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
Harold Fannin Jr CLE
Harold Fannin Jr. should be locked into your fantasy football start lineups in Week 7, with David Njoku unlikely to play. In two starts with Dillon Gabriel under center, Fannin has been heavily involved, turning 14 targets into 11 receptions, 94 yards, and a touchdown while posting double-digit PPR points in both games. His role expanded last week when Njoku exited, as he saw a 19.2% target share and finished as Cleveland’s leader in catches and receiving yards. Miami is a prime matchup, ranking bottom-10 against tight ends in fantasy points allowed while surrendering the fourth-most receiving yards and yards per reception to the position. Fannin is also being deployed all over the field, lining up in the slot, out wide, and even in the backfield, which boosts his opportunity.
The Dolphins’ defense has allowed four tight ends to score at least 11.5 PPR points this season, which lines up perfectly for Fannin’s usage. He has seen two red zone targets in his last two games and owns a 16–19% target share in consecutive weeks, making him one of Gabriel’s most trusted weapons. Cleveland has struggled for consistency in the passing game, but Fannin’s versatility and growing chemistry with his quarterback provide a high floor. If Njoku is sidelined, Fannin could easily finish as a top-10 fantasy tight end this week. Start him with confidence in all formats.
Dallas Goedert PHI
Dallas Goedert is on fire right now and deserves a spot in every fantasy football start lineup. He has scored at least 10.3 PPR points in all five of his games this season and enters Week 7 on a four-game touchdown streak. His usage has spiked, racking up 20 targets over his last two outings and leading all tight ends in deep targets while ranking ninth in red zone opportunities. Goedert’s underlying metrics are strong as well. he carries a 21.3% target share and nearly 50 receiving yards per game while serving as one of Jalen Hurts’ most trusted first-read options. While other Eagles pass catchers have struggled this season, Goedert has been effective when on the field this year.
The Vikings just allowed David Njoku and Harold Fannin Jr. to combine for 10 catches, 80 yards, and two touchdowns, showing their vulnerability against tight ends. Philadelphia has also struggled to consistently integrate its wide receivers into the offense, making Goedert’s role even more important this week. With five touchdowns in five games, he’s become a focal point in the red zone and has finished as the overall TE1 in two of his last three weeks. Fantasy managers should ride the hot hand. Goedert is an easy start in Week 7 with top-five upside at the position.
Mason Taylor NYJ
After a disappointing Week 6 performance, Mason Taylor is set up for a big fantasy football bounce-back and should be in starting lineups this week. With Garrett Wilson sidelined, Taylor becomes the likely No. 1 option in the Jets’ passing game, and his recent underlying usage suggests he’s ready to take advantage. Since Week 4, he’s seen a 22.2% target share, 44.7 receiving yards per game, and two red zone targets in his last three contests. In Weeks 4–5, he delivered back-to-back TE1 finishes (TE11 and TE8) before the dud in London. Carolina provides the perfect rebound opportunity, as they rank second-worst in fantasy points allowed to tight ends while surrendering the most receiving yards per game to the position.
Four different tight ends have already scored at least 11.9 PPR points against the Panthers, making this one of the best possible spots for Taylor. The Jets’ passing attack has lacked stability, but his role as a high-volume safety blanket should lock him into the top-12 conversation at the position this week. Taylor’s ability to operate all over the field, combined with his red zone usage, raises his ceiling, and his target share keeps his floor safe. He’s right back in the TE1 discussion for Week 7, and fantasy managers should start him in a plus matchup.
Tight Ends to Sit
Juwan Johnson NO
Juwan Johnson’s fantasy football arrow is pointing down, and he belongs on sit lists for Week 7. Early in the year, his value was tied to volume, but over the past three games, he’s averaged just three targets per contest. Even though his route share has stayed steady (80–85%), his target and first-read shares have steadily declined, bottoming out at under 8% last week. He’s also been held under 20 yards in back-to-back games while competing with Taysom Hill for valuable snaps and touches in scoring situations. With such low usage and inconsistency, Johnson’s floor is dangerous, and his ceiling feels capped.
The matchup doesn’t help either, as he faces a defense that has allowed the fewest yards per reception to tight ends while ranking middle of the pack in fantasy points per game allowed to the position. Without reliable volume or scoring opportunities, Johnson cannot be trusted in fantasy lineups this week. Sit him until his role in the passing attack rebounds, because right now, he looks more like a bench stash than a starting fantasy option.
TJ Hockenson MIN
It feels strange to say this about a name as big as T.J. Hockenson, but he’s a sit in Week 7 lineups. Through six games, he has only one outing with double-digit PPR points and has yet to surpass 50 receiving yards in a single game. He’s seen four red zone targets but turned those into just one score, and since Jordan Addison’s return, his averages have dipped to just 5.5 targets and 39 yards per game. While his target share (16.2%) remains decent, it hasn’t translated into meaningful fantasy production. Facing the Eagles makes matters worse, as they’ve allowed the third-fewest points and receiving yards per game to opposing tight ends while giving up only one touchdown to the position all year.
This is not the type of matchup where a low-ceiling tight end suddenly breaks out. Philadelphia’s defense has consistently erased tight ends, and Hockenson has been trending more like a floor play than a reliable fantasy starter. As I also mentioned above, the Vikings’ offensive line struggles are going to hurt this passing game against a strong Eagles front. Outside of deep leagues where you have no other options, it makes sense to sit Hockenson this week. Consider streaming a tight end with better matchup-based upside instead.
Michael Mayer LV
Michael Mayer rewarded fantasy managers who streamed him in Week 6 with 50 yards and a touchdown, but Week 7 looks much tougher. The tight end saw an impressive 30.4% target share last week while running routes on 80% of dropbacks, finishing as the TE6 in fantasy. However, that spike in production came in a favorable matchup against Tennessee, and now he faces a Chiefs defense that ranks top-five in fewest fantasy points allowed to tight ends. Kansas City has given up just one touchdown to the position all year while holding tight ends to the seventh-fewest receiving yards per game. Mayer is still a developing talent, but this is not the matchup to trust him.
The Raiders will likely be forced to throw against the Chiefs, but the opportunities may funnel more toward the wide receivers than Mayer. He remains a long-term stash with upside, especially while Brock Bowers is out, but his Week 7 outlook is shaky at best. Unless you’re desperate at the position, Mayer should be on your sit list this week. He’s better treated as a low-end streaming option with limited upside rather than a confident starter.