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
Torrey Smith vs. Green Bay Packers: Smith is on pace to have the best fantasy season of his career, and this week's matchup against the Packers bodes well for his chances to remain hot. Green Bay has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season, so expect Joe Flacco to look in Smith's direction often. (Maximum value: High WR1)
Start 'em
Vincent Jackson vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Jackson has had a slow start to the season, posting a combined 292 yards with no touchdown catches through the first five weeks. Still, it's tough to bench him with such a great matchup against the Eagles up next. No defense has allowed more fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. (Maximum value: Mid WR1)
Reggie Wayne at San Diego Chargers (Mon.):Fantasy owners who have Wayne or T.Y. Hilton on their roster should be thrilled with his week's matchup against the Chargers. San Diego's defense has given up the fourth-most receiving yards, the fifth-most touchdowns and the fourth-most fantasy points to wide receivers. Look for Wayne to shine. (Maximum value: High WR2)
Steve Smith at Minnesota Vikings: Smith has not had a great start to the season, but he should remain in your starting lineup this week against the Vikings. He has owned Minnesota, posting 100-plus receiving yards in three of his last four meetings. Smith has also posted a touchdown in four of his last five games against the Vikings. (Maximum value: High WR2)
Sleeper alert -- Justin Blackmon at Denver Broncos: Blackmon was fantastic last week, posting nearly 20 fantasy points in a loss to the St. Louis Rams. He should remain a fantasy starter against the Broncos, who have allowed the third-most fantasy points to wideouts. Look for Blackmon to cash in, especially late during garbage time. (Maximum value: High WR2)
Sit of the week
Larry Fitzgerald at San Francisco 49ers: It's tough to bench Fitzgerald, but this is a bad matchup. First, he's scored just 26.80 fantasy points in his last four games. Second, he has posted 41 or fewer yards in five of his last six games in San Francisco. Finally, the Niners have allowed the fourth-fewest fantasy points to wideouts since Week 4. (Maximum value: High WR2)
Sit 'em
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Time to take the Jets and Raiders seriously? Elliot Harrison reconsiders their status. Plus, the Chiefs hit a new high. **More ...**
Anquan Boldin vs. Arizona Cardinals: Boldin opened the season on fire with a 26.80-fantasy point performance against the Green Bay Packers. Since then, however, the veteran has averaged a mere 6.12 points. This week he faces a former team, the Cardinals, who have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this year. (Maximum value: Low WR2)
Dwayne Bowe vs. Oakland Raiders: You might look at this matchup against the Raiders and think it's a good one for Bowe's fantasy prospects. Think again. He has posted 91 receiving yards or less in all 11 career meetings against Oakland. What's more, Bowe has found the end zone just once in his last four games against the Silver and Black. (Maximum value: Low WR3)
Tavon Austin at Houston Texans: Aside from the 17.50 fantasy points he scored in Week 2, Austin has been a huge fantasy disappointment thus far. In fact, he's averaged a meager 2.77 fantasy points in his other four contests. With a tough matchup against the Texans next up on the schedule, starting this rookie is not an advisable decision. (Maximum value: Low WR3)
Owners beware -- DeSean Jackson at Tampa Bay Buccaneeers: There's a good chance you don't have enough depth to bench Jackson, but owners need to temper expectations with a trip to Revis Island next on the schedue. Overall, opposing wideouts have scored the sixth-fewest fantasy points when going up against Revis and the Buccaneers defense. (Maximum value: High WR2)
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**!
