Happy Friday everyone! Thursday Night Football was absolute madness but it’s time to turn the page and look ahead to the full slate of games and make start/sit decisions. This article is for those of you who would love to sit down and read a detailed start/sit article for 90 minutes but just can’t carve out the time at this stage in your life. Instead, I’ll give you all the information without any of the words. Here is how it works: it’s quick-hitting advice with an overall grade and start/sit recommendation for every fantasy-relevant player based on four simple criteria: Matchup, expected volume, fantasy ability and surrounding talent.
Matchup
Unsurprisingly, Daniel Jones had a huge game last week because of the great matchup versus the Jets
Expected Volume
Latavius Murray piled up fantasy points when he had the bulk of the Saints workload
Fantasy Ability
Tom Brady is a superior real-life quarterback to Lamar Jackson, but QBs who can run are a fantasy cheat code
Surrounding Talent
It certainly doesn’t hurt Jameis Winston to have Chris Godwin and Mike Evans to throw to
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The grades listed below range from 1 to 25 with overall grades made to mimic a school grade (1-100 with letter grades). The four grades will not add up to the overall grade since each position weights the four criteria differently. For instance, volume is king for running backs, but matchups are much more important for quarterbacks. The start/sit recommendations are for 12-team half-PPR, 1-QB leagues. Slight adjustments would be made for moderate rules changes. Additionally, I’ll name a start of the week, stream of the week and fade of the week at each position. Obviously the #1 player from each player is the top start so rather, start of the week refers to a player you wouldn’t always start. Stream of the week is a player you can typically pick up off the waivers if you are desperate for a fill-in so don’t be surprised if they are down at the bottom of a table since most useful players are already rostered. Fade of the week is the opposite of start of the week, as it is a player you would typically start, but shouldn’t this week because of matchup or game script. Because the tables are a screenshot of an excel table, I’ve added a quick search/find list at the bottom of the article in case you are looking for one or two immediate answers. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to reach out to me on Twitter @BobbyFantasyPro.
Quick Link to view the entire spreadsheet and search for players quickly at this link.
Running Backs
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- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- If Jordan Howard sits, Miles Sanders becomes a C+, Should Start
- If David Montgomery sits, Tarik Cohen becomes a C+, Should Start
- If David Johnson sits, Kenyan Drake becomes a C+, Should Start
- If Josh Jacobs sits, DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard both become a C, Could Starts
- Start of the Week: Brian Hill (remember, this is a player you wouldn’t always feel comfortable starting, not the best player)
- Stream of the Week: Raheem Mostert (remember, this doesn’t mean he is a great start, it means he is the best of what is available on waivers)
- Fade of the Week: David Johnson
- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- Break in the chart is between RB36/RB37
Wide Receivers
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- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- If Emmanuel Sanders plays, he is a C+, Should Start and Deebo Samuel drops to a C-, Could Start
- If Sanders and George Kittle play, Samuel drops to a D+, Shouldn’t Start
- Start of the Week: Mohamed Sanu
- Stream of the Week: Auden Tate (remember, this doesn’t mean he is a great start, it means he is the best of what is available on waivers)
- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- Break in the chart is between WR40/WR41
Quarterbacks
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- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- If Jacoby Brissett sits, Brian Hoyer is a D-, Crazy Start
- Start of the Week: Drew Brees
- Stream of the Week: Kyle Allen
- Fade of the Week: Kirk Cousins
- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
Tight Ends
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- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
- If George Kittle plays, he is obviously a Must Start
- Start of the Week: Jared Cook
- Stream of the Week: Dallas Goedert
