As always, Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is geared toward helping fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. You won't see "start Jahmyr Gibbs" here. Instead, I'm exploring the players closer to the perceived fringe and aiming to optimize your lineup for a win each week. Importantly, the new "Start of the Week" and "Sit of the Week" are the calls I have deemed the most notable in each category, not necessarily the most essential players to start or sit.
Also, you'll see quite a few references in this year's column to NFL Pro, spotlighting insights provided through Next Gen Stats data dashboards, matchup evaluations, All-22 film and the uniquely trained Fantasy AI Assistant. You can get access to all of those tools yourself with an NFL+ Premium subscription!
P.S. Feel free to follow me on X (@MattOkada) or Instagram (@mattokadaNFL) and hit me with your questions, congratulations or complaints throughout the year.
Start 'Em
Start of the Week
Kansas City's defense looked far better in Week 1 against Denver than in Week 2 against Indianapolis, but this play is more about its opponent. Miami has surrendered the third-highest pressure rate in the league -- 43.1%, just below the Giants and Jets -- and the highest sack rate by a large margin at 15.3%. Outside of De’Von Achane, the Dolphins' offense is devoid of impact playmakers, and Malik Willis has not looked like a franchise quarterback (yet). Miami has scored 13 points in each of its first two games. Kansas City should be a top-five fantasy unit this week.
Notable starts
The Carolina defense is coming off a 22-point fantasy outing and takes on a Cleveland team that's averaged 16.5 points per game entering Week 3. Stream the Panthers with confidence.
The Packers' defense is third in pressure rate (45.6%) and fifth in sack rate (8.9%) this season. Meanwhile, the Falcons' offense has allowed the fourth-highest sack rate through two weeks. Michael Penix Jr. will make his first start of 2026, but that doesn't scare me for fantasy purposes.
The 49ers held the Rams and Dolphins to a combined 20 points and had four sacks in the 35-13 win over Miami this past Sunday. Elsewhere in the NFC West, Jacoby Brissett and the Cardinals cooled off immensely against Seattle. Play the Niners against their division rivals.
EDITOR'S UPDATE: News broke on Friday that 49ers DE Nick Bosa is expected to miss multiple weeks after suffering a calf injury in practice.
In one of the bigger surprises of the season, Cincy is tied with Pittsburgh and New England for the most fantasy points among defenses. Less surprising is that Pittsburgh’s offense has scored just one touchdown and its opponents’ D/ST units have averaged 11.5 fantasy points through two games.
Streamer options: You can stream Jacksonville's defense against Drake Maye and the Patriots, considering New England's five giveaways are tied for second-most in the league. The Raiders' defense looks legitimate, and the Saints are a beatable matchup. The Lions' defense hasn't been good at all, but only the Giants have allowed a higher pressure rate than the Jets (43.4%).
Sit 'Em
Sit of the Week
Yes, through two weeks, no defense has scored more fantasy points than Pittsburgh's unit. That said, the Steelers have faced Cooper Rush and Drake Maye, with the latter amidst a turnover-prone slump to start the season. In Week 3, they draw Joe Burrow and the Bengals, who have committed one turnover and surrendered the seventh-lowest pressure rate in the league. The Texans managed 5 fantasy points against Cincy (all on sacks), and I don’t see Pittsburgh doing any better. Don’t necessarily drop the Steelers -- they face the Browns in Week 4 -- but find an alternative for this Sunday.
Notable sits
The Rams' offense came alive -- without Puka Nacua -- in Week 2 on Monday Night Football, and the Broncos' defense was a middling fantasy unit against both Kansas City and Jacksonville. This is why we don’t draft defenses early.
The Eagles are another highly drafted disappointment in fantasy, recording just 5 fantasy points against the Commanders and Titans combined. While managers might be excited about Philly's prospects against Chicago's battered QB room, I think it could be a trap. However, if Tyson Bagent isn't cleared from concussion protocol and Case Keenum does indeed get the start, the Eagles are in play.
To the few fantasy managers who haven’t moved the Chargers out of their D/ST slot, please do so immediately. They’re a risk for negative fantasy points against Josh Allen and the Bills.
