Week 10

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I guess after last week there should simply no longer be any doubt about who the two best fantasy football players are: LaDainan Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander once again proved why they were picked #1 and #2 in most leagues. Tomlinson had four touchdowns to break out of a two-week skid and leads the league in TDs scored, while Alexander, who punished the Cardinals for 173 yards and two scores, is one TD behind and leads the league in rushing yardage. What makes both even more reliable is that the running back position is getting thinner and thinner each week, as there are not too many reliable rushers around anymore.

Both injuries and RB-committees have made it hard to guess the right guy to start on many teams. Week 9 was the perfect example: in Minnesota, Michael Bennett came out of nowhere to reach 100+ yards, more that Mewelde Moore gained in a single game during the whole season. In Pittsburgh, an injury to Willie Parker paved the way for a nice comeback by Duce Staley. In New York, Brandon Jacobs stole all those valuable goal-line carries from Tiki Barber. And in Green Bay, fifth-string RB Sam Gado produced better stats than Ahman Green did the whole season before injuring his knee.

Those are but a few examples, and things may get even murkier in the future, especially when an injured starter or two returns. For now, only time will tell how many carries Bennett or Staley will steal from Moore, Parker, or Bettis. For this week, we give you our view about the players you can trust and those you may wish avoid in the weekly Start & Sit column.

START

QB:

Brad Johnson, Min: Johnson did exactly what he was supposed to do last week: he made no mistakes and finished with solid but not overwhelming stats. This week, he should have more room to pass against a Giants team that allows over 243 yards through the air per contest. Sure, the Giants have improved against the pass, allowing only a combined 167 yards the last two weeks, but that was against the 49ers and the Redskins. The G-Men still have to prove they can stop a more potent passing offense.

Kyle Orton, Chi: It might be weird to find Orton here at this spot, but he has played very well in the past five weeks, with a 2:1 touchdown-to-interception ratio. Sure, he passed 200 yards just once in that span, but he could be in for a very solid game this Sunday against the worst passing defense of the league, the 49ers. If you’re searching for a one-week fill-in play, you may find it in Orton.

Others to start:
Brett Favre, GB
Byron Leftwich, Jax
Drew Bledsoe, Dal
Kelly Holcomb, Buf
Michael Vick, Atl

No-brainers:
Peyton Manning, Ind
Tom Brady, NE
Eli Manning, NYG
Matt Hasselbeck, Sea
Marc Bulger, StL
Kerry Collins, Oak

RB:

Stephen Davis, Car: Davis continues to be a TD machine – he has 11 in eight games so far – and is a good option despite splitting carries with DeShaun Foster. In fact, we really like Davis’ matchup this week against a defense ranked 30th in the league against the run. Start him without hesitation in this home game.

Duce Staley, Pit: Staley had a surprising comeback last week, filling in for the injured Willie Parker. Jerome Bettis and Parker are likely to be out again this week, so Staley will carry the load against a Browns defense allowing almost 130 yards per game on the ground. Don’t hesitate to put Staley into your lineup.

Others to start:
Clinton Portis, Was
Ronnie Brown, Mia
LaMont Jordan, Oak

No-brainers:
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Larry Johnson, KC
Tiki Barber, NYG
Edgerrin James, Ind
Willis McGahee, Buf
Mike Anderson, Den
Stephen Jackson, StL
Warrick Dunn, Atl
Julius Jones, Dal

WR:

Reggie Brown, Phi: Brown stepped in nicely for Terrell Owens last week, and while the Monday night matchup against a good Cowboys defense is quite tough, we think he is the only useful option on the Eagles squad this week. Brown is simply a better receiver than fellow starter Greg Lewis, and should be very involved in the game plan. Still, do not expect Owens-esque numbers.

Eric Moulds, Buf: Moulds has been the top option in the anemic Bills passing game the past few weeks, and he should find lots of open space on Sunday against the weak Chiefs secondary. We know it’s hard to trust a Bills receiver these days, but this matchup is as good as it will get.

