Jason and Justin Sablich are here to help you with your fantasy football team. The Sablich brothers will provide fantasy football advice throughout the season on this blog and on Twitter (@5thDownFantasy).
Dear Minnesota Vikings: Your quarterback, Donovon McNabb, needs all the help he can get. So why are you limiting the role of your best receiver, Percy Harvin?
While we wait for a hand-written letter from the Vikings’ coaching staff explaining this madness, you should probably avoid starting both players in Week 3. Their opponents this week, the Detroit Lions, have proved to be a tough matchup for quarterbacks in the first two weeks, allowing the second fewest points to the position. You know you can find a better matchup, and we’re here to help.
Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.
Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups
Favorable
Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) vs. Denver – If you’re in a bind at quarterback, Hasselbeck may offer some relief, at least this week. The Ravens dared the Titans to beat them through the air in Week 2 by keying in on Chris Johnson. Hasselbeck responded with great poise and accuracy, going 30 of 42 for 358 yards and a touchdown. The Bengals rookie Andy Dalton, who was playing through an injured wrist, took advantage of a Champ Bailey-less Denver secondary to the tune of 332 yards and 2 touchdowns, and the star cornerback could be missing again in Week 3.
Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) vs. New England – The Amish Rifle is off to a hot start, having thrown just as many touchdown passes as Mathew Stafford and Tom Brady (7) through the first two weeks. Odds are favorable that he stays sharp, as New England’s secondary has looked a lot like it did last season, allowing an eye-opening 35 fantasy points a game on average to the position.
Cam Newton (CAR) vs. Jacksonville – O.K., we didn’t see 400-plus yards coming against the Packers last week, but neither did you, so we’re off the hook for now. Play Newton against a Jacksonville defense allowing 21 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks.
Rex Grossman (WAS) vs. Dallas — A third straight week for Grossman on our favorable matchups list. We know, it’s getting predictable, but Dallas has given up 22 points to the position on average and the Redskins’ ground game will have a tough go against the second best run defense in the league.
Unfavorable
Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Philadelphia – The Giants’ passing game woes were in full effect early Monday night, until a no-huddle touchdown drive before the end of the first half finally gave Manning something to smile about. Of course, it seems you can’t have the good without the bad with this team, as the recipient of that touchdown pass, Domenik Hixon, was injured while making that spectacular catch and will miss the rest of the season with a torn A.C.L. Mario Manningham also left the game with a concussion, meaning Manning might have to face the Eagles’ sixth ranked secondary with Hakeem Nicks as his only reliable option. There are safer plays than Manning this week.
Kyle Orton (DEN) vs. Tennessee – The Titans’ defense played extremely well against the Ravens last week, sacking Joe Flacco three times and picking him off twice. He managed to complete just 46 percent of his attempts and was held to under 200 passing yards. The Titans have allowed the fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks in the league so far this season.
Donovan McNabb (MIN) vs. Detroit – Just how bad has McNabb been this season? Tavaris Jackson and Kerry Collins have actually produced more fantasy points. It would be hard to imagine him getting it together against the Lions, who have allowed the second fewest points to the position through two weeks. Consider him a QB3 this week.
Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. St. Louis – This matchup isn’t particularly challenging, but the way the entire Ravens passing game performed last week, you should certainly explore other options, especially with news that the team may shut down Lee Evans for a while.
Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups
Favorable
Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) vs. Carolina – Things keep getting worse for Carolina’s defense with linebacker Thomas Davis joining Jon Beason on the season-ending I.R. with a torn A.C.L. The Jaguars would be wise to keep this one on the ground, and they most likely will with the rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert starting. Carolina is allowing nearly 5 yards a carry.
Felix Jones (DAL) vs. Washington – Jones has been a brutal fantasy play so far this year, but you have to take into consideration that his matchups with the Jets and 49ers were equally unfriendly. If he can play with a separated shoulder this week, and he is expected to, the going may be a little easier. The Redskins had no answer for Beanie Wells in the second half last Sunday, allowing 87 yards and a touchdown on just 11 carries.
Frank Gore (SF) vs. Cincinnati – Like Jones, Gore is off to a rough start, he gets his first favorable contest of 2011 in Week 3. The Bengals allowed the declining Willis McGahee to run for 101 yards and a touchdown in Week 2.
Ryan Mathews (SD) vs. Kansas City – The Chiefs have allowed the fourth most fantasy points to running backs in 2011, and with the likelihood that the Chargers end up blowing this one wide open, Mathews could be seeing plenty of action in a clock-killing, mercy-giving kind of way for much of the second half.
Unfavorable
Cedric Benson (CIN) vs. San Francisco – Benson was a major disappointment in a favorable matchup with Denver’s shaky run defense last Sunday (59 yards on 16 carries). The 49ers are allowing just 2.5 yards a carry and did a great job shutting down Dallas’s Jones last week.
