Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 1
As a general rule, you stick with your studs. Especially in Week 1, where we have to evaluate matchups differently. Our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 1 looks at some players to target and others to avoid in an always unpredictable opening week. Let’s take a look at some under-the-radar starts and less obvious sits in our Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 1 of the 2022 NFL season. Quarterbacks Start ‘Em Trey Lance (San Francisco 49ers) – Lance was drafted as a borderline QB1 but this is the kind of game you take that reward part of risk/reward. Looking at our Week 1 projections, Lance is projected to go off versus a fading Bears defense. Additionally, it remains to be seen if Chicago can mount any kind of offense at all. If the Bears struggle to move the ball, the 49ers will get a ton of opportunities to challenge a secondary that allowed 36 total scores to QBs last season. Matt Ryan (Indianapolis Colts) – Ryan was drafted as a starter and the Colts are sure to test Houston’s weak run defense. But that will set up play-action opportunities against an inexperienced Texans secondary that surrendered the 10th-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2021. Look for Ryan to be a sneaky pick to deliver QB1 numbers in Indy’s season opener. Running Backs Start ‘Em Antonio Gibson (Washington Commanders) – Much-maligned this summer, Gibson should get the majority of touches against a suspect Jaguars run defense this Sunday. With Brian Robinson sidelined, Gibson looks like a good bet to approach 20 touches. He’ll be in a good position to post top-15 fantasy numbers. Nyheim Hines (RB) Indianapolis Colts – Last week, an ESPN report opined that Hines will be in a good position to post a career-high in receptions. And that makes sense with the Colts breaking in two new wideouts and a new starting tight end. Hines also gets a juicy matchup against a porous Texans defense that allowed an NFL-worst 2,067 rushing yards to enemy running backs in 2021. Wide Receivers Start ‘Em Elijah Moore (New York Jets) – While targeting Baltimore’s secondary isn’t normally advised, there’s a good chance Moore goes off this week. Moore is clearly New York’s No. 1 wideout and has built up an excellent rapport with QB Joe Flacco. The Ravens struggled to stop the pass last season due to injuries but our projections think Moore can still exploit this matchup and deliver a huge opening week performance. Julio Jones (Tampa Bay Buccaneers) – The Buccaneers have the fourth-highest implied total in Week 1, and it’s a prime-time Sunday night matchup with Tom Brady. Chris Godwin is still recovering from a severe knee injury and Russell Gage missed a couple of weeks with an injured hamstring. Jones could very well command 8-plus targets in his Tampa debut. A.J. Green (Arizona Cardinals) – This is a bit of a flier because Green is likely available on your waiver wire. Arizona hosts the Chiefs this week in a game that has the highest over/under in the entire slate. With Deandre Hopkins suspended, Rondale Moore out, and Zach Ertz looking very iffy, Green could be in for a surprising target share on Sunday. Tight Ends Sit ‘Em David Njoku (Cleveland Browns) – Cleveland’s offense isn’t a unit to target with Jacoby Brissett under center. However, Brissett’s lack of downfield ability should lead to a ton of opportunities for Njoku underneath. The Browns are implied to score 21 in Week 1. If they come close to approaching three TDs, we like Njoku’s odds of getting one. Quarterbacks Sit ‘Em Mac Jones (New England Patriots) – New England’s offense looked like a potential disaster this preseason. Worse, we still don’t know who is legitimately calling plays or in charge of the offense. Miami also was solid against quarterbacks last season, allowing the seventh-fewest points to the position. In his two starts against the Dolphins, Jones averaged 271 passing yards but only threw a single score in each game. Jones is nothing more than a mediocre QB2 in Superflex formats until we see some signs of life from the Patriots O. Running Backs Sit ‘Em Dameon Pierce (Houston Texans) – Pierce became one of the hottest fantasy commodities in the league after a blistering preseason. However, his first taste of the regular season could be rough. Houston is the biggest home dog of Week 1 and hosts a Colts defense that ranked third against fantasy running backs last season. While the Colts will be missing Shaquille Leonard, it remains to be seen if Houston can keep this game close enough to continue to feature the run. Also, Rex Burkhead could be Houston’s primary pass-catching back. Pierce doesn’t rank very highly in our projections and could well be one of Week 1’s biggest trap plays. Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns) – Carolins was surprisingly effective against running backs in 2021. The Panthers allowed the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing rushers and allowed the third-fewest overall yards per play. The ‘revenge game’ narrative for QB Baker Mayfield could also factor in if the Panthers get out to a sizable lead and force the Browns to try to pass the ball with Jacoby Brissett. Chubb also doesn’t catch a ton of passes, so his upside is rather muted. He’s more of a middling RB2 than a locked-in starter. Wide Receivers Sit ‘Em Drake London (Atlanta Falcons) – Another rookie who could struggle in his first pro outing, London is set to be paired off with elite New Orleans CB Marshon Lattimore. London has also been hampered by a knee injury that could further limit his upside. Fantasy managers would be advised to look for safe options rather than forcing London into a WR2 slot because of his draft status. Amari Cooper (Cleveland Browns) – Clearly we’re avoiding the Browns this week. There are just too many questions for this team to open the season. Cooper is clearly Cleveland’s No. 1 wideout but there are
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 18
