Sep. 17, 2009

Week 2 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em

By Jamey Eisenberg | Senior Fantasy Writer
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Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is our weekly look at the best and worst matchups from around the NFL and how they might affect lineup decisions for your Fantasy team. We are not in the business of stating the obvious, so you won't be reading here why you need to start Tom Brady, Adrian Peterson or any other top-tier players.

I should have followed my own advice. I should have gone for it instead of punting.

Last week, we said to sit Fred Jackson. The matchup at New England on opening night seemed a little daunting, and the Bills offense and offensive line was a mess after the preseason. But I should have remembered what I told you in the preseason.

Based on Marshawn Lynch's suspension, we predicted Jackson would end up as the best running back in Buffalo this year. He would get a three-game head start on Lynch, and Jackson was talented enough to make himself into a solid sleeper this season. As he said in our interview, "It's a year that can be a coming-out party for me. I can showcase my game and make a name for myself."

I believed in him, but then the offense sputtered through the preseason, the Bills fired offensive coordinator Turk Schonert and Jackson was headed for trouble against the Patriots. He was set up to fail in Week 1.

Only he didn't. He took the role as the featured back and ran with it for 57 rushing yards on 15 carries and five catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. And now he has a matchup where he should thrive at home against Tampa Bay, which is why he's the Start of the Week.

The Buccaneers weren't horrible in run defense last week against Dallas, allowing 118 yards and a touchdown on 24 carries. But Jackson has the chance to make plays running and catching the ball, and he's the only running back the Bills can trust with Lynch out for another two weeks. He's in line for another great game, and he should be started in all leagues.

My colleague Dave Richard said to start Jackson last week. Brian Jones, our colleague on Fantasy Football Today, said to start Jackson against the Patriots. It was only me, who touted Jackson in the preseason, who said to sit him.

I won't make that same mistake twice. Start Jackson this week and look for him to continue to make a name for himself.

Sit of the Week

There was a thought coming into the season that the Packers would struggle in making the transition from a 4-3 defense to the 3-4 alignment. There would be growing pains, and the unit would deal with some problems early on in the year.

That didn't happen in Week 1 against the Bears. The Packers went up against one of the best running backs in the league in Matt Forte and held him to 55 yards on 25 carries (2.2 yards per carry).

As a Forte owner, if you told me he got 25 carries against the Packers, I would have thought he was the best running back in Week 1. That was obviously not the case.

This week, the Packers will test their new defense against the Bengals and Cedric Benson, who had a solid debut against Denver with 21 carries for 76 yards and a touchdown and four catches for 32 yards. Benson put to rest any doubts he can handle the load as the featured back in Cincinnati, and he should be great for the entire season as we predicted.

But this week you have to expect him to struggle, especially with how good the Packers looked against the Bears. For that reason, you should keep Benson reserved this week.

The Bengals offense should play better in Week 2 than they did against the Broncos, and my colleague Dave Richard believes Benson is worth using in this matchup because he will get the majority of touches (which means you'll hear Dave tout Benson on Fantasy Football Today and also give Benson high marks in his Fantasy Matchups column.). He's right in the fact that not many running backs will have the potential to touch the ball as much as Benson. But if the Packers can contain Forte, who got 25 carries, they should do well against Benson.

Since there are plenty of good running backs available to use this week, keep Benson reserved. The Packers appear to know what they are doing on defense, and Benson will struggle to produce in a tough matchup on the road.

