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Defensive Team By Committee (DTBC) can be an effective approach in fantasy football. While other teams spend middle round draft picks on the Ravens or Bears, an owner going DTBC will wait until the final rounds to grab a mediocre defense with a good matchup in week 1. As the season wears on, they’ll pickup defenses week to week depending on the matchup, because a mediocre defense with a great matchup is as good of a play as a great defense with a mediocre matchup.

Here are a few defenses that have nice matchups this week and are available in at least 40% of ESPN leagues (in order of strength of play):

ARI (vs. SF), KC (vs. OAK), SEA (@ STL), IND (@ ATL), OAK (@ KC) and DEN (@ CHI)

Last week’s sleeper, Kyle Boller, got off to an awful start, but finished with 279 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. That’s about 16 FP in a standard performance league. Not bad for a guy that was widely available on the waiver wire heading into last week’s game. This week’s sleeper is…

Kolby Smith, Chiefs (vs. OAK)
With Larry Johnson and Priest Holmes sidelined, KC’s RB1 job goes to Kolby Smith, who will try to hold down the fort against a terrible Raiders rush defense. Oakland has yielded an average of 144 yards and 1.4 TD on the ground this season, so Smith should be good for 70-100 yards and a score.

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 Carson Palmer 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 Ben Roethlisberger, only do so if you have a clearly better option on your bench.

START ‘EM

QB: Matt Schaub has a terrific matchup against the Browns, who have the league’s 31st rated pass defense. They have allowed a staggering 273 yards and 2.4 TD through the air this season, so Schaub should have a big day…J.P. Losman actually has a sneaky good matchup against the Jags, who have been pretty weak against the pass of late. On the season, they’ve allowed 244 passing yards per game…For those desperate at QB, Vinny Testaverde is the starter this week for the Panthers, who have a great matchup against the Saints…Eli Manning (vs. MIN), David Garrard (vs. BUF) and Vince Young (@ CIN) have good matchups as well.

RB: Jamal Lewis has a great matchup against the Texans, who have allowed 124 yards and 0.9 TD on the ground this season…Whoever starts for the Broncos (Travis Henry or Selvin Young) will have a nice matchup against the Bears, who have struggled against the run all season…Marion Barber faces a Jets defense that has allowed a league-worst 152 yards per game on the ground.

WR: It feels strange to type this, but Steve Smith is likely to play this week making him a good start against the Saints, who are pretty bad against the pass…Arnaz Battle is a sneaky good start against the Cardinals, especially in PPR leagues…Lee Evans (@ JAX), Plaxico Burress (vs. MIN), Brandon Jones (@ CIN) and Bernard Berrian (vs. DEN) also have nice matchups this week.

SIT ‘EM

QB: Brodie Croyle faces another difficult test this week as he faces the Raiders, who have allowed just 183 yards and 0.9 TD through the air this season…Byron Leftwich/Joey Harrington (vs. IND), Jason Campbell (@ TB), John Beck (@ PIT) and Kyle Boller (@ SD) also have tough matchups this week.

RB: Jesse Chatman faces a stout Steelers defense that has yielded just 72 yards and 0.2 TD per game on the ground this season…DeShaun Foster may find the going tough against the Saints, who have been playing better rush defense of late…LenDale White (@ CIN), Maurice Morris (@ STL) and Thomas Jones (@ DAL) also face hot rush defenses this week.

WR: The Packers are adept at holding opposing WRs down, so don’t expect a huge day out of Roy Williams, though he’s still worth the start. Calvin Johnson becomes a marginal starter in most fantasy leagues…Dwayne Bowe has had a great season, but he’s going up against the Raiders secondary and Nnamdi Asomugha, one of the top corners in the league…On Thursday night, Roddy White has a tough matchup against the Colts, who have allowed just 165 yards and 0.9 TD through the air this season.