Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

Bye Weeks: Terrell Owens, Lee Evans, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, Bernard Berrian, Visanthe Shiancoe, Braylon Edwards, Jerricho Cotchery, Dustin Keller, Zach Miller, Donnie Avery

Start 'Em:
Receivers Who Will Outperform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Mike Sims-Walker vs. KC
Last week against the worst pass defense in the league, Sims-Walker had his worst game of the season as he was held to 2 catches for 9 yards. Prior to that, his season-lows were 6 catches and 81 yards, respectively. Everyone has a down week from time to time, and the second year receiver has a great chance to bounce back this week against the Chiefs. Kansas City has been extremely beatable through air, as they have served up 13 TDs and 252.1 passing YPG.

DeSean Jackson vs. DAL
Jackson has a 2 game TD streak and has scored in 5 of 7 games this season; he remains one of the most explosive options in fantasy. All of his 6 touchdowns (4 receiving, 1 rushing, and 1 punt return) have been on plays of 50+ yards. The Cowboys have not been as prone to the deep ball as in years past, but they have allowed 3 passing plays of 40+ yards thus far. There is no way you can justify sitting Jackson this week.

Michael Crabtree vs. TEN
Crabtree has yet to find the endzone in his first two games this season, but he has been productive. Newly anointed starting QB Alex Smith figured to struggle last week against the Colts but still looked to Crabtree early and often. Both have an excellent match up this week against the Titans, who rank 32nd in the league against the pass. Tennessee has allowed an absurd 19 passing TDS and an average of 282.4 passing YPG, both the worst marks in the NFL. The Titans have given up 27 plays of 20+ yards.

Jason Witten @ PHI
‘No duh’ start of the week. This serves as a reminder to keep this stud TE active on Sunday night. Witten hasn’t scored a TD since Week 2 nor has he had more than 53 receiving yards since Week 3. It is understandable if fantasy owners are getting restless, but he does have at least 4 catches in every game and could be in line for his best line of the season in Philadelphia. Since their bye week (4 games) the Eagles have allowed Kellen Winslow, Zach Miller, Fred Davis and Kevin Boss to catch 26 passes for 381 yards and 5 TDs; not one of them registered less than 70 yards and a TD in a game.

John Carlson vs. DET
While Detroit has not been quite as gratuitous, they have allowed 3 of the last 4 TEs (Greg Olsen, Heath Miller and Daniel Fells) to score against them. Carlson has not scored since his 2 TD outburst in Week 1 and has been quiet with just 7 catches in the last 3 weeks, but I like the probability for him to put up good numbers this week against the Lions soft pass defense that has allowed 18 TDs this year.

Bench 'Em:
Receivers Who Will Under Perform Relative To Their Draft Position And Recent Hype

Is Austin due to for a letdown?

Miles Austin @ PHI
Austin has been on an impressive tear of late with 5 TDs in his last 3 games, averaging an obscene 160 receiving YPG in that span. You’d have to have an awfully good set of receivers to truly bench Austin this week, but you’d be wise to temper expectations. Not only is it unlikely to keep up his current pace, but the Eagles pass defense, while beatable, is in the top third of the league.

Steve Smith (NYG) vs. SD
Smith needs 5 more catches to eclipse his career receptions mark set last year (57). While that will likely happen, he really hasn’t had a big game since Week 4. Now that the Giants schedule has gotten tougher, their passing game has struggled. Likewise, the Chargers have held opponents to 178.4 passing YPG, 6th best in the NFL.

Deion Branch vs. DET
Branch finally scored his first TD this season, and as a result, he may be getting some looks on the waiver wire. Let’s not go crazy, the guy has just 15 catches for 130 yards this season, a paltry 8.6 average. Branch’s days as a viable fantasy option are over, if there ever were any to begin with. Don’t let the random TD fool you.

Eddie Royal vs. PIT
What happened to this guy? His unproductive season continued last week (2 catches, 10 yards) and he is still looking for his first receiving TD of the year. Royal has had just 1 game with 3+ catches and 20+ yards this season. I wouldn’t expect him to break out against the Steelers either. Their defense has not looked quite as sharp as years past; still they have only allowed 214.4 passing YPG and 9 TDs in 7 games.