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
RJ Harvey DEN
RJ Harvey continues to operate as Denver’s lead back, and while his Week 13 fantasy success came through touchdowns, his usage remained encouraging. He handled 13 carries for 35 yards and added three catches for 27 yards on four targets, giving him enough volume to remain a reliable fantasy football option. Harvey has now dominated the backfield for two straight games without J.K. Dobbins, controlling snaps, routes, and opportunities across the board. During that span, he has produced 15 touches and 58 total yards per game while ranking as the RB37 and RB2 in weekly scoring. With both goal-line looks going his way last week and a clear grip on the backfield, he profiles as a dependable option in lineups.
Harvey enters Week 14 with a favorable matchup against a Raiders defense that has quietly struggled in key areas despite competent surface-level metrics. Since Week 9, Las Vegas has ranked 16th in rushing yards allowed per game and has posted the sixth-highest missed tackle rate, which plays directly into Harvey’s strengths. Recent game scripts have worked against them, leading to the third-most rushing yards allowed to running backs in that span and five touchdowns surrendered over the last two weeks. Denver continues to feature its backs heavily in both the passing game and near the goal line, keeping Harvey well within start territory. The volume trend, combined with the defensive issues on the other side, supports his projection as a strong RB2 in fantasy football this week.
D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai CHI
D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai continue to operate as a highly effective tandem, and last week’s performance showed exactly how dangerous they can be when the Bears commit to a ground-heavy script. Swift played 52.9% of the snaps with a 47.5% route share, handling 19 touches for 138 total yards and one of the team’s five red zone rushing attempts. He enters the week producing as the RB13 in fantasy points per game. Monangai matched Swift’s efficiency with 22 carries for 130 yards, finishing as the RB8 for the week while playing 44.7% of the snaps and handling four of the team’s five red zone rushing attempts. Despite the split, both backs have remained productive, with Monangai averaging 14.4 fantasy PPG over the last five weeks and Swift at 12.3 during that stretch.
This week’s matchup sets up well for both backs in fantasy football, especially with how Green Bay has looked since Week 9. The Packers have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards to opposing running backs during that stretch, while giving up five rushing touchdowns and allowing 1.5 yards before contact per carry, the fifth-highest mark in the league. They’ve also been vulnerable to explosive runs, which play directly into the strengths of both Swift and Monangai. A ground-heavy approach makes sense again with the passing game lacking consistency. With both backs coming off top-eight fantasy finishes and Green Bay’s run defense showing cracks, they stay firmly in the start conversation this week.
Jaylen Warren PIT
Jaylen Warren remains the RB20 in fantasy points per game and has seen his role stabilize despite occasional dips in production. Last week, he reclaimed lead-back work with a 55.8% snap share, ten of the fifteen running back carries, and a 52% route share. He finished with 12 touches for 44 total yards and split the red zone role evenly, each back receiving one attempt. Among 55 qualifying running backs, Warren ranks fourth in missed tackle rate and tenth in yards after contact per attempt, showcasing his ability to generate yards independently. He has scored a touchdown in back-to-back games and now has at least 11.1 PPR points in five of his last seven outings. Even in less efficient games, his usage profile has kept him fantasy-relevant.
The matchup against Baltimore provides another opportunity for Warren to capitalize on defensive tendencies that align with his skill set. Since Week 9, the Ravens have allowed the fifth-highest explosive run rate and the 11th-highest yards after contact per attempt. Opposing running backs have also scored at least 15.1 PPR points in six of their last seven games, showing a clear vulnerability. Pittsburgh’s offense continues to benefit from Warren’s ability to create hidden yards, making him a reliable option in this environment. The combination of poor tackling metrics and susceptibility to explosive plays gives Warren real upside. He should be viewed as a strong RB2 in fantasy football this week. With his efficiency and matchup advantage, Warren is a recommended start across formats.
