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.
The Broncos were 26th against the pass last season, so Carson Palmer has a favorable matchup assuming his ankle holds up…Joe Flacco plays at home against a Chiefs defense that gave up 238 passing yards and 1.3 pass TD last season. The second-year QB should also have a bit more freedom when it comes to throwing the ball now that he has a year of experience under his belt…Brett Favre faces the Browns, who gave up 204 passing yards and 1.2 pass TD last season…Matt Hasselbeck has a tasty matchup with the Rams, who allowed 217 passing yards and 1.3 pass TD last season…If you’re in a real bind, Matthew Stafford (@ NO), Chad Pennington (@ ATL) and Kyle Orton (@ CIN) also have nice matchups this week.
The Falcons were 25th against the run last season, so Ronnie Brown should find enough running room to grind out some nice numbers this week…Ray Rice looks like a very nice start against the Chiefs, who gave up 159 yard and 1.6 TD on the ground last season. It’s not clear just how many carries Rice will get, but even if he only gets 10-15 against the Chiefs, he should be worthy of a RB2 or flex start…If Pierre Thomas can go (unlikely), then start him. If not, start Mike Bell, who should have a nice game against the Lions’ perennially awful rush defense…The Rams were pretty bad against the run last year, so if you’re in a bind and have Julius Jones on your roster, he’s worth a shot.
New England wasn’t very good against the pass in 2008 (1.7 pass TD per game), so while Terrell Owens is probably a must-start, Lee Evans deserves a long look too…While Marques Colston is a must-start, Lance Moore also deserves consideration since he has a great matchup against the Lions…Derrick Mason looks like a nice start against a Chiefs defense that was pretty pathetic against the pass last season…Chad Ochocinco should be in all lineups, but Laveranues Coles and Chris Henry are also startable this week against a Broncos defense that really struggled against the pass in 2008…The Falcons had a tough time stopping the pass last season, so don’t be surprised if Ted Ginn has a nice game in Week 1…He hasn’t had a great preseason, but Josh Morgan has the opportunity to post good numbers against a Cardinals defense that yielded 36 receiving touchdowns last season. Isaac Bruce should have a nice game as well…He’s long been a fantasy tease, but Nate Burleson might have a nice game against a suspect Rams defense this week.
Leave Jake Delhomme on your bench this week. He faces the Eagles’ third-ranked pass defense and it probably won’t be pretty…The Colts only allowed six pass TD during the entire 2008 season, so David Garrard doesn’t look like a very good start this week…Matt Cassel should ride the pine this week against the Ravens. Not only does he have a bum knee, but he’s facing 2008’s 2nd-ranked pass defense. That’s not a good combination…This is probably not a good week to experiment with Jason Campbell in your starting lineup. He faces the Giants, who had the 8th-ranked pass defense last season.
Fred Jackson should get the starting nod with Marshawn Lynch suspended, but this week’s matchup against the Pats (who only allowed 8 rush TD in all of 2008) is a bad one…It looks like Minnesota’s “Williams Wall” is going to play, so that makes Jamal Lewis nothing but a benchwarmer this week…Larry Johnson faces a Baltimore defense that was #3 against the run in 2008. Don’t expect a big day from LJ…Given the crowded Tampa Bay backfield and the stingy Dallas defense, Derrick Ward doesn’t look like a very good start in Week 1.
Steve Smith is still a good start, but Muhsin Muhammad should probably ride the pine against a pretty stingy Eagles pass defense…The Colts aren’t good against the run, but they are capable of shutting down a passing game, so don’t expect Torry Holt or any of the other Jacksonville receivers to post good numbers this week…Washington was pretty stingy against wideouts last year, so Steve Smith, Domenik Hixon and Hakeem Nicks might struggle in Week 1.
