As always, Start 'Em, Sit 'Em is geared toward helping fantasy managers make difficult roster decisions. You won't see "start Jahmyr Gibbs" 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 -- or Instagram -- @mattokadaNFL -- and hit me with your questions, congratulations or complaints throughout the year.
Start 'Em
Start of the Week
Young has thrown multiple touchdowns in three of his last four games and averaged 19.1 fantasy PPG since Week 11 of last season. He's been helped by Jalen Coker's breakout, as Young has a 135.9 passer rating when targeting the third-year wideout, highest of any QB-WR duo with at least 45 targets since the start of the 2025 season. This week, Young faces a Falcons team that's down multiple key defenders. Young put up 448 pass yards, three TDs and 31.8 fantasy points in an overtime win when they last met (Week 11, 2025). He’s an excellent stream.
Notable starts
This is partially an apology for doubting Williams last week, partially an indictment of the Vikings’ Week 1 defense and partially a declaration that Williams has become must-start material until further notice.
Lawrence has reached must-start territory, even on the road against Denver's defense, which looked mortal against the Chiefs on Monday night. He tagged Denver for 31.2 fantasy points in Week 16 last season.
Purdy, who completed 73.5 percent of his passes and threw three TDs against the Rams in Australia, is a weekly start candidate and an easy lock against the Dolphins, who gave up three TDs to Raiders QB Kirk Cousins in Week 1.
After a rough opener, Stafford returns home to face the Giants. Simply put, the Rams veteran and his offense are far too talented to score only one touchdown again.
Mayfield surrendered three of the Bucs' four fumbles last week. He was otherwise efficient and should rebound against a Browns defense that allowed four pass TDs in Week 1.
Sit 'Em
Sit of the Week
Against the Raiders in Week 1, Willis logged a 55.6 percent completion rate and an interception with no TDs, finishing bottom-five among qualified QBs in passer rating and success rate. He avoided a single-digit fantasy day with a 14-yard rushing TD, but even his ground game (39 yards on six attempts) was otherwise disappointing. Now, Willis draws a matchup with a 49ers defense that just held the juggernaut Rams offense to seven points.
Notable sits
Herbert is only a sit candidate if WR Ladd McConkey (ribs) doesn't play in Week 2. Herbert averaged 10.3 yards per attempt with McConkey on the field in Week 1 and just 5.4 yards per attempt after the wideout was sidelined.
Shough, who made an appearance in this week's waiver wire column, will be a streamable QB throughout 2026. However, I'd hesitate to stream him on the road against Trey Hendrickson and Co. in a week with a plethora of viable starters elsewhere.