Quarterbacks

Start 'Em

Matt Hasselbeck (at SF): Hasselbeck lived up to his billing as the Start of the Week last week against St. Louis when he passed for 279 yards, three touchdowns and two interceptions. A positive sign for the quarterback was limited production from top receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh (six catches for 48 yards), which means Hasselbeck could do even better as they continue to develop their rapport. With John Carlson and Nate Burleson back, Hasselbeck has a solid corps of receivers. The 49ers did well against Kurt Warner last week, but Hasselbeck has a good history against San Francisco with 18 touchdowns and 10 interceptions in 10 starts (8-2 record).
Brett Favre (at DET): Favre didn't do much against the Browns in Week 1 with only 14 of 21 passing for 110 yards and a touchdown because he was handing off plenty to Adrian Peterson. That will likely happen again in Week 2, but the Lions did allow six passing touchdowns against the Saints last week. That should give Favre the chance for at least two touchdowns and modest yards. For his career, Favre has 8,524 passing yards against Detroit, his most vs. any single opponent.
Ben Roethlisberger (at CHI): Fantasy owners with Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall might be in trouble after the Steelers failed to do anything on the ground last week against the Titans, but Big Ben put on an aerial display with 363 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Now, the Steelers might improve running the ball this week with Chicago linebackers Brian Urlacher (wrist) out and Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) banged up, but that's not going to stop Roethlisberger from having success throwing the ball. The Steelers have extra time to prepare for Chicago since last week's game was on Thursday night, so Big Ben should be ready for the Bears.
Trent Edwards (vs. TB): After a dismal preseason, Edwards came out in Week 1 at New England and nearly outplayed Tom Brady. He passed for 212 yards and two touchdowns, and that was with quiet performances from Terrell Owens and Lee Evans (five catches for 71 yards combined). The Bucs pass defense was horrible against Dallas last week, allowing a league-worst 368 yards and two touchdowns. Look for Edwards to follow Tony Romo and do well against Tampa Bay, especially with Owens and Evans ready for the home opener.
Joe Flacco (at SD): It's hard to expect Flacco to duplicate his Week 1 stats against the Chiefs when he passed for a career-high 307 yards, three touchdowns and an interception, but he might be ready to become a star. He finally has healthy targets in Todd Heap and Mark Clayton along with Derrick Mason, and the Chargers defense struggled with Oakland in Week 1. Flacco attempted 43 passes against Kansas City, which was also a career high, but he showed he can come through as a passer when given the chance to show off his arm.

Sleeper alert: Jason Campbell (vs. STL): Campbell struggled in Week 1 at the Giants with 211 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception, and he also lost a fumble. But Campbell has a much easier opponent this week in the Rams. St. Louis struggled to contain the Seahawks' passing attack last week, and Campbell should be giddy for his home debut in 2009. If you're missing Donovan McNabb (ribs) this week or have a questionable starter in a standard format, Campbell is worth putting in your lineup. He's also a great start in deeper leagues and in leagues where you start two quarterbacks. Some other sleepers to consider this week are Eli Manning (at DAL), David Garrard (vs. ARI), Kerry Collins (vs. HOU), Byron Leftwich (at BUF) and Shaun Hill (vs. SEA).

Sit 'Em

Matt Schaub (at TEN): Schaub struggled against the Jets in Week 1, which my colleague Dave Richard expected based on the Jets defense. The Titans aren't as aggressive as the Jets and struggled in pass coverage last week against the Steelers, but Tennessee's defense should improve for Week 2. The Titans have extra time to prepare for Schaub since their opening game was on Thursday, so Jeff Fisher will have a solid game plan in place. Schaub played well against the Titans at home last year with 284 passing yards and a touchdown, but at Tennessee last season he had 188 passing yards and three interceptions. You should still start Andre Johnson this week, but Schaub is better suited for the bench in standard formats.
Carson Palmer (at GB): If Palmer struggled in Week 1 at home against Denver it's hard to imagine him walking into Green Bay and turning things around. This is the same Packers defense which looked great at home against the Bears and intercepted Jay Cutler four times. Palmer will likely have a similar game to his Week 1 outing with 247 passing yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Like Schaub, you should consider other alternatives in a standard-scoring league.
Jay Cutler (vs. PIT): Cutler is vowing to turn things around following his Week 1 disaster at Green Bay, and he should do better at home. But the Steelers aren't going to go easy on him even without injured safety Troy Polamalu (knee). The Steelers are going to come after Cutler with plenty of blitz packages, and they will punish him if he doesn't look underneath to Matt Forte and Greg Olsen, who he ignored against the Packers. Cutler will have better days as a Fantasy option, but consider benching him this week in most standard leagues.
Chad Pennington (vs. IND): The Colts picked up where last season left off when they led the NFL in passing touchdowns allowed with six. Indianapolis did not allow a passing touchdown against the Jaguars and held David Garrard to 122 passing yards. Pennington also struggled in Week 1 at Atlanta with 176 passing yards, one touchdown and one interception with a lost fumble. The Dolphins should mimic the Jaguars and run Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams at the Colts since as good as Indianapolis is in pass defense, they are just as bad at stopping the run.
Mark Sanchez (vs. NE): Sanchez looked great in his NFL debut at Houston with 272 yards, one touchdown and one interception. His touchdown came on a broken play to Chansi Stuckey, but Sanchez showed plenty of moxie and appears poised to become a quality NFL quarterback, which means add him to your Fantasy team if you have the roster space. Just don't plan on starting Sanchez this week. Even though the Patriots defense is banged up and looked suspect against the Bills in Week 1, Bill Belichick will have some interesting looks for the rookie. We'll find out if Sanchez can handle it, but don't take the chance and start him in Week 2.

