Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Donovan McNabb, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

The “love ‘em” players are listed in the order that I’d start them this week.

LOVE ‘EM

QB: There are a number of fringe-type quarterbacks with nice matchups this week. Kyle Orton (vs. DET) has a great matchup with the Lions, who have given up 259 passing yards and 1.7 pass TD per game…Trent Edwards (vs. NYJ) had a so-so game against the Dolphins last week, but he should fare better against the 23rd-ranked Jets pass defense at home…Gus Frerotte (vs. HOU) has been steady since he took over in Week 3 (257 yards, 1.0 TD per game) and this week he faces a Texans defense that has yielded 207 yards and 1.3 pass TD per game…Marc Bulger (vs. ARI) has shown some life of late (237 yards, 1.0 TD over the last two games), and with the 21st-ranked Cardinals pass defense (223 yards, 2.0 TD per game) coming to town, the odds are that he’ll have a solid fantasy game…Chad Pennington (@ DEN) faces the Broncos, who have given up 240 yards and 1.7 TD per game…For the desperate, Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. JAX) faces the 22nd-ranked Jaguars pass defense, while JaMarcus Russell (vs. ATL) faces the Falcons, who are 24th in the league against the pass.

RB: With Warrick Dunn dinged up, Earnest Graham (@ KC) is a great start against the league’s worst rush defense. The Chiefs have given up a mind-boggling 197 rushing yards and 2.0 rush TD per game…Matt Forte (vs. DET), Michael Turner (@ OAK) and Ronnie Brown (@ DEN) are must-starts this week…Tim Hightower (@ STL) is a sneaky good start this week, as the Cardinals are giving him more work of late. The Rams have played better defense in the last few weeks, so don’t expect a monster game…It’s hard to trust any of the New England RBs, but Kevin Faulk (@ IND) has a great matchup with a bad Colts rush defense.

WR: Definitely get Calvin Johnson (@ CHI) into your lineup this week. The Bears are 29th against the pass, and it’s likely that the Lions will be playing catchups…DeSean Jackson (@ SEA) has a nice matchup with an inconsistent Seahawks defense that has allowed 245 passing yards and 1.6 pass TD per game. Likewise, Kevin Curtis is a good play as well…Donnie Avery and Torry Holt (vs. ARI) have a good matchup with the Cardinals. Arizona has yielded 223 passing yards and 2.0 pass TD on the season…In bigger leagues, Greg Camarillo and Ted Ginn (@ DEN) are crafty plays against the Broncos. This is likely to be a high scoring game and the Dolphins might have their way with Denver’s 28th-ranked pass defense.

LEAVE ‘EM

QB: Joe Flacco (@ CLE) has a rough matchup with an improved Browns defense that is ranked 10th in the league and has only yielded 1.0 TD per game…Matt Cassel (@ IND) faces the 2nd-ranked pass defense of the Colts. Indy has only given up two pass TD all year…Tyler Thigpen (vs. TB) played well against the Jets last week, but he’s a bad start against the Bucs, who are 7th in the league against the pass. (They have allowed 1.4 pass TD per game, however)…The following players are still startable, but use with caution: Aaron Rodgers (@ TEN), Matt Schaub (@ MIN), Ben Roethlisberger (@ WAS) and Jason Campbell (vs. PIT).

RB: Jamal Lewis (vs. BAL) has a rough matchup with the league’s best rush defense (64 rush yards, 0.1 rush TD per game)…Kolby Smith (vs. TB) should get most of the work in KC, but the Bucs have yet to yield a rush TD this season…Willie Parker (@ WAS) is back at practice, but if he does play, he’ll likely be sharing carries with the more-than-effective Mewelde Moore against a solid Redskins rush defense…Julius Jones and Maurice Morris (vs. PHI) are splitting carries again, and with the 9th-ranked Eagles’ rush defense on tap, neither guy is worth a start.

WR: Greg Jennings is always a must-start, but you might want to leave Donald Driver (@ TEN) on the bench. The Titans’ 4th-ranked pass defense has allowed just 185 yards and 0.4 TD per game this season…I wouldn’t bench most of these players, but they have tough matchups this week, so lower your expectations: Roddy White (@ OAK), Dwayne Bowe (vs. TB), Wes Welker and Randy Moss (@ IND) (though the Colts just lost a starting CB), Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward (@ WAS), and Santana Moss (vs. PIT)…Don’t expect Bobby Engram to have much of a game with Matt Hasselbeck out and a tough Philly pass defense coming to town.

