Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is our weekly look at the best and worst matchups from around the NFL and how they might affect lineup decisions for your Fantasy Football team. We are not in the business of stating the obvious, so you won't be reading here why you need to start Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson or any other top-tier players.
Jay Cutler is starting to look like the quarterback we saw last season in Denver. He's starting to look like a star again.
After a dismal performance in Week 1 at Green Bay when he threw four interceptions, Cutler has put together back-to-back outstanding games. He passed for 236 yards and two touchdowns against Pittsburgh and 247 yards, three touchdowns and one interception at Seattle.
Cutler has turned Devin Hester, Greg Olsen, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox into viable Fantasy options, and he's making plenty of Fantasy owners happy that he's their No. 1 quarterback. Oh, and Bears fans have to be giddy as well since he could become the best quarterback to ever play in Chicago.
This week, Cutler has a dream matchup against Detroit. The Lions lead the NFL with 10 passing touchdowns allowed and have been torched by Drew Brees, Brett Favre and Jason Campbell through three games.
Cutler should continue his hot streak at the expense of the Lions, which is why he's our Start of the Week. And you should plan on starting all of the Bears offensive players in this matchup, and look for Matt Forte to get going as well.
The Broncos don't appear to miss Cutler since they have started 3-0, and Kyle Orton has yet to throw an interception as the new starting quarterback. But Brandon Marshall has missed Cutler, and Eddie Royal has disappeared since Cutler left.
The Bears are glad Cutler is in Chicago, and Fantasy owners have waited for the chance to use him in a matchup like this. After two productive games against the Steelers and Seahawks, Cutler should be poised to have a breakout game against a porous Lions defense.
Sit of the Week
Aaron Rodgers has a lot to worry about this week. He has the drama of Brett Favre against the Packers. He has the pressure of a tough division game on Monday night. And, most important, he has a defense ready to attack a spotty offensive line.
Left tackle Chad Clifton (ankle) is going to try and play, but he is expected to be out for this game after getting hurt in Week 2 against Cincinnati. Clifton's absence has created all sorts of shuffling for the Packers.
Last week against St. Louis, starting left guard Daryn Colledge moved to left tackle to replace Clifton. Jason Spitz moved from center to left guard, and Scott Wells was the starting center.
While that worked against the Rams, the Vikings defensive line is a much tougher opponent with Jared Allen, Kevin Williams and Pat Williams. And Rodgers has already been sacked 12 times this year.
Along with that, Rodgers struggled against the Vikings last year. He only passed for 320 yards and one touchdown in two games with a rushing touchdown.
Minnesota has been one of the best teams in pass defense with only 168 yards per game allowed with four touchdowns, four interceptions and eight sacks. The Vikings will come after Rodgers behind his depleted offensive line, and this is a game where he will likely struggle even though Rodgers has passed for 714 yards and four touchdowns with no interceptions on the season.
You can't look at this as Favre vs. Rodgers because neither plays defense, but Favre is the better start of the two quarterbacks. That's because his offensive line is intact, his defense is better and Rodgers could be running for his Fantasy life.
