 QB Start – Mark Sanchez, New York Jets
After throwing eight touchdown passes in a three game stretch, Sanchez came back to earth Monday night against Minnesota.
He finished 21 of 44 for 191 yards and no scores, but perhaps more importantly, still has yet to throw an interception in 2010.
Newly minted weapon Santonio Holmes will have a game under his belt and, with some QB/WR growing pains out of the way, should be ready to leave his imprint against Denver.
The Broncos secondary is a mash unit right now with safety Brian Dawkins and corner Andre' Goodman already declared out. Pass rusher Robert Ayers will also be inactive for the foreseeable future. The Jets can pick and choose their method of attack offensively, so balance is expected.
Sanchez sports a 114 QB rating in two road games this season.
QB Sit – Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams
Losing Mark Clayton, the Rams only true field stretcher, will be a major blow for Bradford. Having already lost Donnie Avery for the year, his cupboard was limited to begin with. Now it's nearing frightening proportions of bareness.
It's hard enough to be a rookie quarterback in the NFL when surrounded by talent, let alone having Mardy Gilyard (another rookie) and undrafted Danny Amendola as your top receiving targets.
You can't blame Bradford for forcing balls into tight spaces because that's all he has to work with. His WR aren't capable of creating vast windows to throw into.
The San Diego pass defense has been stout, but the matchup is inconsequential here. Bradford is a sit for the remaining 11 weeks.
RB Start – Michael Bush, Oakland Raiders
The last thing an 0-5 team surrounded by despair and controversy wants to see is a grind-it-out running attack. That's exactly what the 49ers will get this Sunday against Michael Bush and the Raiders.
Bush has some dance steps in his repertoire, but he's essentially looking to run you over and inflict pain whenever possible. Tackling him for 60 minutes is WORK.
With Darren McFadden out last week, Bush punished the Chargers for 104 yards and a score on 26 carries. Despite the probable return of "Run DMC" (not 100%) look for much of the same recipe in week six.
Bush is guaranteed to be the featured goal line back, and eight of his 254 career rushes have resulted in a touchdown.
The San Francisco rush defense doesn’t hurt his cause, ranking 20th in the NFL—allowing four yards per carry.
RB Sit – Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions
Best has not been the same fantasy dynamo since suffering turf toe in week three.
The majority of his points have come via touchdown, and he hasn't hit paydirt since week two. His season high for carries is 18, and his high for rush yards is 78. Take away his nine catch, 154 receiving yard performance against Philadelphia and we're looking at an average performer, at best.
With Calvin Johnson unlikely to suit up in week six, look for an inspired New York rush defense to crowd the line and force Shaun Hill and a motley crew of WR to beat them.
The Giants have stymied their last three running backs: Chris Johnson 32/125 (59 through three quarters), Matt Forte 12/26 and Arian Foster 11/25.
WR Start – Brandon Tate, New England Patriots
It's difficult to project how exactly New England will utilize their new core of wideouts, but one thing is for certain: Brandon Tate will be a centerpiece.
With a roster full of slot receivers, trading Moss demonstrated tremendous faith in Tate as a playmaking deep threat. He's put his skill package on full display in limited opportunities and should see an exponential increase in snaps/targets. Deion Branch and Julian Edelman will not keep him off the field.
While week six presents a far from sterling matchup against the Ravens and their fourth rated pass defense, Kyle Orton did cut up their secondary (in comeback mode) for 314 yards and two scores last week using a similar offensive style to the Pats.
Note: For return yardage leagues, Tate will hold onto return duties in spite of his increased role in the O.
WR Sit – Robert Meachem, New Orleans Saints
After four weeks of borderline invisibility, Meachem finally left a positive taste in the mouths of his fantasy owners. Upon deeper inspection, however, that optimism is quickly vanquished.
Yes, he's seeing more snaps, but four of his five targets came in the final minutes of a 23-13 game.
While he capitalized on balls thrown his way, where was he when the opponent wasn't in a prevent shell? Is he finally on the comeback trail from off-season toe surgery, or was this just one of his "moments"?
