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
Alvin Kamara NO
Alvin Kamara hasn’t been his usual fantasy football force, sitting at RB22 on the season and failing to top 13 points in over a month. The silver lining is that his passing game usage is back, logging at least five targets in three straight games and holding a strong 19% target share. He’s still seeing valuable work in the red zone, handling five carries inside the 20 over the last two weeks, which keeps touchdown upside in play. While he has yet to find the end zone since Week 1, Kamara continues to create missed tackles and remains one of the better per-touch backs in efficiency. This week, he draws the Bears, a defense that has allowed the seventh-most rushing yards and the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs.
The matchup makes Kamara a clear fantasy football start in Week 7. Chicago has also surrendered the third-most explosive runs and ranks among the worst in missed tackles, which sets up perfectly for a back with Kamara’s elusiveness. His snap rate has dipped slightly, but he still dominates the passing-down and scoring opportunities in this Saints offense. If New Orleans can sustain drives, Kamara should be heavily involved both as a runner and receiver. Touchdown regression is coming, and this matchup provides a prime opportunity to cash in. Start Kamara with confidence as a mid-range RB2 who could easily deliver RB1 upside if he finds the end zone.
JK Dobbins DEN
JK Dobbins hasn’t been flashy, but his steady usage has made him a reliable fantasy football option, averaging 16.2 touches and 77.5 total yards per game. He currently ranks RB21 in fantasy points per game, fueled by strong rushing efficiency, where he sits sixth in explosive run rate among 50 qualified backs. Dobbins is not being used much in the passing game, with just one target in each of his last three outings, which limits his ceiling. Even so, his rushing ability and goal-line usage keep him relevant every week. This week, he gets a Giants defense that has struggled badly against the run, ranking top 10 in rushing yards, explosive runs, and touchdowns allowed to running backs.
That matchup makes Dobbins a fantasy football start for Week 6. The Giants also give up the second-most yards after contact per touch, which plays into Dobbins’ strength as a physical runner who ranks eighth in that category. Importantly, Dobbins has received nearly all of Denver’s goal-line work, giving him a strong chance at finding the end zone. While the London dud against the Jets was one to forget, he’s in a bounce-back spot here. Expect Denver to lean on him early and often to control the game script. Plug Dobbins into your lineup as a confident RB2 with touchdown upside in Week 7.
Kimani Vidal LAC
Kimani Vidal took full control of the Chargers’ backfield in Week 6, turning 21 touches into 138 total yards and finishing as the RB9 in fantasy football. He handled 67% of the snaps, 18 of 24 running back carries, and all but one of the team’s red zone rushing attempts, while also contributing with a 43% route share. The rookie back has been efficient on a per-touch basis, posting a 13.6% explosive run rate and averaging 3.41 yards after contact per attempt. Last week was the clearest signal yet that he is the featured option over Hassan Haskins, and he delivered in a big way against Miami’s soft run defense. That performance cemented Vidal as a fantasy-relevant option moving forward.
This week, Vidal faces the Colts, who present more of a middle-of-the-road matchup. Indianapolis allows above-average explosive runs and struggles against zone concepts, where Vidal has run nearly 60% of his attempts. While they’ve been better than Miami, the Colts still give up efficient production to backs and rank near the bottom of the league in success rate allowed against zone runs. That sets up another opportunity for Vidal to produce as the lead back. He’s not yet a locked-in must-start, but his volume and efficiency make him a strong RB2 or flex play in Week 7. If he maintains his role, he could easily return another top-15 fantasy finish.
Running Backs to Sit
Tony Pollard TEN
Tony Pollard’s role continues to trend in the wrong direction, as he logged a season-low 43% snap share and just 12 touches for 47 yards last week. Tyjae Spears has taken over as the primary passing-down back, leaving Pollard as mostly an early-down runner with limited receiving usage. While he still handled 10 of Tennessee’s 15 rushing attempts, he only ran a route on 25% of dropbacks, capping his upside. The concerning part is that this shift comes at a time when his efficiency metrics remain strong; he ranks 14th in yards after contact per attempt, but the coaching staff isn’t leaning on him. This week, the matchup gets brutal against a Patriots defense that ranks seventh-best in fantasy points allowed to running backs.
New England has not allowed a single running back to reach 50 rushing yards against them all season, and they’ve surrendered just three total touchdowns to the position. With the Titans splitting roles and Pollard losing high-value touches to Spears, his margin for error is razor-thin. The Patriots also rank top 10 in preventing explosive runs and limiting yards after contact, which directly counters Pollard’s best attributes. Even if he gets 12–15 carries, efficiency will be hard to come by in this matchup. For Week 7, Pollard is best left on fantasy football benches outside of deeper leagues. Treat him as a risky flex play at best.
Kenneth Walker SEA
Kenneth Walker has struggled to find consistency, averaging just 14 touches and 77 yards per game since Week 4 while losing key opportunities to Zach Charbonnet. He’s been limited to a 43% snap share and has ceded red zone and goal-line carries, which has tanked his touchdown production. Despite elite efficiency metrics, second in explosive run rate and top-five in missed tackles forced per attempt, the Seahawks’ usage patterns have capped his fantasy football value. Walker hasn’t scored since Week 3 and has finished outside the top-25 running backs in three straight weeks. Without the big plays, his production has been lackluster.
This week’s matchup against Houston is less than ideal. The Texans rank top 10 in fewest fantasy points allowed to running backs. They limit rushing yardage effectively and don’t give up many explosive runs, which makes Walker’s boom-or-bust profile risky. Charbonnet continues to dominate the scoring chances, leaving Walker dependent on long gains to save his day. Until Seattle shifts their backfield split, Walker cannot be trusted as more than a flex option. He’s a sit-in Week 7 outside of desperation plays.
Zonovan Knight and Michael Carter ARI
The Cardinals’ backfield has devolved into a frustrating committee, with neither Zonovan Knight nor Michael Carter playing even half the snaps in Week 6. Knight handled more of the carries and received the valuable goal-line opportunity, while Carter saw more work in the passing game with a higher route share. The result is two backs with split roles, capped workloads, and little weekly upside unless they find the end zone. Knight managed to score a touchdown against the Colts, finishing with 12.4 points, while Carter turned in 11 touches for 64 total yards. Without a score, however, both profiles are nearly unusable in fantasy football.
That problem only gets worse in Week 7 against the Packers. Green Bay has allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs, giving up just two total touchdowns to the position all season. They also rank top-five in limiting rushing yards, explosive plays, and yards after contact per attempt. With no clear lead back and a brutal matchup, both Knight and Carter carry extremely low ceilings and rock-bottom floors. At best, Knight is a desperation flex if you’re banking on another touchdown. In most fantasy leagues, both Cardinals’ backs should be benched this week. Patrick Mahomes topping out at just 258. That makes it an extremely tough spot for Jones on the road. While his overall fantasy football production has been strong, this matchup sharply lowers his ceiling and floor. He’s best left on the bench in one-QB formats, though he remains an option in Superflex and two-quarterback leagues.
