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 Adrian Peterson will not be featured. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Start of the week
Tony Gonzalez at Arizona Cardinals: Gonzalez disappointed fantasy owners last week with a mere three fantasy points in a win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, but his fortunes will improve against the Cardinals. After seven weeks, no defense has allowed more fantasy points (16.3 PPG) to opposing tight ends. Consider Gonzalez a must-start. (Maximum value: High TE1)
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Start 'em
Jason Witten at Detroit Lions: Outside of an 18.10-point performance against the Denver Broncos in Week 5, Witten has failed to score seven fantasy points in a game since the season opener. The good news is that this week he faces the Lions -- their defense has surrendered an average of 9.53 fantasy points per game to tight ends at home. (Maximum value: High TE1)
Heath Miller at Oakland Raiders: The Raiders have allowed an average of just under seven fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, so this isn't a monster matchup on paper. Still, Miller has recorded at least 70 yards or one touchdown catch in each of his last three games. He's also a very trusted option for Ben Roethlisberger. (Maximum value: Low TE1)
Kyle Rudolph vs. Green Bay Packers: Rudolph is one of the most inconsistent tight ends in fantasy football, but with six teams on a bye it's tough to ignore this week's matchup against the Packers. Their defense has surrendered the seventh-most yards, five touchdowns and the third-most fantasy points (12.02 PPG) to opposing tight ends.(Maximum value: Low TE1)
Sleeper alert - Jordan Reed at Denver Broncos: Reed has been hot as of late, scoring the second-most fantasy points among tight ends over the last two weeks. I think his success will continue in Denver, where he'll face a Broncos team that has surrendered an average of just under 10 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season. (Maximum value: Low TE1)
Sit of the week
Jared Cook vs. Seattle Seahawks (Mon.): Cook scored an impressive 24.10 fantasy points in Week 1. Since then, he has scored a combined 20.3 points -- that's an average of just 3.4 per game. His fortunes aren't likely to improve very much against the Seahawks. He'll also be catching passes from career backup quarterback Kellen Clemens. (Maximum value: Mid TE2)
Sit 'em
Brent Celek vs. New York Giants: Once considered a fantasy starter, Celek's value has taken a nosedive this season. He's just 24th in points among tight ends and has failed to score six points in five of his last six games. Celek has also scored just one touchdown in his last five games against the Giants, making him even less attractive. (Maximum value: Low TE2)
Brandon Myers at Philadelphia Eagles: Myers had a nice start to the season, scoring a combined 20 fantasy points in his first two games. Since then, the veteran hasn't posted more than 3.50 points in a game and has been shut out altogether twice. The Eagles have been pretty tough on tight ends too, making Myers someone to bench in Week 8. (Maximum value: Mid TE2)
Zach Miller at St. Louis Rams (Mon.): Miller found the end zone last week against the Cardinals, which opened some eyes in fantasy land. However, it was his first touchdown in three weeks and only the second time all season he's scored more than five fantasy points. Unless you're in dire straits, starting Miller this week is not advised. (Maximum value: Mid TE2)
Owners beware - Jordan Cameron at Kansas City Chiefs: Cameron has been an elite No. 1 tight end for owners, and you shouldn't bench him unless you also have a great alternative. Just keep in mind that the Chiefs have allowed no touchdown catches, the fewest yards and fantasy points (2.73 PPG) to opposing tight ends this season. (Maximum value: Mid TE2)
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**!