His talent is not in question, but a larger sample size of meaningful on-field performance is required before considering him as start material.
The Saints clearly prefer the "safer" option in Lance Moore, but after a few more lifeless weeks that could change.
TE Start – Andrew Quarless, Green Bay Packers
Let's be honest, Jermichael Finley is an irreplaceable cog in the Packers offensive machine. But the show must go on.
2010 fifth round pick Andrew Quarless will do his best to fill the void. At 6'4, he brings many similar attributes to the table, including a 4.6 40-yard dash and 32 inch vertical.
He is a legitimate receiving threat and can get down the field in a hurry. His four reception 51-yard performance versus Washington provided evidence of his playmaking abilities.
It doesn't hurt that he's been placed in an optimal situation to succeed with talent abounding. If Aaron Rodgers is good to go, he should produce useful statistics. Miami has struggled to contain tight ends and the inside passing game.
TE Sit – John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks
Carlson is the number one shutdown option for opposing defenses when facing Seattle.
Their wide receivers don't instill fear, and their running game (31st) has been nonexistent. Perhaps the presence of Marshawn Lynch will make life easier for him, but I'll need to see it to believe it.
The Bears defense has not allowed an opposing TE to reach the end zone this season. Carlson has the tools to be the first, but at this point he’s wasting away in the Seahawks limp offense.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Adam Ganeles, Sit Em, Start Em, Week 6, Mark Sanchez, Sam Bradford, Michael Bush, Jahvid Best, Brandon Tate, Robert Meachem, Andrew Quarless, John Carlson
 Joe Flacco QB Start – Joe Flacco | Baltimore Ravens
After posting a 23.8 QB rating at Cincinnati in week two, Flacco responded with a pair of plus efforts. In his last two starts he's completed 46 of 68 passes for 514 yards, with four touchdowns against just one interception.
More importantly, his confidence should be peaking after his late game heroics against the top rated Pittsburgh defense. With his tools, a confident Joe Flacco is mighty dangerous.
All three of his wide receiver threats were involved in week four, including crunch time connections with T.J. Houshmanzadeh.
A healthy Ray Rice or not, the Ravens are quickly transitioning into a passing team. Flacco is approaching must start territory.
QB Sit – Bruce Gradkowski | Oakland Raiders
When Bruce Gradkowski becomes a legit fantasy option, you know NFL quarterbacking is in a desperate state of affairs.
Despite relative success (for his standards) since replacing Jason Campbell, his performance is more a fad than a trend. 17 of his 24 completions in week four went to tight end Zach Miller and running back Darren McFadden. With Run DMC unlikely to suite up in week five, who will pick up the slack?
Not only does Gradkowski lack the arm strength to get the ball down the field, he also lacks NFL caliber receivers to target. Louis Murphy remains questionable for week five (clavicle) and Darrius Heyward-Bey wishes he was back in the ACC.
His greatest attribute is his legs, but you can't survive on dump off passes forever. In it's last six quarters, the San Diego passing defense has allowed a frightening 165 yards through the air. Emergency option only.
RB Start – Cedric Benson | Cincinnati Bengals
Benson is off to a horrific start, averaging 3.3 yards per carry with a high game of 81. He's not the "make you miss" style back who can create yardage on his own.
He needs a balanced offensive attack and good blocking upfront. Through four weeks, the opposition routinely crowded the line of scrimmage against Cincinnati forcing them to make a play down the field.
Until last week's 371-yard explosion, they were unable to capitalize. A reinvigorated passing attack would be a blessing in disguise for Benson owners, allowing him some breathing room and holes to attack.
He hasn't been notorious for finding the end zone, but this would be an apropo week to capitalize on a Tampa Bay defense allowing 4.8 yards per rush attempt.
RB Sit – Matt Forte | Chicago Bears
It's important to have a short memory in fantasy football, but attempting to erase Chicago's offensive (in more ways than one) performance on Sunday night just won't fly.
