Week 10
Games through Nov. 15

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With last week in the books, more than half of the regular season is already behind us. For the rest of the fantasy season, several things should be kept in mind. Pittsburgh is for real. This team not only is the best in the NFL right now, but also has lots of dependable fantasy starters (Defense, Hines Ward, Ben Roethlisberger, and whoever starts at RB). Games involving Kansas City, Indianapolis, Minnesota and New Orleans are potential shootouts, so have everyone from these teams active. The Dallas offense it lifeless. Anyone who had hoped that it will break out against the Bengals has been stuffed (including us, after urging you to start Eddie George last week), so do not count on anyone from this team regularly any more this season.

Jake Plummer, Drew Brees, Tiki Barber and Antonio Gates are top-tier players at their positions. Except for Gates, the others were known for inconsistency until this year. And, finally, David Terrell is the most frustrating fantasy player on earth. He jumps out for 100 yards one week, only to finish with zero catches the next. Not only should you consider benching him for now if you haven’t done so already, but he may no longer even be worth owning. As for the rest of the NFL, let’s take a quick look at who to start and who to bench in this week’s Start & Sit column.

START

QB:

David Carr, Hou: Carr’s decision-making has improved considerably this season, making him a decent fantasy quarterback when the matchup is right. This week it definitely is: the Texans travel to Indianapolis where they face the NFL’s worst pass defense, the Colts. Enough said; Carr is a must-start this week.

Brian Griese, TB: Griese makes our Start list for a second consecutive week, and there are plenty of reasons why. First of all, he did not disappoint us last Sunday, throwing for 296 yards and two scores. But he has also quietly become a dependable QB again, who has rallied the Buccaneers while throwing for an average of 235 yards per game and a total of six touchdowns compared with just one interception. Facing an Atlanta defense that allows 263 yards per game, the third-worst mark in the league, only strengthens the case for starting him.

Others to start:
Vinny Testaverde, Dal
Jake Delhomme, Car
Aaron Brooks, NO
Tom Brady, NE
Ben Roethlisberger, Pit

No-brainers:
Daunte Culpepper, Min
Peyton Manning, Ind
Donovan McNabb, Phi
Trent Green, KC
Marc Bulger, StL
Brett Favre, GB
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea

RB:

Willis McGahee, Buf: McGahee has truly proven himself to be a #1 fantasy running back, and therefore should be started against practically every team right now. This week in Foxboro, it might be tough for Buffalo to keep the game close, but McGahee should still do enough damage against a defense that allows 119 yards per game on the ground to earn the starting nod on your fantasy squad.

Brian Westbrook, Phi: The only good news last week for Philadelphia was that Westbrook was able to play again. This should turn out to be great news for his owners this week, as the Eagles play against a Dallas defense that gives up 124 yards on the ground each Sunday and – even worse – a league worst 4.7 yards per carry. Healthy again, Westbrook should be in your lineup this week.

Others to start:
Corey Dillon, NE
Duce Staley, Pit
Chris Brown, Ten (if healthy)
Marshall Faulk, StL
Domanick Davis, Hou
Fred Taylor, Jax
Onterrio Smith, Min
Kevan Barlow, SF

No-brainers:
Priest Holmes, KC (if healthy)
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Edgerrin James, Ind
Tiki Barber, NYG
Jamal Lewis, Bal
Clinton Portis, Was
Deuce McAllister, NO
Ahman Green, GB

WR:

Johnny Morton, KC: Morton has emerged this season as Trent Green’s main target behind Tony Gonzalez. Unlike the more unreliable Eddie Kennison, Morton produces on a relatively consistent basis. Since week two he has not had less than 48 yards and at least four catches. Playing against the second-worst pass defense in the NFL will only help, so go ahead and start Morton this week.

Jabbar Gaffney, Hou: All eyes in Houston are on Andre Johnson, but without much hype, Gaffney has become a dependable receiver since filling in for the injured Corey Bradford. In the last three weeks, Gaffney had games with 85, 88 and 86 yards, and with the Texans heading to Indianapolis, this should again be within reach despite Bradford’s return. The Colts are allowing a league-leading 287 yards per game through the air, and Houston’s game plan will no doubt try to take advantage of this weakness.

Others to start:
Eric Moulds, Buf
Chad Johnson, Cin
Isaac Bruce, StL
David Givens, NE
Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
Michael Clayton, TB
Jimmy Smith, Jax

No-brainers:
Torry Holt, StL
Terrell Owens, Phi
Joe Horn, NO
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Reggie Wayne, Ind
Darrell Jackson, Sea
Javon Walker, GB
Andre Johnson, Hou
Hines Ward, Pit
Marcus Robinson, Min

TE/K/D:

Eric Johnson, TE, SF: With the return of Tim Rattay, Johnson also returned from fantasy oblivion. In week 8, Johnson had only one catch for nine yards. While he may not come close to his 100+ yard games posted earlier this season, he still is a valuable fantasy TE.

