Week 11 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

It’s hard to fathom how poorly the talented Eagles secondary has played at times this season. The low point came against Arizona last week when it allowed the Cardinals’ backup quarterback, John Skelton, to throw for 315 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Maybe it has to do with distribution of talent? Nnamdi Asomugha voiced his frustration this week about his not being allowed to shadow the opposing team’s best receiver, as he did when he played for the Oakland Raiders.

The bottom line is that the Eagles have allowed a 24-point fantasy average to Chicago’s Jay Cutler and Skelton over the last two weeks. No, seriously, they have. Eli Manning (NYG) has averaged 271 yards a game in his last two meetings with the Eagles and has thrown for four touchdowns in each of those games. We’re liking Manning’s chances Sunday night.

View Complete Week 11 Rankings

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Carson Palmer (OAK) vs. Minnesota — Palmer bested Philip Rivers last Thursday, which was definitely one of the bigger surprises of Week 10, but we’re more surprised by how much stronger his arm has looked compared to last season. Averaging 315 yards and 2 touchdowns in his first two starts, he gets the second best QB fantasy matchup in Week 11. The depleted Vikings secondary is surrendering 23 fantasy points a game to the position and Kevin Kolb has been the only quarterback this season who has failed to post at least 15 fantasy points against them.

Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) vs. Atlanta — The only reason you would be interested in Hasselbeck in standard leagues is if your quarterback is on a bye week. Having said that, Atlanta does give up 18 fantasy points a game to opposing quarterbacks, and the Titans’ ground game could struggle considering how good Atlanta has been against the run (4th best in N.F.L.), forcing the Titans to deviate from their run-heavy ways and take to the air.

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) vs. Denver —  Sanchez was under fire for most of Sunday night against the league’s worst defense (New England), which could explain away some of the quarterback’s poor performance. But luckily for us, fake football is all about points, and Sanchez delivered 21 of them, if you had him in your lineup. A similar situation is brewing for Thursday night’s matchup with Denver. Nobody allows more fantasy points to quarterbacks than the Broncos (24), but Sanchez will have to survive Denver’s talented pass rushing duo of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil, who notched 7 hits and 2 sacks on the Chiefs’ Matt Cassel last week.

Unfavorable

Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. Cincinnati — This matchup got a little easier after the Bengals’ top cornerback, Leon Hall, was placed on I.R., but Flacco has a bad track record against this team and has been too unpredictable to trust as a starter this week. He has thrown for fewer than 200 yards in each of his last four games against the Bengals, with just two touchdowns and nine interceptions (sixth worst QB matchup, 16 FPPG).

Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. Baltimore — Dalton managed 14 fantasy points against a tough Pittsburgh defense last week (eighth worst QB matchup), which is what you can only hope for against an even tougher Baltimore defense (worst QB matchup), and there is a serious possibility he will be without his main weapon, A. J. Green, who is dealing with a bone bruise in his knee and will be a game-time decision.

Tony Romo (DAL) vs. Washington — The Redskins and a busted rib cage were responsible for Romo’s worst outing of the season in Week 3 (255, 0 TD, 1 INT). A healthier and more confident Romo should fare a lot better this time around, but he may not put up huge numbers against the league’s ninth ranked pass defense.

Cam Newton (CAR) vs. Detroit — Newton is coming off the worst outing of his young career, largely because of the Titans’ ability to generate a lot of pressure (five sacks). The Lions have the meanest defensive line in football and can bring the blitz with the best of them (tied for fourth in sacks with 26), and Ford Field isn’t exactly a friendly place to play, considering opposing quarterbacks have averaged just 9.8 fantasy points in the four games played there this season.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Marshawn Lynch (SEA) vs. St Louis — What has gotten into this guy over the last couple of weeks? Touches. No running back has more of them over the last two games than Lynch. His 32 attempts in Week 10 helped him achieve his second consecutive 100-yard game against a normally stout Ravens run defense. His Week 11 opponent is allowing 21 fantasy points a game on the ground and just gave up a solid 10-point outing to the previously terrible Chris Ogbonnaya.

James Starks (GB) vs. Tampa Bay —  O.K., even in a total blowout, the Packers aren’t going to run the ball much. But at least Starks is getting the bulk of the carries over Grant and Kuhn, and his matchup with the Buccaneers (second best for RBs, 26 FPPG) will warrant high-end flex appeal this weekend.

Reggie Bush (MIA) vs. Buffalo — Even with a healthy Daniel Thomas, Bush continues to be the main man in the Miami backfield, including the red zone, as he produced his first multiple-touchdown game since 2007 against Washington last week. Both backs should see plenty of action against a depleted Bills defense that took a heavy beating from DeMarco Murray in Week 10 and has surrendered 21 fantasy points per game to the position in 2011.

Maurice Morris (DET) vs. Carolina — Despite the re-signing of Kevin Smith, Morris continues to see the bulk of the work in the Detroit backfield and he should see more than the 10 touches he received last week (the Lions surely don’t want to throw the ball 62 times again). That could mean some solid flex production against fantasy’s best matchup for running backs in 2011.

Unfavorable

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. Atlanta — Was Johnson’s 23-point fantasy day last Sunday the turning point his owners were hoping for, or did the Panthers’ 28th ranked run defense have more to do with it? Atlanta ranks fourth best against the run and is allowing just 3.9 yards a carry this season. No running back has eclipsed the century mark on them and they haven’t surrendered a touchdown on the ground since Week 6.

Jackie Battle (KC) vs. New England — This isn’t a bad matchup on paper, as the Patriots have allowed 18 points a game on the ground, but Battle needs a Kansas City lead to be effective, and you really can’t expect that to happen against the N.F.L.’s third best offense. With the Chiefs down to Tyler Palko behind center, this one could get ugly in a hurry.

Roy Helu (WAS) vs. Dallas — It would make perfect sense to give your best players the most opportunities to get the ball, but apparently Coach Shanahan knows something we don’t. After breaking Art Monk’s single-game reception record the week before, Helu found himself on the bench watching an ineffective Ryan Torain run like mud for most of the first half last weekend. He reprised the role of starter for the second half, and logic would again point to his getting the start this week. But with Tashard Choice possibly suiting up against his old team, one can’t be sure. Dallas played the run much better last week with the return of their best run stopper, Sean Lee, holding Buffalo’s Fred Jackson to just 9 fantasy points.

Beanie Wells (ARZ) vs. San Francisco — You know the drill by now when it comes to the 49ers’ run defense. But if you’re getting on the Internet for the first time, San Francisco fields the top-ranked defense against the run, allowing just 3.4 yards a carry, and have yet to concede a rushing touchdown. Wells has not played well recently because of an injured knee and missed practice Wednesday, giving you that much more incentive to sit him.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Damian Williams (TEN) vs. Atlanta — The Titans’ leading receiver in touchdowns (4), Williams is doing his part to ease the pain from the loss of Kenny Britt, with an excellent 5-catch, 107-yard, 1-TD outing against Carolina last week. He could make for a solid WR3 spot start with Atlanta surrendering the 10th most fantasy points to the position this season (22).

Denarius Moore (OAK) vs. Minnesota — Moore propelled to the top of Oakland’s pass-catching food chain last week thanks in part to his teammate Jacoby Ford’s injury, and an incredible 46-yard reception. Start him against the league’s 30th ranked pass defense if you were lucky enough to score him off your wire.

Brandon Marshall (MIA) vs. Buffalo — Dolphins quarterback Matt Moore is not an elite talent, but Marshall owners don’t need him to be as long as he keeps feeding him the ball the way he has been (15 receptions, 204 yards, 1 TD last two weeks). In his last meeting with the Bills, Marshall recorded 11 receptions, 106 yards and 1 TD. Not a whole lot has changed since then with the Bills yielding the eighth most fantasy points to opposing receivers in 2011.

David Nelson (BUF) vs. Miami —  There are not a lot of good things to say about the Buffalo passing game right now, as it appears to be suffering a repeat of last season’s dropoff after a hot start. But Miami’s secondary actually allows more fantasy points to the position than the Bills (seventh best matchup), and with Steve Johnson looking doubtful to play in this one, Nelson could end up being Fitzpatrick’s top option.

Unfavorable

Dwayne Bowe (KC) vs. New England —  Palko is the only reason we would be concerned with Bowe’s fantasy production this week since nobody allows more fantasy points to receivers than the Patriots.

Roddy White (ATL) vs. Tennessee — The Titans held Steve Smith to just 33 yards on five catches last week, which brings their average against teams’ No. 1 receivers down to 5.7 on the season. The underachieving White will have his work cut out for him.

Steve Smith (CAR) vs. Detroit — Smith is in for another tough one, as the Lions haven’t allowed a 100-yard game to the position since Week 4 and have coughed up just two receiving touchdowns during that time. Still, Smith is still too good to consider benching.

Eric Decker (DEN) vs. Jets — Decker has caught a touchdown pass in three consecutive games, and amazingly so considering his quarterback has just 12 completions during his last two games. But with a running back for a quarterback, and of course the Revis factor, you can’t expect a lot from him Thursday night.