Most traditional fantasy football leagues concluded last week but that doesn’t mean the fun is over for everyone. Plenty of best-ball leagues are still going strong and there are always DFS lineups to consider. Here are the fantasy football starts and sits in the final full week of NFL action of the 2021 season. Start Ben Roethlisberger (QB) Pittsburgh Steelers In what will most likely be Big Ben’s final game as a Pittsburgh Steeler he will get as good a matchup as he could hope for against his greatest rivals, the Ravens. Baltimore has been decimated in their secondary and has been getting torched at a record pace over the past month. They are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks this season and have made up a lot of ground late in the season as we watched their defense fall apart. Everything is lined up for Ben to wrap up a Hall of Fame career the way Steelers fans hope he would. Darrell Williams (RB) Kansas City Chiefs Williams has shined this year when Clyde Edwards-Hellaire has been sidelined and has been the better back when both are healthy. As long as CEH is out, Williams should be in your lineup. He is the clear RB1 in Kansas City after a mid-season Derrick Gore scare and contributes both on the ground and through the air. Coming off another two TD and 100-yards from scrimmage game, there’s no chance I’m not plugging in Williams this week. Devin Singletary (RB) Buffalo Bills Singletary has finally established himself as the lead back in Buffalo late this season. He’s coming off a 23 caries, 110 yards, and a two-touchdown game and this week draws a matchup with the Jets who are the worst in the league when it comes to slowing down fantasy rushers. This game should be a laugher and I fully expect the Bills to get a lead and run the ball down their throats both to run out the clock and protect their quarterback for the playoffs. The Bills are very good and the Jets are atrocious. It’s that simple. Brandin Cooks (WR) Houston Texans Cooks has been a bright spot in a terrible year for the Texans. In his final game of the season, he faces the Titans’ secondary who is allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. He has quietly posted another 1,000-yard season with six touchdowns and 87 receptions. Despite quarterback turmoil and once again being widely overlooked by the fantasy community, Cooks just continues to put together stellar season after stellar season. He should be plugged into your championship lineup. Darnell Mooney (WR) Chicago Bears As disappointing as Allen Robinson was this season, Mooney is developing into a young stud despite a miserable quarterback situation. He’s the clear WR1 in Chicago and has an ideal matchup this week against the Vikings who have allowed more fantasy points to wide receivers than any team in the NFL. He needs 71 yards and a touchdown this week to get to 1,000 yards and five TDs. I’m willing to bet he hits those marks. Mooney is a guy you should be starting this week and looking to acquire in dynasty leagues. Dalton Shultz (TE) Dallas Cowboys We saw Shultz get a boost in targets last week with Michael Gallup going down to an ACL injury. This week the Cowboys take on the Eagles who have allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends. The matchup is set for him to have a big game and the absence of Gallup should only increase his target share. He should be viewed as a top-10 tight end this week. Sit Tua Tagovialoa (QB) Miami Dolphins Coming off a disastrous game with a terrible matchup it’s impossible to trust Tua or the Dolphins offense this week. He was clearly struggling in awful weather last week as the offensive coordinators did nothing to adjust to his struggles. They inexplicably abandoned a run game that looked good and failed to protect their young quarterback from the pass rush or the elements. If that’s the case against the Titans it’s hard to imagine this crew is going to scheme something up to make Tua a viable option against the New England Patriots. It would be shocking if the offenses combined for 40 points in this game. This game should be a non-fantasy factor for anyone involved other than the defenses. Cordarrelle Patterson (RB) Atlanta Falcons A dream season for fantasy owners promptly turned into a nightmare with Cordarrelle Patterson come playoff time. He has somehow found himself an afterthought in the offense becoming less of a factor in the passing attack and inexplicably being overtaken on the ground by Mike Davis. It’s time to cash out on Patterson if you made it this far. You got far more than you ever could have imagined from him this season, but it’s time to get off the ride now and find another option. Ronald Jones (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers Don’t put Rojo in your lineup. Ever. Are we still doing this in 2022? If you rolled with him last week you got exactly what you deserved. The process wasn’t right and he did exactly what he always does. All he’s done since Leonard Fournette went down has predictably been outperformed by Ke’Shawn Vaughn. Why? Because he’s bad and his coaches hate him. Can he occasionally have a good game? Sure, but so can everybody. Leave him on your bench. Amari Cooper (WR) Dallas Cowboys Despite the loss of Michael Gallup, I’m still skeptical about Cooper this week. He has a long history of disappearing acts and the Eagles are a rough matchup for wideouts. They are allowing the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. This game lines up better for Shultz and the rushing attack. If a wideout breaks out I’d expect it to be CeeDee Lamb and there won’t be enough production for two wideouts. If you
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 16
Advancing past the apocalyptic Week 15 was a major accomplishment in itself. But it’s likely no team escaped the madness unscathed. Many fantasy managers will need to dig deep to find healthy bodies to insert into their semi-finals lineups. That puts a huge emphasis on the Week 16 waiver wire and finding new options to start and sit. Here are some of the players to keep in mind for Week 16. Start Tom Brady (QB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers As great as Brady has been this season and for as long as most people have been playing fantasy football, this has been a popular question this week. He is coming off an atrocious game against the Saints which cost many owners their season, lost both Chris Godwin and Mike Evans, and has a terrible matchup this week against the Panthers. I understand the hesitancy to start him, but if you survived last week you have to continue to roll with him. He gets Antonio Brown back this week and still has Rob Gronkowski. Sure, it may be a much scarier start than you expected it to be just a few days ago, however, you can’t get cute here. Don’t bench Brady. D’Onta Foreman (RB) Tennessee Titans Foreman has separated himself as the clear RB1 in Tennessee while Henry is out and is going to win a lot of owners their championship this season. He overwhelmingly led all running backs on the roster last week with 22 carries and 108 yards. He also led all running backs in receiving yards. The Titans have no choice but to ride him from here on out. Now coming off three straight strong fantasy performances he needs to be in your starting lineup. Any of the other Titans’ running backs conversely are very risky starts. Melvin Gordon (RB) Denver Broncos Fantasy owners have been desperate for weeks for Javonte Williams to take over the lead back role in Denver and that thirst only grew when he shined in Gordon’s absence a few weeks back. No matter how much we may want it, it’s just not the case. They once again split the rushes evenly last week with 15 carries each. With the bad news that Williams isn’t the superstar you want comes the good news that Gordon is still the flex you need. This week the Broncos are likely without starting quarterback Teddy Bridgewater and play the Raiders who are allowing the third-most points to fantasy running backs. This is a recipe for success and you should plug him into your flex spot this week. He has all the upside Williams has in this offense. Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR) Detroit Lions We waited all year for a WR1 to emerge in Detroit and it looks like we got it. St. Brown has been nothing short of spectacular the past three weeks. During this three-week run, he has amassed 26 receptions for 249 yards and two TDs on 35 targets. He’s also been utilized in the running game. It hasn’t amounted to much, but the opportunity is present. The young wideout is coming into his own and needs to be started when he’s being targeted and producing like this. Forget that he’s a Lion and get him in your lineup this week. Christian Kirk (WR) Arizona Cardinals Kirk is another receiver who looks to be establishing himself as a WR1 with DeAndre Hopkins sidelined, although, AJ Green is still looming over him. I prefer Kirk’s upside coming off a 12 target game when he snatched nine receptions for 94 yards and a touchdown. What this comes down to is the fact that I want Kyler Murray’s top wideout and I’m putting my money on Kirk over Green. Both are viable flex options with Hopkins out. This comes down to preference. Evan Engram (TE) New York Giants This one doesn’t feel good, however, all signs point to getting Engram into your lineup this week. The Giants seemingly don’t have anyone else that’s ever healthy to throw to and he has the best possible matchup against the Eagles who are allowing the most fantasy points to tight ends. As much as you may not want to rely on him in your fantasy playoffs you’ll be hard-pressed to find a better option this week on the waiver wire. Sit Derek Carr (QB) Las Vegas Raiders Carr has been a fringe QB1 this season currently sitting as the QB13. A big part of that was a hot start though. This week he takes on the Denver Broncos and that’s a bottom-three matchup for quarterbacks. Beyond that, the Raiders are just a complete disaster and outside of Josh Jacobs and Hunter Renfrow, there is no one you should be starting on this team assuming Darren Waller is sidelined. As usual, everything has gone sideways for Vegas this year after a hot start. Avoid Carr this week and for the rest of the season. Find a better option. Myles Gaskin (RB) Miami Dolphins After being sidelined with Covid over the Dolphins Week 14 bye week, Gaskin returned to an offense that featured Duke Johnson at running back as he out-carried Gaskin 22-10. Granted Gaskin performed well and averaged an impressive 5.4 yards per carry compared to Johnson’s 4.9. Johnson did rush for 100 yards, look good between the tackles, and most importantly dominate the snaps. It’s unclear if this was due to Coivd or some other reason, but either way, you can’t trust Gaskin or any Miami runner this week. The atrocious matchup against the Saints only solidifies this stance. Ronald Jones (RB) Tampa Bay Buccaneers This is a trap if I’ve ever seen one. With Fournette sidelined for the remainder of the fantasy playoffs and Bruce Arians building up Jones as this year’s “Playoff Lenny” for the Bucs, plenty of fantasy owners are going to turn to him this week. They will be disappointed as they almost always are when they start Jones.
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 15
We’ve reached Week 15, which means the fantasy football playoffs are here. Congratulations on making it this far! To give you the best shot at advanced to Week 16, here are some start/sit options to consider this week. Start Tua Tagovialoa (QB) Miami Dolphins Tua has quietly been getting better and better as he gets more experience under his belt. He’s been efficient, limited mistakes and he’s making plays. While he’s not putting up monster numbers he’s putting up solid numbers and has a monster matchup this week against the lowly Jets. A team even the most lackluster of offenses can run circles around. When these teams faced off Week 11, Tua threw for 273 yards and two touchdowns. Since then the Jets have gotten worse and more beat up, while the Dolphins have gotten DeVante Parker back and he’s already making an impact. He should have a strong outing and if the Jets can actually be competitive, which is far from a lock, he has the upside of a monster game. Myles Gaskin (RB) Miami Dolphins As embarrassingly bad as the Jets are against the pass they are even worse against the run. They are the worst team against fantasy running backs by a large margin. New York is allowing 34.1 fantasy points per game to running backs, more than four points per game more than any other team, which is a huge gap. They are an absolute dumpster fire on defense. Gaskin also has a chance to be the only legitimate back in the backfield. While he tested positive Covid last week, he is vaccinated and likely to play this week. Phillip Lindsay however tested positive this week and is unlikely to play while Salvon Ahmed didn’t test positive until the weekend. Gaskin is a no-brainer for Week 15 and may help a lot of teams win titles. Darrell Henderson (RB) Las Angeles Rams Another running back we are banking coming off the reserve/Covid list is Henderson. His absence last week may have been a blessing in disguise for owners who survived it as the extra week of rest likely gave him time to get fully healthy. He has an elite matchup this week against that team who is second to the Jets in fantasy points allowed to running backs, the Seahawks. Many are afraid of Sony Michel but shouldn’t be. That’s not to say Sony won’t get his touches, but Henderson is the RB1, goal-line guy, and pass catcher. Plus, in this one, both backs are worth a start in what should be a dominant performance on the ground. Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers Aiyuk is coming on strong once again this season much like he did late last year. After being a callosal disappointment for the first two months of the season, he has turned it up since the calendar flipped to November and is coming off an 11 target game in which he caught a TD. This week he draws the Falcons’ defense who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. There is no reason his upward tick in production shouldn’t continue this week and even accelerate. Roll with him as a strong flex option Week 15. DeVonta Smith (WR) Philadelphia Eagles Smith has been a bit inconsistent this year, but things are lined up nice for him this week. The Football Team is giving up the fourth-most points to fantasy wideouts this season and has been particularly vulnerable to big plays. Something Smith is built for. The Eagles are also likely without Quez Watkins and could be short-handed at running back as well leaving more potential touches for Smith. This includes more red-zone looks and perhaps screens and end-arounds. Relying on Jalen Hurts can be a little scary, nonetheless, I expect both he and Smith to be able to get it done this week in this matchup. Harrison Bryant (TE) Cleveland Browns Bryant comes with the caveat that he has to be able to play coming off a sprained ankle, but is trending in the right direction this week so far. Cleveland will be without Austin Hooper and