Bust alert: Kurt Warner (at JAC): Like we explained last week in this spot with Philip Rivers at Oakland, the bust alert is reserved for a player you will likely start on your Fantasy roster, but we're advising you to do so with caution based on a poor matchup or bad history. That's the case with Warner this week. He wasn't horrible in Week 1 against San Francisco with 288 passing yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, but he completed only 26 of 44 passes, with 12 of them to running back Tim Hightower. He looked like a 38-year-old quarterback coming off hip surgery and struggled to get the ball downfield. It didn't help that Anquan Boldin (hamstring) played hurt and Steve Breaston (knee) was out, and it's unknown if both will be 100 percent this week. The Cardinals are also going to the East Coast for a 1 p.m. start, and Warner struggled in those matchups last year with six touchdowns and five interceptions in four games. The Jaguars are missing a key pass rusher in Reggie Hayward (leg), who is out for the year, and allowed Peyton Manning to pass for 301 yards last week, but he only had one touchdown and threw an interception. Don't be surprised if Warner has more interceptions than touchdowns again this week, and he could struggle on the road for the early start.

Running backs

Start 'Em

Darren McFadden (at KC): McFadden had a good opening week against San Diego, but it would have been better if Michael Bush didn't score a rushing touchdown. Still, McFadden led the team in carries with 17 for 68 yards, and he also added two catches for 25 yards. This week, McFadden faces a Kansas City team he dominated last year when he had 21 carries for 164 yards and a touchdown and one catch for 9 yards with a lost fumble at Arrowhead Stadium. The Chiefs showed in Week 1 at Baltimore that their run defense is still terrible when the Ravens had their way with Ray Rice, Willis McGahee and LeRon McClain all having a productive day, which means Bush should be considered a sleeper this week as well.
LenDale White (vs. HOU): White has a great history against the Texans. In his past five meetings, he has three games with at least 12 carries, and in those matchups he has averaged 71 rushing yards with four touchdowns. White had 16 carries for 49 yards and two touchdowns last year at home against Houston. The Texans struggled with Thomas Jones and Leon Washington in Week 1, so White and Chris Johnson should play well this week. After struggling against the Steelers in the season opener, this is a welcomed matchup for the Titans running backs.
Larry Johnson (vs. OAK): Johnson, who was the Sit of the Week last week, goes from facing the tough Ravens run defense to a much easier opponent in the Raiders. He was held to 11 carries for 20 yards in Week 1, but Johnson has a great history against Oakland, which allowed two rushing touchdowns against San Diego last week. In nine career games against the Raiders, Johnson has five 100-yard rushing games, and he scored five touchdowns against Oakland in his past five meetings. The Chiefs will likely give Johnson more than 11 carries this week, and he should get close to 100 yards rushing again with the chance to score.
Ray Rice (at SD): Rice had the kind of debut every Fantasy owner was hoping for with 19 carries for 108 yards and two catches for 12 yards against the Chiefs. Even though Willis McGahee scored two touchdowns and LeRon McClain had one, Rice still led the team in carries and rushing yards. We expected McGahee and McClain to still be involved in the offense, but Rice is clearly the featured running back. He should do well in Week 2 against the Chargers, who struggled with Darren McFadden and Michael Bush last week.
Ronnie Brown (vs. IND): Brown didn't have a good opening week at Atlanta with only 10 carries for 43 yards and three catches for 10 yards, but the Dolphins need to give Brown more touches. That should happen in Week 2 against the Colts, who still look suspect against the run after Maurice Jones-Drew had 21 carries for 97 yards and a touchdown and caught five passes for 26 yards. Brown is capable of that type of performance, but he likely won't get that many carries. Still, plan on starting him this week, and consider Ricky Williams a sleeper also in larger formats.