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Fred Davis (WAS) vs. Dallas — Davis has gone M.I.A. over the last couple of weeks, but has a chance to redeem himself as a low-end TE1 with his Week 11 opponent being the second best matchup a tight end can have.

Unfavorable

Jermaine Gresham (CIN) vs. Baltimore — Gresham could see plenty of targets if A. J. Green ends up missing the game, but it might not make much of a difference. The Ravens allow the fewest fantasy points to tight ends (3 FPPG), and have yet to surrender a touchdown to one this season.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

New England vs. Kansas City, Dallas vs. Washington, Jacksonville vs. Cleveland, San Francisco vs. Arizona, Green Bay vs. Tampa Bay.

Unfavorable

Philadelphia vs. New York, San Diego vs. Chicago, Tennessee vs. Atlanta, Washington vs. Dallas, Minnesota vs. Oakland.

Week 10 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

The Seattle Seahawks unleashed “Beast Mode” last week against Dallas and Marshawn Lynch (SEA) owners benefited as the running back trounced the Cowboys for 135 yards and a score, the third-highest fantasy total among RBs in Week 9. The performance prompted Ravens Coach John Harbaugh to say that Lynch is “definitely a top 2 or 3 running back in the National Football League.” Was that the same Marshawn Lynch who ran for just 24 yards on 16 carries a week earlier against the Bengals? Let’s not get too carried away here. Lynch has been way too inconsistent to be considered a top-rate fantasy running back going forward and he is among our unfavorable matchup picks in Week 10 against Baltimore’s third-ranked run defense.

View our Week 10 rankings here.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Mark Sanchez (NYJ) vs. NE —  The Patriots rank dead last in pass defense and have yielded consecutive 20-point, 2-touchdown games over the last two weeks to Eli Manning and Ben Roethlisberger. Sanchez tossed two touchdowns in his first meeting with New England this year, and his offense has improved considerably since then.

Matt Cassel (KC) vs. DEN — Starting this guy would require a forgiving short-term memory, but in Cassel’s defense, he really didn’t have much time to throw the ball against Miami. Be forewarned that Denver’s pass rushing duo of Von Miller and Elvis Dumervil appear to be finally clicking, with 2 sacks and 5 hits on Carson Palmer last week. But Palmer still managed to throw for 322 yards and 3 TDs, and nobody is allowing more fantasy points to quarterbacks this year, so the matchup is there if you believe he can bounce back.

Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. SEA — Flacco’s surprisingly solid 300-yard game against the Steelers’ elite pass defense marks the fourth time he’s reached that mark this season. A good game from this inconsistent quarterback might not be so shocking this week, as the Seahawks have allowed 4 TDs and 19.5 fantasy points a game to quarterbacks over the last two weeks.

Christian Ponder (MIN) vs. GB — It seems like Green Bay is always involved in a shootout and opposing quarterbacks have benefited, with a 22-point fantasy average this season. Ponder racked up 19 fantasy points against the Packers in Week 7, throwing for 219 yards and two touchdowns.

Unfavorable

Josh Freeman (TB) vs. HOU — Freeman has been hard to count on in a good matchup, let alone a bad one, and the Texans represent the latter, yielding the fourth fewest points to opposing quarterbacks this season. Drew Brees has been the only one to surpass the 20-point mark against this unit, and Houston hasn’t allowed a multiple TD day to the position since Week 5 (Jason Campbell).

Tom Brady (NE) vs. NYJ — Sit Tom Brady this week? Maybe if you have Eli Manning on your bench. The Jets are the worst matchup a quarterback can have this season. Opposing quarterbacks are averaging just eight fantasy points a game. Brady has been interception-prone as well of late, throwing five of them in his last three games.

Jay Cutler (CHI) vs. DET — Cutler produced a solid stat line in the Bears’ upset win over the Eagles Monday night (208 yards, 2 TDs), and his offensive line didn’t allow a sack for the first time this season. But we still feel Cutler is best suited for QB2 duty this week. The Lions are yielding just 13 points a game to the position, and Cutler was nothing special in his first meeting with Detroit (16 fantasy points).

Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. PIT — Three touchdown passes on a tough Titans secondary was mighty impressive last weekend, but he’s still a risky start against a tougher Steelers secondary allowing just 14 fantasy points a week through the air.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Ben Tate (HOU) vs. TB — After racking up 115 yards on 12 carries against the Browns, Tate has proved he can be a viable fantasy option despite a limited workload. Tampa Bay allows the fourth-most fantasy points to the position and will be further hurting with the loss of DT Gerald McCoy for the rest of the season. Tate is a solid flex play this weekend.

Mike Tolbert (SD) vs. OAK — The Raiders are fresh off a 168 yard beat-down from a banged up Willis McGahee and have allowed the third-highest fantasy average to running backs this season. Ryan Mathews is expected to return for Thursday’s game, but the Chargers could initially choose to go easy on his workload after a solid Week 9 outing from Tolbert against the Packers (83 yards, 1 TD, 4 receptions, 59 yards).

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. CAR — Johnson showed signs of life in Week 9, posting his highest YPG (4.6) of the season against a tough Cincinnati run defense. But with just 9 yards on 5 carries in the second half, it would be premature to say the tide is turning. It would be a good idea to keep him active, however, as no one allows more fantasy points to running backs than the Panthers.

Steven Jackson (STL) vs. CLE — Jackson is looking for his third consecutive 100-yard game this weekend, and with the Browns on the menu, odds are looking good. Cleveland’s 30th ranked run defense has allowed three 100-yard rushers in just two weeks (Foster, Tate, and Gore), and has allowed running backs to reach that mark six times in eight games this season.

Unfavorable

Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) vs. CIN — A fourth-quarter touchdown saved owners from another mediocre outing, and with just 13 carries in each of his last 3 games, he’s likely going to need to reach pay dirt again in order to be a worthwhile start against the N.F.L’s second-ranked run defense (3.3 yards a carry).

LeGarrette Blount (TB) vs. HOU — The Texans’ fourth-ranked run defense is holding opposing running games to a 91-yard average, but the bigger question may be how many attempts Blount actually sees this week. The Texans lead the N.F.L. in time of possession, thanks to their elite running game, and Blount has averaged just 11.5 carries over his last two games. Similar power backs such as Rashard Mendenhall and Daniel Thomas have been held out of the end zone against Houston, and have managed just an 8-point fantasy average.

Ahmad Bradshaw/Brandon Jacobs (NYG) vs. SF — At this point, nobody is sure if Bradshaw will suit up this week after missing Wednesday’s practice, but neither back will be a good option against the N.F.L.’s best run-stopping unit (70 YPG, 0 TD).

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Laurent Robinson (DAL) vs. BUF — Tony Romo has recently taken a liking to Robinson, even when Miles Austin was on the playing field, as the two have paired up for 135 yards and two touchdowns on 13 targets over the last two games. With Austin expected to miss the next 2-4 games, and the Bills allowing 22 fantasy points a game to opposing pass-catchers, the arrow is pointing straight up.

DeSean Jackson (PHI) vs. ARZ — ”Decoy” Jackson continues to blame defensive game plans for his lack of production, which might have worked three weeks ago, but it’s starting to get old. No excuses this week, as the Cardinals ‘suspect secondary has allowed the sixth-most fantasy points to receivers this season.

Steve Breaston (KC) vs. DEN — Breaston is coming off his best game of the season vs. Miami (7 rec., 115 yards) and has an outstanding matchup this week. Opposing teams’ secondary wideouts have tallied an 11.8 fantasy average over the course of eight games against the Broncos, who are considered the best matchup a receiver can have.

Anquan Boldin (BAL) vs. SEA — Boldin was targeted a team-high 11 times in the Ravens’ big win Sunday night and he managed to haul in 7 of those for 88 yards, a respectable outing considering what he was up against. Seattle has allowed opposing team’s number one receivers an average of 8.6 fantasy points this season, so a similar if not better stat line from Boldin could be expected in Week 10, making him a rock-solid WR2 this week.

Unfavorable

A.J. Green (CIN) vs. PIT — Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor will present the biggest challenge the rookie has faced all season. Teams’ No. 1 receivers are averaging a measly 5 fantasy points through nine games against him, including the likes of Wes Welker, Larry Fitzgerald and Andre Johnson.

Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ) vs. PHI — No. 1 receivers average a minuscule 3.3 fantasy points in eight games played against the Eagles, and he’ll most likely be catching passes from John Skelton again.

Nate Washington (TEN) vs. CAR — Washington is banged up with a hip injury but is still expected to play. That doesn’t mean you have to start him, especially since Carolina is allowing the fourth-fewest points to the position this season.

Brandon Lloyd (STL) vs. CLE — Mark Clayton is returning this week to steal some targets, and his matchup with Cleveland ranks in as the worst one a receiver can have this season.

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Greg Olsen vs. TEN — He had his best game of the season prior to Week 8’s bye and he could pick up where he left off, considering the Titans have given up the fourth-most points to the position this season.

