Fantasy football managers face critical decisions every week about who to start and sit on their rosters. Making the right calls can mean the difference between winning your matchup or heading home disappointed.
The landscape changes rapidly due to matchups, injuries, and team dynamics. This week’s start and sit recommendations offer plenty to think about for anyone serious about fantasy football success.
Start ‘Em: Alvin Kamara, New Orleans Saints (vs. ATL)
Perhaps rumors of Alvin Kamara’s demise were exaggerated (I won’t say greatly). Before the bye, the 30-year-old back saw his heaviest workload of the season, turning 22 carries into 83 yards while also adding three receptions for 32 yards. Despite not scoring, Kamara’s 14.5 fantasy points marked his second-highest total of the season.
If Kamara is ever going to hit 20 fantasy points in a game again, this is the spot. The Atlanta Falcons are a dead team walking. One of the worst teams in football, they very well may be down their starting quarterback and elite WR1 with both Michael Penix Jr. and Drake London nursing injuries.
MORE: Free Fantasy Start/Sit Optimizer
At home, the Saints can absolutely avoid a negative game script and possibly even win. In an ideal world, Kellen Moore won’t have Tyler Shough attempt more than 25 passes.
Devin Neal will certainly mix in, but Kamara remains the lead back and proved he can still handle a significant workload. The spot couldn’t be better against a defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points per game to running backs.
Kenneth Walker III and Zach Charbonnet, Seattle Seahawks (at TEN)
Last week, the Seattle Seahawks backs were on the other side of this column. The hit rate was 50% as Kenneth Walker III wound up with his best game of the season, while Zach Charbonnet completely flopped. This week, they are both in play.
With the Seahawks coming off a loss, they are primed for a bounce-back. This is a game they should win easily and control on the ground. And you want to run on the Tennessee Titans.
Don’t let their ability to contain Woody Marks and Nick Chubb fool you; the Titans cannot stop the run. This defense allows the sixth-most fantasy points per game to running backs. Walker should be able to dance around and break off a big run or two. And Sam Darnold should be able to get this team in scoring position enough for Charbonnet to punch in a short touchdown.
Sit ‘Em: Tyrone Tracy Jr., New York Giants (at DET)
Last week, I faded Tyrone Tracy Jr. against a tough Green Bay Packers defense. It backfired as the sophomore runner had his best game of the season with 17.9 fantasy points. But we must stick to the process. And the process leads to fading the Giants runner once again.
This is a terrible spot for the Giants. They are on the road against an angry Lions team coming off an embarrassing offensive performance against the Eagles. Detroit should obliterate the Giants, who are trending toward starting Jameis Winston once again.
A negative game script is bad enough for a running back’s prospects of producing. To make matters worse, the Lions have been an elite run-stopping unit, allowing the second-fewest fantasy points per game to the position. Add in the fact that Devin Singletary appears to be the goal line back, and the avenues for Tracy to post passable numbers dry up very quickly.
Tony Pollard, Tennessee Titans (vs. SEA)
It feels as if the entire Titans offense can go in the sit section every week. But we’ll focus on Tony Pollard.
Through 11 weeks, Pollard’s best fantasy outing of the season is the 14.8 fantasy points he scored in Week 5 against the Cardinals. Since Week 6, he’s crossed double digits once. His best outing in his last three is 7.8 points.
Now, Pollard gets a Seahawks defense that ranks among the best in the league. They allow the 11th-fewest fantasy points per game to running backs. Pollard can’t even survive purely on volume, as he was outsnapped by Tyjae Spears last week, a trend that seems to be holding based on repeated negative game script. The Titans are not about to find themselves in an advantageous spot this time. Pollard belongs on the benches.
