Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 2: Debating Difficult Fantasy Football Lineup Decisions

It wouldn't make sense to deeply analyze certain questions. You would make a lot of people very angry if you began doing a full study of whether it would benefit you more to go with paper or plastic at the grocery store, for example. (Pro tip: Bring your own bags and help save the environment!)

But in fantasy football, well, you'll take all the analysis you can get. We all will. Because nothing can be more infuriating than trying to figure out if you should start or sit certain players. 

Some guys are easy, sure. If you have Calvin Johnson, you start him. But what if you have a streaky player with a pretty good matchup? Or a guy who just disappointed in Week 1 but has a great matchup in Week 2? Or a player who exceeded expectations in Week 1 but faces a brutal test in this round of games.

Figuring out whether you should sit or start those guys isn't so easy. And that's why I'm here to help.

Start 'Em: Robert Griffin III, QB, Washington

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Didn't expect this one, did you?

I know you want to throw the towel in on Robert Griffin III already. I get it, I really do. He's struggled all preseason adjusting to Jay Gruden's new offense, and he started the regular season against the Houston Texans with eight fantasy points.

But sometimes you need to forget about what fantasy stats are telling you and consider what's happening on the field. For all of the hemming and hawing, RG3 actually played pretty well. He finished 29-of-37 for 267 yards. He didn't turn the ball over. And it's not as though the rest of his team played all that well.

Plus, many of his "issues" right now might be in his own head. Consider the following, from Charles Robinson of Yahoo Sports:

We all know Griffin can make plays with his legs whenever he wants. That he's trying to play within the offense is a good sign. Those rushing yards will come, folks. So too will the touchdown passes. All is not lost. Sunday was a step in the right direction, even with the loss. He won't have J.J. Watt terrorizing him each week, after all.

In fact, RG3 should be in line for a huge week against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Yes, the same Jags that just gave up 34 unanswered points in the second half to the Philadelphia Eagles. Yes, the same Jags defense that allowed opposing quarterbacks to average 17.9 fantasy points per week last year, fifth-worst in the NFL.

Yes, the same Jags defense that allowed Jeremy Maclin to waltz into the end zone for a 68-yard score after he was left all alone deep down the field. DeSean Jackson and Pierre Garcon should be licking their lips right now.

And so should you if you are an RG3 owner. He's an absolute must-start quarterback this week. 

Sit 'Em: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

Sit Matt Ryan? After he led all fantasy players with 30 points in standard-scoring leagues last year? After he torched a New Orleans Saints pass defense that was quite good in 2013 for 448 passing yards and three touchdowns?

Well, yes, in 10-team leagues, I think you should sit him, while in 12-team leagues I think he's an extremely risky start. I currently have him 12th-smartest quarterback to start this week on my rankings. 

So why? Well for starters, he'll be playing a superior defense this week in the Cincinnati Bengals than he faced last weekend. A year ago, the Bengals allowed an average of 12.6 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. They allowed opposing quarterbacks to score 18 or more points only four times—and only once at home.

Now, I know what you're thinking. You're thinking that Joe Flacco just threw for 345 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. That's absolutely true. But keep in mind that he needed 62 passing attempts to reach that number. That's right, he threw the ball 62 times. He also threw an interception. The Bengals sacked him three times, and they gave up a total of only 16 points on the game, all in Baltimore.

For all of those passing attempts, Flacco finished with 15 fantasy points, tying him for 15th amongst quarterbacks.

Are you starting to see how risky it is to start Ryan on the road against this defense?

He may be a better player than Flacco with better weapons, but his Week 1 performance doesn't make him an automatic start this week. In fact, I'd recommend sitting him if you have another solid quarterback you trust.

Start 'Em: Reggie Bush, RB, Detroit Lions

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I'm not going to tell you here that Reggie Bush is going to have a huge week. I won't tell you that he'll finish in the top 10 running backs in terms of scoring this week. What I will tell you is that I believe he'll be a low-end RB2 this week or a viable flex option, and in that regard, you shouldn't be afraid to keep him in your lineup.

