Week 3: Start Your Texans

Welcome to Week 3 of the Cafe’s Start & Sit. Looking back at last week, Phillip Rivers posted the season’s first 400 yard game through the air, Dallas Clark led the league with 183 receiving yards (not bad for a tight end), while Chris Johnson and Frank Gore shared the “why-did-I-have-to-play-against-that-guy-this-week” award. Who will be this week’s big scorers? Good question… here’s what the Cafe’s rankers think! (Thanks again to all our aforementioned rankers, and to R.J. White for compiling everything!)

In 2009, we’re ranking all the players we expect could see a significant amount of game action each week. We factor in a player’s overall ability, his weekly matchup, and the current status of his health. The result is one Start/Sit number, based on a scale of 100, and we’ll use each member’s ratings to find an average for each player. The higher a guy is on our list, the better you should feel starting him.

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Drew Brees	NO	at BUF	94.00
2	Peyton Manning	IND	at ARI	91.80
3	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at STL	91.00
4	Kurt Warner	ARI	IND	85.02
5	Matt Schaub	HOU	JAC	84.56
6	Tom Brady	NE	ATL	84.10
7	Philip Rivers	SD	MIA	81.80
8	Eli Manning	NYG	at TB	81.40
9	Matt Ryan	ATL	at NE	79.20
10	Joe Flacco	BAL	CLE	77.20
11	Tony Romo	DAL	CAR	76.13
12	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at CIN	75.60
13	Jay Cutler	CHI	at SEA	72.60
14	Trent Edwards	BUF	NO	69.40
T-14	Jason Campbell	WAS	at DET	69.40
16	Carson Palmer	CIN	PIT	69.20
17	David Garrard	JAC	at HOU	68.20
18	Brett Favre	MIN	SF	67.27
19	Jake Delhomme	CAR	at DAL	65.53
20	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	TEN	64.00
21	Kevin Kolb	PHI	KC	60.44
22	Chad Pennington	MIA	at SD	60.20
23	Byron Leftwich	TB	NYG	59.60
24	Shaun Hill	SF	at MIN	58.00
25	Kyle Orton	DEN	at OAK	56.80
26	Matthew Stafford	DET	WAS	56.40
27	Kerry Collins	TEN	at NYJ	56.20
28	Marc Bulger	STL	GB	56.00
29	Brady Quinn	CLE	at BAL	50.60
30	Matt Cassel	KC	at PHI	49.23
31	Seneca Wallace	SEA	CHI	44.80
32	JaMarcus Russell	OAK	DEN	40.80
33	Matt Hasselbeck (D)	SEA	CHI	32.19
34	Donovan McNabb (D)	PHI	KC	27.47
35	Brodie Croyle	KC	at PHI	12.36
36	Michael Vick	PHI	KC	8.80

 
Start: Eli Manning, New York Giants. Fresh off a 330-yard, two touchdown effort in Dallas, the younger Manning leads the Giants into Tampa Bay this weekend. Manning is getting a lot of help from young receivers Steve Smith and Mario Manningham, and that strong offensive line is giving him plenty of time. Eli makes a good start against the Buccaneers. The Bucs have allowed an average of 282 passing yards and 2.5 passing touchdowns this year.
 