Unfortunately for Matt Forte, his O-line gives him absolutely no hope to succeed running the rock. Forte ran for 26 yards on 12 carries last week, marking his third consecutive week below 30 yards.
He's compiled 134 rushing yards on the season (2.7 per carry), and outside of an 89-yard screen pass for a touchdown in week one, he's produced next to nothing all year.
This is unlikely to change in week five against a stout Carolina run defense allowing 3.3 yards per rush attempt. The Panthers have only four sacks on the season, so expect a heavy dose of the passing game and more stonewalling of Forte.
WR Start – Dwayne Bowe | Kansas City Chiefs
It’s been a brutally disappointing beginning for the talented Bowe. He’s caught seven balls through three weeks, having been targeted only 15 times.
Quarterback Matt Cassel has been more comfortable checking down to backs and tight ends than taking deep shots with Bowe.
Against an Indianapolis pass defense that has been susceptible to the big play, this mentality needs to change. The Colts have allowed passing plays of 61, 28 (screen), 27, 26, 22 and 21 the last two weeks. To make matters worse, they just lost starting strong safety Melvin Bullitt for the season.
With Kansas City sporting the number one rushing offense in the NFL, it's a great time to capitalize on the play action game and open up the offense. One can only hope the Chiefs used the bye week to hatch up ways to get Bowe more touches. Head Coach Todd Haley is certainly not short on offensive innovation.
WR Sit – Jeremy Maclin | Philadelphia Eagles
Warning: This is more a play against Kevin Kolb than against Maclin (since I can't sit two QB's, I'll sit the WR).
Kolb has never proven himself capable of being an NFL quarterback, and following last week, it's reasonable to believe that he's not qualified. He looked entirely overwhelmed, staying in the pocket with his eyes down field for about one second, before panicking and throwing a five-yard dump off.
He had Maclin and DeSean Jackson running free on numerous occasions, but simply didn’t have the aptitude to make the plays. Maclin caught one ball for 15 yards, and saw a measly three targets. A deep threat can only run open down the field so many times without reward before losing faith in his quarterback.
The 49ers secondary has allowed eight passing touchdowns, but won't have to work overly hard to make Kolb uncomfortable.
TE Start – Kevin Boss | New York Giants
No team has done a worse job defending opposing tight ends than the Texans. They've allowed 36 receptions for 410 yards to TE's through four weeks. Granted, they've faced some of the top talent at the position, but have been helpless nonetheless.
Boss is coming off a non-impact (1 catch for 11 yards) performance last week, but is capable of big efforts on a given day.
Even with the hyper-athletic Brian Cushing returning to the mix, the Giants will look to exploit the middle of the field at all opportunities
TE Sit – Benjamin Watson | Cleveland Browns
Watson has quietly put up solid numbers the past three weeks, catching 15 balls for 169 yards and a score.
He built a quick repoire with QB Seneca Wallace who likes to utilize his tight ends.
However, with the "human interception” Jake Delhomme returning to the lineup on Sunday, Watson essentially loses all value. Delhomme has an unfortunate blind spot in the middle of the field (inability to read coverage), and prefers to attack one-on-one matchups with his outside receivers.
When Wallace regains the starting job, Watson will return to serviceable TE status.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em .
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Advice, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, Sit Em Start Em, Lineup, Roster, Adam Ganeles, NFL, Joe Flacco, Bruce Gradkowski, Cedric Benson, Matt Forte, Dwayne Bowe, Jeremy Maclin, Kevin Boss, Benjamin Watson
 RB Start - Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers
Mathews has missed the last seven quarters of football after suffering a high ankle sprain. Reports are that he's practiced fully this week and has an excellent chance to get the starting nod in week four.
He should be thrust back into a heavy workload against a porous (to say the least) Arizona rush defense, ranking 31st in the NFL.
San Diego will be anxious to establish the ground game after tossing the ball 53 times for 455 yards last week in a come back effort at Seattle.
If healthy and effective, Mathews will garner the majority of carries, despite the solid play of Mike Tolbert in his stead. However, he must hold onto the rock! A fumble a game is not something to be proud of.
