Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is the ultimate look at the weekly NFL matchups and how they'll affect your fantasy football team. Sleeper alert features an under-the-radar player who could produce good numbers. Owners beware features a regular fantasy starter who could fail to meet expectations based on the strength of his opponent. Obvious fantasy starters like Aaron Rodgers and Arian Foster will not be featured in this column. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Start of the week
Vernon Davis vs. St. Louis Rams: Davis has done an absolute Houdini act in the stat sheets in recent weeks, scoring a combined 20.5 fantasy points in his last five games. I'd have faith in him this week, though. In Davis' last six games against the Rams, the veteran from Maryland has recorded seven or more fantasy points five times.
Start 'em
Heath Miller vs. Kansas City Chiefs (Mon.): One of the best draft bargains in fantasy football, Miller is third in fantasy points based strongly on his six touchdown receptions. This week he faces the Chiefs, who have allowed four touchdown catches to opposing tight ends. That's tied for the fifth-most in the league this season.
Brandon Pettigrew at Minnesota Vikings: Pettigrew has not been a great fantasy option for owners in standard leagues this season, but it's pretty tough not to like this week's matchup against the Vikings. In his last three games against this NFC North rival, Pettigrew has posted a combined 24 catches, 236 yards and one touchdown.
Greg Olsen vs. Denver Broncos: Olsen failed to post attractive totals despite a good matchup in Week 9, but he's still a low-end No. 1 option against the Broncos. Their defense has allowed the eighth-most yards and the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing tight ends this season. Olsen is a free agent in most fantasy leagues.
Sleeper alert - Anthony Fasano vs. Tennessee Titans:Fantasy owners in desperate need at the position (see Aaron Hernandez owners) should consider Fasano this weekend. Yes, he is an absolute roll of the dice, but look at the numbers. No team has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends on the road (16.27 PPG) than the Titans.
Sit of the week
Kyle Rudolph vs. Detroit Lions: Rudolph could very well be more involved in the passing game this week with Percy Harvin injured, but how can you trust a player who has scored a combined 1.70 fantasy points in his last three games? What's more, Rudolph was held to just eight yards and no touchdowns in his last game against the Lions.
Sit 'em
Jared Cook at Miami Dolphins: Cook has been a disappointment in fantasy land this season, scoring fewer than 10 fantasy points in five of his last six games. That includes a minus-1.40 effort last weekend. Next on the schedule is a date with the Dolphins, who haven't allowed a single touchdown reception to a tight end this season.
Dennis Pitta vs. Oakland Raiders: Pitta was a hot sleeper candidate earlier this season, but he's been in a huge slump in recent weeks. He's failed to find the end zone or score more than four fantasy points in a game since Week 3. What's more, the Raiders have allowed the eighth-fewest receiving yards to opposing tight ends so far.
Jacob Tamme at Carolina Panthers: Tamme was also projected as a sleeper, but he's been in a serious statistical hibernation instead. He hasn't scored a touchdown or scored double-digit fantasy points since the first week of the season, and a matchup against the Panthers isn't favorable. He needs to be on the sidelines - or the waiver wire.
Owners beware - Brent Celek vs. Dallas Cowboys: Celek has recorded a respectable 436 yards so far this season. However, 157 (36 percent) of them came in just one game. He's also scored more than six fantasy points just once since the second week of the season. The Cowboys have a tough pass defense, so Celek could continue to falter.
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