DTBWW

Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire. Each week, you pick up a defense, usually playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

CLE (vs. BAL)
STL (vs. ARI)

Last week’s picks:

Texans: 6 PA + 2 SK + 2 INT + 1 FR + 1 RET TD = 19 fantasy points
Dolphins: 16 PA + 2 SK + 1 INT + 3 FR + 1 SAFTEY = 10 fantasy points

Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Donovan McNabb, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

The “love ‘em” players are listed in the order that I’d start them this week.

LOVE ‘EM

QB: Jason Campbell (@ DET) has a tantalizing matchup with the Lions, who are 31st in the league in pass defense. The only worry here is that the Redskins sit on a lead after getting a couple of Clinton Portis touchdowns…Trent Edwards (@ MIA) has a nice matchup with a Miami defense that has yielded an average of 236 yards and 1.5 pass TD per game. Those sound like good expectations for Edwards, who has been very consistent this season…Jake Delhomme (vs. ARI) is probably in for a shootout against the Cardinals, who have given up an average of 220 yards and 2.0 pass TD per game…J.T. O’Sullivan (vs. SEA) has a good matchup at home against a struggling Seahawks defense that has yielded an average of 242 yards and 1.7 pass TD per game…Whoever starts for the Browns – be it Derek Anderson or Brady Quinn – they have a nice matchup against the Jags, who are 23rd in the league in passing yards allowed. They have also given up 1.8 pass TD per game…Looking for a scrub to start? Tyler Thigpen (@ NYJ) and Jeff Garcia (@ DAL) have decent matchups.

RB: Even though he’s a little gimpy, get Willis McGahee (vs. OAK) in your lineups this week. He has a terrific matchup with a Raiders defense that is 24th against the rush, allowing 136 yards and 1.5 rush TD per game…Thomas Jones (vs. KC) plays a Chiefs rush defense that is dead last in the league. They are giving up a staggering 207 rush yards and 2.0 rush TD per game…Steve Slaton has a great matchup with the Bengals, who are 27th against the rush and have allowed 1.7 rush TD per game…You can start LenDale White and Chris Johnson (vs. IND) this week against the Colts, who are solid against the pass, but brutal against the rush (154 yards, 1.0 rush TD per game)…For the desperate, Cedric Benson appears to be the starter in Cincy, and he has a nice matchup with the Texans, who have yielded 1.8 rush TD per game.

WR: DeSean Jackson (vs. ATL) was named a starter this week (even though Reggie Brown should be back) so look for him to have a nice game against the Falcons, who are 26th in the league against the pass…Steve Smith is an obvious start, but Muhsin Muhammad (@ ARI) should also be in fantasy lineups as he’s facing a shaky Arizona secondary…Chris Chambers should be back, and that hurts the value of Vincent Jackson, but you can probably start both players against the Saints, who are 21st in the league against the pass…Kevin Curtis (vs. ATL) is also a sneaky good start for the Eagles…Santana Moss is a must start against the Lions, but also think about starting Antwaan Randle El. Again, the only worry is that the Redskins sit on a lead…Josh Morgan and Isaac Bruce (vs. SEA) are capable fill ins if you are hurting at receiver. The Seahawks are 29th against the pass.

LEAVE ‘EM

QB: Matt Ryan (@ PHI) has had a nice season for a rookie, but I wouldn’t use him this week against the Eagles’ blitzing defense that is 10th in the league against the pass…Brad (a.k.a. “Bad”) Johnson faces a tough test at home against a Bucs defense that is playing good football…The Browns are actually quite good against the pass (7th in yards, just 0.8 pass TD per game), so I’d probably leave David Garrard on the bench this week despite his good play recently…If you’re scraping the bottom of the barrel, be sure not to start Kerry Collins (vs. IND) or Dan Orlovsky (vs. WAS), as they both have tough matchups against pretty stingy secondaries.

RB: Edgerrin James (vs. CAR) has a rough matchup with the Panthers, who have allowed just 0.4 rush TD per game. With Tim Hightower vulturing most of the goal line carries, Edge is a poor bet to score this week…Justin Fargas and Darren McFadden (@ BAL) should be benched this week against the Ravens, who have yielded a staggeringly low 67 yards rushing per game this season…Kevin Smith (vs. WAS) has looked better than Rudi Johnson, but neither guy should be in lineups this week against the 7th-ranked Redskins rush defense.

