Start em Sit em Week 2

Start em Sit em Week 2

Week 1 of the NFL season is in the books providing surprises as usual. Two of the top three picks in fantasy drafts were duds (LeSean McCoy, Jamaal Charles) while undrafted players like Allen Hurns and Isaiah Crowell had big games. Week 2 is a good time to see whether trends will continue from the first week or they are anomalies.

One note about my article- I'm not going to write about obvious starts, you're obviously going to start your Peyton Manning's, LeSean McCoy's and Calvin Johnson's every week. These start em sit ems will be highlighting the players below the elite tiers where you have two or three options around the same level to choose from.
Without further ado:

Start em QB's

Jake Locker vs Cowboys- Ken Whisenhunt has done a great job maximizing his QB production over the years and Locker could be the latest to succeed under his tutelage. Facing the porous Cowboys defense at home Locker should have plenty of time to throw down field to Kendall Wright, Justin Hunter and Delanie Walker. The Cowboys offense should be more competitive this week so expect a shootout which is potentially good for Lockers stats.

I would start him over- Jay Cutler @ 49ers.

Andy Dalton vs Falcons- Dalton has been a very good fantasy option at home over the past year. He faces a great matchup against a Falcons side who can't stop the pass. Another high scoring matchup.

I would start him over-  Russell Wilson @ Chargers, Carson Palmer @ Giants

Tony Romo @ Titans- Let's give Romo a mulligan. The Cowboys were completely unprepared for the the 49ers last week. They have too many good players on the offense for Romo not to be productive unless he is still recovering from his back injury. If he doesn't produce this week it maybe time to change our expectations of him as a No.1 Fantasy QB.

I would start him over Tom Brady @ Vikings,

Deep League/Desperation play-

Ryan Fitzpatrick @ Raiders- Geno Smith managed to look OK vs the Raiders in Week 1 which means Fitzpatrick should be able to surpass his numbers with better weapons around him. In  a 16 team or 2 QB leagues Fitzpatrick should be considered over the likes of Josh McCown, Smith and even Phillip Rivers.

Sit em QB's

Jay Cutler @ 49ers- With injuries to two offensive lineman and his two best Wr's, Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey, Cutler is worth a sit this week away in San Francisco. Look for the Bears to utilise Matt Forte in the running game more against a run defense which was exposed by the Cowboys last week. The schedule gets better for Cutler later but this week there are better options.

RGIII vs Jaguars- It looks like an enticing matchup but the truth is RGIII is not the player he was in his rookie year. He has no confidence in running away from pressure or hanging in the pocket and throwing it deep. His game looks to be check downs to RB's and TE's which doesn't produce fantasy points . The Jags D Line isn't bad so they should be able to put up enough pressure on RGIII to keep him off his game. Until he shows you he can get out of this rut he should be on your bench.

Phillip Rivers vs Seahawks- If they can shutdown Aaron Rodgers....

Cam Newton vs Lions- Despite facing a Lions D with an awful secondary I would avoid Newton who is nursing several injuries and maybe rusty. Could take him a couple of weeks to get into form.

Start em RB's

Shane Vereen @ Vikings- The fact that he got goal line work and scored from within 5 yards is significant. Vereen saw the majority of the reps over Ridley and this should continue. He's more valuable in PPR leagues but I think he will be a solid mid No.2 RB in standard for the rest of the year if he can stay healthy. Tom Brady needs his security blanket.

Shonn Greene vs Cowboys- Fantasy Football Rule No.1- start all RB's against the Cowboys this year. Greene was effective vs the Chiefs last week so going for 71 yards on 15 carries. Although he he won't catch passes out of the backfield he will get goal line opportunities, which could be a lot this week. A solid No.2 RB this week.


Frank Gore AND Carlos Hyde vs Bears- Well it looks like the Bears run defense hasn't improved from last year. The Bills gashed them for large gains on the ground and they aren't as good as the 49ers. Gore had a disappointing stat line against the Cowboys, losing a goal line TD to Hyde. However the game was over before it really began so I think the 49ers decided to rest Gore. The Bears game should be closer so expect Gore to see more carries and TD opportunities. He's a high end No.2 this week while Hyde is a good flex option.

Terrance West vs Saints- The loss of Ben Tate inevitably to injury means West gets the start in a what is going to be a very good running team with plenty of opportunities. The Saints defense was trumped up before the season as a potential Top 5 but I never saw it that way, they struggle away from home especially. If the Browns defense can limit Drew Brees then West and fellow rookie Isaiah Crowell will see a lot of work.

Sleeper- Ahmad Bradshaw vs Eagles- I hope people are realizing that Trent Richardson is a bust and shouldn't be started until a change in scheme. Pep Hamilton's power running scheme doesn't suit the personnel and really limits this offense. Bradshaw is the 3rd down back who is going to catch a lot of passes out of the backfield. For that reason he has more fantasy value than Richardson, especially in PPR leagues.

Sit em RB's

Joique Bell & Reggie Bush @ Panthers- Over the last seven games the Panthers have not given up a rushing touchdown.That's not to say that Bell and Bush could get a receiving touchdown but it's not something to bet on against this elite front seven. Bell especially is reliant on TD's to make him fantasy relevant so avoid starting him.

Ryan Matthews vs Seahawks-

The Hawks made Eddie Lacy largely ineffective last week, the same will occur to Matthews.

