Author: John Paulsen (Page 821 of 937)

Every week in the Pregame, I’ll provide a few players to start and a few to bench. These recommendations are based on that player’s strength of schedule (SOS) for that particular week or that player’s specific situation.

I’m a strong advocate of always starting your studs, so I won’t be telling you about LaDainian Tomlinson’s tough matchup or how Peyton Manning and company will light it up against a bad defense. Anyone can make those calls. I’ll be discussing marginal fantasy starters – guys that can start for you, but only under certain circumstances.

START

MARK BRUNELL has been hot of late, throwing for 590 yards and four TD against only one pick in the last two games. Sure, the first of those games was against a bad Texans defense, but last week Brunell torched a normally stout Jacksonville defense. This week, he faces a Giants defense that has allowed 281 pass yards and 2.7 pass TDs per game. Even though Brunell has been known to disappear at times, this looks like a nice matchup…BRAD JOHNSON faces a Lions defense that has given up 282 pass yards and 2.5 pass TD per game. It’s a good week to start BJ and his #1 WR, TROY “STONE HANDS” WILLIAMSON…FRED TAYLOR has a nice matchup with a Jets D that has allowed 141 rush yards and 2 rush TD per game…GREG JENNINGS should get lots of work against the Rams, especially with Donald Driver hurting. Jennings is quickly becoming a trustworthy target for Brett Favre and that means lots and lots of targets for the talented rookie.

BENCH

Let’s see, JAKE PLUMMER had a week to think about how close he was to losing his job, and he gets to play the Ravens this week. Ouch…I think I’d also leave ALEX SMITH on the bench. It’s not that he’s not capable of torching the Oakland defense, I just don’t think he’ll have to. Teams have been able to run at will on the Raiders, so it doesn’t look like he’ll need to throw much…I don’t know that I’d bench him if I didn’t have a pretty good backup plan, but WILLIE PARKER faces a Chargers defense that has allowed the fewest fantasy points to opposing running backs this season…DERRICK MASON could have a quiet game against the Broncos, who have only allowed one score through the air thus far this season. This matchup has the feel of a low scoring defensive battle.

Check back Saturday for a complete injury update. In the meantime, if you have roster questions, be sure to post them on the Fantasy Q & A. We’re happy to give you a second opinion.

Week 4 has come and gone, which means that we’re one quarter the way through the fantasy season, making it a good time to hand out a few awards. These awards are based on a performance scoring league, such as this one at Antsports.com.

QUARTERBACKS

MVP: Donovan McNabb (29.2 ppg)
McNabb has been simply terrific thus far, and is probably the fantasy MVP regardless of position. Through the first four games, he’s averaging 312 pass yards, 2.25 TD, 22 rush yards, 0.5 rush TD, and just 0.25 INT. This yields a stellar QB rating of 106.0. Now that’s the way you bounce back from a disappointing season, though he may run into trouble if Brian Westbrook can’t stay healthy.

Honorable Mention: Eli Manning (23.9), Peyton Manning (22.7)

Biggest Surprise: Rex Grossman (20.9)
I almost awarded this to Frye, but Grossman’s numbers are a bit better and neither guy was really expected to do much this season. Grossman loves to throw the long ball, and he’s got three pretty good weapons in Muhsin Muhammad, Bernard Berrian and Desmond Clark. I don’t think these fantasy numbers will hold up once the temperatures drop and the wind really starts blowing at Soldier Field, but you can’t take anything away from the way he’s playing right now.

Honorable Mention: Charlie Frye (20.1), David Carr (19.8)

Biggest Disappointment: Aaron Brooks (3.1)
Two games, 6.2 total fantasy points. Brooks was selected in the middle rounds of a lot of drafts as a top backup or a borderline starter and he’s been awful thus far. Now he’s injured with no set timetable for return. I wonder if he wishes he was still in New Orleans…

Dishonorable Mention: Jake Plummer (11.1), Carson Palmer (16.6)

RUNNING BACKS

MVP: Larry Johnson (23.9)
I was ready to hand this award to Brian Westbrook, who averaged 29 points through the first three games, but he hung his owners out to dry Monday night when his knee swelled up, so I’m counting that goose egg in his average. LJ is running behind a KC offensive line that is a shell of what it once was, but he’s been consistent (20, 22, 30) thus far it doesn’t look like the O-line or the absence of Trent Green is really hurting him.

