Start Em’ Sit Em’ Week 3

Well after an injury riddled first couple of weeks, we’ve seen players’ stock rise and fall all over the map. Guys like T.Y. Hilton, Terrelle Pryor, Brandin Cooks, A.J. Green, and Doug Baldwin who were all probably drafted in the first 3 rounds in most leagues, have been huge busts after 2 weeks of the regular season. Then on the other hand you’ve got the rise of the rookie running backs with Kareem Hunt entering the spotlight and not looking back, Leonard Fournette becoming a bell cow and Dalvin Cook popping off over 125 yards rushing in his home opener. It sucks, I get it, these things happen. Thankfully I’m here to help you sift through the garbage out there and get your lineup set before the week starts tonight when the Rams take on the 49ers.

Start Em’ QB’s

Jay Cutler after taking over as the starting quarterback of the Miami Dolphins looked pretty good in Adam Gase’s offense in his debut against the Chargers and secured the W for the team. He was able to connect on a few long balls to DeVante Parker and hit Jarvis Landry a whopping 13 times. This week he faces a Jets defense that has allowed 5 touchdowns through the air in 2 games this season. I think Cutler has a really nice chance of throwing for almost 300 yards and scores 2+ TDs. If you’ve got a guy on your roster with a tough matchup, look no further than Jay Cutler as a nice streaming option this week in the Meadowlands.

Sit Em’ QB’s

Trevor Siemian after two weeks (you wouldn’t guess it) is currently the highest scoring QB in the NFL with a total of 7 TDs over his first two games. While it hasn’t been pretty, Siemian has been able to get the job done, and with the run game clicking, receivers have been getting single coverage and Siemian has been making completions when it counts. The defense gives the offense plenty of opportunities so there is a lot to like about the scoring potential of this offense. That being said they are traveling for the first time this season over to Buffalo who has been able to shut down teams like the Jets and Panthers the last two weeks holding them to only field goals scoring 12 and 9 points respectively. I think that offense has a lot of work, so the defense should be able to get the ball in Siemian’s hands I just think he is going to be harder pressed to do a lot with it this week in Buffalo. He still has a chance for a TD or two but I am expecting at least a pick or a fumble, a few sacks and Siemian to have modest passing yards. After a hot start I think he could have a decent season, but I think Superman comes crashing down to earth this week against the Bills defense.

Start Em’ RB

Carlos Hyde so far this season has been the only saving grace of the San Francisco 49ers. Fortunately for Hyde owners he has still been utilized even when they are trailing in most of their games which, given everything we’ve seen you would assume would continue. Hyde has been able to find success in the run game even against a solid defense like the Seahawks who he torched for 124 yards on the ground. This week he finally gets a good matchup against the Rams tonight at home. Look for Hyde to eclipse the 100 yard mark and hopefully secure his first touchdown of the season.

Sit Em’ RB

The Saints backfield, that is Mark Ingram, Alvin Kamara, and Adrian Peterson, all of these guys are pretty much blacklisted for me this week. The poor Saints, things continue to get worse for a team that could be good if their defense kept things within reason. You’ve got an all pro Super Bowl winning quarterback like Drew Brees, a capable receiving core, and what should be a GD Cerberus of a backfield monster, is a fantasy wasteland for anyone who takes a flex flyer. Adrian Peterson looks like he is being phased out of this offense and Ingram and Kamara are splitting snaps. Their matchup this week is their toughest thus far as the Saints travel to Charlotte, NC to face the Panthers staunch run D. If you haven’t been pleased with the performance thus far, don’t expect anything to change this sunday in the Tar Heel State.

Start Em’ WR

DeVante Parker was the leading receiver for the Dolphins in yards at least reeling in 4 balls on 9 targets for 85 yards. Parker has been described by his quarterback Jay Cutler as a “faster Alshon Jeffery” who used to connect on a lot of balls thrown by Jay. Parker was limited at practice which is a minor concern, but all signs point to him suiting up Sunday in which he has the opportunity to exploit one of the most beatable secondaries in the league. If Cutler plays well, look for him and Parker to connect on a few deep balls, hopefully one making its way to the end zone. Parker is a really nice flex play this week with WR2 upside.

Sit Em’ WR

Dez Bryant secured his first touchdown of the season last week in a tough road matchup against Denver, but I expect him to be held out of the endzone this week in Arizona. The opportunities have definitely been there for Bryant who has had 6 end zone targets in two games. The problem is he has only converted 1 of those as Bryant often struggles against good solid corners. Monday night he will line up against Patrick Peterson and the last time they met, Bryant secured only 2 balls on 10 targets for 15 yards. Bryant only has 102 yards receiving on the season and I don’t think he adds too many more this game. I would look elsewhere for production, he’s a WR3 at best this week.

Start Em’ TE

Zach Ertz who has had targets and receptions galore the past two weeks, gets to face the Giants who have allowed both Jason Witten and Eric Ebron to score so far this season. Hopefully Ertz can complete the trifecta and score his first touchdown of the season Sunday. Ertz has proven that there is a chunk of this offense carved out for him as he has had 13 catches on 18 targets for 190 yards over the two opening games. With TEs dropping like flies, Ertz is a top option with an opportunity to drop his biggest game of the season.

Sit Em’ TE

Tyler Eifert, one of the most injury prone TEs in the league continues to experience knee and back issues. On the other side of the football, he faces Green Bay who has been keeping TEs in check, holding Austin Hooper who exploded week 1, to 2 catches for 7 yards, and before that Jimmy Graham was held to 3 catches for 8 yards. The matchup is poor, the guys health is poor, and quite frankly that entire offense has looked abysmal of late as they are yet to score a touchdown this season. Yes you read that right. Unless Eifert miraculously goes out there at 100%, and Andy Dalton pulls his head out of his ass and realizes he’s a decent quarterback, I am definitely keeping this guy on my bench this week.
Written by: Nicholas Rizzo @nicholasrizzo1