Quarterbacks:
Sep 7, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) passes the ball during the second half against the Buffalo Bills at Soldier Field. Buffalo won 23-20 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘em:
Jay Cutler (@NYJ)– Jay Cutler threw for four touchdowns last week in a win against the Cardinals. Jets Cornerback Dee Milliner is banged up, and the Bears are going to be able to take advantage of that secondary. Although Cutler isn’t Aaron Rodgers, I expect a similar game from him this week.
Kirk Cousins (@PHI)- Kirk Cousins threw for two touchdowns and had 250 yards passing last week. Philadelphia’s defense is banged up and has always been questionable in the secondary. Now Eagles linebacker Mychal Kendricks has been ruled out, and it’s hard not to really like Cousins this week.
Sit ‘em:
Peyton Manning (@SEA)- Seattle destroys quarterbacks in Seattle. No quarterback has thrown for three touchdowns in a game at Seattle since Matt Ryan in 2010. That was four years ago. Seattle is furious about last week, and this crowd is going to be loud and play a huge factor.
Colin Kaepernick (@ARI)- Poor decision-making is a trait that has found it’s way back to Colin Kaepernick. I’m worried about Kaepernick, especially this week on the road. He also may be without Vernon Davis, which would be a big blow for this offense. I’m sitting him this week and seeing what he does to Arizona.
Running Backs:
Jul 25, 2014; Davie, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Lamar Miller (26) tosses the football around during practice drills at Miami Dolphins Training Facility. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘em:
Lamar Miller (v. KC)- Last year the Chiefs were historically bad against the run. Now they are without Derrick Johnson, and will be without safety Eric Berry. If Miller is active, he is virtually a must start against this defense. Miller has not shown us a lot from a big game before, but he is incredibly talented and can get to all the holes.
Rashad Jennings (v. HOU)- Houston is giving up a league high 5.0 yards per carry and Jennings has shown his ability to hit some holes, like he did against Detroit. It’s possible that the Giants try to get Andre Williams more involved, but it seems like Jennings is going to be getting the goal line touches, at least for this week.
Le’Veon Bell (@CAR)- Carolina’s rushing defense is incredible. They don’t give up yards or touchdowns to running backs. However, Le’Veon Bell is a top-5 running back and also gets his opportunities in the receiving game. While I don’t think he has an awesome game, I think he is certainly a must start with the way that he’s been playing to start the season.
Chris Ivory (v. CHI)- Ivory gets to play another historically bad defense against the run last season. He is playing the Bears, and they have already given up 320 yards and two rushing touchdowns to opponents this season. Ivory, while not a great play, can be a solid plug in with his back-to-back touchdown games.
Sit ‘em:
Montee Ball (@SEA)- Seattle has given up some big games at home to running backs. However, I don’t think the Broncos are planning on using Ball to any extent. More than winning this football game, Peyton Manning wants to prove that he is going to be the one to beat them. I can’t see a scenario where the Broncos try to attack Seattle on the ground.
Matt Forte (@NYJ)- You have to have a solid team to be sitting Matt Forte, but the Jets run defense is scary good. The Jets are giving up just 2.0 yards per carry this season, and they gave up only 3.4 yards per carry last year, which was a league low. It’s hard to trust Matt Forte in this matchup because the Bears will lean towards the passing game with a banged up Jets secondary.
Matt Asiata (@NO)- He is simply not going to gain yards. If you are starting Asiata, then you are just hoping for a touchdown. Even in his three-touchdown game that everyone was angry that I said to bench him, he had 30 carries for 51 yards and three touchdowns. He’s not that talented. He can punch it in if the Vikings can get close enough to the end zone, but other than that, he has no value. If you want to play touchdown roulette, go ahead, but I would bet you have better options.
Wide Receivers:
Sep 11, 2014; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith (89) gains yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘em:
Mike Wallace (v. KC)- Only Eric Decker has more touchdowns that Mike Wallace since week 12 of last year. Wallace has already started this season off with two touchdowns, and until he proves differently, he has to be started. Kansas City is beat up, they don’t have a great secondary, and Mike Wallace could be in line for a big game.