Honorable Mention: LaDainian Tomlinson (22.2), Brian Westbrook (21.8)

Biggest Surprise: Frank Gore (20.0)
Gore is a talented back, but I wasn’t expecting #4 RB numbers. His stats have gone down each week, so it will be interesting to see how he holds up the rest of the season. He has a long injury history, so Gore owners should handcuff Michael Robinson in case he goes down.

Honorable Mention: Laurence Maroney (15.3), Ahman Green (14.6)

Biggest Disappointment: LaMont Jordan (9.2)
Despite a wonderful game in Week 4, Jordan’s first quarter is still a disappointment as a whole. This guy was going in the middle of the first round, and he can’t even muster double digits for his owners. Last week’s game is encouraging, so hopefully we won’t see his name in this category at midseason.

Dishonorable Mention: Carnell Williams (9.3), Shaun Alexander (12.6)

WIDE RECEIVERS

MVP: Andre Johnson (20.8)
Houston is always behind, so it’s not a big surprise that AJ is getting a lot of passes thrown his way. The surprise is that he’s actually catching them. He’s definitely benefiting from the arrival of HC Gary Kubiak and Eric Moulds, while David Carr seems to be turning the corner. Finally, it looks like we’ll get to see how good this kid can be.

Honorable Mention: Torry Holt (19.3), Laveranues Coles (19.3)

Biggest Surprise: Marques Colston (17.9)
Don’t draft rookie WRs. Remember that rule? Well you can forget it. Between Colston and Greg Jennings, rookie WRs are alive and well. Colston has been especially productive, averaging 5 catches for 84 yards and 0.75 TD through the first four games. If you were wondering why the Saints traded away Donte Stallworth, this guy is the reason.

Honorable Mention: Bernard Berrian (16.3), Jerricho Cotchery (16.1)

Biggest Disappointment: Randy Moss (7.1)
Notice a trend here? Moss makes the third Raider to win this award in the first quarter. Moss’ performance has been especially bad. Through four games, he has seven catches for 84 yards and a TD. Those aren’t averages – those are his totals. What’s worse, he’s showing very little effort on the field and his body language doesn’t give the impression that he wants to do any better.

Dishonorable Mention: Hines Ward (8.3), Rod Smith (6.8)

TIGHT ENDS

MVP: Kellen Winslow (14.2)
The self-proclaimed “best TE in the league” has lived up to his own billing thus far, and has provided his young QB with a great target over the middle. If his knee holds up, the sky is the limit for this kid, if he just shuts his mouth.

Honorable Mention: Todd Heap (13.2), Tony Gonzalez (12.6)

Biggest Surprise: Desmond Clark (11.1)
Clark went undrafted in most leagues, but he’s shown flashes of good pass-catching ability during his career. He’s benefiting from the emergence of Rex Grossman and should continue to get enough balls thrown his way to finish in the top 10 at his position.

Honorable Mention: Bo Scaife (8.0), George Wrighster (7.0)

Biggest Disappointment: Antonio Gates (9.4)
Count me among those that took Gates in the third round, expecting Phillip Rivers to lean on him heavily in his first season. Thus far, ultra-conservative MartyBall has limited the production of both players and hopefully last week’s loss to Baltimore will convince the old coach to loosen the purse strings a little bit. Gates is one of the most devastating weapons in the league. The Chargers need to use him to take the pressure off of LT.

Dishonorable Mention: Chris Cooley (5.5), Randy McMichael (5.3), Jason Witten (6.2)

You’ve got roster questions, we’ve got answers, and occasionally they’re even the right ones.

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