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.
Brett Favre should have a big game against a Bears secondary that has been really spotty, especially lately…Despite leaving the game early last week, Kurt Warner still looks like a nice start against a Titans defense that is ranked 31st against the pass…Carson Palmer faces a Cleveland defense that is yielding 247 yards and 1.5 pass TD per game…Matt Hasselbeck has a nice matchup with the Rams’ 24th-ranked pass defense….In five starts, Alex Smith is averaging 207 yards and 1.8 pass TD, and with the Jags’ 25th-ranked pass defense coming to down, he should have a nice day…Matt Ryan has been struggling of late, and the Bucs pass defense is somewhat improved, but he is still a pretty good start…Desperate? Josh Freeman (@ ATL) and Ryan Fitzpatrick (vs. MIA) both have nice matchups this week.
There’s a good chance that Ricky Williams destroys the Bills’ 31st-ranked rush defense. He looked great last week against Carolina, and Buffalo is actually worse against the run…The Panthers are 26th against the rush, so Thomas Jones should have another solid outing…Ryan Grant has been solid of late and has a good matchup against the Lions. He might get a lot of work as the Packers try to run the clock down in the second half…Michael Turner is back at (limited) practice, so if he plays, he has a great matchup against Carolina’s 26th-ranked rush defense. If he can’t go, then Jason Snelling would be a great start…Cedric Benson and Bernard Scott are in a similar situation with a great matchup with a Browns defense that has given up an average of 155 yards and 1.3 TD on the ground this season. Whoever gets the start should have a nice game…LaDainian Tomlinson figures to have a nice fantasy day against a Kansas City defense that has given up an average of 139 yards and 0.9 TD on the ground this season…If Julius Jones plays, I wouldn’t start Justin Forsett, but if Jones misses another game, Forsett looks like a great start against the Rams’ 28th-ranked rush defense…Marion Barber hasn’t found the endzone in the last three weeks, but the Raiders rush defense is terrible, so he’s in line for a solid performance…Desperate? Danny Ware is a sneaky good start against the Broncos, who have struggled against the run, especially lately. Ahmad Bradshaw isn’t going to play on Thursday and Brandon Jacobs is nicked up, so Ware could see extensive action.
Vincent Jackson is a no-brainer start this week against the Chiefs…Mike Sims-Walker is a nice start against a San Francisco defense that is ranked 30th against the pass…Anquan Boldin has had kind of an uneven year, but he seems healthy now and has a great matchup with the Titans this week…Roddy White needs to be in all lineups as he faces the Bucs’ suspect pass defense…Greg Jennings and Donald Driver face the Lions on Thanksgiving. The only concern is that Detroit can’t keep the game close enough to force the Packers to stay aggressive…Michael Crabtree should be able to build on his solid performance against the Packers with a tasty matchup against the Jags…Seattle has struggled against the pass of late, so Donnie Avery and Brandon Gibson are sneaky good starts, even if they have Kyle Boller throwing to them…For the desperate, the Tennessee WRs — namely Nate Washington and Kenny Britt — have a good matchup against the Cards, who are ranked 27th against the pass.
Avoid Mark Sanchez this week. Carolina’s pass defense has been pretty good, and the Jets should be able to run the ball, so Sanchez is unlikely to have a big day…On the flip side, Jake Delhomme is a bad play against a stingy Jets pass defense…They’re all still startable, but Donovan McNabb (vs. WAS), Eli Manning (@ DEN) and Joe Flacco (vs. PIT) all have less than stellar matchups this week.
If Marshawn Lynch is a go, I’d stay away from the Buffalo running game against a pretty good Dolphins rush defense. If he doesn’t play, Fred Jackson would be a decent start, especially in PPR leagues…Don’t start Jamal Lewis this week for two reasons: (1) he’s not very good and (2) the Bengals have the league’s 2nd-ranked rush defense…The Chargers have been surprisingly good against the run in recent weeks, so Jamaal Charles isn’t a great start…There are a number of good backs with bad matchups this week. There’s still startable, but be warned — Ray Rice (PIT), DeAngelo Williams (@ NYJ), Matt Forte (@ MIN), Kevin Smith (GB), Steve Slaton (IND), Joseph Addai (@ HOU) and the NO RBs (NE).
They’re still startable, but Steve Smith 1.0 (@ NYJ), Miles Austin (vs. OAK), DeSean Jackson (vs. WAS) and Marques Colston (vs. NE) have difficult matchups this week…Braylon Edwards hasn’t been very good lately, and with a tough matchup against the Jets’ 4th-ranked pass defense, he should be avoided…Santana Moss should also ride the pine. The Eagles have been pretty stout against the pass, especially lately.
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