Week 4
Games through September 29

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START

QB:

Donovan McNabb, Phi: It’s a do-or-die game for the Eagles, and even though Buffalo’s defense will present a tough challenge, McNabb should gain enough yards on the ground to be worth starting. We know Philadelphia and McNabb struggled in their first two games, but with an additional week to prepare for this contest, his upside makes him worth the risk.

Rich Gannon, Oak: Gannon (and most of the Raiders team) may be the reason a lot of fantasy owners are already in a deep hole this early in the season. Gannon’s performance was truly devastating for fantasy teams over the last two games, but this is the wrong week to bench him. He should throw for solid yardage and find the endzone against the lowly Chargers, so give him another shot this week.

Others to start:
Tommy Maddox, Pit
Trent Green, KC
Jeff Garcia, SF
Marc Bulger, StL
Tom Brady, NE

No-brainers:
Brett Favre, GB
Peyton Manning, Ind
Drew Bledsoe, Buf
Steve McNair, Ten
Patrick Ramsey, Was

RB:

Lamar Gordon, StL: Starting a reserve RB who has not proved himself in the past is always a risk. And while it’s always a good idea to temper your expectations for such players, Gordon looks like a good start. Not only does he have a powerful Rams team surrounding him, but he also faces the Cardinals at home on Sunday. Yes, Arizona beat Green Bay a week ago, but St. Louis is still the favorite in this contest, and the Rams should give Gordon enough carries to make him worth a fantasy start.

William Green, Cle: Cincinatti may have improved its defense considerably this season, but still don’t strike fear into opposing ballcarriers. If you’ve stuck with Green so far, this could be the week your patience pays off.

Others to start:
Edgerrin James, Ind (if cleared to start)
Fred Taylor, Jax
Charlie Garner, Oak
Troy Hambrick, Dal
Kevin Faulk, NE
Garrison Hearst, SF
Moe Williams, Min

No-brainers:
Ahman Green, GB
LaDainan Tomlinson, SD
Deuce McAllister, NO
Clinton Portis, Den (if cleared to start)
Jamal Lewis, Bal
Stephen Davis, Car

WR:

Reggie Wayne, Ind: We’ve been in this situation before: Reggie Wayne explodes in one game, only to be nearly invisible for the next couple of weeks. We don’t believe that this was a true breakout game or that he will take off for fantasy stardom now, but the Saints pass defense is one of the worst of the league, so Wayne should be worth starting. Just don’t count on a repeat performance.

Andre Johnson, Hou: Ok, we are now officially jumping on the Johnson bandwagon – he has developed great chemistry with David Carr, and the fact that Houston plays from behind often will continue to give him lots of opportunities.

Others to start:
Troy Brown, NE
Isaac Bruce, StL
Rod Smith, Den
Derrick Mason, Ten
Quincy Morgan, Cle
Jerry Rice, Oak
Donte Stallworth, NO
Santana Moss, NYJ
Anquan Boldin, Ari
Curtis Conway, NYJ
Robert Ferguson, GB

No-brainers:
Terell Owens, SF
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Randy Moss, Min
Torry Holt, StL
Hines Ward, Pit
Eric Moulds, Buf
Plaxico Burress, Pit
Laveranues Coles, Was
Joe Horn, NO
Chad Johnson, Cin

TE/K/D:

Anthony Becht, TE, NYJ: The Jets might have a tough time against Dallas, especially as it will be hard for them to go deep. But that could open up holes in the middle and Becht may be able to exploit that. As always, TEs like Becht are a gamble, but he’s a better gamble than most this week.

Owen Pochman, K, SF: Never heard of Pochman before last week? His name is definitely worth knowing now. Pochman made all four of his field goal attempts last Sunday and looks to be a safe start this week, as he should get a couple of chances against the Vikings.

Denver: The Broncos defense is a big reason why Denver is 3-0 right now. At home against the Lions this unit looks like a good start, especially if you are in search for a bye week fill-in for Tampa Bay or Miami.

 
BENCH

QB:

Aaron Brooks, NO: Brooks is once again showing that he is not a reliable fantasy player. He was shut down by a dominant Titans defense last week, and will now face an equally tough Colts unit. Indianapolis is allowing a mere 160 yards per game through the air so far, meaning Brooks may be in for a tough time.

Doug Johnson, Atl: Johnson was brought back down to earth by Tampa Bay last Sunday, and it won’t get easier for the Falcons this week. A rested Panthers team could shut down the Falcons once again, making Johnson a less than safe start for this week.

RB:

Warrick Dunn, Atl: Dunn is the prototype go-with-the-matchup player, and this week – see Doug Johnson – the signs don’t look good. The Panthers haven one of the best defenses in the league, so there won’t be much room for Warrick to run.

Eddie George, Ten: George had a big game last week, gaining 100 yards and scoring once. But don’t be too optimistic. George simply isn’t the runner he was a couple of years ago, and he may struggle against defenses like Pittsburgh who have a strong front line. If you have safer options, this may not be the week to insert George into your lineup.

WR:

Ashley Lelie, Den: Lelie had 108 yards and a score last week, but that production came on just three receptions. He is a deep threat, but not a guy who gets thrown at a lot. Last week, Rod Smith was ejected early, so Lelie received more looks, but don’t expect him to post such numbers regularly.

Kelly Campbell, Min: Campbell had a bit of a breakout game last week, and may lock up the starting spot opposite Randy Moss soon. However, we would hesitate to start him right now. With Daunte Culpepper sitting out, it’s hard to predict how this week’s game will evolve, so if you have other options, look elsewhere for now, but follow Campbell’s progress closely.

TE/K/D:

Daniel Graham, TE, NE: New England’s system is not a good one for consistent numbers from the TE position; you never know who will be the fantasy producer in a given week. Graham may have looked good last week, but he might also disappear on Sunday.

Jason Hanson, K, Det: While Hanson is a very reliable kicker, this week’s matchup could limit his output. The Broncos defense is hot right now, and might not provide Hanson with many scoring opportunities. He may still have a solid game, but there should certainly be safer options availbale.

Philadelphia: The Eagles defense was dominant last year, but thanks in part to a injuries, they have not stopped anyone this season, allowing more than 300 yards per game so far. Even though they had an extra week to prepare, playing in Buffalo won’t be an easy task. The Bills have something to prove after last week’s lost to Miami, which may spell trouble for this unit.

 
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.