Make sure you start the right guys, and that starts by checking out my sit and start recommendations. If you are one of the owners dealing with under performers, bye weeks, or injuries and you need help figuring out who to start, I am here to help. If the guy you are stressing over is not on this list feel free to hit me up at @mikekelleydlp with any additional sit/start questions you might have. Or you can join my Facebook Group, Dynasty League Problems and be a part of the conversation. Good luck this week to everyone, unless I am playing in one of my leagues.

NoHalftime START of the Week:

QB Matt Ryan (ATL)

Ryan is on pace for over 5,200 yards, 38 touchdowns and only eight interceptions, all of which would be career bests for him. I will be the first to admit I was worried about Matt Ryan this season because of his tough schedule this season, but he has proven me wrong so far and has performed well this season. I think the biggest reason is the offense now has a full year in the system and the Falcons added some support players so Ryan does not have to lean so much on Julio Jones and Devonta Freeman like he did last year. They are more balanced and look more comfortable compared to last year. I see Ryan throwing for over 250 yards and three touchdowns on Thursday night.

NoHalftime SIT of the Week:

RB Jay Ajayi (MIA)

In his two games before the bye week Ajayi rushed for 418 yards and three touchdowns. In the four games before that he rushed for a total of 117 yards and two touchdowns and he was a healthy scratch for the first game of the year. I don’t think Ajayi comes close to his last two games, but I am sure he will do better than his first four games. This week he faces a very good Jets run defense that has shut down about every running this season they have faced not named David Johnson. I think Ajayi will be hard pressed to break 80 rushing yards this week and he best shot a salvaging the week is if he can steal a touchdown. If he does that he becomes and okay play, but if he is kept out of the end zone, which I think he will be, his production will be limited.

Quarterback

START Marcus Mariota (TEN)

Mariota has climbed his way into the top ten of fantasy quarterbacks. He has done it with 10 passing touchdowns, one interception, and one rushing touchdown in his last 4 games. He is averaging over 235 passing yards a game and almost 40 rushing yards a game in that span as well. Currently Mariota is one of the hottest quarterbacks in the game and with the Chargers on deck this weekend, he should be able to continue his hot streak. 240 plus yards through the air with a pair of touchdowns is very reasonable for him. Plus another 30 to 40 yards on the ground for a few extra points. Feel confident in your use of Mariota this week.

Other STARTS:

• Jameis Winston (T.B.)
• Josh McCown (CLE)

SIT Matthew Stafford (DET)

Stafford is having a fine season, not a great one, but a very solid one. This week he is up against the Vikings who have been shutting down quarterbacks all year. The Vikings are in the top five in
every fantasy category related to defense against quarterbacks. If Stafford manages 250 yards and a touchdown consider yourself lucky. The key to Stafford surviving the day is limiting his turnovers. If he can do that he could still produce high end QB2 numbers, but if he turns the ball over at all his value drops quickly.

Other SITS:

• Tyrod Taylor (BUF)
• Eli Manning (NYG)
• Trevor Siemian (DEN)

Running Back

START Terence West (BAL)

The Steelers are 30th in yards from scrimmage to running backs and 31st in touchdowns and fantasy points to running backs. Coming off their bye week the Ravens desperately need a win after losing four in a row going into their bye week. The best way for them to get that win is to keep the Steelers offense off the field with a heavy dose of running the ball. If they give West 20 plus touches he will go over 100 yards on the day and likely find the end zone at least once. This could be the difference between first and third for the Ravens. Because of that I believe the Ravens will lean on the run game this week and that should bode well for West this week. Start him with confidence.

Other STARTS:

• Darren Sproles (PHI)
• Mark Ingram (N.O.)
• Antone Smith (T.B.)

SIT LeSean McCoy (BUF)

McCoy is actually here for four reasons. First he is playing against the Seahawks, who are one of the better run defenses in the league. The second is his nagging hamstring injury, which he has a history of. The third reason is he plays on Monday night this week. So if you plan on starting him you better have another guy on Monday you can sub in last second, in case he is a game time scratch. The last reason is the Bills have their bye next week. So between playing a tough defense, nagging hamstring issues, the Monday night start, and strong possibility of sitting him one more game to get two weeks of rest out of it, I am not going to risk starting McCoy this week.