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| Starts that made us look good | |||
| Player | Stats | Fantasy Points | Week 3 Start % |
| Santana Moss, WR, Washington | 178 rec. yards, TD | 23 | 47% |
| Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh | 276 yards, TD, INT, rush TD | 21 | 53% |
| Jerrico Cotchery, WR, N.Y. Jets | 108 rec. yards, TD | 16 | 53% |
| Sits that made us look good | |||
| Carson Palmer, QB, Cincinnati | 183 yards, TD, two-point conversion | 15 | 33% |
| Chris Johnson, RB, Tennessee** | 97 yards, eight rec. yards | 9 | 87% |
| Larry Johnson, RB, Kansas City | 38 yards, fumble | 1 | 38% |
| Starts that made us look bad | |||
| Trent Edwards, QB, Buffalo* | 156 yards, INT, 13 rushing yards | 5 | 38% |
| Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego | 41 yards, 14 rec. yards | 5 | 85% |
| Tim Hightower, RB, Arizona | 22 yards, 39 rec. yards, fumble | 3 | 71% |
| Sits that made us look bad | |||
| Julius Jones, RB, Seattle | 98 yards, 38 rec. yards, TD | 18 | 24% |
| Willie Parker, RB, Pittsburgh | 93 yards, 36 rec. yards, TD | 18 | 39% |
| Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati | 76 yards, TD, 5 rec. yards | 13 | 30% |
| Our favorite Week 3 sleeper pick was ... Mark Sanchez, who had 171 passing yards, two touchdowns and one interception, 10 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown and a lost fumble for 21 Fantasy points. | |||
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* -- Week 3 Start of the Week ** -- Week 3 Sit of the Week |
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Quarterbacks
Start 'Em
Carson Palmer (at CLE): Palmer has yet to have a breakout
performance this season. He had the four touchdowns (one rushing) at
Green Bay in Week 2, but he only threw for 185 yards against the Packers
with two interceptions. In fact, he only has four passing touchdowns and
four interceptions through three games with no games over 250 passing
yards. But that should change this week. He's had some of the best games
of his career against the Browns, and everyone remembers the shootout in
2007 when he passed for 401 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
It's hard to expect that type of outing, but look for Palmer to have his
best game of the season this week.
Brett Favre
(vs. GB): There were two weeks we told you before the season to plan
on using Favre, and this is one of them against his former team (the
next is Week 8 at Green Bay). The motivation is obviously there, and
Favre showed last week against San Francisco he can still throw when
needed as he passed for 301 yards, two touchdowns and one interception.
He also has five touchdowns and one interception on the season and is
playing better than expected. The Packers are among the league leaders
with six passing touchdowns allowed, and although they are tied with New
Orleans for the most interceptions (seven), they are also banged up in
the secondary. Of course, this could be a game where Adrian Peterson goes off, but you have to like Favre in this matchup
based on the revenge factor.
Eli Manning
(at KC): Manning is starting to look like a must-start quarterback
every week, especially when the matchup is in his favor. He might not
post overwhelming stats, but he's playing at a high level right now and
is clicking with his receiving corps in Steve Smith, Mario Manningham and
even Sinorice Moss. The Chiefs can't
stop anyone and have allowed five passing touchdowns with one
interception and only three sacks. You can expect the Giants to run the
ball all day, but Manning has five touchdowns and only one interception
on the season and should be good for solid stats again this week.
David Garrard (vs. TEN): Garrard doesn't have a great history
against the Titans with six touchdowns and six interceptions in his past
five meetings and no games over 250 passing yards. But these aren't the
same Titans we've seen in the past, especially on pass defense. They
come into this game allowing over 274 passing yards per game with seven
touchdowns allowed and have been scorched by Pittsburgh, Houston and the
Jets. Even rookie Mark Sanchez accounted
for three touchdowns last week against Tennessee. The Jaguars could be
playing from behind in this game, which will allow Garrard to rack up
some garbage time stats, and he's a good bye-week replacement if you
have Kurt Warner, Matt Ryan or Donovan McNabb off. I'm
starting Garrard in at least two of my leagues this week.
Jason Campbell (vs. TB): I liked Campbell the past two weeks
against St. Louis and Detroit when he passed for 582 yards, two
touchdowns and one interception based on the matchups, and he has
another good matchup here. With Clinton Portis
banged up and the running game struggling, the Redskins are allowing
Campbell to make plays with his arm. He should find success against the
Bucs, who are allowing 245 passing yards per game with seven touchdowns,
one interception and only three sacks. Tampa Bay has been beaten through
the air by Tony Romo, Trent Edwards and Eli Manning. Like
Garrard, Campbell is a great bye-week replacement this week based on the
matchup and the way he's played the past two weeks.
Sleeper alert: Kyle Orton (vs. DAL): Orton hasn't done anything spectacular so far this season, but he's been steady and is finally starting to get Brandon Marshall involved. If Eddie Royal would show up, Orton could become a solid Fantasy option worth starting every week. He has no interceptions through three games and is averaging 221 passing yards with three touchdowns to start the season. The Cowboys secondary hasn't looked good in the first two games against Tampa Bay and the Giants before stepping up against Carolina last week. Still, Dallas is coming off a short week and is on the road, so look for Orton to have a good outing. He is another solid choice as a bye-week replacement. Some other sleepers this week include Chad Henne (vs. BUF), Shaun Hill (vs. STL) and Trent Edwards (at MIA).
