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 dive into our start/sit lineup advice and outlook for a few of the top fantasy football waiver wire pickups of the week.
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Fantasy Football Start’em, Sit’em Lineup Advice
Kyle Monangai (RB – CHI): 44% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @BAL, @CIN, NYG
- True Value: $9
- Desperate Need: $15
- Budget-Minded: $5
Analysis: Bears head coach Ben Johnson has found the secret sauce to the Chicago running game. Over their last two games, the Bears have dominated on the ground. They piled up 222 rushing yards against the Saints, and both D’Andre Swift and Kyle Monangai found pay dirt. Although Swift continues to operate as the lead back, the snap divide has been closing. Last week, Swift saw 52.9% of the snaps to Monangai’s 45.6%. This allowed both backs to pay off, with Swift rushing for 124 yards and a score, and Monangai rushing for 81 yards and a score. We know Johnson is no stranger to split backfields. In fact, Johnson presided over a split backfield in Detroit that included Swift. The Bears’ two running backs should continue to operate as a Walmart version of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery. With Swift taking the Gibbs role and Monangai a discount version of Montgomery.
Brashard Smith (RB – KC): 6% Rostered
- Next Opponents: WSH, @BUF, BYE
- True Value: $3
- Desperate Need: $5
- Budget-Minded: $1
Analysis: The Chiefs’ offense is cooking. Being able to bench your starters in the middle of the third quarter against a division rival is a power move. Brashard Smith‘s increased involvement was partly the result of a blowout game script in the Chiefs’ 31-0 win over the Raiders. However, Smith was given an opportunity while the starters were still playing. Smith finished the game with 14 carries for 39 yards and five receptions for 42 yards. Smith’s receiving ability sets him apart as a weapon. With the Chiefs averaging the sixth-most pass attempts per game, Smith should continue to see opportunities. Also, monitor the status of Kareem Hunt, who sustained an ankle injury on Sunday, and adjust bids on Smith accordingly. Smith can be a Flex option in full-point PPR formats this week, and he could become more valuable in the weeks to come.
Elic Ayomanor (WR – TEN): 28% Rostered
- Next Opponents: @IND, LAC, BYE
- True Value: $1
- Desperate Need: $2
- Budget-Minded: $0
Analysis: Elic Ayomanor entered Week 7 as the WR58 in fantasy points per game, with six deep targets and three red-zone looks this season. He hasn’t finished with more than 44 receiving yards in a game since Week 2. Ayomanor also hasn’t finished higher than WR56 since Week 3. Before Week 7, he had a 15.8% target share with 32.7 receiving yards per game (1.14 yards per route run) and a 19.4% first-read share, per Fantasy Points Data. Ayomanor didn’t fill up the box score against the Patriots with his 14.7% target share and 29 receiving yards, but he could turn things around this week against the Colts. The last time Ayomanor faced the Colts, he was the WR27 in fantasy for the week, securing four of his five targets with 38 receiving yards and a score. He could offer similar Flex production this week against an Indy secondary that has allowed the 11th-most PPR points per target to perimeter wide receivers.
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If you want to dive deeper into fantasy football, check out our award-winning slate of Fantasy Football Tools as you navigate your season. From our Start/Sit Assistant – which provides your optimal lineup based on accurate consensus projections – to our Waiver Wire Assistant, which allows you to quickly see which available players will improve your team and how much – we’ve got you covered this fantasy football season.
