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
Juwan Johnson NO
Juwan Johnson has quickly emerged as one of the most reliable fantasy tight ends this season. He ranks second in the position in targets, receptions, and red zone looks, while also sitting fifth in yards with 176. His 23.1% target share is second on the Saints behind Chris Olave, making him a consistent part of this passing attack that has been trailing for a significant amount of time to start the season. Johnson has scored at least 11.1 PPR points in all three games, bringing a safe floor with untapped upside with his current usage. While Buffalo has been tough against tight ends, they have yet to face a TE as involved as Johnson in the game plan. Juwan Johnson is a TE1 this week despite the tough matchup.
Jake Ferguson DAL
Jake Ferguson continues to be one of the biggest surprises in fantasy football at tight end. Dak Prescott has leaned on him heavily, with Ferguson hauling in 13 receptions last week, the second-most by any Cowboys tight end in franchise history. Over the first three weeks, he’s already seen 32 total targets, making him one of the most involved players at his position. The crazy part is, despite the volume, Ferguson has yet to score a touchdown this year. The Packers have allowed the third-most yards to tight ends, so Ferguson is in another strong spot to produce. With CeeDee Lamb sidelined, expect Ferguson to remain Prescott’s top option, making him a must-start in Week 4.
Hunter Henry NE
Hunter Henry cashed in on his must-start status last week with an 11-target, 90-yard, two-touchdown performance against Pittsburgh. He looks like Drake Maye’s most trusted target, leading the Patriots in consistency and red zone usage dating back to last season when Maye took over as the starter. Carolina has allowed the most receiving yards to tight ends this year, and opposing players at the position have consistently found success against them. With Henry scoring at least 10.6 PPR points in two of three games, he’s a lock as a top-10 tight end play this week.
Tight Ends to Sit
David Njoku CLE
David Njoku has been one of the bigger fantasy disappointments at tight end this season, ranking just TE22 in points per game. Despite running plenty of routes, he has only a 13.2% target share and no red zone looks, while rookie Harold Fannin Jr is stealing some of those looks. Njoku is averaging just 39 yards per game with fewer than 1.2 yards per route run, and he has yet to hit double-digit PPR points in any week. The Lions are a tricky matchup as they’ve consistently limited tight ends dating back to last season. Matching up against Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph is never a pleasant sight when streaming tight ends. Avoid Njoku in Week 4 to avoid another dud.
Zach Ertz WAS
Zach Ertz has been steady but lacks the upside fantasy football managers want from a starting tight end. He caught just three passes for 38 yards last week and has under 4 receptions now in two of three games despite a favorable schedule to open the year. This week, it will get much tougher against the Falcons, who have allowed the fewest fantasy points to tight ends this season, holding Cade Otton, T.J. Hockenson, and Ja’Tavion Sanders to just 23 total yards combined. At this stage of his career, Ertz offers more of a floor than a ceiling, and in a matchup this difficult, that floor is too low. Sit him if you have other options.
Mark Andrews BAL
Mark Andrews showed his ceiling in Week 3 with 91 yards and two scores, but that’s been the exception rather than the rule so far this season. In his other two games, he’s combined for just two catches for seven yards. The Chiefs are one of the league’s stingiest defenses against tight ends, allowing the third-fewest fantasy points to the position. Historically, Andrews has also struggled against Kansas City, with just 108 yards and no touchdowns over his last five regular-season meetings. His route and target share are middling, making him a risky play in Week 4. For most leagues, Andrews is better left on the sit side of the start/sit decision this week.