Sit: Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings. Favre has had a solid season so far, throwing three touchdowns and zero interceptions. He has, however, only played the Browns and Lions, and the Vikings have relied on Adrian Peterson to do most of the work on offense. I would expect the 2-0 San Francisco 49ers to put up a bit more resistance. The Niners allowed only ten and sixteen points to the Cardinals and Seahawks, respectively.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	SF	91.80
2	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	at HOU	90.40
3	Michael Turner	ATL	at NE	85.80
4	Matt Forte	CHI	at SEA	85.60
5	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at DAL	84.80
6	Clinton Portis (Q)	WAS	at DET	82.20
7	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at TB	82.00
T-7	Chris Johnson	TEN	at NYJ	82.00
9	Ryan Grant	GB	at STL	81.80
T-9	Ronnie Brown	MIA	at SD	81.80
11	Steven Jackson	STL	GB	79.80
12	Frank Gore	SF	at MIN	79.60
13	Steve Slaton	HOU	JAC	78.80
14	Fred Jackson	BUF	NO	77.40
15	Ray Rice	BAL	CLE	77.00
16	Felix Jones	DAL	CAR	76.80
17	Kevin Smith	DET	WAS	74.80
18	Darren McFadden	OAK	DEN	74.20
19	Willis McGahee	BAL	CLE	72.20
20	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at DAL	71.50
21	LeSean McCoy	PHI	KC	71.40
22	Joseph Addai	IND	at ARI	71.00
23	Darren Sproles	SD	MIA	70.00
24	Knowshon Moreno (Q)	DEN	at OAK	69.80
25	Tim Hightower	ARI	IND	69.40
26	Ricky Williams	MIA	at SD	69.00
27	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at TB	68.80
28	Reggie Bush	NO	at BUF	68.02
29	Donald Brown	IND	at ARI	67.80
30	Thomas Jones	NYJ	TEN	65.40
31	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at OAK	65.00
32	Brian Westbrook (Q)	PHI	KC	64.43
33	Michael Bush	OAK	DEN	64.20
34	Cadillac Williams (Q)	TB	NYG	63.60
35	Beanie Wells	ARI	IND	62.80
36	Derrick Ward	TB	NYG	62.40
37	Leon Washington	NYJ	TEN	62.20
38	Cedric Benson	CIN	PIT	60.80
T-38	Larry Johnson	KC	at PHI	60.80
40	Tashard Choice	DAL	CAR	60.00
T-40	LenDale White	TEN	at NYJ	60.00
42	Fred Taylor	NE	ATL	59.80
43	Pierre Thomas	NO	at BUF	59.78
44	Julius Jones	SEA	CHI	59.40
45	Willie Parker	PIT	at CIN	59.00
46	Laurence Maroney	NE	ATL	58.60
47	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	at CIN	53.80
48	Chester Taylor	MIN	SF	51.40
49	Jamal Lewis (Q)	CLE	at BAL	51.35
50	LeRon McClain	BAL	CLE	46.60
51	Jerious Norwood (Q)	ATL	at NE	45.80
52	Mewelde Moore	PIT	at CIN	45.20
53	Marion Barber	DAL	CAR	44.34
54	James Davis	CLE	at BAL	37.80
55	LaDanian Tomlinson (OUT)	SD	MIA	36.84
56	Lyndell Hamilton	NO	at BUF	36.66
57	Glen Coffee	SF	at MIN	36.00
T-57	Ladell Betts	WAS	at DET	36.00
59	Kevin Faulk	NE	ATL	33.40
60	Edgerrin James	SEA	CHI	31.95
61	Justin Forsett	SEA	CHI	31.60
62	Adrian Peterson	CHI	at SEA	29.20
63	Chris Brown	HOU	JAC	24.80
64	Bernard Scott	CIN	PIT	23.96
65	Jamaal Charles	KC	at PHI	22.20

 
Start: Felix Jones, Dallas Cowboys. This one depends a bit on the availability of the Cowboys’ top runningback, Marion Barber. Barber strained his quad in last week’s game against the Giants, and it was initially thought that he would miss at least this week’s Monday Nighter against Carolina. Barber seems to be progressing well, but he will still likely be questionable for the game, and probably limited some if he does play. Even with Barber playing most of last week’s game, Jones managed 96 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Against a Panther defense that ranks 27th in the league in rushing defense, Jones could be a good start even if Barber does get on the field.
 