Sleeper alert: Ahmad Bradshaw (at DAL): The Cowboys struggled to stop the run in Week 1 against Tampa Bay when Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward both ran well. Brandon Jacobs will again carry the load for the Giants, but Bradshaw has the opportunity to make some plays this week also. He had 12 carries for 60 yards and caught three passes for 11 yards in Week 1 against Washington and outplayed Jacobs (46 yards rushing). If you're looking for a No. 2 running back in deep leagues or a flex player in a standard format then start Bradshaw on Sunday night. Some other sleepers to consider this week are Jamal Lewis (at DEN), Cadillac Williams (at BUF) Correll Buckhalter (vs. CLE) and Leon Washington (vs. NE).

Sit 'Em

LaDainian Tomlinson (vs. BAL): Tomlinson will likely be a game-time decision against the Ravens with his injured right ankle, which put him in a boot Wednesday. The safe option with Tomlinson is to keep him reserved because if he plays hurt he won't be effective, and that's the last thing you want against the Ravens, who have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 36 games. Tomlinson had a decent game in Week 1 against Oakland with 13 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown, but he also lost playing time to Darren Sproles after he got injured. Sproles is also a risky start against the Ravens, so you might want to avoid the Chargers running game this week, especially since they are having offensive line issues.
Kevin Smith (vs. MIN): Smith hasn't been horrible against the Vikings in his two meetings with them last year. He had 73 total yards at Minnesota and 91 total yards at home in 2008, and last week Smith got off to a good start against New Orleans with 72 total yards and a touchdown. The good thing is Smith remains a featured running back and will still get carries even if the Lions are trailing. The bad thing is the Vikings still have a dominant run defense and will likely be ahead in this game. In standard leagues, it's a good idea to rest Smith this week since there are better options available. In deeper leagues, you can start him, but lower your expectations based on the matchup.
Mike Bell (at PHI): Bell had a great Week 1 against Detroit when he had 28 carries for 143 yards and will likely have his moments again this season, but Pierre Thomas (knee) was back at practice this week, which will mean a three-headed monster for the Saints with Reggie Bush. And Bell has a tough opponent with the Eagles, who did well against the Panthers' ground attack last week. The Saints are also playing on grass, which isn't their favorite surface, and Bell will come down from last week's outstanding outing. Keep him reserved in all formats. You might consider benching Thomas also until he proves the knee is 100 percent, but Bush could make plays in the passing game for the Saints. He's better suited for leagues where receptions count in this matchup.
Julius Jones (at SF): Granted, it was against the Cardinals, who aren't known for being a great running team, but the 49ers held Arizona to 17 carries for 40 yards in Week 1. Coach Mike Singletary is an old-school coach, and his plan will be to stop the run first and foremost each week. Jones is coming off an outstanding game in Week 1 against the Rams where he had 19 carries for 117 yards and a touchdown, but it's hard to imagine him coming close to those stats against San Francisco. He had a big game against the 49ers in the first meeting last year with 27 carries for 127 yards and a touchdown, but in the second meeting he was held to six carries for 9 yards. This matchup isn't expected to favor Jones, so keep him reserved in standard leagues if you have better options.
Fred Taylor (at NYJ): It was surprising to see Taylor get the goal-line carries in Week 1 against Buffalo, but he ended up with nine carries for 25 yards and a touchdown. If you're comfortable with those stats then consider Taylor a good start, but I'd rather have Taylor on the bench until the Patriots prove they can give him the ball at least 15 times, which isn't expected to happen. Laurence Maroney actually had more carries (10) against the Bills, and Kevin Faulk was on the field more with the Patriots passing game. The Jets will do a great job in run defense this year (just ask Steve Slaton from Week 1), and Taylor isn't worth starting in any formats just yet.

Bust alert: Matt Forte (vs. PIT): Here's a decision I have to make this week in my 10-team keeper league: Start Forte, Ray Rice or Joseph Addai. Based on the matchup and the way each played in Week 1, the choice is to bench Forte. It's hard to bench a Top 5 overall pick, but Forte struggled last week against the Packers with 25 carries for 55 yards and no catches. Those are alarming stats considering Forte led all running backs in catches last season with 63, and now the Bears have a new quarterback in Jay Cutler, who apparently doesn't want to dump off passes to his running back. Forte will get better, but the Steelers have a tremendous run defense and had extra time to prepare for the Bears after playing in Week 1 on Thursday night. In deeper formats where reserves are thin you probably can't afford to bench Forte, and it's not often running backs get 20-plus carries, even if they struggle. But in a standard 10- or 12-team league where you have options, consider benching Forte. It's a move I'm making because I feel Addai and Rice have a better outlook this week.

