Who To Start, Who To Sit–Week 10
Quarterbacks
Start: Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings. Quickly becoming one of my favorite fantasy quarterbacks, Rodgers has put all of the criticism to bed at the start of the season with the Favre fiasco. Rodgers showed last week that even against tough defenses like Tennessee he can put up good stats as he threw for over 300 yards and a touchdown. It will most likely be a typical hard fought NFC North battle between the Vikes and Pack, but look for Rodgers to throw for at least 250 yards and two scores.
Start: Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers vs. Oakland Raiders. Delhomme has had two touchdown passes in three of his last four games and hasn’t thrown an interception in two straight. This week they play the Raiders, who as usual are in turmoil. Not only have they already fired their coach and were shutout last week by the Falcons, but now there are reports that they are considering some mass cuts of some of their veteran players like DeAngelo Hall and Javon Walker. The Raiders are a TOTAL mess, and Delhomme and the Panthers should be able to take advantage.
Sit: Marc Bulger, St. Louis Rams vs. New York Jets. Even though the Rams have started to play better lately (outside of the 2nd quarter last week), Bulger’s stats really aren’t coming around. He’s only thrown multiple touchdowns once this season and has three games with no scores. The Jets do give up some points, but their secondary is great with Kerry Rhodes, Darrelle Revis, and Dwight Lowery. Not only are they good at covering, but are playmakers, and Bulger will most likely get picked off more than once. He might throw for 200 yards, but I see a max of one touchdown and multiple turnovers as the pass rush will keep him on the run all afternoon.
Sit: Eli Manning, New York Giants vs. Philadelphia Eagles. Eli is having a great season, but he has consistently struggled against the Eagles in his career (like many do!). In nine total games he has averaged just over 210 yards per game and has as many interceptions (eight) as touchdowns over his career. This will be a hard fought defensive struggle, and I don’t see him throwing anymore than one score.
Running Backs
Start: Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Detroit Lions. OK, he has been a colossal disappointment, but if you don’t start him against the Lions, when are you going to put him into your starting lineup? The yardage hasn’t been great, but he has scored four times in the last four games. The Lions are fantasy gold for any of your players, so start Jones-Drew with confidence, and he should reward you with another score.
Start: Thomas Jones, New York Jets vs. St. Louis Rams. Those of you who email me know that I am not a fan of Thomas Jones at all. However, when the matchup looks this good, I can’t suggest against playing him if he is on your roster. Jones has scored in three of the last four games, and in the one he didn’t score he ran for almost 160 yards. With Favre’s inconsistency of late, it appears that the Jets are leaning more on their running game and against a Rams defense that allows over 150 yards a game on the ground and has allowed 12 rushing touchdowns. Jones is a good play this week.
Sit: Ryan Grant, Green Bay Packers vs. Minnesota Vikings. After a horrible start to the season, Grant has rushed for over 80 yards for four straight weeks. However, the Vikings run defense is no joke, and I see the Packers trying to win this game through the air. Minnesota is second in the league against the run with less than 70 yards per game, but I don’t even see Grant getting there. Look for no more than 50 yards and no touchdowns this week.
Sit: Steve Slaton, Houston Texans vs. Baltimore Ravens. The Ravens are the number one defense against the run, allowing less than 65 yards a game. Not only do they keep the runner with a low number of yards, but they have only allowed one rushing touchdown all season long. Slaton has had one of the more impressive rookie seasons on the ground, or at least the most unexpected, but this will not be a good game for him. He has had a couple good games against tough defenses, but the Ravens just beat your ass and I don’t see Slaton getting anymore than the 65 that the Ravens normally give up.
Wide Receivers
Start: Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City Chiefs vs. San Diego Chargers. Even with the tremendous turnover in quarterback play for the Chiefs this season Dwayne Bowe has been putting together a good season. All of a sudden, Tyler Thigpen has started to look like he knows what he is doing. Thigpen isn’t turning into Tom Brady by any stretch, but the Chargers are the worst defense against the pass and this is a great week to start Bowe. He needs to start scoring a few more touchdowns, but this is a good a week as any to expect him to catch at least six passes and one of them being in the end zone.
Start: Ted Ginn Jr., Miami Dolphins vs. Seattle Seahawks. This guy could be one of the next explosive receivers. Many fantasy players went and picked him up after his 175 yard game two weeks ago. He could have been jettisoned back to the free agent wire after his three catch disappointment last week. Ginn has shown the ability to break a short pass all the way, and he is exciting every time he touches the ball. Chad Pennington is starting to look his way, and I think that Ginn could have a great second half. Seattle is second worst against the pass and has allowed 13 passing touchdowns already this season, Ginn and Pennington look to add to that this week.
