Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is the ultimate weekly look at NFL matchups and how they'll affect your fantasy football team. Fantasy superstars such as Patrick Mahomes and Saquon Barkley will not be featured in this column. All player matchups are based on a PPR scoring system. For your final starting lineup decisions, check my weekly fantasy football lineup rankings.
Start 'Em
Start of the Week
Godwin has averaged over 20 fantasy points in his first two games, and his success should continue in a plus matchup against the Giants. Their swiss cheese defense has allowed a league-high 550 receiving yards and the third-most fantasy points to wide receivers after their first two contests. Godwin is a must-start wideout.
I blew the call on Golladay last week, as he went off despite a bad matchup against the Chargers. I get him back into your fantasy lineup this week, as the Lions face an Eagles defense that's given up three top-13 performance including two top 10s among fantasy wideouts in their first two contests. Consider Golladay a strong WR2/flex starter.
The ageless Fitzgerald ranks in the top 10 in targets among wideouts after two weeks, so he's clearly benefiting from coach Kliff Kingsbury's offense. He remains a nice option against the Panthers, who allowed eight catches, one touchdown and 26.1 fantasy points to fellow slot man Chris Godwin last week. Fitzgerald should post top-20 totals.
Listed as a start 'em last week, Lockett ranked in a tie for the second-most catches among wideouts in a win over the Steelers. He's in a good spot to post another nice line in Week 3, as he'll face a Saints defense that's given up two touchdown catches and the fourth-most fantasy points to slot receivers. Keep the veteran in your lineups.
Brown has come out of nowhere to become a valuable fantasy asset, as he ranks fourth in PPR points among wideouts after two weeks. He'll remain a solid No. 2 option or flex starter in what should be a serious barburner against the Chiefs, who have allowed almost 42 fantasy points per game to opposing wideouts so far this season.
Start 'Em:Calvin Ridley at Indianapolis Colts, John Brown vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Sleepers:Nelson Agholor vs. Detroit Lions, Mecole Hardman vs. Baltimore Ravens
Sit 'Em
Sit of the Week
Williams has battled through an injured knee out on the gridiron, and it hasn't equated to fantasy success. He saw just five targets and 37 snaps in last week's contest in Detroit, and his 16.2 fantasy points has him outside the top 60 wideouts thus far. For now, Williams needs to remain sidelined until we see some real signs of statistical life.
Williams has been a nice fantasy opton as the new No. 1 wideout in Oakland, but he's a tough sell against the Vikings and CB Xavier Rhodes. While it's good news that Williams was removed from the injury report for the week, I'd still temper expectations in a game where Derek Carr and the Raiders could struggle in the pass attack.
McLaurin should be one of the hottest adds this week, but just because you add him doesn't mean he's a must start. In fact, McLaurin is better faded based on a tough matchup against the Bears. After two weeks, their defense has allowed an average of fewer than 20 fantasy points to opposing outside wide receivers.
Three weeks, and three appearances in the sit 'em portion of this article for Anderson. It's understandable, as he's seen 13 targets with just seven catches after two games. Anderson also has a brutal matchup against the Pats up next, and he'll do it while catching passes from his third string quarterback, Luke Falk.
Landry has found a permanent spot on the sit 'em list, as he's put up a combined 17.9 fantasy points over his first two games. This week's matchup against the Rams makes him tough to trust too, as he'll face CB Nickell Robey-Coleman often. Until further notice, Landry needs to be on the bench (and in shallower leagues, maybe released).
Sit 'Em:Sterling Shepard at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Jamison Crowder at New England Patriots
Busts:Emmanuel Sanders at Green Bay Packers, John Ross at Buffalo Bills
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. You can follow Michael on **Twitter**, **Facebook**, **YouTube** and **Instagram** for all of the latest fantasy football news, notes and in-depth analysis!
