Fantasy Football Start Em, Sit Em



2014 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.


Jaguars at Texans

Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    JAX: Jaguars Defense.
    HOU: RB Arian Foster, Texans Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Toby Gerhart, RB, Jaguars
    Houston’s run defense has improved lately.

  • Texans Receivers
    I wouldn’t trust the Houston wideouts with Case Keenum under center.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Colts at Titans

    Start Em:
  • Bishop Sankey, RB, Titans
    Bishop Sankey could have a good game against Indianapolis’ second string.

  • Obvious Starts:
    IND: Colts Defense.
    TEN: TE Delanie Walker, Titans Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • All Colts
    The Indianapolis starters could be pulled after a couple of drives in a meaningless game.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Browns at Ravens

    Start Em:
  • Justin Forsett, RB, Ravens
    Justin Forsett has struggled the past two weeks, but he could rebound against the inept Cleveland defense.

  • Steve Smith, WR, Ravens
    Steve Smith had a 5-101 line the last time he played the Browns.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: Ravens Defense.
    CLE: Browns Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • All Browns
    I wouldn’t start a single Cleveland offensive player with Connor Shaw under center. This includes Josh Gordon, who was suspended.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Bills at Patriots

    Start Em:
  • Tim Wright, TE, Patriots
    With Rob Gronkowski out, Tim Wright could catch a touchdown or two.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BUF: None.
    NE: Patriots Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Fred Jackson, RB, Bills
    The Patriots have a top-10 run defense. Fred Jackson isn’t bad in PPR formats, but don’t use him in standard leagues.

  • Sammy Watkins, WR, Bills
    Sammy Watkins will face Darrelle Revis this week.

  • Patriots Starters
    Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman are out. Tom Brady will likely play just a half.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Jets at Dolphins

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: Jets Defense.
    MIA: WR Mike Wallace, WR Jarvis Landry (PPR), Dolphins Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • All Jets
    I wouldn’t start a single Jet offensive player this week in this let-down spot.

  • Lamar Miller, RB, Dolphins
    The Jets have stopped the run well all year.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Bears at Vikings

    Start Em:
  • Matt Asiata, RB, Vikings
    The Bears haven’t been able to stop the run lately.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CHI: RB Matt Forte, WR Alshon Jeffery, TE Martellus Bennett.
    MIN: Vikings Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Jay Cutler, QB, Bears
    Jay Cutler doesn’t care, so he’ll throw more interceptions.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Chargers at Chiefs

    Start Em:
  • Branden Oliver, RB, Chargers
    You can start Branden Oliver if Ryan Mathews is out. The Chiefs have the NFL’s worst run defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SD: TE Antonio Gates.
    KC: RB Jamaal Charles.

    Sit Em:
  • Dwayne Bowe, WR, Chiefs
    Dwayne Bowe has eclipsed 57 yards just five times all year, and he has yet to score a touchdown.

  • Albert Wilson, WR, Chiefs
    I like Albert Wilson, but I don’t know if I’d trust him in non-PPR formats just yet.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis






    Eagles at Giants

    Start Em:
  • Mark Sanchez, QB, Eagles
    The Eagles should be able to throw on the Giants, who have been tested by a good quarterback in a while. Not that Sanchez is good in real life, but he’s a quality fantasy quarterback.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PHI: RB LeSean McCoy, WR Jeremy Maclin.
    NYG: WR Odell Beckham.

    Sit Em:
  • Rashad Jennings and Andre Williams, RBs, Giants
    Rashad Jennings’ status is shaky, as he can’t get healthy despite being probable. The Eagles are very strong against the run.

  • Larry Donnell, TE, Giants
    Larry Donnell is doing too much blocking lately.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Cowboys at Redskins

    Start Em:
  • Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys
    The Redskins just surrendered a historic performance to Zach Ertz.

  • Alfred Morris, RB, Redskins
    The Cowboys have been tougher against the run lately, but Alfred Morris is tough to defend with Robert Griffin on the field.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: QB Tony Romo, RB DeMarco Murray, WR Dez Bryant.
    WAS: WR DeSean Jackson.

