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
Vincent Jackson vs. Buffalo Bills: Jackson has been a disappointment in recent weeks, scoring fewer than eight fantasy points in five of his last six games. Still, there's no chance I'd bench him in most cases against the Bills -- their defense has allowed the second-most fantasy points (28.2 PPG) to opposing wide receivers this season. (Maximum value: High WR1)
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Start 'em
Torrey Smith vs. Minnesota Vikings: Smith hasn't been the most consistent wide receiver in fantasy land, but he does rank among the 20 best players at his position based on points. He's also a nice option against the Vikings, who have surrendered the most yardage and the fifth-most fantasy points (28.3 PPG) to opposing wide receivers. (Maximum value: Low WR1)
Pierre Garcon vs. Kansas City Chiefs: Garcon has seen his fantasy points drop in each of the last four weeks in standard leagues, but he's still been quite productive in PPR formats (30 receptions). He should continue to rack up PPR points against the Chiefs, who have allowed the most fantasy points (37.4 PPG) to wideouts since Week 10. (Maximum value: Low WR1)
Riley Cooper vs. Detroit Lions: Cooper has cooled off in the stat sheets, posting a combined 8.5 fantasy points in his last two games combined. Still, he warrants consideration as a No. 3 fantasy wideout this weekend against the Lions. Their defense has surrendered the fourth-most fantasy points to wideouts over the last four weeks. (Maximum value: High WR2)
Sleeper alert - Harry Douglas at Green Bay Packers: Douglas has quietly been a star in PPR leagues, posting no fewer than six receptions in each of his last four games. He's a nice option in most fantasy formats against the Packers, who have allowed the second-most fantasy points (30.6 PPG) to opposing wide receivers since Week 10. (Maximum value: Mid WR2)
Sit of the week
Marques Colston vs. Carolina Panthers: Colston looked like he was going to break out of his season-long slump a few weeks back, but his slide has started up again with a combined 6.7 fantasy points in his last two games. The Panthers have one of the toughest defenses for wideouts to score against in 2013, so keep Colston on the bench. (Maximum value: Mid WR3)
Sit 'em
Michael Crabtree vs. Seattle Seahawks: Crabtree looked good last week for a player coming back from a major Achilles' procedure, but he's still not someone I want to start -- especially not against the Seahawks. Their defense has been formidable, surrendering an average of fewer than 18 fantasy points per game to wideouts on the road. (Maximum value: Mid WR3)
Hakeem Nicks at San Diego Chargers: A massive disappointment in fantasy land, Nicks has failed to score a touchdown and is a meager 54th in points among wide receivers in 2013. So while this week's matchup against the Chargers is favorable on paper, there's still no chance I would start Nicks in the first week of the fantasy playoffs. (Maximum value: Mid WR3)
Steve Smith at New Orleans Saints: Once one of the best wide receivers in fantasy football, Smith has seen his production and value drop this season. That's not likely to change in an NFC South battle against the Saints, who have surrendered the fifth-fewest fantasy points (16.3 PPG) to opposing wide receivers on their home field in 2013. (Maximum value: High WR3)
Owners beware - T.Y. Hilton at Cincinnati Bengals: Hilton scored a combined 43.1 fantasy points during Weeks 9-10, but he's recorded a mere 12.8 points in his previous three contests. His streak of misfortune is quite likely to continue against the Bengals, who have been plain ferocious against opposing pass catchers on their home field. (Maximum value: Mid 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**!
