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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Tight Ends to Start
David Njoku CLE
David Njoku is heating up at the right time and looks like a strong start for fantasy football in Week 6. Coming off his best game of the season in Week 5 with new quarterback Dillon Gabriel, Njoku posted six receptions for 67 yards and a touchdown on nine targets, good for 18.7 PPR points and a TE7 finish. He commanded a 24.2% target share, led the team in first-read targets, and was heavily involved in the red zone. The chemistry between Gabriel and Njoku appears legitimate, as the rookie quarterback relied on him as a security blanket in critical downs.
Pittsburgh has allowed a tight end touchdown in two of its last three games and ranks among the bottom five defenses in fantasy points allowed to the position. Historically, Njoku has produced well against Pittsburgh in their last meeting. He saw 13 targets, catching seven for 42 yards and a touchdown. With the Steelers struggling to defend tight ends and Njoku clearly establishing himself as the focal point of the passing attack, he’s an easy plug-and-play start for Week 6. Fantasy managers should ride the hot hand in what could be another top-10 finish
Jake Tonges SF
Jake Tonges continues to emerge as a legitimate start in George Kittle’s absence. Over the past two weeks, Tonges has hauled in 10 catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns on 16 targets, a massive workload for a fill-in tight end. His 11 targets and 17.1 PPR points in Week 5 highlight how involved he’s become in the 49ers’ offense, especially with injuries to Ricky Pearsall and Jauan Jennings. Tonges’ consistency makes him more than just a desperation streamer; he’s shaping up as a reliable fantasy starter. He’s posted 10 or more fantasy points in three of his last five outings.
The Buccaneers have been extremely vulnerable to tight ends recently, allowing four touchdowns to the position over their last two games. Tampa Bay has allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends since Week 4, making this matchup even more appealing. If you need a start at tight end in Week 6, Tonges checks every box, opportunity, matchup, and recent production. Fire Tonges up as a low-end TE1 in Week 6.
Mason Taylor NYJ
Mason Taylor has quickly become one of the most intriguing young tight ends in fantasy football, and he’s a clear start in Week 6 against Denver. The rookie has scored at least 11.5 PPR points in each of his last two games while commanding 25 targets over his past three contests, which is elite usage for the position. Last week, Taylor saw a team-high 12 targets, catching nine passes for 67 yards as Justin Fields repeatedly looked his way when the Jets fell behind. Since Week 4, he’s commanded a 26% target share and a 27.8% first-read share
That type of volume, especially with Patrick Surtain II likely to shadow Garrett Wilson, positions Taylor to once again serve as the primary safety valve in the passing game. Even though Denver has been a tough matchup on paper, their defense has allowed multiple tight ends to see seven or more targets and produce at least 9.6 PPR points this year. In what should be a competitive game in London, Taylor’s floor is extremely safe, and his ceiling continues to rise. Fantasy managers should confidently roll with Taylor as a top-12 option in Week 6.
Tight Ends to Sit
Kyle Pitts ATL
Kyle Pitts has shown flashes of returning to fantasy relevance, but Week 6 is not the time to start him. The matchup against Buffalo is brutal; the Bills have allowed the second-fewest fantasy points and third-fewest receiving yards to tight ends this season. Pitts’ fantasy production has been heavily tied to Darnell Mooney’s absence, as his two best games came when Mooney was sidelined or limited. With Mooney expected back this week, Pitts’ target share could dip once again, making him a risky play in a matchup that already caps tight end scoring potential.
The advanced stats don’t offer much optimism either. Pitts has just one deep target and one red zone target through five games, a concerning trend for a player who has required volume for fantasy production this year. Finally, the 15.7% 1st read share is not enough to trust against this tough matchup. Unless you’re desperate in a deep league, Pitts should be on the sit list for Week 6. Look elsewhere for a streaming option with a friendlier matchup.
Dalton Kincaid BUF
Dalton Kincaid has been a bright spot for the Bills’ passing attack this season, but Week 6 sets up as a clear sit against the Falcons. Atlanta’s defense has been elite versus tight ends, ranking No. 1 in fewest fantasy points allowed and holding every opposing tight end to six or fewer points in four straight games. No tight end has recorded more than four targets against them all season. While Kincaid has been productive, topping 14.8 PPR points in three of five games, his success has largely come from favorable matchups and high efficiency on limited snaps.
His 42nd-ranked snap share and 27th-ranked route participation rate are major red flags against a disciplined defense like Atlanta’s. His 23rd-ranked first-read target rate shows that he still can be a volatile option in tougher matchups. Atlanta will be a tougher matchup, and missing out on the end zone could crush Kincaid’s Week 6 performance. Expect Buffalo to lean more on their wideouts and running game in this spot. Unless you’re lacking depth at the position, Kincaid belongs on the sit side of your fantasy lineup in Week 6.
Mark Andrews BAL
Mark Andrews has been one of the biggest fantasy disappointments of 2025, and his Week 6 outlook doesn’t inspire much confidence. With Cooper Rush starting in place of Lamar Jackson, Andrews caught just two passes for 22 yards on three targets in Week 5, continuing a trend of inconsistency whenever Jackson is unavailable. Outside of one big game in Week 3, Andrews has averaged just 4.3 PPR points per contest, with only two red zone targets all year. Until Jackson returns, it’s tough to justify starting him, especially against a Rams defense that ranks middle-of-the-pack but has shown discipline in limiting tight end yardage.
The talent is still there, but the situation simply isn’t favorable this week. The Ravens’ offense has been less efficient without Jackson, and Rush hasn’t shown the same trust in targeting Andrews over the middle. The Rams have allowed just average production to tight ends, ranking 16th in schedule-adjusted fantasy points per game, which caps Andrews’ ceiling even further. With Baltimore heading into a bye in Week 7, it may be best to stash him and look elsewhere for production in Week 6. Fantasy managers should treat Andrews as a sit until Jackson is back under center and the offense regains its rhythm.
