• Start Geno Smith: The Seattle Seahawks‘ quarterback hasn’t been a fantasy starter in most weeks, but he’s still playing well. This week is his best matchup of the season.
• Sit Gus Edwards: The Ravens' lead running back isn’t seeing enough volume to overcome the Detroit Lions‘ run defense.
• Start Kyle Pitts: Pitts has finished as a top-10 fantasy tight end in back-to-back weeks, making him worthy of being a fantasy starter once again.
Estimated Reading Time: 14 minutes
Deciding who to start or sit in fantasy football can be as easy as looking at the PFF rankings and going with the higher-ranked player. This start ’em, sit ’em column digs a step deeper, looking into why someone you might typically start might not have a good week, or why someone overlooked might have a good week. In many cases, it’s the usual starters who should star, but we want to explore the borderline players, too.
QUARTERBACKS
START
Geno Smith, Seattle Seahawks
- Smith is off to a slow start in 2023, averaging 13.9 points per game — which ranks 23rd among quarterbacks.
- Smith has generally graded out well this season, earning a 77.6 overall grade, which is only a slight decrease from his mark last season.
- His biggest problem from a fantasy perspective is he hasn’t been throwing touchdowns, averaging one per game compared to nearly two per game last year.
- The Seahawks' schedule also hasn’t been very favorable yet. All five teams they’ve faced are anywhere from average to good at limiting passing yards.
- The Seahawks have the second-best matchup for quarterbacks this week against the Arizona Cardinals, according to PFF's strength of schedule tool.
- The Cardinals have allowed the fifth-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season and are surrendering 8.0 yards per passing attempt, which is tied for the third most among defenses.
- Smith should gain plenty of yards in this favorable matchup, enough to make him a borderline fantasy starter. If he throws a touchdown or two, he will have one of the best games by a quarterback this week.
Brock Purdy, San Francisco 49ers
- Purdy was off to an excellent start until last week’s game against the Cleveland Browns.
- He posted a 75.0-plus PFF passing grade in Weeks 4 and 5 but put up a career-low 41.4 grade last week.
- Purdy has a great chance to bounce back this week against the Minnesota Vikings.
- The Vikings have allowed a catch on 75.2% of targets, the second-highest rate among defenses.
- The 49ers’ offensive line has the fourth-largest advantage over the Vikings' defensive line, according to PFF's offensive line/defensive line matchup chart.
- Purdy was under pressure on nearly half of his dropbacks last week, averaged 3.8 yards per attempt and was sacked twice while under pressure.
- Over the season, he has averaged 9.8 yards per attempt without pressure and 6.1 with pressure.
- Even if Purdy is down a skill player or two, he should still take advantage of the Vikings’ weaknesses.
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