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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Wide Receivers to Start
Emeka Egbuka TB
Egbuka wasted no time making an impact in Week 1, finding the end zone twice while racking up 23.6 fantasy points. He played 93% of the snaps, operated heavily from the slot, and was clearly Tampa Bay’s WR2 behind Mike Evans. That role should be highly valuable in this offense, especially with Houston struggling against slot receivers, as they allowed the most yards to the position in Week 1. Even against talented corners like Derek Stingley Jr. and Kamari Lassiter, the matchup sets up well for Egbuka to produce again. He should remain in starting lineups as a high-upside WR2.
Travis Hunter JAC
The biggest question of the offseason was whether Hunter would truly be a full-time receiver, and Week 1 answered it: he logged a 75.8% route share and a hefty 25.8% target share. While the production was modest (6 catches, 33 yards), his 28% first-read share is no joke. It shows Jacksonville plans to feed him this year. Hunter’s slot-heavy role should set him up well against a Cincinnati defense that gave up the sixth-most fantasy points to slot receivers in Week 1. His two-way workload could slightly cap his ceiling, but his floor looks safe given the volume. With the Jaguars likely playing catch-up against the Bengals, Hunter profiles as a strong WR3/Flex play this week with breakout potential.
Ricky Pearsall SF
With Brock Purdy sidelined and George Kittle banged up, Pearsall should remain a focal point of San Francisco’s passing game. He caught 4 of 7 targets for 108 yards in Week 1, and his track record shows that whenever he gets at least six targets, he produces double-digit PPR points. The advanced stats back up the week 1 performance as well: 20% target share, 54.3% air-yard share, and 3.28 yards per route run in Week 1. Pearsall should again see steady volume, especially if Jauan Jennings is limited. The Saints allowed the ninth-most PPR points per target to perimeter WRs in Week 1, so the matchup is favorable. Pearsall is a strong WR2 play with upside this week, even with Mac Jones at QB.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Michael Pittman Jr. IND
Pittman looked sharp in Week 1, scoring 20 points against Miami, but a matchup with Patrick Surtain II puts him on the sit list. Surtain shadowed Calvin Ridley on over 80% of his snaps in Week 1 and didn’t allow a single catch in coverage. Denver also limited Tennessee’s wideouts to just 48 yards combined while sacking Cam Ward six times. This is not a defense to test, and Pittman is almost certain to be blanketed. While he is likely in for a bounce-back season this year, this is a week to pivot to safer options.
Jaylen Waddle MIA
Waddle’s usage in Week 1 was highly concerning, as he saw just a 16.7% target share and was mostly limited to short-area dump-offs (1.3 aDOT). With Tyreek Hill dominating the passing game targets, Waddle continues to be left as an afterthought in the Miami offense. It is becoming almost impossible to trust him based on his usage. Add in a lingering shoulder injury, and he’s simply too risky to trust as more than a low-ceiling Flex option. He’s topped 60 receiving yards only twice in his last 15 games and has just six touchdowns in his last 30. Until his role expands, Waddle should remain on the bench.
Cooper Kupp SEA
Kupp followed the production towards the end of 2024 with a rough opening performance against the 49ers. He posted just 15 yards on three targets despite playing 84% of the snaps. His advanced numbers included a 13% target share, 10.7% air-yard share, and a dismal 9.5% route win rate. At 32, he no longer looks like a reliable fantasy option, especially in a Seattle passing attack that is now centered on Jaxon Smith-Njigba. Sam Darnold also struggled in Week 1, which further limits the upside of this passing game. Kupp is unstartable until proven otherwise and may even be droppable.