Backs are always PPR threats for the screen happy Chargers.
RB Sit - Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns
It's official. The Hillis secret is out. After his demolition of the vaunted Ravens defense, Hillis is one of the hottest commodities in fantasy circles.
There's a lot to like: power, nose for the goal line and great hands, but let's not crown him the next Mike Alstott just yet.
At 250 pounds, Hillis has always displayed tremendous versatility at the fullback spot, but has never been a full time ball carrier. Over time, his weaknesses WILL be exposed i.e. lack of speed (4.7), quickness and change of direction.
The Bengals will surely eliminate the Browns bread and butter, forcing Seneca Wallace or Jake Delhomme to beat them through the air. While the Bengals front seven is banged up, the game plan should be sufficient to limit Hillis' productivity.
QB Start - Vince Young, Tennessee Titans
Young has been the least active quarterback in the NFL through three weeks, averaging a touch over 14 pass attempts per game.
With Chris Johnson being stuffed, the tide began to turn in the second half last week against the Giants. Young aired it out 12 times in the second stanza alone, including a 4/4 48-yard touchdown drive.
Against a shored up Denver run defense, the Titans might be forced to open things up once again. Despite being a week healthier, this is the same Broncos secondary that allowed David Garrard to look like an NFL QB (16/21 and three TD).
Young has yet to break a big run in 2010, but is due to explode. There will always be risk starting an inconsistent thrower in a running scheme, but the potential for reward is significant in this spot.
QB Sit - Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins
After ten seasons, Donovan McNabb will hit Lincoln Financial Field as a visitor for the first time.
Despite the total absence of a number two receiving threat, he's racked up 278 passing yards per game in the early going. But true efficiency presents itself in the red zone, where McNabb has yet to connect on a TD pass (two overall).
Quite frankly, the Redskins don't possess the running game or downfield presence to act as a pressure release against the Philadelphia blitz. It's a good bet McNabb will be running for his life with regularity against a defense that has already sacked the QB 12 times. The Eagles are also holding opposing signal callers to 53.8% accuracy.
From both the perspective of physical and verbal treachery, this could get ugly.
WR Start - Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears
Averaging 21.1 yards per reception, Knox continues to emerge as one of the leagues legitimate deep threats.
With the Bears suddenly boasting weapons all over the field, Knox has more space to utilize his primary weapon, speed. And he has the perfect quarterback in place to take advantage of those downfield shots. He's not seeing an overabundance of targets, but when he does he makes them count.
The Giants number four ranking against the pass is bordering on false advertising, having faced Matt Moore, Vince Young and a run happy Colts team in the opening three weeks. If they don't get pressure on Cutler, Knox could have a field day matched up one on one against a struggling Corey Webster.
Weather conditions for Sunday night look ideal for the passing game with minimal wind impact.
WR Sit - Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars
I hate to be overly harsh on David Garrard, but as long as he's the starting quarterback, it's tough to use any Jacksonville wide receiver. He's been that putrid.
In two games and three quarters with Garrard behind center, Sims-Walker has caught eight balls for 104 yards and one score (in garbage time). These underwhelming numbers include an empty stat line in week one.
The Jaguars have always found success running the football against Indianapolis, but throwing the ball is a different story. In four career games against the Colts, Sims-Walker has eight receptions for 90 yards. This sit recommendation is not a knock on MSW, but his best chance to accumulate stats is in a blowout against the prevent defense.
TE Start - Daniel Fells, St. Louis Rams
With Billy Bajema and Michael Hoomanawanui out with injuries, Fells is the man at tight end for the Rams.
He saw four targets last week, catching three balls for 22 yards and a touchdown.
Often given poor protection by his offensive line, TE's and RB's have been popular outlets for rookie quarterback Sam Bradford.
The Seahawks were blitz happy in passing situations last week, but when they didn't get there receivers were running open all over the field. Fells should find some plus matchups to do some damage in the red zone.
TE Sit - Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
Daniels has essentially been a non-factor since returning from November ACL surgery. Normally one of the league's most agile tight end's, Daniels lacks any real burst at the moment.