Sit: Julius Jones, Seattle Seahawks. Jones got the 2009 season started off right, rushing for over 100 yards in Week 1. In Week 2, however, he took a major step back. After rushing for just 11 yards on 8 carries, Jones started to lose touches to backup Justin Forsett. Jones was also seen leaving the locker room after the game with ice on his forearm. This week’s game against the Chicago Bears seems unlikely to change Jones’ fortunes. The Seahawks may also have some problems throwing the ball, with Hasselbeck still ailing from his rib injury.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Andre Johnson	HOU	JAC	96.20
2	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	IND	91.40
3	Greg Jennings	GB	at STL	91.00
4	Calvin Johnson	DET	WAS	89.40
T-4	Randy Moss (Q)	NE	ATL	89.40
T-4	Marques Colston	NO	at BUF	89.40
7	Steve Smith	CAR	at DAL	87.80
8	Terrell Owens	BUF	NO	87.40
9	Reggie Wayne	IND	at ARI	87.00
10	Roddy White	ATL	at NE	86.00
11	Anquan Boldin	ARI	IND	85.38
12	Lee Evans	BUF	NO	78.20
T-12	Santana Moss	WAS	at DET	78.20
14	Donald Driver	GB	at STL	76.00
15	Vincent Jackson	SD	MIA	75.60
16	Dwayne Bowe (Q)	KC	at PHI	75.20
T-16	Steve Smith	NYG	at TB	75.20
T-16	Mario Manningham	NYG	at TB	75.20
19	DeSean Jackson (Q)	PHI	KC	73.30
20	Derrick Mason	BAL	CLE	72.80
21	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	CHI	72.40
22	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	PIT	72.20
T-22	Brandon Marshall	DEN	at OAK	72.20
T-22	Santonio Holmes	PIT	at CIN	72.20
25	Roy Williams	DAL	CAR	72.00
26	Mark Clayton	BAL	CLE	70.00
27	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	TEN	68.20
28	Devery Henderson	NO	at BUF	67.40
29	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	at DET	66.80
30	Patrick Crayton	DAL	CAR	66.00
31	Earl Bennett	CHI	at SEA	65.80
32	Devin Hester	CHI	at SEA	65.60
T-32	Eddie Royal	DEN	at OAK	65.60
34	Torry Holt	JAC	at HOU	64.20
35	Braylon Edwards	CLE	at BAL	64.00
T-35	Percy Harvin (Q)	MIN	SF	64.00
37	Steve Breaston (Q)	ARI	IND	62.94
38	Robert Meachem	NO	at BUF	62.60
39	Nate Burleson	SEA	CHI	62.40
40	Laurent Robinson	STL	GB	62.20
41	Johnny Knox	CHI	at SEA	61.80
42	Michael Jenkins	ATL	at NE	61.60
T-42	Kevin Curtis (D)	PHI	KC	61.60
44	Ted Ginn	MIA	at SD	60.80
45	Bernard Berrian	MIN	SF	60.60
46	Chansi Stuckey	NYJ	TEN	60.40
47	Justin Gage	TEN	at NYJ	59.60
48	Davone Bess	MIA	at SD	58.60
49	Pierre Garcon	IND	at ARI	58.40
T-49	Donnie Avery	STL	GB	58.40
51	Josh Morgan	SF	at MIN	58.00
52	Nate Washington	TEN	at NYJ	56.74
53	Laveranues Coles	CIN	PIT	55.80
54	Louis Murphy	OAK	DEN	55.00
55	Austin Collie	IND	at ARI	54.20
56	Isaac Bruce	SF	at MIN	53.20
57	Hines Ward	PIT	at CIN	52.60
58	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	DEN	52.40
59	Michael Clayton	TB	NYG	52.24
60	Kenny Britt	TEN	at NYJ	52.20
61	Sidney Rice	MIN	SF	51.80
62	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	at DAL	51.60
T-62	Joey Galloway	NE	ATL	51.60
64	Kevin Walter (Q)	HOU	JAC	51.54
65	Brandon Stokley (Q)	DEN	at OAK	51.00
66	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	at HOU	50.80
67	Lance Moore (OUT)	NO	at BUF	50.40
68	Bryant Johnson	DET	WAS	48.80
69	Chris Henry	CIN	PIT	48.20
70	Wes Welker (Q)	NE	ATL	47.58
71	Chris Chambers	SD	MIA	46.00
72	Malcom Kelly	WAS	at DET	44.80
73	Mark Bradley	KC	at PHI	43.60
74	Josh Cribbs	CLE	at BAL	43.20
T-74	James Jones	GB	at STL	43.20
T-74	Johnnie Lee Higgins	OAK	DEN	43.20
77	Limas Sweed	PIT	at CIN	37.20
78	Greg Camarillo	MIA	at SD	37.00
79	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	KC	34.60
80	Antonio Bryant (Q)	TB	NYG	33.69
81	Miles Austin	DAL	CAR	33.60
T-81	Deion Branch	SEA	CHI	33.60
83	Domenik Hixon (Q)	NYG	at TB	31.72
84	Julian Edelman (Q)	NE	ATL	27.40
85	Malcom Floyd	SD	MIA	26.40
86	Jacoby Jones	HOU	JAC	25.80
87	Josh Reed (Q)	BUF	NO	22.20
T-87	Andre Davis (D)	HOU	JAC	22.20
89	Jason Avant	PHI	KC	20.00
90	Bobby Engram	KC	at PHI	19.80