Sit 'Em
Joe Flacco (at NE): Flacco has been one of the best
surprise stories this year as has thrived to start his sophomore season,
but this is a tough matchup for him. The Patriots defense isn't what it
used to be, but New England is still No. 6 in pass defense and has
allowed only one passing touchdown the past two weeks. The Patriots did
a good job in limiting Matt Ryan to 199
passing yards and no touchdowns last week. Flacco is coming off a
career-high 342-yard performance last week against Cleveland and has six
touchdowns and two interceptions on the season, but the Patriots should
hold him in check. This is his toughest opponent to date after facing
Kansas City, San Diego and the Browns.
Seneca Wallace (at IND): Wallace played well in place of the
injured Matt Hasselbeck (ribs) last week
against Chicago and is expected to start for him again this week. But
the Colts are among the best pass defenses in the NFL and have allowed
only one passing touchdown this year and seven in their past 19 games
going back to last season. Even with the Colts dealing with several
injuries on defense they still limited Kurt Warner
to one touchdown and two interceptions. We can agree Warner is better
than Wallace, who is not a good bye-week replacement this week. The
Seahawks need Hasselbeck to return soon to get their passing offense
playing at a high level once again.
Mark Sanchez (at NO): The Saints proved last week they can play
defense against a decent passing attack when they limited Trent Edwards to 156 passing yards, no touchdowns and an
interception. They also held Terrell Owens
without a catch. The Saints have allowed three passing touchdowns this
season, but they are tied with Green Bay for the NFL lead with seven
interceptions. Sanchez hasn't been in a shootout yet through three
starts this season, but the Jets might need him to win this game with
his arm. I don't see that happening, and he could end up with some
turnovers this week. For the season, Sanchez has four touchdowns, two
interceptions and a lost fumble. There are better options available if
you're looking for a bye-week replacement.
Matt Cassel (vs. NYG): At some point Cassel is going to turn the
corner and start playing well, but this isn't the week. The Giants are
No. 1 in pass defense at 124 passing yards allowed per game with two
touchdowns and five interceptions. They have done this with plenty of
injuries to their secondary, but the Chiefs don't have the weapons to
overcome that. Cassel threw two touchdowns last week at Philadelphia,
but he passed for fewer than 100 yards. His offensive line will struggle
against the Giants, and Cassel could be running for his life. Cassel
doesn't look the same this year without Randy Moss
and Wes Welker on his side.
Kerry Collins (at JAC): This is one of those times where we'll go
against the matchup. The Jaguars might be last in the NFL in pass
defense, but the Titans will be handing off all day to Chris Johnson and LenDale White as
they return to what they do best. Tennessee has to give its defense a
rest after what has happened the first three weeks, and the best way to
do that is by running the ball. Collins will have his chance to make
some plays, but if Tennessee wants to climb out of its 0-3 debacle then
Johnson and White must carry the load and wear down the Jaguars.
Bust alert: Tony Romo (at DEN): Romo has not looked good the past two weeks against the Giants and Carolina with one touchdown and three interceptions while only passing for 382 yards. He is failing to connect with his receivers and only throwing underneath routes to Jason Witten. And now he faces a confident Broncos defense on a short week at a tough place to play. Denver is No. 2 in pass defense and leads the NFL with no passing touchdowns allowed. The Broncos also have five interceptions and are among the league leaders with 10 sacks. Denver hasn't exactly faced the gauntlet of top-tier passing attacks with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Oakland to start the season, but Romo's struggles could help Denver play well for another week. Keep Romo reserved if you have a better option on your bench, and hopefully he can snap out of this funk and start playing as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback soon.
