Sit em, Start em – Week Three
Start Em
Mikel LeShoure – Mikel LeShoure could have a big game in his NFL debut if given enough carries. He will take over as the team’s unquestioned goal-line back and as the most talented back on the Lions roster he will get all the work he can handle going forward. LeShoure has RB2 upside this week with a flex3 floor, so he is a big risk/reward play. The Lions should demolish the Titans and look to get LeShoure plenty of touches in this one.
Michael Bush – The other Bush is going to go nuts on a weak Rams run defense in week two and is almost a lock for 100 plus yards from scrimmage and he should find the end zone at least once giving him solid RB2 value with RB1 upside. Bush is a solid receiver as well and the Bears offense will not miss a beat with Bush in the backfield instead of Forte, they might even be stronger as teams understand Bush is a more difficult tackle than Forte which may lead to leaving an extra man in the box.
Michael Crabtree – Michael Crabtree is finally starting to emerge as a legitimate threat on offense for the 49ers and it is only a matter of time before he finds the end-zone. Blessed with some of the best hands in football with a quarterback who is finally gaining confidence in himself, Crabtree is a WR3 with WR2 upside for the rest of the season. This week he faces a Vikings secondary that has given up the ninth most fantasy points to opposing wide receivers this season. Start him the rest of the way.
Kenny Britt – Even though they will be restricting the routes Britt runs in week three, he will no longer be on a snap count. Locker has been horrible to open the season and this is the reason they were thinking of starting Hasselbeck for the first few weeks. The Titans face off against a hapless Lions secondary in week two and Britt should have a big game if given the targets. Britt has weekly WR1 upside but is ranked as a WR3 until he proves he is healthy.
Robert Griffin III – A lot of us may have landed RGIII as our second or third quarterbacks but it is time we ascended him to starter in almost all league formats. RGIII is among the NFL rushing leaders (19th) and has thrown for more passing yards than Aaron Rodgers and Matt Ryan have to this point. Start him, every week except possibly when they play the Eagles.
Dennis Pitta – Dennis Pitta has been on fire to start the season much to the chagrin of frustrated Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin owners. Pitta has amassed a shopping 24 targets in two games while Torrey Smith and Anquan Boldin have only 17 combined targets. Pitta is now firmly on the weekly TE1 radar and is a weekly must start until further notice.
Sit Em
Peyton Manning – After his deplorable week two against a Falcons secondary missing its top corner, Manning is a recommended sit in week three versus an elite Texans secondary. Those is single QB leagues should have a decent enough backup to be able to plug and play a couple of times this season and this is one of them. Like most ‘studs’, Manning can still have a strong week but other options may be safer.
Wes Welker – Wes Welker’s role is set to be expanded when the Patriots are not using two tight end sets but a phase out is still likely underway in New England. This is not to say that Brady will not pass it to him if he is open, just that McDaniels may be calling plays for others more often. Welker is still a low-end WR2/high end WR3, but has never been the best against the Ravens and is a suggested sit if other realistic options exist.
Jamaal Charles – Jamaal Charles is coming off of a devastating injury and is still finding his way back to form. Unfortunately for the first two weeks of the season both Peyton Hillis and unknown Shaun Draughn have a higher yards per carry than Charles limiting his immediate fantasy value. Charles also experienced soreness in his repaired knee and was forced to leave last weeks contest. Hopefully you have better options in a non-bye week.
Stephen Hill – Oh the conundrum that is Stephen Hill, mega talent, QB bad enough for him not to realize it consistently. This will be the theme for Hill this season as a high risk, high reward option who is capable of WR3 numbers on any given week but is almost just as likely to put up a dud. We recommend sitting Hill until he shows more consistency.
Shonn Greene – Sit Greene at all costs. The Jets square off against a surprisingly stingy Dolphins defense that has held three top ten talents at the running back position in check in Arian Foster, Ben Tate and Darren McFadden. Need I say more?