 
Start: Vincent Jackson, San Diego Chargers. Jackson scored a touchdown for the second straight week against the Ravens, while also compiling 141 receiving yards. It seems the big wideout could be turning into the elite #1 receiver fantasy players have been hoping for. Jackson has a chance to put up another big day against a Dolphin defense that Peyton Manning had little trouble carving up in the short amount of time his offense was on the field last week.
 
Sit: Eddie Royal, Denver Broncos. Both Royal and his teammate Brandon Marshall have had a tough start to the season. The Broncos are 2-0, but their passing game has struggled and neither receiver has managed more than 35 yards in either game. The Raiders’ defense is tough; Nnamdi Asomugha is one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL. I expect this to be a relatively low-scoring game.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Jason Witten	DAL	CAR	93.00
2	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at NE	91.60
3	Dallas Clark	IND	at ARI	91.40
4	Chris Cooley	WAS	at DET	87.80
5	Antonio Gates	SD	MIA	87.20
6	Owen Daniels	HOU	JAC	81.60
7	Brent Celek	PHI	KC	80.60
8	John Carlson	SEA	CHI	79.40
9	Jeremy Shockey	NO	at BUF	75.15
10	Greg Olsen	CHI	at SEA	74.60
11	Zach Miller	OAK	DEN	74.20
12	Dustin Keller	NYJ	TEN	73.80
13	Kevin Boss	NYG	at TB	72.00
14	Todd Heap	BAL	CLE	71.80
15	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	SF	68.20
16	Kellen Winslow	TB	NYG	67.80
17	Donald Lee	GB	at STL	66.80
18	Tony Scheffler	DEN	at OAK	65.80
19	Heath Miller	PIT	at CIN	64.40
20	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	at HOU	63.40
21	Ben Watson	NE	ATL	62.40
T-21	Vernon Davis	SF	at MIN	62.40
23	Anthony Fasano	MIA	at SD	61.80
24	Derek Fine	BUF	NO	58.60
25	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	WAS	55.92
26	Jermichael Finley	GB	at STL	55.40
27	Robert Royal	CLE	at BAL	54.20
28	Randy McMichael	STL	GB	53.00
29	Stephen Spach	ARI	IND	52.00
T-29	Martellus Bennett	DAL	CAR	52.00
31	Sean Ryan	KC	at PHI	48.20
32	Daniel Coats	CIN	PIT	45.80
33	Gary Barnidge	CAR	at DAL	44.80
34	Bo Scaife (Q)	TEN	at NYJ	34.74
35	Alge Crumpler	TEN	at NYJ	31.20
36	Daniel Graham	DEN	at OAK	20.00
37	Shawn Nelson (D)	BUF	NO	13.40

 
Start: Brent Celek, Philadelphia Eagles. Celek has quietly had a great season so far, with 14 catches, 141 yards, and a touchdown through these first two games. This week he faces a relatively weak defense in Kansas City, and some of his competitors for catches (Desean Jackson, Brian Westbrook) are banged up and may not play.
 
