leagues because of his carry volume. In shallower leagues, his declining snaps and receiving work make him difficult to trust. I’m sitting Judkins in shallower leagues because Sampson’s growing role has taken away the passing-game production that previously supported his fantasy value.
Tyler Allgeier, RB (ARI)
Tyler Allgeier handled 17 carries and 94% of Arizona’s rushing work against Seattle in Week 9, but that workload came with Bam Knight sidelined by a concussion. Knight returned to practice as a limited participant Wednesday, and if he’s cleared to play, Allgeier is likely to lose a significant share of the work. When both backs were healthy, Knight produced more with his touches. In Week 6 against the Rams, Knight turned 15 carries into 80 yards while adding two catches for 18 yards, while Allgeier managed 38 yards on 18 carries. The following week against Denver, Knight outgained him again with 63 scrimmage yards to Allgeier’s 49, and he drew five targets to Allgeier’s three. Allgeier’s production has also been extremely inconsistent. He exploded for 36.1 PPR points against Dallas in Week 8, but outside of that game, he’s scored fewer than 10 PPR points in seven of nine appearances and has averaged fewer than 2.75 yards per carry in six games.
The matchup makes a split backfield even harder to trust. Los Angeles has been one of the league’s toughest run defenses, allowing the fourth-fewest yards per carry and only two rushing touchdowns over its last five games. Allgeier already saw this defense in Week 6 and finished with 5.8 PPR points, while Knight was the back who found running room. Arizona’s offense has also struggled to score, which limits the touchdown opportunities Allgeier needs when his carries are being shared. If Knight is ruled out again, Allgeier would move back into a featured role and become a volume-based flex option, so his status is worth monitoring before kickoff. But if Knight is active, Allgeier is likely looking at fewer carries against a defense that already held him in check. I’m sitting Allgeier because Knight’s likely return and a difficult Rams run defense leave him with too uncertain a role to trust.
