You've been there. It’s 11:45 AM on a Sunday. You’re staring at your flex spot, oscillating between a boom-or-bust rookie and a veteran who hasn't scored since October. You open Twitter, refresh the late-breaking news, and then you do what millions have done for decades: you look for the "Fabiano" seal of approval.
The Michael Fabiano sit start column isn't just a list of names; it’s basically a weekly ritual for the fantasy football community. Fabiano, a Fantasy Sports Writers Association Hall of Famer, has been the face of the industry since many current NFL stars were in elementary school. He moved over to Sports Illustrated (SI) a few years back, and honestly, the move solidified his "Start 'Em, Sit 'Em" series as the gold standard for mainstream advice.
The Fabiano Philosophy: It’s Not Just Guessing
A lot of people think fantasy analysts just throw darts. They don't. Fabiano’s process is rooted in a mix of historical trends, volume projections, and matchup data. If he tells you to sit a superstar, it’s usually because the "advanced metrics"—a term we use way too much, but it fits here—show a shrinking floor.
For example, look at how he handled the 2025 season. While everyone was chasing the high of Lamar Jackson's previous MVP years, Fabiano was one of the first to point out that the offensive shift in Baltimore was capping his ceiling. By the time the season ended, Jackson finished as the QB20. That’s a massive miss for most people, but if you followed the Michael Fabiano sit start logic early on, you weren't the one left holding the bag.
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Why the Michael Fabiano Sit Start Column Still Matters in 2026
In a world of TikTok "gurus" and AI-generated rankings, there is something weirdly comforting about a guy who has seen every iteration of the NFL over the last 25 years. He’s survived the era of the workhorse back and navigated the transition to the pass-heavy league we see today.
His columns usually break down into specific categories:
- The "Start of the Week": This is his lock. It’s the player with the perfect intersection of high volume and a terrible opposing defense.
- The "Sleeper" Tier: These are the guys you grab off the waiver wire because a starter just hit the IR on Friday afternoon.
- The "Bust Alert": This is where people get mad. Fabiano isn't afraid to tell you to sit your second-round pick if the matchup is a nightmare.
The 2025-2026 Postseason Strategy
As we head into the thick of the 2025-2026 playoffs, Fabiano has shifted his focus toward "one-and-done" leagues and PPR-specific rankings. If you're looking at his latest advice for the Divisional Round, he’s leaning heavily into the high-floor guys.
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Josh Allen remains his top-ranked quarterback—no surprise there after Allen’s sixth straight year of elite production. But look at the nuances in his wide receiver rankings. He has Puka Nacua and Jaxon Smith-Njigba at the very top for the divisional slate. Why? Because volume is king in the postseason. You aren't looking for the 40-yard bomb; you’re looking for the guy getting 12 targets.
Breaking Down the "Fabby" Awards and Beyond
Every year, Fabiano drops the "Fabby Awards." It's his way of recapping the season and acknowledging the players who either saved or ruined our lives. For 2025, Christian McCaffrey took home the MVP honors, which feels right given his resurgence.
But the real value in these articles isn't the trophies. It’s the "101 Facts" he publishes. Did you know that in 2025, only seven of the top 12 drafted QBs actually finished in the top 12? That kind of data is why his Michael Fabiano sit start advice is so sticky. It reminds us that we are all basically playing a game of probability where the house (the NFL) always tries to mess with the odds.
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How to Actually Use This Advice
Look, nobody is 100% right. Even a Hall of Famer gets burned when a hamstring pulls in the first quarter. To get the most out of Fabiano’s picks, you should:
- Check the "Lineup Logic": Don't just look at the name; read why he likes them. If he likes a RB because the opponent's defensive tackle is out, and that tackle is suddenly cleared to play, the advice changes.
- Cross-reference with the Fantasy Dirt Podcast: Fabiano co-hosts this on SI, and it's where he adds the "vibe check" that doesn't always make it into the written column.
- Watch the Saturday Updates: The NFL is chaotic. Injuries happen at the 11th hour. Fabiano is usually active on social media and SI.com to pivot when news breaks.
Actionable Insights for Your Next Matchup
Stop overthinking the "name value" of your roster. If the Michael Fabiano sit start column says a guy is a bust for the week, it's usually because the data is screaming it. Use his rankings to identify "volume monsters" rather than chasing last week's touchdowns. Trust the process, look at the targets, and maybe—just maybe—you'll finally win that trophy that's been eluding you.
Check the latest SI rankings before the Saturday afternoon kickoff. It's the difference between a championship and a "better luck next year" text from your league-mates.