Jay Feely, K, Atl: After being picked as one of the top kickers by most, Feely was one of the biggest disappointments so far this season, with far fewer chances to score than his owners had hoped for. But he broke out with 11 points in his last game, and odds are good that he’ll continue to shine. Playing against one of the better defenses this week may even help him, as Tampa Bay might keep the Falcons from entering the end zone too often and therefore create some field goal opportunities for him

Eagles Defense: With the exception of the win against Detroit, the Cowboys have frequentlys looked hapless on offense lately. Despite playing at home on Monday night, the Eagles have a good shot at shutting Dallas down for most of the night and hurrying Vinny Testaverde in some turnovers.

 
BENCH

QB:

Quincy Carter, NYJ: While Chad Pennington was a dependable fantasy quarterback, Quincy Carter simply is not. While he might be seen by some owners as a viable injury replacement for Pennington, plugging Carter into your lineup might do your team more harm than good. Especially this week, when the Jets play against the Ravens. Baltimore’s defense leads the league in fewest points allowed, and will put serious pressure on Carter the whole afternoon.

Jeff Garcia, Cle: Brian Griese made it to our Start list twice in a row, and, well, Garcia is headed to the Sit section for a second consecutive week. Anyone who saw the Steelers dominate Donovan McNabb and the Eagles knows why. Pittsburgh’s defense controlled the game and contained one of the best receivers in the league, Terrell Owens. Pittsburgh should have no trouble shutting down Garcia and the Browns.

RB:

Curtis Martin, NYJ: Benching a performer of Martin’s stature is a tough call and is only recommended if you have a sufficient replacement for him. But Martin’s production has declined a bit in the last three weeks (he only scored one TD and reached the century mark just once), and the entire New York offense might struggle to overcome the injury to Chad Pennington. Thus, the Ravens, who have allowed the fewest rushing TDs in the league, will be able to stuff the line and let Quincy Carter try to beat them. If you have anyone else at RB, consider leaving Martin on your bench.

Michael Pittman, TB: The good news: Pittman broke out last week, scoring three TDs on 128 yards rushing. The bad news: he does not get to play against the Chiefs each weekend. This Sunday, he might have a tougher time running on an Atlanta defense that is sixth in the league against the run. And if you take out the Falcons one bad week (271 yards and eight rushing TDs by the Chiefs). Pittman still has to prove that he can also have success against the top defenses, making him a risky start this week.

WR:

Peerless Price, Atl: Price finally rewarded his fantasy owners two weeks ago, finding the end zone twice against Denver. However, he only hauled in two catches, and while he still might have good upside for the final games of the year, he isn’t a week-in, week-out fantasy starter yet. Tampa Bay’s pass defense has been very strong recently, and the Falcons may find themselves having considerable trouble moving the ball through the air on a consistent basis.

Drew Bennett, Ten: Bennett has had lots of ups and downs this season, and has given his owners lots of headaches so far. Despite Steve McNair being back at QB, it might be wise to sit Bennett, as Chicago’s passing defense is a good one, allowing only 190 yards per game through the air. Opposing WRs have scored only one touchdown against the Bears in the last three games, and considering that Bennett is only the second target on the team behind Derrick Mason, things are not looking good for Bennett this week.

TE/K/D:

Matt Schobel, TE, Cin: Schobel showed up on fantasy radars quickly last week with his 76-yard TD reception, but that alone doesn’t make him worth starting start him. The Cincinnati offense is simply too unreliable – especially this week when facing a Redskins defense that allows only 16.6 points per game, third-best in the league. The Redskins defense has not allowed a TD to opposing TEs since week 3, so look for other options.

Adam Vinatieri, K, NE: Vinatieri was the difference in quite a few fantasy matchups last week with a 16-point kicking effort, plus a touchdown toss thrown in for good measure . Unfortunately, he might not be able to repeat last week’s performance, as the Bills’ much improved defense may keep the score very low against New England. Plus, the weather might also turn into a factor in Massachusetts.

Jacksonville Defense: Starting the Jaguars might be tempting, but the team that has the lowest giveaways in the league is the none other than this week’s opponent, Detroit. Jacksonville has one of the better defenses in the league, but against a team that averages less than one turnover and about two sacks per game, this matchup might not earn you many points. Whether the Jaguars are worth considering depends largely on your scoring system.

 
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.