Every week, I submit six names to our readers – three borderline fantasy players to start and three to bench. Here’s how I did last week:
START
Jake Plummer, DEN – 194 yards, 1 TD (PUSH)
Plummer didn’t put up big numbers, but he was efficient and didn’t throw any picks.
Chris Brown, TEN – 37 rushing yards, 0 TD (MISS)
Brown left the game with a neck stinger.
Az-Zahir Hakim, NO – 6 catches, 100 yards, 1 TD (HIT)
Hakim is a great play as long as Horn is injured.
BENCH
Michael Vick, ATL – 116 pass yards, 3 INT, 18 rushing yards, 2 TDs (MISS)
The league’s most inaccurate passer threw three picks but managed to run for two scores.
Jamal Lewis, BAL – 34 rushing yards, 0 TDs (HIT)
Lewis has been awful. Is it time for Chester Taylor?
Mushin Muhammad, CAR – 3 catches, 39 yards (HIT)
Muhammad is wasting away in the Bears’ lowly passing attack.
On to this week’s picks:
START
QB – Drew Brees, SD (vs. KC)
Brees should be able to pick apart a Kansas City defense that is giving up 264 yards a game. They are also 7th worst in TD passes allowed (10).
RB – Ronnie Brown, MIA (vs. NO)
The Saints rush defense is quite suspect, giving up 10 rushing TDs and an average of 126 yards per game. Brown has been pretty good the last two weeks and should have lots of room to run against New Orleans.
WR – Jimmy Smith, JAX (vs. STL)
The Rams are horrible against the pass, allowing an average of 246 yards a game. They are 2nd worst at allowing pass TDs (14). Jimmy is coming off a bye week and should be able to shred the St. Louis defense.
BENCH
QB – Eli Manning, NYG (vs. WAS)
The Redskins are stingy against the pass, allowing only four pass TDs all year along with 158 yards a game. It could be a tough game for Manning, who should sit on the pine if you have another decent play.
RB – Steven Jackson, STL (vs. JAX)
If you a good alternative, Jackson should be benched (especially in touchdown leagues) against an underrated Jacksonville defense, which has allowed a healthy 120 yards per game, but has only allowed two rushing scores.
WR – Derrick Mason, BAL (vs. PIT)
Pittsburgh is pretty good against the pass, allowing just 206 yards through the air. They are even better at keeping opposing WRs out of the endzone (four pass TDs).
KEY INJURIES
Andre Johnson – Q
Antonio Gates – Q
Az-Zahir Hakim – Q
Brandon Jones – Q
Brandon Lloyd – P
Carnell Williams – Q
Chris Brown – Q
Chris Henry – P
Corey Dillon – Q
Donovan McNabb – P
Donte Stallworth – Q
DeShaun Foster – Q
Drew Bennett – O
Ed Reed – O
Fred Taylor – P
Hines Ward – P
Isaac Bruce – D
Jake Plummer – P
Jamie Martin – P
Jerome Bettis – P
Joe Horn – Q
Julius Jones – Q
Kurt Warner – P
Lee Suggs – O
Marc Bulger – D
Mark Brunell – P
Plaxico Burress – Q
Randy Moss – Q
Ray Lewis – O
Robert Ferguson – O
Roy Williams – Q
Rudi Johnson – P
Samie Parker – Q
Steve McNair – Q
Terrell Owens – P
Thomas Jones – P
Tom Brady – P
Tony Fisher – P
Torry Holt – D
