- Quarterbacks
- Running backs
- Wide receivers
- Tight ends
- Kickers
- Defenses
You have lineup questions, we have lineup answers — at least we hope so. Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em is here to help fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. And you know what is a good move? Starting Justin Jefferson. But that’s too obvious, so you won’t see such simple analysis here. Instead, we’re exploring more debatable situations. And if you can’t find a player you are looking for, please check out the latest NFL Fantasy lineup rankings. Unless otherwise noted, all stats come from NFL Pro, Next Gen Stats or NFL Research.
Start ‘Em
Thomas has been awesome for fantasy purposes. The rookie has topped 80 yards, scored a touchdown and banked 21-plus fantasy points in three of his last four games. The big-bodied burner excels downfield and in the red zone, so he is constantly able to put up fantasy points in chunks. The Packers have been tough on receivers this season, but Thomas has earned immense trust, even in a tough matchup. Green Bay plays zone at an above-average rate, and Thomas leads the Jags in targets, catches, yards (by more than 150) and touchdowns against zone coverage.
I doubted Pickens in a tough matchup last week and was wrong. On the other hand, my preseason Pickens breakout pick is alive and well! In the Steelers’ 37-15 blowout of the Jets, Pickens caught five passes (on nine targets) for 111 receiving yards and a touchdown. It was Pickens’ best game of the year by EPA, and he racked up the second-most air yards on targets of any receiver in Week 7 with 149. Clearly, Russell Wilson is a better QB fit for Pickens, who is a contested-catch monster but does not always create a ton of separation. Justin Fields throws with more velocity and more on a line, while Wilson puts a lot of air under the ball, allowing Pickens to do what he does best: go up and get it. The 23-year-old will still remain a little volatile week to week, but the upside keeps him in play.
In his first game with the Bills, Cooper played 33.3 percent of the offensive snaps, recording four catches (on five targets) for 66 yards and a touchdown, giving him 16.6 fantasy points. This was in a game where he needed a little help from Keon Coleman to run the right route. The accomplished veteran is only going to play more — and become more of a focal point — as he gets more acclimated. This week’s opponent, Seattle, has struggled against the pass as of late. The Seahawks have allowed six receivers to score 16-plus fantasy points over their last four games. Cooper remains a start — and both Khalil Shakir and Coleman are in play as Flex options.
Jordan Love has thrown multiple passing touchdowns in 11 straight games dating back to last season, so that keeps his receivers in play most weeks. Reed is coming off of a dud, but he has shown a very high ceiling and relatively safe floor outside of last week. He remains in play weekly. This also could be a Romeo Doubs game. The Jaguars use man coverage at the fifth-highest rate in the NFL. Doubs leads the Packers in yards and passer rating when targeted against man coverage. Christian Watson and Dontayvion Wicks are low-floor, high-upside options, too, as the Jags have allowed the sixth-most fantasy PPG to WRs.
Flowers gutted through Baltimore’s 41-31 win at Tampa Bay after hurting his ankle during the Monday night affair, but the second-year pro failed to put up big fantasy numbers. He had been on a heater before that. Flowers leads the Ravens in targets (by far), catches and yards against man coverage. That is important this week, as the Browns play man coverage at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Stick with Zay, even in what might look like a tough matchup on paper. His teammate, Rashod Bateman, is also in play this week.
Mooney remains a consistent part of Atlanta’s passing attack. He has shown to have a pretty safe floor, and we’ve seen some big games out of him. His best effort of the season came in Week 5 against the Buccaneers, when he caught nine passes for 105 yards and two touchdowns. Mooney has been highly effective against zone coverage, and the Bucs play zone at the second-highest rate in the NFL. Tampa has also allowed the seventh-most yards to receivers and ninth-most fantasy PPG. Mooney is in play this week, while his teammate, Drake London, is a must-start.
Sit ‘Em
Johnson has shown to have a high ceiling and low floor with Andy Dalton under center. In the veteran quarterback’s five starts, Johnson has topped 19 fantasy points three times … and been held under six points twice. This week in Denver could certainly be one of those floor games. Johnson plays over 80 percent of his snaps out wide, bouncing from the left to right. But if Patrick Surtain II clears concussion protocol after missing last week’s game, the lockdown cover man could travel with the Panthers’ best wideout. No one has championed Johnson more this season than me. He is not a must-sit, but if you have the option to avoid this matchup, you should.
UPDATE: Johnson was listed as out on the Panthers’ Friday injury report with a rib injury and will miss Sunday’s game.
With Evan Engram back in the fold over the last two weeks, Kirk has averaged just 4.5 targets and 5.2 fantasy PPG. He now has competition for those short, quick throws, as well as the downfield targets. The floor is very low, as he has logged fewer than seven fantasy points in four of seven games. Plus, the Packers have been tough on receivers — especially those in the slot, allowing just one touchdown while nabbing three interceptions and accumulating a 63.8 passer rating. Not to mention, Green Bay just shut down Houston’s passing game. Given all of that, you can get away from Kirk.
I really want Indianapolis’ offense to take off, but until it does, it is OK to steer clear of Colts in the fantasy realm. Pittman has scored single-digit fantasy points in each of the four games Anthony Richardson has started and finished this season. He has been held under 40 yards in three of those four contests — in fact, he’s only reached 40 yards in two of seven total games. Pittman likely needs a touchdown to reach double figures. The Texans aren’t the worst matchup, and you’d assume Richardson and Pittman eventually will get going. But until we see it, you cannot trust them.
Worthy has been more involved as of late, but it has not yet translated to consistent fantasy production. After a dynamic debut in Week 1, the first-round pick has only eclipsed 25 receiving yards once. He has been touchdown dependent, with 38 percent of his fantasy points coming off scores. Meanwhile, the Raiders have been tough on receivers, allowing the eighth-fewest fantasy PPG to the position. On deep passes (20-plus air yards), Las Vegas has allowed the fourth-fewest yards and just one touchdown. Worthy has been a bit boom-or-bust, and given the lack of big plays allowed by Vegas through the air, I would look elsewhere this week.
Courtland Sutton played last week. I had to say so because, if you just checked the box score, you might not have been sure, as the veteran was not targeted once. He finished with zero fantasy points, his fourth time with fewer than eight in seven outings this season. His ceiling so far has been 15.3 fantasy points in Week 6, and he needed a touchdown to get there. The future could get better as Bo Nix gets more and more acclimated to the NFL. With the rookie QB’s current play, though, it is too tough to trust Denver’s pass catchers. Even in this matchup against the lowly Panthers, I’d keep Sutton on your bench.
Please enable Javascript to view this content
