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.
Want your start and sit questions answered within minutes? Join the Blitz Community to help win your league this season
Tight Ends to Start
Harold Fannin Jr CLE
Harold Fannin Jr. enters Week 15 playing his best football of the season, coming off a dominant 8-catch, 114-yard, 1-touchdown performance against Tennessee. He has now delivered two straight games with at least 11.3 PPR points, showing immediate chemistry with Shedeur Sanders under center. Across Sanders’ three starts, Fannin has commanded 22 targets, turning them into 15 receptions for 197 yards and two touchdowns. His usage metrics reinforce his rise, as he has posted a 23.9% target share, 65.7 yards per game, 2.43 yards per route run, and a 25% first-read share in that span. The rookie has also begun to emerge as a reliable chain-mover with improved route efficiency. With David Njoku dealing with a knee issue, Fannin’s role could expand even further this week. Given both volume and efficiency, he is trending firmly in TE1 territory.
This matchup pushes him into clear start consideration as the Bears have struggled all season against fantasy football tight ends. Chicago ranks 12th-worst in receiving yards allowed per game and 13th-worst in fantasy points allowed to the position. Eight tight ends have posted at least 9 PPR points against them, and their defensive structure frequently leaves the middle of the field exposed. Fannin already has top-five upside based on recent performance and should again see strong target volume if Njoku sits. His athleticism and growing involvement in the passing game make him a high-ceiling option in all formats. With Chicago struggling to defend tight ends, Fannin is a locked-in TE1 and a must-start for Week 15.
Mark Andrews and Isaiah Likely BAL
The Ravens’ tight end duo enters Week 15 in one of the best fantasy football setups of the season, as Cincinnati has been shredded by the position all year. The Bengals have allowed the most catches, yards, touchdowns, and fantasy points per game to tight ends, and the gap between them and the next-worst team isn’t close. When these teams met two weeks ago, Andrews and Likely were Baltimore’s leading pass-catchers, both benefiting from heavy involvement. Likely has been especially productive lately, earning more targets than Andrews over the past three games while also gaining more yards and scoring more touchdowns. Despite two potential touchdowns being wiped out in recent weeks—a fumble into the end zone and an overturned score—his explosiveness has been obvious. Andrews remains the safer-floor option and continues to operate as a reliable red-zone threat. Both players have shown strong chemistry with Lamar Jackson during this recent stretch.
All of this makes both Andrews and Likely strong start options for Week 15 against the league’s worst tight end defense. Cincinnati has already allowed 15 touchdowns to tight ends and an embarrassing 13 players to score at least 10.7 PPR points. Their coverage breakdowns in the middle of the field have been consistent all season, and Baltimore is well-positioned to exploit that weakness again. Likely projects as the higher-upside play due to athleticism and recent target volume, placing him firmly inside the top 10 at the position. Andrews can also be confidently started in fantasy football lineups thanks to his touchdown equity and stable usage. With such a favorable matchup, both Ravens tight ends belong in starting lineups across all scoring formats.
Dalton Kincaid BUF
Dalton Kincaid returned from a multi-week absence in Week 14 and immediately reasserted himself as a valuable piece of Buffalo’s passing attack. Despite limited overall snaps, he led all Bills tight ends in routes run and converted five targets into a touchdown and 14 fantasy points. He has now posted at least 14 PPR points in five of his nine healthy games this season, showing a strong rapport with Josh Allen when on the field. Earlier in the year, he torched the Patriots for six catches and 108 yards, one of his best games of the season. While his 41.7% route share last week wasn’t ideal, his 27.8% first-read share indicates he remains a primary read when on the field. Kincaid’s knee and hamstring issues may limit his snap ceiling, but his target concentration gives him weekly TE1 potential. Even with inconsistent playing time, his role in high-leverage situations remains valuable.