Sit: Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh Steelers vs. Indianapolis Colts. Big Ben is hurting, Byron Leftwich looks to be the starter this week, and the Colts have been a great defense against the pass. Despite the touchdown last week, Holmes has been a disappointment this week. The Steelers passing game has been just a shell of what it was last week when Roethlisberger threw 31 touchdowns. The Colts have been solid all season long, and allow just over 180 yards per game through the air. However, the most impressive stat is that they have only allowed two aerial scores in eight games, so don’t expect Holmes to find pay dirt in Week 10.
Sit: DeSean Jackson, Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants. Yardage-wise the Giants are the second best defense against the pass, and I see this upcoming NFC East showdown to be a low scoring, smashmouth game. Despite his punt return capabilities, Jackson’s stats have started to diminish some since the Eagles have gotten healthy. With the return of Kevin Curtis and Reggie Brown, Jackson has just five catches in the past two weeks, and you can expect another tough game for DeSean again this week. He will catch a handful of passes, but look for a better option on your roster for this coming week.
Tight End
Start: Bo Scaife, Tennessee Titans vs. Chicago Bears. With Kerry Collins “managing” the game, Scaife has been a great security blanket for him. The Titans do not have a dynamic passing game, but that actually favors the tight end. The Titans don’t have a vertical passing game, and like to find the tight end over the middle. The Bears are actually third worst against the pass, and Scaife has a good chance of scoring this week.
Sit: Greg Olsen, Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans. The Titans are winning games by running the football and a stone cold tough defense. With Kyle Orton likely out of the game, the ever inconsistent Rex Grossman will be behind center, and with that most likely comes inconsistency in the Bears offense. Olsen has been one of the best of the next level of tight ends this year, but with a change in QB and a stiff defense, this doesn’t look like a good week to start Olsen.
As always, your comments and questions (adds/drops, trade advice, lineup questions, etc.) are welcome at fightingchancefantasy@gmail.com. I guarantee a response within 18 hours.
I play in a ten team PPR league that awards bonus points for the length of td’s. I have two possibilities for the game tomorrow and I wanted to get some feedback.
Which WR:
Braylon Edwards vs. Broncos
Eddie Royal at Browns
Dwayne Bowe at Chargers
Which DST:
Cardinals vs. 49ers
Jags at Detroit
I hate to sit Braylon and I hate to start him given the QB situation and his boom or bust potential but a great matchup. Bowe is safe but I really need to get a W this week and the Chargers are playing at home with a new D Coordinator and coming off a bye. Thanks for the help.
Dave,
Your WR choice is tough. I would think that if someone is going to score a long TD it will most likely be Braylon or Royal. However, chances are that Bowe will have the most catches. The sexiest pick would be Braylon. The guy most capable of having a HUGE game is Braylon. The safe pick is Bowe. My only concern is that last year if I remember correctly the majority of those Thursday games were sloppy and low scoring. But you seem like a risk taker, so go ahead and play Braylon.
Neither defense gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling, but I would go with Arizona just because they get more sacks and turnovers than Jax. I think they both will give up some points, but I think the Cardinals will get you more points outside of points allowed.
What do you think?
Ryan
Hey ryan,
OK.. I have 2 QB spots and 5 guys…. Cutler, Philip Rivers, Aaron Rogers, Brett, or Chad Pennington???? Who should I put in??
I have 3 TE to choose from. Fasano, greg olsen, Zack Miller???? who do I put in I have 1 spot only????
WR i have Plaxico, Marvin, Royal, Donnie Avery, Roddie White, Colston or chad johnson????? I have 4 spots????????????
Def Buffalo or the Jets????
Thanks man. I think the Cards are a good start this week the niners are prone to turnovers and they are a different team at home. I think Bowe is safer but I also think that if he can catch the ball Braylon is a better WR. Well, he has averaged over 100 yards receiving in his last two games with a td in each I guess I pretty much have to play Braylon. You are right though the Thursday games are sloppy and the players often drag. With these two I think it will be the defenses dragging. I could also pick up the Pats, Bills, or Jets as a DST this week.
J-Unit!!!!
I was wondering when I was going to hear from you.
At QB, I would definitely go with Cutler and then it is a tossup between Rivers and Rodgers. I really like them both and they both have great matchups. I’m going to go with Rivers just because he is having a better season this year so I would say stick with him. How the hell did you get all those good QBs?
