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. All starts and sits are based on standard scoring leagues. Obvious fantasy starters like Aaron Rodgers and LeSean McCoy will not be featured. For your final lineup decisions, check our lineup rankings.
Byes: Arizona, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Denver, Seattle, St. Louis
Start 'Em
Gates was listed in the sit 'em portion of this column last week, and he finished with a mere eight yards. He should be back in the good graces of all fantasy fans against the Jaguars, though. No team has allowed more fantasy points to tight ends, and Gates has averaged five catches with five touchdowns in six career games against them.
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Olsen has had a fast start to the 2014 campaign, posting 19 catches for 224 yards with two touchdowns. His success should continue on the road, where he's been a real stat-sheet stuffer. In fact, Olsen has caught at least five passes in each of his last four roadies. He's also scored four touchdowns in his last six road contests.
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This isn't a favorable matchup on paper, as the Niners have allowed an average of just 5.10 fantasy points to tight ends this season. Still, this defense has not been impenetrable. In fact, the Niners have surrendered eight touchdown catches in their last four home games. That's enough for me to start Ertz in what could be a shootout.
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Bennett has a trend of finding a lot of success in September, as he has recorded an average of 58.7 yards per game and a combined 10 touchdowns in his last 11 contests (Bears -- seven games, Giants -- four games) in the month. If you don't have an elite fantasy tight end, Bennett is well worth a start based on his overall September success.
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Walker has been a pleasant surprise for fantasy owners, ranking fifth in points among tight ends over the first three weeks of the season. He has a nice matchup in Week 4, as he'll face a Colts pass defense that has surrendered three touchdown catches and the fifth-most fantasy points (12.87 PPG) to opposing tight ends in 2014.
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Sit' Em
Miller has been all but invisible, posting no touchdowns and a combined 9.20 points over the first three weeks. Next on the schedule is a date with the Buccaneers at Heinz Field. In his last 10 home games against the NFC, Miller has posted 70-plus yards just three times. He has also scored just one touchdown in those contests.
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Kelce will be a hot name off the waiver wire this week, as tight ends have dropped like flies around the NFL. However, don't be shocked if he fails to make a lot of noise against the Patriots. Their defense has surrendered an average of 4.37 fantasy points per game to tight ends this season, so Kelce is no lock to put up good numbers.
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Daniels figures to see more targets with Dennis Pitta now on the sidelines, but that doesn't mean he's a guarantee to post solid totals. This week he faces the Panthers, who have held opponents to two or fewer touchdown catches eight times in their last nine road games. That includes six games with one or fewer scoring catches.
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If you started Fleener last week, you were rewarded with 49 yards, one touchdown and 10.90 fantasy points. Still, Fleener isn't the Colts tight end I trust in my leagues ... that would be Dwayne Allen. Also, the Titans have surrendered an average of just 6.20 fantasy points per game to tight ends, including games vs. Kelce and Witten.
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Witten is likely to be active in most fantasy leagues, as the tight end position has become thin due to injuries. Keep in mind, though, that he has been held in check by the Saints during his career. In seven meetings, Witten has been held to 60 or fewer yards six times. He has also never scored a touchdown against New Orleans.
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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**!