Sit: Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers. The much-maligned Vernon Davis is looking for a breakout season after being named a captain by head coach Mike Singletary. Seven catches in two games isn’t a bad start, but it’s nothing to write home about either. He faces a tough matchup this week in Minnesota.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Mason Crosby	GB	at STL	86.80
2	Ryan Longwell	MIN	SF	86.20
3	David Akers	PHI	KC	85.20
4	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	ATL	84.60
5	Kris Brown	HOU	JAC	83.00
6	Rob Bironas (Q)	TEN	at NYJ	82.80
7	Neil Rackers	ARI	IND	81.60
8	Nick Folk	DAL	CAR	81.20
9	Nate Kaeding	SD	MIA	80.40
10	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at TB	80.00
11	Robbie Gould	CHI	at SEA	79.20
12	Adam Vinatieri	IND	at ARI	78.40
13	John Carney	NO	at BUF	78.20
14	Jason Elam	ATL	at NE	78.00
15	Shaun Suisham	WAS	at DET	77.00
16	John Kasay	CAR	at DAL	76.40
17	Josh Scobee	JAC	at HOU	73.40
T-17	Jeff Reed	PIT	at CIN	73.40
19	Rian Lindell	BUF	NO	71.20
20	Shayne Graham	CIN	PIT	71.00
21	Matt Prater	DEN	at OAK	70.40
T-21	Joe Nedney	SF	at MIN	70.40
23	Jason Hanson	DET	WAS	69.60
24	Phil Dawson	CLE	at BAL	69.40
25	Steven Hauschka	BAL	CLE	68.80
26	Josh Brown	STL	GB	68.60
27	Jay Feely	NYJ	TEN	68.40
28	Dan Carpenter	MIA	at SD	67.20
29	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	DEN	66.60
30	Olindo Mare	SEA	CHI	64.00
31	Mike Nugent	TB	NYG	63.40
32	Ryan Succop	KC	at PHI	59.00

 
Start: Kris Brown, Houston Texans. The Texans broke out offensively last week, after being stifled by the Jets in Week 1. Kris Brown was the benefactor, kicking two field goals and four extra points in the victory. If the Houston offense stays on track this week against the winless Jaguars, Brown’s success should continue as well.
 
Sit: Shayne Graham, Cincinnati Bengals. Graham, once considered one of the league’s elite kickers, has only made (and attempted) one field goal this season. He does not have a good matchup this week against the Steelers.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Giants	NYG	at TB	95.00
2	Ravens	BAL	CLE	94.80
3	Eagles	PHI	KC	91.80
T-3	Steelers	PIT	at CIN	91.80
5	Jets	NYJ	TEN	86.20
6	Vikings	MIN	SF	85.80
7	Packers	GB	at STL	84.80
8	Bears	CHI	at SEA	81.80
9	Titans	TEN	at NYJ	81.60
10	Redskins	WAS	at DET	80.40
11	Cowboys	DAL	CAR	71.80
12	Chargers	SD	MIA	71.00
13	Patriots	NE	ATL	70.40
14	Raiders	OAK	DEN	69.00
15	Falcons	ATL	at NE	67.00
T-15	Seahawks	SEA	CHI	67.00
17	49ers	SF	at MIN	66.20
18	Dolphins	MIA	at SD	65.80
19	Panthers	CAR	at DAL	65.60
20	Broncos	DEN	at OAK	65.00
T-20	Texans	HOU	JAC	65.00
22	Colts	IND	at ARI	62.60
23	Bengals	CIN	PIT	62.40
24	Bills	BUF	NO	60.60
25	Cardinals	ARI	IND	59.40
26	Jaguars	JAC	at HOU	58.60
27	Saints	NO	at BUF	57.80
28	Browns	CLE	at BAL	55.00
T-28	Buccaneers	TB	NYG	55.00
30	Lions	DET	WAS	49.80
31	Rams	STL	GB	49.00
32	Chiefs	KC	at PHI	48.00

 
Start: Washington Redskins. Despite the team’s offensive struggles, the Redskins remain solid on defense, allowing just 15 points per game, good for 7th in the NFL. Lions’ rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford has already thrown 5 interceptions through two games. Albert Haynesworth and company should be able to keep the Lions in check, while forcing the rookie signal caller into a few mistakes.
 
Sit: Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons have looked good this season, offensively and defensively. This week, however, they must head into New England to face a Tom Brady led Patriots’ offense that will be looking to prove that last week’s nine point effort against the Jets was just a fluke. I would be uncomfortable starting a defense playing the Patriots, especially assuming they get #2 wideout Wes Welker back this week.

 

 
Nick Hopkins is a Cafe member who has been contributing to the Start & Sit since 2006. He posts on the Cafe under the name terpfan. R.J. White is a fantasy blogger at the sports site FanHouse. Check out his work both here and there, and feel free to talk to him in the forums, where he posts under the name daullaz.
 

(20 votes, average: 3.95 out of 5)  Loading ... Want to see your own fantasy wisdom published? Check out the Cafe's Pencil & Paper section!