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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Running Backs to Start
Jaylen Warren PIT
Jaylen Warren continues to serve as the heartbeat of Pittsburgh’s backfield, providing steady production and elite efficiency. In his last matchup against Cincinnati, Warren turned 20 touches into 158 total yards and finished as the RB7 for the week. This year, he’s averaging 17 touches and 86 total yards per game, ranking as the RB18 in fantasy points per game. His advanced metrics back up the numbers; among 64 qualifying running backs, Warren sits sixth in missed tackle rate and 15th in yards after contact per attempt. Cincinnati’s defense has struggled badly in recent weeks, allowing the most rushing yards per game, second-most yards after contact per attempt, and third-highest explosive run rate since Week 6.
This week’s matchup makes Warren one of the best starts at the position. He’s commanded 77 percent of the Steelers’ carries over the last four weeks, solidifying his role as the clear feature back. Backup RB Kenneth Gainwell has played under 35% of snaps in back-to-back weeks, which is also encouraging. The Bengals’ defense has allowed the most fantasy points to running backs since midseason, and with Warren’s balance of volume and efficiency, he’s positioned to capitalize again. Fantasy managers can confidently lock him into lineups as a top-tier RB2 with RB1 upside this week.
Chase Brown CIN
Chase Brown’s rise has mirrored the Bengals’ offensive resurgence with Joe Flacco under center. Since Flacco took over, Brown has averaged 14.6 touches and 91.5 total yards per game, ranking as the RB11 in fantasy points per game during that span. His efficiency metrics are impressive; he ranks eighth in explosive run rate, third in missed tackle rate, and second in yards after contact per attempt among 45 qualifying backs since Week 6. In his first meeting with Pittsburgh, Brown gashed the defense for 108 yards on just 11 carries, showcasing his ability to create chunk plays. The Steelers’ defense has been league-average against the run since Week 6, sitting in the middle of the pack in success rate and yards before contact per attempt.
Brown’s recent production makes him a strong start in Week 11. He’s averaged 16.4 fantasy points per game with Flacco as the starter, compared to under 10 before the quarterback change. Brown has topped 19 fantasy points in back-to-back games, recording 11 receptions for 107 yards and a touchdown through the air in that span. With Samaje Perine potentially sidelined, Brown’s passing-game usage only grows, giving him a reliable floor to pair with his explosive ceiling. Fantasy managers should view him as a locked-in RB2 with top-10 potential in what could be another productive outing against a familiar AFC North opponent.
Woody Marks HOU
Woody Marks looks to have gained control of Houston’s backfield, and the numbers support his growing workload. Last week, Marks played 80 percent of the offensive snaps and handled 16 touches for 81 total yards, finishing as the RB11 for the week. Among 64 qualifying backs, he ranks 25th in explosive run rate and 33rd in yards after contact per attempt, showing solid efficiency when given opportunities. Over the past four games, Marks has averaged 13.5 touches and at least 12 in four of his last six contests, proving his consistency in usage. His opponent this week, Tennessee, has struggled to contain the run lately, allowing the ninth-most rushing yards per game and 12th-most explosive runs since Week 6.
With the Titans also surrendering the fifth-most fantasy points to running backs, Marks is a fantasy start this week. His previous outing against Tennessee was his best of the season, with 119 total yards, two touchdowns, and a season-high 27.9 fantasy points. Marks’ heavy workload and consistent snap share make him a safe RB2 in all formats, and his involvement in both phases of the offense gives him a stable floor. The Titans have given up at least 16.6 PPR points to a running back in six of their past seven games, and Marks has scored double-digit fantasy points in three of his last four. Managers should ride the hot hand and keep Marks in lineups for another strong performance.
Running Backs to Sit
Kimani Vidal LAC
Kimani Vidal’s season has shown flashes of potential, highlighted by volume and power running between the tackles. Since Week 6, he’s averaged 19.2 touches and 87.6 total yards per game, ranking as the RB16 in fantasy points per game during that stretch. Among 64 qualifying running backs, he ranks 20th in explosive run rate but just 34th in yards after contact per attempt, reflecting an uneven blend of burst and consistency. The Chargers’ offense remains middle-of-the-pack by weighted offensive DVOA, which limits touchdown opportunities and sustained drives. This week, Vidal faces a Jaguars defense that has been dominant against the run, allowing the fifth-lowest explosive run rate and third-fewest rushing yards per game since Week 6.
Given the defensive matchup and game environment, Vidal is a sit for Week 11. Jacksonville has also held zone-running schemes, which make up 60.4% of Vidal’s carries, to just 3.9 yards per attempt. The Chargers’ offense in this one will look to exploit the Jaguars’ weaker secondary, which has struggled over the last month. Even with a strong workload, the matchup has significant warning flags tied to it. Managers should look elsewhere this week and treat Vidal as a low-floor flex option in every format. Potential pivot options this week include Emari Demercado and Kareem Hunt.
David Montgomery DET
David Montgomery’s recent fantasy football production has dipped since his big Week 5 performance against Cincinnati. Over his last four games, he’s averaged just 8.8 fantasy points per game and has topped 40 rushing yards only once. While he remains a fixture in Detroit’s goal-line packages, his role has been overshadowed by the emergence of Jahmyr Gibbs, who has steadily out-snapped him more than he did last year. Montgomery’s efficiency metrics reflect this decline; he’s posting just 4.1 true yards per carry and ranks outside the top 30 in evaded tackles per game. The matchup this week doesn’t help, as Philadelphia’s run defense has limited opponents to 3.9 yards per carry and ranks top 10 in rush DVOA.
Given his touchdown dependency and declining workload, Montgomery profiles as a sit this week. The Eagles have surrendered just eight rushing touchdowns all season, and their defensive front routinely forces negative game scripts for opposing backs. With Gibbs handling more passing-down work, Montgomery’s limited target share further reduces his floor in PPR formats. Even if Detroit moves the ball effectively, the Eagles’ red-zone defense is disciplined enough to cap Montgomery’s scoring upside. Fantasy managers should fade him in Week 11 and treat him as a touchdown-dependent flex option rather than a locked-in starter.
Zach Charbonnet and Kenneth Walker SEA
Seattle’s backfield has been one of the more frustrating situations for fantasy managers this season. Kenneth Walker has gone four straight games without a touchdown and hasn’t scored double-digit fantasy points since Week 4, while Zach Charbonnet has found the end zone five times in that same stretch. Both backs have seen inconsistent efficiency. Charbonnet is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry on the season, while Walker’s production has been limited by negative game scripts. In their Week 10 outing, Walker totaled just 70 yards on 15 touches, and Charbonnet saw 14 touches for 83 yards and a score. Seattle’s offense has been splitting red-zone opportunities nearly evenly between the two, with neither gaining a consistent edge.
This week’s matchup against the Rams makes both Walker and Charbonnet sits. Los Angeles has allowed the fewest fantasy points to running backs, giving up just two total touchdowns and the fifth-fewest rushing yards all season. Their front seven routinely disrupts backfields, allowing minimal yards after contact and forcing predictable passing downs. Even if one of these backs finds the end zone, the low combined efficiency and defensive matchup make the odds of a big fantasy day slim. Managers are better off avoiding the Seahawks’ committee altogether until a clearer workload split emerges in a more favorable matchup.
