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- Arron Fletcher Wins 2017 WSOP International Circuit Marrakech Main Event ($140,224)
- Smith challenges Warner to go big in India
- Moncada No. 1 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
- Braves land 2 on MLB Pipeline’s Top 10 2B Prospects list
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- Mathews, Pradeep, Gunathilaka to return to Sri Lanka
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Week 3 Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em: Play or Bench Advice on Top Fantasy Football Stars
- Updated: September 22, 2016
As always, one of the finer sciences in fantasy football is knowing when to shove aside feelings and stick a star player on the bench.
This isn’t an easy feat, but playing the star for the sake of playing someone you drafted early isn’t always advisable. As a brief example, look at Indianapolis Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who likely came off the board high in drafts compared to other quarterbacks.
Luck scored all of nine points in Week 2 thanks to a miserable encounter with the Denver Broncos.
Week 3 features similar potholes, so let’s compare some noteworthy matchups and examine some stars to play and bench.
Quarterback
Star to Know: Philip Rivers, SD (at IND)
What, scared of San Diego Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers because he lost a few weapons?
Don’t be—Rivers doesn’t have Keenan Allen or Danny Woodhead, yet he tossed four touchdowns last week against the Jacksonville Jaguars, totaling 23 points. Plus, he looks to have a breakout star in wideout Tyrell Williams.
Now Rivers gets to take on a struggling Colts defense that has coughed up 30 total points to quarterbacks over two weeks, which would be much higher if the Week 2 opponent hadn’t been Trevor Siemian of the Broncos.
Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford scored 25 on the unit to start the season. That’s not the most unrealistic total for Rivers.
Star to Sit: Andy Dalton, CIN (vs. DEN)
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Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is a great spot start here and there, but he is not a guy whom owners can lean on every week like in the past.
Dalton lost a handful of weapons over the offseason and hasn’t had tight end Tyler Eifert on the field yet, which has seen him limp to 16 and 18 points, respectively, over the first two weeks.
Now the Red Rifle has to clash with the aforementioned Denver defense. Before holding Luck in check, the Broncos limited the versatile Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers to 20 points.
Dalton could always sneak his way into a big game thanks to those around him, but he is not a smart bet this week.
Running Back
Star to Know: Theo Riddick, DET (at GB)
The Detroit backfield now belongs to Theo Riddick and his 83.9 percent of owners.
Detroit announced Ameer Abdullah would miss the season after an injury suffered last week, which means even more work will shift toward Riddick.
He has already looked like a solid option in the right matchup, scoring 22 points in Week 1 against the Colts and only five in Week 2 against the Tennessee Titans. He and Abdullah had been on …
