Every week, I will 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 Adrian Peterson has a tough matchup – just go ahead and keep them in your lineup. Instead, 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 Tony Romo, 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.
Philip Rivers has a nice matchup with the Dolphins, who have struggled to stop the pass in each of the first two games. I worry a little bit about the Chargers’ inability to stop the run and how the Dolphins could eat up the clock, but Rivers is still a must-start in most formats this week…Through two weeks, Eli Manning is QB11, and has looked pretty sharp. Steve Smith and Mario Manningham are coming on, so he has some weapons to throw to. This week, he faces a Bucs defense that is 27th against the pass, allowing 282 passing yards and 2.5 pass TD per game…Trent Edwards should have a nice game against the Saints, who are likely to put up a lot of points and aren’t terribly good against the pass…Jake Delhomme actually looks like a pretty good start this week as he faces a Cowboys defense that has given up 303 yards and 1.5 pass TD per game this season. He’s still a shaky start, but if you’re in dire straits or play in a two-QB league, he’s worth a shot…Mark Sanchez has been solid thus far and with a matchup against the 32nd-ranked Tennessee pass defense, he should have a nice day…Jason Campbell didn’t throw a TD last week against the Rams, which is worrisome, but he has another great matchup this week. The Lions have given up eight pass TD through two games.
Clinton Portis should be started this week as he plays the Lions, who have given up an average of 135 rushing yards per game this season…Ray Rice and Willis McGahee should both be in lineups this week. They face the Browns, who have the 31st-ranked rush defense (206 yards per game). The Ravens should have a field day…Assuming he can hold off Beanie Wells for another week, Tim Hightower seems like a very good start against the Colts, who have one of the worst rush defenses in the league…Knowshon Moreno saw a bigger piece of the action in Week 2, so he should have a significant role in Week 3 against a suspect Raiders rush defense.
Mario Manningham and Steve Smith are almost must-starts against a Bucs defense that was torched by the Cowboys in Week 1 and didn’t fare much better against the Bills in Week 2…Jerricho Cotchery should be in all PPR lineups this week. The Jets face the Titans, who have the league’s worst pass defense through two games…Terrell Owens and Lee Evans should be good starts this week against the Saints, who have a tendency to jump out to a big lead. The Bills may be behind and Owens and Evans should rack up some yards as Buffalo tries to come back…The Browns aren’t going to be able to run on the Ravens, so they’ll have to pass, and that means Braylon Edwards should have a good game…Santana Moss has had a miserable start to the year, but a date with the Lions could fix that. If he doesn’t have a big game this week, he should probably ride the bench until he wakes up…Kevin Walter (if he plays) could be a good start against the Jags, who are 26th in the league against the pass. If he can’t go Andre Davis or Jacoby Jones (whoever starts opposite Andre Johnson) would be a sneaky good start.
It doesn’t seem like a bad matchup for Brett Favre, but the 49ers have only allowed two pass TD through two games. Look elsewhere if you can…He’s still startable, but Kurt Warner probably won’t post his usual numbers due to a very bad matchup against the Colts, who have only allowed 139 pass yards per game and have yet to give up a pass TD (partly because they are so bad against the run)…There are a number of lower-level QBs that have tough matchups this week: Matthew Stafford (vs. WAS), JaMarcus Russell (vs. DEN), Shaun Hill (@ MIN), Byron Leftwich (vs. NYG) and Kerry Collins (@ NYJ).
Stay away from the Cleveland RBs this week against the Ravens’ top-ranked rush defense…With the Bears coming to town, don’t expect a big game out of Julius Jones, who struggled last week and is fighting off Justin Forsett…They’re still somewhat startable, but Thomas Jones and Leon Washington aren’t likely to find much rushing room against a Tennessee defense that is excellent against the run, yielding just 1.9 yards per carry. Washington may be able to make some headway in the passing game, however…Cedric Benson has been great thus far (RB12), but with the Steelers coming to town, he should probably hit the bench. Pittsburgh has the 8th-best rush defense in the league and has yet to yield a rushing TD…
I’d still start him in most situations, but don’t expect Roddy White to have a career day against a Pats defense that has done a nice job of taking away their opponents’ wide receivers this year…Bernard Berrian doesn’t yet have great chemistry with Brett Favre, and I don’t think he’s going to find it this week against a pretty gritty 49ers defense…I would avoid all of the mediocre fantasy wideouts that play for the Titans (Justin Gage and Nate Washington), 49ers (Isaac Bruce and Josh Morgan) and Buccaneers (Michael Clayton) this week, as the matchups aren’t good and none of the WRs are dependable enough to overcome a bad matchup.