David Njoku leaving plenty of opportunities for Bryant to see plenty of volume. The Browns also play the Raiders who have been destroyed by tight ends, especially in the second half of the season allowing the second-most fantasy points to the position this year. They could also be without their best linebacker making matters even worse for them. As if you needed more good news for Bryant, the Raiders are also very good at slowing down wideouts. With QB Baker Mayfield also on the reserve/COVID list, Bryant has the potential to be heavily targeted by Case Keenum. Sit Taysom Hill (QB) New Orleans Saints Despite what you may have heard lately from a certain talking head who has been roasted on Twitter for his cold takes, Hill is not a particularly good thrower of the football. He is also taking on the Bucs this week who have some of the fastest linebackers in the game who will be able to spy the one-dimensional play-caller. This could be laugher forcing Hill into his worst-case scenario where he for the most part has to limit his running and throw to play catchup in the second half. I don’t want him anywhere near my starting lineup this week. If you are searching your wire for a starter, Tua is a much better option and a much better quarterback. Damien Harris (RB) New England Patriots I’m having a tough time putting Harris in my lineup this week. There is too much working against him. Injury is still a concern and he’s not a lock to be fully healthy this week but will likely suit up. Snaps have been erratic and could easily trend towards Stevenson or even Bolden depending on game script and the matchup against the Colts is the fourth-toughest in the league. I’m thinking long and hard
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 14
The playoffs are just around the corner and these late-season games are crucial for many teams still hoping to qualify for the postseason. Here are some players to consider starting and others to think about benching ahead of Week 14. Start Cam Newton (QB) Carolina Panthers I know this one is scary. Especially if you fell victim to Newton when the Dolphins destroyed him before the Panthers’ bye week. However, they are now coming off that bye and this Falcons’ defense isn’t anything close to how good the Dolphins have been over the second half of the season. The Falcons are allowing the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and Newton is likely on waivers everywhere after that awful performance. Newton does come with a brutal floor, but he’s just one game removed from a strong fantasy outing. Mark Ingram (RB) New Orleans Saints Despite coming off a terrible Week 13 showing you should get Ingram in your lineup this week when he takes on the porous Jets’ defense. They are allowing the most fantasy points in the league to running backs. If Kamara misses another game Ingram has high-end RB1 upside. Nonetheless, even if Kamara plays Ingram is a no-brainer to at the very least be in your flex spot. With a likely positive game script against the lowly Jets, I expect Ingram to get close to 20 carries, a handful of receptions, and find the end zone at least once. Rex Burkhead (RB) Houston Texans The Texans get a terrible Seahawks defense this week. The only better possible matchup for a fantasy running back is the lowly Jets’ D. Despite his Sexy Rexy moniker, I understand Burkhead is not a sexy play but maybe a strong play. We also don’t know what the availability of David Johnson will be. If Johnson is out Burkhead becomes an even stronger play against a miserable Seahawks defense who can stop anyone on the ground. It’s safe to plug him in your lineup this week. D’Onta Foreman (RB) Tennessee Titans Following the Titans’ Week 12 explosion from their running backs, all the attention has been on Dontrelle Hilliard after his highlight-reel 68-yard touchdown run. What people are overlooking is that Foreman had 19 carries to Hilliards 12 and both had a reception. Foreman also managed 109 yards against a tough Patriots’ defense in that one and if McNichols returns Hilliard could be completely irrelevant. Foreman’s job is safe. In a matchup against the Jags this week Foreman deserves flex consideration at the very least. K.J. Osborn (WR) Minnesota Vikings Osborn saw an immediate uptick in snaps once Adam Thielen went down last week with a high-ankle sprain and he’s going to miss multiple weeks because of it. Osborn saw his snaps go from about 56-percent up to 92-percent. He also saw an uptick in targets to seven. He caught four of them for 47 yards and a touchdown. As long as Thielen is sidelined Osborn becomes a WR3/flex option for owners. Tyler Conklin (TE) Minnesota Vikings Like Osborn, Conklin sees an uptick with Thielen out but perhaps with more valuable targets. Not only should Conklin see generally more targets, but he should be the top target in the end zone now. As long as Thielen is out Conklin should be started as a TE1 with confidence. Last week he caught seven of his nine targets for 56 yards and there is no reason to expect a dropoff from that and you can add TD upside. Unless you have an absolute stud on your roster he is worth a long look. I’d start him over guys like Kyle Pitts, T.J. Hockensona, and Tyler Higbee this week. Sit Matt Ryan (QB) Atlanta Falcons Ryan should be nowhere near your starting lineup this week against the Falcons. This is a bad matchup against the Panthers and despite a big name, Ryan is no longer a very good quarterback. Still, plenty of the questions in my inbox have asked me about him, especially in SuperFlex leagues and the answer is consistently to sit him. Even in a SuperFlex spot, I’d sit him for any one of the options above in the Start Em category. It’s not farfetched for Ryan to give you almost nothing or worse than nothing so avoid him this week and find a better option. Tevin Coleman (RB) New York Jets Despite being a bad running back and playing on a terrible team, Coleman has been than expected since Michael Carter went down. Nevertheless, he is going up against the Saints this week and should be firmly locked on your bench. No team has given up fewer fantasy points to the position this season and it certainly isn’t the Jets and Coleman who I expect to buck that trend. I’d rather start guys like Adrian Peterson, David Johnson, and Latavius Murray over Coleman this week. James Robinson (RB) Jacksonville Jaguars James Robinson fumbled the ball last Sunday and was barely used for the remainder of the game. Since coming to Jacksonville Urban Meyer has seemed to have it out for Robinson and he loves Carlos Hyde. I’d have a real hard time trusting him this week against a Titans’ defense who is allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to running backs and the most fantasy points to wide receivers. This is not lining up to be his day and coming off last week I’m hoping to find a better option if possible with all the injuries and bye weeks. Kenny Golladay (WR) New York Giants Yea, I labeled this as Golladay but it actually applies to all Giants wide receivers. I just don’t know who the WR1 will be yet with all the injuries. However, whether it’s Kadarius Toney, Sterling Shepard or Golladay don’t try to find value in any of these pass-catchers. The Chargers are a top-four defense when it comes to stopping the pass and Jake Fromm is looking like the starting quarterback