- Fade of the Week: T.J. Hockenson
- Please refer to the FantasyPros homepage for updates on game-time decisions Sunday morning
Search, Find and Player Cards
Michael Thomas (WR – NO): 120, A+, Must Start
Lamar Jackson (QB – BAL): 100, A+, Must Start
Christian McCaffrey (RB – CAR): 100, A+, Must Start
Travis Kelce (TE – KC): 100, A+, Must Start
Ezekiel Elliott (RB – DAL): 99, A+, Must Start
Dalvin Cook (RB – MIN): 98, A+, Must Start
DeAndre Hopkins (WR – HOU): 96, A+, Must Start
Julio Jones (WR – ATL): 94, A, Must Start
Darren Waller (TE – OAK): 94, A, Must Start
Tyreek Hill (WR – KC): 93, A, Must Start
Patrick Mahomes (QB – KC): 93, A, Must Start
Hunter Henry (TE – LAC): 92, A-, Must Start
Leonard Fournette (RB – JAC): 92, A-, Must Start
Josh Jacobs (RB – OAK): 91, A-, Must Start
Julian Edelman (WR – NE): 91, A-, Must Start
Amari Cooper (WR – DAL): 90, A-, Must Start
Deshaun Watson (QB – HOU): 89, A-, Strong Start
Melvin Gordon (RB – LAC): 88, B+, Must Start
Chris Godwin (WR – TB): 87, B+, Must Start
Mike Evans (WR – TB): 87, B+, Must Start
Keenan Allen (WR – LAC): 86, B+, Must Start
Dak Prescott (QB – DAL): 86, B+, Should Start
D.J. Moore (WR – CAR): 86, B+, Must Start
Drew Brees (QB – NO): 86, B+, Should Start
Tom Brady (QB – NE): 86, B+, Should Start
Zach Ertz (TE – PHI): 86, B+, Must Start
Alvin Kamara (RB – NO): 85, B, Strong Start
Marlon Mack (RB – IND): 85, B, Strong Start
Le’Veon Bell (RB – NYJ): 84, B, Strong Start
Brian Hill (RB – ATL): 84, B, Strong Start
Jameis Winston (QB – TB): 84, B, Should Start
Cooper Kupp (WR – LAR): 84, B, Must Start
Matt Ryan (QB – ATL): 83, B, Should Start
Josh Allen (QB – BUF): 83, B, Should Start
Stefon Diggs (WR – MIN): 81, B-, Strong Start
Mark Andrews (TE – BAL): 81, B-, Should Start
Devin Singletary (RB – BUF): 80, B-, Strong Start
Jared Cook (TE – NO): 80, B-, Should Start
Tevin Coleman (RB – SF): 79, C+, Should Start
D.J. Chark (WR – JAC): 79, C+, Should Start
John Brown (WR – BUF): 79, C+, Should Start
Michael Gallup (WR – DAL): 78, C+, Should Start
Courtland Sutton (WR – DEN): 78, C+, Should Start
Marquise Brown (WR – BAL): 78, C+, Should Start
Joe Mixon (RB – CIN): 78, C+, Should Start
Philip Rivers (QB – LAC): 77, C+, Could Start
Todd Gurley (RB – LAR): 77, C+, Should Start
Curtis Samuel (WR – CAR): 77, C+, Should Start
Calvin Ridley (WR – ATL): 77, C+, Should Start
Carlos Hyde (RB – HOU): 77, C+, Should Start
Mohamed Sanu (WR – NE): 77, C+, Should Start
David Montgomery (RB – CHI): 76, C+, Should Start
Damien Williams (RB – KC): 76, C+, Should Start
George Kittle (TE – SF): 76, C+, Could Start
Kenny Golladay (WR – DET): 75, C, Could Start
Tyler Boyd (WR – CIN): 75, C, Could Start
Sammy Watkins (WR – KC): 75, C, Could Start
Allen Robinson (WR – CHI): 75, C, Could Start
Mark Ingram (RB – BAL): 75, C, Could Start
Derek Carr (QB – OAK): 74, C, Could Start
Terry McLaurin (WR – WAS): 74, C, Could Start
Eric Ebron (TE – IND): 74, C, Could Start
Deebo Samuel (WR – SF): 74, C, Could Start
Jordan Howard (RB – PHI): 74, C, Could Start
Phillip Lindsay (RB – DEN): 73, C, Could Start
Kenyan Drake (RB – ARI): 73, C, Could Start
James White (RB – NE): 73, C, Could Start
Miles Sanders (RB – PHI): 73, C-, Could Start
Austin Ekeler (RB – LAC): 72, C-, Could Start
Kyle Allen (QB – CAR): 72, C-, Could Start
Raheem Mostert (RB – SF): 72, C-, Could Start
Jimmy Garoppolo (QB – SF): 72, C-, Could Start
Sony Michel (RB – NE): 72, C-, Could Start
Auden Tate (WR – CIN): 72, C-, Could Start
Tarik Cohen (RB – CHI): 71, C-, Could Start
Gerald Everett (TE – LAR): 71, C-, Could Start
Adrian Peterson (RB – WAS): 71, C-, Could Start
Christian Kirk (WR – ARI): 71, C-, Could Start
Greg Olsen (TE – CAR): 71, C-, Could Start
Will Fuller (WR – HOU): 70, C-, Could Start
Robert Woods (WR – LAR): 70, C-, Could Start
Mike Williams (WR – LAC): 70, C-, Could Start
Marvin Jones (WR – DET): 70, C-, Could Start
Frank Gore (RB – BUF): 70, C-, Could Start
Jack Doyle (TE – IND): 70, C-, Could Start
Dallas Goedert (TE – PHI): 70, C-, Could Start
Devante Parker (WR – MIA): 70, C-, Could Start
Ronald Jones II (RB – TB): 70, C-, Could Start
Noah Fant (TE – DEN): 69, C-, Could Start
O.J. Howard (TE – TB): 69, C-, Could Start
Jamison Crowder (WR – NYJ): 69, C-, Could Start
Tyrell Williams (WR – OAK): 69, C-, Could Start
Demaryius Thomas (WR – NYJ): 69, C-, Could Start
Jason Witten (TE – DAL): 69, C-, Could Start
Kyler Murray (QB – ARI): 69, C-, Could Start