Unfavorable

Rob Gronkowski (NE) vs. NYJ — Gronk managed just 3 fantasy points in Week 5 against the Jets, and New York is holding the position to a 6.7 fantasy average, which is considered the sixth-worst tight end matchup in fake football land.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Eagles vs. Arizona, Lions vs. Chicago, Chargers vs. Oakland, Texans vs. Tampa Bay, Cowboys vs. Buffalo

Unfavorable

Saints vs. Atlanta, Bears vs. Detroit, Bengals vs. Pittsburgh, Titans vs. Carolina, Falcons vs. New Orleans

 

This post has been revised to reflect the following correction:

Correction: November 10, 2011

An earlier version of this article misstated Christian Ponder's team as Indianapolis.

Week 9 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize fromFantasyPros.com.

While the Carson Palmer (Oakland, vs. DEN
) era in Oakland officially began in Week 7, and boy was it ugly, this game will be his first start for the Silver and Black. In fantasy terms, the matchup doesn’t get any better, with the Broncos allowing the most fantasy points to the position through the first eight weeks. Still, starting Palmer does mean you are pretty desperate, even more desperate than the guy rolling with Seattle’s Tarvaris Jackson. But with the bye weeks still hovering over many of you, you can do worse than rolling the dice with Palmer, who claims to be comfortable now with Oakland’s playbook and his new receivers. He’s among our favorable quarterback matchups for Week 9.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Eli Manning (NYG) vs. NE – 
Ben Roethlisberger was the latest quarterback to pick on the league’s worst pass defense, becoming the sixth quarterback in the last seven games to reach the 300-yard mark against the Patriots.

Tarvaris Jackson (SEA) vs. DAL – 
Bye weeks call for desperate measures, and starting Jackson certainly fits that description. But he did throw for a career-high 323 yards in just two and a half quarters last week against a tough Bengals secondary, and Seattle’s 31st ranked rushing attack will most likely struggle against the Cowboys’ formidable defensive front. That means Jackson will have to air it out early and often.

Matt Cassel (KC) vs. MIA – 
With two interceptions and a passer rating just below 70 percent, Cassel was far from great last Monday night. But the reception monster known as Baldwin-Bowe-Breaston is starting to take shape, and the matchup is almost as good as Palmer’s, with the Dolphins allowing the second-most fantasy points to opposing quarterbacks (24 FPPG). Twenty-plus standard points from Cassel doesn’t seem like such a stretch this week.

Unfavorable

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) vs. NYJ
 – The Jets have allowed just four passing touchdowns and are considered the worst matchup a quarterback can have (8 FPPG).



Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) vs. CIN – 
Hasselbeck had a bit of a bounce-back last week after two bad outings, although we were hoping for a bit more against the Colts’ shoddy defense. We’re not expecting a lot from Hasselbeck this week because the Bengals haven’t allowed a quarterback to eclipse the 20-point mark all season.

Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. PIT
 – Despite an inconsistent year from Flacco, he was one of the few quarterbacks to actually have a productive day against this unit, throwing for three touchdowns and 224 yards in Week 1. The Steelers are also dealing with major injuries, as its three starting linebackers, LaMarr Woodley, James Harrison and James Farrior, will not play in this game. It would still require a lot of guts to start Flacco this week, considering how up-and-down he’s been.



Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. BAL – 
In this marquee matchup, Roethlisberger has a chance to become the first Steelers quarterback to post three-consecutive 300-yard games. He fell just 20 yards short of that mark back in Week 1 against Baltimore, but that was little consolation to owners who ended up with an 8-point fantasy downer (1 TD, 3 INT). The Ravens have surrendered the second-fewest fantasy points to quarterbacks this season (9 FPPG), and are allowing just 174 passing yards a game.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Michael Turner (ATL) vs. IND
 – Turner owners have to like the prospects of his fresh, bye-week rested legs going up against the league’s second-worst run defense. A running back has been able to post at least 10 fantasy points on the Colts in each of their eight games.

Steven Jackson (STL) vs. ARZ 
– Jackson’s 159 yards and 2 TDs were a big reason the Rams were able to upset the New Orleans Saints last Sunday. Perhaps the new World Series champions should pay a visit before every Rams game the rest of the season. Jackson’s Week 9 opponent is yielding 19 fantasy points a game to RBs and is coming off a 27-point fantasy beat-down, courtesy of Ray Rice.

LeGarrette Blount (TB) vs. NO
 -- The big man is expected to make his return this week for a pivotal matchup with the Saints. With the team’s primary third-down back (Graham) done for the year, Blount will likely see more passing down duties, although Kregg Lumpkin is better suited for the role. The Saints have surrendered 18 fantasy points to RBs on average over the last four weeks.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis vs. NYG – 
It doesn’t get much uglier than a season-low 9 yards on five carries, but the Steelers’ offensive barrage is mostly to blame for keeping the Patriots from establishing a ground game. The Giants have surrendered a rushing TD in each of their seven games and continue to struggle stopping the run despite Justin Tuck’s return (Reggie Bush, 103 yards in Week 7)

.

Unfavorable

DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. SEA – 
Felix Jones could return this week, which would turn the Dallas backfield into a committee as Coach Jason Garrett has already suggested, and Seattle’s 3.2 yards per game against the run now tops all units this season. Murray is more of a mid-tier RB2 option this weekend.

Jackie Battle (KC) vs. MIA
 – The Jets, the Broncos and the Giants have all failed to produce a 10-point fantasy performance on the ground against this unit over the last three weeks, with the Dolphins allowing zero touchdowns to running backs over that three-game span.

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. CIN -- 
It’s probably safe to label this guy a bust after he posted a 2.4 YPC against the feeble Colts run defense. His matchup with the Bengals’ second-ranked run defense is not a good one, and he now has Javon Ringer stealing more carries. CJ2K is no better than a low-end flex this week, as hard as that is to believe.

Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) vs. BAL
 – The Ravens held Mendenhall to 45 yards on 12 carries in Week 1 and are allowing just 3.3 YPC. With all of the bye week and injury issues at the RB position, sitting him probably is not an option, though.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Brandon Lloyd vs. ARIZ 
– With 25 targets in his first two games as a Ram, it’s no secret who the go-to guy is in this passing game. He has a 9-point fantasy average despite having yet to catch a pass from Sam Bradford. Baltimore’s Anquan Boldin was the third wideout in the last four weeks to reach double-digit fantasy points against the Cardinals, who are considered the fifth-best WR matchup this season (25 FPPG).



Dwayne Bowe (KC) vs. MIA – 
Bowe failed to find the end zone for the first time in three weeks despite a team-high 11 targets, but you have to like his chances here against a Miami secondary that is tied for second in receiving touchdowns and has allowed the seventh-most fantasy points to the position through seven games.

Miles Austin (DAL) vs. SEA – The Seahawks present a solid opportunity for Miles and the Dallas passing game to bust out of their funk. A.J. Green became the second No. 1 wideout over the last three weeks to post at least 12 points on this depleted unit last Sunday.



Sidney Rice (SEA) vs. DAL
 – Rice recorded his second 100-yard performance of the season in Week 8 against the Bengals. His quarterback, Jackson, continues to force him the ball with 14 targets last week, and the duo has been productive when Jackson has been healthy (96 yard avg., 1 TD). The Cowboys will be missing their best cornerback, Mike Jenkins, for the next three to four weeks.

Unfavorable

Nate Washington (TEN) vs. CIN – 
Last week’s breakout game was much appreciated by many owners during these difficult bye weeks, but it could be back to mediocrity this week. Week 8 saw Seattle’s Rice become the first WR1 to reach 10 points against this unit all season.

Brandon Marshall (MIA) vs. KC
 – The Marshall/Matt Moore connection has yet to hit its stride, and it might have to wait another week. This week it’s up against the Chiefs’ elite corner, Brandon Flowers, who has held Reggie Wayne, Darrius Heyward-Bey and Vincent Jackson to a 6-point fantasy average over the last three weeks.



Darrius Heyward-Bey (OAK) vs. DEN – 
Champ Bailey may not be the shutdown cornerback he once was, but he still demands respect and will most likely be assigned to shadow the Raiders’ emerging receiver. Heyward-Bey was limited to four receptions for 44 yards on seven targets in his Week 1 meeting with Denver, and his quarterback is still trying to learn a new offense.

A.J. Green (CIN) vs. TEN -- 
WR1’s are averaging 53 yards a game this season with just one touchdown against this secondary, so Green will have to earn it this week.

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Brent Celek (PHI) vs. CHI 
– An afterthought for nearly a season and a half, Celek has been on the receiving end of two touchdowns in two weeks and saw a team-high nine targets in Week 8. With the pounding Michael Vick has taken during the first half of the season, it would appear the Eagles are utilizing a shorter field to get the ball out quicker to avoid the blitz. A similar strategy would be wise against the Bears, who have allowed six TDs to the position in their seven games (best TE matchup).

Unfavorable

Heath Miller (PIT) vs. BAL
 – Miller wins the worst matchup award for his position this week. Opposing tight ends are averaging a measly 2 points a game against this unit, and Miller’s 4-point fantasy day back in Week 1 stands as the best outing the position has had against the Ravens. If that excites you, then by all means continue to start him.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Oakland vs. DEN, Houston vs. CLE, San Francisco vs. WAS, Philadelphia vs. CHI, Kansas City vs. MIA

Unfavorable

Chicago vs. PHI, Giants vs. NE, San Diego vs. GB, Tampa Bay vs. NO, Seattle vs. DAL

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.

