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
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Eddie Lacy at Minnesota Vikings: Lacy is getting his groove on as a rookie, scoring close to 30 combined fantasy points over his last two games. He should continue to thrive against the Vikings, who have surrendered 916 scrimmage yards, eight total scores and more fantasy points (22.93 PPG) to running backs than any team in the NFL. (Maximum value: Mid RB1)
Start 'em
Knowshon Moreno vs. Washington Redskins: Has there been a better bargain in fantasy football than Moreno? One of the top runners in the league, the Georgia product has a strong matchup ahead against the Redskins. Their defense has surrendered the second-most fantasy points (22.83 PPG) to opposing running backs after the first seven weeks. (Maximum value: High RB1)
Frank Gore at Jacksonville Jaguars (London): Gore is like the Energizer Bunny -- the dude just keeps on going. The veteran has found the end zone four times in his last four games, and a contest against the Jaguars bodes well for this week. Their defense has allowed the third-most fantasy points (22.76 PPG) to running backs this season. (Maximum value: Low RB1)
Stevan Ridley vs. Miami Dolphins: Ridley appears to be back in the good graces of fantasy owners, scoring three touchdowns in his last two games. He'll look to extend that streak of success against the Dolphins, who have given up the fifth-most fantasy points (21.27 PPG) to opposing running backs. Consider Ridley a No. 1 fantasy runner. (Maximum value: High RB2)
Sleeper alert - Peyton Hillis at Philadelphia Eagles: You're not seeing things -- Hillis is now back on the fantasy radar after a good performance against the Vikings last Monday night. If Brandon Jacobs is forced to miss another game with his bum hamstring, Hillis would be a viable fantasy flex starter with six teams on a bye. Amazing. (Maximum value: High RB3)
Sit of the week
Zac Stacy vs. Seattle Seahawks (Mon.): Stacy is coming off the best fantasy game of his career, posting 14.70 fantasy points. Now the question is, can he do it against the Seahawks? Seattle has been tough on running backs, allowing the fourth-fewest fantasy points to the position (12.80 PPG) this season. If you start Stacy, temper expectations. (Maximum value: Mid RB3)
Sit 'em
Chris Ivory at Cincinnati Bengals: Ivory went off last weekend, rushing for 104 yards on 34 carries in a win over the New England Patriots. However, he's going to have a much tougher task ahead of him in Week 8. The Bengals have given up the seventh-fewest fantasy points (12.2 PPG) to opposing backs, so Ivory's stats could crash back to Earth. (Maximum value: High RB3)
BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. New York Jets: The Law Firm has struggled this season, scoring fewer than nine fantasy points in all but one of his seven games. His fortunes aren't likely to improve this week against the Jets, who have surrendered the seventh-fewest fantasy points (13.41 PPG) to running backs. This makes Giovani Bernard a risk as well. (Maximum value: Low RB3)
Willis McGahee at Kansas City Chiefs: McGahee's value looked like it was on the rise in Week 5, as he rushed for 72 yards and scored a touchdown against the Buffalo Bills. Since then, he has put up a combined 7.80 fantasy points. The Chiefs have allowed the fewest fantasy points (8.75 PPG) to runners at home, so keep McGahee on the fantasy bench. (Maximum value: Mid RB3)
Owners beware - Maurice Jones-Drew vs. San Francisco 49ers (London): How bad have things been for Jones-Drew? Well, he's 28th in fantasy points among runners and is averaging a meager 3.1 yards per carry. This week he'll struggle against the Niners, who have allowed the ninth-fewest fantasy points (14.28 PPG) to runners over the last four weeks. (Maximum value: Low RB2)
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**!