Running backs
Start 'Em
Cedric Benson (at CLE): Benson was another candidate to be
the Start of the Week and is proving what someone can do when
they are motivated and getting an opportunity. Before the season we
predicted Benson would have a good year, but he's exceeded
those expectations with outstanding performances against Denver, Green
Bay and Pittsburgh to start the season. He has 66 carries for 293 yards
and two touchdowns and five catches for 37 yards and is looking like a
must-start option every week no matter who is on your roster. This week
is his best matchup to date as the Browns are tied with Houston with the
NFL lead at eight rushing touchdowns allowed. And last year, Benson ran
over Cleveland with 38 carries for 171 yards and a lost fumble. Look for
another good game in what has been a tremendous start.
Willis McGahee (at NE): Like Benson, McGahee is turning into a
must-start option. He's become this year's version of LeRon McClain and LenDale White as a
touchdown machine, and the Ravens are using him as a perfect complement
to Ray Rice. He has five rushing
touchdowns and six total scores on the season and would be explosive
with more work. Unfortunately, that's not going to happen with Rice
getting the majority of touches, but McGahee should find success again
this week even if he doesn't keep up his two touchdown average per game.
The Patriots are No. 10 against the run but No. 18 against opposing
running backs in Fantasy points allowed. And run stuffer Vince Wilfork is dealing with an ankle injury, which could be a big
problem for New England if he doesn't play.
Julius Jones (at IND): There are only so many injuries the Colts
can overcome on defense, and not having Dwight Freeney (quad), Gary Brackett
(knee) and Bob Sanders (knee) will limit
their run defense more than anything else, which will help Jones. He's
off to a great start with a touchdown each week (two rushing, one
receiving), and the Seahawks are feeding him the ball. Jones is likely
better suited to use at home, but the Colts have been bad against the
run, allowing over 125 yards per game with three touchdowns. There's
always the chance Seattle could give Edgerrin James an extra carry or two in his return to Indianapolis, but
James hasn't been much of a factor. In the two games where Seattle has
been competitive this year against St. Louis and Chicago, Jones has 19
carries in each outing, so the Seahawks know what they should do in this
matchup.
Darren McFadden (at HOU):
Like you, my patience is running out with McFadden after his slow start.
He has more fumbles (two) than touchdowns (one) through three games and
only one game over 90 total yards. The Raiders ineffectiveness on
offense is ruining any talent McFadden might have, but this is the week
to see if he can reach his potential. The Texans have the worst run
defense in the NFL and are allowing over 204 rushing yards per game with
eight touchdowns. In the first three games, Thomas Jones, Chris Johnson and Maurice Jones-Drew have been unstoppable against Houston. Now, McFadden
isn't in their class of running backs and may never be, but he should
find success this week. And in deeper leagues, consider Michael Bush a sleeper since both Oakland running backs should run well.
Glen Coffee (vs. STL): It's not often we'll suggest adding a
running back off the waiver wire and start him right away, especially
after he's coming off a performance with just 54 yards rushing on 25
carries. But that was against Minnesota in a game where Frank Gore (ankle/foot) was hurt, and this is a much better matchup.
The Rams are allowing 148 rushing yards per game and three touchdowns,
and already this season they have struggled with Julius Jones and Ryan Grant. Coffee
should get hot in his first chance to start, and this rookie from
Alabama has the chance to make the ground tremble this week.
Sleeper alert: Tashard Choice (at DEN): Even if Marion Barber (quad) plays, Choice will get his share of touches with Felix Jones (knee) out. He could either be a tremendous option if Barber is out or just a quality flex option if Barber plays. The Broncos run defense has been excellent this season at 78 yards per game and one touchdown allowed, but that was against Cincinnati, Cleveland and Oakland. This is the best offensive line Denver will face, and Choice has proven to be a good choice when Barber and Jones (knee) have been out going back to the end of last year against Pittsburgh, the Giants and Baltimore. Last week against Carolina, Choice had 18 carries for 82 yards and a touchdown, four catches for 36 yards and a two-point conversion. Some other sleepers this week include Donald Brown (vs. SEA), Ahmad Bradshaw (at KC), LenDale White (at JAC), Jerome Harrison (vs. CIN) and Ricky Williams (vs. BUF).
