NFL Fantasy Football Kickoff: Start em, Sit em
Runningbacks
Start of the Week:
CJ Spiller – High RB 3/Low RB 2 – This is me going on record endorsing Spiller as a fantasy stud following a down year. Best way to start his fantasy rehab? Facing the worst run defense from 2013. Spiller is also a huge threat as a receiver whether it be split out wide or out of the backfield. Get that man in your lineup.
Start Em:
Montee Ball – High RB2 – Ball is the man in Denver after the team allowed Knowshon Moreno to sign with the Dolphins during the off season. Montee really came on strong over the last 7 games of his rookie season, carrying the ball for 362 yards for a 6.03 yards per carry average and 4 TDs. As the featured back, look for those numbers to improve. He will face a Colts team that had the 7th worst run defense in the league last season. Start that man.
Marshawn Lynch – High RB1 – While I feel bad for showing so much love to Seahawk players, I do not feel bad for endorsing Lynch. Marshawn is a stud, has a favorable matchup against the Packers and is a stud. There are some that are not as a high on him this season for some strange reason, but rest assured he will be a top 5 RB barring injury. Beast Mode is a must start.
Other Starts: Alfred Morris, Gio Bernard, Steven Jackson,Pierre Thomas and Frank Gore
Sit of the Week:
Ryan Mathews – Mid RB3 – This may come as a bit of a surprise to many, even to myself, but this is where Mathews belongs. Mathews had a breakout year under the tutelage of Mike McCoy, but has a few things going against him. Firstly, Danny Woodhead also had a career year last season, plus the team added Donald Brown who should cut into Mathews workload. Matchup wise, Mathews is stuck against the best run defense from a season ago in the Cardinals, start him as nothing more than a flex option.
Sit Em:
Doug Martin – Low RB1 – Martin was having a mediocre year a season ago before suffering a season ending injury, I should know, I drafted him 2nd overall. He is back and healthy this season, albeit under a new offensive direction. With Jeff Tedford along as the new offensive coordinator, it isn’t outlandish to assume that Tedford will continue with his offensive philosophy of spreading the RB workload around. Couple that with coming off of injury and facing the 2nd best run defense from a season ago, what you get is Flex value, but if you can get him out of your lineup do it.
Bernard Pierce – Low RB4 – Some view Pierce as a serviceable starter during Ray Rices suspensions, I am not one of them. Last season, Pierce found himself in a similar situation and failed miserably. Do the right thing, do the smart thing, leave him on your bench, or better yet, the waiver wire.
Other Sits: Maurice Jones-Drew, Demarco Murray, Rashad Jennings and Toby Gerhart