Total Pro Sports – It can be tough to make the decision between starting or sitting specific players throughout your fantasy season based on favorable or tough matchups.

TPS is here to help you make such decisions with our weekly Start’em & Sit’em post where we will break down each position and give you some players you may want to consider starting, and some you might be better off sitting.

Quarterbacks

Start’em: Matt Schaub vs. NYJ – Schaub is coming off an ankle injury he sustained in the pre-season, but it appears he should be fine and will be leading a Houston offense that is expected to produce big things with the ball.  It is also worth noting that the Jets defense was poor against the pass last year (29th overall, 234.5 yards/game), and will be without pass rushers Shaun Ellis and Calvin Pace.

Other QB start’ems worth noting:   Matt Ryan vs. MIA, Carson Palmer vs. DEN, Matt Hasselbeck vs. STL

Sit’em: Eli Manning vs. WSH – There have been numerous questions regarding the New York Giants receiving core, and the Redskins have imporved their defense which was ranked 7th against the pass last season.  Manning has also averaged less than a touchdown per game in his career against Washington.

Other QB sit’ems worth noting:  Matt Cassel vs. BAL, Jake Delhomme vs. PHI, David Garrard vs. IND

Running Backs

Start’em:  Julius Jones vs. STL -The Rams were horrible against the run last season giving up 154.7 yards per game and 26 touchdowns.  That is good news for Jones, who is set to be the featured back in Seattle.

Other RB start’ems worth noting:  Kevin Smith vs. NO, Ray Rice vs. KC, Cedric Benson vs. DEN

Sit’em:  Jamal Lewis vs. MIN – The Williams’ have been cleared by the league to start the season and that means the Vikings will once again have one of the leagues top run defenses.  He may still be the featured back in Cleveland, but don’t expect much out of Lewis in this game.

Other RB sit’ems worth noting:  Larry Johnson vs. BAL, Clinton Portis vs. NYG, Fred Jackson vs. NE

Wide Receivers

Start’em:  Anthony Gonzalez vs. JAC – Jacksonville’s defense was poor against the pass last season and it doesn’t appear as though they have improved much in that area.  Expect Manning to come out strong and Gonzalez to benefit.

Other WR start’ems worth noting:  Roddy White vs. MIA, Marques Colston vs. DET, Derek Mason vs. KC

Sit’em:  Vincent Jackson vs. OAK – It is tough to sit a talent like Jackson, but the Raiders were surprisingly good against the pass last season (10th overall) and going up against Asomugha will be a tough task.

Other WR sit’ems worth noting:  Torry Holt vs. IND, Antonio Bryant vs. DAL, Dwayne Bowe vs. BAL

Tight Ends

Start’em:  Owen Daniels vs. NYJ – The Jets will struggle against the pass (as mentioned earlier) and they did not faired well defending tight ends last season.

Other TE start’ems worth noting:  Dallas Clark vs. JAC, Dustin Keller vs. HOU, Jermichael Finley vs. CHI

Sit’em:  Heath Miller vs. TEN – The Titans still have a tough defense, even after losing Albert Haynesworth, and they only allowed three TDs to tight ends all last season.

Other TE sit’ems worth noting:  Kevin Boss vs. WSH, Kellen Winslow vs. DAL, Bo Scaife vs. PIT

Kickers

Start’em:  Neil Rackers vs. SF -Rackers has a big leg on a strong offensive team and the points should come in against a San Francisco team that was friendly to opposing kickers last season

Sit’em:  Adam Vinatieri vs. JAC – Vinatieri has been falling from the ranks in recent years and he has also not faired too well against the Jags previously recording only on FG against them in two games in 2008.

Defenses

Start’em:  Vikings vs. CLE  – The Vikings will have all their top defensive players avaliable for the opener and that should mean limited yards and points for a Cleveland team with a weak running game and an unexperienced Brady Quinn under center.

Sit’em: Jets vs. Hou – Houston is expected to make big improvements in their offence this season and the Jets will be without Ellis and Pace for the opener.