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As a reminder, this article isn’t meant to literally tell you that you should always start the guys I say to start and/or always sit the guys I say to sit. This is just my prediction as to who will do better than expected (Start ‘Em) and who will do worse than expected (Sit ‘Em). I also try to avoid putting the obvious names on this list. Yes, you’re pretty much always going to start Cam Newton, Antonio Brown, Gronk, and the like. It goes without saying.
Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
- Derek Carr, OAK (@ Tennessee Titans) - He’s torching people so far this year. Ride the hot hand. I don’t think anyone’s super scared of the Titans big, bad defense... Kid’s got like 600+ passing yards, 4 TDs, and 0 INTs so far.
- Ryan Tannehill, MIA (vs Cleveland Browns) - You read that right. Anyone can pass on the Browns right now. Ryan’s at home and put up nearly 400 passing yards last week alone.
- Matt Ryan, ATL (@ New Orleans Saints) - Much like Carr, he’s another one averaging 300+ passing yards a game so far this year. Eli threw for nearly 400 on the Saints last week...
Sit ‘Em
- Marcus Mariota, TEN (vs Oakland Raiders) - I know the match-up is great, but I have a hunch about this one. Mariota hasn’t really found his rhythm yet this year. He’s still likely to throw a pick or two and he hasn’t reached 300 yards yet this season (didn’t even hit 250 last week).
- Tyrod Taylor, BUF (vs Arizona Cardinals) - The Cardinals defense is good. They’ve only allowed two passing TDs this season. Plus Watkins is hurt. Plus they’re 0-2, just fired their OC, and are a team in disarray.
- Andy Dalton, CIN (vs Denver Broncos) - That defense is too good. They shutdown Luck and Cam.
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
- DeAngelo Williams, PIT (@ Philadelphia Eagles) - The Eagles run defense is alright, but Williams has 300 yards and 3 TDs through two games... Too good not to start (despite his age and status as a “backup”).
- Mark Ingram, NO (vs Atlanta Falcons) - He’s at home against a garbage defense. He’s bound to breakout after a couple of poor weeks. If he’s going to, this is the week for it.
- Lamar Miller, HOU (@ New England Patriots) - Opportunity is everything and the Texans are running this dude until the wheels come off.
Sit ‘Em
- Fozzy Whittacker, CAR (vs Minnesota Vikings) - He was great last week but Jonathan Stewart he is not. The Vikings defense is extremely good, especially against the run. Plus, even though you just spent a bunch of money to pick him up, he’s probably going to split carries with Artis-Payne, Tolbert, and of course Newton.
- Darren Sproles, PHI (vs Pittsburgh Steelers) - Father Time appears to be catching up with the diminutive Sproles. The Eagles give him some carries still (for some reason), but Mathews is clearly the guy there. Plus, the Steelers run defense is good.
- Duke Johnson, Jr., CLE (@ Miami Dolphins) - Isaiah Crowell has taken the backfield in Cleveland.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
- T.Y. Hilton, IND (vs San Diego Chargers) - Opportunity is everything. Andrew throws towards Hilton way more than any of this other targets/weapons. Also, he’s at home against a very poor passing defense.
- Jarvis Landry, MIA (vs Cleveland Browns) - At home against a horrible Browns passing defense.
- Allen Robinson, JAX (vs Baltimore Ravens) - He’s too good not to breakout soon.
Sit ‘Em
- Markus Wheaton, PIT (@ Philadelphia Eagles) - He’s too banged up.
- Mike Wallace, BAL (@ Jacksonville Jaguars) - I don’t buy in. He’s been playing too far above his norm these past couple weeks. I think he comes back to Earth. He’s been too inconsistent over his career not to.
- Kevin White, CHI (@ Dallas Cowboys) - He hasn’t been a factor over the first two weeks and now Brian Hoyer is his QB...
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
- Antonio Gates, SD (@ Indianapolis Colts) - The guy just catches TDs (plus the Colts defense is missing a few key guys).
- Travis Kelce, KC (vs New York Jets) - Dude gets targets. That’s what you want. The Jets defense is a touch overrated, especially in the passing game (plus they’re in KC).
- Delanie Walker, TEN (vs Oakland Raiders) - Killed it last week and he’s Mariota’s guy. Oh, and they’re at home against a terrible pass defense.
Sit ‘Em
- Jack Doyle, IND (vs San Diego Chargers) - Too TD dependent and Luck would rather throw it to Hilton.
- Jimmy Graham, SEA (vs San Francisco 49ers) - He and Wilson are both a little banged up. Plus, he’s not getting a lot of targets lately.
- Eric Ebron, DET (@ Green Bay Packers) - Just a feeling I have. Another TD dependent guy. Doesn’t typically get a ton of yards, catches, or targets.
Please leave any fantasy related questions you might have in the comments section and I'll try to answer as many and as quickly as I can. It's fun to get everyone's perspectives on this week's match-ups floating around down there and I'm always interested to see what kind of decisions different fantasy players have to make. These are just general ideas for standard leagues, but we can all give and receive advice for unique situations as they come up.