Wide receivers

Start 'Em

Lee Evans (vs. TB): The Bucs allowed three passing touchdowns last week to Roy E. Williams, Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin, and all three scores were from 42 yards or longer. Evans specializes in the deep ball, and quarterback Trent Edwards will likely take some shots downfield in his direction. Terrell Owens is also worth starting this week, and both receivers should bounce back from a poor season opener when they combined for five catches for 71 yards. As you can tell, we expect the Bills to play well this week against Tampa Bay.
Roy E. Williams (vs. NYG): Williams looked like the player the Cowboys wanted when they traded for him last year from Detroit with his performance in Week 1 at Tampa Bay. He had three catches for 86 yards and a touchdown and showed his big-play ability. He was targeted seven times, and Tony Romo should look in his direction even more this week with the Giants dealing with injuries to their secondary with Aaron Ross (hamstring) and Kevin Dockery (hamstring). Look for plenty of passing from the Cowboys in this matchup even with Romo coming off an ankle injury.
Santana Moss (vs. STL): Moss did more fighting than catching passes in Week 1 at the Giants when he had two catches for 6 yards but got into a shoving match with Corey Webster. The Rams are a better matchup for Moss, and he should stay out of trouble. The Redskins have to find more ways to get Moss involved, and he is worth starting as a No. 2 wide receiver in deeper leagues or a No. 3 option in formats where you start three receivers. Jason Campbell should play better against St. Louis, and he will benefit by throwing to Moss as often as possible.
Hines Ward (at CHI): Ward would have had a fantastic debut in Week 1 against Tennessee with eight catches for 103 yards, but his lost fumble ruined his night and nearly cost the Steelers the victory. Still, Ward remains quite involved in the passing attack and should continue to play well in Week 2 at the Bears. Plan on starting Santonio Holmes also since it appears like the Steelers are trending toward becoming a passing team. Ward is obviously a great start in leagues where receptions count, but he's worth using in all formats based on how the Steelers passing game is starting to evolve.
Braylon Edwards (at DEN): Edwards struggled in Week 1 against Minnesota with one catch for 12 yards, but he was thrown at six times and had a 34-yard touchdown called back by instant replay. The Broncos allowed Chad Ochocinco to catch five passes for 89 yards, and Edwards is capable of those stats. Like Moss, Edwards is worth starting as a No. 2 wide receiver in deep leagues and a No. 3 option in formats where you start three receivers. Brady Quinn will rely on Edwards since he remains the best target for the Browns.

Sleeper alert: Mark Clayton (at SD): Clayton looked healthy in Week 1 against Kansas City and had five catches for 77 yards and a touchdown despite coming into the game with hamstring problems from the preseason. The Chargers allowed Louis Murphy to have a big game in Week 1, and Clayton and Derrick Mason would be worth starting this week if you lost Anthony Gonzalez (knee) or have a questionable starter. Clayton has developed a good rapport with Joe Flacco, and he has played well in his career when he's 100 percent healthy. Some other sleepers to consider this week are Justin Gage (vs. HOU), Louis Murphy (at KC) and Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian (at DET).