Sit 'Em
Marshawn Lynch (at MIA): Lynch is back this week after
serving a three-game suspension, but that doesn't mean you should make
him active in your lineup. Fred Jackson
has proven he deserves touches, and Lynch could be slow to get going
even if he does start. Remember, he hasn't been able to practice during
the suspension and should have plenty of rust. Lynch has done well in
four career games against Miami with two touchdowns and three games over
85 total yards. But the Dolphins have been stout against the run this
season, allowing just 66 rushing yards per game with two touchdowns. The
safe option with Lynch is to keep him reserved at Miami and see what
develops with Jackson on a weekly basis going forward. And keep in mind
Jackson could struggle with Lynch now stealing carries as well.
Fred Taylor (at BAL): Taylor had a tremendous performance last
week against Atlanta with 21 carries for 105 yards and a touchdown, and
he has two touchdowns on the season in three games. He should be added
in the majority of leagues, but don't rush him into your starting lineup
even if the Patriots decide to feed him the ball. This week, he has
every running back's nightmare in the Ravens, who are working on a
38-game streak of not allowing a 100-yard rushing performance. Baltimore
is No. 1 in run defense and has yet to allow a rushing touchdown this
season. Taylor is the type of running back you will want to use when the
matchup is in his favor, but this is not one of those weeks.
Larry Johnson (vs. NYG): The Giants showed last week they can
shut down most running games when they held Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward to a
combined 10 yards. The Giants have allowed two rushing touchdowns to
opposing running backs this year, but Johnson has yet to score a
touchdown and has struggled against tough opponents in Baltimore and
Philadelphia, rushing for 58 yards in those two games. The Chiefs may
start to get Jamaal Charles more
involved if their offense continues to struggle, and Johnson isn't even
worth starting as a flex option at this point when he faces a tough
defense.
Thomas Jones (at NO):
Jones has struggled the past two weeks with only 74 rushing yards
combined against New England and Tennessee, and there are whispers
around the Jets that rookie Shonn Greene
might start to see more action. Even if that doesn't happen, this should
be a tough matchup for Jones. New Orleans is a surprise to see at No. 5
in run defense at 67 rushing yards per game allowed, and the Saints even
rank ahead of Pittsburgh in this category. They have only allowed one
rushing touchdown to an opposing running back, and Jones might not see
much playing time if the Jets get behind in this game because then Leon Washington will be on the field.
Derrick Ward (at WAS): The Redskins expect Albert Haynesworth to be OK for this game after he was injured last
week against Detroit. That could be trouble for Ward, who is heading in
the wrong direction after a good start in Week 1 against Dallas when he
rushed for 62 yards and a touchdown. Since then, Ward has combined for
34 rushing yards and no touchdowns against Buffalo and the Giants. He's
now dealing with a sore knee, and Cadillac Williams remains the No. 1 option in the ground game. Ward may
come on later in the season, but he's looking like a bust early on. And
with Tampa Bay making a change at quarterback from Byron Leftwich to Josh Johnson, the
offense for the Bucs is starting to look like a mess.
Bust alert: Reggie Bush (vs. NYJ): Bush hasn't been a great Fantasy option so far this season with only one touchdown and one game with over 80 total yards. He's also had fumble problems, and now Pierre Thomas is back from his knee injury. The Saints also face the Jets, and they have only allowed one rushing touchdown on the season to LenDale White last week. The Jets have done a great job of limiting running backs out of the backfield in the passing game, allowing nine catches for 84 yards in three games, which is among the best in the league. Bush is only averaging 10 carries per game, and even though he has the ability to break a big play and is at home, the Jets should be able to contain him. Some other running backs with bad matchups this week include Darren Sproles (at PIT), Knowshon Moreno (vs. DAL) and Ryan Grant (at MIN).
Wide receivers
Start 'Em
Steve Smith (at KC): Smith might be the best surprise of
all this year. We projected him to take a huge step in his career
entering his third season and becoming the No. 1 wide receiver for the
Giants, but he has exceeded our expectations by a long shot. He has 23
catches for 277 yards and two touchdowns, and he's almost halfway toward
his career high in catches (57) and yards (574) and already has a new
career best for touchdowns. The Chiefs have struggled in pass defense
again this season, and Smith and Eli Manning
should continue to play well in this matchup. Keep Smith active in all
leagues.
Brandon Marshall (vs.
