Fantasy Football 2012 Week 2: Start 'Em and Sit 'Em

If you’re a fantasy football owner, you most likely fall into one of two categories:

1-0 or 0-1.

Everyone in the first category is looking to keep a goose egg in that right-hand column. Everyone in the second wants to eliminate the donut in the left.

Even if you were involved in one of those tie-game scenarios in Week 1, the focus of all fantasy owners should be adding a tally to the win column when the smoke clears on Monday night.

Here’s who I would give added consideration to starting and sitting in Week 2.

Ben Roethlisberger and Antonio Brown, Pittsburgh Steelers (vs. New York Jets)

Suggestion: Start 'em.

Let’s pretend for a second that the Jets’ offense is for real. Not 40-plus points per game for real, but a legitimate threat to put up 21 or 28 on a weekly basis.

That would work in Ben Roethlisberger’s favor in terms of fantasy points generated.

You know what else helps Roethlisberger’s prospects?

Darrelle Revis is out for the Jets.  

This also has the potential to favorably affect Antonio Brown. The common opinion is that the Jets will send out the long and fast Antonio Cromartie to run with Steelers speedster Mike Wallace.

I agree with that thinking.

That means Brown will be running routes against a cornerback who is a few steps below Revis’ elite cover abilities.

The Steelers have been more willing to throw the ball as they begin this season without running back Rashard Mendenhall.

Sounds like a recipe for fantasy success for Brown and Roethlisberger.

Running Backs: Start 'Em

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cincinnati Bengals (vs. Cleveland Browns)

The Bengals gave Green-Ellis 18 carries against the Ravens in Week 1.

That’s courageous activity right there, folks.

But the Law Firm answered the bell. He was a bright spot for the Bengals, gaining 90 yards and a touchdown while averaging 5.0 yards per carry.

The Bengals get the Browns at home in Week 2. They should be playing from ahead and handing the ball to Green-Ellis so he can churn out the yards.

C.J. Spiller, Buffalo Bills (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

The Bills blew out the Chiefs in 2011 in Kansas City. 2012 may or may not be a different story, but Spiller will be heavily involved in the Bills’ game plan regardless.

With Fred Jackson out for this game, look for Spiller to dominate the carries for the Bills, catch the ball out of the backfield and do some damage with his touches.

Wide Receivers: Start 'Em

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis Colts (vs. Minnesota Vikings)

He leads the league in targets. That’s all you need to know for him to be considered a strong starter in Week 2.

But wait, there’s more!

Wayne caught just 50 percent of the balls thrown his way in Week 1 (nine of 18) for 135 yards and no touchdowns.

He may not get 18 targets in consecutive games from rookie quarterback Andrew Luck, but those numbers suggest that Wayne has something not typically associated with older receivers: upside.

Lance Moore, New Orleans Saints (at Carolina Panthers)

The knock on Lance Moore’s fantasy value in years past was his game-to-game inconsistency. Moore had a big game last week (six receptions for 120 and a touchdown), so it’s almost a lock that he won’t do well this week, isn’t it?

Not quite.

By process of elimination, Moore is one of the few targets left for superstar quarterback Drew Brees. Robert Meachem is gone to San Diego. Devery Henderson will miss the Week 2 contest with an injury.

That leaves Moore with Marques Colston, Jimmy Graham and Darren Sproles. As even the fourth option in Brees’ progressions, Moore should be worth a look as at least a No. 3 fantasy WR.

Tight End: Start Him

Scott Chandler, Buffalo Bills (vs. Kansas City Chiefs)

Perhaps there will be big things for the Buffalo offense on Sunday afternoon.

Chandler was prominently featured in the Bills’ thrashing of the Chiefs in Week 1 of 2011, scoring a pair of touchdowns.

This time around, the Bills enter having lost their No. 2 WR (David Nelson) to a torn ACL in Week 1. Chandler, along with C.J. Spiller and Stevie Johnson, should be a top-three option for Ryan Fitzpatrick in Week 2.

Quarterback: Sit Him

Joe Flacco, Baltimore Ravens (at Philadelphia Eagles)

If you feel that Joe Flacco is your best fantasy quarterback, start him. But most people didn’t draft Flacco to be their No. 1 QB.

For example, I wouldn’t start Flacco over Matthew Stafford at the 49ers.

It’s a good idea to play your studs early in the fantasy season.

It isn't advisable to put your backup in because of one good game. Especially when that game was at home against a familiar divisional opponent and the start in question is against a novel, non-conference opponent on the road.

That would be overreacting.

The Eagles are more talented on defense than the Bengals. And running back Ray Rice is not going to get just 10 carries every game.

It would be tough to expect Flacco to top his Week 1 performance in this game.

Running Backs: Sit 'Em

Ahmad Bradshaw, New York Giants (vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers)

I am a believer in the Bucs’ run defense. In Week 1, the Bucs were swarming.

Tampa Bay held the Carolina Panthers’ accomplished running attack to 10 rushing yards. The Panthers ditched the run game, only attempting 13 runs in what was never more than a two-score contest.

There’s a chance that Bradshaw and the Giants quickly debunk the notion that the Bucs’ run D is a legitimate wall. There’s also a chance that this time next month, we’ll be talking about the Bucs the same way that we do about the San Francisco 49ers in terms of rushing defense.

I’m leaning toward the latter.

Kevin Smith, Detroit Lions (at San Francisco 49ers)

Speaking of the 49ers…

Wide Receiver: Sit Him

Kenny Britt, Tennessee Titans (at San Diego Chargers)

I’m excited for Britt’s return to the football field. I hope he can pick up where he left off last season.

There’s little chance that will happen, but he’s scheduled to be on a snap count in Week 2.

We’ve heard that before with one Mr. Adrian Peterson, but Britt is not Peterson.

Britt tore his ACL a few months before Peterson did, however.

The optimistic approach with Britt this week would be to compare his role to Randy Moss’ with the San Francisco 49ers. Britt might turn out to be a priority option in the passing game when he is on the field (assuming the Titans' coaching staff adheres to its snap-count restrictions).

Or he could just be a decoy. I’m going to wait for Britt to make some plays before proclaiming him to be a premier fantasy wide receiver.