WR: Derrick Mason (vs. OAK) has been pretty productive of late, especially in PPR leagues, but if you have a better option, you may want to use it as the Raiders secondary is improving. Nnamdi Asomugha held Jerricho Cotchery to just one catch for zero yards last week…I’d still start Calvin Johnson, but Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald should probably stay on the pine against a pretty good Redskins pass defense that has yielded just 192 pass yards and 1.0 TD per game…It’s tough to bench Marvin Harrison because he tore up a great Baltimore defense a couple of weeks ago, but this week he faces the 5th best pass defense in the league (179 pass yards, 0.2 pass TD per game).

DTBWW

Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire. Each week, you pick up a defense, usually playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

I would grab NE, NYJ and WAS before either of these teams, but they aren’t available in at least 50% of ESPN leagues. This week’s picks:

SF (vs. SEA)
HOU (vs. CIN) (Yes, I’m going back to the Texans well again. Wish me luck.)

Last week’s picks:

(It was a rough week for DTBWW.)

Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Donovan McNabb, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

The “love ‘em” players are listed in the order that I’d start them this week.

LOVE ‘EM

QB: There are a number of fringe QBs that have nice matchups this week. Matt Schaub (vs. DET), Trent Edwards (vs. SD), Matt Cassel (vs. DEN), Jeff Garcia (vs. SEA), Brad Johnson (@ STL, assuming Tony Romo doesn’t play), JaMarcus Russell (vs. NYJ) and Dan Orlovsky (@ HOU) all face suspect pass defenses.

RB: Chris Johnson (@ KC) and LenDale White have a tantalizing matchup against the Chiefs, who are dead last in the league against the run…Thomas Jones (@ OAK) is a good start against the Raiders, who have allowed 1.6 rush TD per game this season…Steve Slaton (vs. DET) should be in your iineups against a very bad Lions defense (171 rush yards per game). Detroit did play inspired ball against the Vikings, but I’d expect the Texans to have more success…Ryan Grant (vs. IND) faces a Colts defense that has yielded 161 rushing yards per game. If he can’t get it going against Indy, he may not get it going this season…With Laurence Maroney and LaMont Jordan hobbled, Sammy Morris (vs. DEN) against a bad Bronco rush defense…For the desperate, Rudi Johnson (@ HOU) has a nice matchup with the Texans, who have given up 2.0 rush TD per game this season.

WR: This wouldn’t be a bad week to start Derrick Mason (@ MIA), as the Dolphins are #29 against the pass (239 yards per game)…Steve Smith is a no-brainer, but Muhsin Muhammad (vs. NO) should start as well. The Saints are 21st against the pass…Bernard Berrian (vs. MIN) is on fire right now (4.8-100-0.5 over the last four games) and he faces a Bears defense that is 27th in the league against the pass.

LEAVE ‘EM

QB: Just as there are a number of fringe QBs with nice matchups, there are several with bad matchups as well. Derek Anderson (@ WAS) showed some life last week, but he has a tough matchup with the Redskins this week…Brodie Croyle (vs. TEN) should not be trusted against a very good Titans defense…Chad Pennigton (vs. BAL) should ride the pine against what is probably the best defense in the league.

RB: The Chris Perry/Cedric Benson/Kenny Watson nightmare should be benched this week against a very good Steeler rush defense…Julius Jones and Maurice Morris (@ TB) face a Bucs defense that is 9th in the league against the rush and still hasn’t allowed a rushing touchdown this season…I would still start them, but these players have tough matchups this week: Willis McGahee (@ MIA), Jamal Lewis (@ WAS), Ronnie Brown (vs. BAL), Adrian Peterson (@ CHI) and Reggie Bush (@ CAR).

WR: I don’t know that I would bench any of the WR1’s on these teams, but the Bengals, Browns, Packers, Chiefs, Saints and Steelers all have bad matchups. You can probably still start Housh, Brylon, Jennings, Bowe, Colston, Ward and Holmes, but you might want to leave Ocho Cinco, Stallworth, Driver and Lance Moore on the bench.