Sit 'Em

DeSean Jackson (vs. NO): No Donovan McNabb (ribs) means no chance for Jackson or any of the Eagles receivers. You can't trust Kevin Kolb, who has looked miserable every time he's played, and the same goes for Jeff Garcia if he gets in for whatever reason. Expect the Eagles to do plenty of running the ball with Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy, and Jackson also struggled in Week 1 at Carolina with two catches for 9 yards and two carries for 33 yards.
Devery Henderson (at PHI): The times to play Henderson are at home against a weak pass defense. He typically struggles on the road and on grass. In his past five games on grass, Henderson has only 10 catches for 169 yards and one touchdown. He nearly did that last week against the Lions when he had five catches for 103 yards and a touchdown. But the Eagles will clamp down on Henderson, and don't expect him to play like he did against Detroit.
Torry Holt (vs. ARI): After Holt failed to produce against the Colts last week on turf you have to wait and see how he will perform on grass with his new team. Holt had three catches for 47 yards, which is about the type of production you can expect on a weekly basis at this stage in his career. The Cardinals secondary is shaky, but Holt still looks like he's much older than 33. Let him have a good game on your bench, but wait until the bye weeks when you need a replacement before deciding to start Holt. He's only worth using in deep formats for Week 2.
Ted Ginn Jr. (vs. IND): The Dolphins struggled to get Ginn the ball in the passing game in Week 1 at Atlanta when Chad Pennington and Pat White missed him down the field. Ginn finished with two catches for 26 yards and two carries for 9 yards. He could find the end zone this week against the Colts, but remember Indianapolis led the NFL with six passing touchdowns allowed last year. In standard leagues, leave Ginn on your bench.
Laveranues Coles (at GB): Coles was overlooked in the game plan in Week 1 against Denver when he had one catch for 11 yards (he also has a few drops). That's not a good sign heading into Week 2 at Green Bay. The Bengals leading receivers against the Broncos were Chad Ochocinco and Andre Caldwell, and quarterback Carson Palmer might want to rely on the receivers he knows. The Packers gave up plenty of passing yards to Devin Hester, Earl Bennett and Johnny Knox, but you can't count on Coles to be productive in this matchup. Keep him reserved in all standard leagues.

Bust alert: Steve Smith (at ATL): I would struggle myself to bench Smith if he was on my Fantasy team. He's so talented and has done extremely well against the Falcons in his career even with just one touchdown in his past five meetings. But for a receiver like Smith to be successful, he needs a quarterback to get him the ball, and Smith doesn't have that right now. Jake Delhomme has been atrocious in his past two meaningful games with five turnovers in Week 1 against the Eagles and six turnovers in a playoff loss against Arizona last year. Could Delhomme turn things around and get Smith the ball? Sure. But he could also fail to connect with Smith like he did last week against Philadelphia, when he had just three catches for 21 yards. If you find it hard to bench Smith then roll the dice and keep him active since he's capable of a tremendous outing. But if you have better options in reserve then put Smith on your bench. It's a move I would have to make.

Tight ends

Start 'Em

John Carlson (at SF): As expected, Carlson was a star in Week 1 against the Rams when he had six catches for 95 yards and two touchdowns. He was one of three tight ends to catch two touchdowns (Jeremy Shockey and Benjamin Watson), and Carlson should play well again this week. The Cardinals did well against the 49ers on underneath routes with Tim Hightower catching 12 passes for 121 yards, so Carlson could do well as a safety blanket for Matt Hasselbeck. It's hard to expect another game like last week from Carlson, but he did catch six passes for 78 yards in his first game against San Francisco last year, so he's capable of another outstanding day in Week 2.
Kellen Winslow (at BUF): Winslow wasn't great in his debut for the Bucs last week, but he did score a touchdown. He also added five catches for 30 yards and a 7-yard run. The Bills struggled with Patriots tight end Benjamin Watson last week when he had six catches for 77 yards and two touchdowns. Buffalo's defense leaves the middle of the field open, and Byron Leftwich should have the chance to find Winslow on a few passes this week. It also will help that Bills linebacker Paul Posluszny (forearm) is out.
Chris Cooley (vs. STL): Cooley scored as many touchdowns last week as he did in all of 2008 when he had seven catches for 68 yards and a touchdown at the Giants. He should do well this week since the Rams allowed John Carlson's big outing in Week 1. Cooley had five catches for 57 yards against St. Louis last year, and he has two touchdowns in three career meetings with the Rams.

Sleeper alert: Todd Heap (vs. SD): We had Heap as a sleeper last week, and he came through, so we're going to him again since he's finally healthy. Heap had five catches for 74 yards and a touchdown against the Chiefs, and this week he faces a Chargers team that struggles to defend tight ends. Last week, Oakland's Zach Miller had six catches for 96 yards, and Heap should be one of Joe Flacco's favorite targets in Week 2 and every game this season. Some other sleepers to consider this week are Visanthe Shiancoe (at DET), Zach Miller (at KC) and Jeremy Shockey (at PHI).