If Andre Johnson sits, look for a heavy dose of Arian Foster and the run game. Daniels will likely see more targets, but he is not ready to make game changing contributions.
Sit him until he proves otherwise. The Raiders have not faced a top tier TE this season, allowing only a one-yard touchdown to Bo Scaife.
*UPDATE - according to Rotoworld.com Owen Daniels was held out of Thursday's practice with a hamstring injury.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em .
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Sit Em Start Em, Week 4, Week Four,
Ryan Mathews, San Diego Chargers, Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns, Vince Young, Tennessee Titans, Donovan McNabb, Washington Redskins, Johnny Knox, Chicago Bears, Mike Sims-Walker, Jacksonville Jaguars, Daniel Fells, St. Louis Rams, Owen Daniels, Houston Texans
 QB Start
Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins
In the opening two weeks Henne hasn't been counted on to produce much yardage through the air (148 yards per). That will change on Sunday. As everyone is now aware, "Revis Island" will be closed for the week, meaning all sections of the gridiron will be open to attack. This is the optimal spot to open up the offense and get Brandon Marshall rolling. The Jets defense has completely eliminated the run game thus far, and Marshall abused Cromartie for 18 receptions (and forced four penalties) in a 2008 matchup. Henne had great success against the Jets (with Revis) last year in Miami, completing 20 of 26 passes for 241 yards, two TD and zero interceptions.
QB Sit
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Sitting a quarterback performing at an extremely high level is not an easy decision. Cutler has been lights out through two weeks, boasting a 121.2 QB rating, 649 passing yards and five touchdowns. Only Peyton Manning has more fantasy points at the position. Nevertheless, it's critical to look at the big picture. Cutler and consistency have never gone hand in hand, and neither have Cutler and success versus Green Bay. He threw six picks in two meetings against the Packers last season, mostly as a result of hounding pressure. He should see much of the same this week against a front that's already amassed ten sacks. He's capable of fitting in breathtaking throws and slinging the ball over the field, but start Cutler at your own risk Monday night.
 RB Start
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
Has McFadden finally flipped the switch in year three? I'm not overly comfortable backing a player at his highest value, but it seems like the prudent play here. "Run DMC" plowed for 30 carries last week, earning the hard yards and getting stronger as his workload increased. His PPR potential, and subsequent yardage off those receptions, make him an even more intriguing option. The Arizona defense should step up its level this week in the home opener, but they've been shredded on the ground early on. The Cards rank 31st against the run and made Jason Snelling look like a Pro Bowler last week. The Raiders likely won't be able to grind it out like they did in week two, but McFadden should be a safe bet for a handful of explosive runs. Note: Michael Bush is practicing fully and could be activated.
RB Sit
Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts ran roughshod all over the Giants Sunday night, finishing with 160 yards on 43 rushes. It was the team's most run-heavy game since Manning became the quarterback. Don't look for a repeat, or anything closely resembling it, in week three. This week's matchup against the Broncos presents an entirely different set of circumstances. The status of both Denver's starting cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Andre' Goodman is very much in doubt. Indianapolis will use a heavy dose of the downfield passing attack to exploit the fortunate hand they've been dealt. While Addai looked sharp last week, he still has yet to crack the 100- yard plateau since week 11 of 2008. With Donald Brown once again entering the fray, save him for a more generous spot.
 WR Start
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
To the dismay of many excited fantasy owners, Crabtree has been nearly invisible in the early stages of 2010. He saw eight targets in week one, catching two balls for 12 yards. He saw three targets in week two, catching one ball for 32 yards. Why the optimism? Firstly, the Saints secondary will limit many a receiver this season. Second, despite his struggles, Crabtree proved in '09 that he is legitimate threat to make a big play, on or after the catch. Through two games, this has been the glaring weakness of the Kansas City secondary. They've allowed eight plays over 20 yards: 65, 59, 44, 34, 23 (screen), 22, 22 and 20. With Vernon Davis attracting ever-increasing attention in the middle of the field, this seems like a prime breakout opportunity for the talented Crabtree. Start at WR3 or Flex, minimum.