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 13
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 13 Start Tua Tagovailoa (QB) Miami Dolphins Tua has gotten better and better throughout the Dolphins winning streak and he’s been a fringe QB1 over the past three weeks, ranking as the QB14, despite negative game scripts. He’s also become a very safe option if you need a QB2 in Superflex leagues or a desperation QB1. His numbers aren’t overly gaudy, but he also won’t kill you. He’s been historically accurate and has cut back on mistakes. With multiple weapons breaking out this season, he’s good for 200-plus yards, a touchdown, and limited mistakes this week as his floor. His ceiling is upwards of 300 yards and multiple TDs. Alexander Mattison (RB) Minnesota Vikings This is a no-brainer for me. With Dalvin Cook out you need to get Mattison into your lineup. Even if you don’t own Cook, just had Mattison on your bench and don’t necessarily need him. He needs to be considered a high-end RB1 this week against the Lions. I’m not so sure it’s possible to have a better option this week if you start even just two running backs. He’s a top-five option in Week 13 so be sure to plug him in. Tony Pollard (RB) Dallas Cowboys Unless something changes I like Pollard as a flex option from here on out. The team clearly wants to cut back Ezekiel Elliot’s snaps and even both are playing Pollard looks like the better back lately. Despite a bad matchup against the Saints on Thursday Night Football I still like him this week. With the offensive line getting healthy they can block for any running back and I don’t expect this game to be overly competitive leading to plenty of rushing opportunities for Dallas. Don’t be afraid of Zeke or the matchup this week if you need a reliable flex option. T.Y. Hilton (WR) Indianapolis Colts I’m usually not a believer in superstitions, weird quirks, or outlier stats. I pay no mind to revenge games, playing for a contract, or anything along those lines. However, this T.Y. Hilton verse Houston thing can’t be ignored. In 19 career regular-season games he has amassed 101 receptions for 1,798 yards and 11 TDs. He already has an 80-yard game against them this year and has failed to top 30 yards in any other game. Last year in 15 games he totaled 56 receptions for 762 yards and five TDs. Against the Texans alone he put up 12 catches for 181 yards and a TD. He of course also put up season highs in receptions and yards against them in Week 13. T.Y. Houston is a real thing and goes back year after year. Just play him. T.Y. Hilton’s career in Houston: 6 targets, 3 rec, 78 yds, 1 td 12/7/131/3 9/9/223/1 9/5/88/0 9/3/49/0 9/5/175/2 12/9/199/0 6/3/18/0 (Injured) 11/8/110/1 — #TagsStrong💪 (@JodySmithNFL) December 1, 2021 Jaylen Waddle (WR) Miami Dolphins It’s time that you start starting Waddle every single week. He’s been one of the best PPR wideouts in the league and is making a late push for offensive rookie of the year. Over the past four weeks, Ja’Marr Chase has totaled 15 receptions for 152 yards and two TDs. Waddle has posted 29 catches for 346 yards and a TD and one of those weeks was with a backup quarterback. He’s a lock for double-digit targets this week or very close to it and with Tua completing passes at an abnormally efficient rate, even if he only gives 60 yards or so, he’s still getting you 6-10 receptions. Start him this week and every week for the rest of the season. Foster Moreau (TE) Las Vegas Raiders With Waller out, it’s safe to start Moreau. This offense is built around the tight end and he has the athletic ability to continue to run the same offense with him. The last time Waller was out, Moreau played 100-percent of the snaps, ran a route on 32 of 37 dropbacks, had six catches for 60 yards and a TD. He’s not quite Waller, but he’s the best option you can stream this week. Sit Mac Jones (QB) New England Patriots Jones has been playing well and the hype around him has been building as he’s another ROY candidate. Regardless, he should not be started this week against the Buffalo Bills who have just dominated opposing quarterbacks this season and are allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position. He will likely be efficient and limit mistakes, but I expect very little from him in fantasy this week even with Tre’Davious White sidelined. If you go into Monday Night Football needing Jones to win your week, you’re going to have a bad time. Damien Harris (RB) New England Patriots Yes, this does have to do with the matchup against the Bills, however, the bigger concern is the snap share as the Pats split the snaps almost evenly last week between three running backs. In this matchup, you simply can’t have that. This defense is too tough against any running back that isn’t Jonathan Taylor. If you are unable to find a better option this week prepare yourself for a letdown. As a matter of fact, just bench all your Patriots this week. It will make your life easier. Alex Collins (RB) Seattle Seahawks Even with Chris Carson and Rashaad Penny out, Collins still needs to be on your bench. This rushing attack is a nightmare and this offense is horrendous. The matchup is just average this week against the 49ers, but this team can’t get anything going on the ground no matter who they play. Despite the return of Russell Wilson, this is one of the worst offenses in the league with a terrible offensive line and Collins is currently a fringe bench stash at best. Tee Higgins (WR) Cincinnati Bengals Higgins has been disappointing this season but did not disappoint last week. Unfortunately, you should not
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 12
Before loading up on complex carbs and sitting down for an entire Thursday of NFL action, knowing which players to start and sit can make an already enjoyable holiday week even better. Here are our starts and sits for Week 12. Happy Thanksgiving from FullTime Fantasy. Week 12 byes: Arizona Cardinals, Kansas City Chiefs Start Cam Newton (QB) Carolina Panthers Newton returned to Carolina two weeks ago and with almost no knowledge of the playbook has played very well for any fantasy owner who has taken a flier on him. Despite reports during the week of a dual quarterback situation that was not the case. Cam is the one and only quarterback for the Panthers. Moving forward, there is no reason he shouldn’t continue to grow and improve in this offense. He looks healthy and he looks good both throwing and running the ball. This week the Panthers take on a Dolphins defense who has been much better over the past month but have been susceptible to fantasy quarterbacks. This team can also be torched by mobile quarterbacks and while they shut down Lamar Jackson a few weeks ago, Newton has Christian