Week 8

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And there goes another one … after Deuce McAllister was lost for the season three weeks ago, another high-priced running back went down last Sunday. Then again, the way Ahman Green was playing so far, this injury may simply lift the difficult weekly decision whether to start or bench him off your shoulders. Still, you hopefully have secured the duties of Green’s backup, Tony Fisher, who now gets immediate fantasy attention as the Packers’ new starting RB.

Additionally, this injury should also remind you to keep your fingers tightly crossed that your studs like LaDainian Tomlinson or Shaun Alexander stay healthy, and that you might want to pick up their backups if you haven’t done so already.

And here’s a tip for all fantasy owners making lineup decisions: start virtually everyone who plays against San Francisco, especially when the 49ers are on the road. The five-time Super Bowl champs are allowing over 35 points per game, and have not allowed less than 31 points on the road, with an average of almost 42. OK, that one was easy. To help you on some of the more difficult calls, we take a look at who to start and who to keep on your bench in our weekly Start & Sit column.

START

QB:

Mark Brunell, Was: We had Brunell here last week, and he did everything we asked of him. Of course, he cannot play the 49ers each week, but with the Giants on the schedule, he faces the second-worst pass defense of the league, so you can safely start him again and enjoy watching Brunell to hook up with Santana Moss.

Chris Simms, TB: This recommendation simply follows the start-everyone-against-San-Francisco rule mentioned above, and should show how seriously we mean that. Even though Simms has thrown just 48 passes so far in his NFL career, and even though the Buccaneers can be expected to run the ball a lot, Simms should still post solid numbers against the 49ers defense.

Others to start:
Eli Manning, NYG
Trent Green, KC
Jake Plummer, Den
Kelly Holcomb, Buf
Brett Favre, GB
Jake Delhomme, Car
Kerry Collins, Oak
Byron Leftwich, Jax

No-brainers:
Drew Bledsoe, Dal
Drew Brees, SD
Donovan McNabb, Phi
Daunte Culpepper, Min
Carson Palmer, Cin

RB:

Steven Davis, Car: After scoring four touchdowns in the first two weeks, Davis was a hot pickup from the wire, but he has just three TDs since and has not broken the century mark so far this season. That could change this week against the third-worst run defense of the league, the Minnesota Vikings. Play him; this matchup is too good to pass.

Reuben Droughns, Cle: Droughns had his best game of the season last week, but still failed to score his first TD. That just might change this Sunday, when he faces the Houston Texans, who have passed the Vikings and the Bills as the worst rushing defense of the NFL. Be sure to have him active this weekend.

Others to start:
Willie Parker, Pit
Chris Brown, Ten
Clinton Portis, Was
Mike Anderson, Den
LaMont Jordan, Oak
Larry Johnson, KC
Corey Dillon, NE (if healthy)
Tiki Barber, NYG
Thomas Jones, Chi

No-brainers:
LaDainan Tomlinson, SD
Willis McGahee, Buf
Priest Holmes, KC
Ronnie Brown, Mia
Domanick Davis, Hou
Steven Jackson, StL
Rudi Johnson, Cin

WR:

Braylon Edwards, Cle: Edwards is finally healthy again and is immediately the #1 target in the struggling Cleveland passing game. He should do well this week against a weak Houston defense and therefore be a useful start, especially if you are hurting at WR with your Colts and Seahawks on a bye.

Lee Evans, Buf: Finally, Evans scored his first TD of the year. While his overall numbers still are not eye-popping, the Bills’ passing game looks better with Kelly Holcomb under center. This week, an injury-depleted Patriots secondary should be a perfect fit for Evans to use his speed and get open for at least one long bomb.

Others to start:
Rod Smith, Den
Plaxico Burress, NYG
Eddie Kennison, KC
Jerry Porter, Oak
Hines Ward, Pit
Chris Chambers, Mia
Larry Fitzgerald, Ari
Anquan Boldin, Ari
Keyshawn Johnson, Dal
Keenan McCardell,SD
Derrick Mason, Bal

No-brainers:
Terrell Owens, Phi
Chad Johnson, Cin
Steve Smith, Car
Terry Glenn, Dal
Santana Moss, Was
Donald Driver, GB
Marcus Robinson, Min
Jimmy Smith, Jax

TE/K/D:

Ben Troupe, TE, Ten: Troupe has been quiet the last two weeks after posting his best game of the season, but he should be targeted more often again this week, as the Titans will be without their two best receivers against the Raiders.

Matt Bryant, K, TB: Bryant has not been producing consistently so far, but if you need a fill-in this week, the matchup against the 49ers is the best you can get. San Francisco is dead last in the league in points allowed, so expect Bryant to have a busy day on Sunday.

Oakland Defense: The Raiders defense has done a nice job so far this season and could be in for another good day against the struggling Titans, who are forced to play without their top two WRs this week.

 
BENCH

QB:

Jamie Martin, StL: While any Rams QB should usually be in your starting lineup, you may want to be a bit cautious with Martin this week. Filling in for injured Marc Bulger last Sunday, Martin did not really look comfortable in his first start of the season, and he faces a really tough Jaguars secondary that has allowed only 153 yards per game through the air so far. If you have other options on your roster, bench Martin, who may not help you much this week.

Ben Roethlisberger, Pit: Big Ben was back last week after missing a game, but threw for only 93 yards in a victory over the Bengals. While he should top last week’s numbers, he will be limited again this week. The Ravens are the best defense in the league against the pass, allowing just over 152 yards in the air, and they will be without Ray Lewis, which will make it easier for the Steelers to move the ball on the ground. Expect a heavy dose of the running game, and not too much from Roethlisberger.

RB:

Jamal Lewis, Bal: After facing a tough Bears defense that held him to 34 yards rushing last week, it may not get much better for Jamal Lewis on Monday. The Ravens have to travel to Pittsburgh to face the Steelers, who have allowed just 90 yards on the ground this year. The way the Baltimore offense is playing, there is serious doubt he can even come close to that number.

Antowain Smith/Aaron Stecker, NO: This duo has filled in quite nicely for McAllister so far, but both will have a tough time running against a strong Miami defense. The Dolphins have allowed just one back to go over 100 yards against them. Plus, Smith and Stecker will split carries again on Sunday.

WR:

Brandon Lloyd, SF: Lloyd is the clear #1 target in the 49ers’ passing game, but he will have troubles getting open this week against Tampa Bay’s tough defense. The Buccaneers have just allowed two passing scores overall this season, so expect another game similar to Lloyd’s two-catches, 43-yard effort against an equally strong Redskins secondary last week.

Mike Williams, Det: With all the injuries in Detroit, Williams seems to be the best option in the Lions’ passing game right now, and the rookie had his first solid game last week with 95 yards. Still, he faces a much tougher defense this week when the Chicago Bears visit Ford Field, so do not expect too much from Williams on Sunday.

TE/K/D:

Desmond Clark, Chi: After scoring two TDs in week 6, Clark led the Bears in receiving last week. Still, relying on him this week is risky, since the Detroit defense has looked quite good recently and Clark still has an unsteady Kyle Orton throwing to him.

Neil Rackers, K, Ari: Rackers is leading all kickers in points so far this season, but he may not get too many chances on Sunday. The Dallas defense is playing excellent football right now and should be too much for a Cardinals team still searching for a running game.

Buffalo Defense: The Bills defense has started to get it together recently after proving to be far too vulnerable against the run early on. Unfortunately, the Patriots offense makes too few mistakes to expect the turnover and sack numbers you’d like to see from your fantasy 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.