WR Sit
Mark Clayton, St. Louis Rams
At age 28, the talented wideout is finally making an impact. For whatever reason, the Ravens were unable to utilize Clayton's skill set since drafting him in 2005. The Rams put him to work right away, targeting him 16 times in his ten-reception debut. He saw only five targets in week two against Nnamdi Asomugha, but both his receptions were for scores. With the dearth of options around him, Clayton will begin to find it harder and harder to make an impact. Danny Amendola and the Rams tight end brigade don't scare anybody. The Redskins, ranked 31st in the league against the pass, are coming off a historically poor performance against the Texans, allowing Matt Schaub to throw for 497 yards in an overtime defeat. Obviously that effort was more aberration than reality. The 'Skins gets free safety Kareem Moore back from injury and Reed Doughty will hit the pine. Open space will be hard to come by for Clayton.
 TE Start
Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
The rookie tight end has immediately been thrust into a prominent role. Gresham is seeing the overwhelming majority of snaps and has been a popular target for Carson Palmer. Most of his receptions have been of the short, dump off variety, but that could change against Carolina. The Panthers could not contain Kellen Winslow (no doubt a much speedier TE) who cut them up for big plays. The 260 pounder wouldn't exactly be characterized as a deep threat, but he could become more involved in the vertical passing game. At the very least, Gresham is an imposing red zone target.
TE Sit
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers
Miller has had difficulty finding his niche without Ben Roethlisberger calling the plays. He caught only two passes for three yards last week against Tennessee, as not surprisingly the focus of the Steelers offense has been pounding the rock. Without the luxury of "Big Ben's" innate scrambling ability, he's also been forced into more pass blocking assignments. An usual reliable red zone target, the Steeler offense has been a field goal kicking machine, scoring only one offensive touchdown and failing to utilize his greatest attribute.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em .
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Sit 'Em Start 'Em, Week Three, Chad Henne, Jay Cutler, Darren McFadden, Joseph Addai, Michael Crabtree, Mark Clayton, Jermaine Gresham, Heath Miller, Miami Dolphins, Chicago Bears, Oakland Raiders, Indianapolis Colts, San Francisco 49ers, St. Louis Rams, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers
 QB Start:
Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons
"Matty Ice" threw the ball well against Pittsburgh (252 yards on 27/44), but the Falcons offense stalled in the red zone with little support from the run game. Expect that to change in the friendly confines of the Georgia Dome where Ryan sports a 94.5 QB rating and a 17:9 TD to interception rate. The Cardinals have a talented secondary, but their over-aggression can be exposed. Look for the Falcons to establish Turner early and open up the field for Ryan. WARNING: Atlanta needs a second wide receiver to step up. Roddy White saw 23 targets in week one and will be Arizona's lock down target.
 QB Sit:
Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks
Hasselbeck toyed with the 49ers in week one, completing 78% of his passes with three total touchdowns. This performance wreaks more of a mirage than of reinvigoration. Much like 09-10, he was still staring down receivers and throwing off his back foot. Fortunately for him, the San Francisco corners were inept, biting on every double move and pump fake. Hasselbeck will face a much sterner test on the road in Denver, a team that he's thrown one career TD against in four starts (5 INT). Outside of a 32 yard run by Justin Forsett, the Seahawks ran for 45 yards on 22 attempts. If they continue to operate a one-dimensional offense, Hasselbeck will be in for a long day.
 RB Start:
Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys
Public Service Announcement: Get Felix Jones the ball! Eight carries is simply not sufficient for a player with his game breaking speed and explosive potential. In 21 career games, Jones averages 6.5 yards per offensive touch. In addition, his rare receiving skills are all but wasted in the Cowboys offense. He's ready to take the next step as a player, but for whatever reason the team is apprehensive about granting him that opportunity. The Bears held Jahvid Best to 20 yards on 14 carries (2 scores) last week, but the Lions were often pinned back and forced into a conservative game plan. Dallas won't make it that easy. Jones erupts in week two.