Sit 'Em

Greg Olsen (vs. PIT): It should help Olsen that Pittsburgh safety Troy Polamalu (knee) is out for this game, but quarterback Jay Cutler couldn't connect with Olsen last week at Green Bay when he had one catch for 8 yards. It's easy to envision a similar scenario this week also if the Steelers follow what the Packers did and blanket Olsen with extra coverage when they aren't blitzing. Olsen could also be asked to block more in an effort to help Cutler. The safe option this week is to keep Olsen reserved in standard leagues, especially with so many quality tight ends possibly available on the waiver wire.
Anthony Fasano (vs. IND): The Dolphins are counting on big things from Fasano with David Martin no longer with the team, and he was a disappointment in Week 1 with two catches for 10 yards and two fumbles. Quarterback Chad Pennington only targeted Fasano three times. With the Colts one of the best teams in pass coverage going back to last season, you have to bench Fasano this week. He's not only having trouble holding onto the ball, he's not getting many passes in his direction.
Brent Celek (vs. NO): You had to like what Celek did in Week 1, especially since he was a nice sleeper coming into this season. He had six catches for 37 yards and a touchdown and was targeted seven times. But with Donovan McNabb (ribs) out, Celek might not be productive, especially with Kevin Kolb under center. The Saints don't have a great secondary, but all the Eagles receiving targets should be considered questionable starts with McNabb not expected to play.

Bust alert: Benjamin Watson (at NYJ): Should you add Watson in all leagues after his Week 1 outing against Buffalo? Yes. The Patriots need a third receiving option, and Watson could be that player behind Randy Moss and Wes Welker. But this isn't a great matchup for Watson, even though he has scored a touchdown in his past two meetings with the Jets. But this Jets defense under new coach Rex Ryan should do a good job in slowing down Watson and significantly cutting down his production from last week. He could find the end zone as a red zone target for Tom Brady, but don't expect Watson to have a lot of catches or yards.

Defense/Special teams

Start 'Em

Washington (vs. STL): The Rams didn't score in Week 1 at Seattle and might find it hard to score this week against the Redskins. Washington's defense looked better in Week 1 against the Giants with the addition of Albert Haynesworth, who will make life difficult for Steven Jackson. And since the Rams don't have a potent passing attack and are playing outdoors, the Redskins could be in line for a big day. If Washington can pressure Marc Bulger, he could be prone to making a mistake or two, and that's what you should expect by starting Washington in this matchup.

Other DSTs with good matchups: Green Bay (vs. CIN), Atlanta (vs. CAR) and Oakland (at KC)

Sit 'Em

Chicago (vs. PIT): The Bears played a fantastic game against Green Bay in Week 1 before Greg Jennings broke away for a late touchdown to help the Packers win the game. But now the Bears have to adjust without linebacker Brian Urlacher (wrist), which won't be easy, and linebacker Pisa Tinoisamoa (knee) could also miss the game. Chicago had four sacks against Aaron Rodgers, and we know Ben Roethlisberger takes his share of hits. But the Steelers could do some damage in this game with the extra time to prepare for the Bears and with the way Roethlisberger is throwing the ball. The saving grace for Chicago could be Devin Hester in the return game, but the Steelers will likely avoid kicking to him as a safety precaution.

Kicker

Start 'Em

Matt Prater (vs. CLE): Prater got off to a great start in Week 1 with two field goals of 48 and 50 yards at Cincinnati. Last week the Browns allowed two field goals and four extra points to Minnesota's Ryan Longwell. In last year's meeting with Cleveland, Prater connected on two field goals in three attempts, and even though the offense in Denver is totally revamped this year, Prater should get enough attempts to help your Fantasy team this week. He has the potential to be a No. 1 kicker this season if the Broncos offense can get on track.

Other kickers with good matchups: Dan Carpenter (vs. IND), Josh Scobee (vs. ARI) and Rian Lindell (vs. TB)

Sit 'Em

Shayne Graham (at GB): Graham will get going once the Bengals have some easier opponents and the offense gets on track. That wasn't the case in Week 1 against Denver in what should have been an offensive matchup, but Graham was limited to just one extra point attempt. He should do better this week but not by much, and remember Graham was bothered this preseason with a groin injury, so we don't know if he's 100 percent or not. The safe bet with Graham and most of the Bengals this week is to keep him reserved and wait for them to start playing up to their expectations on offense.

You can e-mail your Fantasy Football questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Start 'Em and Sit 'Em in the subject field. Please include your full name, hometown and state and we'll get to as many as we can.