Fantasy Football Week Three Sit 'Em & Start 'Em! Miami Dolphins' Chad Henne & More
Chad Henne, Miami Dolphins
In the opening two weeks Henne hasn’t been counted on to produce much yardage through the air (148 yards per). That will change on Sunday. As everyone is now aware, “Revis Island” will be closed for the week, meaning all sections of the gridiron will be open to attack. This is the optimal spot to open up the offense and get Brandon Marshall rolling. The Jets defense has completely eliminated the run game thus far, and Marshall abused Cromartie for 18 receptions (and forced four penalties) in a 2008 matchup. Henne had great success against the Jets (with Revis) last year in Miami, completing 20 of 26 passes for 241 yards, two TD and zero interceptions.
QB Sit
Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears
Sitting a quarterback performing at an extremely high level is not an easy decision. Cutler has been lights out through two weeks, boasting a 121.2 QB rating, 649 passing yards and five touchdowns. Only Peyton Manning has more fantasy points at the position. Nevertheless, it’s critical to look at the big picture. Cutler and consistency have never gone hand in hand, and neither have Cutler and success versus Green Bay. He threw six picks in two meetings against the Packers last season, mostly as a result of hounding pressure. He should see much of the same this week against a front that’s already amassed ten sacks. He’s capable of fitting in breathtaking throws and slinging the ball over the field, but start Cutler at your own risk Monday night.
Darren McFadden, Oakland Raiders
Has McFadden finally flipped the switch in year three? I’m not overly comfortable backing a player at his highest value, but it seems like the prudent play here. “Run DMC” plowed for 30 carries last week, earning the hard yards and getting stronger as his workload increased. His PPR potential, and subsequent yardage off those receptions, make him an even more intriguing option. The Arizona defense should step up its level this week in the home opener, but they’ve been shredded on the ground early on. The Cards rank 31st against the run and made Jason Snelling look like a Pro Bowler last week. The Raiders likely won’t be able to grind it out like they did in week two, but McFadden should be a safe bet for a handful of explosive runs. Note: Michael Bush is practicing fully and could be activated.
RB Sit
Joseph Addai, Indianapolis Colts
The Colts ran roughshod all over the Giants Sunday night, finishing with 160 yards on 43 rushes. It was the team’s most run-heavy game since Manning became the quarterback. Don’t look for a repeat, or anything closely resembling it, in week three. This week’s matchup against the Broncos presents an entirely different set of circumstances. The status of both Denver’s starting cornerbacks, Champ Bailey and Andre’ Goodman is very much in doubt. Indianapolis will use a heavy dose of the downfield passing attack to exploit the fortunate hand they’ve been dealt. While Addai looked sharp last week, he still has yet to crack the 100- yard plateau since week 11 of 2008. With Donald Brown once again entering the fray, save him for a more generous spot.
Michael Crabtree, San Francisco 49ers
To the dismay of many excited fantasy owners, Crabtree has been nearly invisible in the early stages of 2010. He saw eight targets in week one, catching two balls for 12 yards. He saw three targets in week two, catching one ball for 32 yards. Why the optimism? Firstly, the Saints secondary will limit many a receiver this season. Second, despite his struggles, Crabtree proved in ’09 that he is legitimate threat to make a big play, on or after the catch. Through two games, this has been the glaring weakness of the Kansas City secondary. They’ve allowed eight plays over 20 yards: 65, 59, 44, 34, 23 (screen), 22, 22 and 20. With Vernon Davis attracting ever-increasing attention in the middle of the field, this seems like a prime breakout opportunity for the talented Crabtree. Start at WR3 or Flex, minimum.
WR Sit
Mark Clayton, St. Louis Rams
At age 28, the talented wideout is finally making an impact. For whatever reason, the Ravens were unable to utilize Clayton’s skill set since drafting him in 2005. The Rams put him to work right away, targeting him 16 times in his ten-reception debut. He saw only five targets in week two against Nnamdi Asomugha, but both his receptions were for scores. With the dearth of options around him, Clayton will begin to find it harder and harder to make an impact. Danny Amendola and the Rams tight end brigade don’t scare anybody. The Redskins, ranked 31st in the league against the pass, are coming off a historically poor performance against the Texans, allowing Matt Schaub to throw for 497 yards in an overtime defeat. Obviously that effort was more aberration than reality. The ‘Skins gets free safety Kareem Moore back from injury and Reed Doughty will hit the pine. Open space will be hard to come by for Clayton.
Jermaine Gresham, Cincinnati Bengals
The rookie tight end has immediately been thrust into a prominent role. Gresham is seeing the overwhelming majority of snaps and has been a popular target for Carson Palmer. Most of his receptions have been of the short, dump off variety, but that could change against Carolina. The Panthers could not contain Kellen Winslow (no doubt a much speedier TE) who cut them up for big plays. The 260 pounder wouldn’t exactly be characterized as a deep threat, but he could become more involved in the vertical passing game. At the very least, Gresham is an imposing red zone target.
TE Sit
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh Steelers
Miller has had difficulty finding his niche without Ben Roethlisberger calling the plays. He caught only two passes for three yards last week against Tennessee, as not surprisingly the focus of the Steelers offense has been pounding the rock. Without the luxury of “Big Ben’s” innate scrambling ability, he’s also been forced into more pass blocking assignments. An usual reliable red zone target, the Steeler offense has been a field goal kicking machine, scoring only one offensive touchdown and failing to utilize his greatest attribute.
Written by Adam Ganeles exclusively for TheFantasyFix.com. Check back weekly for Adam’s NFL Sit ‘Em, Start ‘Em .
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