Every week fantasy football owners are confronted with difficult lineup questions. Who should you start, and who should you sit? That’s what many are left asking, often with little help. It’s good you landed here, as we can help each week using our Who Should I Start tool. Simply type in several players that you are deciding between per position or for your flex and we will let you know who the experts would start and who they would sit.
Here’s a look at the toughest start and sit decisions of the week along with our expert’s advice.
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Start Ryan Fitzpatrick (QB – MIA) or Gardner Minshew (QB – JAC)?
50% of Experts Would Start Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick
Fitzpatrick turned out to be a fine streaming option last week for fantasy managers and this might be another game that you can plug him into your lineup if you need a QB. The Seahawks are going to go up big in this one, which should force Fitzpatrick to throw the ball a ton. Fitzpatrick could easily finish in the top-12 this week based on pure volume. He’s worth looking at in 1QB leagues.
Minshew
It wasn’t the streaming performance that we hoped for with Minshew last week, but we can’t let that cloud our judgement moving forward. He was without his best wide receiver and starting center, which certainly didn’t help matters. Don’t forget he was a top-12 quarterback in each of the first two games. The Bengals, however, have been a surprising pass defense through three games. They have been above average in every major statistical category, allowing 6.52 yards per attempt, a 61.0 percent completion-rate, and a 3.0 percent touchdown-rate. All those marks are bottom-10 for opposing quarterbacks. Now, to be fair, they’ve played against Tyrod Taylor, Baker Mayfield, and Carson Wentz, all quarterbacks who’ve struggled to start the year. But still, none of them threw for more than 225 yards and they combined for just three passing touchdowns. Last year, there were just five quarterbacks all year who they held below 225 passing yards. Minshew played them last year, completing just 15-of-32 passes for 255 yards and one touchdown, while rushing for 48 yards and finishing as the No. 9 quarterback in Week 7. So, what do we trust? The fact that the Bengals allowed 12-of-16 quarterbacks to finish as top-16 options last year, or that they’ve played well in three games through this year? It does help to know that the Bengals games have netted an average of 146.7 plays per game, as they move through a fast pace, which should allow plenty of chances for Minshew to bounce back. As long as Chark returns, Minshew should be able to get back into the middling QB2 conversation.
Start Kareem Hunt (RB – CLE) or Darrell Henderson (RB – LAR)?
50% of Experts Would Start Hunt
Hunt
Hunt is still seeing enough work this season to be viewed as a low-end RB2 in Half PPR leagues. He’s the pass-catching back in this backfield and, with the assumption that Cleveland is going to have to throw the ball a bit more than they have recently, he should see significant work in that department this week. He’s a steady RB2 for your lineup and can be started with confidence.
Henderson
If you’ve watched any Rams game this year, you can see that Henderson should be the lead back. He’s run like he’s a man that knows he can lose the job at any moment and has played extremely well in back-to-back tough matchups. In games against the Bills and Eagles, he’s amassed 201 rushing yards on 35 carries (5.7 yards per carry) with two touchdowns, and then chipped in with another three catches for 46 yards. He’s been the No. 10 running back in fantasy over the last two weeks. We don’t know if Akers will be back this week, but it shouldn’t matter all that much if he is active, as Henderson would need to screw something up to lose his lead role. The Giants have allowed three different running backs to finish as top-15 options over the last two weeks, and they’ve allowed points in a variety of different ways, as they allowed 124 rushing yards in Week 1, then 119 rushing yards in Week 2, but then held the 49ers running backs to just 62 rushing yards in Week 3. Still, they’ve allowed 170 receiving yards to running backs over the last two weeks. Opposing running backs have averaged just over 30 touches per game against them this year, so even if we see Brown mixed in, it should be another 16-plus touch game for Henderson. Similar to Ronald Jones, Henderson may be on a short leash, but it had to have gotten longer after his performances the last few weeks. Consider him a mid-tier RB2 who may come with more risk with most in that range, but it should be worth it.
Start Jeff Wilson Jr. (RB – SF) or Carlos Hyde (RB – SEA)?
64% of Experts Would Start Wilson
Wilson
While I expected Wilson to get 15-plus touches last week, the way he got them was not exactly how I expected it. He didn’t play much until later in the game when McKinnon had to step out due to a rib injury. Still, it was good to see Wilson involved in the passing game, collecting three receptions for 54 yards and a score. While the 49ers haven’t ruled out Raheem Mostert, I don’t expect him to play this week, and knowing McKinnon is dinged up, we should see another dozen touches or so for Wilson against the Eagles. Despite allowing three rushing touchdowns through three games, the Eagles have still allowed just the ninth-fewest PPR points per opportunity to running backs. Darrell Henderson was the first one who topped 50 rushing yards against them last week. Going back to the start of last year, a span of 19 games, they’ve allowed just three running backs to rush for more than 66 yards. Still, Wilson is the goal-line back in a game they’re six-point favorites while at home, which is typically the recipe for success. He’s not a must-play, but he is someone who should at least be able to deliver mediocre RB3-type numbers. As for McKinnon, he’s more of a wildcard due to his injury which has been described as a rib contusion. It could be the reminder to the 49ers that he’s not a durable running back meant for a three-down role. They could also decide that they’re going to put him out there in a similar role to last week, which had him net 18 opportunities. Let’s pay attention to his practice participation this week. For now, I’ll say Wilson is the preferred option because I’m assuming he’s limited, but McKinnon isn’t far behind.
Hyde
With Carson most likely out of the lineup for this game with an injury, the Seahawks will turn to Hyde as their lead option. Hyde hasn’t exactly been one of the league’s best running backs during his time in the NFL, but he’s been able to get the job done for several teams. As a 1,000 yard rusher last season, Hyde can step in and help move the chains on the ground. The matchup though is what makes Hyde an extremely enticing play this week. Many fantasy rosters are hurting right now and desperately need a fill-in option. If you were able to pick up Hyde off of waivers, or if he’s still there for some reason, he’s worth rolling into your starting lineup this week. The Seahawks should put up points on this Miami defense with the way that this offense is looking, which means that Hyde’s going to have plenty of scoring opportunities.
Start Will Fuller (WR – HOU) or Michael Gallup (WR – DAL)?
51% of Experts Would Start Fuller
Fuller
It was good to see Fuller get through his hamstring woes to catch 4-of-5 targets against the tough Steelers defense for 54 yards and a touchdown. He also played more snaps (45) than any other receiver, so he wasn’t limited in any way. The Vikings already had cornerback issues, but they were without both Mike Hughes and Cameron Dantzler last week. On the year, they’ve allowed a massive 2.27 PPR points per target to wide receivers, which ranks as the second-most to only the Cowboys. It’s not all touchdowns, either. They’ve allowed a 73.8 percent completion rate and 10.4 yards per target to them, so if Fuller gets one of his high-target games, he just might explode. The Vikings have also allowed the third-most passing plays (14) of 20-plus yards this year, so it’s not just high-percentage throws they’re struggling with. Even if they were to get Dantzler back, he’s a rookie who’s allowed a 154.5 QB Rating in his coverage. If you have Fuller on your squad, start him in this game (and nearly every game he’s healthy) and live with the ups and downs. This could be one of those really big ups.
Gallup
Gallup finally burst onto the scene last week and put up some outstanding numbers. With this offense throwing the ball as much as it is, Gallup’s worth viewing as a low-end WR2 in this matchup and moving forward. He always has the potential to find the end zone on a big play and push himself into top-15 status on the week. Start him with confidence this week.
Start Darius Slayton (WR – NYG) or Marvin Jones Jr. (WR – DET)?
70% of Experts Would Start Slayton
Slayton
As expected, Slayton saw a sturdy seven targets last week against the 49ers. Unfortunately, that didn’t lead to much production. That’s going to happen in tough matchups, though the 49ers defense was nowhere near the same. It’s not going to get easier for Slayton this week against the Rams, as he’s likely to see Jalen Ramsey for much of the game. Even if he doesn’t get shadowed, Darious Williams has been playing well on the other side. The two perimeter cornerbacks have combined to allow just 16 receptions for 190 yards on 27 targets to this point and a large part of it has been due to the pressure created up front. Slayton’s average depth of target is just 12.6 yards, which is manageable, though much higher than Golden Tate’s 6.1 yards. The good news to this point is that any receiver who’s seen more than five targets (there have been five of them) against the Rams has totaled at least 10.9 PPR points and finished as a top-40 receiver. When you have a receiver who’s likely to lead his team in targets and see six-plus targets, you should at least consider him, even if this is a tough matchup. Slayton should be considered a low-end WR3 who should come with a semi-decent floor.
Jones
Jones wasn’t able to step up as much as fantasy managers would have liked in Golladay’s absence and he now seems like he’s going to be a touchdown-dependent WR3 moving forward. In this matchup, Jones should be viewed as a low-end WR3/high-end WR4.
Start Logan Thomas (TE – WAS) or Jimmy Graham (TE – CHI)?
71% of Experts Would Start Thomas
Thomas
The good news is that Thomas has seen 24 targets through three weeks, which ranks as the third-most among tight ends. Great. He’s totaled 12 catches, which ranks 10th. He’s totaled 94 yards, which ranks 21st. He’s scored 27.4 PPR points, which ranks 18th. We follow the targets at tight end, but we can’t ignore the inefficiency between Thomas and Haskins. The Ravens are obviously a good defense while allowing just 22 points combined in the two non-Chiefs games. But as for tight ends, they haven’t been very good at limiting their efficiency. Tight ends have seen a combined 27 targets against the Ravens, and those targets have turned into 21 receptions for 235 yards and two touchdowns. Sure, Travis Kelce was involved in those totals, but so were Austin Hooper, David Njoku, Jordan Akins, and Darren Fells. Many will chase the volume with Thomas, and while I’m usually with that, I’m struggling to say he’s anything more than a TE2 with a decent floor.
Graham
Will Graham become a thing in his age-34 season after failing to produce in back-to-back years with Aaron Rodgers? Probably not, but we have to remain open to the possibility now that he’s seen 17 targets over three games. More importantly, he’s seen five targets inside the 10-yard-line which ranks as the most in the NFL. The Colts were a mediocre defense against tight ends last year, nothing worth avoiding, though they’ve been much better in 2020 and are currently the best team in the league at defending the position. They’ve only seen 14 tight end targets through three weeks, but on those targets, they’ve allowed just six receptions for 32 yards. That’s 2.29 yards per target. To be fair, they’ve played against Chris Herndon, Tyler Eifert, and Kyle Rudolph/Irv Smith, but that’s still mighty impressive. Knowing the Colts have allowed their opponents a league-low 15.0 points per game, it’s not a week to rely on a touchdown from Graham. He’s not a recommended streamer in this tough matchup.
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