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 Puka Nacua. 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
Dak is red hot right now. After going off for 30.96 fantasy points against the Packers, he finished with 28.28 at the Jets last Sunday. He has eight total touchdowns over the last two weeks. Prescott's also running a bit more this season, going for a season-high 28 yards last week. The Panthers might be listed as a tough matchup on your fantasy app, but I am not shying away from them with this guy under center. Carolina has generated pressure at the third-lowest rate in the NFL. When not under pressure, Prescott ranks second in touchdowns and eighth in yards. The upside is sky high once again this week.
The last time we saw Love in action, he threw for 337 yards and three scores for a season-best 26.28 fantasy points against the Cowboys. He has shown us he brings a safe floor and can go off in the right matchup. Fresh off the bye, he gets one of those matchups. The Bengals have given up 19-plus fantasy points to three of the past four quarterbacks they've faced, having yielded the second-most passing touchdowns on the season. They also generate pressure at the fourth-lowest rate. Love has the highest EPA (expected points added) in the NFL when not under pressure. He is a strong start in Week 6.
You all should know by now that I am the conductor of the Drake Maye hype train. While he did not have a huge fantasy game in Sunday night's win at Buffalo, the second-year pro played great, further displaying the kind of immense potential you want to hop on moving forward. For fantasy, Maye has shown to have a high ceiling, logging with two games 23-plus fantasy points in the last month. He adds value with his legs, and it appears he has a true No. 1 receiver in the resurgent Stefon Diggs. This week, he faces the Saints, who have allowed the seventh-most fantasy points per game to QBs. They also generate pressure at the second-lowest rate in the NFL. Maye has the fifth-best EPA when not under pressure.
Last week, I doubted Stafford because he had historically struggled against the 49ers. Swing and a miss! Stafford balled out again, having now thrown for 375-plus yards and three touchdowns in each of his last two games. This Sunday, he draws the banged-up Ravens defense, which has allowed the second-most yards and the most touchdown passes in the league. Baltimore has yielded the second-most fantasy PPG to QBs, while generating pressure at the eighth-lowest rate. Ride the hot hand this week.
The last three weeks have not been fun for Herbert's fantasy managers. He has fallen short of 15 points in each game, throwing just one touchdown pass every time out. This could be a get-right opportunity, though, as the Dolphins have allowed the third-most fantasy PPG to QBs. They also create pressure at a below-average rate. Herbert has the sixth-best EPA when not under pressure. Lastly, Miami has allowed the third-most rushing yards to QBs, which is big because Herbert has been running more. He ran for 60 yards last week and has eclipsed 20 in four of five games.
My working theory with "Indiana Jones" is to play him against defenses that do not generate a ton of pressure. Going against a Raiders team that struggles to get after the QB this past Sunday, Jones enjoyed his best fantasy game since Week 2. We could see sustained success this week, as the Cardinals generate pressure at a below-average rate. They've also allowed the fourth-most passing yards to QBs this season.
Sit 'Em
Everyone knows I am a huge Justin Fields fan. I have recommended starting him in every week he has played this season, and in three of those, he topped 25 fantasy points. Only he and Lamar Jackson have three games with 25-plus fantasy points in 2025. It is not always pretty, but it is effective for fantasy purposes, even if it comes in catch-up mode. So, why is Fields a "sit" in Week 6? This matchup really scares me. The Broncos generate pressure at the second-highest rate in the NFL. The Jets have allowed pressure at the highest rate in the league by a wide margin, 10 percentage points higher than any other team. New York's offensive line has been atrocious. Furthermore, you also have to worry about Patrick Surtain II and Denver's secondary. In total, the Broncos have allowed the third-fewest fantasy PPG to QBs. I get it if you can't get away and roll the dice, but if you have another option, I would take it. For instance, I will be sitting Fields for Dak Prescott in a couple of leagues this week.
I still am a believer in Dart. The rookie joined Randall Cunningham, Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts as the only QBs to rush for 50-plus yards in each of their first two career starts. And even with three turnovers this past Sunday, he was able to log nearly 16 fantasy points, showing a pretty safe floor. Still, I do not want to start him in this Thursday night game against Philadelphia. The Eagles might not get after the QB like they did last season, but their secondary has been lights out. They've allowed the second-lowest completion percentage in the NFL. This is a tough defense for a veteran signal-caller to face on a short week, let alone a rookie in his third start.
Lawrence is coming off one of the biggest games of his career in a thrilling win over the Chiefs. He ran for 54 yards -- his second-highest rushing total in the NFL -- and two touchdowns. That said, he entered that contest with just 32 rushing yards and no ground scores on the season, so I would not bank on plus production from his legs. Plus, the Seahawks are a tough matchup. They generate pressure at an above-average rate and have allowed a below-average passer rating against. I would not chase last week's points in this one.
Why sit last week's QB3? Well, Darnold did just explode for 341 yards, four scores and a season-high 27.64 fantasy points ... though that was his first game of the season with 17 or more fantasy points. It is awesome to see Darnold still has these kinds of games in him, but I do think it was a product of him being in a scorefest with Baker Mayfield and the Bucs. I do not expect that to be the case this week against a Jacksonville defense that has been really difficult to throw on. The Jaguars' D, which leads the NFL with 14 takeaways, just made life tough on Patrick Mahomes. The Jags have allowed the second-lowest passer rating in the NFL.
Aaron Rodgers is a big name, but that is all he is -- at least in fantasy football. He enjoyed a 25.66-point outing in Week 1, but since then, he has scored fewer than 13 fantasy points in each of his last three games. And that's despite running hot touchdown-wise. His 7.4 percent TD rate is higher than any figure he's finished with since the 2020 campaign. That seems like a natural regression candidate. Plus, the Browns have allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy PPG to QBs. Avoid the trap of chasing a name.