This matchup puts him in start territory again, as New England has allowed the ninth-most fantasy points per game to tight ends. Seven tight ends have scored at least 11.3 PPR points against the Patriots, and their defensive structure has consistently allowed openings down the seams. Buffalo–New England games have also trended toward elevated scoring, increasing touchdown opportunities. Kincaid remains a slightly volatile option due to his limited snap share, but the matchup and his involvement near the goal line make him worth starting. In fantasy football playoff weeks, ceiling matters, and Kincaid brings real upside in this spot. He should be viewed as a mid-range TE1 with strong scoring potential in Week 15.
Tight Ends to Sit
Dallas Goedert PHI
Dallas Goedert is coming off his best game in weeks with an 8-catch, 78-yard outing against the Chargers, but his recent track record raises real concerns. Prior to that, he posted 8.3 PPR points or fewer in four straight games and has not scored a touchdown since Week 8. Philadelphia’s passing offense has been inconsistent all season, and Goedert’s role has largely depended on game script rather than stable weekly usage. Even with last week’s spike, his target volume has fluctuated significantly, making him difficult to trust in critical fantasy football matchups. His underlying numbers remain modest with an 18.1% target share and 40.1 yards per game. With the Eagles’ offense struggling to find rhythm, Goedert’s volatility becomes an issue for fantasy managers.
Those concerns move him into sit territory for Week 15, especially given the matchup with the Raiders. Las Vegas has allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends and has been elite in coverage since Week 10, giving up the fewest receiving yards to the position during that span. Only three tight ends have scored touchdowns against them all season, and most opposing players at the position have failed to reach even modest production. With the Eagles spreading the ball around and leaning more on their receivers, Goedert’s path to a meaningful fantasy output is extremely thin. Streaming options with better matchups offer higher floors and comparable ceilings.
Hunter Henry NE
Hunter Henry enters Week 15 playing well, delivering at least 11.3 PPR points in back-to-back games and reestablishing himself as a key part of New England’s passing game. He leads the team with 16 red-zone targets and has produced four TE1 weeks this season, showing strong involvement in scoring situations. His efficiency profile is respectable with a 17% target share, 46.9 receiving yards per game, 1.76 yards per route run, and solid first-read usage. Despite that, his past performance against Buffalo was underwhelming, as he managed only 6.6 PPR points in their Week 5 meeting. While his recent resurgence is encouraging, it may not be sustainable against stronger defenses. Fantasy football managers should be cautious about chasing points given the matchup ahead.
That matchup firmly pushes Henry into sit consideration, as the Bills have been the best team in the NFL at defending tight ends this season. Buffalo allows the fewest fantasy points per game to the position and has surrendered only two touchdowns to tight ends all year. Outside of Travis Kelce and Mike Gesicki, no tight end has reached 10 PPR points against them. With such an unfavorable defensive environment, Henry’s usual red-zone upside becomes significantly muted. Although he may remain involved, the matchup makes him a high-risk play with a very low floor. He should be benched in Week 15 wherever possible.
Oronde Gadsden LAC
Oronde Gadsden enters Week 15 in a slump, coming off a season-low performance with just one catch for seven yards against Philadelphia. He has now failed to score more than 6.1 PPR points in four straight games, and his touchdown drought extends back to Week 8. The Chargers’ passing attack has taken a major step back, partly due to Justin Herbert’s hand injury and partly because the offense has shifted toward a run-heavy approach. Gadsden’s usage remains concerning, as he saw only a 15.4% target share and a 7.7% first-read share last week. His inconsistency and lack of scoring opportunities make him difficult to trust at this point in the season. The underlying trends point toward a player who is more volatile than his matchup might suggest.
Despite the seemingly favorable matchup numbers in recent weeks, Gadsden has not cashed in and now gets a tough matchup against the Chiefs. The Chiefs have allowed the sixth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends on the season and have consistently limited explosive plays over the middle. Only three tight ends have scored double-digit points against them. While Kansas City has allowed increased production to tight ends since Week 10, the Chargers’ struggling offense makes it unlikely that Gadsden capitalizes. His recent usage dip, combined with Herbert’s limitations, creates a narrow path to fantasy relevance. He profiles best as a desperation streaming option, but in most leagues, he should remain on the bench this week.
