Wide Receivers/Tight Ends

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

Sidney Rice vs. SEA
Before Favre came along, Rice had been a huge bust; now he leads the NFC in receiving yardage. Though he can still be inconsistent (4 rec, 40 yds in Week 8), and hasn’t scored a TD since Week 4, the yardage he’s putting up (553 yards in his last four games) should treat most fantasy teams just fine. With a 17.9 ypc average, Rice doesn’t need many targets, though he’s getting his fair share from Favre. Put him up against Seattle’s 22nd-ranked pass defense and you have a solid, and quite possibly an explosive starter this week.

After a slow start Olsen is finally making his fantasy owners smile.

Greg Olsen vs. PHI
The last two games have finally shown Olsen to be the tight we expected this year (12 rec, 146 yds, 3 TDs). Don’t let Cutler’s inconsistency deter you from playing Olsen this week. Against the Eagles, who remain the worst team against TEs, he’s bound to get the catches, the yards, and possibly even a score. Even with Cutler throwing 5 picks last week, Olsen still managed to nab 7 catches for 75 yards. He’s a good bet to be the top-scoring TE this week.

Jeremy Maclin @ CHI
Maclin had a huge 142-yard, 2 TD-grab game in Week 5, but hasn’t come close to that since. He has been consistent, however, compiling 18 catches for 220 yards and 2 TDs over the last four games. More importantly, he’s entrenched as an Eagles starting receiver. Chicago has played well against TEs, and Reid seems more likely to put the ball in McNabb’s hands than his running backs’ when Westbrook is out. That should translate into the wideouts getting lots of looks. Maclin should be able to improve this week upon his already-decent numbers.

Heath Miller @ KC
If you look at the TE versus Kansas City Strength-of-Schedule, this appears to be an awful matchup in favor of the Chiefs. But you have to read between the lines here. Tight ends are typically used as an outlet by most teams. Kansas City is so bad on defense (24th against the pass, 27th against the run) that the teams going up against the Chiefs have barely needed to use their TEs. I put Miller here not because I believe he is a great option this week, but rather to keep you from worrying about starting him if he’s your TE1. He should pick up his normal stats and, if the Steelers play it the least bit conservative based on last week’s loss, he will likely get you more than he has the last two weeks.

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

Chad Ochocinco @ OAK
A big name that may be hard to bench, Ochocinco looked to be back on track as the season began, only to slump against his division rivals. He then caught fire in the three-game stint before Cincy’s bye, posting 22 rec, 315 yds, and 2 TDs. Since then, he’s cooled off with only 7 catches, 95 yds, and no TDs. This week he goes up against Nnamdi Asomugha, arguably the best cover corner in the league, and the Raiders pass defense, who allow the third least receiving TDs. Though Palmer may be throwing more this week due to Benson’s questionable tag, Coles should see the most targets if Asomugha is assigned to Ochocinco.

Devin Hester vs PHI
Cutler’s inconsistency shouldn’t deter you from Olsen, but this is surely not the best matchup for Hester. Philly has been very good against #1 receivers lately, holding Vincent Jackson to 1 reception for 10 yds last week and Miles Austin to 1 reception the week prior (though that single catch was a 49-yarder for a TD). Add in Philly’s inability to stop tight ends and Hester will likely be low on targets, low on opportunity this Sunday.

Miles Austin vs. WAS
Austin came on strong and had a great rapport with Romo for a few games, mid-season. However, in the last two games he’s garnered only 5 receptions for 69 yards—though one of them did go for a long TD. Those games were against two of the league’s better pass defenses in Green Bay and Philly. This week he faces the top-ranked Redskins. Washington has let Dwayne Bowe take advantage of them, and just last week Brandon Marshall burnt them for 2 TDs and 134 yds on just 5 catches. But the Redskins have been able to hold both Roddy White and Steve Smith (and most of the rest of the league) in check. Austin will likely find his way into that latter group after Sunday’s game. Sit him until both he and Romo get back in sync, or until he faces a kinder matchup.

Chris Chambers vs. PIT
Chambers proved last week (3 catches, 60 yds) that Week 9 (3 catches, 70 yds, 2 TDs) was an ideal circumstance. Don’t bite on Bowe’s suspension and think that Chambers will get all of Matt Cassel’s attention this week. More likely he’ll get most of his attention from Pittsburgh’s defense…and that rarely turns out well. Until he proves himself trustworthy, sit Chambers indefinitely.