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 Adrian Peterson will not be featured. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Start of the week
Waiver wire: Rolling on the Rivers
With bye weeks underway, Michael Fabiano advises fantasy owners to look to the rejuvenated Philip Rivers for help. More ...
Philip Rivers at Oakland Raiders: Rivers is on absolute fire, scoring the third-most fantasy points among all players after four weeks. His success in the stat sheets should continue against the Raiders, who have allowed an average of close to 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks this season. Rivers now needs to be owned in all leagues. (Maximum value: High-QB1)
Start 'em
Matthew Stafford at Green Bay Packers: The Packers have one of the league's most explosive offenses, but their defense leaves much to be desired. In fact, quarterbacks have averaged the fifth-most fantasy points against Green Bay. That's good for Stafford, who has recorded 45-plus pass attempts in each of his two career games at Lambeau Field. (Maximum value: High-QB1)
Michael Vick at New York Giants: The fourth-highest scoring player in fantasy football, Vick has been one of fantasy's best draft bargains to date. While his numbers have dropped over the last two weeks, he's still a nice option against the Giants. Their defense has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks in 2013. (Maximum value: Mid-QB1)
Eli Manning vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Manning is a dreadful 24th in fantasy points among quarterbacks, so why is he a start 'em? Well, the Eagles have surrendered the second-most fantasy points to quarterbacks. What's more, Manning has a combined 13 touchdown passes with just two interceptions in his last four home meetings against the Eagles.(Maximum value: Low-QB1)
Sleeper alert -- Terrelle Pryor vs. San Diego Chargers: It looks like Pryor will be back on the field in what will be a late start against the Chargers on Sunday night, so he's back on the fantasy radar. The matchup couldn't be better, as San Diego has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks than any other team in the National Football League. (Maximum value: Low-QB1)
Sit of the week
Matt Schaub at San Francisco 49ers: The Niners have allowed an average of close to 20 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks at home, but one of those games was against Aaron Rodgers. Schaub is no Rodgers, and he's turning the football over a ton (six interceptions). Unless you're absolutely desperate, he needs to be on your bench this weekend. (Maximum value: High-QB2)
Sit 'em
Alex Smith at Tennessee Titans: After four weeks, Smith is the sixth-best quarterback in the league based on fantasy points. However, it's tough to trust him -- even during the bye weeks -- against the Titans. Their improved defense has allowed an average of fewer than 10 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks on their home field in 2013. (Maximum value: High-QB2)
Carson Palmer vs. Carolina Panthers: Palmer opened the season with a nice performance, but he's averaged fewer than 10 fantasy points in his last three contests. Next on the schedule is a tough matchup against what is a much-improved Panthers defense that has surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks after four weeks. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Joe Flacco at Miami Dolphins: The Dolphins looked awful against the pass in New Orleans last Monday night, but Drew Brees can make even the best defensive units look feeble. The same can't be said for Flacco, who threw five interceptions in last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills. He's just not someone owners can trust right now, even in the bye weeks. (Maximum value: Mid-QB2)
Owners beware -- Colin Kaepernick vs. Houston Texans: Did you know that EJ Manuel, Jay Cutler and Sam Bradford all have more fantasy points than Kaepernick? Couple that with a tough matchup against the Texans, and you have a risky start. The Texans have surrendered an average of just 14 fantasy points per game to opposing quarterbacks this season. (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**!
