Fantasy Football Start 'Em, Sit 'Em: Important Roster Decisions for Week 2

Only one week of the NFL season has been played, yet fantasy football owners are already panicking over falling too far behind in their leagues, and rightfully so.

Especially for people playing in points leagues, you cannot afford to fall behind the first weeks of the season because you have to take more risks which could turn about to be disastrous.

Knowing who to start, who to sit and why, are crucial to preparing your team for the best possible week of points.

Let’s take a look at a couple players you should start, and some that should be put on your bench.

1) Sit Arian Foster

Houston Texans running back Arian Foster was inactive last week with a hamstring injury, and even he plays in Week 2, he will be eased into the offense to ensure he doesn’t bother his hamstring further.

With their high-powered passing attack, the Texans don’t need Foster to score a lot of points. They also have a couple good running backs to start in his place.

Rookie Ben Tate had an impressive start to his pro career with 106 rushing yards last week, and veteran Derrick Ward is also a dependable back.

Foster could play in Week 2, but he won’t get enough touches to put up the stats that made him a dominant fantasy player last season.

2) Sit Jeremy Maclin

Jeremy Maclin has a very difficult offseason for medical reasons, and it was obvious in the Philadelphia Eagles Week 1 game against the St. Louis Rams that he is not yet up to speed.

Maclin caught just one pass for 20 yards from quarterback Michael Vick, who threw most of the big passes to DeSean Jackson.

Against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2, the Eagles may run the ball more than they did against the Rams, which means Maclin will be even less a part of the offense.

The Falcons defense has improved from last season, and will be playing with a sense of urgency to avoid a disappointing 0-2 start to the season.

Maclin will be up to game speed soon, but he isn’t a good matchup against the Falcons this week.

3) Start Chad Henne

Chad Henne threw for over 400 yards last week against the New England Patriots, and expect more big passing numbers out of the Miami quarterback in Week 2.

The Dolphins have no running game, and are forced to throw for much of the game. Reggie Bush isn’t an every down back, and there is no else on the Miami roster who can carry the ball 20 times effectively.

This means Henne will have to drop back and pass over 35 times, and he has some good weapons to throw to.

Wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Davone Bess are quality players with good speed and hands, and Reggie Bush is one of the premier pass-catching running backs in football.

Henne might not throw for 400 yards again, but he could easily throw for 300, which would help owners whose leagues give bonus points for 300-yard games.

4) Start Reggie Wayne

Lots of people were scared to draft Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Reggie Wayne without Peyton Manning throwing him the ball, but Wayne proved all his doubters wrong with seven catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in a Week 1 loss to Houston.

Despite getting dominated by the Texans defense, quarterback Kerry Collins was still able to find Wayne for a number of big pass plays.

Against a weak Cleveland Browns defense in Week 2, expect Wayne to put up even better numbers than he did in the season opener.