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
Travis Etienne JAC
Travis Etienne entered his bye week in need of a reset after three straight games under 10 PPR points. That stretch came against some of the league’s toughest run defenses in Kansas City, Seattle, and Los Angeles, who all rank top-10 in limiting rushing efficiency. Even with the recent struggles, Etienne is averaging 85 total yards per game and has performed well in favorable matchups. He’s shown an ability to break big plays, ranking 19th in explosive run rate and 26th in yards after contact per attempt among qualifying running backs. Jacksonville’s offense should benefit from extra preparation time coming off the bye, especially with its offensive line getting healthier.
Given the matchup, this is a prime week for Etienne to bounce back. The Raiders have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points per game to opposing running backs since Week 5, including at least one touchdown allowed in four of their past five outings. Seven different running backs have reached double-digit PPR points against Las Vegas, with several surpassing 16 points. Etienne’s usage and explosive upside in favorable matchups make him a strong bet to outperform his recent averages. Fantasy managers should confidently slot Etienne in as a start for Week 9, with expectations of a top-15 finish at the position.
Kimani Vidal LAC
Kimani Vidal continues to impress as the Chargers’ lead back, stepping up each time Omarion Hampton has been sidelined. Over the last three games without Hampton, Vidal has averaged 19.4 touches and 100 total yards per contest, flashing big-play upside and physicality between the tackles. He ranks third among all running backs in explosive run rate and 14th in yards after contact per attempt, showing he can create production even without elite blocking. In Week 8, he punished Minnesota’s defense for 127 total yards and a touchdown, finishing as a top-10 fantasy back. The Chargers have leaned heavily on Vidal when game scripts favor the run, and that trend should continue.
Vidal draws an extremely favorable matchup in Week 9 against the Titans, whose run defense has collapsed in recent weeks. Since Week 4, Tennessee has allowed the ninth-most rushing yards per game, the 13th-highest explosive run rate, and the fourth-highest yards before contact per attempt. They’ve also surrendered the most rushing touchdowns and third-most fantasy points per game to opposing backs. Game flow should keep Vidal heavily involved throughout, and his efficiency metrics suggest he’ll capitalize on every touch. Fantasy managers can treat him as a must-start RB1 for Week 9 with legitimate top-10 upside once again.
Zonovan “Bam” Knight ARI
With Trey Benson still on injured reserve, Zonovan Knight should remain the Cardinals’ featured back for at least one more game. Over his last two appearances, Knight has handled nearly 48% of the snaps, averaging 14.5 touches and 59 total yards. The efficiency hasn’t been great; he’s posted zero explosive runs and only 1.31 yards after contact per attempt, but the volume is encouraging. Arizona has made a clear effort to establish him early in games, and his goal-line involvement has helped him score twice over his last three outings. This week, the matchup couldn’t be more favorable for a bounce-back performance.
Knight faces a Cowboys defense that has been one of the most generous to opposing running backs. Dallas has allowed the second-most fantasy points per game to the position, giving up explosive runs at the second-highest rate and struggling to contain backs both before and after contact. Seven different running backs have posted at least 13.9 PPR points against them, and they rank fifth in rushing yards and second in receiving yards allowed to the position. With clear early-down volume and touchdown potential, Knight profiles as a startable RB2 or flex option in Week 9. His lack of efficiency is concerning long-term, but the matchup gives him a strong fantasy floor this week.
Running Backs to Sit
Rico Dowdle CAR
Rico Dowdle has looked impressive on a per-touch basis, showing burst and power whenever given opportunities. Over the past two games, he’s averaged 13 touches and 75 total yards while maintaining a 40% snap share and limited passing-down usage since Chuba Hubbard returned. His efficiency has stood out this season, ranking 16th in explosive run rate and third in yards after contact per attempt among 60 qualifiers. However, Carolina continues to rotate Chuba Hubbard into red zone work and passing situations, capping Dowdle’s weekly ceiling. Even with talk of a larger workload, he’s yet to exceed 15 touches in any game this season.
Unfortunately, Dowdle’s Week 9 matchup is one of the toughest possible draws. The Packers rank third in fewest fantasy points allowed to running backs and have stifled opposing ground games, holding the last three starting running backs under 9.4 PPR points each. Green Bay’s defense has allowed the sixth-fewest rushing yards per game since Week 4 while ranking among the league’s best in limiting explosive plays and yards after contact. Dowdle’s efficiency might not be enough to overcome low volume and a split backfield in such a difficult matchup. He’s better left on fantasy benches as a sit this week unless you’re desperate for a flex play.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt WAS
Jacory Croskey-Merritt’s rookie breakout has cooled considerably since his 27-point eruption in Week 5. Over his last three games, he’s averaged just 13 carries for 39.7 yards and 4.2 PPR points per game. His receiving involvement has been nearly nonexistent, catching only seven passes for 60 yards all season. Washington has rotated backs depending on the game script, and Croskey-Merritt’s early-down-only role limits his upside when the Commanders fall behind. Against teams with strong front sevens, he’s struggled to find running lanes or generate explosive plays.
That’s a major concern heading into Week 9 against Seattle’s suffocating run defense. The Seahawks have allowed the fewest rushing yards per game (57.4) and the second-fewest rushing touchdowns to opposing backs. While they’ve been vulnerable through the air, surrendering the most receptions and fourth-most receiving yards to running backs, Croskey-Merritt doesn’t have the role to exploit that weakness. He’s now finished outside the top 40 fantasy RBs in three straight weeks and has totaled fewer than 35 rushing yards in back-to-back contests. Even with bye weeks limiting options, Croskey-Merritt is a clear sit in all formats this week.
Alvin Kamara NO
Once a model of fantasy consistency, Alvin Kamara has seen his production plummet this season. He’s posting career lows in yards per carry, yards per reception, and overall yards per touch, while his success rate has dipped sharply both as a rusher and receiver. The veteran has averaged just 10.3 PPR points per game and hasn’t scored a touchdown since Week 1. Over the last six weeks, he’s finished inside the top 25 fantasy RBs only once, falling outside the top 30 in consecutive weeks. With the Saints’ offense sputtering and Kamara’s efficiency fading, his once-elite floor has vanished.
Week 9 brings another brutal matchup against the Rams, who have been elite at containing running backs all year. Los Angeles has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position and remains the only defense yet to surrender a rushing touchdown to a running back. They’ve stifled stars like Christian McCaffrey and Jonathan Taylor in recent weeks and should have no trouble keying on Kamara with rookie Tyler Shough under center. His declining usage in the passing game, three or fewer receptions in half his games, further reduces his upside. Kamara belongs on the sit list for Wee