DAL): It's time to trust Marshall again after the way he played in
Week 3 against Oakland with five catches for 67 yards and a touchdown.
He is also saying and doing all the right things for the first time this
season, and he is starting to develop a rapport with Kyle Orton, who targeted Marshall seven times against the Raiders.
It helps that the Cowboys have a weak secondary and have allowed 604
yards to opposing wide receivers this season with two touchdowns. With Brandon Stokley (thigh) banged up, it has allowed Marshall to regain
his role as a featured part of the Broncos passing game, and he's worth
starting against Dallas as a No. 2 Fantasy wide receiver.
Mike Sims-Walker (vs. TEN): We liked Sims-Walker prior to the
season until he was limited in training camp with an ankle injury. But
the Jaguars didn't give up on him, and now he has the chance to be among
the top third-year breakouts this year. He has 12 catches for 187 yards
and a touchdown in the past two games and appears to be the No. 1 option
for David Garrard in the passing game.
He also has a good matchup this week against the Titans, who have
allowed seven passing touchdowns, including five to opposing wide
receivers. The Titans are also dealing with injuries in their secondary,
and Santonio Holmes, Hines Ward, Andre Johnson, Jacoby Jones, Owen Daniels and Jerricho Cotchery all went over 70 yards against the Titans so far this
year, with only Ward failing to score a touchdown.
Santana Moss (vs. TB): Moss finally woke up against Detroit last
week with 10 catches for 178 yards and a touchdown as we expected, and
he should play well again in this matchup. The Bucs are the worst team
against opposing wide receivers with seven touchdowns allowed, and Tampa
Bay has been torched by Dallas, Buffalo and the Giants. Look for Moss to
add to the misery and stay hot as the passing game for Washington is
starting to improve. Moss should definitely be active as a No. 2 Fantasy
option.
Pierre Garcon (vs. SEA): Anthony Gonzalez might start to worry that his job is in jeopardy after
Garcon has stepped up the past two weeks when Gonzalez went down with a
knee injury. Garcon had a 48-yard touchdown in Week 2 at Miami and
caught three passes for 64 yards and a touchdown last week at Arizona. Peyton Manning is showing plenty of confidence in Garcon, and he
should do well against the Seahawks, who gave up three passing
touchdowns against Chicago last week. Gonzalez might be out for two more
games heading into Indianapolis' bye in Week 6. As long as he's out,
Garcon should remain hot.
Sleeper alert: Ted Ginn, Jr. (vs. BUF): If there was ever a time for Ginn to step up and quiet the critics, this is the week. He went without a catch last week at San Diego and couldn't hold on to a potential game-winning touchdown in Week 2 against the Colts. But this week, Ginn faces a decimated Bills secondary that is without cornerback Leodis McKelvin (leg) and safety Donte Whitner (thumb). Drayton Florence is expected to start for McKelvin, but he's just coming back from a knee injury. Last season, Ginn was in need of a breakout game heading into the matchup with Buffalo in Miami, and the Dolphins fed him the ball against a gimpy Terrence McGee for seven catches and 175 yards. Ginn also could improve with Chad Henne now replacing the injured Chad Pennington (shoulder), which should lead to more throws down the field. Some other sleepers to consider this week include Kevin Walter (vs. OAK), Isaac Bruce (vs. STL), Devery Henderson (vs. NYJ) and Percy Harvin (vs. GB).
Sit 'Em
Roy E. Williams (at DEN): The Broncos haven't faced many of
the top-tier passing attacks yet with Cincinnati, Cleveland and Oakland
their first three opponents, but this secondary appears to be legit with Champ Bailey and Brian Dawkins leading
the way. Denver has yet to allow a passing touchdown, the only team in
the NFL with that distinction, and Williams hasn't scored since Week 1
at Tampa Bay. He played well last week against Carolina with four
catches for 75 yards, but he's not connecting with Tony Romo on a consistent basis and shouldn't be trusted this week.