Steve Smith Sr. (@CLE)- 25 targets in two games. Steve Smith isn’t happy about the Panthers cutting him, and that’s clear now. I cannot ignore that amount of targets going in Steve Smith’s direction regardless of the matchup with Joe Haden. Normally Haden struggles with speed receivers, but Steve Smith is going to be able to out muscle him.
Jeremy Maclin (v. WAS)- I’m big on targets because when a receiver gets a lot of targets, eventually they break through with catches. Through two games, Maclin has been targeted 22 times but caught just eight of them. He does have two touchdowns, but this week I think the Eagles carve up the Redskins secondary and Maclin explodes. He can’t drop everything, can he?
Sit ‘em:
Marques Colston (v. MIN)- Colston probably has a monster game in line this week, but I can’t trust it. I have no faith in him right now and won’t until he proves otherwise, even in a good matchup. I trust Brandin Cooks more than I trust Colston.
Wes Welker (@SEA)- Welker’s first week back in action, and he is playing the Seahawks. I have no faith in Welker this week. I want to see what Denver does with Welker in order to avoid concussions. Are they going to try to run him into defenders still or are they only going to throw to him in space? However, if you are going to attack Seattle in the passing game, the best place to do it is in the slot. Welker will lineup at slot for the Broncos but his first week back, at Seattle, makes him a dangerous play.
Michael Crabtree (@ARI)- I actually like Crabtree, but I don’t trust his quarterback at the moment. I want to see it again from Colin Kaepernick before I start Crabtree again. He will be matched up with Patrick Peterson, and although Peterson has already given up two touchdowns this year, I want to wait it out. I actually trust Anquan Boldin a little more.
Tight End:
Jul 25, 2014; Earth City, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams tight end Jared Cook (89) runs after a pass during training camp at Rams Park. Mandatory Credit: Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘em:
Niles Paul (@PHI)- Paul seems to have some chemistry with Kirk Cousins as he caught a touchdown on Sunday. Paul has been awesome in the first two games of the season. He has seen 15 targets this season, and he’s managed to catch 12 of them for 185 yards and a touchdown. Now the Eagles lose Mychal Kendricks for Sunday, and it looks as if Paul is set for another big game.
Derek Carrier (@ARI)- I want to be a little bolder. I don’t want to tell you to start Dennis Pitta, because you are starting him anyway if you own him. But if you are desperate, and Vernon Davis is out, go with Carrier. The Cardinals have been really bad against opposing tight ends, and although Carrier is a stretch, it’s worth a shot.
Jared Cook (v. DAL)- I groaned when I wrote his name down because he is a complete headache for owners. However, he has a great matchup this week. The Cowboys have been the worst team against defending tight ends this season. They have allowed a combined 186 yards and 3 touchdowns to Delanie Walker and Vernon Davis. Cook could have some success.
Sit ‘em:
Jordan Cameron (v. BAL)- Cameron might play, but he might not. Regardless, I’m not buying the Browns passing game. I’ll give Andrew Hawkins a look, but I don’t trust Jordan Cameron this week against Baltimore.
Heath Miller (@CAR)– Yikes. Heath Miller has not looked like a focal point in this offense, which is quite surprising. Last time the Steelers made the playoffs, he was a factor in the offense, It’s interesting that they are moving away from him. I wasn’t the biggest Miller fan coming into the season, but he’s a lot better than the Steelers are making him out to be.
Defense:
Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Houston Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (99) reacts after catching a touchdown pass against the Oakland Raiders in the first quarter at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
Start ‘em:
Texans (@NYG)- The Giants actually looked better against the Cardinals last week, but this is J.J. Watt. I don’t trust Eli Manning against the Houston Defense this week.
Saints (v. MIN)– They have Rob Ryan as their defensive coordinator, and although they haven’t looked great over the past two weeks, they are going to have a great game at home. That crowd will fuel them and the Saints will have a big day on defense against the Peterson-less Vikings.
Sit ‘em:
Colts (@JAC)- Rain is in the forecast for the game on Sunday. If it is then we have no idea what is going to happen because it depends with how hard it’s raining. The Colts defense being valuable because they are playing Jacksonville is overrated.
Bears (@NYJ)– Yes they are playing the Jets, but the Jets aren’t a turnover crazy team. I like the Bears to maybe have one interception, but that’s not a must start.