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
Lions roar into Week 3
Adam Rank's Week 3 player rankings spy a matchup for Detroit's offensive stars that tickles his fantasy fancy. More ...
Matthew Stafford at Washington Redskins: Stafford has had a nice start to the season, throwing for 635 yards and four touchdowns in two starts. He'll continue to find success against the Redskins, who have allowed 25-plus fantasy points to their first two opposing quarterbacks. In what figures to be a shootout at FedEx Field, Stafford is a strong fantasy starter. (Maximum value: High-QB1)
Start 'em
Cam Newton vs. New York Giants: After two weeks, 20 quarterbacks have more fantasy points than Newton. That's right, 20! But unless you have a very strong alternative at the position, I would keep the faith against the Giants. Their questionable defense has allowed an average of more than 18 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks. (Maximum value: Mid-QB1)
Tony Romo vs. St. Louis Rams: Romo has not had a sparkling start in the fantasy football stat sheets, ranking barely among the 20-best quarterbacks based on points. Still, he's a nice option this week based on a matchup against the Rams. This unit has allowed 17-plus fantasy points to quarterbacks in each of its first two contests of the 2013 regular season. (Maximum value: Low-QB1)
Sam Bradford at Dallas Cowboys: Did you know that Bradford is fifth in fantasy points among quarterbacks on NFL.com? It's sounds odd, but it's true. And with an upcoming game against the Cowboys, he's a viable starting option for owners who need a signal-caller. Dallas has surrendered the fifth-most fantasy points to the position after two weeks. (Maximum value: Low-QB1)
Sleeper alert - Andy Dalton vs. Green Bay Packers: Dalton looked plain awful on Monday night, throwing inaccurate passes all over the place in a win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. Still, he ended with a respectable 16.20 fantasy points. This week he faces the Packers, who have allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to quarterbacks after two weeks. That makes Dalton a one-week start. (Maximum value: High-QB2)
Sit of the week
Jay Cutler at Pittsburgh Steelers: Cutler hasn't been bad this season, but he still turns the football over too much - he's committed four turnovers in his first two starts. This week he goes to Heinz Field to face the Steelers, who have given up just one touchdown pass and the fifth-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks. Keep Cutler on the fantasy sidelines. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Sit 'em
Terrelle Pryor at Denver Broncos (Mon.): Yes, I am advising fantasy leaguers to bench Pryor. I love his skills and what he can do in fantasy leagues, but don't kid yourself - Pryor is no more than a matchup-based starter right now. And with a tough road game against the Broncos up next on the schedule, the Ohio State product could be in for a rough night on Monday. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Chicago Bears: A total of 25 quarterbacks have scored more fantasy points than Roethlisberger after two weeks, and I don't see his statistical fortunes changing any time in the near future. This week he faces the Bears, who have surrendered three scores and an average of just 14.18 fantasy points to opposing signal-callers after two weeks. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
EJ Manuel at New York Jets: Manuel is coming off a huge come-from-behind win over the Carolina Panthers last week, but he still scored a pedestrian 15.14 fantasy points in the contest. Next on the schedule is a road game against the Jets, who have surrendered an average of just over 10 fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Keep Manuel on your bench. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Owners beware - Tom Brady vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Do you have Michael Vick? Stafford? Romo? Well, it's time to consider benching Brady. With a questionable corps of receivers, he's just 25th in fantasy points among quarterbacks after two weeks. Furthermore, he'll be facing an upgraded Buccaneers pass defense that just held Drew Brees to 12.88 fantasy points. (Maximum value: Low-QB1)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