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (at IND): Houshmandzadeh is heading in the
wrong direction when you look at his stats. He went from six catches for
48 yards against St. Louis in Week 1 to four catches for 62 yards at San
Francisco in Week 2 to just four catches for 35 yards and a fumble last
week against Chicago. Now he faces the Colts, who have allowed one
touchdown to an opposing wide receiver this season and only allowed one
passing touchdown at home last year. Nate Burleson
and John Carlson are ahead of
Houshmandzadeh in the pecking order, and Houshmandzadeh needs Matt Hasselbeck (ribs) to return soon so he can start playing like
an elite receiver again.
Dwayne Bowe
(vs. NYG): Bowe is dealing with a hamstring problem that kept him
out of last week's game at Philadelphia. If he does play against the
Giants, you should expect him to struggle. The Giants are No. 1 in pass
defense and have yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing wide receiver.
They shut down Santana Moss, Roy
Williams and Antonio Bryant the past
three weeks and should do well against Bowe in this matchup. He got off
to a good start this year with nine catches for 96 yards and two
touchdowns in the first two games, but this is a bad matchup to go with
his poor health, so stay away.
Derrick Mason
(at NE): Mason is coming off an outstanding game against Cleveland
with five catches for 118 yards and a touchdown, but this is a much
tougher matchup against the Patriots. New England is among the league
leaders in pass defense and has yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing
wide receiver. The Patriots have played well against Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Jerricho Cotchery and Roddy White,
holding White to four catches for 24 yards last week. Mason will likely
get his share of catches because he's a focal point of the offense, but
you shouldn't expect many yards or touchdowns.
Bernard Berrian (vs. GB): Brett Favre
is playing well so far this year with Berrian not really doing much. He
has 10 catches in the past two games but for only 102 yards and no
touchdowns. He doesn't look like a downfield threat at all, and the
Packers have done well against Berrian in his career. Last year, Berrian
was held to three catches for 38 yards against the Packers with no
touchdowns, and even though Green Bay has some injuries in the
secondary, Charles Woodson and Al Harris are still playing at a high level.
Bust alert: Marques Colston (vs. NYJ): You will need to have some impressive reserves to bench Colston this week or any week as long as he's healthy. I'm in a situation where I can't afford to sit him either, but I know he will struggle this week with his matchup against Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis. Already this season Revis has shut down Andre Johnson (four catches for 35 yards) and Randy Moss (four catches for 24 yards), and he will try to do the same against Colston. Again, we're not telling you to sit Colston unless you have good players on your bench, but you should lower your expectations this week if Revis plays up to his ability and what he's shown against some of the top receivers in the league. The Jets have allowed only one passing touchdown this year, and that was to Nate Washington last week on the opposite side of Revis. If Drew Brees is smart, he will stay away from Revis as well, and this could be a tough matchup for Colston. This could be a big week for Devery Henderson.
Tight ends
Start 'Em
Greg Olsen (vs. DET): Olsen got going last week against
Seattle with five catches for 44 yards and a touchdown, and that should
carry over into this week. The Lions are No. 2 in the NFL with three
touchdowns allowed to tight ends this season. In his last three meetings
with the Lions, Olsen has 11 catches for 156 yards and a touchdown, and
he should remain one of Jay Cutler's
favorite targets this week and for the rest of the year.
Vernon Davis (vs. STL): Davis showed what he's capable of with his
performance last week at Minnesota with seven catches for 96 yards and
two touchdowns. He has matured this season to the point where coach Mike
Singletary considers him a leader on the team. The Rams are among the
worst teams at defending tight ends this season and have allowed two
passing touchdowns to opposing tight ends in three games. Davis should
be considered a decent bye-week replacement if you're without Tony Gonzalez or Brent Celek.
Kevin Boss (at KC): Boss has been quiet since Week 1 while the
Giants have spread the ball around to Steve Smith
and Mario Manningham, but the Chiefs
struggle to defend tight ends. Kansas City has allowed two touchdowns to
opposing tight ends this season, and Boss could have the chance for his
first touchdown this year. Like Davis, consider Boss a solid bye-week
replacement based on this matchup.
Sleeper alert: Anthony Fasano (vs. BUF): Fasano has been terrible so far this season with almost as many fumbles (two) as catches (three). But if there's ever a time for him to get going, this is the week. The Bills are the worst team in the NFL at defending tight ends with four touchdowns allowed. Last year, Fasano had two touchdowns in two games against Buffalo, and the Bills are dealing with plenty of injuries on defense. He could be a good bye-week replacement in deeper leagues and hopefully can break out of his early season funk. Some other sleepers to consider this week include Heath Miller (vs. SD), Jermichael Finley (at MIN) and Marcedes Lewis (vs. TEN).