Week 8 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

DeMarco Murray (vs. Philadelphia) was listed here last week and all he did was break Emmitt Smith’s team record of 237 rushing yards, so we think he earned another mention. Felix Jones will not be active and Tashard Choice is banged up with a shoulder injury, making Murray the starter yet again against an Eagles team allowing almost 5 yards a carry this season. He’s among our favorable matchup picks for Week 8.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. New England – Big Ben is starting to hit a groove with his second game with at least three touchdowns over the last three weeks, and his 361 passing yards against Arizona was tops among all quarterbacks in Week 7. Last season against New England, he actually beat that mark, throwing for 387 yards. The Patriots are allowing 24 fantasy points a game to quarterback, good enough for the fourth best quarterback matchup this season.

Philip Rivers (SD) vs. Kansas City – With his 11 interceptions on the year, something is clearly off with one of the most accurate gunslingers in the game. But we can blame a stingy Jets secondary for some of his struggles last week, despite what Randy McMichael thinks. The Chiefs held Rivers to 6 fantasy points in Week 3, but they still rank as a middle of the road opponent yielding close to 20 fantasy points a game to the position.

Joe Flacco (ATL) vs. Arizona – Flacco’s up-and-down season reached a low last week with his worst outing this year (137 yards, 3.6 yards/attempt). He has twice topped 300 yards passing after dismal performances in 2011. If that trend continues, we could expect a solid outing against fantasy’s sixth best quarterback matchup (22 FPPG).

Eli Manning (NYG)  vs. Miami – Fantasy’s 10th ranked quarterback (127 points) heading into Week 8 will have a great chance to add to those totals against the winless Dolphins, who are allowing opposing quarterbacks 24.7 fantasy points a game (top QB matchup).

Unfavorable

Tim Tebow (DEN) vs. Detroit – Tebow and his owners were sitting on an ugly 4 for 14, 40-yard stat line for three and a half quarters before a dramatic 121-yard, 2-touchdown, fourth-quarter turnaround saved the day. He may need another miracle against the Lions, who have allowed just one 20-point fantasy game to the position this season (Romo, Week 4). There are safer QB starts this week.

Tony Romo (DAL) vs. Philadelphia — Season lows in the attempts (24) and yardage category (166) certainly were not what most people expected Sunday against the lowly Rams defense, but when your running back runs for 253 yards, you won’t be asked to do much throwing. This week he will be up against a Philadelphia defense that has held QBs to a 12-point fantasy average over the last two Sundays.

Kevin Kolb (ARZ) vs. Baltimore — There’s no good reason to mess around with Kolb this week, seeing how the Ravens are coughing up just 8 fantasy points a game to opposing QBs so far this season.

Tom Brady (NE) vs. Pittsburgh — This is a tough matchup on paper (fourth toughest), but Brady has had a lot of success against the Steelers over the course of career, having thrown for at least 350 yards and 7 TDs in his last three meetings with them. Keep him active unless you have a Drew Brees sitting on your bench, and if you do, that’s just not fair.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. Indianapolis – According to John McClain of The Houston Chronicle, ”There’s an imposter wearing Chris Johnson’s uniform” this season, referring to the running back’s squeamishness for contact. Did the lockout and the big payday really change this guy that much? One thing is for certain, with a $30 million salary to account for, he isn’t going to be benched any time soon. Nobody allows more fantasy points to running backs than the Colts, so find a spot for him in your lineup and hope for the best.

Pierre Thomas (NO) vs. St. Louis – Fresh off a season high in touches (15) and yards (125), Thomas could see another solid dose of work against the league’s worst run defense with Mark Ingram dealing with a heel injury.

Ryan Torain/Roy Helu (WAS) vs. Buffalo – Our condolences to Torain owners who were erring on the side of logic by expecting him to get the bulk of the load last week. On the bright side, Tim Hightower’s season-ending injury will make it harder for the notoriously devious Coach Mike Shanahan to mess with our heads. Logic would suggest that Torain will be the featured back this weekend, with Helu handling third-down duties, and the matchup is another great one with Buffalo allowing the third most rushing yards in the league. It would still be best to consider Torain a low-end RB2 or flex option, just to be safe.

Unfavorable

Maurice Morris (DET) vs. Denver – Morris and the backup Keiland Williams will take turns trying to run on a suddenly stout Denver run defense that is now considered the fourth toughest matchup for the position.

Peyton Hillis/Montario Hardesty (CLE) vs. San Francisco – Hillis is expected to return to his starting role this week, leaving Hardesty to again pick up the scraps. Both backs will have a hard time finding running lanes on the 49ers, who are allowing just 74 yards a game on the ground and have yet to give up a rushing score.

Bernard Scott (CIN) vs. Seattle – Scott will see plenty of touches this week as the Bengals aren’t expected to deviate from their run-heavy ways despite Cedric Benson’s absence. The problem is, the Seahawks are more than adequate at stopping opposing ground attacks. No running back has reached the century mark against them this season.

Knowshon Moreno (DEN)  vs. Detroit – He’s ready for an expanded role thanks to a McGahee injury and would appear to be a decent start, as the Lions have faltered against the run over the last few weeks. They have fared well against pass-catching backs, however, yielding just 74 yards on 11 receptions over that time span and have yet to give up a TD to an RB through the air this season. Moreno has conceded that he is still not fully healed from a hamstring injury and will have to share the load with Lance Ball so keep expectations in check.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Anquan Boldin (BAL) vs. Arizona – No. 1 receivers have averaged 15 fantasy points a game against this unit, with the only sore spot being a 2-point dud from Percy Harvin. Then again, is Harvin really considered a No. 1 option anymore with the season he has had?

Nate Washington (TEN) vs. Indianapolis – The Colts are coming off a video-game-like beatdown from the Saints in which Marques Colston turned in a 98-yard, 2-touchdown performance, making him the fifth No. 1 receiver to reach double digits against this secondary this season.

A.J. Green (CIN) vs. Seattle – Greg Little failed to capitalize on a reeling Seattle secondary in Week 7, but  much of the blame can be put on his quarterback, Colt McCoy, who was highly inaccurate in the first half, not to mention completely terrified of throwing a pass for more than 10 yards. The Bengals’ emerging duo of Andy Dalton and Green will pose a much more formidable challenge.

Jabar Gaffney (WAS) vs. Buffalo – You can’t expect more than spotty WR3 production from this guy, but he will be Washington’s No. 1 wideout for the next five to seven weeks with the loss of Santana Moss, and Buffalo does surrender 24 fantasy points a game to opposing receivers, meaning you can do worse if you’re in need of some bye-week help.

Unfavorable

Michael Crabtree (SF) vs. Cleveland – Joe Haden returned last week to continue his dominance over the position, limiting Sidney Rice to just two catches for 38 yards. This week he figures to shut down Crabtree, unless Braylon Edwards can return to the field and make enough noise to justify Haden’s attention.

Sidney Rice (SEA) vs. Cincinnati – Speaking of Rice, things won’t get much easier for him this week against Leon Hall and the Bengals, who have limited opposing No. 1 threats to a 5-point fantasy average over the last three weeks.

Reggie Wayne (IND) vs. Tennessee – Wayne hasn’t had a good fantasy day since Week 1 and that has many owners debating whether to cut him loose to the wire. After this week, that decision may get easier as the Titans come into this one ranked as the 7th toughest on opposing wideouts.

Miles Austin (DAL) vs. Philadelphia – Make that two straight weeks in which Miles has failed to capitalize against a weak secondary  (NE, STL). Things take a turn for the worst as the Cowboys visit Philadelphia, where a No. 1 receiver has yet to post more than 8 fantasy points in a game (Roddy White, Week 2).

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Jake Ballard (NYG) vs. Miami – Does Jermichael Finley or Tony Gonzalez have you in a bye-week fix? You might want to give the Giants’ emerging tight end a shot. He has been flying under the radar in the Giants’ passing game and Manning has been taking advantage of it to the tune of 11 catches for 186 yards and 2 touchdowns this October. The Dolphins are yielding 11 fantasy points a game to guys like Ballard, making them the second best matchup a tight end can have.

Unfavorable

Heath Miller (PIT) vs. New England –  The Patriots are allowing just 6 points a game to tight ends, and despite hitting paydirt in two of his last three games, Miller will spend most of his time trying to block.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

San Francisco vs. Cleveland, New Orleans vs. St. Louis, Cinncinnati vs. Seattle, Buffalo vs. Washington, Detroit vs. Denver.

Unfavorable

Pittsburgh vs. New England, Dallas vs. Philadelphia, Philadelphia vs. Dallas, Jacksonville vs. Houston, Minnesota vs. Carolina.

Week 7 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

”On the seventh week of the third Sabbath in October, Tebow Time finally arrived, and the quarterback was blessed with a favorable matchup, and his owners rejoiced. (Sablich 3:16).”

