Fantasy Football Skinny: Start'em, Sit'em Week Three

Last week, I profiled 46 players to either start or sit. I got 16 starts correct but missed on 15 of them—in my defense, though, Aaron Rodgers still did OK, Matt Hasselbeck got injured, and that messed up John Carlson.

In my 15 sits, only Darren Sproles, Frank Gore, Percy Harvin, and Visanthe Shiancoe put up enough points where you should have started them.

Had three tackles been made, Sproles and Gore wouldn't have made the list. Harvin surprised me with another touchdown catch, and I speculated that Shiancoe could possibly score a TD. He could be the second coming of Mark Chmura. On to this week.

Starts

Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, LeRon McClain, Joe Flacco

When Cleveland comes to town, it's a good idea to start the guys that will touch the ball. I wouldn't bet on the receivers, as Flacco spreads it around too much.

Clinton Portis, Jason Campbell, Chris Cooley, Redskins D

I was going to do another all your Redskins, but they squeaked by the Rams last week. I think that they'll step up and really put an offensive show against the Lions. And the D—well, rookie QBs throw A LOT of interceptions when they are on a bad team. They also take a lot of sacks. Detroit and Matthew Stafford. Yes, bad team and rookie QB.

Calvin Johnson

Stafford takes so many deep chances with him, at least one is going to work.

Steve Slaton, Andre Johnson, Owen Daniels, Matt Schaub

If you can run against the Jags, passing becomes really easy. If you don't have a run game, passing is much more difficult. Case in point: Joseph Addai and Donald Brown combined for 75 yards on 28 carries (2.67 per attempt), and Tim Hightower and Beanie Wells had 116 yards on 22 carries (5.27 per). I'll bet Slaton runs well, and the offense does great.

Maurice Jones-Drew

Houston couldn't stop the Titans running game, or the Jets running game. How will they stop the Jaguars running game?

Michael Turner

This is just a gut-feeling pick. With Jerod Mayo out, I don't think they Patriots will be able to stop the Atlanta running game. If they do, Matty Ice will make them pay.

Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant

If Greg Jennings was completely healthy, I'd start him too. Otherwise it's Donald Driver. Either way, the Packers should put up some points. My only worry is that the Packers could be up by a lot real fast, and not want to let Rodgers get hit so much where Matt Flynn could see some action.

Steven Jackson

The Packers haven't stopped the run yet, and Jackson is a good back.

All NY Giants

Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith, Mario Manningham, Kevin Boss, my mom, Giants D, my 10-year-old sister, and in a deep league you can start Ramses Barden if he's active, or Travis Beckum if Barden is inactive. Or Sinorice Moss maybe as a one-week sleeper as well.

Why do I like the Giants? My Bucs defense is coming to town, and two of its best three players are out this game—Jermaine Phillips (IR, fractured thumb) and Tanard Jackson (suspended). On the bright side, Leftwich is still healthy, and with his slow motion release should be sacked a few times.

Michael Clayton

Dude let me down last week. But he's tough, and the Bucs will have to throw the ball A LOT to even be in this game.

Kellen Winslow

He's becoming Leftwich's go-to guy. Should grab another TD this week.

Mark Sanchez

You can't run against the Titans, but you can throw all over them. Sanchez will either boom or bust this week. Titans need to blitz a lot more to make him bust.

Jets D

You can't run against them, and it's hard to throw against them. I don't want to play these guys.

Philly D

You can put me on the "I never like Matt Cassell" list. Here's a good time for Philly D to score another TD...and get some INTs and sacks. Glad I avoided him in my fantasy leagues this year.

Kevin Kolb

Yes, you can pass on the Chiefs. You just need a QB with a consistent release.

LeSean McCoy

Westbrook is hurt again. Anyone shocked?

Brett Favre

The Vikes better work on audibles this week. Singletary will do what ever it takes (nine in the box, anyone?) to stop Adrian Peterson.

Percy Harvin

Gets on this list only because Favre looks at him A LOT. Like "Greg Jennings 2007" A LOT.

Drew Brees, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey

The Bills really haven't played good defense this year. I'd start a Saints RB too, if I knew which one was going to be back there.

Trent Edwards, Fred Jackson, T.O., Lee Evans

The Saints D couldn't stop Detroit, and let the Eagles score a bunch of points with a backup QB. I think we'll see some O here this week.

Chicago D

I'm not scared of Seattle without Hasselbeck.

Matt Forte

Did you see Frank Gore last week? Seattle is hurt up front. Lovie Smith should pound the ball and get his young RB in rhythm.

Chad Pennington, Ronnie Brown, Ted Ginn

In the 3-4 you have to have a big space eater in the middle. And the Chargers put him on the IR last week. So until Shawne Merriman becomes "light out" again, this D is in trouble.

Phillip Rivers, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Darren Sproles

Playmakers are making big plays against the Dolphins, so I'd start mine.

Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne

I don't think the Cardinals will hold the ball for 45 minutes like the Dolphins did last week.

Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, Larry Fitzgerald

Tell me how the Colts D is going to stop this. Should be one of the top 10 scoring games of the year.

Felix Jones

And if Barber plays, Barber. If not, then start Tashard Choice. And anybody else that is going to play in the backfield.

Jason Witten

He'll have another good week.

Sits

Brady Quinn, Jamal Lewis, Braylon Edwards

And anybody else that wears a Brown uniform. It's going to be brutal on Sunday.

Matthew Stafford, Kevin Smith

Interceptions and playcalling. Things killing the Lions season thus far.

Torry Holt

Too many dropped passes and Dunta Robinson

New England Running Backs

There are too many of them, and Tom Brady will be chuckin' the rock this week.

Kerry Collins, Chris Johnson, LenDale White, Titans D

The Jets D is in town, and it looks scarier than Baltimore thus far.

Matt Cassel, Larry Johnson, and Any Other Chiefs

I think the Philly D will dominate this game.

Julius Jones

When the Seahawks are down big, they won't be running the ball.

Cedric Benson

You don't run against the Steelers. FYI.

JaMarcus Russell, Raiders Wide Receivers

The Broncos D has been very good so far.

Kyle Orton, Broncos Wide Receivers

The Raiders D has been pretty good as well, especially with mediocre QBs throwing the ball, and this week it's Mr. Mediocre himself!

Dallas Wide Receivers

They are only good if the secondary doesn't tackle. This team runs, and runs and throws to Witten in the red zone.