Sit 'Em
Jeremy Shockey (vs. NYJ): The Jets are among the best teams
in the NFL at defending tight ends, having allowed only 12 catches for
109 yards and no touchdowns this year. Shockey has played well this
season, but he hasn't topped 50 yards in a game yet. He also hasn't
scored since Week 1 against Detroit. Shockey will remain an integral
part of the offense, but this is a tough matchup for him. If you can,
keep Shockey on the bench this week.
Zach Miller (at HOU): What started out as a promising year with
six catches for 96 yards against the Chargers has turned into a waste.
He only has two catches for 17 yards in his past two games, and the
Texans have only allowed nine catches for 156 yards to opposing tight
ends this season. Last year, Miller had four catches for 70 yards
against the Texans, but it's hard to envision him posting those kind of
stats after how little he's been used the past two weeks.
Benjamin Watson (vs. BAL): Watson has cooled off after a hot start
when he caught six passes for 77 yards and two touchdowns against
Buffalo. Since then, he has four catches for 46 yards. The Ravens have
only allowed one touchdown to an opposing tight end and have limited
tight ends to eight catches for 102 yards. The Patriots passing game is
out of sync so far this year, and Watson hasn't benefitted at all with Wes Welker's knee injury. We'll see if Watson can get going again,
but right now you can't keep him active with his lack of activity.
Bust alert: John Carlson (at IND): The Colts are the No. 1 team against opposing tight ends this year, allowing just seven catches for 44 yards and no touchdowns. Carlson has tailed off since catches six passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns in Week 1 against St. Louis. He has nine catches for 74 yards in his past two games, and he might be missing the injured Matt Hasselbeck (ribs). With Hasselbeck not expected to play and the matchup, this is a good week to keep Carlson on the bench.
Defense/Special teams
Start 'Em
San Francisco (vs. STL): The 49ers defense gave Minnesota wide
receiver Greg Lewis a little too much
room in the back of end zone last week otherwise San Francisco would be
3-0 coming into this game. Coach Mike Singletary has turned the defense
around, and this week they have a great matchup against the Rams, who
could be starting backup quarterback Kyle Boller
in place of the injured Marc Bulger
(shoulder). The Rams offense has struggled this season and is averaging
just 8.0 points per game, so the 49ers DST should be able to play well
and is worth starting this week.
Other DSTs with good matchups: Cincinnati (at CLE), Houston (vs. OAK) and Washington (vs. TB)
Sit 'Em
Green Bay (at MIN): The Packers DST has done well in forcing turnovers and scoring touchdowns, and that could be a benefit against a gunslinger like Brett Favre. But Favre has played under control for the most part, and the Packers will struggle to stop Adrian Peterson in this matchup. The Vikings should be able to move the ball with Green Bay dealing with injuries on defense, and the Packers could be in for a long night as Favre tries to put on a show against his former team.
Kicker
Start 'Em
Shaun Suisham (vs. TB): The Bucs are the worst team against
opposing kickers this season and have allowed eight field goals with
seven made kicks and 10 extra points. Suisham has been a disappointment
this year like most of the Redskins with only four field goals and four
extra points, but Washington should be able to move the ball in this
matchup. Suisham made three field goals in his lone home game against
St. Louis in Week 2, and he should have another productive week against
Tampa Bay.
Other kickers with good matchups: Shayne Graham (at CLE), Rian Lindell (at MIA) and Joe Nedney (vs. STL)
Sit 'Em
Nate Kaeding (at PIT): Kaeding missed a field goal last week at home against Miami from 25 yards, but he rebounded with three made kicks and has eight field goals in nine attempts. But the Steelers are No. 2 against opposing kickers with only three field goals allowed in six attempts. Kaeding was 1 of 2 on field goals at Pittsburgh last year in the regular season, and he only has one game with more than two field goals in his past five road games going back to last year.
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