Tom Brady’s mammoth 42-point day in Week 1 props up the Miami Dolphins’ seventh-best matchup rating, but quarterbacks have hit double-digit touchdowns in three of their last four games against them, including a rushing score to Mark Sanchez last Monday, something Tim Tebow (DEN, vs. MIA) knows a thing or two about. Demaryius Thomas, the first receiver taken in the 2010 draft, will be making his return as well. Tebow is among our favorable matchup picks for Week 7.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. Arizona — Roethlisberger blamed the wind for his ugly second-half performance against Jacksonville, where he went just 1-for-5 for 19 yards and was sacked three times. He won’t be dealing with any adverse weather in Arizona (dome), and he could be getting two of his starting offensive linemen back as well (Kemoeatu and Gilbert). The Cardinals rank in as the 11th best quarterback matchup, allowing 22 fantasy points a game to the position.

Matt Cassel (KC) vs. Oakland – Oddly enough, Brady has been the only quarterback this season who has failed to reach at least 20 standard fantasy points against this unit. Fantasy football has a way of driving you insane sometimes. Anyway, Cassel finally got into a groove before entering his bye week, totaling 5 touchdowns and 517 passing yards in two games prior. Don’t sleep on Cassel this week if you’re looking for some help.

Unfavorable

Philip Rivers (SD) vs. Jets – Rivers wins the worst quarterback matchup award this week, and his opportunities could be limited because the logical plan would be to attack the Jets flimsy run defense. His value would see a decent bump however if his Hall of Fame-worthy tight end Antonia Gates shows up to play this week.

Kevin Kolb (ARZ) vs. Pittsburgh – He was terrible against the Vikings before the bye and things will likely stay that way against a Steelers team allowing just 13 fantasy points a game to guys like him.

Josh Freeman (TB) vs. Chicago – Travel time to London and a date with a Bears team who matched their season-high with five sacks last week should keep Freeman from posting QB1 numbers in Week 7.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Rashard Mendenhall (PIT) vs. Arizona – Mendenhall silenced his critics last Sunday with a 146-yard breakout game against a tough Jacksonville run defense. Did the return of offensive lineman Max Starks help spark the turnaround, or was it merely coincidence? Despite the fact that his offensive line is dealing with yet another injury (Legursky), chances are good that Mendenhall stays in the red against a Cardinals defense yielding 19 fantasy points a game to the position.

DeMarco Murray (DAL) vs. St. Louis – Murray will split carries with Tashard Choice to some extent now that Felix Jones is expected to miss the next 2-4 weeks, but he figures to see the bulk of the load as he is the better back. Don’t be fooled by the Rams holding Green Bay’s running backs to just 74 yards on the ground in Week 6 because the Packers haven’t run the ball well all season (23rd-ranked rushing offense). This plus-matchup (5th best RB, 22 FPPG) makes Murray a viable flex option this week.

Ryan Mathews (SD) vs. Jets – The Jets allowed the normally anemic Reggie Bush to run for a season high 71 yards on 10 carries Monday night and are considered the fourth best matchup a running back can have through the first six weeks of the season. A heavy dose of Mathews is in order.

Mark Ingram (NO) vs. Indianapolis – Could this be the week you actually get some yardage to go along with those touchdowns? The Colts have surrendered the third most fantasy points to running backs this season, but keep in mind that Chris Ivory could return from the injured list for this game, which would only make the N.F.L.’s most crowded backfield that much cozier. Still, Ingram needs to be in your lineup considering the lopsided matchup.

Unfavorable

Earnest Graham (TB) vs. Chicago – Adrian Peterson entered his meeting with Chicago two weeks ago on a major high-note (122 yards, 3 touchdowns), only to be limited to 39 yards on 12 carries for a 3.3-yard average. Graham is coming off his first 100-yard game since 2008 but he clearly isn’t in the same tier as Peterson and has to make the long journey to London for this one. He’s certainly start-able as an RB2, just don’t get too carried away based on last week’s numbers.

Jackie Battle (KC) vs. Oakland – Over the past two games, the Raiders have given up just 135 rushing yards on 46 attempts to the likes of Arian Foster and the Cleveland Browns’ committee. Battle should see the bulk of the load, making him a decent low-end RB2 start, but we wouldn’t expect a huge day against Oakland.

Montario Hardesty (CLE) vs. Seattle – Assuming that Peyton Hillis is inactive, Hardesty will get the bulk of the work. But those of you who grabbed him from your wire may want to explore other options this week. Hardesty did nothing in relief of Hillis against Oakland, rushing 11 times for 35 yards, and is averaging under four yards a carry this season. Seattle’s seventh-ranked run defense, led by Red Bryant, is allowing just 3.1 yards a carry, making Hardesty a safer flex option if possible.

Steven Jackson (STL) vs. Dallas – A healthy Jackson gets the league’s No. 1 ranked running defense this week and could be without quarterback Sam Bradford, who is nursing a high ankle sprain. The Cowboys have held Jahvid Best and BenJarvus Green-Ellis to seven points or fewer over the last two weeks.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Marques Colston (NO) vs. Indianapolis — Bengals receiver Jerome Simpson was the latest pass-catcher in the last three games to post at least 100 yards on this secondary. Colston put together his best outing against the Buccaneers in Week 6, earning him fantasy’s No. 1 receiver title in standard scoring leagues for the week. He should be ready for more of the same with the Saints looking to avenge their upset loss to Tampa Bay.

Eric Decker (DEN) vs. Miami – Decker becomes Tebow’s main man thanks to the Brandon Lloyd trade, and he has an outstanding matchup this week as the Dolphins have allowed an opposing team’s No. 1 receiver to score at least 10 fantasy points in each of their five games this season.

Sidney Rice (SEA) vs. Cleveland – The Browns’ shutdown corner Joe Haden is expected to miss another 1-2 weeks, leaving backup Dimitri Patterson to fill the void. Paterson struggled to cover Raiders receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey last week, and isn’t in the same league talent-wise as Haden, which makes Rice an attractive option as a WR2.

Greg Little (CLE) vs. Seattle – Little performed well in his first game as a starting receiver, notching six catches for 72 yards despite stumbling his way out of a sure touchdown in the second quarter. Keep him active against a reeling Seattle secondary (24 FPPG) who just lost their best cover man to season-ending injured reserve (Marcus Trufant).

Unfavorable

Santonio Holmes (NYJ) vs. San Diego – Dwayne Bowe, Brandon Marshall and Brandon Lloyd have managed a measly six-point fantasy average over the last three weeks against this secondary. Holmes may not be able to blame his offensive line after this one.

Larry Fitzgerald (ARZ) vs. Pittsburgh – The Steelers haven’t surrendered a touchdown to a No. 1 wideout since Anquan Boldin in Week 1 and have yet to allow a receiver more than 82 yards in a single game.

Santana Moss (WAS) vs. Carolina – Moss will have to adjust to a new quarterback, which might not totally be a bad thing considering how badly Rex Grossman played in recent games. But teams usually spend most of their Sundays attacking the Panthers’ poor run defense with the ground game and some No. 1 wideouts named Colston, White and Knox averaged just four standard fantasy points over the last three games against them.

Steve Smith (CAR) vs. Washington – Washington has allowed just one receiver to reach paydirt this season (Fitzgerald) and should be wise to how the Atlanta Falcons held Smith to just five catches for 66 yards, thanks to a little something called game film. “It looked like they were rolling coverage to wherever he was,” Panthers Coach Ron Rivera said. “They seemed to have some sort of a bracket where they had one guy inside, one guy outside and one guy over the top and one guy underneath.”

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Lance Kendricks vs. Dallas – Hendricks is coming off his best game of the season (4 receptions, 71 yards) and the matchup is a good one (second best TE, 12 FPPG). But Kendricks could be missing his starting quarterback this week and has been too inconsistent to be more than just a desperation start.

Unfavorable

Jared Cook (TEN) vs. Houston – The Saints’ Jimmy Graham has been the only tight end to have a good fantasy outing against the Texans so far, but he has a way of doing that to everyone, it seems. Houston is the third worst matchup (four FPPG allowed).

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Dallas vs. Rams, Baltimore vs. Jaguars, New Orleans vs. Colts, Chicago vs. Bucs

Unfavorable
Atlanta vs. Detroit, Jacksonville vs. Baltimore, Kansas City vs. Oakland, Tennessee vs. Houston, Minnesota vs. Green Bay

Week 6 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

Raise your hand if you thought Buffalo’s Fred Jackson would be the top-ranked fantasy running back heading into Week 6? Right, didn’t think so. Don’t worry, neither did we. That’s why fantasy football analysts don’t get paid the big bucks: there are too many things we just can’t see coming. But that doesn’t mean we’re going to stop trying. We feel confident enough to tell you that Jackson and Ahmad Bradshaw are in line for big fantasy days in Week 6 when the Buffalo Bills and Giants meet on Sunday. Keep reading to find out why.

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy. Also, check out our complete rankings for Week 6.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Andy Dalton (CIN) vs. Indianapolis
 – Dalton has been too inconsistent to warrant starting status in standard 12-team leagues, but he’s certainly worth a look this week in leagues that start two quarterbacks. The Colts just gave up 257 yards and 4 touchdowns to Matt Cassel, and have allowed 26 fantasy points on average to the position over the last three weeks.