McCaffrey to neutralize an all-out blitz and is more experienced when it comes to reading a defense pre-snap. If you have Patrick Mahomes and need a bye week fill-in, this is who you should be plugging in. Rex Burkhead (RB) Houston Texans Burkhead has established himself in the Texans’ offense and has taken over the role Mark Ingram had to start the season. He saw 18 carries last week and I expect much of the same moving forward. Especially if he has a positive game script and there is a good chance he does this week against a miserable Jets team. Even worse for the Jets, they are getting Zach Wilson back who is quite possibly the worst starter in the league and has looked like the worst quarterback on their roster. I was on the fence about whether or not Burkhead should be a sleeper or start this week, but I like him as a flex option this week. With Phillip Lindsay just cut from the team, he has a clear path to 15-20 carries and a few targets. I’ll take that volume against the Jets, who are allowing the most fantasy points per game by more than seven points per game to running backs, every time. Ty Johnson (RB) New York Jets On the other side of the ball in this much anticipated Texans and Jets showdown, Johnson should step in as the primary back for the Jets with Michael Carter on the shelf. While I’m less bullish about Johnson than Burkhead, he should still be a solid start. I do fear the Jets are dumb enough to give Tevin Coleman too many snaps, and not to pile on but Wilson coming back makes everyone worse. Still, the Texans are a bottom ten defense when it comes to stopping fantasy running backs and Johnson should see enough carries and targets to give him a safe floor this week. You can plug him into your flex spot. Kendrick Bourne (WR) New England Patriots The phrase sneaky good is overused amongst the fantasy community, however, I’m not sure anyone’s ever fit the description more than Bourne as of late. He’s been efficient, he’s targeted on all levels of the field, and has only seen less than four targets twice since Week 2. Over the past two weeks, he’s seen 12 touches, caught all eight of his targets, and posted 190 yards and a TD. You can make a strong case that he’s challenging Jakobi Meyers as the WR1 in New England, especially from a fantasy perspective. This week he gets a Titans defense who is allowing the most fantasy points to opposing wideouts. Don’t be afraid to plug him in your lineup. Brandon Aiyuk (WR) San Francisco 49ers The long-awaited resurgence of Aiyuk appears to be upon us. After being essentially invisible for the first two months of the season, over the past four weeks he has come to life in a big way. Over the team’s first six games, one of which he was a healthy scratch, Aiyuk totaled 8 catches on 16 targets for 96 yards and one TD. Over the past four games, he’s caught 20 of his 26 targets for 245 yards and two TDs. He is catching fire much like he did last year. Not to that extent yet but the signs are clear. With a matchup against the Vikings this week who are allowing the third-most points in the league to receivers, he should be in your lineups. Dalton Shultz (TE) Dallas Cowboys Shultz should see plenty of volume this week out of necessity alone. The Cowboys will be without Amari Cooper, Ceedee Lamb is in serious danger of sitting out Thursday and Ezekiel Elliott is banged up. Last week he led the beat-up offense in both catches and yards and if Lamb can’t go has a real shot of doing the same this week. The matchup with the Raiders also plays right into his hands as they are allowing the third-most points to fantasy tight ends but the sixth-fewest points to fantasy receivers. Expect to see a lot of Shultz this Thanksgiving. Sit Ryan Tannehill (QB) Tennessee Titans The Patriots’ pass defense has been brutal for opposing quarterbacks as they’ve allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to the position. Tannehill has been mediocre this season and already without Derick Henry and Julio Jones, it looks like they will travel to New England this week without A.J. Brown and the next best receiver on the team Marcus Johnson just landed on injured reserve as well. If Brown is to miss this week’s game I’m not sure Tannehill is startable as a QB2 in Superflex leagues. Find another option. Zack Moss (RB) Buffalo Bills The Saints rush defense is too good to start
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 11
Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 11 Start Cam Newton (QB) Carolina Panthers Cam is back and will be the starter next week for the Panthers. He will get the start this week after having a few packages last week. When he was on the field he gave this team juice and they throttled the first-place Cardinals. He went 3-4 through the air with a touchdown and had three carries and a TD on the ground. His touches were limited after being out of the league since the preseason, but he was impressive. In his first start, he gets the best possible matchup a fantasy quarterback can get. He will take on the Washington Football Team defense who is allowing the most fantasy points to QBs. You aren’t starting him over studs but he’s a strong streaming option this week. Cam looked like Cam. Even if he isn’t great through the air, rushing upside and dump-offs to Christian McCaffrey give him a nice floor. Myles Gaskin (RB) Miami Dolphins Gaskin is averaging just under 19 touches per game over the past four weeks and this week takes on the lowly Jets who just allowed the Bills’ terrible backfield do whatever they wanted against them including Matt Breida scoring two TDs. The Jets are allowing the most fantasy points to running backs and it’s not close. There is no reason Gaskin shouldn’t have a monster day both through the air and on the ground. Tua has been named the starter and loves throwing him the ball as well. He has RB1 upside this week in PPR leagues. Rhamondre Stevenson (RB) New England Patriots Stevenson got the start last week and torched the Browns’ defense. He carried the ball 20 times for 100 yards and two TDs while adding four catches for 14 yards in the passing attack. Damien Harris may or may not be back this week for Thursday Night Football when the Pats take on the Falcons. The Falcons are allowing the third-most points to fantasy running backs and are significantly worse than the Browns when it comes to slowing down runners. If Harris is out Stevenson is a must-start. However, even if Harris does play I still like Stevenson as a flex option this week. Brandin Cooks (WR) Houston Texans Cooks has been solid as always, but it’s hard to trust any Texans’ fantasy option every week. Nonetheless, Tyrod Taylor is back and is better than Davis Mills for what that’s worth and the matchup this week is ideal. Houston takes on the Tennessee Titans who are allowing the most fantasy points in the league to opposing wideouts. Their inability to stop anyone through the air and a game script that should force the Texans to throw the ball almost constantly should lead to big points from Cooks even if a lot of