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
Owen Daniels vs. Tennessee Titans: Daniels started the season on a high note, scoring 18.70 fantasy points in the season opener. He should remain in your lineup against the Titans, who allowed more fantasy points to tight ends in 2012 road games than any other team. Daniels has also put up 70-plus yards in two of his last three games against Tennessee. (Maximum value: High-TE1)
Start 'em
Jordan Cameron at Baltimore Ravens: Cameron made quite a nice impact in Week 1, posting 108 yards and a pair of touchdown catches against the Miami Dolphins. His success should continue against the Ravens, who allowed 23 fantasy points to another tight end, Julius Thomas, in the opener. With Josh Gordon still suspended, Cameron will remain prominent in the Browns' pass attack. (Maximum value: High-TE1)
Julius Thomas at New York Giants: I like to ride the hot hand, and there are few tight ends hotter than Thomas. An athletic freak, he put up 110 yards with two touchdowns in a win over the Ravens. Next up he faces the Giants, who have major defensive backfield issues and allowed 19 fantasy points to Jason Witten last week. Thomas now has No. 1 value. (Maximum value: Mid-TE1)
Brandon Myers vs. Denver Broncos: In 2012, the Broncos allowed the second-most fantasy points to tight ends in road games. Last week, their defense gave up 10 fantasy points to the position -- and it would have been more if not for several dropped passes. Myers, who found the end zone in Week 1, should benefit from the matchup and is a nice low-end starter. (Maximum value: Low-TE1)
Sleeper alert -- Brent Celek vs. San Diego Chargers: Celek caught just two passes in Monday night's win over the Washington Redskins, but he found the end zone with one of them and finished with 11.60 fantasy points. This week he faces the Chargers, who allowed 27.40 fantasy to tight ends in a loss to the Texans. Celek is a free agent in many leagues. (Maximum value: High-TE2)
Sit of the week
Antonio Gates at Philadelphia Eagles: The days of Gates being a No. 1 fantasy option are over. That was obvious in Week 1, as he scored 4.90 points in what was a shootout against the Texans. This week he faces the Eagles, who held tight ends to just six combined fantasy points in their opener. At this point, Gates has more name value than real value. (Maximum value: High-TE2)
Sit 'em
Fred Davis at Green Bay Packers: The Packers allowed a boatload of fantasy points to tight ends last week, but that was against Vernon Davis and an explosive Niners offense. This week the Pack face a different Davis -- and a less productive one -- at Lambeau Field. With so many other tight ends emerging, the veteran should be no more than a fantasy backup. (Maximum value: Mid-TE2)
Jermaine Gresham vs. Pittsburgh Steelers (Mon.): Gresham was in the sit 'em portion of this column last week, and he finished with 3.50 fantasy points. His fortunes aren't likely to improve against the Steelers, who have been tough on him. In 2012, Gresham posted a combined six catches for 57 yards and no scores in two games against Pittsburgh. (Maximum value: Mid-TE2)
Dallas Clark vs. Cleveland Browns: Suprisingly, Clark was the second-most targeted tight end last week with 14 -- seven of which he caught for 87 yards. While that's a positive in terms of his fantasy appeal, the 34-year old former star isn't someone who warrants a starting role in your lineup. Keep him on the sidelines -- or waiver wire -- unless he proves consistent. (Maximum value: Mid-TE2)
Owners beware - Kyle Rudolph at Chicago Bears: A No. 1 fantasy tight end last season, Rudolph didn't have a hot start to 2013 with 27 yards and no touchdowns. He's a risk against the Bears, who have held him to an average of 22.5 yards and one touchdown in four career meetings. Despite his overall success last season, there are already better options. (Maximum value: High-TE1)
Michael Fabiano is an award-winning fantasy football analyst on NFL.com and NFL Network and a member of the Fantasy Sports Writers Association (FSWA) Hall of Fame. Have a burning question on anything fantasy related? Tweet it to _**@MichaelFabiano**_ or send a question via **Facebook**!
