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
Matt Bryant at Carolina Panthers:Â Bryant has emerged into one of the top kickers in all of fantasy football, averaging an impressive 10.58 fantasy points per game. His success should continue against the Panthers, who have allowed the most points to kickers overall. Bryant also put up 12 fantasy points against Carolina in their first meeting of the season.
Start 'em
Justin Tucker at Washington Redskins: One of the five best kickers based on fantasy points, Tucker has emerged into a solid option for owners in 2012. He's a tremendous option in Week 14 against the Redskins, who have surrendered the sixth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers overall. Tucker is still a free agent in plenty of NFL.com leagues as well.
Connor Barth vs. Philadelphia Eagles: Believe it or not, but Barth has come out and become a top-four kicker in fantasy land this season. He's been on fire in recent weeks, scoring an average of 11.25 fantasy points in his last four games. The Eagles have given up a pile of fantasy points to kickers, so Barth is once again in a good position to find success.
Sleeper alert - Adam Vinatieri vs. Tennessee Titans: Vinatieri hasn't been the most reliable kicker in fantasy football, but you can use him when the matchup is favorable. That's the case this week, as he goes up against a Titans team that has allowed the fourth-most fantasy points to opposing kickers overall (9.75 PPG). Vinatieri is a free agent in most leagues.
Sit of the week
Greg Zuerlein at Buffalo Bills: Zuerlein posted 10 fantasy points last week in a win over the San Francisco 49ers, but that was his first double-digit performance since Week 7. His totals could come crashing back down to earth this week against the Bills, who have allowed the third-fewest fantasy points to kickers at home in 2012. That makes "Legatron" a real risk.
Sit 'em
Nick Novak at Pittsburgh Steelers: Novak was a popular sleeper once Nate Kaeding went down with an injury, but he's failed to meet expectations. In fact, the veteran hasn't scored double-digit points in a game since Week 4. His fortunes aren't likely to change against the Steelers, who have given up the fourth-fewest fantasy points to kickers at home this year.
Alex Henery at Tampa Bay Buccaneers: Henery has averaged a solid 9.50 fantasy points in his last two weeks, but his string of successes could come to an end against the Buccaneers. Their defense has allowed the second-fewest fantasy points to opposing kickers at home and just 15 field-goal conversions overall. That makes Henery someone to avoid if at all possible.
Owners beware - Blair Walsh vs. Chicago Bears: Walsh has developed into a nice fantasy option, ranking in the top 10 in fantasy points at his position. However, this week's game against the Bears is not a favorable one. Chicago has allowed the seventh-fewest fantasy points to kickers overall and held Walsh to just four fantasy points earlier this season.
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**!
