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 suggest you bench Drew Brees or Adrian Peterson because they have tough matchups – 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.
Mike Vick has another favorable matchup this week against the Jags, who rank 29th in the league against the pass…Carson Palmer has numerous weapons to throw to, and he’ll have a chance to utilize all of them this week against the Panthers, who have yielded 218 yards and 2.5 TDs per game through the first two weeks…Brett Favre hasn’t looked very good this season, and he may be without Percy Harvin, who is battling a hip injury and migraines. But he faces the Lions (305 yards, 2.0 TD per game), so if he can’t post good numbers this week, things are very bad in Minnesota…Need a deep sleeper? Ryan Fitzpatrick takes over as the Bills starter, and he’ll likely have to throw a ton too keep up with the Pats, who have showed quite a bit of vulnerability against the pass…I think David Garrard will have a bounce-back game against the Eagles (at home, where he plays well). Philly figures to score well, so Garrard will have to pass to keep up.
Knowshon Moreno is a must start this week against the Colts, who are last in the league against the rush…He has struggled so far this season, but Maurice Jones-Drew has a great matchup against the Eagles, who gave up a ton of yards to Jahvid Best last week…Pierre Thomas should be in all lineups this week. Not only does he face the Falcons’ 26th ranked rush defense, but Reggie Bush is out, so he’s going to see more snaps…Darren McFadden figures to continue his strong run against the Cardinals, who have given up 153 yards and 1.0 TD in the running game through two weeks…The Jags have yielded three rushing TDs in the first two weeks, so LeSean McCoy figures to have a nice game…In a pinch? Ryan Mathews has a high ankle sprain, so I doubt he’s going to play against the Seahawks this week. That means Mike Tolbert will get most of his carries and Darren Sproles should see a bit more action as well.
DeSean Jackson and Jeremy Maclin are in line for nice numbers against a Jacksonville pass defense that really struggled against Denver and San Diego the last two weeks…I wrote about the possibility that Lee Evans might break out with the change at QB, and he has a nice matchup this week with a New England secondary that has struggled in the first two games. He’d be a decent WR3/flex in a pinch…Chad Ochocinco and Terrell Owens should definitely be in lineups this week as the Panthers have given up five pass TDs so far this season. Jordan Shipley is also worth a look in PPR leagues…Dez Bryant is worth a start if he can go, and if he can’t, then Roy Williams is worth a look in deeper leagues. The Texans are pretty awful against the pass and one or the other is likely to have a nice game in what looks like a Lone Star Shootout…The Lions’ pass defense is bad, so look for Percy Harvin (if he plays), Bernard Berrian and/or Greg Camarillo to have a nice game…Louis Murphy went off after Bruce Gradkowski took over at QB last week, and he has a nice matchup against the Cardinals this week…Look for Mark Clayton to have a good week against the Redskins, who have yielded an average of 373 yards and 2.0 passing TDs over the first two weeks. Danny Amendola is also worth a look in deeper PPR leagues…Santana Moss is likely to have a great game against the Rams, who rank 24th against the pass thus far.
Kyle Orton has played well this season, but the Broncos will probably take a page from the Texans’ handbook and focus on the run, since the Colts are pretty good against the pass…The Titans have only allowed an average of 86 yards and 0.5 TD through the air, but they’ve gone up against Jason Campbell and Charlie Batch, who aren’t exactly in the same league as Eli Manning. Still, don’t expect Eli to go off this week. (In other words, he’s startable, but if you have a better option, use it.)…Don’t expect a repeat performance from Mark Sanchez against the Dolphins. Miami doesn’t have the secondary problems that the Pats have…The Chargers have been very good against the pass (171 yards, 1.0 TD allowed), so Matt Hasselbeck isn’t likely to have a big game even though he’s at home this week…I like Josh Freeman, but with the Steelers coming to town knowing they have to offset an offense that’s struggling, I’m not optimistic about the Tampa Bay passing game this week…He’s still startable in a pinch, but Matt Ryan is going into a tough environment this week as he faces a Saints defense that has only yielded two TDs in two games.
Marion Barber and Felix Jones figure to have quiet weeks yet again as the Cowboys take advantage of a weak Houston pass defense…Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams figure to struggle against the Jets’ formidable rush defense, which has yielded just 51 yards per game on the ground this season (along with just one rush TD)…I’d leave Carnell Williams on the bench this week against an excellent Steeler rush defense that is playing inspired football right now…He’s still startable in PPR leagues, but Brandon Jackson is unlikely to find many running lanes against the Bears, who own the #1 rush defense in the league through two weeks.
Wideouts haven’t done a whole lot against the Packers through two weeks, so Johnny Knox and Devin Hester may not live up to expectations this week…Mohammed Massaquoi should stay on the bench this week — the Ravens shut down Mark Sanchez and Carson Palmer, so it’s doubtful that Seneca Wallace will be able to do much this week…I’m not expecting much from the Jets’ passing game, so that means Braylon Edwards and Jerricho Cotchery should probably be shelved this week against a very tough Miami defense…Who’s the #1 WR in Seattle? Mike Williams, Deon Butler or Deion Branch? No matter, they should all be benched this week against a pretty good Charger pass defense.
