Congratulations if you advanced to the second round of the fantasy playoffs. I did not, unfortunately. That said, I am still chasing the perfect start and sit week. Last week was solid overall, even if one player went against expectations and popped.
Last Week’s Results
It was difficult to recommend starting Jalen Hurts after his five-turnover performance the week prior, but the matchup against the Raiders was too good to ignore. He delivered with three touchdown passes and 22 fantasy points. Travis Kelce chipped in seven catches for 70 yards and finished with 14 points, while Jakobi Meyers caught five of seven targets for 71 yards and added 12 points.
On the sit side, Courtland Sutton had his best game of the season, finishing with seven catches and a touchdown for 24 points. As fun as it was to see Philip Rivers back on the field, his chemistry with Michael Pittman was clearly not there. They connected just three times for 26 yards, and Pittman finished with five points. Christian Watson was having a decent outing before leaving with an injury and finished with five points.
Start Em
Jayden Reed, WR, Green Bay Packers
The Bears are not an easy defensive matchup, but Green Bay will likely be without Christian Watson again, which puts more responsibility on Reed. Since returning from injury, his production has been modest, but he remains a trusted option for Jordan Love. He may not explode, but the volume should be there.
Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Gainwell had a strong showing against Miami, totaling 126 yards and nearly 20 fantasy points. This week, Pittsburgh faces Detroit, a team still fighting for playoff position but dealing with injuries on defense. Gainwell’s role in the passing game makes him especially appealing, and he feels like a good bet for another productive outing.
Travis Etienne, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars
Etienne has been red hot, scoring 52 fantasy points over the past two weeks. Jacksonville draws a tough matchup against Denver, but I expect the Jaguars to lean on Etienne heavily to move the ball. He scored three times through the air last week, which likely will not repeat, but the usage keeps him firmly in the must start category.
Sit Em
Aaron Jones, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Jones has a favorable matchup against the Giants, but the Vikings’ offense remains too inconsistent to trust. JJ McCarthy has been up and down all season, and Jones managed just nine fantasy points in one of Minnesota’s better offensive performances. I would be cautious with most Vikings playmakers this week.
Zay Flowers, WR, Baltimore Ravens
Flowers has posted back to back games of 15 or more points, but I expect some regression. New England allows just over 200 passing yards per game, ranking middle of the pack, and Flowers has averaged closer to 12 points per game on the season. I expect the Patriots to key in on him, opening things up for other Baltimore options instead.
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Miami Dolphins
Waddle is a talented receiver in a tough situation. Miami’s playoff push effectively ended Monday night in Pittsburgh, and Mike McDaniel has announced that rookie Quinn Ewers will start in place of Tua Tagovailoa. That quarterback change significantly lowers Waddle’s ceiling this week.
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