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Fantasy football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em and lineup advice for Super Bowl LX in 2026. Joey Pollizze analyzes in-depth matchups via game-by-game breakdowns.
Welcome, RotoBallers, to our final start'em and sit'em piece of the season as we look ahead to Super Bowl LX! This matchups analysis and Start 'Em, Sit 'Em article will look at the best and worst matchups of the week.
Super Bowl LX is finally here, and this matchup between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots is a fun one. Both teams had a top-10 defense and a top-7 offense in the regular season. This article will help you make the best lineup decisions in DFS contests or fantasy playoff challenges this weekend.
So, let's dive into Super Bowl LX and analyze the best starts and sits of the week.
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Matchups Analysis - Super Bowl LX
Seattle Seahawks at New England Patriots
Matchups We Love:
TE Hunter Henry
Hunter Henry has been a bit quiet in the last two rounds of the postseason. He caught just one pass for five yards in the Divisional Round and totaled two catches for 12 yards in the AFC Championship game. However, Henry will be a nice play this weekend. The Seahawks gave up the sixth-most receptions and fifth-most receiving yards to TEs in the regular season, while also allowing over 55 receiving yards to a TE in both playoff games so far.
HUNTER HENRY MAKES IT A TWO-SCORE GAME
LACvsNE on NBC
Stream on @NFLPlus + Peacock pic.twitter.com/MuIjMaqOpn— NFL (@NFL) January 12, 2026
Matchups We Hate:
Walker has been a fantasy superstar since Zach Charbonnet went down with a season-ending ACL injury in the playoffs. Walker has scored 35.5 PPR fantasy points and 21.1 PPR fantasy points in the last two rounds of the postseason. However, he'll have a tough matchup against a Patriots defense that held both RJ Harvey and Woody Marks to under 2.9 yards per carry in the playoffs. He'll still be a solid play, but expectations should be tempered.
Rhamondre Stevenson has taken over as the clear RB1 in this New England backfield in the postseason. In the AFC Championship game against the Broncos, Stevenson played a season-high 94% of the team's offensive snaps. The problem is that this matchup is extremely tough. Seattle gave up the third-fewest rushing yards and the fewest fantasy points to RBs in the regular season. So, it could be hard to trust him in this tough matchup.
The only thing going for TreVeyon Henderson in this game is the fact that Seattle can't contain RBs in the passing game. The Seahawks allowed the most receptions and the sixth-most receiving yards to opposing RBs in the regular season. So, there could be some opportunities for Henderson in the passing game. But after playing just four snaps in the AFC Championship game, there's very little hope for Henderson in the Super Bowl.
WR Stefon Diggs
Stefon Diggs hasn't been used much in the receiving game during the playoffs. He has caught a combined 11 passes for 73 yards and one touchdown in the Patriots' three postseason games. Now, he gets a tough matchup in the slot against a Seahawks defense that allowed the eighth-fewest fantasy points to slot WRs in the regular season. That's enough reason to pivot away from Diggs in the Super Bowl.
It has been hard to trust Rashid Shaheed in fantasy since he was traded to Seattle at the deadline. He has caught more than two passes in just two of his 11 games in Seattle, which includes catching only one pass for 51 yards in the postseason. Given New England allowed the fewest yards per completion in the regular season, there won't be many opportunities for Shaheed down the field. Therefore, he's a sit in most contests this weekend.
Other Matchups:
QB Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold has battled an oblique injury for the entire postseason, but that hasn't stopped him from putting up big numbers. He threw for 346 yards and three touchdowns against the Rams in the NFC Championship game. Even though this Patriots defense has played great in the postseason, Darnold will still be a top play. New England doesn't blitz much and plays a lot of man coverage, two things that favor Darnold.
That's how you answer on fourth. 😮💨
📺: @NFLonCBS pic.twitter.com/I9tppE8WmF
— xz* - Seattle Seahawks (@Seahawks) October 5, 2025
QB Drake Maye
Drake Maye has scored under 16 fantasy points in back-to-back postseason games, and things don't get easier for him this week. Seattle gave up the 10th-fewest fantasy points and sixth-fewest passing touchdowns in the regular season. But Maye could put up solid numbers, considering the Seahawks' defense runs zone coverage at an extremely high rate. Maye ranked fourth in passer rating against zone coverage this season.
One of the best matchups of the week is Jaxon Smith-Njigba versus Christian Gonzalez. Both have been elite at their respective positions this year, and both will have a tough matchup against each other in Super Bowl LX. Smith-Njigba ranks fifth in fantasy points per target among all WRs, while Gonzalez ranks ninth in fantasy points allowed per target among all CBs.
The matchup might be tough for the Seahawks' playmaker, but no cornerback has been able to guard him all season. That makes Smith-Njigba a must-play in all DFS contests and fantasy playoff challenges.
WR Cooper Kupp
Cooper Kupp has seen more involvement in the passing game in the postseason. He caught five passes for 60 yards in the Divisional Round and four passes for 36 yards and one touchdown in the NFC Championship game. After catching four or more passes in just four games in the regular season, Darnold appears to be leaning on his veteran more. So, Kupp could be a cheap option in DFS contests this weekend.
Kayshon Boutte leads the team in receiving yards in the postseason. He totaled over 65 receiving yards in both the Wild Card Round and Divisional Round and saw six targets in the AFC Championship game against the Broncos. So, Boutte does have some appeal in DFS contests and fantasy playoff challenges.
only one hand required for Kayshon Boutte on this one 🔥 pic.twitter.com/G87ppEv55u
— NFL (@NFL) January 18, 2026
The key for Boutte in this game will be if he can make some of those big plays down the field. That has been a staple for him throughout the 2025 season, as he averaged 11.9 yards per reception in the regular season. However, it won't be easy against a Seattle secondary that has allowed the second-fewest yards per completion.
WR Mack Hollins
Mack Hollins has operated as New England's WR3 for most of the season, which has resulted in some solid fantasy games from him. Although the Seahawks have allowed the sixth-fewest receptions and fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing WRs, Hollins has some appeal as a cheap DFS option. He has totaled over 40 receiving yards in three straight games.
DeMario Douglas hasn't really been involved on offense this season. He caught just 31 passes for 447 yards and three touchdowns in the regular season and has played under 20 snaps in back-to-back playoff games. With only three total catches for 39 yards in the postseason so far, Douglas should be avoided in most contests this week.
TE AJ Barner
After a strong fantasy campaign in the regular season, AJ Barner hasn't done much in the postseason. He has caught just two passes for 13 yards and has only seen three targets in those two playoff games. Nevertheless, Barner is worth a look as a cheaper option in DFS contests. Despite only seeing three targets in the NFC Championship, he still ran 34 routes and had an 87.2% route rate. Those are two key numbers heading into this matchup.
Injuries:
- Sam Darnold (oblique)
- Drake Maye (shoulder)
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