them come in garbage time. Donovan Peoples-Jones (WR) Cleveland Browns The Browns got embarrassed last week by the Patriots, Peoples-Jones was useless, and Baker looked awful. The Browns don’t play the Patriots this week though. They play the Lions. There’s no team to get right against quite like the Lions who allow just about anybody to do just about anything they want against them with the apparent exception of Mason Rudolph. I expect the Browns to come out angry and firing. At this point, DPJ looks like their WR1 and is their most dangerous weapon in the passing attack when it comes to big plays and TDs. If he’s on my roster I’m throwing him in my flex this week. It’s tough to sit anyone against Detroit. C.J. Uzohma (TE) Cincinatti Bengals Uzomah has been a boom or bust tight end this year and this is going to be a boom week coming off a bye. Cincy is taking on the Raiders who are allowing the second-most fantasy points to tight ends this season and were just dismantled last week by the Chiefs. It looks like their late-season collapse is in full effect and I have no faith they will be able to slow down the Bengals’ offense this week. There is no area where their defense struggles more than against the tight end. If you allow Uzomah to get open Joe Burrow loves to target him and will hit him for big plays and touchdowns. He’s my top streaming option this week. Sit Carson Wentz (QB) Indianapolis Colts Wentz has been solid this season so this isn’t a knock on him. We are just at a point with this Bills’ defense that there isn’t a quarterback in the league I wouldn’t consider sitting against them if I had any kind of decent second option. They are dominating everybody and allowing the fewest fantasy points to the position. They make my job much easier because I can just look at who they’re playing and plug them in my sit spot in this article each week. You should do the same with your lineups. Mike Davis (RB) Atlanta Falcons Cordarrelle Patterson is probably out this week and I’m still not putting Davis anywhere near my lineup against the Patriots this week. This isn’t because the Pats’ run defense is stellar because it’s not, he’s just horrid. Wayne Gallman got a huge workload last week, but it’s hard to tell if that’s because he’s jumped Davis on the depth chart or because they were down by about 1,000 points almost immediately last week. Still, Davis is unstartable and if you’re not going to start him this week with Patterson out you’re never going to. So if you’re still rostering him it’s time to let him loose. I also wouldn’t start Gallman this week. However, he may be worth adding because if he does see the bulk of the carries this week and Patterson misses more time, then you may have something with him. Zack Moss (RB) Buffalo Bills The Colts are the toughest matchup Moss can fan face this season
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em Week 10
Hard to believe we’re now into double-digit weeks of the 2021 NFL season. Knowing who to start and who to sit is crucial in this must-win, mid-season games. Another valuable tool, our weekly snap report, can also help identify unheralded players that might make solid options in Week 10. Today ONLY Promo code JODY50 gets you HALF OFF any FullTime Subscription! Start Derek Carr (QB) Las Vegas Raiders Even without Henry Ruggs, you have to get Carr into your lineups Sunday night when he takes on a putrid Chiefs defense. This defense can’t stop anyone other than Jordan Love apparently. They are allowing the second-most fantasy points per game to quarterbacks and the only reason they probably aren’t allowing the most is that they got to play Love instead of Aaron Rodgers. Carr is an above-average quarterback with an outstanding matchup. That’s the perfect recipe for an outstanding streaming option. D’Ernest Johnson (RB) Cleveland Browns News broke on Monday that both Nick Chubb, Demetric Felton, and less relevantly John Kelly have all tested positive for Covid. With Kareem Hunt already on injured reserve, Johnson is the only back left on the active roster. We’ve already seen how good he can be when given the opportunity and this is a massive opportunity. The matchup isn’t ideal against the Patriots, but there is no way that’s keeping him out of my lineup this week. The only real concern is if Chubb does pass to Covid tests 24 hours apart before Sunday he may be able to play because the belief is that he is vaccinated. So be sure to monitor his status before plugging in Johnson. He would still have some value even if Chubb plays, but significantly less. Jordan Howard (RB) Philadelphia Eagles Somehow Howard appears to be the guy in Philly. Three weeks ago he wasn’t in the league. The Eagles picked him up and after just two games he has put Boston Scott and Kenneth Gainwell in his rearview and carried the ball 29 times for 128 yards and three touchdowns. Surely this is as befuddling to you as it is to us, but all we can do is roll with it. He is a solid flex option this week against a Denver defense that continues to falter and he could be a legitimate option for the rest of the season or at the very least until Miles Sanders returns. Julio Jones (WR) Tennessee Titans If not now, when? This is his last chance for me. If he’s still on your roster this is the week to hope he’s still got some magic left in him. He’s taking on the Saints who are allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts. Making the matchup even more enticing is that the WR2 should thrive with Marshon Lattimore on the WR1, in this case, A.J. Brown. As long as his hamstring or one of the other numerous body parts that ail him don’t decide to stop working during this game, he should have a breakout performance. If not it may be time to part ways with the one-time stud and at least you can enjoy the satisfaction of casting him off to the waiver wire if he fails you. Jamal Agnew (WR) Jacksonville Jaguars I’m in on Agnew as a flex consideration on weekly basis from here on out. He’s been sneaky good and is Trevor Lawrence’s favorite target. He’s coming off a down game against the Bills who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to wide receivers. However, despite only catching three passes for 27 yards in the tough matchup, he also was tied with Marvin Jones for the target leader among wideouts with five and had a TD pass bounce off his chest from about 35 yards out. In his past four games, he has seen 31 targets and two carries. With a much better matchup this week against the Colts, who are allowing the fifth-most fantasy points to receivers, I like him as a flex option on Sunday. Logan Thomas (TE) Washington Football Team This is just me reminding you that Thomas is back and should be in your starting lineup. If you think that’s lazy, I almost put Ricky Seals-Jones as the TE Sit option this week. If he’s on waivers add Thomas and if you stashed him it’s time to plug him in. Unless something changes, he’s a clear-cut TE1 and should be started weekly. It doesn’t hurt that he takes on Tampa this week who are in the bottom-8 