The fantasy playoffs are finally here, and for those who didn’t secure a first-round bye, this week’s start/sit decisions are crucial. After DK Metcalf and Tony Pollard exploded out of nowhere last week, I’m hoping this week’s selections behave a little better.

Most of my other calls paid off, including Jakobi Meyers (start), Patrick Mahomes (sit), Isaiah Likely (start), and Oronde Gadsden II (sit), so I remain confident heading into the playoffs.

Before I begin, for those looking to stream a QB, TE, Kicker, or Defense this week, my weekly streamers article for PFSN is available here. The waiver wire is looking desperate at quarterback this week, but there are some great options at tight end and defense.

But for this article, I’ve pinpointed 10 players to either start or sit this week, including the Plug-and-Play Waiver Add of the Week.

START: Jaxson Dart, QB, New York Giants

Jaxson Dart has been phenomenal for fantasy managers since taking over the reigns in New York. The Giants rookie has been the fifth-best quarterback in FPPG since Week 4, but may have his doubters after a down game against the Patriots in Week 13.

With a bye week following that game, Dart may need to give managers a reason to start him again, and I think he provides that reason this week. Week 13 was his first game after a two-week injury layoff, and after an extra week to rest, Dart faces a Commanders defense that has allowed the fifth-most FPPG to QBs this year.

SIT: Jacoby Brissett, QB, Arizona Cardinals

This is a start/sit decision that I am making in one of my own leagues, having picked up both Dart and Brissett ahead of the rush this year. Brissett has been incredibly trustworthy in fantasy, producing top-12 numbers in all eight of his starts since replacing Kyler Murray.

Regardless, I can’t look beyond the Houston Texans defense inn this game. The Texans have allowed the fewest FPPG to opposing QBs this season, and just held Patrick Mahomes to 9.3 fantasy points in a must-win game for the Chiefs.

Brissett has been a hero off waivers this year, but I expect his perfect record of QB1 finishes to end this weekend.

START: TreVeyon Henderson, RB, New England Patriots

TreVeyon Henderson certainly made fantasy managers wait this year, but those who remained patient have reaped the rewards recently. Despite the return of Rhamondre Stevenson, Henderson remains the team’s primary rushing threat, and should put up some numbers against Buffalo this week.

The Bills have allowed 5.1 yards per carry this season, the third-most of any team in the NFL, tied with the Giants. On a cold December night at Foxborough, Henderson has a lofty ceiling to pair with his recently-stabilized floor.

START: Kareem Hunt, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

I couldn’t find a standout “sit” candidate that wasn’t obvious this week, so I thought I’d point out a second “start.” Kareem Hunt is coming off two down weeks by his standards, but there are enough reasons to trust him.

Hunt has scored six touchdowns in his last six games, and was a top-21 back in four of those. His last two games, in which he has finished as the RB29 or worse, include the only game of his last six without a touchdown, and a Week 14 matchup with the elite Texans defense.

There is no guarantee of a friendlier game script against the Chargers this week, but Jim Harbaugh’s men have allowed 4.6 yards per carry this year, eighth-most in the NFL. Add to that that Hunt remains Kansas City’s lead back and preferred goal-line rusher, and the veteran should have opportunities to accumulate points.

START: Jakobi Meyers, WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

Just a quick note on Jakobi Meyers, as I’ve promoted him at nauseum since his move to Jacksonville, but I know that most of you are visiting this blog for the first time. Meyers has caught a touchdown in each of the last three weeks, and has at least six targets and double-digit PPR points in each of the last four.

According to Yahoo, Meyers is still starting in only 35% of leagues, hence his mention. If you have him, he should at least be in your flex this week.

START: Jauan Jennings, WR, San Francisco 49ers

Jauan Jennings is also starting in surprisingly few leagues, despite his ongoing chemistry with quarterback Brock Purdy. The receiver is coming off back-to-back top-20 fantasy finishes against tricky secondaries in Carolina and Cleveland, and gets a far friendlier matchup against the Titans this week.

Jennings has four touchdowns in his last five games, and at least six targets in each of his last four. Tennessee, meanwhile, has allowed the 10th-most passing yards per game (228.5) and the 10th-most FPPG to opposing wide receivers (35.8).

SIT: Xavier Worthy, WR, Kansas City Chiefs

Xavier Worthy has put up just one top-27 fantasy week all year, despite Rashee Rice missing the opening six weeks of the season. His volatility is made worse by the fact that even his spike week against the Ravens in Week 4 was only good for 17.1 PPR points.

The Chargers defense prefers to keep opposing offenses in front of them, rather than to be more aggressive and risk conceding big plays. That favors the likes of Rice (4.8) and Travis Kelce (6.7), whose ADOTs are at least five yards less than Worthy’s (11.7).

START: Isaiah Likely, TE, Baltimore Ravens

The Cincinnati Bengals have given up the second-most passing yards per game of any team in the NFL this season. Despite this, they’ve allowed the third-fewest FPPG to opposing wide receivers.

That stat doesn’t appear to make much sense, until you find out that the Bengals have allowed 325 more receiving yards to tight ends than any other team. They have also given up six more receiving touchdowns to the position than the next worst team, and 8.3 more PPR points per game.

That makes Likely a potential week-winner in fantasy, and the potential TE1 overall. The Ravens star has taken some time to get going this year, but is coming off back-to-back games with six targets and 12.5 PPR points.

He’d have totaled 20.5 PPR points against the Bengals in Week 13 if not for a goal-line fumble, and he could be in for a score somewhere around that number this week.

SIT: Hunter Henry, TE, New England Patriots

This one makes me feel a little nervous, given Hunter Henry’s form and the fact that Mike Gesicki totaled 20.6 PPR points against the Bills in Week 14. However, that performance looks to be an outlier for the Bills defense, which has allowed the fewest FPPG to tight ends this season.

Gesicki is one of only two players to tally double-digit PPR points against the Bills this year. In fact, only six tight ends have topped five PPR points against them all season.

Henry is getting plenty of volume lately, and the status of Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard could be key, but it’s as tough a matchup as you could ask for at tight end.

Plug-and-Play Waiver Add of the Week: Keaton Mitchell, RB, Baltimore Ravens

If you’ve got this far into the week, and have missed the priority waiver targets, Keaton Mitchell could help you out this week if you’re in need of a flex. The Ravens speedster has almost no floor, making him a risky inclusion, but he faces a great matchup against Cincinnati.

The Bengals have allowed the most FPPG to running backs, and the most receiving touchdowns to the position (six). Mitchell can take it to the house on any play, and has averaged 9.35 PPR points over his last two games.

He won’t be a weekly starter as long as Derrick Henry is healthy, but he has the electric speed and playmaking ability to carve up the Bengals this week.

That’s it for this week’s starts and sits. Remember to check out my streamers article for the best weekly rentals at QB, TE, Kicker, and Defense if you’re in need. I’ll also be posting weekly rankings for the rest of the year, with a view to making that a permanent feature of the blog next season.

For all of my fantasy content, including my work for PFSN, you can follow me on X, BlueSky, or LinkedIn. Alternatively, you can subscribe to this blog, for free, to receive an email notification every time a new article drops.

Thanks for reading!

* Xavier Worthy Cover Image Credit: Charlie Riedel/AP