At TE, I definitely go with Fasano. He is playing the Seahawks, while Olsen has the Titans and Miller is on the Raiders who have just been pitiful lately. I don’t think any Raider is worth starting. Plus they are playing Carolina who has a pretty good defense.
At DEF I go with the Jets. True they give up some points, but they are great at forcing turnovers and sacking the QB and both give you points. They might give up 24 points and not get you many points that way, but they will probably get 4 or 5 sacks and probably pick Bulger off once or twice. The Bills have just underperformed this season.
At WR, I would go with Plax, White, Colston, and Royal. Plax has been disappointing lately but his talent is too good to sit. White has been consistently good and playing a bad Saints defense. Colston has been poor since his return but has great talent and should be getting closer to 100%, plus playing a below average defense it Atlanta. Royal has been getting some looks lately and playing the Browns.
Marvin has a tough go against the Steelers, Avery has been great, but the Jets secondary is pretty good and he had a bad game last week. And Chad is on bye.
What do you think?
Ryan
David,
True the Niners are prone to turnovers, but don’t forget they benched the human turnover machine in JT O’Sullivan. Last year in his three games Shaun Hill only threw one pick, but he did fumble twice (both in the first game). The Cards aren’t a bad play.
I would stay away from the Bills, but the Pats or Jets could be interesting. New England only gives up 18 points a game, but are not great at forcing turnovers or sacking the QB. The Jets are near the top in sacks, ok in picks, but give up nearly 24 points a game. I don’t know that either one is vastly better than your Cardinals. I’d probably just stick with them.
Ryan
Thanks Ryan,
So im going to put cutler and rivers.. but i just don’t know how i could sit aaron !
I have my ways to get all those QB’s!! haha
I will start fasano, Jets and if its between colston and harrison who would you pick because I think harrison could have his breakout game>>???
I forgot to ask about RB .. Right now i have Frank gore, Ronnie Brown, Reggie Bush ( I don’t know if he is playing)??????,Lendale White or Thomos jones.. I need TD’s and i only have 2 spots!
J-Unit
J-Unit
I know it is tough to sit Rodgers, but wouldn’t it be tough to sit any of those guys?
I really think I would go with Colston out of those two just because Indy is playing Pittsburgh and New Orleans is playing Atlanta, a much better matchup.
Bush isn’t playing this week. You need TDs huh? To me it comes down to Gore, White and Brown. Jones doesn’t score many TDs (outside of that 3 TD game of course). All of the defenses they are playing are about the same statistically. I think i would go with Gore and Brown, but I could easily be talked into LenDale also. The only reason I leave him off is if he doesn’t score he usually doesn’t offer much else. Of course, he could easily have a 2 touchdown game.
Ryan
Do you think tthe Chicago D can stop Lendale inside the red zone?
Not sure the Bears can stop him. They have allowed eight rushing TDs in eight games.
Need some help!
I have Lynch, Forte, Addai, Rice, and White at RB, I can start 3? Who should I start?
Also I have Plax, Ward, D. Jackson(Phil), Muhammed, and Mason at WR. Who should I start?
Usually don’t have a problem picking starters but with the lack luster performances most of these guys have been putting up. And the fact that I need to win this week.
Any advice would be great about now!
Hey Ryan,
Thanks so much for the cutler and royal pick !!!! Im destroying now!
J-Unit
Brent,
I’m not sure how you have so many good running backs and almost all of them have rough matchups this week.
I would go with Rice if you know for sure that McGahee isn’t playing. I’d probably go with Lynch against the Pats. Then it is Forte against the Titans, Addai against the Steelers, and White against Chicago! Ouch!I think I would go with Forte and here is my reasoning. I eliminated White because he generally doesn’t run for many yards if he doesn’t score he’s not worth much. I eliminated Addai because I’m not sure he is 100% healthy. Plus the Steelers defense is nasty. That leaves us with Forte.
So, if you know that Rice is playing I would go with Rice, Lynch, and Forte. If McGahee will play I would go Lynch, Forte, and probably White. The Bears rush defense hasn’t allowed many rushing yards, but they have allowed 8 rushing TDs in 8 games.
Since I’m not sure how many WRs you start I will just rank them in the order I like them.
Plax–his head has been up his ass for a while, but he is too talented to sit.
Mason–he may be 102 years old but he is having a hell of a season.
Muhammad–playing the Raiders, do I need to say more?
Jackson–production been falling off, but capable of a big game.
