Gridiron Experts Start’em Sit’em Week 15

Most sites recycle imaginary fantasy numbers with yards and touchdowns and quick blurbs on how great Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson is going to do, but you already know that. We here at Gridiron Experts are not about to insult your fantasy football intelligence by posting the obvious numbers, instead we go out on a limb and try spotting great fantasy match-ups that many people might be overlooking. Star players will always perform, but key players can thrive in one week situations through either an offensive game plan or an excellent match-up. Our goal is to zone in on these perfect match-ups and offer advice that might make your life a little easier. It always comes down to you making the last minute call with your line-up, but hopefully we can help.

Start’em

• Jason Campbell vs. The Giants- The Redskins are not playing as poorly as their record says they are. Campbell has been an excellent sleeper option for fantasy football in the last couple weeks and we feel things shouldn’t change. The Redskins don’t have a big threat weapon like DeSean Jackson, but there is speed amongst the receiving core. Jason Campbell needs to prove to the fans, media, and more importantly the owners that this team just had an off year, and doesn’t need to be blown up in the off-season. Campbell should be able to stretch the field at home on Monday night against the Giants.
• Matt Hasselbeck vs. The Buccaneers- Seattle was awful on the road last week, and need to bounce back at home. The Seahawks faithful aren’t happy about the way their team has been playing this season and want a little revenge. The Buccaneers are in re-build mode and have a cross country trip this week. Seattle is wet, rainy, and loud; the Bucs will not be ready for this match-up and should turn the ball over at least twice, giving Hasselbeck many opportunities for red zone chances.
• Cedric Benson vs. The Chargers- The Bengals were flat on offense last week against the Vikings and will want to start with a much faster pace this week. The Cowboys most impressive drive against the Chargers was one in which they pounded the ball up the gut with their trio of backs for big chunks of yards.  Benson hasn’t found the endzone in quite a while, and we think he is overdue. Start’em!
• Jamaal Charles vs. The Browns- Charles is very underrated; he had a breakout week against the Bills in week 13. We like Charles’ chances against the Browns. In the last 3 weeks this new KC RB has run for 292 yards and 3 touchdowns.
• Sleeper RB Felix Jones vs. The Saints- Marion Barber is starting to take slack for being less effective in the red zone and is even hearing chants for Felix Jones a lot like how he was being called upon back in the day when Julius Jones split caries. Felix had 10 carries for 51 yards last week, he should see a lot more in a change of pace type role for the Cowboys.
• Pierre Garcon vs. The Jaguars- Garcon is probable to play on Thursday night at Jacksonville, and if he plays he could be a great deep weapon for Manning against the Jags. This newest wide-out has been an excellent fantasy option in games where opponents try to double Reggie Wayne. He could have a big day.
• Sidney Rice vs. The Panthers- Brett Favre loves the spotlight and will try to take at least one or two deep shots down field. Rice has a good match-up this week.
• Sleeper WR Jason Avant vs. The 49er’s- Teammate DeSean Jackson had an amazing prime time game against the Giants last week, and San Fransisco will do everything possible to not let that happen to them. Insert Jason Avant; with rookie J. Maclin on the injury shelf, Avant should have a great day.
• Vernon Davis  vs. The Eagles- The Eagles linebackers are very much the weak link of the team and Davis should expose that. Each week Philly gets torched by the tight end position making Davis a must start.
• Sleeper TE Fred Davis vs. the Giants- New York is in no way a lock for beating a tough defensive team on Monday, Davis has been seeing more and more looks in recent weeks and we think he could do well this week.

Sit’em

• Alex Smith vs. The Eagles- A cross country trip on a short week doesn’t sound great for this fantasy quarterback. We like the odds he will find his tight end maybe once in the endzone, but numbers will be low and could hurt your team. The Eagles love to blitz and are playing great these days, don’t think the 38 points the Giants scored on the Birds last week wasn’t looked at and addressed.
• Carson Palmer vs. The Chargers- The Bengals will rely more on the run this week trying to set up the big play action pass. Don’t risk it, Palmer is not a great weapon on the road again this week.
• Matt Forte vs. the Ravens- There is really no threat that Jay Cutler is going to tear apart the Ravens defense through the air, so the focus will be on the running game. Forte has been a fantasy bust and will be sniffed out after the first snap. Bench him.
• Roddy White vs. the Jets (Darrelle Revis)- Back up quarterback, on the road, squaring off against one of the elite cornerbacks in the league. Bench him.