Welcome back, readers! I am happy to return for a second year as The Sporting Tribune's fantasy football analyst. If you are new here, my mission is to help fantasy managers with any dilemmas or questions they may have through the course of the season to ultimately win their leagues. For the next 17 weeks, I will produce weekly fantasy content that will go over the waiver wire, rankings, and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em columns.
Being a fantasy manager often means having to make difficult roster decisions, but I aim to take some of the guesswork out of it with my Start 'Em and Sit 'Em column for every position. It goes without saying that I won't include obvious calls like "start Trey McBride" or "sit Tommy DeVito." Instead, I search for players that could be perceived as fringe that could propel your lineups for weekly wins.
As always, if you have any questions or don't see your players here, feel free to follow me on Twitter (X) – @JamesNewell96 and send me a message, where I typically respond in a timely manner.
Start ’Em
Dak Prescott vs. ARI (Projected FPTS – 22.0): After two rugged performances, Prescott delivered for fantasy managers with 23.38 fantasy points on Monday night against the Eagles. He should remain in your starting lineup this week against the Cardinals. Arizona’s defense has allowed five quarterbacks to score 18-plus fantasy points, including 26 or more from three different QBs. The Cardinals have surrendered the most touchdown passes (17) and are bottom five in passer rating (112.5), yards per attempt (8.5), EPA per dropback (0.24), explosive pass rate (18.4 percent) and pressure rate (31.8 percent). Prescott will be a high-end QB1 in Week Eight.
Kyler Murray @ DET (Projected FPTS – 16.6): It isn’t a complete surprise that Murray’s numbers haven’t looked good this season. He’s gone over 14 fantasy points in only one contest and hasn’t thrown for multiple touchdowns or scored a rushing touchdown in any game. However, he has run for 90 yards over his last two starts, though he has committed a turnover in three straight. He’s worth putting in your starting lineup this week against the Lions, who have surrendered the most fantasy points to the position and have allowed five quarterbacks to eclipse 21 fantasy points. This could be Murray’s breakout game.
Jacoby Brissett @ DAL (Projected FPTS – 17.7): Brissett is not a reliable fantasy quarterback in most weeks, but he can be a handy streaming option when the matchup is right. This week’s contest against the Cowboys is one where you can plug him into your starting lineup. Dallas’ defense has been awful against opposing QBs this season, allowing four to score 20 or more fantasy points. The Cowboys have also given up the sixth-most fantasy points per game and rank third in EPA per game to the position.
Honorable Mentions: Trevor Lawrence vs. IND; Kirk Cousins @ NYJ; Jordan Love vs. CAR; Geno Smith vs. LV; Jayden Daniels vs. PHI; Sam Darnold @ CHI; Aaron Rodgers vs. CLE.
Sit ’Em
Patrick Mahomes @ DEN (Projected FPTS – 16.2): Last week I listed Mahomes as a sit, and he was held to 6.7 fantasy points against the Seahawks. I have him again as someone I wouldn’t recommend starting this week against the Broncos, who’ve allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points per dropback. In his last four games, Mahomes has averaged 12.4 fantasy points and has not scored more than 17. He also hasn’t thrown a touchdown pass since Week Four. Mahomes proved me wrong earlier this season against the Broncos in Week One, when he scored 21.7 fantasy points, but I don’t expect Denver to get outplayed twice by its division rival at home.
Bo Nix vs. KC (Projected FPTS – 14.0): Nix and the Broncos’ offense had not looked efficient until last week against the Cardinals. However, people shouldn’t be fooled by this one game, in which he finished with a season-high 26.18 fantasy points. It was more points than he’d scored in his previous three games combined, and most of them came on an unexpected 62-yard touchdown run. This week he takes on the Chiefs, who held him to just 5.4 fantasy points back in Week One. Kansas City’s defense is tougher than Arizona’s and stingy against opposing quarterbacks, allowing just one QB to reach 14 fantasy points. Sit Nix this week.
Jared Goff vs. MIN (Projected FPTS – 17.3): Until I see an opposing quarterback beat this year’s Vikings defense, I’m going to be pretty skeptical, even if it means sitting Goff at home. Goff has looked fantastic this season, but Minnesota’s defense is a nightmare to go against. They’re No. 1 in pretty much every passing metric, including fantasy points per game (7.58), EPA per dropback (-0.26), TD-to-INT ratio (3:7), success rate (35.4 percent) and completion percentage over expected (-7.5 percent). The Vikings also have the highest pressure rate (48.8 percent) in the league, which is the key to disrupting Goff. The Lions’ weapons will always help Goff reach his floor, but this week I have him listed as a QB2.
Lowlights: Justin Herbert @ LAR; Malik Willis vs. NE; Baker Mayfield vs. ATL; Tanner McKee @ WSH; Michael Penix Jr. @ TB; Deshaun Watson @ PIT.