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.
Byes:Matt Bryant, Caleb Sturgis
Start of the week
Dan Bailey vs. Washington Redskins: The Cowboys and Redskins figure to engage in a real shootout at the Jerry Dome, and that means scoring opportunities for Bailey. He's been solid overall this season, scoring 10 or more fantasy points in three of his first five games of the season. Bailey could very well make it four of six this weekend. (Maximum value: High K1)
Start 'em
Sebastian Janikowski at Kansas City Chiefs: This is not a good matchup based on the 2013 numbers, but look at what Janikowski has done against the Chiefs in his career. In his last three meetings, he has made a combined 12 field goals. Sea Bass has also hit on 31 of 35 field-goal attempts in his career at Arrowhead Stadium. (Maximum value: Mid K1)
Mason Crosby at Baltimore Ravens: Crosby was in the start 'em portion of this column last week, and he made good with an impressive 18 fantasy points. The veteran has scored a combined 30 points in his last two games, and this week's matchup against the Ravens is favorable. Crosby is a free agent in plenty of NFL.com leagues. (Maximum value: Mid K1)
Sleeper alert -- Alex Henery at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Henery is coming off a monster performance with 18 fantasy points in a win over the Giants. Next on the schedule is a date with the Buccaneers, who have been fantasy kicker-friendly. Their defense is tied with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the sixth-most points allowed to the position. (Maximum value: Mid K1)
Sit of the week
Randy Bullock vs. St. Louis Rams: Bullock has failed to meet fantasy expectations, scoring nine or more fantasy points in just one game this season. The Rams come to town in Week 6, and while it looks like a good matchup on paper, it's not. St. Louis has surrendered an average of fewer than seven fantasy points per game to kickers. (Maximum value: Mid-K2)
Sit 'em
Justin Tucker vs. Green Bay Packers: The sixth-ranked kicker based on fantasy points, Tucker remains an attractive No. 1 option at his position. With that said, owners might want to temper their expectations against the Packers this week. Only three teams have given up fewer fantasy points to kickers after the first five weeks. (Maximum value: Low-K1)
Rob Bironas at Seattle Seahawks: Bironas had a strong start to the season, but he's faded in recent weeks and is now less attractive as a fantasy starter. This week the Titans travel to the great Northwest to face the Seahawks, who have surrendered an average of just four fantasy points to opposing kickers at home this season. (Maximum value: Mid-K2)
Owners beware -- Garrett Hartley at New England Patriots: Hartley, the second-ranked kicker in fantasy football based on points, is tough to bench based on his impressive start to the season. He does have a tough matchup this week, though, as the Patriots have given up an average of 3.5 fantasy points per game to kickers at home. (Maximum value: Low-K1)
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**!