Zac Stacy @ Buccaneers-

If Austin Davis is going to be starting QB for the Rams you can guarantee the the Bucs will stack at 8 men in the box and dare Davis to beat them through the air. This along with Benny Cunningham siphoning off carries means Stacy is quickly looking like one of the bigger RB busts this year.

Steven Jackson @ Bengals- Despite Jackson running well in week one the Falcons are now a four back committee. Antone Smith, Jacquizz Rodgers and Devonta Freeman all bring their own skills and strengths to this running game which leaves fantasy owners trying to guess which one will produce the most. Avoid this situation until it's clarified through injuries.

Start em WR's

Michael Floyd @ Giants- The Giants couldn't stop Calvin Johnson and Golden Tate so start Floyd with confidence as a low end No.1 WR. Larry Fitzgerald and John Brown can be options for you as well but Floyd looks to be well and truly the No.1 target in the Cardinals offense.

Kendall Wright & Justin Hunter vs Cowboys- Wright only needs one more TD to match last years total while Hunter was targeted the most out of all the Titans wideouts which bodes well for him. Whisenhunt's offense can make both of these guys productive. 

Brandin Cooks & Marques Colston @ Browns- The Saints seemed to have picked an immediate rookie contributor in Cooks who flummoxed the Falcons secondary last week. Both him and Colston are movable chess pieces who can exploit opponents weaknesses in coverage. The Browns have Joe Haden at one CB but the other two spots occupied by Justin Gilbert and Buster Skrines are areas where the Saints can exploit.

Kelvin Benjamin vs Lions- The first week against the Bucs only confirmed to everyone that outside of Greg Olson, Benjamin is the only viable fantasy WR on the Panthers roster. He can physically overpower CB's despite his raw route running abilities. The Lions secondary will pose no threat for him this week.

Jarrett Boykin vs Jets- Boykin was sacrificed last week to the demi-CB god Richard Sherman. The Jets secondary could be the worst in the league. Boykin is a solid No.3 WR this week and going forward.

TY Hilton & Reggie Wayne vs Eagles- If Allen Hurns can burn Cary Williams for 2 scores and 110 yards then Hilton and Wayne will have a field day. Wayne and Hilton were targeted 13 and 11 times respectively against the Broncos, Luck is looking to them first and foremost. Start with confidence.

Andrew Hawkins vs Saints- Hoyer needs somebody to throw to. Hawkins can get open in the short-intermediate areas with his quickness and change of direction. In PPR leagues Hawkins is going to be a solid No.3 the whole year as long as he can stay healthy.

Sit em WR's

Victor Cruz vs Cardinals- The Giants outside of Rashad Jennings can not be trusted fantasy options. Cruz has the talent to be a No.1 WR but this offense is so disjointed and he's facing Patrick Peterson this week. Thankfully will face six games in the NFC East this year but he's not going to be match up proof like you hoped when you drafted him.

Keenan Allen vs Seahawks- The next to experience the Seahawks secondary experience starring Richard Sherman, Byron Maxwell and Earl Thomas making him irrelevant for a game. I would strongly consider dropping him this week.

DeSean Jackson vs Jaguars- His fantasy value is limited by an  Offensive Line unable to protect the QB long enough and RGIII's timidness to throw downhill. Those two factors means Jackson is a very hit and miss fantasy option. Until RGIII shows something you can't trust any of Washington's WR's outside of Garcon.

Danny Amendola @ Vikings- Amendola looked slow and sluggish through the preseason and now a poor start in Week 1 in a favorable matchup is a major red flag. Julian Edleman is obviously Brady's most trusted target outside of Rob Gronkowski and Shane Vereen. Outside of that their maybe very little fantasy value until Aaron Dobson returns from injury.

Start em TE's

Dwayne Allen vs Eagles- If you are an owner of Jordan Cameron or Jordan Reed  this would be a great replacement. Allen, not Coby Fleener is the TE to own in the Colts. You are going to see a lot of 5  receptions for 64 yards and a TD stat lines from him this year. Luck trusts him in the red zone and he doesn't go off the field as he's the best blocking TE in the team. He's going to be a mid to low end No.1 this season for a team that will need to score at least 30 points a week to win.

Delanie Walker vs Cowboys- The LB corp of the Cowboys is atrocious while the safeties will have to help the CB's cover Wright and Hunter on the outside. Walker could be in store for a nice outing this week.

Sleeper- Larry Donnell vs Cardinals- I f you are truly desperate for TE help Donnell could produce something against a Cardinals defense who have trouble stopping TE's. With Eli Manning struggling with his outside throws he may turn to Donnell as much as he did in Week 1.

Sit em TE's

Eric Ebron @ Panthers- Ebron was over drafted in leagues, he was never going to see the targets that people expected him to have where Johnson,Tate,Bush and Bell are all ahead of him. No catches from three targets doesn't inspire confidence to be even a desperation flex.

Start em DST's

Houston Texans @ Raiders- JJ Watt vs rookie Derek Carr? Yes please.

Green Bay Packers vs Jets- Geno Smith is not good people, he just faced  the worst team in the world and he looked OK. The Packers have an extra half week to prepare for him and will be smarting after being demolished by the Seahawks offense.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers vs St Louis Rams- Both defenses should feast on the inept other side of the ball.