 RB Sit:
Ahmad Bradshaw & Brandon Jacobs, NY Giants
Benching a productive running back tandem against a defense that just allowed 257 yards on the ground? On the surface this appears to be a questionable strategy, but warranted nonetheless. The Giants accumulated 118 rushing yards on 36 attempts versus Carolina, but 61 of those yards came on two carries late in the 4th quarter when the result was no longer in doubt. Six carries went for negative yardage. All in all, the offensive line looked out of sync, and 4/5 of the unit is carrying an injury. The Colts defense is a prideful bunch, and it would be surprising if they didn't meet the challenge at home in prime time, small front line or not.
 WR Start:
Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles
Yes, another play against the Detroit secondary. The Lions allowed five passing plays over 20 yards against Chicago, a perfect recipe for the Eagles speedy wide outs. Maclin saw only six targets in week one, but that figure should rise exponentially. Three of those targets came in the fourth quarter as his repoire with Vick improved, including a TD reception. With DeSean Jackson and Brent Celek receiving the bulk of the defense's attention, Maclin should have plenty of room to operate one on one. Get ready to see some 4.3 speed in action.
 WR Sit:
Malcolm Floyd, San Diego Chargers
Some might view this as an overreaction to his underwhelming effort on Monday night. The truth is, Floyd has just been dramatically overvalued in fantasy circles. His success was a product of the Chargers machine like offense and the weapons around him. Without Vincent Jackson's presence to occupy two defenders, he's just another receiver with size and hops. His route running has improved but will never be a strength, and his speed is average by NFL standards. He is in no way, shape or form capable of being a number one receiver. The Jaguars secondary is no great shakes to say the least, but both corners have size to combat his greatest asset.
 TE Start:
Tony Scheffler, Detroit Lions
The 27-year old pass catcher should flourish with regular playing time. Scheffler caught six balls in the opener but was limited to 43 yards. Make no mistake, however, he's a playmaker not a safety blanket. His 13.5 yards per catch for his career speaks for itself. New starter Shaun Hill would be wise to target Scheffler frequently against the blitz happy Eagles. Philadelphia held Jermichael Finley to 47 receiving yards, but he was open on numerous occasions without reward.
 TE Sit:
Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings
The Vikings are short at the wide receiver position without Sidney Rice, and it won't be long before opponents adjust. Shiancoe has developed into a legitimate threat in all areas of the field, a first down and touchdown magnet. Unless Bernard Berrian starts displaying his past form (one catch for three yards in opener), stopping Shiancoe will become a top priority. The Dolphins will no doubt make Favre beat them on the outside.
Will you be sitting Hasselbeck, Bradshaw, Jacobs, Floyd or Shiancoe?
Leave a comment and let us know, or reply to us on twitter @TheFantasyFixWritten by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em .
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Sports Blog, Fantasy Football Advice, Fantasy Football, NFL, Sit 'Em Start 'Em, Week Two, Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle Seahawks, Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys, Ahmad Bradshaw, Brandon Jacobs, New York Giants, Jeremy Maclin, Philadelphia Eagles, Malcolm Floyd, San Diego Chargers, Tony Scheffler, Detroit Lions, Visanthe Shiancoe, Minnesota Vikings
The dust has settled, your draft is over and now comes the painstakingly hard part of choosing who to actually start in week one. Jay Cutler and Percy Harvin look to be locks while fantasy sleepers like Justin Forsett and Mike Wallace may be better served on your bench. Lets take a look as to why...
 QB Start:
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
His 26 interceptions in 2009 are not easily forgotten, but the gunslinger should abuse an ultra-thin Detroit secondary. The Lions finished 32nd against the pass last season and the talent level has not improved. Chris Houston as a number one cornerback? That's a scary thought.
Chicago scored 85 points in the two meetings in '09, with Cutler throwing for 417 yards, six touchdowns and zero picks. Offensive coordinator Mike Martz should have an air attack in store for week one.