J.D. McKissic (RB – DET): 69, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Alexander Mattison (RB – MIN): 69, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Dede Westbrook (WR – JAC): 68, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Carson Wentz (QB – PHI): 68, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Ted Ginn (WR – NO): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
T.J. Hockenson (TE – DET): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Kalen Ballage (RB – MIA): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Royce Freeman (RB – DEN): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Kenny Stills (WR – HOU): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Larry Fitzgerald (WR – ARI): 67, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Randall Cobb (WR – DAL): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Jacoby Brissett (QB – IND): 66, D+, Shouldn’t Start
Cole Beasley (WR – BUF): 65, D, Shouldn’t Start
Phillip Dorsett (WR – NE): 65, D, Shouldn’t Start
Irv Smith Jr. (TE – MIN): 65, D, Shouldn’t Start
Zach Pascal (WR – IND): 64, D, Shouldn’t Start
DeAndre Washington (RB – OAK): 64, D, Shouldn’t Start
Ross Dwelley (TE – SF): 64, D, Shouldn’t Start
Latavius Murray (RB – NO): 64, D, Shouldn’t Start
David Johnson (RB – ARI): 64, D, Shouldn’t Start
LeSean McCoy (RB – KC): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Kyle Rudolph (TE – MIN): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Nick Foles (QB – JAC): 63, D, Crazy Start
Tre’Quan Smith (WR – NO): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Jalen Richard (RB – OAK): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Mike Gesicki (TE – MIA): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Hunter Renfrow (WR – OAK): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Kirk Cousins (QB – MIN): 63, D, Crazy Start
Derrius Guice (RB – WAS): 63, D, Shouldn’t Start
Ryan Finley (QB – CIN): 63, D, Crazy Start
Russell Gage (WR – ATL): 62, D-, Crazy Start
Robby Anderson (WR – NYJ): 62, D-, Crazy Start
Nyheim Hines (RB – IND): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Dawson Knox (TE – BUF): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Alex Erickson (WR – CIN): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Danny Amendola (WR – DET): 61, D-, Crazy Start
Chester Rogers (WR – IND): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Duke Johnson (RB – HOU): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Tyler Eifert (TE – CIN): 60, D-, Crazy Start
A.J. Green (WR – CIN): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Darren Fells (TE – HOU): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Willie Snead (WR – BAL): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Matt Breida (RB – SF): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Adam Thielen (WR – MIN): 60, D-, Crazy Start
Mecole Hardman (WR – KC): 59, D-, Crazy Start
Emmanuel Sanders (WR – SF): 59, D-, Crazy Start
Chris Conley (WR – JAC): 59, D-, Crazy Start
Sam Darnold (QB – NYJ): 58, F, Crazy Start
Olabisi Johnson (WR – MIN): 58, F, Crazy Start
Nelson Agholor (WR – PHI): 58, F, Crazy Start
Darrell Henderson (RB – LAR): 58, F, Crazy Start
Kendrick Bourne (WR – SF): 58, F, Crazy Start
Trey Quinn (WR – WAS): 58, F, Crazy Start
Keelan Cole (WR – JAC): 58, F, Crazy Start
Zay Jones (WR – BUF): 57, F, Crazy Start
Paul Perkins (RB – DET): 57, F, Crazy Start
Peyton Barber (RB – TB): 57, F, Crazy Start
Ty Johnson (RB – DET): 57, F, Crazy Start
Taylor Gabriel (WR – CHI): 56, F, Crazy Start
Jared Goff (QB – LAR): 56, F, Crazy Start
Jordan Akins (TE – HOU): 56, F, Crazy Start
Demarcus Robinson (WR – KC): 56, F, Crazy Start
Gus Edwards (RB – BAL): 56, F, Crazy Start
Paul Richardson (WR – WAS): 55, F, Crazy Start
Rex Burkhead (RB – NE): 55, F, Crazy Start
Dante Pettis (WR – SF): 54, F, Crazy Start
Breshad Perriman (WR – TB): 54, F, Crazy Start
Mitch Trubisky (QB – CHI): 53, F, Crazy Start
Blake Jarwin (TE – DAL): 53, F, Crazy Start
Luke Stocker (TE – ATL): 52, F, Crazy Start
Anthony Miller (WR – CHI): 52, F, Crazy Start
Josh Reynolds (WR – LAR): 51, F, Crazy Start
Ryan Griffin (TE – NYJ): 50, F, Crazy Start
Jakeem Grant (WR – MIA): 49, F, Crazy Start
Benjamin Watson (TE – NE): 49, F, Crazy Start
Brandon Allen (QB – DEN): 48, F, Crazy Start
Albert Wilson (WR – MIA): 48, F, Crazy Start
Allen Hurns (WR – MIA): 46, F, Crazy Start
Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – MIA): 43, F, Crazy Start
Dwayne Haskins (QB – WAS): 43, F, Crazy Start
Jeff Driskel (QB – DET): 32, F, Crazy Start
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