Fantasy Football Week Three's Start and Sits

By Chad Samuels, fantasy columnist at Fantasy Football Maniaxs

Week Two is done, and we are already moving into Week Three. Some decisions are tough to make, and a second opinion to confirm your thoughts or even make you stop and reconsider things you might not have otherwise seen can always help.

Do not worry; the staff at Fantasy Football Maniaxs has you covered. As always, you are the final arbitrator of whom you start and who you sit. Before you make your decision check this out.
 
I attempt to select players that are not the obvious choices. It is why you have not seen starting Adrian Peterson this week. I make an attempt to select players that are on the bubble or have a change in status.

You will be more likely to see a big name in the sit section than in the start section. This is not necessarily that I do not like that player for the week, just that I believe you will start him already.

Start of the Week

It is time for redemption after missing out on the last two starts of the week. This week we will stick with the RB position and spotlight a guy who has the best chance to put up stud points.

Frank Gore will play the Detroit Lions. Gore has played solid. With Detroit giving up a low 123 yards on the ground this week and 200+ last week, Frank should have little problems scoring this weekend.

Quarterbacks to start

Speaking of solid starts, Phillip Rivers (6 TD, 594 yds) and Jay Cutler (6 TD, 650 yds) both have had great starts to the season. Cutler will just absolutely carve up New Orleans at home, while Rivers will perform admirably versus the Jets this week. Ride both of these hot hands until they cool down.
 
San Francisco seemed to have fixed their offensive problems rather rapidly. That said, J.T. O’Sullivan is in a good position to take advantage of an ineffective Lions defense. If you are in a QBBC situation, J.T. is a good play to grab some fantasy points.

Running Backs to start

For those of you worried that Rudi Johnson would take carries away from Kevin Smith, it looks like that will not happen. San Francisco gave up a lot of yards on the ground and a precious TD this week. Start Kevin Smith as your No. 2 running back or flex this week.
 
"Shanahanagans" are going on in Denver. All the hype that came out of Denver this offseason pointing to Selvin Young as the man has proven to be wrong, and again Denver is a running back by committee. This one is worse than most, as it is a three-headed monster.

Selvin will get you yards, but the back you want facing New Orleans is their goal-line back; Michael Pittman. Start him this week.
 
Do not be deceived: Reggie Bush is not a back that will often run for 100 yards. His value is in the passing game. New Orleans still needs some help at the mid-level of their defense. Drew Brees will spread the ball around, but he will still get him enough receiving yards to be a good play this week.
 
The Raiders have one of the best running games in the NFL. Monitor this week’s injury report. Justin Fargas has a groin pull. If he is inactive, Darren McFadden will get the load of carries and will put up good numbers and break at least one long play.

McFadden does have a toe injury, so he might show up on the report. It is too far out to predict how it will affect him, but early on I think he will start.
 
Finally, Seattle needed to pound the ball last week and they did. Julius Jones showed he can be an effective option (127 yards rushing 1 TD) and his starting destiny is his to lose.

Defensively, St. Louis is not where they need to be to compete in the NFL. Look for Seattle to focus on the run again and move the chains on the Rams.

Wide Receivers to start

New England played efficient offense this week, but they will get to host Miami this week. Their passing game may not be as elite as it was last year, but it will be good enough to start your studs. I see more possession passes, so I like Wes Welker over Randy Moss this week.
 
News broke last week that Marques Colston had thumb surgery and will be out. With Drew Brees spreading the ball around, the question becomes: Which wideout will emerge.

It is tempting to start either Robert Meacham or Deverey Henderson; truth is, from week to week, they will be competing for the big-play touchdowns. Meanwhile, David Patten will be the possession guy. Start Patten.
 
Once again we will bring up Detroit. If O’Sullivan scores points, he must be throwing the ball to someone. Isaac Bruce should be taken away in game planning, leaving Bryant Johnson to make plays this week.

Tight Ends to start

Seattle has shown they can score points, even though they have no wide receivers. Most of their offense will run through the running game. When Matt Hasselbeck has to throw it, it will be to rookie TE John Carlson. Look for him to be targeted often (six receptions in week two) in the passing game.

While we are on the Seahawks, I will note that WR Logan Payne will miss the rest of the season with a torn MCL. It is not fantasy relevant but it is an interesting tidbit for the water cooler. Give Carlson the start this week.
 
Outside of the stud TE that you know to start every week, there are precious few that will score 10 points or more. This start comes with some risk but I think has a chance to put up the required 10.

That would be Randy McMichael versus Seattle. Though Vernon Davis was shut down by Seattle last week, Seattle has shown they can be vulnerable to the TE. In Week One, Randy McMichael was in a good position to score points.

My only concern is will he have to stay in and block, as Orlando Pace has been banged up.
 
The New York Jets gave given up 151 yards and two touchdowns through two weeks of the 2008 season against TEs. This week they travel to San Diego. I don’t care how gimpy Antonio Gates is. He is a must start versus this defense.

Defenses to start

LB Patrick Willis came up big last week in San Francisco’s win over Seattle. It might not be him this week. However, Detroit still plays sloppy football. Give the 49ers DST a start this week.

New York is not missing Michael Strahan and Osi Umenyiora. Justin Tuck has been a play-making machine. Cincinnati is a team in disarray and they will have to go into New York. Look for the Giants' defense to get a couple of turnovers and sacks. Start the New York Giants defense.
 
