Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the weekly NFL matchups and how they'll affect your fantasy football team. Sleeper alert features an under-the-radar player who could produce good numbers. Owners beware features a regular fantasy starter who could fail to meet expectations based on the strength of his opponent. Obvious fantasy starters like Aaron Rodgers and Arian Foster will not be featured in this column. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Start of the week
Vincent Jackson vs. Washington Redskins: Jackson, who was in the sit 'em portion of this column last week, has been anything but consistent over the first three games. Still, it's tough not to like this week's matchup against what is a patchwork Redskins defense. This unit has allowed six touchdown catches and the most fantasy points to wideouts, so keep Jackson in your lineup.
Start 'em
Demaryius Thomas vs. Oakland Raiders: Thomas has recorded a combined 222 yards and two touchdowns over the first three weeks of the 2012 season. He's a terrific No. 2 option against the Raiders, who have given up an average of close to 24 fantasy points per game to wide receivers. Consider both Thomas and Eric Decker in your starting lineups in what could be a real shootout.
Brandon Lloyd at Buffalo Bills: Unless you're in a PPR league, Lloyd hasn't been the best fantasy option over the first three weeks of the season. Still, he's seeing more and more targets from Tom Brady and should post a nice stat line this week against the Bills. Their defense has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers, including six touchdowns, in 2012.
Greg Jennings vs. New Orleans Saints: Jennings has not had the best start to the 2012 season, posting 69 yards with no touchdowns and a mere 6.9 fantasy points. However, I would stick with him this week against the Saints in what could turn into a shootout at Lambeau Field. I'd also start his teammate, Jordy Nelson, who has been a disappointment himself for fantasy owners.
Sleeper alert - Malcom Floyd at Kansas City Chiefs: Floyd is coming off his worst stat line of the season, posting 52 yards and no touchdowns in a loss to the Falcons. I see him bouncing back in Week 4, though, as he'll go up against a Chiefs defense that has allowed an average of close to 24 fantasy points per game to opposing wide receivers. Consider him a very solid No. 3 option.
Sit of the week
Dez Bryant vs. Chicago Bears (Mon.): Bryant has done a disappearing act in the stat sheets, averaging a mere 54.6 yards with no touchdowns in his first three games. He'll be hard pressed to change his fortunes against the Bears, who have allowed just two scores to opposing wide receivers. Unless you absolutely have to start him, consider Bryant a candidate to be on your fantasy bench.
Sit 'em
Danny Amendola vs. Seattle Seahawks: The Seahawks defense is no joke, which was more than evident in Monday night's win over the Packers. This unit has been particularly stingy against wideouts, allowing a mere two touchdown catches and the seventh-fewest fantasy points to the position. That's bad news for Amendola, who should be benched in leagues with standard scoring systems.
Santonio Holmes vs. San Francisco 49ers: Holmes went off for 147 yards against the Dolphins last week, but that's no reason to rush him back into your starting lineup. In fact, that was his first 100-yard performance since November 2010! This week Holmes will face a Niners defense that has allowed one touchdown to wide receivers and will be more than salty after being whipped last week.
Kenny Britt at Houston Texans: Britt is seeing more opportunities in the pass attack, but he's still not producing on the level it takes to be active in standard fantasy leagues. This week he goes up against the Texans, who have allowed one touchdown and the third-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers. Owners with viable alternatives should keep Britt on the fantasy sidelines.
Owners beware - Brandon Marshall at Dallas Cowboys (Mon.): Most fantasy owners can't afford to sit a wideout the caliber of Marshall, but he has quite a tough task ahead of him. Coming off two games where he scored a combined 9.50 fantasy points, Marshall now has to face a Cowboys defense that has held the opposition's No. 1 wideout to an average of just 3.3 fantasy points in 2012.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
