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 Christian McCaffrey. 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.
NOTE: Unless otherwise indicated, all stats come from NFL Pro, Next Gen Stats or NFL Research.
Start 'Em
If Dart (concussion) suits up for the Giants this week, he should start for fantasy teams. The rookie quarterback has averaged 22.9 fantasy points per game as a starter -- a figure only topped by Josh Allen. Dart's legs are what have made him elite. He has seven rushing touchdowns in those seven starts, having eclipsed 50 yards rushing in five of them. I would expect him to run a bit less coming off a concussion. He has been far too effective as a runner, though, so I still expect he uses his legs a good bit. Just expect (hopefully) more sliding. The Lions have allowed the sixth-most rushing TDs to QBs. They're in the top 10 in passing TDs allowed, as well, and have a banged-up secondary. The floor and ceiling have been entirely too high to get away from Dart in fantasy football.
Last week was rough for Goff, but he gets a great bounce-back opportunity with a home game against the Giants. New York has allowed the fifth-most pass yards, seventh-most touchdown passes (including the second-most since Week 7) and second-most fantasy PPG to opposing QBs. Perhaps even more importantly for Goff, the G-Men create pressure and sacks at below-average rates. If you give Goff time, indoors, against a secondary that has struggled, he should be able to put up numbers. Especially with Dan Campbell calling plays.
Brissett just set the NFL record for completions and was the first player ever to complete over 80 percent of passes in a game with 50-plus attempts. He has averaged 21.3 fantasy PPG in his five starts, a number only topped by Josh Allen, Patrick Mahomes and Jaxson Dart. He has thrown multiple passing TDs and topped 19 fantasy points in every start. The Cards often trail, and they do not have much of a run game. It is a perfect fantasy storm for Brissett. Plus, the Jags are top five when it comes to most touchdowns and fantasy PPG allowed to QBs.
Last week was disappointing fantasy-wise, but prior to that, Williams had been running hot with 25-plus fantasy points in back-to-back games. He gets a bounce-back opportunity this week against the Steelers, who have struggled mightily against the pass. On the year, they have allowed the third-most passing yards. That jumps to second-most since Week 7, and in that span, they have allowed the eighth-most touchdown passes while generating pressure at the fourth-lowest rate. Williams is in play in this one.
IF YOU NEED A STREAMER: Panthers' Bryce Young (at 49ers); Jets' Tyrod Taylor (at Ravens).
Sit 'Em
Let's get spicy! Prescott is fresh off one of his best games of the season. He has shown to have a very high ceiling, but has struggled at times in tough matchups. That is exactly what he gets this week against a Philly defense that knows him extremely well. The unit already held Dak to 188 passing yards and no touchdowns in Week 1. The Eagles have allowed the fewest passing touchdowns in the NFL. What is scary is that they are seemingly only getting better defensively. Since Week 7, they have allowed just two passing touchdowns while logging three interceptions. Both their pressure and sack rates have climbed dramatically in that stretch. They held Jared Goff and Jordan Love to fewer than 13 fantasy points in the last two weeks.
My strategy all season has been to avoid Jones in weeks where he will be under pressure. The Chiefs are around league average in pressure and sack rates. They're giving up fewer than 200 passing yards per game, though, and are tied for the fewest passing TDs allowed. Since Week 7, Josh Allen is the only QB to top 15 fantasy points against Kansas City. Jones has thrown just one touchdown in each of his last two games, with four interceptions in that span. He was held under 16 fantasy points in each game. Given that and the matchup, Jones should hit the fantasy bench this week.
Love still finished as a top-seven fantasy quarterback last week despite missing some time to injury. It's nice to see he can still take advantage of favorable matchups. He does not get that this week against the Vikings, who don't yield many fantasy points to opposing QBs. They generate pressure at the second-highest rate and sacks at the sixth-highest rate. Plus, this is a divisional matchup, and Love has had very mixed results against the Vikings. More than anything, though, Love has only topped 18 fantasy points three times this year. The floor has been low, and we haven't seen the ceiling very often. You can look to get away from the Packers signal-caller this week.
The Jags are winning, but it has not led to a ton of fantasy success for Lawrence. Over the last three games, he has averaged 177 passing yards with a TD-to-INT ratio of 2:3. In fact, he has multiple passing touchdowns in just two games this entire season. He has topped 20 fantasy points twice this season, both in games where he ran for multiple touchdowns -- and those were clearly outliers, considering he has one rushing TD in all of his other games combined. Plus, the Cardinals have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy PPG to QBs.
