2011 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em



2011 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.


Redskins at Eagles

Start Em:
  • Evan Royster, RB, Redskins
    If Roy Helu sits again, you’ll want to start Evan Royster against a weak Eagle run defense.

  • Jabar Gaffney, WR, Redskins
    Rex Grossman has re-developed a nice rapport with his old college teammate.

  • Obvious Starts:
    WAS: RB Roy Helu (if starting).
    PHI: QB QB Dog Killer, RB LeSean McCoy, WR Jeremy Maclin, WR DeSean Jackson, TE Brent Celek, Eagles Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Santana Moss, WR, Redskins
    Santana Moss was limited to just two catches for 38 yards against the Eagles earlier in the year.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday

    MISSING



    49ers at Rams

    Start Em:
  • Michael Crabtree, WR, 49ers
    Miguel Lobsterbush is a solid WR3 this week against the Rams’ awful secondary.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SF: RB Frank Gore, TE Vernon Davis, 49ers Defense.
    STL: RB Steven Jackson.

    Sit Em:
  • Brandon Lloyd, WR, Rams
    Not with Kellen Clemens at quarterback.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Bears at Vikings

    Start Em:
  • Kahlil Bell, RB, Bears
    Kahlil Bell has proven himself. He’s the only Chicago offensive player worth starting.

  • Toby Gerhart, RB, Vikings
    Adrian Peterson is out, so Toby Gerhart will get all of the work.

  • Obvious Starts:
    CHI: Bears Defense.
    MIN: WR Percy Harvin, Vikings Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Bears Passing Offense
    Josh McCown was solid on Christmas, and Roy Williams had 80 yards, but you can’t trust any of these guys, even against Minnesota’s decrepit secondary.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Lions at Packers

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    DET: None.
    GB: None.

    Sit Em:
  • All Lions and Packers
    This is why you shouldn’t play in a league that has its championship in Week 17. None of the regulars may play.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Panthers at Saints

    Start Em:
  • Obvious Starts:
    CAR: QB Cam Newton, WR Steve Smith.
    NO: QB Drew Brees, RB Darren Sproles, WR Marques Colston, TE Jimmy Graham.

    Sit Em:
  • Panthers Running Backs
    The Saints have really improved against the run since their bye.

  • Lance Moore, WR, Saints
    It’ll be a surprise if Lance Moore plays.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Titans at Texans

    Start Em:
  • Andre Johnson, WR, Texans
    Andre Johnson figures to be back. The Texans will want to get him involved.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TEN: RB Chris Johnson, TE Jared Cook.
    HOU: RB Arian Foster, TE Owen Daniels, Texans Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Nate Washington, WR, Titans
    Nate Washington has a tough matchup against Johnathan Joseph.

  • Titans Defense
    Starting the Titans against T.J. Yates may seem like a good idea, but they don’t have a pass rush. They even made Blaine Gabbert look OK.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Colts at Jaguars

    Start Em:
  • Reggie Wayne, WR, Colts
    Reggie Wayne has caught a touchdown in each of the past two games. Dan Orlovsky is a functional quarterback.

  • Obvious Starts:
    IND: None.
    JAX: RB Maurice Jones-Drew.

    Sit Em:
  • Donald Brown, RB, Colts
    The Jaguars are still decent against the run. Besides, Joseph Addai is being used too much.

  • Jaguars Passing Offense
    Mike Thomas is getting killed by Blaine Gabbert’s ineptness. Marcedes Lewis, meanwhile, is dropping way too many passes.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday


    MISSING




    Jets at Dolphins

    Start Em:
  • Jets Defense
    Jake Long is out, so the Jets should be able to pressure Matt Moore.

  • Brandon Marshall, WR, Dolphins
    Brandon Marshall caught six balls for 109 yards in his prior matchup against Darrelle Revis.

  • Obvious Starts:
    NYJ: RB Shonn Greene.
    MIA: RB Reggie Bush.

    Sit Em:
  • Jets Receivers
    Plaxico Burress has been a non-factor of late. Santonio Holmes is just a borderline WR3.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Bills at Patriots

    Start Em:
  • Deion Branch, WR, Patriots
    Deion Branch is healthy again, so he can be used as a WR3.

