Start Em Sit Em: Your Ultimate Fantasy Football Guide

Start Em Sit Em Fantasy football has become more than just a hobby—it’s a passionate obsession for millions of fans. One of the key elements of success in fantasy football is making the right decisions when it comes to who to start and who to sit in your weekly matchups. Known as Start Em Sit Em, these decisions are vital in optimizing your roster’s points. Every week, matchups, injuries, and trends change, requiring you to constantly evaluate your team and make strategic calls. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or a beginner, this guide will help you dominate your league by understanding how to master the Start ‘Em, Sit ‘Em process.

Table of Contents

How to Play Fantasy Football

Before diving into the specifics of Start Em Sit Em, let’s briefly recap how fantasy football works. Players draft a roster of real-life NFL players, and each week, these players score points based on their actual game performances. To succeed, you’ll need to make adjustments throughout the season, especially by focusing on Start Em Sit Em decisions. These decisions allow you to maximize your points each week by starting players who are in the best position to succeed and sitting those who may struggle due to poor matchups, injuries, or other factors.

What is Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em?

Start Em Sit Em is the weekly process of deciding which players on your fantasy roster should be in your starting lineup and which players should remain on the bench. This decision-making process is influenced by numerous factors such as matchups, player health, and even the weather forecast. A well-calculated Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em decision can mean the difference between winning and losing a fantasy matchup.

Key Factors to Consider for Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em

Player Matchups

A key factor in Start Em Sit Emdecisions is the opposing team matchup. Certain defenses may be strong against the run but vulnerable against the pass, making wide receivers and quarterbacks great starts, while running backs might struggle.

Injuries and Player Conditions

Monitoring player health is crucial. If a star running back is nursing an injury, even if they play, their production could be limited, making them a risky start.

Game Flow and Team Strategy

Some teams play fast, aggressive football, while others lean on their defense. Understanding a team’s overall strategy helps in making decisions. For example, a team that might get an early lead will run more, benefiting their running backs.

Start Em Sit Em: Quarterbacks

Top Quarterbacks to Start

Look for quarterbacks playing against weak pass defenses or in high-scoring games. Dual-threat QBs who can add rushing yards and touchdowns to their stats are also great starts.

Quarterbacks to Avoid

Steer clear of QBs facing top-tier pass defenses or dealing with injuries. Also, avoid quarterbacks in games with low projected scores, where passing opportunities may be limited.

Start Em Sit Em: Running Backs

Running Backs with Favorable Matchups

Running backs thrive against defenses that struggle to stop the run. Look for backs playing against teams with high yards-per-carry allowed or those playing in bad weather, where the ground game becomes more important.

Running Backs to Bench

Running backs facing stout defensive lines or teams that fall behind early in games might not see much action. Bench them in favor of backs with more favorable conditions.

Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Wide Receivers

WRs to Start Based on Opponent Defense

Receivers facing weak secondaries or teams that struggle with deep passes are strong plays. Also, WRs who consistently get a high target share are safer bets.

WRs to Avoid for the Week

Receivers going up against lockdown cornerbacks or teams with a strong pass rush may struggle to get open or see fewer targets, making them risky starts.

Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Tight Ends

Tight Ends Worth Starting

Start tight ends playing against teams that allow a lot of points to the position. If a tight end is heavily involved in the red zone offense, they are a must-start.

Tight Ends You Should Sit

If a team has been shutting down tight ends all season, or if your player is part of a team’s run-heavy strategy, it’s best to leave them on the bench.

Start Em Sit Em: Defense/Special Teams

Best Defensive Matchups

Start defenses that are facing struggling offenses or turnover-prone quarterbacks. They are more likely to produce sacks, interceptions, and even defensive touchdowns.

Defenses to Bench This Week

Avoid defenses going up against high-powered offenses. They may give up a lot of points, even if they generate a few turnovers.

Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Kickers

Kickers Who Can Give You an Edge

Start kickers in games projected to have a lot of points. Kickers on teams that struggle to convert in the red zone are also valuable, as they’ll likely attempt more field goals.

Kickers to Sit This Week

If a kicker’s team is expected to blow out their opponent, they might see fewer field goal opportunities. Similarly, teams playing in windy or rainy conditions might limit their kicker’s production.

Advanced Tips for Start Em Sit Em Success

Using Data and Analytics

Leveraging analytics, like player efficiency metrics and defensive rankings, helps make more informed Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em decisions.

Monitoring Weather and Conditions

Weather can greatly impact a game’s flow, especially for kickers and passing games. Check forecasts before setting your lineup.

Common Mistakes to Avoid in Start Em Sit Em

Overvaluing Big Names

Just because a player is a star doesn’t mean they should start every week. Focus on matchups and recent performance over reputation.

Ignoring Recent Performances

Look at trends in player performance. A player who has struggled for a few weeks may continue to underperform, even if they’re a big name.

Tools to Help You with Start Em Sit Em

Popular Fantasy Football Apps

There are several fantasy football apps, such as ESPN Fantasy Football and Sleeper, that provide real-time data and expert advice. Fantasy football is a huge industry, and several apps make managing your team, tracking stats, and engaging with other players easy and enjoyable. Here are some of the most popular fantasy football apps: