Each week in the Pregame, I’ll provide a few players to start and a few to bench. These recommendations are based on that player’s strength of schedule (SOS) for that particular week or that player’s specific situation.
I’m a strong advocate of always starting your studs, so I won’t be telling you about LaDainian Tomlinson’s tough matchup or how Peyton Manning and company will light it up against a bad defense. Anyone can make those calls. I’ll be discussing marginal fantasy starters – guys that can start for you, but only under certain circumstances.
START
If you’re in a pinch, JEFF GARCIA, AARON BROOKS, VINCE YOUNG and BEN ROETHLISBERGER have very nice matchups against the Redskins, Bengals, Texans and Browns, respectively…CEDRIC HOUSTON and LADELL BETTS have very nice matchups this week, though neither guy is a sure thing…MIKE FURREY, DEION BRANCH and EDDIE KENNISON are marginal starters with attractive matchups against the Vikings, Cardinals and Ravens, respectively.
BENCH
It may not be a bad idea to sit MARC BULGER, JASON CAMPBELL and JOEY HARRINGTON this week due to their tough matchups against the Bears, Eagles and Patriots, respectively…It’s tough to bench JOSEPH ADDAI after his huge game two weeks ago, but he’s got a tough matchup with the Jags. The same goes for REGGIE BUSH, who faces a Cowboys defense who is very stout against RBs…SANTANA MOSS and MATT JONES will probably find the going tough against the Eagles and Colts – both teams are pretty stingy against WRs.
INJURY UPDATE (THURSDAY GAME)
JASON WRIGHT and REUBEN DROUGHNS will continue to split carries and both players should be avoided if possible…CHARLIE FRYE is listed as questionable with a bone bruise and will try to practice today. DEREK ANDERSON would start in his place if Frye can’t go…KELLEN WINSLOW is listed as questionable (knee) but is expected to play on Thursday against the Steelers…SANTONIO HOLMES should start on Thursday in place of the injured HINES WARD and CEDRICK WILSON.
