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
Wide Receivers to Start
Brian Thomas Jr JAC
Brian Thomas Jr. continues to struggle this season and has not lived up to the lofty expectations we placed on him this offseason. Entering this week, BTJ has not scored over 12 points in 6 of his last 7 games, with only 1 touchdown catch this season. There were also rumors about him being traded and 1st round pick Travis Hunter becoming the primary target on offense. Positive regression is coming for the 2nd year receiver as he ranks 11th in expected PPG at 15.5, but currently sits as the WR39 at 11 PPG. With Hunter out and a favorable matchup against the Raiders, he should be in for a better week.
The Raiders have surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points per game to wide receivers and struggle to contain boundary threats. Seven receivers have already cleared 14.6 PPR points against this defense, and Thomas’ target volume over the course of the season hints at more consistent success. With Travis Hunter out. BTJ ‘s ceiling rises even higher ahead of this favorable matchup. All signs point toward another strong fantasy outing, making Thomas a confident start in Week 9.
Wan’Dale Robinson NYG
Wan’Dale Robinson’s Week 8 performance against the Eagles was forgettable, but the advanced metrics tell a much different story about his usage and opportunity. Over the past month, Robinson has commanded a 22.9% target share and leads the team with a 24% 1st read share since Malik Nabers got hurt. His route tree has expanded under Jaxson Dart with his 2.12 yards per route run, and his 58% slot rate aligns perfectly with how the 49ers have been exposed all season. The red zone usage has also improved as he has seen four targets in his last five games. Without Cam Skattebo, Robinson has a strong argument as Jaxson Dart’s most valuable skill position player the rest of the season.
Week 9 brings an ideal opportunity for Robinson to bounce back and reward fantasy managers’ patience. San Francisco’s secondary has given up seven receivers with at least 11.3 PPR points in their last four games, and they have also allowed the most yards and third-most touchdowns to slot receivers, while also giving up the highest passer rating when targeted in that area. With the 49ers’ defense struggling to pressure opposing quarterbacks, expect Dart to have time to find his favorite safety blanket underneath. Fantasy managers should treat Robinson as a viable start in PPR formats this week.
Marvin Harrison Jr. ARI
Marvin Harrison Jr. has had an up-and-down sophomore season, sitting as the WR41 in fantasy points per game with single-digit performances in four of seven contests. He’s posted a 16.5% target share, 33.5% air-yard share, 56.6 receiving yards per game, and leads the team with 11 deep targets. After struggling with Jacoby Brissett before the bye, Harrison should benefit from Kyler Murray’s return under center in Week 9. This matchup against Dallas is as favorable as it gets; the Cowboys have allowed the most touchdowns (15), most yards, and the most fantasy points per game to opposing receivers, including the most production to perimeter wideouts, where Harrison has lined up 80% of the time.
The Cowboys’ defense has also leaned heavily on man coverage (42%) and single-high looks (71%) over the past two games, which suits Harrison’s skill set. Against man, he leads the team with a 24% target per route run rate, and that should bode well against a brutal defense. Since Week 4, Dallas has surrendered the ninth-most deep passing yards per game and the third-highest deep passer rating, giving Harrison’s downfield role added upside. With Arizona likely to be chasing points, this is a prime spot for Harrison to rebound and deliver one of his best fantasy performances of the year.
Wide Receivers to Sit
Xavier Worthy KC
The Chiefs’ offense has started to settle into a rhythm since Rashee Rice’s return, but that has come at the expense of Xavier Worthy’s production. Over the past two games, Worthy has totaled just eight catches for 88 yards on 11 targets, far from the explosive plays fantasy managers hoped for and what we saw before Rice’s return. He’s maintained a modest 15.9% target share and 19.6% first-read rate in that span, signaling a clear shift in the passing hierarchy. With Patrick Mahomes spreading the ball between Rice, Travis Kelce, and the backs, Worthy is left fighting for scraps. Unless he connects on a long touchdown, his floor is dangerously low.
Buffalo’s defense, meanwhile, has been tough on perimeter receivers, ranking 15th in PPR points per target allowed since Week 4. Worthy’s heavy reliance on deep routes and low catch volume makes him game-script dependent and volatile. The Bills also operate with two-high safeties over 50% of their snaps, and Worthy’s yards per route run against that coverage this year are down to 0.59 against those looks. Fantasy managers should view him as a risky dart throw and comfortably sit him in Week 9 lineups.
Stefon Diggs NE
Stefon Diggs’ tenure in New England has been defined by inconsistency. Outside of his explosive 146-yard outing against Buffalo in Week 5, he has failed to eclipse 70 yards in six of eight games this season. His target volume has dipped to just five looks per game since Week 6, and his efficiency metrics tell the story: 86th in average depth of target and 58th in air-yard share. With the Patriots spreading targets among several pass-catchers, Diggs has never matched his production in his revenge game against the Bills. Compounding the issue is this week’s matchup against Atlanta, whose defense has allowed the fewest receiving yards and fifth-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers.
Given his declining volume and an extremely stingy opponent, Diggs belongs on the bench in Week 9. Kayshon Boutte’s emergence has further eaten into his opportunities, as the rookie has out-targeted Diggs in two of the last three games. The Falcons’ scheme neutralizes short-area receivers, exactly where Diggs has been operating lately. Without downfield looks or consistent red-zone usage, his ceiling remains capped. Fantasy managers should look elsewhere, as Diggs profiles as a clear sit this week.
Jameson Williams DET
The transition to new offensive coordinator John Morton has not been kind to Jameson Williams. His 15% target share and deep-shot role (27% of targets beyond 20 yards) make him one of the league’s most volatile receivers. While his 17.0 yards per catch speaks to his big-play potential, the lack of consistent involvement has made him a fantasy liability. He has three games with three or fewer targets in his last five outings and was held without a single fantasy point in Week 7. Williams has always been an inconsistent high upside option, but the volatility of his play in 2025 has made him almost impossible to trust this season.
Against a disciplined Vikings defense that has allowed the fourth-fewest yards to perimeter receivers, Williams faces an uphill climb. Minnesota ranks seventh in fewest fantasy points allowed to WRs, and their scheme funnels production away from deep outside routes, exactly where Williams operates on 76% of his snaps. His track record against the Vikings doesn’t help, as he’s scored 9.4 PPR points or fewer in three consecutive meetings. While his speed always offers theoretical upside, his target volume simply doesn’t support starting confidence. Williams remains an exciting but unreliable boom-or-bust play, best left as a sit for Week 9.