Tim Hightower (DEN) vs. Dallas – The Dallas run defense was stout for the second straight week, allowing San Francisco’s Gore just 47 yards on 20 carries. Hightower had a big first half against his former team last Sunday (83 yards, 15 carries) but, oddly enough, Coach Mike Shannahan decided to go with the rookie Roy Helu for most of the second half. Helu was electric, totaling 112 yards on 13 touches. Fatigue might have been at play here, but Hightower owners will have more company than they’d like from here on out as Helu has certainly earned more playing time.
Steven Jackson (STL) vs. Baltimore – Jackson is likely to return this week, but you might want to leave him on your bench considering the Ravens’ formidable defensive line limited Rashard Mendenhall and Chris Johnson to just 3.1 yards per carry through the first two weeks.
Beanie Wells (ARZ) vs. Seattle – It wasn’t looking good early on against Washington, as Wells managed just 6 yards on 3 carries in first-half action. Luckily for you, he saw more work in the second half, finishing with 93 yards and a touchdown on just 14 attempts. He’ll take on Seattle’s underrated run defense, which has allowed only 3.1 yards a carry to Gore and Mendenhall. Don’t bench him, but keep expectations in check.
Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups
Favorable
A.J. Green (CIN) vs. San Francisco – Green and Dalton are starting to build a nice rapport. Denver was missing its pro bowl corner back Bailey and the two Bengals rookies took advantage. Green compiled 124 yards on 10 catches, including an unbelievable touchdown grab. This week, Green gets the best receiver matchup through the first two weeks. The bumbling San Francisco secondary was all sorts of bad against Dallas last week, allowing a monster 143-yard, 3-touchdown game to Miles Austin.
Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. Washington – A lot of uncertainty surrounds this one, as we can’t be sure if Bryant will even play (as of Wednesday). But with Miles Austin a scratch, you’d definitely want to play him against a banged-up Redskins secondary that allows 23 fantasy points a game to receivers. Kevin Ogletree would most likely get the start if Bryant can’t go and would be a sneaky spot play if you’re desperate.
Kenny Britt (TEN) vs. Denver – Britt has played like a top-10 option over the first two weeks and is a must-start regardless of whether Denver’s Bailey suits up. According to The Denver Post, Bailey looks nowhere near returning to the lineup on Sunday. Britt could be in for a beastly day considering what Green just did to them in Week 2.
David Nelson (BUF) vs. New England – Congratulations on claiming this week’s top waiver wire add, now make sure he’s in your lineup against a Patriots secondary that is giving up the second most fantasy points to guys like Nelson (34 PPG).
Unfavorable
Brandon Lloyd (DEN) vs. Tennessee – Lloyd is expected to be a go this week, but he’ll have his hands full with a Titans secondary that has surrendered just 199 yards and 0 touchdowns through the first two weeks (worst matchup).
Reggie Wayne (IND) vs. Pittsburgh — Consider him more of a WR3 in his meeting with the nasty Steelers defense (11 fantasy PPG, 2nd worst matchup).
Hakeem Nicks (NYG) vs. Philadelphia – You can never bench a talent like Nicks, but with Manningham dealing with a concussion this week, he could end up seeing plenty of double teams as the only threatening Giants receiver. Philadelphia has been tough on wideouts as it is, allowing them just 12 fantasy PPG.
Percy Harvin (MIN) vs. Detroit – For reasons we can’t understand, Minnesota’s most talented receiver is not being used as an every down option right now, having played in just 38 of the offense’s 68 plays last week against Tampa Bay. We aren’t saying you should bench him this week, but you might want to consider him more of a flex option until things change.
Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups
Favorable
Evan Moore (CLE) vs. Miami – Moore has scored two touchdowns in as many games, and now he gets the best tight end matchup in fantasy for Week 3 (20 PPG).
Antonio Gates (SD) vs. Kansas City – Normally we don’t list must-start guys like this in our posts, but we will make an exception for those owners who are bummed out by his lack of production and are thinking of benching him this week. Gates should have a field day against a Kansas City defense that has major issues covering the position (14 PPG).
Unfavorable
Jared Cook (TEN) vs. Denver – Hasselbeck has not called Cook’s number much through the first two weeks (3 receptions, 44 yards) and Denver has done an excellent job covering the position so far, allowing just four receptions for 18 yards.
Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups
Titans vs. Denver, San Diego vs. Kansas City, Cardinals vs. Seattle, Ravens vs. St. Louis
Unfavorable
Texans vs. New Orleans, Bears vs. Green Bay, Vikings vs. Detroit, Patriots vs. Buffalo
Do you have a “start or sit” question? We will be taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.
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