16 Dec 10 Fantasy Football Start 'Em or Sit 'Em: Week 12

Streeter Lecka/Getty ImagesTrying to decide who you should start or sit this week? Let’s take a look at a few potential decisions owners have and try to sort through them.QuarterbacksStart – Joe Flacco – Baltimore Ravens – vs. Tampa BayIn his last five games, Flacco has averaged 263.4 yards while throwing 11 TD versus just one interception. It’s certainly hard to overlook what he has done, though his detractors will say that the some of those games were against weaker Reebok Minnesota Vikings #4 Brett Favre Realtree camo Jersey
passing defenses like New England and Atlanta.Tampa Bay’s defense has been good this season, allowing 200.8 passing yards per game and are tied for second in the league in interceptions with 15. Of course, in their 10 games the only big quarterbacks they’ve played are Carson Palmer, Drew Brees and Matt Ryan (unless you want to count Sam Bradford). There certainly is reason to believe that they are virtually untested and their success shouldn’t be used as a reason to bench Flacco.With the roll Flacco has been on, it’s certainly hard to keep him out of your fantasy lineup.Other quarterbacks to start:Shaun Hill – Detroit Lions – vs. New EnglandMatt Schaub – Houston Texans – vs. TennesseeSit – Carson Palmer – Cincinnati Bengals – at New York JetsHe has a ton of weapons and the Jets defense has not been as good as advertised. Well, at least it hadn’t been until recently. With the help of a healthy Darrelle Revis, the Jets have stymied some of the premier wide receivers the past three weeks:Calvin Johnson – One reception for 13 yardsAndre Johnson – Four receptions for 32 yardsYes, the Bengals have more receiving options then most teams, giving Palmer a glimmer of hope, but he is still too big of a risk to trust in one-quarterback formats. You just don’t know what to expect.Other quarterbacks to sit:Jon Kitna – Dallas Cowboys – vs. New OrleansSam Bradford – St. Louis Rams – at DenverRunning BacksStart – Mike Goodson – Carolina Panthers – at ClevelandThe Panthers running game had been rather inept this season, up until the past two weeks. In two starts Goodson has rushed for 220 yards on 45 carries (4.9 yards per carry) and draws a Cleveland defense that is allowing 116.4 rushing yards per game.It’s not like the Panthers are a threat to throw the ball a lot either, considering all the injuries and struggles their quarterbacks have had. That should mean more opportunities for Goodson to shoulder the load.His detractors will point to no touchdown runs (while Cleveland has allowed just three rushing touchdowns), but that shouldn’t be enough to deter you. He’s been too good of late not to consider as a RB2.Start – Darren McFadden – Oakland Raiders – vs. MiamiThis one shouldn’t be a shocking revelation, but at the same time it wouldn’t surprise me if there were owners out there so scared by his 10-carry, 14-yard performance against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 11. The Steelers are the premier rushing defense in the league and have stymied numerous backs this season, so there is no reason to fret.McFadden should rebound in a big way against Miami, who is allowing 112.7 rushing yards per game. Don’t make the mistake of losing patience.Other running backs to start:BenJarvus Green-Ellis – New England Patriots – at DetroitMatt Forte – Chicago Bears – vs. PhiladelphiaSit – Ryan Mathews – San Diego Chargers – at IndianapolisWith Mike Tolbert erupting in Week 11 for 111 yards and a touchdown on the ground (as well as two receptions for 42 yards), you have to wonder that, even if he were healthy, Mathews would see the bulk of Reebok Minnesota Vikings #69 Jared Allen Realtree camo Jersey
the carries? There was a lot of hype surrounding him prior to the season, but Mathews has clearly fallen flat. His best game was on opening day, when he had 78 carries on 20 carries.Since then, he’s only twice had more then nine carries and never more then 64 yards. He’s just not worth the gamble.Sit – Ronnie Brown – Miami Dolphins – at OaklandDoes anyone trust him at this point? He hasn’t rushed for more then 80 yards all season long and has just three touchdowns. Over the past two weeks, he has a grand total of 15 carries for 21 yards.Even with a poor passing game, the Dolphins opted to abandon the run against the Bears in Week 11. While Oakland’s run defense has been fairly porous this season, Brown’s performance makes him too big of a gamble if you have other usable options.Other running backs to sit:Fred Jackson – Buffalo Bills – vs. PittsburghMarshawn Lynch – Seattle Seahawks – vs. Kansas CityTwo Wide Receiver FormatsStart – Wes Welker – New England Patriots – at Detroit Prior to the season this would’ve been a no brainer, but Welker’s struggles have caused some owners to turn gun shy when deciding if they should start him or not. In the past two weeks, however, he’s started to show that the player of old is still in there. Over that time he’s had 13 receptions for 147 yards and a touchdown. Don’t give up on him yet.Another wide receiver to startJeremy Maclin – Philadelphia Eagles – at ChicagoSit – Brandon Marshall – Miami Dolphins – at OaklandHe’s been terrible this season, there’s no arguing that fact. Couple his inability with his injury and he is only borderline usable in three wide receiver formats, but I certainly wouldn’t trust him in shallower ones at this point.Another wide receiver to sit:Johnny Knox – Chicago Bears – vs. PhiladelphiaThree Wide Receiver FormatsStart – Nate Burleson – Detroit Lions – vs. New England He has a great matchup against a Patriots secondary that has routinely been torched by opposing offenses and has played the role of second wide receiver to perfection. He’s scored in four of his last six games and is certainly worth trusting at this point. He can even be considered in shallower leagues, but owners in deeper formats shouldn’t hesitate.Another wide receiver to start:Vincent Jackson – San Diego Chargers – at IndianapolisSit – Sidney Rice – Minnesota Vikings – at WashingtonThe matchup is appealing, but it’s hard to trust a wide receiver who converted just three of 10 targets in Week 11. Obviously it was his first game back, so we have to give him time, but it would be nice to see him actually produce (and how the new head coach is going to work the offense) before we slide him into our lineups. His time will come, so keep him stashed away for now, but it’s just not time to trust him quite yet. Reebok New England Patriots #12 Tom Brady Realtree camo Jersey
Another wide receiver to sit:Randy Moss – Tennessee Titans – at HoustonWhat are your thoughts on these decisions? Who would you start? Who would you sit?Make sure to check out Rotoprofessor’s Week 12 Rankings:Top 25 QuarterbacksTop 40 Running BacksTop 60 Wide ReceiversTop 20 Tight Ends(coming soon) Top 15 Kickers(coming soon) Top 15 Defenses (coming soon) Waiver WorthySunday