Running Backs to Sit
Woody Marks HOU
Woody Marks has taken over Houston’s backfield in usage, but that role has not translated into meaningful fantasy football production. He has scored fewer than eight fantasy points in three straight games and four of his last five despite handling consistent workloads. Marks has also been virtually absent in the passing game, recording just one target in three straight contests, which removes a major part of his appeal. Even with at least 17 touches in each of his last three games, he has failed to turn volume into efficiency. Since Week 10, he has been the RB36 in fantasy points per game while averaging 67.1% of snaps, 18.1 touches, and 67.1 total yards. His workload suggests RB2 usage, but his fantasy output aligns more with a middling RB3.
This week’s matchup against Kansas City only amplifies the concerns surrounding Marks. Since Week 9, the Chiefs rank eighth-fewest in rushing yards allowed per game and ninth-best in stuff rate, while also limiting explosive plays. They have also allowed the 11th-fewest yards after contact per attempt, making life difficult for backs who rely on yards created beyond the line of scrimmage. Kansas City sits inside the top 10 in fantasy points allowed per game to running backs, tightening the margin for Marks to produce. Given the declining passing-game work, he becomes overly touchdown-dependent in a matchup that rarely allows scores on the ground. The workload is appealing, but the environment is not. Fantasy managers should view Marks as a risky flex rather than a starting option in Week 14.
Kareem Hunt KC
Kareem Hunt maintained his lead-back role last week despite Isiah Pacheco’s return, handling 14 carries for 58 yards and adding a catch for 22 yards on two targets. He posted a 63.6% snap rate, logged 15 touches, and collected 70 total yards while playing 75% of the red-zone snaps. It was the first week since Week 7 he failed to score a touchdown, which is a major concern given his reliance on red-zone opportunities. Among 55 qualifying backs, Hunt ranks 42nd in missed tackle rate and 27th in yards after contact per attempt, signaling middling efficiency. His fantasy output remains tied closely to touchdowns, and with Pacheco expected to see more work, his ceiling becomes even more fragile. Kansas City’s offensive line injuries also impact running efficiency in critical spots. Hunt’s reliance on volume and scoring makes him volatile in fantasy football formats.
Houston’s run defense presents a difficult matchup for Hunt to overcome, especially given the likely increase in Pacheco’s involvement. Since Week 9, the Texans have allowed the fifth-fewest rushing yards per game, the lowest missed tackle rate, and the sixth-lowest rushing success rate. Their ability to limit both yards before and after contact has made them one of the toughest units to run against. Houston has also allowed the tenth-fewest yards after contact per attempt, which directly combats Hunt’s limited yard-creation. With Pacheco back, the workload could shift at any moment, making Hunt even more touchdown-dependent. Fantasy managers should treat him as a low-end flex at best. In a week filled with must-win matchups, Hunt is better left on the bench.
Kenneth Walker SEA
Kenneth Walker enters Week 14 as a name fantasy football managers are being told to start, but the underlying metrics tell a different story. He ranks 29th in opportunity share, 51st in points per opportunity, and sits 31st in total touchdowns among running backs. Walker has scored just one touchdown since Week 4 and has only two games over 13 fantasy points during that stretch. Zach Charbonnet continues to be heavily involved in scoring areas and ranks top 10 in red zone touches, consistently siphoning off Walker’s best opportunities. Last week’s blowout skewed snap counts, but Walker played just one of six red-zone snaps in the first half, a troubling trend that persists. Despite ranking second in explosive run rate and fifth in missed tackle rate among 55 backs, the usage simply isn’t aligning with the efficiency.
This week’s matchup against Atlanta appears strong on paper, but the usage concerns outweigh the defensive vulnerabilities. Since Week 9, the Falcons have allowed the fifth-most rushing yards per game, the ninth-highest rushing success rate, and the 13th-most yards before contact per attempt. Walker’s recent involvement in the passing game has helped his floor, nine catches for 92 yards on 11 targets across his last three games, but that doesn’t fully offset the red-zone issues. Charbonnet continues to dominate close-range opportunities, making Walker heavily dependent on big plays. While he has three straight games with at least 10.4 PPR points, the ceiling remains capped in this role. In a crucial fantasy football week, trusting modest usage with touchdown volatility is a dangerous proposition. Walker is better viewed as a safe flex rather than an automatic start.