Other SITS:

• T.J. Yeldon (JAC)
• Isaiah Crowell (CLE)

Wide Receiver

START Kenny Stills (or any other MIA WR)

The weekly receiver charity known as the Jets secondary is facing the Dolphins this week. Really any Dolphins receiver can be in this spot but I went with Stills here because he is the deep ball guy on this team, and the Jets seem to just love running after guys doing deep routes. Stills is not going to put up a ton a receptions, he has only gone over two twice this season. That said he could put up over 100 yards on three receptions and turn one of those into a long touchdown. I would start any Dolphins receiver this week. I know the Dolphins are running the ball great, but the Jets D can actually stop the run which would force Dolphins to air it out often, which is not a bad thing for them here.

Other STARTS:

• Tavon Austin (L.A.)
• Stefon Diggs (MIN)
• Mohamed Sanu (ATL)

SIT Terrelle Pryor (CLE)

Pryor has been nursing a hamstring injury for a few weeks now, but because of a lack of potions he has been playing through that injury. On top of the injury the Browns have been leaning on him a lot. Don’t forget this guys was a quarterback until recently so his body is not use to this kind of abuse. Good news for Pryor, bad news for his owners, is that Corey Coleman is expected to return this week. If he does this could take a lot of pressure off of Pryor. He won’t be forgotten, but I do think his use will be reduced. I am thinking four or five receptions for 60 yards this week.

Other SITS:

• Michael Crabtree (OAK)
• Marvin Jones (DET)
• Tyrell Williams (S.D.)

Tight End

START Austin Hooper (ATL)

With Jacob Tamme out Hooper gets his first shot at starting for the Falcons on Thursday night football. Hooper stepped in for Tamme after he hurt his shoulder in the first quarter against the
Packers last week. He caught all five of his targets for 41 yards. In fact Hooper has caught every pass thrown his way this season. Matt Ryan clearly has no concerns throwing Hooper the ball and now after a week of practice with Hooper as the number one tight end, he has a good shot at putting up points. I look for Hooper to catch six pass for 70 yards with a shot at a touchdown. If you are
streaming tight ends or need a bye week fill Hooper just might be your guy this week.

Other STARTS:

• Eric Ebron (DET)
• Gary Barnidge (CLE)

SIT Zach Ertz (PHI)

A lot of people were very high on Zach Ertz this summer and with good reason. A young athletic tight end coming off a very good season and a new coach that had a history of using tight ends. Week one was a good one putting up almost 12 points in PPR formats, but then he got hurt and missed two games. In his four games since returning from injury he has nine receptions for 92 yards with no touchdowns. Not what we were expecting. As a result Ertz is now an unreliable option at tight end and should be sat until he proves otherwise. Even against the Giants, who he has history of playing well against, I don’t expect more than six or seven points.

Other SITS:

• Charles Clay (BUF)
• Jack Doyle (IND)

Defense

START Carolina Panthers

The Panthers had been giving up a ton of passing yards in recent weeks, but last week the finally resembled the defense we had grown accustom too. This week the head out to L.A., where the Rams have struggled to consistently put up points this year. The Panthers should be able to generate some sacks and turnovers against a Rams offense that is turnover prone.

Other STARTS:

• New York Giants
• San Diego Chargers

SIT Tampa Bay Buccaneers

This has more to do with the opponent than the ability of the defense. The Bucs are facing the Falcons on Thursday night and the Falcons are as hot as any offense in the NFL right now. This has the potential to be one of the better Thursday night games, unless you have been enjoying the scoring games that we have been treated too on most Thursday nights.

Other SITS:

• Los Angles Rams
• Cleveland Browns

Michael Kelley is a member of the Going For 2 team. You can check out his website Dynasty League Problems for more writings or find him on Twitter @mikekelleydlp spreading fantasy knowledge for the masses.

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