Week 10
Games through November 10

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START

QB:

Kerry Collins, NYG: Did you know that Collins leads all quarterbacks in the league in passing yards? If you didn’t, you’re not alone, as Collins’ success has been widely overlooked. This week, Collins and the Giants face Atlanta, who pass defense ranks last in the NFL. Add two and two together and starting Collins looks like a pretty good idea.

Jon Kitna, Cin: In spite of last week’s letdown, Kitna has finally regained the form he had when playing for Seattle a couple of years ago, and the Bengals are no longer the league’s doormat. The game at home against the Texans, who are giving up 245 passing yards per game, should give Kitna the opportunity to showcase his skills again.

Others to start:
Quincy Carter, Dal
Brad Johnson, TB
Tommy Maddox, Pit
Donovan McNabb, Phi

No-brainers:
Chad Pennington, NYJ
Peyton Manning, Ind
Marc Bulger, StL
Brett Favre, GB
Steve McNair, Ten
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
Daunte Culpepper, Min

RB:

Charlie Garner, Oak: Just when you thought things couldn’t get any worse for Oakland… With Rick Mirer starting at quarterback, the Raiders may be in deep trouble. The best game plan this week might be to keep the ball on the ground and simply hand off to Garner all day. The Jets happen to be the worst team against the rush, making this strategy seem even more attractive.

Correll Buckhalter, Phi: Buckhalter is the starter in Philly right now, and he needs to step up for the Eagles if they want to win at Lambeau Field. With McNabb playing with more confidence after three straight victories, the Packers can not concentrate on merely stopping the run. That could open up more holes for Buckhalter, who should make something of his opportunities.

Others to start:
Tiki Barber, NYG
Ricky Williams, Mia
Travis Henry, Buf
Edgerrin James, Ind
Anthony Thomas, Chi
Troy Hambrick, Dal

No-brainers:
Fred Taylor, Jax
Jamal Lewis, Bal
Ahman Green, GB
LaDainan Tomlinson, SD
Stephen Davis, Car
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Priest Holmes, KC

WR:

Quincy Morgan, Cle: The Browns might have to pass a lot to stay in the game at Kansas City, and it could be Morgan who receives the most looks. Most owners have soured on him due to his bad performances over the year, but this week could at long last be a good start for those still holding on to him.

Justin Gage, Chi: With most of the Bears receiving corps still hurting, Gage will have another chance to show his speed. Chris Chandler has gained confidence in this young guy, and shouldn’t hesitate to throw the ball his way.

Others to start:
Peerless Price, Atl
David Boston, SD
Keyshawn Johnson, TB
Eric Moulds, Buf
Ike Hilliard, NYG
Steve Smith, Car
Anquan Boldin, Ari

No-brainers:
Randy Moss, Min
Chad Johnson, Cin
Santana Moss, NYJ
Donald Driver, GB
Amani Toomer, NYG
Derrick Mason, Ten
Chris Chambers, Mia
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Laveranues Coles, Was
Isaac Bruce, StL
Torry Holt, StL
Darrell Jackson, Sea
Jimmy Smith, Jax

TE/K/D:

Freddie Jones, TE, Ari: With Pittsburgh trying to stop Marcel Shipp on the ground, Jones could find himself open in the middle often and should be able to continue to be a decent option at the tight end position.

Jeff Reed, K, Pit: The Steelers may give Reed a lot scoring opportunities this week, as they should be able to move the ball well against Arizona. Finding the endzone might not always be easy, however, which could translate to several field goal tries.

New York Jets: Easy choice here. Any team going against Rick Mirer has to be considered as a good start unless Mirer proves he can beat someone. The Jets defense may not be among the league’s elite, but their matchup makes them worth a look.

 
BENCH

QB:

Drew Bledsoe, Buf: Even coming of a bye week might not help Buffalo and Bledsoe this week in Dallas. The Cowboys held Patrick Ramsey to 147 yards last Sunday, and it may not be any different this week. If you have other options at quarterback, consider sitting Bledsoe.

Trent Green, KC: The Chiefs are riding high, and they should keep on rolling against Cleveland at home as they try to remain unbeaten. They might not need much help from Green for that, though. The Browns have stopped the pass very well this season, but have been extremely vulnerable on the ground. Kansas City may look to take advantage of this by relying heavily on Priest Holmes this Sunday.

RB:

Marcel Shipp, Ari: The Cardinals have surprisingly won two in a row after their bye week, thanks mainly to Marcel Shipp. However, this may change this week, as the Steelers might focus primarily on stopping Shipp and denying him his third straight 100-yard game. He still is a solid #2 fantasy back, but may not be the best week to start him.

Warrick Dunn, Atl: The Falcons still don’t have Michael Vick back, and this means trouble playing against the Giants. New York will look to stuff the line and stop the run early, and make Atlanta try to beat them through the air. With Duckett also in the mix, Dunn doesn’t seem like a good start.

WR:

Any Oakland receiver: With Rick Mirer starting at QB for Oakland, starting any Raiders receiver is a risk. If Mirer falters, this would translate into bad numbers for all his receivers as well. The Raiders may simply try to run the ball as often as they can, so sit Rice, Brown and Co.

Curtis Conway, NYJ: The return of Chad Pennington is a good sign for Jets receivers. Pennington looked sharp last week, which is good news for Jets fans. He also showed great chemistry with Santana Moss, who is a must-start from now on, but Conway did not look good last week. Sitting him for now and watching to see if he’ll also get his share of the Pennington-jump-started offense might be wise.

TE/K/D:

Chad Lewis, TE, Phi: If you needed any more evidence that Lewis is no longer a reliable choice at TE, it was L.J. Smith’s breakout performance last week. Lewis will catch a ball or two from time to time, but will not be the consistent fantasy TE he was a couple of years ago.

Rian Lindell, K, Buf: Buffalo could have trouble moving the ball this week against a stingy Cowboys defense. Consider benching Lindell this week and going with another option at kicker.

Miami: This might come as a surprise, but even a consistent unit such as Miami is a risk if the matchup is a bad one. And this week is about as bad as they come. The Dolphins play on the road against a rested Titans team which has scored 30 or more points in five consecutive games. A hot Steve McNair can tear apart any secondary, and Miami’s defensive backs have looked vulnerable occasionally.

 
Fantasy Football Cafe’s Start & Sit lists are suggestions intended to give fantasy football players an edge in their weekly matchups. Savvy owners will see these lists not as an absolute ranking, but as an indication of possible outcomes of a given week, and use them together with their own opinions and hunches to field the lineup that will give their team the greatest odds of winning. The Start & Sit lists are compiled by Dan Spazierer (not Madame Zelda). For more insights and additional fine-tuning, visit our Who to Start/Bench forum section.