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 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.
LOVE ‘EM
QB: Jason Campbell faces the Seahawks, who are 31st in the league against the pass (265 yards, 1.5 pass TD per game), so he should be in store for a nice day…Brady Quinn has a great matchup with a Houston defense that is tied for third in most passing TD allowed on the season. Quinn had a great first start, but didn’t throw a TD against the Bills last week. I’d feel more confident in this play if Kellen Winslow is healthy enough to play…Gus Frerotte faces a Jaguars defense that has allowed the 2nd most passing TD in the league. Frerotte has been a solid fantasy QB since he took over in Minnesota but many fantasy owners are still scared to use him..Kerry Collins has posted good fantasy numbers in the last two games as teams try to gang up on LenDale White and Chris Johnson. This week, he faces a Jets defense that has allowed 240 passing yards and 1.4 pass TD per game…Jeff Garcia faces a Detroit defense that is 23rd in the league against the pass. They played pretty well against the Panthers last week, but on the season the Lions have been dreadful.
RB: Matt Forte (@ STL), Marshawn Lynch (@ KC), Marion Barber (vs. SF) and LaDainian Tomlinson (vs. IND) all have great matchups and should be in your starting lineup…Jamal Lewis faces a Houston defense that has yielded an average of 133 rushing yards and 1.5 rush TD per game this season. He has had a rough schedule thus far, but he should be able to find the endzone this week…It’s always dicey starting a Denver running back, but Peyton Hillis seems to be Mike Shanahan’s current favorite and he has a great matchup with the Raiders’ 30th-ranked rush defense…With Earnest Graham on IR and Cadillac Williams working his way back, Warrick Dunn is a sleeper this week against a Lions rush defense that gave up more than 200 yards to the Panthers last week. They’re so bad that they’ve overtaken the Chiefs as the worst rush defense in the league.
WR: The Giants pass defense is pretty good on the whole, but they’ve given up some points to wide receivers, so don’t think about benching Anquan Boldin or Larry Fitzgerald…Santana Moss has been spotty at times, but give him a start this week against the Seahawks, who have given up the second most yards in the passing game this season…Given the Jaguars propensity to give up pass TD (18 on the season), Bernard Berrian should be in lineups this week even though he’s been quiet the last couple of games…Plaxico Burress has only 10 catches in the last four games, but the Giants will need him against a Cardinals team that should put up some points. It doesn’t hurt that Arizona has given up a league-leading 19 pass TD on the season…Greg Jennings is a no-brainer this week against the Saints, but try to find room for Donald Driver in your lineup as well, assuming he’s able to practice this week…Antonio Bryant should start this week as he faces a Lions defense that has allowed some big games to receivers this season…Andre Johnson is a weekly must-start, but Kevin Walter is also startable against a Browns pass defense that is 19th in the league…Torry Holt has had a rough season, but he has an outside shot at a big game against a Bears defense that has struggled against the pass.
LEAVE ‘EM
QB: Matt Ryan has been solid this season, especially for a rookie, but this week he faces the 5th-ranked Panthers pass defense that has yielded an average of 185 yards and 0.8 TD per game, so Ryan may find the going rough…Minnesota’s pass defense isn’t that great yardage-wise (21st-ranked), but they have only given up eight TD in 10 games, so the odds are against David Garrard having a multiple-TD day…I’d leave Matt Hasselbeck on the bench another week. The 10th-ranked Redskins pass defense has been solid all year and Hass didn’t look that great in his first game back…They’re still startable, but Phillip Rivers and Brett Favre have tough matchups against the Colts and the Titans, respectively, so lower those expectations…If you’re desperate, don’t turn to the likes of Daunte Culpepper (vs. TB) or Ryan Fitzpatrick (@ PIT) as neither guy has a good (or even decent) matchup.
RB: I’d try to stay away from Cedric Benson this week as he faces the #1-ranked Pittsburgh rush defense…Kevin Smith also has a bad matchup against a Bucs defense that has only given up ONE rush TD all season…Julius Jones may be getting most of the carries in Seattle, but with the Redskins’ 5th-ranked rush defense coming to town, he’s not a good start this week…Sammy Morris seems like he’s all the way back, but the Dolphins have the league’s 9th-ranked rush defense, so I wouldn’t expect a big game…These guys are still startable, but they have bad matchups so adjust your expectations accordingly: Tim Hightower (vs. NYG), Michael Turner (vs. CAR), Brandon Jacobs (@ ARI, assuming he plays) and Brian Westbrook (@ BAL).
WR: While Roddy White is pretty much a must-start every week, I wouldn’t start Michael Jenkins as the Falcons face a pretty tough Carolina pass defense…None of the Jacksonville receivers are worth starting this week. The Minnesota pass defense may give up some yards, but they have only allowed eight pass TD all season…I’d leave Vincent Jackson and Chris Chambers on the bench this week. The Colts pass defense has been excellent this season…It’s not the week to gamble on any of the Seattle wideouts. The Washington pass defense is in the top 10 in both yards and TD allowed…They’re still startable, but lower your expectations for the Jets’ and Saints’ WRs, who face the Titans and Packers, respectively.
DTBWW
Welcome to the world of Defensive Team By Waiver Wire (DTBWW). 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 40% of ESPN fantasy leagues.
This week’s picks:
DAL (vs. SF)
DEN (vs. OAK)
(I feel a LOT better about Dallas than I do Denver.)
Last week’s picks:
Dolphins: 15 PA + 6 SK = 8 fantasy points
49ers: 16 PA + 4 SK + 2 INT + 1 FR = 9 fantasy points
DTBWW got back on track this week.
New Orleans was one of the best teams in the league last season. Chris Paul played at a MVP level and David West blossomed into a bona fide All-Star. Tyson Chandler turned into one of the best defensive centers in the league and the team got solid play from Peja Stojakovic and Morris Peterson. Over the second half of the season (and the playoffs) it looked like Julian Wright was turning into a starter-quality player right before our eyes.
