INDIANAPOLIS --- There's a friend in my decade long fantasy league of record who has been waiting years to get Adrian Peterson on his team. Of course, this is the year he gets him. Compound that with Roddy White not playing Thursday, Pierre Thomas getting tackled at the 1-yard line week one, which would have given him the win, and now he's staring at a potential 0-3 start.
Success in fantasy football is often realizing when to swallow your draft pride. Yeah, that roster looked sooooo goood after the draft. Things change. Adapt or die. Make trades. Pick up players who can help you now, not long-term stashes.
Fantasy football is a week-to-week sport. If you need wins, you can't hope guys like Bishop Sankey or Devonta Freeman all of a sudden get the workload you were promised in the preseason.
When you need wins, sometimes that means benching an early round pick. Sometimes it means keep faith in that player who has had a slow start. Mostly though, it means exploiting match-ups. That is the theme for our week 3 Start 'Em, Sit 'Em:
Colts.com Start of the Week
Reggie Wayne, WR - Reggie Wayne's last 3 games against the Jaguars (with Andrew luck at quarterback): 5-100-1, 8-88, 8-96. Need we say more? Don't worry about last week. Wayne is a great start at Jacksonville. Plug him into your lineups.
Week 3 Start 'Em
Kevin Bowen: Pierre Garcon, WAS WR - I think a lot of people are jumping off the Garcon ship, seeing how RGIII is going to be out for 6-8 weeks. Not me. I like it because Philly's defense is going to want to stop the run, giving up 169 yards last week to the Colts. I think they're going to stack the box, make QB Kirk Cousins throw down field. I love the deep threat Pierre Garcon provides week in and week out.
Jim Sorgi: Alshon Jeffery, CHI WR - Yes, he's scored less than 12 points the last two weeks. He's playing against the Jets on Monday night. The Jets have really struggled, giving up the most fantasy points to wide receivers this season. I think the Jets will put on emphasis on stopping Brandon Marshall after his breakout 3TD game. I think Jeffery picks up those pieces.
Steve Andress: Knile Davis, KC RB - If plugging back-up running backs into your starting lineup is cool, then consider me Knile Davis. Now, Jamaal Charles returned to practice in a limited capacity this week with a high ankle sprain. If he somehow plays, throw this out the window. I don't think he will though. That means Davis has top-10 RB upside to me. (Note: Kevin pegged Davis as a super deep sleeper in this column in the preseason. Mad props to Mr. Bowen)
Week 3 Sit 'Em
Kevin Bowen: Larry Fitzgerald, ARI WR - Back-up QB Drew Stanton may be starting again. Fitzgerald has yet to score and only has seven catches for 71 yards so far this season. The 49ers secondary broke down against Brandon Marshall last week, but Fitzgerald is a sit for week 3.
Jim Sorgi: Montee Ball, DEN RB - Ball was drafted as a top-12 RB, but this match-up in Seattle is not a good one. Ball is only averaging 3.6 yards per carry to start the season. Seattle is 6th against opposing fantasy RBs. If you have better RB options or match-ups, utilize them.
Steve Andress: Seahawks D/ST - Starting a defense in fantasy football is all about match-ups. It's why last year you shouldn't have started the Chiefs D against the Broncos, despite the Chiefs being the #1 defense at that time. I know the game is in Seattle, but I'd rather steam another defense off the waiver wire this week. The Super Bowl was so last season.
