Those who follow the NFL draft realized that this year would be the year of the rookie Wide Receivers. In fact, several rookies have already made themselves known this season such as Percy Harvin, Jeremy Maclin and Johnny Knox.

Start of the Week

One player that received the hype, but not the production, is 49ers WR Michael Crabtree.

This is mostly due to a lengthy holdout that kept him away from the team for the first five weeks of the season. Since then Crabtree has worked out with the team, has been named the starter and has been learning more packages to play in weekly.

Two weeks ago, Crabtree had five receptions for 56 yards, and last week he had six receptions for 81 yards. Even in seasonal leagues, Crabtree has fantasy value and this week he is going to deliver it. Crabtree is the best wide receiver on the 49ers team who will play the Tennessee Titans at home.

Whether you look at the last three weeks, five weeks or entire season, the Titans have been the worst team in allowing fantasy points to wide receivers. Crabtree is very likely to put up 100 yards receiving and a touchdown. Start him this week. If he is still a free agent in your fantasy league, then snatch him up. 

Quarterbacks to Start

Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans for getting their first win last week. Unfortunately, despite the win, they still have the worst defense in the league in giving up fantasy points to quarterbacks. Over the last two games the Titans have actually given up more fantasy points (30.3 ppg) than they have for their season average (28.6 Ppg).

These numbers suggest that even though Tennessee held Jaguars’ QB David Garrard to 139 passing yards and no touchdowns, it is not indicative of what they will produce in the future. Continue to target players playing the Titans pass defense until they can produce solid defensive numbers several weeks in a row. 

This week the Titans will play the San Francisco 49ers. Last Week 49ers QB Alex Smith held his own pretty well versus the Indianapolis Colts defense. Smith only passed for 198 passing yards, one TD and one INT. While this stat line is not that great, it is about on par for a Colts defense that has given up and average of 200.4 passing yards and a passing touchdown every other week. I expect Smith to pick up his game a little more this week. Look for him to be a solid play for those employing a QBBC approach.

The Cincinnati Bengals are playing well this year. Their defense vs. quarterbacks has been stable but in a bad way.  For the season, the Bengals are ranked fifth in fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks in yardage leagues at 21.8 points. Over the last four games, the average is slightly higher at 22.8. They are coming off the bye this week, so I expect the Bengals to play a little better than the statistics suggest. This is reinforced by them playing at home.

However, the Bengals will be playing the Baltimore Ravens whose QB Joe Flacco has been astoundingly good this year. This season Flacco has accumulated 1,849 passing yards and 12 touchdowns. He should be able to make some plays and beat opposing defenses. If you are playing a QBBC this year, Flacco is still a good play this week.

Running Backs to Start

This week is a rather unusual week for Fantasy Football RB matchups as four of the top five teams that lead the league in fantasy points allowed to running backs are on bye. This week more than ever it is important to play your studs at RB.

If you need to play the matchups, Seattle Seahawks RB Julius Jones looks to have a somewhat productive week ahead. Seattle hosts the Detroit Lions who rank 10th in fantasy points allowed to running backs over the last three weeks. In that span Detroit has given up a touchdown a game to running backs (one rushing and one passing) but they also have given up an average of 123 yards rushing  per game in as well. Jones is the more consistent play for the Seahawks. Start him if you need to and expect 80-100 yards rushing from him. A touchdown would be a bonus.

Another matchup that I like is Green Bay Packers RB Ryan Grant vs. the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Grant is a low-end No. 1 RB or a high-end No. 2. Over the last three weeks, the Bucs have given up 165 rushing yards and four total touchdowns. Grant should find running the ball much easier than what he did against the Vikings defense last week (10 Att. for 30 Yds). If you had doubts on starting him this week after that low performance, do not worry. Give him the nod.

Wide Receivers to Start

The New York Giants defense was exposed by the New Orleans Saints first, and in the following weeks Philadelphia and Arizona confirmed their secondary’s deficiencies. Over the last three weeks, the Giants are the third-worst team in giving up fantasy points to wide receivers at 32 per game. One thing all three of these teams had in common was a franchise quarterback to get the ball to their wide receivers. The Giants host the San Diego Chargers this week. Again, they will face another franchise QB in Phillip Rivers. Rivers should be able to pick apart the Giants safeties.

The Chargers wide receiver that should benefit most is Vincent Jackson. One quick word of note: Yes, the Chargers are traveling east and history indicates west coast teams do not fair well when they do.

There are two reasons why I think it will not happen this week:

First thing, the game is at 4:15 PM which is the equivalent of a 1:00 PM game on the West coast.

The other is daylight savings time just occurred this past week. While the rest of the nation will be adjusting to a new schedule, it further pushes the game back an additional hour compared to a game played in September or October.

