Start em or sit em? Fantasy football start or sit decisions can be excruciating. While it feels great to make the right call and cruise to fantasy glory, it hurts just as much when you have someone erupt while on your bench. You can use our Who Should I Start? tool to gauge advice from fantasy football experts as you make your lineup decisions. And you can also sync your fantasy football league for free using our My Playbook tool for custom advice, rankings and analysis.
Let’s take a look at a few polarizing players and what fantasy football expert Derek Brown advises. And you can find all of DBro’s fantasy football outlook in this week’s fantasy football primer.
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Fantasy Football Start’em, Sit’em Lineup Advice: Quarterbacks
Over the last three seasons, when he has been a starting quarterback, Justin Fields has finished inside the top ten fantasy quarterbacks in fantasy points per game (QB7, QB9, QB5). Last year, in his six starts for Pittsburgh, he was the QB7 in fantasy points per game while averaging 9.2 carries and 38.5 rushing yards per game. If Fields had kept up that rushing pace for the entire season, he would have finished fifth in rushing yards per game among quarterbacks, immediately behind Jalen Hurts. He also took a step forward as a passer last year. In Weeks 1-6, among 31 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked 17th in CPOE, fourth-best in highly accurate throw rate, 12th-best in catchable target rate, and he boasted the ninth-lowest turnover-worthy throw rate. Fields’ opening test against his former team looks like a daunting one. Last year, in Weeks 10-18, Pittsburgh ranked 17th in yards per attempt, 14th in passer rating, and gave up the sixth-highest CPOE, but they have SUBSTANTIALLY upgraded their secondary this offseason. The additions of Darius Slay and Jalen Ramsey to fit in alongside Joey Porter Jr. make this arguably the best starting trio of corners in the NFL. Fields will need all the rushing equity he can get in Week 1.
Last year, Jared Goff‘s 6.9% passing touchdown rate (third-best in the NFL) carried him to a QB7 finish in fantasy points per game. His previous best finish in fantasy points per game was QB11 in 2023. Last year, among 40 qualifying quarterbacks, he ranked second in yards per attempt, 12th in CPOE, and fourth in highly accurate throw rate. Goff could have a field day against the Packers’ secondary if their pass rush doesn’t get home. Last year, the Packers were 16th in pressure rate. Yes, that will go up with Micah Parsons on the field, but I don’t know if he’ll be an every-down player as he’s dealing with a back issue and missed the preseason and training camp with the contract holdout. Last year, in Weeks 10-18, Green Bay allowed the 13th-highest success rate per dropback and ninth-highest CPOE, and now they are fielding a downgraded secondary. Their starting trio of corners with Keisean Nixon (2024: 66.3% catch rate and 97.5 passer rating allowed), Nate Hobbs (2024: 67.4% catch rate and 96.3 passer rating allowed), and Javon Bullard (2024: 84.2% catch rate and 119.8 passer rating allowed) doesn’t exactly strike fear in a quarterback’s heart. If Goff’s new look offensive line can keep him clean, he should shred this secondary.
Jordan Love wasn’t able to follow up on his massive 2024 breakout campaign with another successful season. Injuries played a sizable role in this, as Love sustained a sprained MCL in Week 1 and a groin injury in Week 8. In Weeks 4-17, after his return from the knee injury, he was the QB14 in fantasy points per game. Overall, he finished 15th in CPOE, 37th in highly accurate throw rate, and 24th in catchable target rate. With the lower half ailments, he only amassed 83 rushing yards as well after piling up 247 in the previous season. It all went off the rails as the Packers tried to protect Love, as they had the second-highest neutral rushing rate behind only the Eagles. The Packers will pass more in 2025. The Lions’ pass defense at full strength could give Love fits out the gate. Last year, Detroit’s defense was ravaged by injuries. In Weeks 1-6, with Carlton Davis and Aidan Hutchinson healthy, this pass defense was nasty, allowing the eighth-lowest yards per attempt, the third-lowest passer rating, and the fourth-lowest CPOE. Yes, Davis is gone, but the Lions replaced him with D.J. Reed (2024: 58.3% catch rate and 91.7 passer rating allowed), who is a stud. Love could have some hiccups in Week 1, but he has the talent around him to overcome them if Romeo Doubs and Matthew Golden can make some big plays. The floor is low for Love this week, though, if Doubs and Golden don’t come through.
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