I know how good the Carolina Panthers defense is. I know it just held the Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs to 10 total fantasy points and 75 rushing yards on 14 carries. I know that it was the second-toughest defense against running backs in fantasy a year ago, allowing an average of 11.3 fantasy points to an opponent's backfield. 

Here's what else I know: I know the Detroit Lions have a far better offense than the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. I know they are probably going to turn to the passing game early and often given Carolina's excellent front seven. And I know that Bush is an excellent option in the passing game and generally isn't a liability against top run defenses for that reason.

Bush already has six receptions for 49 yards this year, and I'd guess Stafford will flip the ball out in the flat or send him out in the passing game quite often. Don't expect a huge performance, no, but don't be afraid to start the big-play threat, either.  

Sit 'Em: Rashad Jennings, RB, New York Giants

Rick Osentoski/Associated Press

Just about the only thing that went right for the New York Giants on Monday night was the strong debut of Rashad Jennings, who rushed 16 times for 46 yards and a score and added four receptions for 50 yards. That was good for 15 fantasy points.

That was also against the Detroit Lions. Up next for Mr. Jennings and the sputtering Giants offense is the Arizona Cardinals.

This is a nightmare matchup. The Cardinals allowed an average of just 9.5 fantasy points to opposing running backs a year ago, tops in the NFL. In total, they gave up just 84.4 rushing yards per game last year, also best in the NFL. And while they did give up a rushing touchdown to Ryan Mathews, they also held the San Diego backs to 42 rushing yards on 20 carries.

Are you starting to see why Jennings has little to no upside this week?

Sure, Jennings has nine or more fantasy points in seven of his last 10 games dating back to last year. But against the league's best run defense, I'm not expecting him to make it eight of his past 11. Keep him on your bench. 

Start 'Em: Kendall Wright, WR, Tennessee Titans

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Coming into the season, Kendall Wright was missing just one thing in his quest to become a consistent fantasy starter: touchdowns. The young receiver caught 94 passes for 1,079 yards on 140 targets last year, but it was his paltry two touchdowns that really stood out.

So far, so good for Wright's owners. The Tennessee Titans' top option in the passing game opened with six receptions for 46 yards and a score on seven targets, the most targets on the team. With Jake Locker looking sharp and eager to further his chemistry with Wright, Week 1 was an indication of what could be on the horizon for the potentially dynamic duo. 

And neither player is going to get a better matchup than the one he has this week against the putrid Dallas Cowboys pass defense. The Cowboys gave up an average of 22.8 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers last year, 23rd in the NFL, and they gave up 4,589 passing yards, 30th in the league. 

And last week, they struggled to contain Anquan Boldin, who snared eight passes for 99 yards. They couldn't seem to contain tight end Vernon Davis, either, as the star caught four passes for 44 yards and two scores. 

The Niners were always going to focus on the running game and Davis. But Locker and the Titans should lean heavily on their wideouts in this contest. Expect Wright to have a huge afternoon. At worst, he's a high-end flex with WR1 upside. 

Sit 'Em: Marques Colston, WR, New Orleans Saints

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Two words (or, perhaps more accurately, one name): Joe Haden.

Look, I know that Antonio Brown had five receptions for 116 yards and a score against Haden and the Cleveland Browns last week. But he also seems to just have Haden's number, catching 15 passes for 179 yards and a touchdown in two meetings against Cleveland last year. 

Generally speaking, however, Haden gets the better of most NFL wideouts. And frankly, if he's tasked with shadowing Colston across the field Sunday, I'm betting he'll get the better of Colston too. 

I don't know how the Browns will draw up their game plan. I'd be surprised if Haden was shadowing Jimmy Graham, however, and given the variety of ways in which the Saints utilized Brandin Cooks in Week 1—he went from lining up outside to in the slot and even in the backfield in Pistol sets—I'm not sure Haden will be tasked with following him around the field, either. My guess is that his job will be to eliminate Colston from the passing game.

And I'll bet he does just that. I'm sitting Colston this week.

All stats for standard-scoring leagues. Point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN.

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes too. It's more fun than karate class with Antonio Brown.