  • Patriots Defense
    Ryan Fitzpatrick won’t have his left tackle this week.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BUF: RB C.J. Spiller, WR Steve Johnson.
    NE: QB Tom Brady, WR Wes Welker, TE Rob Gronkowski, TE Aaron Hernandez.

    Sit Em:
  • Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Bills
    Ryan Fitzpatrick may seem like an appealing play against New England’s secondary, but it’s going to be cold and windy in Foxborough, which will be a problem because Fitzpatrick has a really limited arm.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Buccaneers at Falcons

    Start Em:
  • Falcons Defense
    The Falcons couldn’t get to Drew Brees on Monday night. It’ll be a different story against the Buccaneers.

  • Obvious Starts:
    TB: None.
    ATL: QB Matt Ryan, RB Michael Turner, WR Roddy White, WR Julio Jones, TE Tony Gonzalez.

    Sit Em:
  • LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers
    I’d like to be able to trust LeGarrette Blount, but he’s in the dog house right now.

  • Mike Williams, WR, Buccaneers
    You can’t trust Tampa’s passing attack right now. Mike Williams is just a low-end WR3.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Ravens at Bengals

    Start Em:
  • Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals
    The Ravens have surrendered 110-plus rushing yards to their two previous opponents.

  • Obvious Starts:
    BAL: RB Ray Rice, Ravens Defense.
    CIN: WR A.J. Green.

    Sit Em:
  • Ravens Passing Offense
    Joe Flacco is really struggling right now. Avoid.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday






    Steelers at Browns

    Start Em:
  • Mike Wallace and Antonio Brown, WR, Steelers
    It sounds like Ben Roethlisberger may play.

  • Obvious Starts:
    PIT: RB Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers Defense.
    CLE: RB Peyton Hillis.

    Sit Em:
  • Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers
    Ben Roethlisberger is not healthy. Even if he starts, you’ll have to find another option.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Chargers at Raiders

    Start Em:
  • Malcom Floyd, WR, Chargers
    There’s a good chance Vincent Jackson will sit out, so Malcom Floyd will once again serve as a solid fantasy option.

  • Raiders Running Back
    This is an obvious start, but Darren McFadden could be back. If he is, start him. If not, go with Michael Bush.

  • Denarius Moore, WR, Raiders
    Denarius Moore is back and healthy again. He can be used as a WR3 against San Diego’s awful defense.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SD: QB Philip Rivers, RB Ryan Mathews, TE Antonio Gates.
    OAK: None.

    Sit Em:
  • Vincent Jackson, WR, Chargers
    Vincent Jackson is battling a groin injury, so he could sit out for this meaningless game.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Chiefs at Broncos

    Start Em:
  • Chiefs Defense
    Romeo Crennel is going to have a hell of a game plan for Tim Tebow.

  • Obvious Starts:
    KC: WR Dwayne Bowe.
    DEN: QB Tim Tebow, RB Willis McGahee, WR Demaryius Thomas.

    Sit Em:
  • Broncos Defense
    Kyle Orton throws short passes, so he doesn’t take sacks.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Seahawks at Cardinals

    Start Em:
  • Chris Wells, RB, Cardinals
    The Seahawks have surrendered at least 98 rushing yards to each of their previous five opponents.

  • Both Defenses
    I wouldn’t mind playing against either Tarvaris Jackson or John Skelton.

  • Obvious Starts:
    SEA: RB Marshawn Lynch.
    ARZ: WR Larry Fitzgerald.

    Sit Em:
  • Seahawks Receivers
    One week, it’s Golden Tate. The next, it’s Doug Baldwin. I give up.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




    Cowboys at Giants

    Start Em:
  • Laurent Robinson and Miles Austin-Jones, WRs, Cowboys
    It sounds like Tony Romo will be fine. If that’s the case, you can use all of his receivers.

  • Ahmad Bradshaw, RB, Giants
    Ahmad Bradshaw is back to carrying the load for the Giants.

  • Obvious Starts:
    DAL: QB Tony Romo, RB Felix Jones, WR Dez Bryant, TE Jason Witten.
    NYG: QB Eli Manning, WR Hakeem Nicks, WR Victor Cruz, Giants Defense.

    Sit Em:
  • Mario Manningham, WR, Giants
    Even if Mario Manningham plays, he could be limited by his knee. Stay away.

    Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings – To be posted Wednesday




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