Each week, I’ll 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 Carson Palmer or Steven Jackson 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 Vince Young, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.
START ‘EM
QB: The Raiders’ and Giants’ pass defenses are still reeling from their poor week 1 performances, so Jay Cutler and Brett Favre look like good starts, respectively, though Denver’s offense seemed to be more in synch than Green Bay’s…The Panthers had their way with the Rams (and Jake Delhomme threw for three scores) so Alex Smith might find more room to throw this week…Finally, Jeff Garcia has an enticing matchup with a Saints defense that looked downright awful against the Colts. If Carnell Williams is out, he might be forced to throw even more.
RB: Jamal Lewis should find the going a lot easier against the Bengals than he did in week 1 against the Steelers. Don’t expect a monster game, but 60-100 total yards and a score is a reasonable expectation. The Bengals gave up 150 total yards and a score to Willis McGahee and Musa Smith…Deuce McAllister (@ TB) and Brandon Jackson (@ NYG) also appear to have favorable matchups.
WR: Donald Driver was a little quiet last week (6 catches for 66 yards), but he should be able to create more space against a Giants’ secondary that yielded 345 passing yards to the Cowboys…Brandon Marshall looks like a good play against the Raiders, who were able to limit the Lions’ WR1, but had trouble with everyone else…Santonio Holmes should be able to have another nice day against the Bills, who gave up over 300 yards to the Broncos last week…Look for Darrell Jackson (@ STL) and Joey Galloway (vs. NO) to post solid numbers against suspect pass defenses.
SIT ‘EM
QB: There really aren’t any marginal starters with horrible matchups this week, but stay away from these bottom-of-the-barrell guys: Joey Harrington (@ JAC), Rex Grossman (vs. KC), Derek Anderson (vs. CIN) and Damon Huard (@ CHI). Those four defenses performed well against the pass last week. Of the four, Grossman probably has the best chance to put up decent numbers.
RB: Ahman Green has a tough matchup with a Carolina rush D that shut down Steven Jackson last week…I like Derrick Ward, but if Eli Manning is out, the Packers have a great shot to dominate the Giants’ offense. If Manning is able to go, then Ward becomes a mediocre play…It’s not likely that Chris Brown will repeat his week 1 heroics against the Colts, who shut down the most prolific offense of 2006.
WR: There aren’t too many marginal starters with bad matchups this week, but stay away from any of the WR2- or WR3-type guys on the Falcons (@ JAC), Bills (@ PIT), Jaguars (vs. ATL), Chiefs (@ CHI) and the Titans (vs. IND). Aside from Lee Evans, there isn’t a WR on those teams that I’d recommend starting.
SLEEPER OF THE WEEK
Jerious Norwood (@ JAC)
Norwood might surprise this week. He had some success against the Vikings and Bobby Petrino said earlier this week that they want to get him the ball more. One thing’s for sure, the Falcons don’t (or is it shouldn’t?) want Warrick Dunn carrying the ball 22 times. The Jacksonville defense gave up an uncharacteristic 241 rushing yards to Chris Brown and LenDale White in week 1, so unless they get things worked out in practice, the Falcons’ ground game could have a nice day.
TOUGH SLEDDING
Larry Johnson (@ CHI)
I’m not advocating benching him, but the Bears did a great job of containing LaDainian Tomlinson last week in San Diego, so they should have no problem limiting Larry Johnson at home. He’s bound to catch a few passes and is a good bet to score, but don’t expect a monster game.