DTBWW

Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire. Each week, you pick up a defense, usually playing at home against a bad offense. And each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

HOU (vs. DET)
MIA (vs. BAL)

Last week’s picks:

Redskins: 19 PA + 2 SK + 1 FR = 5 fantasy points
Jets: 14 PA + 5 SK + 1 FR = 10 fantasy points

Every week, I highlight a few players to start and a few players to sit at each position. I’m a firm believer in starting your studs, so I won’t tell you about how Drew Brees or LaDainian Tomlinson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and start them. I’ll focus on the borderline guys – players you’ll only start under the right circumstances. It’s important to note that depending on your roster and situation, you may not be able to follow these recommendations. For example, if I suggest you bench a solid starter like Donovan McNabb, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

New for Week 6… I am now putting “Love ‘Em” players in the order that I’d start them.

LOVE ‘EM

QB: Jason Campbell is a great start this week against the Rams, who 28th in the league against the pass…Don’t look now, but Kyle Orton (a.k.a. “Beard”) is a starting quality fantasy QB. This week he has a Falcons defense that is 22nd in the league against the pass…Gus Frerotte plays the Lions. Start him…Matt Schaub should be back under center (and after Sage Rosenfels’ fourth quarter performance against the Colts, I don’t see Schaub losing his job anytime soon). He faces a Dolphins defense that is playing better, but has given up an average of 206 yards and 1.8 pass TD per game…JaMarcus Russell isn’t a bad start (for the desperate) against a Saints team that has yielded 245 pass yards and 1.8 pass TD per game.

RB: Get Maurice Jones-Drew into your lineups this week. He faces a Denver team that is 25th in the league against the rush…The Colts have yielded a league-worst 189 rushing yards per game on the ground, so Willis McGahee and Le’Ron McClain both look startable even though they’re splitting carries. It’s doubtful that the Ravens will even bother to pass the ball at all…Ronnie Brown faces the Texans, who have given up an average of 140 rushing yards and 2.0 rush TD per game this season.

WR: Greg Jennings is pretty much a must-start every week, but Donald Driver deserves a starting spot this week since he faces a Seattle defense that is really struggling against the pass…Bernard Berrian has been productive the last three games (averaging 4.7 catches for 89 yards and 0.3 TD) and this week he faces a porous Lions secondary…Andre Johnson has regained his must-start status, but Kevin Walter is a sneaky good start against the Dolphins this week…Antwaan Randle El has a nice matchup against the Rams, who are 28th in the league against the pass.

LEAVE ‘EM

QB: Joe Flacco has a tough matchup with a Colts defense that is pretty bad against the run, but quite stout against the pass (165 pass yards, 0.3 pass TD per game)…J.T. O’Sullivan has been pretty good fantasy-wise, but this week he faces the Eagles, who are 11th in the league against the pass. He’s still startable, but only if you don’t have any good options on your bench…I’d stay away from Jeff Garcia, who is back under center but faces the Panthers, who are 3rd in the league against the pass (156 pass yards, 0.8 pass TD per game).

RB: There are a number of good running backs that have bad matchups this week. They’re still startable, but proceed with caution and bench them if you have good depth at RB: Michael Turner (vs. CHI), Jamal Lewis (vs. NYG), Steve Slaton (vs. MIA), Joseph Addai (vs. BAL), Frank Gore (vs. PHI), Steven Jackson (@ WAS) and Earnest Graham (vs. CAR).

WR: Marvin Harrison isn’t himself this season, and it’s unlikely that he’ll bust out against the #1 pass defense in the league…Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton should probably ride the pine against a Colts defense that is good against the pass…I wouldn’t think that Isaac Bruce would continue his recent success (4 TD in the last three games) against a solid Eagles team that really needs a win…Ike Hilliard and Antonio Bryant should probably ride the pine against the Panthers, who have been great against the pass.

DTBWW

Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire. Each week, you pick up a defense usually playing at home against a bad offense, and each week, you get pretty good numbers out of your DT position. All teams are available in at least 50% of ESPN fantasy leagues.

Here are this week’s picks:

WAS (vs. STL) – In fact, WAS has good matchups for the next three weeks
NYJ (vs. CIN)

Last week’s picks:

Panthers: 0 PA, 3 SK, 2 INT, 1 FR = 16 fantasy points
Cardinals: 17 PA, 5 SK, 1 INT, 3 FR = 11 fantasy points