Would a bad MAF censor cause a car not to start sometimes?

Ok so I have a 1997 Chevy Blazer, the other day on the way home it started hesitating when you accelerated then sputtered and I had to pull over, once it cooled off or sat for a little while it started right back up (I had to do this a few times before I got home). I took it to Advance Auto and had them run tests, the guy told me it could be the MAF (mass air flow censor) or the O2 (oxygen censor - which I'm pretty sure it isnt that one). But heres my issue..ok would a bad MAF censor cause the truck not to start now? I had let it set for awhile (about a week now) and sometimes it will start just fine, other times it wont start at all..Thanks!