Week 4

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With week 3 in the books, it is about the time of year when people start getting nervous because of their terrible 0-3 or 1-2 starts. Some will get desperate to turn their fantasy seasons around with waiver pickups or trades. The time is certainly right for adding impact players to your squad, often at very low prices, but panic moves aren’t the way to go. I have seen people dropping their first or second round picks, and picking up guys who had one or maybe two nice starts. Last week, for example, many owners were all but ready to give up on Daunte Culpepper. Three hundred yards and three TDs later, he’s back in those owners’ good graces. (Hopefully you kept him in your lineup if he’s on your roster; at least we told you to do so in our last Start & Sit column.) To help you with your lineup this week, we take a look at players you can trust, and several you might be better off avoiding.

START

QB:

Jake Delhomme, Car: It did not take long for Steve Smith and Jake Delhomme to get into sync, as they hooked up for three TDs and 170 yards last week. That’s good news for those who drafted Delhomme, as he should produce good numbers with a reliable target to throw every week. Against Green Bay’s shaky defense, this combo should again be in fine form, so do not be afraid of starting Delhomme.

Eli Manning, NYG: Eli has better stats than his brother after three weeks, although that’s faint praise considering Peyton’s disappointing production. Still, Eli is getting more and more confident, and he can produce good fantasy numbers when the matchup is right. This weak, the mediocre Rams defense comes to East Rutherford, and that should allow Eli to continue posting good stats.

Others to start:
Brett Favre, GB
Tom Brady, NE
Brian Griese, TB
Trent Green, KC
Michael Vick, Atl
Drew Brees, SD

No-brainers:
Marc Bulger, StL
Daunte Culpepper, Min
Donovan McNabb, Phi
Peyton Manning, Ind
Kerry Collins, Oak
Carson Palmer, Cin
Drew Bledsoe, Dal

RB:

Deuce McAllister, NO: Despite the Saints’ problems with their passing attack, McAllister has posted solid stats. Against a Bills defense that has not been able to stop the opposing ground game at all so far, McAllister is primed for what could be a huge outing.

Mewelde Moore, Min: Moore had a nice game last week for the Vikings and has locked up the starting spot for now. While he may not be the man who brings stability to the Minnesota running game for years to come, he should fill in well for your fantasy team for the time being, especially when the matchup is right. The Falcons have had troubles stopping the run at times this season, so look for Moore to get you some valuable fantasy points.

Others to start:
Fred Taylor, Jax
Steven Jackson, StL
Warrick Dunn, Atl
Tiki Barber, NYG
Willis McGahee, Buf
Stephen Davis, Car
LaMont Jordan, Oak

No-brainers:
Carnell Williams, TB
LaDainan Tomlinson, SD
Shaun Alexander, Sea
Deuce McAllister, NO
Priest Holmes, KC
Edgerrin James, Ind
Julius Jones, Dal
Brian Westbrook, Phi
Rudi Johnson, Cin

WR:

Larry Fitzgerald, Ari: Fitzgerald and teammate Anquan Boldin are both suffering because of the Cardinals’ woes at quarterback. Still, Fitzgerald should prove to be too much for the 49ers’ secondary, the worst pass defense in the league through three weeks of play, and should be able to get open enough to produce good numbers, even with Josh McCown throwing to him.

Kevin Curtis, StL: With Isaac Bruce probably out with a turf toe, Curtis will start for the Rams. That alone should be enough to warrant fantasy consideration, as Curtis produced nicely when filling in for Bruce last season. The Giants have had problems against the pass this year, so Curtis could have a very solid game on Sunday.

Others to start:
Michael Clayton, TB
Jimmy Smith, Jax
Rod Smith, Den
Terry Glenn, Dal
Plaxico Burress, NYG
Deion Branch, NE
Keenan McCardell, SD
Santana Moss, Was
Anquan Boldin, Ari
Andre Johnson, Hou

No-brainers:
Torry Holt, StL
Darrell Jackson, Sea
Steve Smith, Car
Terrell Owens, Phi
Randy Moss, Oak
Chad Johnson, Cin
Marvin Harrisson, Ind
Reggie Wayne, Ind

TE/K/D:

Jason Witten, TE, Dal: After being a disappointment in the first two games, Witten came back in a big way last Sunday, gaining 85 yards and scoring a TD. While you cannot count on such numbers every week, he is still a useful #1 TE, especially this week against a suspect Raiders defense.

Neil Rackers, K, Ari: Rackers is leading all kickers in points so far, and the matchup this week could not be better. The 49ers allow the most points in the league, so if Rackers is available, go and get him into your lineup.

Baltimore Defense: This fantasy unit was picked by many as the best in the league before the season, but after three weeks, the Ravens are right at the bottom in fantasy production. However, with the many injuries on the Jets team, this is the week where the Ravens defense should bounce back.

 
BENCH

QB:

Aaron Brooks, NO : Brooks is a gamble. Week in, week out, as he can explode in one game, and implode the next. This week, he simply makes for a bad start playing against a Bills defense that has allowed just 106 passing yards per game so far.

David Carr, Hou: Carr and the Texans have looked very bad in the first two games, and I do not think that they have turned around their ship during their bye week. It will be especially tough for Carr to post good stats this weekend as the Texans’ opponent is Cincinnati, who believe it or not have bucked recent tradition by fielding a truly exciting team. The Bengals have surprised just about everyone by going 3-0 behind a very solid defense that has allowed just one passing TD in their three games. Better keep Carr on your bench.

RB:

Kevin Jones, Det: Teams are able to stack the line against Jones because of the QB problems the Lions have. This is exactly what the Buccaneers will do, and they might shut down Jones almost completely. It wouldn’t be the first time they take away their opponent’s ground attack – Tampa Bay has allowed a mere 52 yards per game on the ground so far.

Ahman Green, GB: It’s always tough to sit a player like Ahman Green, but none of his performances so far justifies a lineup spot for him. Simply put, the Packers are not playing well. Unfortunately, it will not get easier for them this week, as they have to travel to Charlotte and play the Panthers. Green Bay might be throwing from behind all day, which would lead to Green once again not getting the touches he needs.

WR:

Laveranues Coles, NYJ: Whoever starts for the Jets this week (either third stringer Bruce Bollinger or good ol’ Vinnie Testaverde) will be a really big question mark in the Jets offense. Do not expect anything from the passing game, therefore, and sit Coles and his fellow Jets receivers until this offense shows signs of life.

Drew Bennett, Ten: As expected by many, Bennett is not the same elite receiver with Steve McNair throwing to him as he was last year when Billy Volek was filling in at QB. But he still is the Titans’ #1 receiver and should be in your lineup most weeks. However, this Sunday, Tennessee might have a very hard time against the Colts, who have been one of the best defensive teams of the league so far.

TE/K/D:

Ernie Conwell, TE, NO: With his second nice game in three weeks, Conwell was added from the waiver wire by many fantasy owners. However, we do not think he is a useful option this week, as Buffalo could shut down the Saints’ passing game.

Matt Stover, K, Bal: The way the Ravens’ offense played their first two games was simply ugly. Stover, one of the better kickers in recent years, was not able to help your fantasy team at all. Until Baltimore shows some life offensively, do not count on Stover.

Tennessee Defense: So far, the Colts have not been the well-oiled offensive machine we’ve become used to seeing, and the Titans defense has provided fantasy owners with decent production so far, particularly in sack-heavy scoring formats. But Indianapolis does not allow a lot of sacks, nor does it turn the ball over much. Plus, despite not scoring as much as last year, Manning an Co. still gain a lot yards. Combine those two facts, and you might see pretty low fantasy production from the Titans defense this week.

 
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.