Tony Romo (DAL) vs. New England
 – Romo got in some much needed rest during his bye week and will have a healthy Miles Austin and Dez Bryant at his disposal for a meeting with the N.F.L.’s worst-ranked passing defense.

Ryan Fitzpatrick (BUF) vs. Giants
 – Tavaris Jackson and Charlie Whitehurst combined to throw 315 yards and 2 touchdowns on the Giants last week, so it’s not just their run defense that is having issues. Fitzpatrick hasn’t been racking up a lot of yards lately, but he is coming off a career-high 77.8 completion rate. This game has the feel of a high-scoring affair with both defenses hemorrhaging yards.

Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Buffalo
 – This defense has allowed 330 yards and 2.25 touchdowns a game to quarterbacks over the last four weeks. Manning has averaged 25 standard fantasy points over his last two contests and has found a new emerging weapon in Victor Cruz.

Unfavorable

Alex Smith (SF) vs. Detroit
 – Smith has been solid of late, posting 20-plus fantasy points in his last two games. But we’ve been down this road before with him, only to have him implode a week or two later. With Smith on the road against Detroit (sixth worst QB matchup), we could think of less risky starts this weekend.

Curtis Painter (IND) vs. Cincinnati 
– Sure he had 21 standard points last week, but keep in mind that came against the Chiefs, and his second-half performance was nothing to write home about. The Bengals are 17 times tougher on quarterbacks than the Chiefs are in fantasy football, and a quarterback has yet to post more than 19 fantasy points a game on them this season.

Rex Grossman (WAS) vs. Philadelphia
 – Grossman came into his bye week on a down note, and could come out on one as well with his matchup against the surprisingly desperate Eagles. The Redskins will most likely try to attack Philadelphia’s weak run defense as much as possible, and the Eagles’ secondary is coming off its best performance of the season, limiting Ryan Fitzpatrick to 14 fantasy points.

Matt Schaub (HOU) vs. Baltimore — Not having Andre Johnson on the field last week against the Raiders did not stop Schaub from having an outstanding fantasy day, but it could catch up to him here against a much nastier defense, which has allowed just 15 points a week to quarterbacks through its first four games.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Cedric Benson (CIN) vs. Indianapolis 
– With a decision on Benson’s appeal not likely for another few weeks, you can expect him to be active in this extra-friendly matchup (sixth best for RB, 22 FPPG). In Week 5, the Colts surrendered 194 yards on the ground to a Chiefs team that has had major problems running the ball all season.

Ahmad Bradshaw (NYG) vs. Buffalo 
– Bradshaw’s Week 5 was a disappointment considering he didn’t have to share the ball with Brandon Jacobs. But we all knew running on Seattle’s ninth ranked rushing defense wasn’t going to be easy. The Bills are a much better matchup as they have allowed 138 yards on the ground per contest.

Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. Giants – Seattle recently became the third consecutive team to rush for at least 100 yards on the Giants’ defense, which now puts them just ahead of Oakland (21st over all, 122.2 YPG). Coach Tom Coughlin believes it’s a matter of gap responsibility, while some want to blame injuries or defensive coordinator Perry Fewell. Whatever the case may be, it will most likely get worse before it gets better with fantasy’s No. 1 running back in town for Week 6.

Michael Turner (ATL) vs. Carolina
 – Another week, another Panthers defender injured (LB Omar Gaither will miss the next two to four weeks), just more bad news for fantasy’s third best running back matchup (26 FPPG). Turner should have no problems topping the 56 yards he tallied last week against the Green Bay Packers.

Unfavorable

Jahvid Best (DET) vs. San Francisco
 — Best’s 163-yard breakout against the Bears basically came on two plays (not that owners are complaining). But a tough Niners run defense comes to town allowing just 9 fantasy points a game through the first five weeks.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis (NE) vs. Dallas 
– New England’s sixth-ranked running game goes head to head with the Dallas Cowboys’ top-ranked rushing defense. The Law Firm is always a threat to find the end zone, but the yards will be hard-earned this week.

Delone Carter (IND) vs. Cincinnati
 – Carter will split carries with Donald Brown against the Bengals’ seventh ranked run defense, which is surrendering just 3.2 yards a carry.

Earnest Graham (TB) vs. New Orleans 
– Graham will carry the load against the Saints this week, but there isn’t a ton of talent here to get excited about, and the Saints are a quality run defense, limiting the likes of Maurice Jones-Drew, Matt Forte, James Starks and Ben Tate to a 70-yard average in previous games.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Miles Austin/Dez Bryant (DAL) vs. New England – Both receivers participated in practice this week, and both should be feeling better after their Week 5 bye. This is bad news for a Patriots secondary that is yielding 30 standard fantasy points a game to the position.

A.J. Green (CIN) vs. Indianapolis
 – Dwayne Bowe was the latest receiver to toy with Colts cornerback Jacob Lacey last Sunday (7 receptions, 128 yards, 2 touchdowns). WR1s are averaging 16 fantasy points a week against the Colts this season, which makes Green an even more appealing WR2 option in Week 6.

Greg Little (CLE) vs. Oakland
 – Little has been promoted to full-time status and will have a solid matchup to display his talents against this weekend (23 FPPG). He’s a solid WR3 play.

David Nelson (BUF) vs. Giants 
– The injury to Donald Jones will force Ryan Fitzpatrick to rely more on Nelson, and with Corey Webster expected to shadow Steve Johnson, he should have the easier challenge of facing Aaron Ross. This could be the game Nelson gets back on track.

Unfavorable

Reggie Wayne (IND) vs. Cincinnati
 – Pierre Garcon seems to have emerged as Painter’s favorite target, at least for the time being, and this matchup isn’t a good one (sixth worst for receivers).

Santana Moss (WAS) vs. Philadelphia
 – WR1s are averaging a minuscule 36 yards with one touchdown against the Eagles through five weeks this season.

Mike Thomas (JAX) vs. Pittsburgh – This is the worst matchup a receiver can have through five games (12 FPPG).

Steve Johnson (BUF) vs. Giants – Johnson owners can expect a better week than his 2-point performance against the Eagles, but it won’t come easy against Corey Webster. The Giants have limited No. 1 receivers to a 70-yard average this year.

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Dustin Keller (NYJ) vs. Miami – Miami has allowed 13 points a game to tight ends this season, a nice matchup for fantasy’s 10th-ranked TE to bounce back in.

Unfavorable

Owen Daniels (HOU) vs. Baltimore – If you own him, you’re starting him — just keep in mind that the Ravens have surrendered just 112 yards to the position and have yet to cough up a touchdown.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Cincinnati vs. Indianapolis, Minnesota vs. Chicago, Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville, New Orleans vs. Tampa Bay, Jets vs. Miami.

Unfavorable

Dallas vs. New England, Giants vs. Buffalo, San Francisco vs. Detroit, Atlanta vs. Carolina.

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy. Also, check out our complete rankings for Week 6.

After 4 Weeks, the 2011 Top Fantasy Football Experts

The New York Times has a reputation for having an intellectually advanced readership. Who would have thought, though, that this high I.Q. would also apply to fantasy football predictions? The readers of this blog happen to be sitting atop our Start/Sit Accuracy Challenge, which tracks how accurate several communities are at making our most difficult “Who should I start?” decisions. Congratulations on the strong showing thus far.

Well, now that I’ve buttered you all up, I’ll share the less flattering news. The overall “win rate” for the Fifth Down readers was 56 percent. That’s enough to earn a nice profit as a sports bettor, but clearly not the type of score you would want to pump your fist over. The average win rate for all the entries we tracked was just a fraction over 50 percent. Yep, no better than everyone’s favorite decision-maker, the almighty coin flip.

It’s worth noting that a few experts are having an easier time with this exercise, including your in-house experts, the Sablich Brothers. They’re currently the fourth-ranked expert out of the 59 that we track for this challenge, with a score in the mid 60s.

Our Start/Sit Challenge provides a fun format for individuals, experts and communities to see how they stack up against the experts. It also provides a taste of what we do in our main Accuracy Competition. While the Start/Sit Challenge asks 10 tough questions a week (so 40 questions so far), our “main event” rates each expert’s weekly player rankings by analyzing thousands of simulated start/sit decisions. In fact, we scored over one million predictions last year.

So, for the first four weeks this season, which experts provided the most accurate advice? Here are the top 10 overall experts through Week 4 (out of 60 experts):

You can view how every expert ranks through the accuracy leader board on FantasyPros.

I’ll add just a few brief observations from our findings:

Our next update on the Fifth Down will come around the middle of the season. Until then we hope you’ll stop by to try out one of our free decision-making tools. I’m confident they’ll provide significantly better advice than the almighty coin flip.

Oh, and good luck with holding your lead in our Start/Sit Challenge.

David Kim is the co-founder of FantasyPros, which provides fantasy football accuracy ratings and consensus expert advice. You can follow FantasyPros on Twitter.

Week 5 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

Will the “ground and pound” return this week? Jets Coach Rex Ryan said it would, and after watching the train wreck that was Mark Sanchez and the passing game Sunday night, the Jets might not have much of a choice. This will hopefully ease the growing concerns of the increasingly impatient Shonn Greene owners (us included). He is among our favorable matchup picks for Week 5.