Ward–he’s usually very consistent but been a little off lately, and I don’t believe that Leftwich will replicate Monday night.
After Plax and Mason the other three are all very close, but that is the order I would start them in.
What were you leaning towards? Thanks for writing in.
Ryan
J-Unit,
Any time I can help bud, just let me know! Glad to hear you are way ahead.
Ryan
Can you list the top 5 TE”s in order that you think???
For this week, or for the season?
this week?
Tony Gonzalez, KC
Antonio Gates, SD
Anthony Fasano, MIA
Billy Miller, NO
Dallas Clark, IND
This was a tough assignment, best I could do.
Ryan
So you really think fasano will have a good week ..
Tight ends are hard for me to gauge. A couple of the good ones are off (Witten, Cooley) and there really aren’t many more consistent ones. Clark is good, but has the Steelers. The Seahawks defense has been bad so I gave Fasano a bump up a little. He isn’t great, but outside of the top 5 tight ends (Witten, Cooley, Winslow, Gonzalez, Gates) who is? Honestly if I had to pick one it would probably be Billy Miller. Shockey is questionable and probably won’t play and the Saints throw the hell out of the ball. Plus he has been doing well lately. He is probably the best of the TEs that would be available to you.
Ryan
I need a bye week fill in for the Bucs. Our league does not count yardage but only points given up along with standard scoring for sacks, fumbles, interceptions and defensive td’s.
Which DST?[ stil undecided Stephen Jackson doesn’t appear to be playing too.
Jets vs. Rams
Cardinals vs. Niners
Pats vs. Bills
Bills at Pats
Jags at Lions
Which TE is better for the rest of the season Shockey or Scheffler – PPR league. Shockey is probable this week and Scheffler’s groin stil appeared to be bothering him on Thursday.
Thanks.
Dave,
I would take the Jets just because they are great at getting to the QB and without Stephen Jackson I see the Rams being very one dimensional. So the Jets good run D should shutdown whoever the back up is, and then Revis and Lowery should be able to contain the passing game. Throw in 4 or 5 sacks and probably a pick or two, and I think you have a pretty good game.
In order of the rest. Cards, Pats, Bills, Jags.
I like Scheffler for the rest of the season. Shockey never seems to be healthy long and Scheffler and Cutler have a great chemistry and the Broncos throw like crazy (not that the Saints don’t). But Scheffler to me is the better option for the rest of the year.
Ryan
I’ve got a choice between starting Jerricho Cotchery (against Rams) and Dwayne Bowe (against SD) in my game. My league isn’t a PPR so im favoring Bowe who gets more TD chances than Cotchery.
Who should I start?
(PS: I have Tony Gonzales at TE too, if it helps)
Rushi,
I admit that I would have a hard time starting two Chiefs, but I am still leaning towards Bowe. Thigpen is showing some improvements. hmmmmm, I am having a tough time saying to start two Chiefs though. I like Bowe, but I do like Cotchery too. Even though the Chargers defense isn’t any good, I still think you need to diversify. It isn’t like you are starting two Saints or Chargers offensive players. It is the Chiefs after all. I’d go with Cotchery.
Ryan
Damnit. Every week I’ve been telling my self the same thing “How the hell can I start two players from the Chiefs!”, and with that reasoning I start Cotchery instead… and Bowe ends up outperforming Cotchery every week.
I’ve played Cotchery every week except two. Bye week and… *drumroll* Favre’s 6TD game. So i’m a tad pissed with Cotchery.
I think i’ll end up doing a toin coss before game time on who to start. Seriously.
Rushi,
Their numbers are frighteningly similar. Sorry to hear that you have had bad luck at picking who to start, but I have to be honest I got a little chuckle about sitting Cotchery on the 6 TD game. We have all been there.
This may not be sound fantasy advice, but honestly, sometimes a coin flip is as good as a way as any to pick who to start especially when guys are so close. They both have positive matchups and both should do well.
Good luck.
Ryan
Hmm, i think I’ve figured why Cotchery isn’t as productive. Favre leads the league in interceptions, so I don’t think he’s trusted that much in the RZ. The default choice in the RZ is Thomas Jones, who always gets the score.
Too many offensive weapons on the Jets, with a QB who is INT happy. Not a good combo.
Oh well, still only a first quarter assesment, Cotchery may get more.
ryan,
Thanks again! I was victorious this week , great choice to sit rogers!
Just wondereing for week 11 thanks.
J-Unit
Great to hear you won, I’ll have the Week 11 article out tonight, probably in about 2 hours.
Ryan