Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer
Compare players to see who you should start or sit this week, powered by PFN's expert projections.
Who Should I Start?
Add two or more players to compare them side by side.
Compare players side by side — this week's projection, position rank, live injury status, and the matchup. The darker band shows the 25th to 75th percentile projections for the player and the lighter band shows the 10th to 90th percentile projections
Player A
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Player B
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Add two or more players above to see their weekly ranges compared.
Analysis from PFN
Analysis and projected stats for each player will appear here once added.
What Is PFN's Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer?
PFN's Fantasy Football Start/Sit Optimizer compares two or more NFL players side by side to help you set your weekly lineup. Each player's card shows Pro Football Network's projection for this week, their weekly rank, position rank, live injury status, and that week's opponent, so you can weigh the matchup yourself in one place. It works across all six major scoring formats and there's no sign-up required.
How Does PFN's Start/Sit Optimizer Work?
Choose your scoring format, then search for and add the players you're deciding between. The optimizer lines them up side by side with each player's projected fantasy points, overall and positional rank, injury designation (such as Questionable or Out), and weekly opponent. You can compare players at the same position or across positions for a flex call, and add more than two at once — the tool presents the expert data and leaves the final start/sit decision to you.
What Does 'Start/Sit' Mean in Fantasy Football?
In fantasy football, 'start/sit' is the weekly decision of which players to put in your active lineup (start) and which to leave on your bench (sit). Only the players you start earn points toward your matchup, so choosing correctly between similar options is one of the most important skills in fantasy. PFN's free Start/Sit Optimizer helps by showing expert projections, ranks, injuries, and matchups for the players you're comparing.
How Do I Decide Who To Start in Fantasy Football?
Compare the players on four things: their projected fantasy points, their rank at the position, their injury status, and how favorable their matchup is that week. A higher projection and a better matchup generally point to a start, while an Out or Doubtful designation is a reason to bench. PFN's free Start/Sit Optimizer puts all of those data points side by side so you can make the call quickly.
Should I Start a Running Back or Wide Receiver in My Flex?
Start whichever player projects better and has the stronger matchup that week, regardless of position — there is no universal right answer. Because a flex spot can hold a running back, wide receiver, or tight end, the best choice depends on your scoring format and the specific matchups. PFN's Start/Sit Optimizer lets you compare a running back, wide receiver, and tight end head-to-head so you can pick the best option.
What Scoring Formats Does the Start/Sit Optimizer Support?
Six formats are supported: PPR, Half-PPR, and Standard (non-PPR), plus Superflex versions of each — Superflex PPR, Superflex Half-PPR, and Superflex Standard. The Superflex formats match Superflex and 2-QB leagues, where quarterbacks carry more value. Projections and ranks update to whichever format you select, so the comparison always reflects your league's settings.
Where Do the Projections and Rankings Come From?
Pro Football Network's fantasy analysts, Jason Katz and Kyle Soppe, rank every position fresh each week. Their projected points are built from five seasons of weekly scoring history at each ranking slot, so the numbers reflect injuries and depth-chart news, updated weekly, rather than a season average. The opponent is shown alongside each player so you can factor the matchup in yourself.
Does the Optimizer Tell Me Exactly Who To Start?
Not exactly — it's a side-by-side comparison, not a one-line verdict. Two players ranked close together are often closer than a projection suggests: historically, a receiver ranked in the 7–12 range beats one ranked 13–24 only about 53% of the time. You get the underlying data — projections, ranks, injury status, and opponent — and make the final start/sit decision yourself.
Is PFN's Start/Sit Optimizer Free?
Yes, completely — no cost and no sign-up required on Pro Football Network. Compare as many players as you want, as often as you want, all season long.