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy. Also, check out our complete rankings for Week 5.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. Green Bay – Ryan has delivered at least 20 fantasy points for three consecutive weeks now, despite the lackluster play from his offensive line and the WR1 option Roddy White (league-high six dropped passes). No team is more generous to quarterbacks than the Green Bay Packers, who most recently allowed a struggling Kyle Orton to throw for 273 yards and 3 touchdowns.

Donovan McNabb (MIN) vs. Arizona – It’s not easy recommending a guy who has played as poorly as he has played this season, but those of you who start two quarterbacks or are dealing with a bye week might want to consider him with the visiting Cardinals allowing 24 points a week to the position.

Josh Freeman (TB) vs. San Francisco – Freeman scored his second consecutive rushing touchdown in two games Monday night in what was his best fantasy outing of the season. The 49ers rank as the 10th best matchup for quarterbacks (24 FPPG) and have allowed the third most rushing yards to the position.

Unfavorable

Jay Cutler (CHI) vs. Detroit – Cutler’s embarrassing 5-point fantasy clunker against the Panthers last week has got to make you hesitant about starting him against the Lions and their impressive defensive front. There’s potential to wreak total havoc on Cutler this week against that porous offensive line.

Matt Schaub (HOU) vs. Oakland – The Texans leaned on Arian Foster for most of last week after Andre Johnson went down. Expect a lot more of the same this week under almost identical circumstances.

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) vs. Tennessee – The way his banged-up line has been protecting him lately, it was only a matter of time before Big Ben started showing up on the injury reports. While he is expected to play, you might want to explore better options if you can since his meeting with the Titans isn’t projected to be a friendly one.

Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Fred Jackson (BUF) vs. Philadelphia – A hobbled Frank Gore was the latest running back to gash the Eagles’ feeble run defense, which is now third worst with 139 rushing yards allowed per game. Jackson should have a field day.

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. Pittsburgh – Last year’s top-ranked run defense hasn’t shown up yet this season, allowing two games of at least 150 rushing yards over the first four weeks. They will also be losing the 2008 N.F.L. defensive player of the year, James Harrison, for a number of weeks because of a fractured orbital bone. Johnson has had his fair share of struggles as well, but he did notch his first 100-yard game last week. Hopefully this is a sign of things to come for owners who don’t play in any of our leagues.

Dexter McCluster (KC) vs. Indianapolis – McCluster gets his first real ”plus” matchup this week as the Colts have allowed the eighth most fantasy points to the position, but his season-low 38 total yards and touches (9) against the Vikings in Week 4 keep you from getting too excited. Nonetheless, he is a decent bye-week replacement if you’re hurting to fill active slots in your starting lineup.

Shonn Greene (NYJ) vs. New England – The Patriots are allowing 4.8 yards a carry, and that number could rise with linebacker Jared Mayo out indefinitely. Also consider LaDainian Tomlinson a flex option if you’re bye-week desperate, as he may be called on for more touches, especially if Greene continues to struggle.

Unfavorable

LeGarrette Blount (TB) vs. San Francisco — The 49ers can’t stop the pass but they have completely stifled running backs through the first four weeks. No one has rushed for more than the 64 yards Cedric Benson posted in Week 3 and they are the only remaining team that hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown.

Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) vs. Cincinnati – After limiting one of the N.F.L’s best offenses last week to 13 points, you have to start taking this defense seriously. Allowing a league-low 3.1 yards a carry and 86 yards a game on average, Jones-Drew has a tough one ahead of him.

Rashard Mendenhall/Isaac Redman (PIT) vs. Tennessee – Whoever gets the start for Pittsburgh this week will have his work cut out for him, considering the Titans have allowed just 3.2 yards a carry and 1 rushing TD on the season.

Willis McGahee (DEN) vs. San Diego – Last week’s surprising performance against the then No. 1 ranked rushing defense (Packers) was great for the 5 percent of owners who actually started him. He still carries considerable risk, with Coach John Fox taking the ”hot hand” approach, and the risk will increase the healthier Knoshown Moreno gets. All of that aside, the Chargers are pretty good at stopping the run, as no back has hit the century mark on them so far this season, including Adrian Peterson.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Jordy Nelson (GB) vs. Atlanta – Any team that allows Tavarias Jackson to look like Joe Montana (career-high 319 passing yards, 3 TDs) is going to find themselves on the favorable side for somebody the following week. Reaching the end zone in three of his first four games, Nelson is clearly Rodgers’s number two wideout regardless of what the depth charts say. He’s an elite WR2 fantasy option as well this week.

Julio Jones (ATL) vs. Green Bay – While Jones has yet to drop a pass this season, unlike his gifted counterpart (White), he has yet to find the end zone. That could change this week, keeping in mind that the Packers gave up two touchdowns to Denver’s No. 2 option Eric Decker last weekend.

Dwayne Bowe (KC) vs. Indianapolis – So far, so good, for owners who took a chance on Bowe despite all the talk that he was in for a major downgrade this season. He’s averaging 10 fantasy points a game, just 2 points lower than he did last year. The Colts have not defended the pass well of late, allowing 22 points a week to receivers on average.

Mike Williams (TB) vs. San Francisco – Williams posted his highest yardage totals of the season (66) Monday night and has a chance to build off that against a really bad 49ers secondary that has allowed almost 30 fantasy points a game to receivers through four weeks. He’s still just a WR3 start, however, considering how effective teams have been able to contain him with double coverage this year.

Unfavorable

Mike Wallace (PIT) vs. Tennessee – Wallace has a banged-up quarterback, running back and terrible offensive line play to deal with, not to mention the Titans’ stout passing defense, which has yet to allow a receiver to post more than 57 yards in a game (third worst matchup).

A.J. Green (CIN) vs. Jacksonville
 – Outside of Kenny Britt’s huge 136-yard, 2-TD day in Week 1, this unit has been tough on opposing receivers, limiting Santonio Holmes, Steve Smith (South) and Lance Moore to a mere 35-yard average over the last three weeks.

Nate Washington (TEN) vs. Pittsburgh
 – He was contained by Joe Haden, as we expected him to be, last week, and his 57-yard reception came on a play the shutdown corner was sitting out on. Things don’t get any easier this week against the top-ranked pass defense in the N.F.L. (9.9 FPPG, worst WR matchup)

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Deion Branch (NE) vs. Jets
 – New England’s Wes Welker had successful games against this secondary last season (11.5 average in 2 games) and is way too hot to bench, but a guy like Branch, who has just four targets over the last two weeks, is certainly fair game.

Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Owen Daniels (HOU) vs. OAK – The Raiders did an outstanding job shutting down Rob Gronkowski last week, but with Andre Johnson out, who else is Matt Schaub going to throw to?

Brandon Pettigrew (DET) vs. Chicago – Having the second most targets next to Calvin Johnson for two straight weeks now, Pettigrew is emerging as Stafford’s No. 2 option at Nate Burleson’s expense. He’ll get the best matchup a tight end can have so far this season on Monday night (14 FPPG).

Unfavorable

Jimmy Graham (NO) vs. Carolina
 – You can’t bench him, but he might be in for a more average statistical line this week since the Panthers have played pretty well against the position, tied for the lowest amount of receptions allowed (11). They held Jermichael Finley in check in Week 2 (5/68/0 TDs), and with Marques Colston fully healthy, his targets will most likely take a hit.

Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Detroit vs. Chicago, Giants vs. Seattle, Tennessee vs. Pittsburgh, San Diego vs. Denver, Cincinnati vs. Jacksonville

Unfavorable

Atlanta vs. Green Bay, Buffalo vs. Philadelphia, Chicago vs. Detroit, Green Bay vs. Atlanta

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.

Week 4 in Fantasy Football: Favorable and Unfavorable Matchups

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).

If you submit one of the 50 most accurate responses this week, you can win a prize from FantasyPros.com.

How do you know it’s been a bad week for your team’s ground game? One clue is your punter and your lead running back gaining the same number of rushing yards. Yes, the finger is slowly inching toward the panic button for Chris Johnson owners, and losing Kenny Britt for the season is not going to make things any easier on Tennessee’s offense. Yet, despite his incredibly disappointing start to the season, you’ll find him on our favorable matchups list for Week 4. Continue reading to find out why.

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.

Favorable/Unfavorable Quarterback Matchups

Favorable

Eli Manning (NYG) vs. Arizona – 
While playing with a patchwork receiving corps against the talented Eagles secondary, Manning tossed four touchdowns in the Giants’ upset win over the Eagles. Raise your hand if you saw this one coming. Put your hand down because you’re lying. Manning gets his WR2 back (Mario Manningham) this week against the N.F.L.’s 8th worst passing defense, a much more favorable situation if you need to use him. 



Matt Ryan (ATL) vs. Seattle –- This is not a great matchup on paper, as the Seahawks have been respectable against the pass so far. But their numbers might be a bit padded considering they played the 49ers in Week 1 and an inexperienced Kevin Kolb and the Cardinals in Week 3. With the Falcons at 1-2, they’re going to need a big game from Ryan this week, and we expect him to meet that challenge. Sure, his offensive line has been terrible, but Seattle hasn’t exactly been scaring quarterbacks with just five sacks. Ryan should still be considered a QB1 option in Week 4. 



