Fantasy Football Week 3: Start Em, Sit Em

Are there any trends to the start of the 2009 NFL season? Things, for now seem the same from last season.

The league remains pass-first in a lot of instances (former run heavy, grind it out teams are getting into the passing game…the Ravens, the Cheifs, the Bolts), the Wild Cat formation continues to gain steam and more teams are switching to running back by committee.

We still have a few solid defenses, but scoring wins out most weeks. This makes for higher scoring fantasy games, which isn’t a bad thing by any means.

So here is my Start em, Sit em list for NFL Fantasy Football Week 3:

Start em

Quarterbacks

• Matt Ryan vs. New England: Ryan threw for 220 yards and three touchdowns in Week 2 vs. Carolina. He leads a balanced offense with a good running game and two excellent receivers in Tony Gonzalez and Roddy White.
• Aaron Rodgers vs. St. Louis: Rodgers was sacked six times by the Bengals in week two. The Rams don’t near have a good enough pass defense to do that.
• Mark Sanchez vs. Tennessee: Sanchez completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 yards with a touchdown in a Week 2 win over the Patriots. The Titans secondary has been awful so far, they are the worst pass defense in the league.
• Matt Schaub vs Jacksonville: Schaub completed 25 of 39 passes for 357 yards and four touchdowns in the win over the Titans, plus the Jaguars struggled against the Cardinals passing game. Schaub is a must start in week 3.
• Tony Romo vs Carolina: despite the horrible performance in week 2 against the Giants completing less than half of his passes (13 of 29) for 127 yards, a touchdown and three interceptions, all of which resulted in New York touchdowns. Consider him a viable starter against the Panthers.

Running Backs:

• Matt Forte vs. Seahawks: this will be Forte’s first big performance of the year. We know he has been shutdown in the first two weeks but the Seahawks defense gave up two long touchdown runs to Frank Gore, allowing 379 total yards. If Forte doesn’t show up this week you might start thinking of trading him.
• Marion Barber vs. Carolina: it was reported that the strained quad injury that Barber suffered in the fourth quarter Sunday night against the Giants is not serious. Keep an eye on what happens with him, but consider Barber as a big option against the Panthers. If Barber doesn’t play, Felix Jones becomes a must-start.
• Maurice Jones Drew vs. Houston: the Texans rushing defense is the worst in the NFL and MJD is primed for a big game.

Wide Receivers:

• Roy Williams vs. Carolina: Roy Williams managed just one reception for 18 yards against the Giants but now he will face Carolina. The Panters allowed five touchdowns in two games from the red-zone.
• Lee Evans vs. New Orleans: Evans scored his first touchdown last week. The Bills play the Saints, who will score a lot of points. The Bills should be playing catch-up, having to air it out a little more to keep up and the Saints will be double teaming Terrell Owens.

Sit em

QB

• Brady Quinn vs. Baltimore: Quinn has one touchdown and four turnovers in two games this season, plus the Ravens’ D is excited after their late game heroics vs San Diego this past week.
• Kyle Orton vs. Oakland: he will face Richard Seymour and a playmaker Raiders’ secondary.

RB

• Chris Johnson vs. NY Jets: after his monumental performance against the Texans you might think I’m’ crazy when I tell to sit Chris Johnson out this weekend. Tennessee faces the Jets in NY, and I’ll bet Rex Ryan will have something prepared for the Titans rushing game.

WR

• Justin Gage vs. NY Jets: the Jets defense is for real.
• Eddie Royal vs. Oakland: Kyle Orton doesn’t seem to be looking for Royal. Stokely has been Orton’s number 1 target so far.
• Devin Hester vs. Seattle: the Seahawks pass defense is really good and you should have quite a few better choices on your roster.