Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



2013 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em: Week 17

Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 17 NFL Picks page, I thought I’d devote a new page for this. Follow @walterfootball for updates.


Panthers at Falcons

Start Em:
  • DeAngelo Williams, RB, Panthers
    The Falcons have one of the worst run defenses in the NFL.

  • Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons
    Steven Jackson has scored six touchdowns in his previous five games. The Panthers aren’t very good against the run.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CAR: QB Cam Newton, TE Greg Olsen, Panthers Defense.
    ATL: WR Roddy White, TE Tony Gonzalez.

    Sit Em:
  • Panthers Receivers
    Steve Smith is out.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Texans at Titans

    Start Em:
  • Kendall Wright, WR, Titans
    Houston can’t stop the pass at all.

  • Obvious Starts:
    HOU: WR Andre Johnson.
    TEN: RB Chris Johnson, TE Delanie Walker, Titans Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Texans Running Backs
    Dennis Johnson is out. You can’t start Jonathan Grimes in a fantasy championship.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Browns at Steelers

    Start Em:
  • Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
    The Browns could be missing Joe Haden.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CLE: WR Josh Gordon.
    PIT: RB Le’Veon Bell, WR Antonio Brown, Steelers Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Edwin Baker, RB, Browns
    Edwin Baker showed some promise last week, but he can’t be trusted in a championship.

  • Jordan Cameron, TE, Browns
    Jordan Cameron is dealing with a concussion.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Redskins at Giants

    Start Em:
  • Andre Brown, RB, Giants
    Andre Brown has been cleared to play after suffering a concussion.

  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: RB Alfred Morris, WR Pierre Garcon.
    NYG: Giants Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Kirk Cousins, QB, Redskins
    Kirk Cousins sucked last week, and the Giants just rattled Matthew Stafford.

  • Giants Receivers
    Victor Cruz is out. I’d use Jerrel Jernigan over Hakeem Nicks, but that’s just a desperation play.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Ravens at Bengals

    Start Em:
  • Marvin Jones, WR, Bengals
    Marvin Jones has played more snaps lately, and Andy Dalton performs better at home.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: WR Torrey Smith.
    CIN: WR A.J. Green, Bengals Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Ray Rice, RB, Ravens (non-PPR)
    The Bengals are stout against the run, and Ray Rice just doesn’t look right.

  • BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Bengals
    BenJarvus Green-Ellis may get a touchdown, but you can’t count on that.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Jaguars at Colts

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: None.
    IND: QB Andrew Luck, WR T.Y. Hilton, Colts Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Maurice Jones-Drew, RB, Jaguars
    Maurice Jones-Drew is going to play, but he’s not 100 percent.

  • Trent Richardson, RB, Colts
    Trent Richardson can’t be used in any matchup.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Jets at Dolphins

    Start Em:
  • Chris Ivory, RB, Jets
    Miami has major problems against the run.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: Jets Defense.
    MIA: WR Mike Wallace, Dolphins Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Dolphins Running Backs
    This rotation is way too futile and unpredictable.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Lions at Vikings

    Start Em:
  • Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions
    Calvin Johnson could be a game-time decision. If he plays, you may have to go with him, no matter how banged up he is.

  • Greg Jennings, WR, Vikings
    Greg Jennings can be started with Matt Cassel getting the nod again. They have a solid rapport going.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DET: QB Matthew Stafford (if Calvin Johnson plays), RB Reggie Bush.
    MIN: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Vikings Running Backs
    Adrian Peterson and Toby Gerhart are out. Don’t get cute and start Matt Asiata or Joe Banyard. Find someone else.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday


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    Packers at Bears

    Start Em:
  • Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers
    Aaron Rodgers is starting. Pencil him and his receivers into your lineup.

  • Eddie Lacy, RB, Packers
    Eddie Lacy will start as well.

  • Packers Receivers
    Use James Jones and Jordy Nelson as strong plays.

  • Obvious Starts:
    GB: None.
    CHI: RB Matt Forte, WR Brandon Marshall, WR Alshon Jeffery.

    Sit Em:
  • Jarrett Boykin, WR, Packers
    Jarrett Boykin will lose snaps to Randall Cobb.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Bills at Patriots

    Start Em:
  • Fred Jackson, RB, Bills
    Fred Jackson exploded last week. He’s probably the Buffalo back you want, though C.J. Spiller’s not a bad start either.

  • LeGarrette Blount, RB, Patriots
    LeGarrette Blount is the lead back, and he has an easy matchup.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BUF: None.
    NE: QB Tom Brady, WR Julian Edelman, Patriots Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Stevie Johnson, WR, Bills
    Stevie Johnson is likely out with personal issues.

  • Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots
    Stevan Ridley will suit up again this week, but he can’t be trusted. Bill Belichick doesn’t even have any faith in him.

  • Danny Amendola, WR, Patriots
    Danny Amendola disappeared again last week. He’s difficult to trust.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Buccaneers at Saints

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    TB: WR Vincent Jackson.
    NO: QB Drew Brees, RB Darren Sproles, TE Jimmy Graham, Saints Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Bobby Rainey, RB, Buccaneers
    The Saints are actually quite decent against the run.

  • Marques Colston, WR, Saints
    Marques Colston has to deal with Darrelle Revis this week.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Broncos at Raiders

    Start Em:
  • Terrelle Pryor, QB, Raiders
    Terrelle Pryor isn’t a bad desperation start. He’ll accumulate a ton of rushing yardage.

  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: RB Rashad Jennings.
    DEN: QB Peyton Manning, RB Knowshon Moreno, WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Eric Decker, TE Julius Thomas, Broncos Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Wes Welker, WR, Broncos
    Wes Welker is out again.

  • Darren McFadden, RB, Raiders
    Surprise, surprise, Darren McFadden has been injured. He’s back, but he’s still playing behind Rashad Jennings.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    49ers at Cardinals

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    SF: RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, 49ers Defense.
    ARZ: RB Andre Ellington, WR Larry Fitzgerald, Cardinals Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Cardinals
    Rashard Mendenhall needs a touchdown to produce for fantasy owners, but you can’t expect him to score.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Chiefs at Chargers

    Start Em:
  • Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers
    Start any Charger you can find against Kansas City’s backups.

  • Obvious Starts:
    KC: None.
    SD: QB Philip Rivers, RB Ryan Mathews, RB Danny Woodhead (PPR), WR Keenan Allen, Chargers Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • All Chiefs
    You can’t use any Chiefs this week. Andy Reid has always rested his starters in meaningless games. It’s also risky to use the backups, so this is a situation to avoid.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Rams at Seahawks

    Start Em:
  • Golden Tate, WR, Seahawks
    Golden Tate isn’t a bad option this week now that he doesn’t have to deal with Patrick Peterson. Tate had a big game against the Rams back in Week 8.

  • Obvious Starts:
    STL: RB Zac Stacy, Rams Defense.
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Tavon Austin, WR, Rams
    Tavon Austin could be back this week, but he’s not much of a fantasy option anyway.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Eagles at Cowboys

    Start Em:
  • Riley Cooper, WR, Eagles
    Nick Foles loves throwing it to Riley Cooper.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: QB Tony Romo, RB DeMarco Murray, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten.
    PHI: QB Nick Foles, RB LeSean McCoy, WR DeSean Jackson.

    Sit Em:
  • Brent Celek, TE, Eagles
    Don’t chase last week’s touchdown. Brent Celek is the blocking tight end.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




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