    Sit Em:
  • Robert Griffin, QB, Redskins
    Robert Griffin has been playing better, but he’s not running enough to be relevant in fantasy.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Saints at Buccaneers

    Start Em:
  • Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
    The Buccaneers can’t stop the run without Gerald McCoy.

  • Marques Colston, WR, Saints
    Marques Colston has been producing again, so he’s worth a shot as a WR3.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NO: QB Drew Brees, TE Jimmy Graham.
    TB: WR Mike Evans, WR Vincent Jackson.

    Sit Em:
  • Buccaneers Running Backs
    There’s no telling what Lovie Smith will do with his rotation this week. All the running backs stink, anyway.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis


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    Lions at Packers

    Start Em:
  • Joique Bell, RB, Lions
    The Packers have been average in terms of allowing fantasy points to running back, but Joique Bell is running so hard right now.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DET: QB Matthew Stafford, WR Calvin Johnson, WR Golden Tate (PPR), Lions Defense.
    GB: QB Aaron Rodgers, RB Eddie Lacy, WR Randall Cobb, WR Jordy Nelson.

    Sit Em:
  • Reggie Bush, RB, Lions
    Reggie Bush isn’t getting many touches, so he’s worthless.

  • Davante Adams, WR, Packers
    Davante Adams continues to screw up. How many drops can he have?

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Panthers at Falcons

    Start Em:
  • Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers
    Jonathan Stewart has been hot lately. He should be able to run all over Atlanta’s poor defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CAR: QB Cam Newton, WR Kelvin Benjamin, TE Greg Olsen.
    ATL: QB Matt Ryan, WR Julio Jones, WR Roddy White.

    Sit Em:
  • Steven Jackson, RB, Falcons
    Steven Jackson is banged up, so even if he plays, he may not see a full workload. I wouldn’t use the other running backs either.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Rams at Seahawks

    Start Em:

  • Obvious Starts:
    STL: None.
    SEA: QB Russell Wilson, RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Tre Mason, RB, Rams
    Tre Mason just had a nice outing against the Seahawks, but he’ll have trouble finding lanes against the Seahawks.

  • Seahawks Receivers
    Russell Wilson spreads the ball around too much to trust anyone in Seattle’s receiving corps.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Cardinals at 49ers

    Start Em:
  • Anquan Boldin, WR, 49ers
    Anquan Boldin has a tough matchup this week, but he’s the only 49er receiver actually trying.

  • Obvious Starts:
    ARZ: Cardinals Defense.
    SF: RB Frank Gore, 49ers Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • All Cardinals
    I wouldn’t start a single Cardinal offensive player with Logan Thomas under center.

  • Colin Kaepernick, QB, 49ers
    Colin Kaepernick has really regressed terribly this season. I’m not sure he’ll run very much again.

  • Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
    Michael Crabtree is banged up, and he has played like crap anyway.

  • Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers
    Vernon Davis isn’t trying.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Raiders at Broncos

    Start Em:
  • Latavius Murray, RB, Raiders
    The Broncos can’t stop the run with their injured linebackers, and Latavius Murray has looked great.

  • Obvious Starts:
    OAK: None.
    DEN: QB Peyton Manning, RB C.J. Anderson, WR Demaryius Thomas, WR Emmanuel Sanders, Broncos Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Julius Thomas, TE, Broncos
    Julius Thomas aggravated his injury Monday night. Now, he doesn’t have much time to heal up.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis




    Bengals at Steelers

    Start Em:
  • Jermaine Gresham, TE, Bengals
    The Steelers usually don’t play well against tight ends.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CIN: RB Jeremy Hill, WR A.J. Green (if in the lineup).
    PIT: QB Ben Roethlisberger, RB Le’Veon Bell, WR Antonio Brown.

    Sit Em:
  • Giovani Bernard, RB, Bengals (non-PPR)
    Jeremy Hill is now the primary ball-carrier in Cincinnati. Denver’s rush defense is too good to support two running backs.

    Check out Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings for more analysis





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