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.

LOVE ‘EM

QB: Trent Edwards (@ ARI) has an enticing matchup with a Cardinals defense that yielded six touchdowns to the Jets last week. Need I say more?…If you’re in a pinch, you could do worse than Kyle Orton (@ DET) who has thrown for an average of 234 passing yards and 2.5 TD over the past two weeks. Meanwhile, the Lions are pretty awful against the run. My only worry with Orton is that the Bears will get up by 10-14 points in the first half and try to sit on the lead…Chad Pennington (vs. SD) plays a Chargers secondary that is dead last against the pass (276 yards, 2.3 TD per game)…Likewise, Phillip Rivers (@ MIA) should be in your lineup as well. The Dolphins are 26th against the pass…Brian Griese (@ DEN) is another decent spot starter this week. The Broncos have yielded an average of 276 yards and 1.8 TD through the air this season.

RB: Earnest Graham (@ DEN) should be a good start against the Broncos, who have allowed 133 rushing yards and 1.3 TD per game. My main concern about Graham would be for the Broncos to jump out to a lead and John Gruden deciding to pass 60+ times again…Mewelde Moore (@ JAX) is a sneaky good start against a Jags defense that has been mediocre…Steve Slaton (vs. IND) has a tantalizing matchup with a Colts defense that is 31st in the league against the run (199 yards, 1.0 rush TD per game)…Jonathan Stewart (vs. KC) isn’t a bad start against the Chiefs, who have yielded 177 rushing yards and 1.5 rush TD per game.

WR: Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers (@ MIA) are both starter worthy this week against the Dolphins, who have been pretty bad against the pass. You’d think that Chambers especially would play well, so that he could stick it to his old team…DeSean Jackson (vs. WAS) faces a Redskins defense that is playing pretty well on the whole, but is 23rd against the pass…I like Bernard Berrian (@ NO) this week. He has been much more productive with Gus Frerotte under center and he faces a Saints defense that is 29th against the pass. Also, New Orleans is likely to put up some points, so it wouldn’t be surprising if the Vikings have to pass more than they’d like to…Both Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams (vs. CHI) are starter worthy this week against a Bears defense that is (surprisingly) 28th against the pass. The Lions have also said that they need to open up the offense more, so that should mean more targets for both players…Eddie Royal (vs. TB) faces a Bucs defense that has yielded 216 yards and 1.8 pass TD per game.

LEAVE ‘EM

QB: David Garrard (vs. PIT) hasn’t played all that well this season, though he had a good game last week. This week, he faces a tough Steelers defense that is 3rd in the league against the pass (162 yards, 1.0 TD per game)…It seems like Matt Schaub (vs. IND) might be in for a big game in a high-scoring affair, but the Colts have only allowed 141 yards per game through the air and have yet to allow a passing TD…Damon Huard (@ CAR) played well last week, but the Panthers are 7th in the league against the pass, so the odds are against another good game…J.T. O’Sullivan (vs. NE) has been solid this season, but I’m not optimistic against his chances against a Patriots defense that is good against the pass and has had two weeks to prepare.

RB: Chris Johnson is probably still worth starting, but LenDale White (vs. BAL) should find the going tough against a very good Ravens rush defense…Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor (vs. PIT) have a tough matchup against a Steelers defense that has yielded just 74 yards and 0.5 rush TD per game.

WR: Derrick Mason (@ TEN) has a rough matchup against a Titans defense that has given up an average of just 178 yards and 0.3 TD through the air…Matt Jones (vs. PIT) should probably ride the pine this week. The Steelers are tough against the pass…I like Justin Gage (vs. BAL) in general, but I wouldn’t start him this week against a good Ravens pass defense.

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:

CAR (vs. KC)
ARI (vs. BUF)

Last week’s picks:

Saints: 17 PA + 6 sacks + 2 INT + 1 FR = 11 fantasy points
Bengals: 20 PA + 1 sack + 1 INT + 1 FR = 3 fantasy points