If you are playing a defense by committee, try the Seahawks’ defense, if available. They play the Rams this week, and, as mentioned many times, the Rams are not playing good football (16 points scored in two games plus 10 sacks allowed). St. Louis has not given up a lot of turnovers but that is OK. Start Seattle.

Sit of the Week

First, a little love. Again, this week I called a correct sit of the week. Addai’s TD plunge made those who had to start him tolerable this week. Still, he fell under the stats with nine fantasy points. Now onto this week.

Cleveland is in dangerous territory, being 0-2, and it does not get any easier when you have to face the Baltimore Ravens. To make matters worse, Baltimore has one extra game tape of you than you have of their defense. Plus, an early bye keeps Baltimore fresh.

Think of this game as Week One with the kinks already worked out for Baltimore. This situation is ripe for a lot of sits. Luckily, Jamal Lewis was not your first running back taken for your team.

In a blustery home game that would scream run the ball, Lewis amasses only 38 yards. He also has only 100 rushing yards for the season and no touchdowns. He should be benched this week.

Quarterbacks to sit

Cleveland fans have reported a missing person. The Derek Anderson of 2007 has been missing in action. He will remain missing this week because he plays one of the toughest defenses in the league, Baltimore. If you have another option, use it.
 
David Garrard is not the same either. He already has matched his interception total from last year in just two games. Injured receivers and offensive linemen will help Indianapolis shut down Garrard this week.
 
Carson Palmer faces a blitzing Giants defense. He has not been the same since he ruptured his knee in January 2005. This is a tough matchup for Carson. If you have another option, I would keep him on your bench.
 
I am wondering just how many times Cortland Finnegan will intercept Matt Schaub this week. Andre Johnson will make some plays. Schaub should fall short of the QB points scoring mark.

Running Backs to sit

Kansas City is in panic mode. Right now Kansas City will be staring their No. 3 quarterback if Damon Huard does not return from dizziness. If this happens, Atlanta will play eight men in the box all day.

Even though Atlanta has given up 227 yards and three touchdowns, Larry Johnson will be hard pressed to put up points. Monitor Kansas City’s injury report. If Huard is ruled out, you need to bench Johnson, if, by some odd luck, Huard plays, you have to play your stud.
 
Justin Fargas underwent an MRI today and the results have not yet been announced. He went down with a groin injury and should not play this week. Don’t look for solid contribution, even if he does play. Keep him out of your lineup.
 
Chicago is a tough defense. I think Earnest Graham will get some points catching the ball out of the backfield. I do not think he will make 10 points this week. So sit him.

Wide Receivers to sit

The Jets' defense shut down the Dolphins' wideouts. They also held Randy Moss to two receptions with two touchdown last week. The Jets will look to gameplan Chris Chambers. I believe they will be successful. Bench Chambers this week.

Pittsburgh will go into Philadelphia and play against three top corners. Hines Ward will put up Ward-like numbers, but I expect Santonio Holmes to be held in check. Sit Santonio this week.
 
Donald Driver is an afterthought on the Packers' offense. Even at Lambeau Field, I don’t think Driver will get enough points to be start worthy. Greg Jennings is the focus of the passing game. And the other receivers get evenly distributed.
 
After two weeks, it is apparent, for the early part of the season, at least, that JaMarcus Russell is not the man in Oakland. He has thrown for 235 yards in two weeks. One of those games was a blowout loss to the Broncos, where he had to throw the ball and often. Russell will take a few more weeks’ seasoning before he becomes a viable QB, if ever.

What this means is, if you own any of the Raiders' WRs on your roster, and you are not in a deep, keeper league, you should drop them now. If you are in a deep, keeper league, forget they are even on your bench until at least Week Six.

Tight Ends to sit

If you drafted Kevin Boss, I hope you did not spend anything but a late round flier on him. Not only have the Giants not targeted the TE the last few weeks, but they go up against the top defense-versus-TE giving up four receptions for 27 yards through two weeks.
 
Leonard Pope goes up against another elite defense versus Washington. Kurt Warner is in the zone with his wide receivers as well. Keep Pope on your bench this week.
 
Owen Daniels is normally a solid play at TE. Tennessee is an elite defense that overachieves. Daniels will not be a good play this week; look for other options.

Defenses to sit

Buffalo has given up four sacks and one fumble. The strength of Oakland’s defense is their secondary. This is a bad matchup, so do not start the Raiders DST this week.
 
The Philadelphia Eagles offense is for real. Despite the dumb DeSean Jackson football discard, the Eagles are going to put up points. The will rarely turn the ball over. Sit the Steelers defense this week.
 
Here is what you might not know. Jason Campbell, though considered a bad fantasy player, has no interceptions this season. Washington may have a questionable offense, despite their fourth quarter comeback this week.

However, one thing Head Coach Jim Zorn has done is to limit turnovers. Bench the Cardinals defense this week.

How I did last week

Last week I went 21-16 for a 56 percent correct call. It is a four percent drop from Week One, but still acceptable.

My notable correct calls: Kurt Warner, Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler, Joseph Addai Matt Hasselbeck, Maurice Jones-Drew, Jamal Lewis, Wes Welker, and Jeremy Shockey.

I also ran the table on my defense starts.

My notable misses were Ben Roethlisberger, Ryan Grant, Tony Romo, Chris Perry, and DeSean Jackson.

I was also wrong on my call to start Chris Johnson. Chris scored 11 points and I was one rushing yard shy of him scoring 12 points. This week I will be working to improve on that number.
 

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