 QB Sit:
Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins
The Bills defensive backfield possesses a combination of depth and speed that vaulted them to the second rated pass defense in 2009. Chad Henne is all too familiar, producing a 42.5 QB rating, three INT game in Buffalo last year.
Fortunately for him, and unfortunately for his owners, he has two workhorse running backs by his side against a notoriously poor Bills run defense (3-4 scheme or not). Despite his explosive potential, Henne had six games below 200 yards in '09. Wait for a better spot.
 RB Start:
Knowshon Moreno, Denver Broncos
There is legitimate reason to be concerned about Moreno:
1. An injury to his hamstring prevented him from seeing a single snap this preseason
2. Despite getting 14+ carries in 11 games during the 2009 season, he failed to crack the 100-yard plateau in any of them
3. The Broncos offensive line is filled with youth.
However, in spite of these reasons for worry, Moreno's innate running ability, power, quickness and year of experience under his belt are reasons for optimism.
He should find creases in a Jacksonville defense that allowed 197 and 214 yards on the ground in the final two weeks of '09. Not to mention the loss of run defense stalwart John Henderson to free agency.
Look for Moreno to be more efficiently utilized in the passing game in 2010 as well. That process began late last season as he compiled 12 receptions for 117 yards in the final four weeks.
 RB Sit:
Justin Forsett, Seattle Seahawks
Let's be honest, Forsett didn't have to beat out much to win the starting tailback job in Seattle. Competition from Leon Washington coming off a devastating injury and a washed up Julius Jones is not exactly stellar.
Forsett did solid work in 2009, racking up 5.4 yards per carry and catching 41 passes, but he was never the focus of an opponent's game plan.
Does the 5'8 Forsett have what it takes to be an every down back? He's never done it before (even at California). I'm taking a "show me" stance on this one. He's a definite sit against a top tier San Francisco defense, except in deeper PPR leagues.
 WR Start:
Percy Harvin, Minnesota Vikings
Migraine headaches disrupted Harvin's training camp and preseason, but he'll be ready to roll come game day. With Sidney Rice injured and Bernard Berrian disgruntled and on the decline, Harvin will be Brett Favre's main weapon.
Recent reports that he'll line up more as an outside receiver only bolster his big play potential. Saints top CB Jabari Greer will likely shadow Harvin, but he's unstoppable in open space. He caught nine balls for 102 yards in last year's NFC Championship game. Despite all the chaos, start him with confidence.
 WR Sit:
Mike Wallace, Pittsburgh Steelers
Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin claims there will be no implementation of a conservative game plan with Dennis Dixon running the team. That seems hard to believe. Dixon's decision making is extremely questionable, and simple reads/throws will likely be the norm until "Big Ben" returns from suspension.
This is not good news for Mike Wallace. The speed demon averaged over 19 yards per reception as a rookie and needs time for plays to develop. Unless Dixon uses his legs to escape the pocket, Wallace isn't likely to see significant targets. Improved pass defense (28th in '09) has been an off-season focus for Atlanta (adding CB Dunta Robinson to the fold) and they'd love nothing more than to 'pick' on Dixon's inexperience.
 TE Start:
Aaron Hernandez & Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots
On the surface Hernandez and Gronkowski appear to cancel out each other’s value. However, against a Cincinnati defense that has trouble holding down the inside passing game, both can be productive. The Bengal linebackers are run stoppers and struggle to cover, so the tight ends will be presented with a constant mismatch.
These aren't just ordinary TE, both are terrific athletes that can run, more along the lines of oversized WR. If owned, either one is a worth shot this week.
 TE Sit:Chris Cooley, Washington RedskinsThe Redskins secondary offensive weapons, or lack thereof, will severely hinder Cooley's production in 2010. Santana Moss is not the deep threat he once was, meaning the 'Skins have nobody to stretch the field to open things up underneath. He might catch a few dump offs when McNabb is running for his life against the Cowboys pressure, but yardage will be minimal. Fred Davis is the speedier TE with greater downfield aptitude.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam's NFL Sit 'Em, Start 'Em .Will you be sitting Wallace, Forsett, Henne or Cooley ?
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