when it comes to slowing down fantasy tight ends. Sit Kirk Cousins (QB) Minnesota Vikings Cousins has a tough matchup this week against the Chargers who are allowing the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks and the second-fewest points against wide receivers. This is a nightmare matchup for him and his top weapons. If I have other decent options I’m pulling Cousins out of my lineup this week. He’s been a fringe QB1 this season, but I expect him to be a mediocre QB2 at best this week. Look for him to be closer to the QB20 than QB12. Michael Carter (RB) New York Jets With the quarterback situation in flux and the worst possible matchup against the Bills, keep Carter on your bench this week. The best-case scenario is Mike White plays and the Jets are losing big so he can pepper Carter with dump-offs in garbage time. If Josh Johnson or Zach Wilson play there is no best-case scenario for Carter. I understand a lot of teams are hurting at the RB position right now and if White plays you have no other option. Be sure to temper expectations and if White isn’t the starter, find another option somehow. Adrian Peterson (RB) Tennessee Titans If you rolled the dice and started Peterson last week be grateful he fell into the option and get him out of your lineup. His 10 carries for 21 yards was salvaged and
Fantasy Football Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Week 9
After a relatively painless bye week in Week 8, Week 9 offers up another challenging slate, with many fantasy stars unavailable. That makes knowing which players to start and who to sit crucial towards fielding a winning lineup . Here are some unheralded starters to consider this week and some other options to consider sitting as we head into Week 8 of the 2021 NFL season. Week 9 byes: Detroit Lions, Seattle Seahawks, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Washington Football Team In honor of King Henry, use promo code KING30 for 30% off FULLTIME FANTASY MEMBERSHIP!! Start Tua Tagovialoa (QB) Miami Dolphins We have seen Tua on this list a lot and here he is again. He struggled last week against the Buffalo Bills, but just about everybody struggles against the Bills’ defense who are allowing the fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks. I fully expect Tua to bounce back this week against the Houston Texans. Houston is allowing the eighth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks and that ranking is better than it should be. Teams are often blowing out the Texans so they just stop throwing. It’s not a lock that the 1-7 Dolphins, who lost to the Jags and Falcons, and their terrible defense are a lock to blow out anybody. So Tua may be throwing all game long. The Dolphins should have close to a full complement of passing weapons minus Will Fuller. With a great matchup and weapons to throw to Tua should bounce back and have a big game like he had the previous two weeks before they went up against the Bills. Boston Scott (RB) Philadelphia Eagles As I mentioned last week, it was very possible Scott and not Kenneth Gainwell would be the main back in Philly. He got even more work than expected and didn’t relinquish the RB1 role until the game was completely out of hand and the backups were in. Jordan Howard will steal a lot of goal-line work, but Scott will still see work as we saw last week when he scored two touchdowns. Scott is a real-life RB1 going up against a Chargers’ defense allowing the fourth-most fantasy points to running backs. He is worth starting every week until Miles Sanders returns and then we will re-evaluate the backfield. Darrell Williams (RB) Kansas City Chiefs The Chiefs are making it a point to establish a rushing attack and Williams is the top back in KC right now. If he is getting double-digit carries and targets in that offense his upside is immense. The offense hasn’t been the offense we are used to seeing, but it’s more likely they get back on track than continue to struggle all season. Do not be afraid of the struggles of the passing game or Derrick Gore. Gore will get work but he’s the clear RB2 and will not steal Williams’s spot because they don’t like him in pass blocking or catching. DeVante Parker (WR) Miami Dolphins When Parker gets on the field he’s always the clear WR1 in Miami. He returned last week and caught eight of 11 targets for 85 yards. The targets will be there again this week, he will perform even better against a significantly worse defense and he’s a threat in the end zone in a game where the Dolphins should be scoring TDs. The only concern is he gets injured and leaves early and we can’t predict that. So plug him in and don’t worry about him. Emmanuel Sanders (WR) Buffalo Bills This is a reminder not to worry about Sanders after he gave you nothing last week. He struggled against the Dolphins last week and gave you no points. That sucks but it’s okay. Miami got Xavien Howard and Byron Jones back last week and Josh Allen couldn’t do anything on the outside. The Dolphins’ defense has been awful but they still have elite starting corners. In the second half, we saw Allen target Cole Beasley over and over. That’s the only area he had success. That won’t be the case this week against the Jags. He should be back in your lineup again and will bounce back. Tyler Conklin (TE) Minnesota Vikings Conklin saw seven targets last week and caught five of them for 58 yards. Only Adam Thielen saw more targets. This week the Vikings take on the Ravens. The Ravens are allowing the 10th-fewest fantasy points to receivers and the most fantasy points to tight ends. This is the best possible matchup Conklin can have and it’s clear he’s a big part of this offense. He’s a low-end TE1 this week and should be started. Sit Trevor Lawrence (QB) Jacksonville Jaguars Lawrence goes up against the Bills this week and can’t be started. It’s that simple. Buffalo’s defense is allowing the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks, the fewest fantasy points to running backs, the second-fewest fantasy points to wide receivers, and the eighth-fewest fantasy points to tight ends. You need to consider sitting everyone against the Bills unless you have an absolute stud going up against them. The Jags have no studs and everyone on that offense should be benched. Mike Davis (RB) Atlanta Falcons Atlanta takes on a brutal Saints’ rush defense this week and Davis isn’t a very good running back. He is tough to trust in any matchup now that Cordarrelle Patterson has taken over as the top back for the Falcons. The combination of a lack of talent, loss of volume, and a bad matchup make Davis an easy sit. Your only hope is he catches five or six passes and falls into the end zone. It’s not impossible, but I’m not banking on the ceiling of a low-upside plodder. Adrian Peterson (RB) Tennessee Titans Peterson could easily come out and make me look stupid, but I’m not willing to start him days after he joined the team. We aren’t sure how the touches will be distributed or if Peterson will get close to what his full workload will eventually