Start 'Em, Sit 'Em Week 3: Final Review Before Thursday Night Football

There was a time when Thursday felt like the week was coming to a close, when Friday was just a day away and soon after that the weekend. But now that we have NFL football on Thursday, well, it almost feels like that's when the week begins. 

It's certainly when the week begins for fantasy owners, so in this edition of Start 'Em, Sit 'Em we'll single out a few players in action tonight while sprinkling in some other players who you might not be so sure about. Get ready for some football, folks, a new week has begun!

Start 'Em: Matt Ryan, QB, Atlanta Falcons

It's hardly shocking that Matt Ryan struggled last week, as the Cincinnati Bengals have proved to be incredibly difficult to play against in their home digs. Ryan isn't the only talented quarterback who will struggle there. 

But coming back home against a less ferocious Tampa Bay Buccaneers secondary should play right into Ryan's hands. While the Bucs tightened up last week against the hapless St. Louis Rams passing attack, they also gave up 18 fantasy points to Derek Anderson in Week 1. 

I'm just going to repeat that to ensure you don't gloss over the weight of that statement: They gave up 18 fantasy points to journeyman quarterback Derek Anderson and the weak receiving corps of the Carolina Panthers in Week 1!

And that was a home game for the Bucs. Ryan is just slightly better than Anderson. Roddy White and Julio Jones are more dangerous than any receiver Carolina has. Expect Ryan to bounce back in a big way in Week 3. Ryan is a strong QB1 this week. 

Sit 'Em: Colin Kaepernick, QB, San Francisco 49ers

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I thought Colin Kaepernick would open with a bang against the weak Dallas pass defense. He finished with a solid but unspectacular 17 fantasy points. I didn't love him against the Chicago Bears last week, as I figured the Niners would rely on the running game, but I also didn't expect him to throw three interceptions.

Suffice to say, I'm a bit down on Kaepernick at the moment. 

And now he faces an Arizona Cardinals defense giving up a modest 13.5 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks per week and one that is also allowing just 66.5 rushing yards per contest, third in the NFL. In other words, Kaepernick probably won't have much success running the ball either. 

He also doesn't have the wide receivers to really test Arizona's excellent secondary. Things are just not looking up anywhere you look.

Ah, but I know what you're thinking. You're thinking, "Hey, Tim, the Cardinals were horrible against tight ends last year, giving up 13.1 points on average to the position per week. Vernon Davis will feast!"

Well, maybe. But here's the thing—we don't even know if Davis will play after leaving Sunday night's game with an ankle injury. Matt Barrows of the Sacramento Bee had an update on Wednesday:

That's not a great sign for the Niners or Kaepernick fantasy owners. Even with Davis I don't like Kaep this week, but without him he's going to seriously struggle against Arizona.

Start 'Em: Doug Martin, RB, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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You guys, I believe in giving Doug Martin another chance. A lot of people sang the praises of Bobby Rainey last week and suggested that even when Martin returned that Rainey deserved a bigger chunk of the carries. After 22 carries for 144 yards I completely understand that mentality, I really do. 

And I get it, Martin is coming back from an injury and people may fear he won't be at his best (if he indeed plays). But folks, if he's on the field I think you have to keep him in your lineup.

For starters, the Falcons are giving up an astonishing 35.5 fantasy points per week to opposing running backs, easily the most in the NFL. There's room against this defense for Martin and Rainey to have nice weeks.

And have we forgotten that Martin is the player who rushed for 1,454 yards and 11 touchdowns and caught 49 passes for another 472 yards and another touchdown as a rookie? Or that Rainey didn't win the starting job over him in the preseason, which should say something here? 

You can give up on Martin if you like, but not me. I'm sticking by him, and I have a feeling he'll reward me handsomely on Thursday night.

Sit 'Em: Andre Ellington, RB, Arizona Cardinals

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If you talk to both DeMarco Murray and Matt Forte owners, they'll each tell you different things about whether or not you should start Andre Ellington against the Niners. Murray rushed 22 times for 118 yards and a touchdown against San Francisco, finishing with 17 fantasy points. Forte rushed 12 times for 21 yards and finished with three fantasy points.

What to do, what to do?

History would suggest the Forte performance was the norm and Murray's showing was the outlier. Last year, the Niners gave up just 13.5 total fantasy points per week to opposing running backs, sixth in the NFL. And they got better down the stretch, giving up just two rushing touchdowns in the last six weeks. 

While I love Ellington's upside and believe he'll produce for the Cardinals, he hasn't gotten off to such a blazing fast start that you can't afford to sit him. With just 15 fantasy points in the first two weeks—albeit while he shakes off a foot injury—Ellington is a guy you would be wise to keep benched this week.

Start 'Em: Vincent Jackson, WR, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

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It's a pretty safe bet that Vincent Jackson will get things going this week. The dynamic wideout has just eight fantasy points thus far this season, clearly still trying to develop a rapport with new quarterback Josh McCown.

But the Falcons defense should prove to be just the boost he needs, as they're allowing 24 fantasy points to opposing wide receivers per week, 28th in the NFL. Even better is the fact that Vincent scored a whopping 47 fantasy points against Atlanta last season, 30 percent of the overall fantasy points he scored last season. 

Go ahead, Jackson owners, do a little jig—you should be swimming in fantasy points this week courtesy of the Tampa receiver.

Sit 'Em: Emmanuel Sanders, WR, Denver Broncos

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I'm terrified of starting Emmanuel Sanders this week on so many fronts. I don't care if the San Diego Chargers think they "exposed" Richard Sherman and the Legion of Boom last week—they didn't—because that game wasn't played in Seattle, where the Hawks are about impossible to beat. 

Peyton Manning may have thrown for 280 yards on a neutral field in the Super Bowl—which was lost among the whooping he and the Broncos took in that game—but let's see him do that again in Seattle.

Plus, the return of Wes Welker could eat into Sanders' targets somewhat. Yes, they have different roles in the offense, but one would guess the Broncos would try to hurt the Seahawks with quick hits to Welker and by setting Julius Thomas free. After Antonio Gates went for 96 yards and three touchdowns on seven receptions, one would guess getting Orange Julius the ball would be a major part of the game plan.

You can risk starting Sanders if you want, but I'm not so sure I'd gamble on a player who could be fourth or fifth on the pecking order every time Manning drops back to throw. I'd bench him this week. 

All point totals and points-against statistics via ESPN standard-scoring leagues. Want a more comprehensive Start 'Em, Sit 'Em list? Check out my weekly fantasy rankings grades. 

Hit me up on Twitter—I'll answer your fantasy questions and make some corny jokes too. It's more fun than playing hot potato with James Jones.