Bruno Boys Fantasy Football

Sitting your studs is typically the most difficult decision you will encounter in fantasy football each week. When your top overall pick is playing a tough defense like the Pittsburgh Steelers, it takes some serious guts to sit them for lesser talented players, but it can be that foresight that will lead to fantasy football championships. No we aren’t suggesting you bench your studs anytime the match-up is tough, but we do recommend you check out the Fantasy Football Week 3 Sit Ems for players to think twice about before plugging them into your weekly lineup.

QUARTERBACKS – SIT ‘EM

Matt Cassel (Kansas City Chiefs) @ Philadelphia

Matt Cassel has been a huge disappointment thus far, and it doesn’t seem like it will get any better in week 3. After already suffering a knee injury that kept him out of week 1, he looked mediocre against the Oakland Raiders. Now, he has the pleasure of facing the Philadelphia Eagles and their ball-hawking defense that has given up only 371 passing yards in 2 games. With 6 INTs and 7 sacks, they will get after Cassel all day without fail. The Chiefs best shot is to use RB Larry Johnson effectively to open up the passing game, but this game could be put away rather quickly.

Kurt Warner (Arizona Cardinals) vs. Indianapolis

Granted, Kurt Warner did just break an NFL record last week by going 24 for 26 against Jacksonville, but unless you get points per completion percentage, his fantasy points have been just average. With 531 yards, 3 TDs, and 2 INTs in the first two weeks, he hasn’t looked like the old Warner (as early as last season). The Indianapolis Colts pass defense has been stellar this season, only allowing 278 yards with 0 TDs and 1 INT. Kurt Warner will change that zero in the TD column, but expectations shouldn’t be sky-high in this week 3 match-up.

Brett Favre (Minnesota Vikings) vs. San Francisco

This may be perhaps the last time we will say to place Brett Favre on the bench, even though he has done nothing to deny his ability to still perform. The day has come where Brett Favre is no more a gun-slinger, but instead a Pennington-esque game manager. Favre’s match-up against the 49ers could force Brett to make some throws since the SF defense has been solid against the run (then again, they haven’t faced Adrian Peterson either). The Niners have the 20th ranked pass defense allowing 476 yards and 2 TDs to 3 INTs. Favre’s days of 350+ yards and 4 TDs are well past him.

RUNNING BACKS – SIT ‘EM

Thomas Jones (New York Jets) vs. Tennessee

The Jets come in to Week 3 facing a Tennessee Titans run defense that ranks 2nd in the NFL. On the season the Titans have allowed a measly 99 rush yards and 0 TDs in two games against the Pittsburgh Steelers and Houston Texans. Thomas Jones has the unfortunate task of facing the Titans this week, and you can bet they will force QB Mark Sanchez to beat them through the air. In fact, this may be the type of game that backup RB Leon Washington sees more carries and snaps than Jones due to his breakaway speed and playmaking ability. If you are a Jones owner it would be wise to keep him on your bench this week, because in all likelihood the only way he reaches 10+ fantasy points is by finding pay dirt.

Joseph Addai / Donald Brown (Indianapolis Colts) @ Arizona

Joseph Addai and Donald Brown both warrant to be sat in Week 3 facing a surprisingly strong Cardinals run defense. While Brown may not be seeing your lineup yet, Addai is in for a tough match-up with the Cardinals who have allowed only 112 rushing yards for a 2.7 per carry average thus far. They completely shut down RB Frank Gore in Week 1 and limited RB Maurice Jones-Drew in Week 2. If the Colts get stuffed running the football early expect them to abandon the run and let Peyton Manning pick apart their secondary all night. We recommend both of these players sit on the bench until one of them truly claims the top spot in Indy. Until then you should play both options at your own risk.

New Orleans Saints RBBC @ Buffalo

Mike Bell has been the star free agent pickup early in the 2009 season. He has probably brought some needed punch since fellow RB Pierre Thomas has been out since the start of the year. However, this match-up is somewhat deceiving. Buffalo’s rush defense has been extremely good allowing only 65 yards and .5 TDs per game in the season’s first two weeks. The Bills are a surprisingly good run D, and their pass D has been bad enough where Drew Brees could have another week like he did in the season opener. It looks like Bell will miss this game with an MCL injury and that Thomas and Reggie Bush will share the load, but neither of them are guaranteed to produce in Week 3. If Bush doesn’t have a good day receiving the ball he is very limited and we’d suggest you let Thomas get a game under his belt before you plug him into your lineup - unless you are slim on options.