Others to start:
Eddie Kennison, KC
Jerry Porter, Oak
Chris Chambers, Mia
Derrick Mason, Bal
Bobby Engram, Sea
Jimmy Smith, Jax
Andre Johnson, Hou
Muhsin Muhammad, Chi
Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
Santana Moss, Was
Lee Evans, Buf
Kevin Curtis, StL
Rod Smith, Den

No-brainers:
Randy Moss, Oak
Joe Jurevicius, Sea
Joey Galloway, TB
Marvin Harrison, Ind
Steve Smith, Car
Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
Reggie Wayne, Ind
Laveranues Coles, NYJ
Torry Holt, StL
Plaxico Burress, NYG
Donald Driver, GB

TE/K/D:

Jason Witten, TE, Dal: Witten should be in line for a nice game against the Eagles, who have surrendered almost 70 yards per game to opposing TEs over the last three weeks. Be sure to have him in the lineup.

Josh Brown, K, Sea: Seattle’s offense is running in high gear right now, and should provide Brown with plenty of scoring chances at home against the weak Rams defense.

Jacksonville Defense: The Ravens offense still is not clicking, and we doubt it will get into a groove this year. With Jamal Lewis no longer the threat he once was, you simply have to love the Jacksonville defense this week.

 
BENCH

QB:

Donovan McNabb, Phi: Its tough to see him on the sit list, but he faces a Dallas defense that held him to 131 yards and no scores earlier this season, and that was with Terell Owens on the field. Despite Reggie Brown’s nice fill-in work, McNabb is unlikely to reach more than average numbers on Monday against a Cowboys defense that seems to have his number.

Trent Green, KC: Green started to reemerge a useful fantasy player in the past weeks, but that trend may come to an end on Sunday. The Bills lead the league against the pass, while they are among the worst units against the rush. This means we gonna see lots of (successful) rushes by Larry Johnson, and Green might not throw the ball enough to make a difference this week.

RB:

Jonathan Wells, Hou: Wells will likely start for the injured Domanick Davis this week, but we doubt he can duplicate the strong numbers he posted last Sunday. The Colts have allowed only two rushing TDs all season, and Houston might be playing from behind as early as the opening quarter, limiting Wells’ carries.

Michael Bennett, Mewelde Moore, Min: Moore’s injury will not keep him out of the game this week, but after last week’s performance by Bennett, nobody knows who will get the majority of carries. Plus, the Giants are a tough team to run against, so better avoid both backs as neither of them may do enough damage to warrant fantasy consideration.

WR:

Antwaan Randle El, Pit: Ben Roethlisberger’s value climbed last week even though he did not take the field, simply due the poor play of his replacement, Charlie Batch. Unfortunately for all Randle El (and Hines Ward and Heath Miller) owners, Roethlisberger will sit this week, too. With Batch at the helm, you simply cannot expect much of the Steelers air attack, so better sit Randle El, and seriously consider other options for Ward and Miller, tool.

Ernest Wilford, Jax: Wilford has locked up a starting spot in Jacksonville for the foreseeable future with two nice games at the expense of the Rams and the Texans. However, it will be a lot tougher for him this week, as he faces a Ravens defense that is fourth in the league in passing yards allowed. Look elsewhere if you have other options.

TE/K/D:

Doug Jolley, TE, NYJ: The season-ending injury to Chris Baker has opened the way for Doug Jolley as the Jets’ starting tight end. Still, we do not recommend starting him for now, as he first has to prove he can be a useful fantasy TE in the Jets system.

Phil Dawson, K, Cle: Dawson can be a useful fantasy kicker if the matchup is right. But against the Steelers, he most likely will not get many chances to score, so better sit him this week.

Buffalo Defense: While the Bills might have some success against the pass, there may be no way for them to stop Larry Johnson. And the Chiefs likely will run all day long, so don’t expect too much from the Buffalo defense.

 
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.