Jason Campbell (OAK) vs. New England
 – Need a spot start this week? Campbell might be your guy. No team has allowed more fantasy points to quarterbacks through the first three weeks than New England. His supporting cast is starting to gel as well, with Denarius Moore quickly becoming a dangerous weapon in the passing game and tight end Kevin Boss returning to action last week. He may even get Jacoby Ford back for this one.

Unfavorable

Colt McCoy (CLE) vs. Tennessee 
– McCoy was shaky against Miami last week and hasn’t thrown for more than 213 yards in a game yet. He’s unlikely to top that mark against a stingy Titans defense allowing quarterbacks just 13 fantasy points per game, which is the second-lowest average after to Pittsburgh. 



Joe Flacco (BAL) vs. Jets
 – The Ravens’ passing game surprised everyone last week, including the Rams secondary, which was caught off guard by speedster Torrey Smith. Surely Darrelle Revis and the Jets will take note of Flacco’s big day and we think that his pass-happy, Brady-esque outing was more of a fluke than a sign of things to come. Don’t forget that Ray Rice is still the best thing this offense has to offer. The Jets have allowed just 13.6 fantasy points a game to guys like Flacco. 



Tony Romo (DAL) vs. Detroit
 – His weak fantasy numbers aside, Romo deserves a lot of respect for his gutsy Monday night performance. Playing with a broken rib is one thing, but leading your team to victory despite the horrible play of your offensive line and receivers is another. He’ll need to pull another rabbit out of his hat if his supporting cast doesn’t get it together in a hurry, with Ndamukong Suh (1 sack, 6 hurries, 1 deflected pass vs. MIN) and the rest of the Lions’ emerging defense coming to town (14 fantasy points per game to quarterbacks). 



Matt Hasselbeck (TEN) vs. Cleveland 
– Losing a talent like Britt is going to have negative implications on Hasselbeck’s numbers. As John Glennon from the Tennessean points out, Hasselbeck was 14-of-15 passing for 163 yards with Britt on the field last week. His percentage went down considerably without him, going 12-of-22 for 148 yards. A road game against the Browns third-ranked secondary presents a tough challenge for this reeling offense. 



Favorable/Unfavorable Running Back Matchups

Favorable

Matt Forte vs. Carolina – 
Matt Forte ran for a career-low 2 yards on 9 carries against the Packers last Sunday. Give credit to the league’s best run defense, and put some blame on Mike Martz for completely abandoning the run in the second half. At least his hands kept his Week 3 outing from being a total fantasy disaster (7 receptions, 80 yards). He gets a great Week 4 matchup against a depleted Panthers defense that surrenders 19 fantasy points per game to running backs this season.

Chris Johnson (TEN) vs. Cleveland
 – Johnson was expected to break out against a weak Denver run defense in Week 3 but managed just 21 yards on 13 carries. But there are a few good reasons to keep Johnson in your lineup this week: Cleveland has yielded 20 points a game to the position in 2011; he was active in the passing game last week (7 targets) and the Steelers are on deck for Week 5, meaning the Browns will be his last good matchup before the Titans Week 6 bye.

Tim Hightower (WASH) vs. St. Louis – 
Giving up 174 yards a game on the ground makes the Rams the league’s worst run defense, which makes Hightower, who has averaged 13 fantasy points a game so far this season, a high-end RB2 start this week.



James Starks (GB) vs. Denver 
– It was a Week 3 to forget for Starks and his owners, but things may be already looking up as Packers Coach Mike McCarthy told the media Wednesday that he doesn’t expect Ryan Grant to play Sunday. The matchup here is pretty inviting as well, with Denver giving up an even 100 yards a game through the first three weeks. 



Unfavorable

Jahvid Best (DET) vs. Dallas – 
Averaging just 2.9 yards per carry through three weeks, Best has certainly struggled carrying the ball. While importance in the Lions’ passing game has made him worth a weekly start in your lineup, expect more of the same on the ground against the N.F.L.’s second-ranked run defense.



Peyton Hillis (CLE) vs. Tennessee
 – Hillis is expected to return this week against a Titans unit that has been tough on the run, giving up just 3 yards a carry through the first three games. His backup, Montario Hardesty, is also expected to steal more carries going forward, but that might actually be a good thing considering the heavy workload Hillis has already endured. 



Daniel Thomas (MIA) vs. San Diego — 
Thomas has been outstanding since taking over in the Dolphins’ backfield and needs to be in your lineup despite his tough matchup with the Chargers this week (4th worst RB matchup, 13 points per game). 



Maurice Jones-Drew (JAX) vs. New Orleans 
– This is another guy too good to bench, but there is concern that the Saints could blow this one wide open, leaving Jaguars rookie quarterback Blaine Gabbert and Co. playing catch-up for most of the day. It’s a situation that doesn’t generally favor running backs.

Favorable/Unfavorable Wide Receiver Matchups

Favorable

Hakeem Nicks (NYG) vs. Arizona – 
Philadelphia did a fine job containing Nicks last Sunday, but with Manningham set to return this week, the Cardinals (9th best WR matchup) will have a much tougher time shutting him down. The Cardinals just allowed Sidney Rice to grab 8 balls for 109 yards in his Seahawks debut, and have yielded 25 fantasy points a game to wideouts on average. 



Santonio Holmes (NYJ) vs. Baltimore – 
Holmes saw just two targets in the Jets’ frustrating loss to the Raiders and was quick to criticize Brian Schottenheimer’s offensive game plan. But the Jets’ receivers didn’t exactly follow through on their eagerness to take on the Raiders’ struggling man-to-man coverage. Holmes will have to be much more involved this week if the Jets expect to win Sunday night in Baltimore, and we expect him to be. 



Brandon Lloyd (DEN) vs. Green Bay – 
Denver doesn’t figure to get much going on the ground against the league’s best run defense, but the Green Bay secondary has been beaten up badly the first three weeks, allowing the second most fantasy points to the position. Lloyd should see plenty of opportunities trying to keep up with the Packers’ explosive offense.



Percy Harvin (MIN) vs. Kansas City – 
Harvin having played in nearly 75 percent of Minnesota’s offensive snaps against the Lions means somebody was listening to all the negative criticism last week about the Vikings’ best receiver not being on the field enough. The Chiefs allow plenty of fantasy points to receivers (24 points per game), and may be missing their best cornerback Brandon Flowers after he suffered a right leg injury against San Diego.



Unfavorable

Nate Washington (TEN) vs. Cleveland
 — The Browns cornerback Joe Haden has quickly developed into an unfriendly matchup for wideouts, shutting down A.J. Green, Reggie Wayne and Brandon Marshall through the first three weeks. With Britt missing from the Titans’ passing attack, the Browns secondary (5th worst matchup) will be able to focus its attention on stopping Washington.



Andre Johnson (HOU) vs. Pittsburgh
 – Johnson gets his worst receiver matchup so far this season as the Steelers have coughed up just 12 fantasy points a game to the position. We couldn’t bench him if we tried, though. 



Steve Johnson (BUF) vs. Cincinnati – Johnson has been dealing with a groin injury, although you wouldn’t know it based on his excellent play (8th ranked fantasy receiver, 43 points). The Bengals represent the third worst matchup a receiver can have, but Johnson is too good to sit. 



Torrey Smith (BAL) vs. Jets – 
Smith had an amazing game last week and you might have grabbed him off the wire because of it, but it probably would be wise to sit him against a Jets’ secondary allowing just 14 points a game to opposing receivers.



Favorable/Unfavorable Tight End Matchups

Favorable

Greg Olsen (CAR) vs. Chicago – 
Olsen beat out Jeremy Shockey in the targets (10 to 7) and turned in a nice fantasy day against Jacksonville with 7 catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Sharing Cam Newton with Shockey doesn’t do Olsen’s fantasy value any favors, but he’ll still get his looks and his former team, the Bears, is allowing the third most fantasy points to opposing tight ends. 



Randy McMichael (SD) vs. Miami – 
Antonio Gates’s status is up in the air and there is talk that he is considering resting his ever-troublesome foot for several weeks. McMichael would still be a desperation start, even though the Dolphins have been the friendliest matchup to the position so far this season (16 points per game). 



Unfavorable

Dustin Keller (NYJ) vs. Baltimore – 
Speaking of the Jets, this one is off to a great start, ranking in as the third best fantasy tight end behind Rob Gronkowski and Jermichael Finley heading into Week 4. His meeting with the Ravens will be tough, as they have allowed just 115 yards and 0 TDs so far this season, but sitting him isn’t an option unless you have the luxury of a Jason Witten or Jimmy Graham on your roster. 



Favorable/Unfavorable Defense/Special Teams Matchups

Favorable

Buccaneers vs. Colts, Redskins vs. Rams, Saints vs. Jacksonville, Falcons vs. Seahawks, Bills vs. Bengals



Unfavorable

Dallas vs. Detroit, Pittsburgh vs. Houston, New England vs. Oakland, Cincinnati vs. Buffalo, San Fransisco vs. Philadelphia

Do you have a “start or sit” question? We are taking questions on Twitter. Follow us at @5thDownFantasy.