Dallas has been vulnerable to the pass over the past five weeks. While they have not been one of the worst defenses they are still in the top 10 of fantasy points allowed to wide receivers throughout the season. This week the Cowboys will travel to Philadelphia to play the Eagles whose QB Donovan McNabb likes to spread the ball around. This suggests that none of the Eagles receivers will have a monster week, but will contribute. It also suggests that Eagles WR Jeremy Maclin will see some looks and is an OK WRBC or bye week fill in this week. Eagles WR DeSean Jackson is also a good play this week as well.

Tight Ends to Start

The third 49er to make this list is TE Vernon Davis. The Titans are giving up an average of eight points a game to tight ends. While I find it unlikely that Davis will score three games in a row, it is just too difficult not to start a player that is as hot as Davis. Over the last five games, Davis has 25 receptions for 303 receiving yards and seven touchdowns. Give him the start.

I know that the new “Tony Romo friendly” offense has not been too Jason Witten friendly. So far this season, Cowboys TE Jason Witten is eighth in targets and eighth in receiving yards. He also is 25^th in receiving touchdowns among TEs. These numbers might be OK for most tight ends. It is not what was expected from a TE who was one of the top TEs drafted. While you might be losing heart, I encourage you to stay with Witten as he will turn it around. This may be the week as their opponent, Philadelphia Eagles, have given up five touchdowns to tight ends this season. Keep him in your lineup.

Sit of the Week

The Washington Redskins are coming off a bye. Over the last three weeks, Washington is ranked second in least fantasy points allowed to tight ends. In that span they have given up 1.2 Ppg in fantasy leagues. It is actually a little better than their season average of 4.1 Ppg.

This week the Redskins will play the Atlanta Falcons. Falcons QB Matt Ryan has more weapons than just TE Tony Gonzalez. I think the Redskins will keep Tony Gonzalez in check. I expect Ryan to look towards WR Roddy White to make plays. Because of this, if you have another viable TE option, I would sit Gonzalez.

                                                 Quarterbacks to Sit

The New England Patriots have been pretty good versus quarterbacks this season. Through eight weeks the Patriots are allowing 14.6 fantasy points to quarterbacks. Those numbers are good for sixth place for least fantasy points allowed to quarterbacks.  They are coming off a bye and had time to regroup to play the Miami Dolphins. New England will harass Dolphins QB Chad Henne all day and limit his production. For those playing in a QBBC sit Henne this week.

It is going to be exciting to watch the Colts-Texans game this week. This game has the irresistible force versus the unmovable object in Texans QB Matt Schaub versus the Colts secondary. The Colts are ranked third in least fantasy points allowed vs. QBs. The Colts have also allowed only three passing touchdowns all season.

Meanwhile, Schaub has been almost unstoppable. Through eight games Schaub has scored less than 10 fantasy points in standard CBS Sports Leagues twice. He has passed for over 300 yards four times and thrown two or more touchdowns five times. While his numbers have been very good, a good defense normally shuts down a good offense. Because of this, if you have a decent backup QB, I would look at sitting Schaub this week.

Running Backs to sit.

This being a “start your studs” week, your running backs selection should be straight forward. I still think you need to start Falcons RB Michael Turner, but he does play The Washington Redskins defense. Washington is coming off a bye and their defense has been solid so far. Washington is giving up 93.4 rushing yards a game and two total touchdowns to running backs. This indicates he is likely to score 8-12 fantasy points in yardage leagues.

The Green Bay Packers have lost their hold on the No. 1 defense against the run after facing Minnesota Vikings RB Adrian Peterson for a second time this season. They are now fourth in least fantasy points allowed in yardage leagues giving up a total of 14.1 fantasy points to running backs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers running backs Cadillac Williams and Derrick Ward are splitting time. Williams scoring has a 2-1 point ratio over Ward.  The Buccaneers offense is not that good. Green Bay should hold them to their averages of 123 all-purpose yards per game.  Look for Williams to score about 10 fantasy points while Ward scores around four points.

Wide Receivers to Sit

Steelers S Troy Polamalu has been back for Pittsburgh for a few weeks now. Last week the Steelers had a bye and should be well rested. While their season stats are hampered by being susceptible to the pass early in the season, they have been improving lately. Over their last two games, the Steelers are ranked 11^th in least fantasy points allowed to wide receivers. This week the Steelers will play the Denver Broncos. This is not the week to trust streaky Broncos WR Eddie Royal. Bench him. It is also likely that WR Brandon Marshall will have a down week as well. If you have other options sit Marshall as well.

Over the last three weeks, San Diego is in the top three in least fantasy points allowed per game to wide receivers with 10.3. This week the Chargers will face the New York Giants. I think Giants WR Steve Smith will put up reasonable numbers, but it will be likely fellow WR Hakeem Nicks that will be kept out of the endzone. If Nicks doesn’t score his value is minimal as a starter. I would sit Nicks this week.

                                               Tight Ends to sit.

Seattle has a solid defense against tight ends. This season Seattle has allowed 288 yards and one touchdown. This week Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew will face this defense. He was not a viable option before this and he will continue to not be one keep him on you waiver wire.