Hey there, reader! I'm Matt. Most people call me Okada (there are too many Matts in the world). For the next 17 weeks, I'll be your guide on the Start 'Em, Sit 'Em fantasy journey.
As always, Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is geared toward helping fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. You won't see "start Jahmyr Gibbs" or "sit Ben Skowronek" here. Instead, I'm exploring the players closer to the perceived fringe and aiming to optimize your lineups for another weekly win! 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 necessary players to start or sit.
Also, you'll see quite a few references in this year's column to NFL Pro, and the insights it provides through Next Gen Stats data dashboards, matchup evaluations, All-22 film, and the uniquely trained Fantasy AI Assistant. You can get access to all those tools yourself with an NFL+ Premium subscription!
P.S. Feel free to follow me on X -- @MattOkada -- and hit me with your questions, congratulations or complaints throughout the year.
Start 'Em
Start of the Week
With A.J. Brown gone and first-round rookie Makai Lemon potentially set for a slow start after an offseason hamstring injury, the Philly passing attack is likely to run through DeVonta Smith and Goedert early in the season. The Commanders defense allowed the second-most touchdowns (12, tied with the Bucs), most yards per target (9.1), second-highest EPA per dropback (0.49) and third-highest explosive catch rate (20.2%) to tight ends in 2025, per NFL Pro. I call that a recipe for success.
Notable starts
Prior to his Week 9 knee injury -- from which he’s fully recovered -- Kraft had been averaging 16.2 fantasy points per game in 2025, most among tight ends. He should continue to be a target favorite in Green Bay.
Kelce led the Chiefs with 53 targets, 42 catches, 365 yards and four touchdowns on quick passes in 2025, and quick passes should be the name of game for the Chiefs against the Broncos' pass rush.
With rookie receiver Jordyn Tyson set to miss at least the first month of the season, I expect Johnson to be the No. 2 target behind Chris Olave. The veteran tight end was highly efficient with quarterback Tyler Shough late in 2025.
Sit 'Em
Sit of the Week
Andrews averaged just 2.3 catches and 20.9 yards per game, with zero touchdowns, over the final seven weeks of last season. He did not hit double-digit fantasy points once in that stretch, averaging 4.4 per game. While the arrival of OC Declan Doyle and a prospective bounce-back campaign for Lamar Jackson could right the ship for Andrews, there are too many “maybes” in his current fantasy profile. Stream another TE if you can.
Notable sits
Ferguson was excellent early in 2025 -- largely in CeeDee Lamb’s absence -- but he was the TE22 overall with just 6.8 FPPG from Week 8 onward. Lamb and George Pickens will receive the majority of Dak Prescott's targets once again.
Hockenson has scored three touchdowns over the past two seasons and finished outside the top-25 tight ends in each of those years. If Hock is on your roster, find a streamer (or a replacement).
