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Andrew Hedglen’s Week 3 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Ryan Matthews Stock Rising While Mike Williams on the Outs

Andrew Hedglen
Staff Writer

Each week I will be filling you in on who to start and who to sit on your fantasy football squads. I do the research on the match-ups and the probability, and you reap the benefits. Sounds like a good deal, right? Without further adieu, let’s start with who to sit.

Ryan Mathews (Chargers RB) – It will be Mathews’ first week back from injury and he’s strong and ready to be the workhorse at home against Atlanta this week.  Willis McGahee ran all over the Falcons on Monday night, so you should expect a younger, more explosive back to do the same.

Torrey Smith (Ravens WR) – He’s always a deep threat and a home game against New England is a great matchup.  He should be able to go over the top against any of the Patriot defensive backs.

Reggie Wayne (Colts WR) – Against the Jaguars he’s a must start, even in shallow leagues when you’re stacked at wide receiver.  Wayne was a steal in most drafts getting taken in the 8th and 9th rounds, and he’s Andrew Luck’s go-to-guy.  He’s a sure start not only this week, but most weeks in any league.

Andre Brown (Giants RB) – Bradshaw is out, and when he went out of the game last week, Brown stepped up with 90 yards and a touchdown.  He’ll get the bulk of the carries against a horrendous Carolina run defense that’s given up the 5th most fantasy points to running backs.

Andy Dalton (Bengals QB) – In his second season, Dalton has been on cue with his receivers thus far and should fair well against a Washington defense that has allowed the second most fantasy points to quarterbacks so far.  One of those quarterbacks was Drew Brees, but the other one was Sam Bradford and his mediocre receiving core that tore the Redskins apart.  Plus, the Redskins lost two starters on the defensive side last week.

Here’s who to stay away from in week three.

Michael Turner (Falcons RB) – The Chargers run defense is third best in the league.  Turner is over 30 years of age.  Matt Ryan runs the no huddle like a young Peyton Manning and dissects defenses with all of his toys: Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez.  Plus, Turner got a DUI after his 42 yard performance against the Broncos Monday night.  Need I say more?

Adrian Peterson (Vikings RB) – Nothing against Adrian Peterson, who I would start almost any other week, but he’s going against the 49ers defense which is the best in the business.  He only recorded 60 yards off of 16 carries against Indianapolis last week, and I smell eight men in the box on San Francisco’s side of the ball to stop the only real threat on Minnesota’s offense.  They’ll make Christian Ponder try to beat them.

Robert Meachem (Chargers WR) – He hasn’t been able to develop any chemistry with Philip Rivers thus far.  He had four targets last week and didn’t reel any of them in.  San Diego goes up against a stout Falcon pass defense with a lot of talented defensive backs, and are 11th best through two weeks defending the pass.  Wait on Meachem until something fantasy relevant happens to him for a few weeks straight, then we’ll know he’s ready.

Kenny Britt (Titans WR) – When he was healthy last year, which was only five weeks, he was a top five receiver.  The Titans also play Detroit this week, and Britt averages over 100 yards per game against NFC teams.  However, he only played 19 snaps last week as he’s still coming back from his knee injury, and he’s another guy that we have to wait on.

Mike Williams (Tampa Bay WR) – They play Dallas who is 3rd best against the pass with their stout corners.  Williams has scored in his first two games, but his luck will thin against this defense and he only sees around five targets per game.  Plus, Tampa Bay’s offense has always been inconsistent.

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