Week 6: Bengals, Broncos Stay Hot

It’s Week 6 of the NFL Season, and the Cafe’s Start & Sit is back for more! First, a quick recap of last week: Cedric Benson continued his breakout-type season with 117 yards and a TD against Baltimore, Miles Austin and Roddy White each went over 200 receiving yards with two touchdowns, Seattle embarrassed Jacksonville at home 41-0, and the Browns and Bills offered up one truly pathetic display of offense, with Cleveland winning 6-3. This week we’ve got a battle of NFC undefeateds in Giants-Saints, an all-purple game in Ravens-Vikings, and the only interesting divisional matchup of the week: Broncos-Chargers. Thanks to our rankers and contributors as always, and good luck this week! (Reminder: Cowboys, Colts, Dolphins, and 49ers have bye weeks!)

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Tom Brady	NE	TEN	95.67
2	Aaron Rodgers	GB	DET	92.67
3	Donovan McNabb	PHI	at OAK	88.00
4	Matt Schaub	HOU	at CIN	84.00
T-4	Drew Brees	NO	NYG	84.00
6	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	CLE	83.33
7	Kurt Warner	ARI	at SEA	82.67
8	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	ARI	81.33
9	Carson Palmer	CIN	HOU	80.00
10	Philip Rivers	SD	DEN	76.67
11	Matt Ryan	ATL	CHI	76.33
12	Jay Cutler	CHI	at ATL	74.33
13	David Garrard	JAC	STL	73.00
14	Eli Manning	NYG	at NO	71.33
15	Joe Flacco	BAL	at MIN	71.00
16	Brett Favre	MIN	BAL	69.67
17	Kyle Orton	DEN	at SD	66.33
T-17	Jason Campbell	WAS	KC	66.33
19	Jake Delhomme	CAR	at TB	63.67
T-19	Matt Cassel	KC	at WAS	63.67
21	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	BUF	62.67
22	Marc Bulger	STL	at JAC	57.33
23	Kerry Collins	TEN	at NE	55.00
24	Josh Johnson	TB	CAR	53.67
25	Trent Edwards	BUF	at NYJ	52.00
26	Derek Anderson	CLE	at PIT	51.67
27	Daunte Culpepper	DET	at GB	48.00
28	JaMarcus Russell	OAK	PHI	43.67

 
Start: Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers. I wasn’t a big believer in Big Ben as a starting fantasy quarterback before the season. However, the decline of Pittsburgh’s run game has led to big opportunities for Roethlisberger. Ben has thrown a touchdown pass in every game this year (eighttotal) while also running for two scores. He’s been one of the more consistent options available this year. You should feel confident starting him this week against Cleveland.
 
Start: Matt Hasselbeck, Seahawks. Hasselbeck has only played two full games this year… but in those games he’s thrown for 520 yards, seven touchdowns, and two interceptions… Not too shabby. Coming off last week’s 41-0 drubbing of the Jaguars, Hasselbeck’s seems to be over the rib injury he suffered in Week 2. Get him in your lineup against Arizona’s 32nd ranked pass defense.
 
Sit: Mark Sanchez, Jets. Sanchez has performed admirably in his rookie season so far, to be sure. But he hasn’t thrown for over 200 yards since Week 1, and the Bills, despite their problems, are 6th in the league in passing defense. Sanchez has certainly calmed the nerves of Braylon Edwards owners, but he’s probably best left on the bench in Week 6.
 
Sit: Derek Anderson, Browns. I’m not teling you anything you don’t know here, I just can’t get over Anderson’s 2-17 completion-attempts ratio… In a win! Quite an amazing statistic… When an already weak offense ships their biggest weapon off to New York, this is what you have to expect. Any Browns player is a shaky start from here on out (except maybe Jamal Lewis against weaker run defenses).

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	STL	94.00
2	Cedric Benson	CIN	HOU	87.67
T-2	Adrian Peterson	MIN	BAL	87.67
4	Brian Westbrook	PHI	at OAK	86.00
5	Michael Turner	ATL	CHI	84.33
6	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at TB	81.67
T-6	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	CLE	81.67
8	Chris Johnson	TEN	at NE	81.33
9	Matt Forte	CHI	at ATL	80.33
10	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at SD	78.33
11	Ryan Grant	GB	DET	77.67
T-11	Steven Jackson	STL	at JAC	77.67
13	Thomas Jones	NYJ	BUF	77.00
14	Clinton Portis	WAS	KC	76.00
15	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at NO	75.00
16	Pierre Thomas	NO	NYG	74.70
17	Kevin Smith	DET	at GB	74.67
18	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at NO	73.67
19	Ray Rice	BAL	at MIN	71.33
20	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at TB	71.00
T-20	Steve Slaton	HOU	at CIN	71.00
T-20	Leon Washington	NYJ	BUF	71.00
23	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	at NYJ	69.00
24	Tim Hightower	ARI	at SEA	68.67
25	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at OAK	68.00
T-25	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	DEN	68.00
27	Cadillac Williams	TB	CAR	65.67
28	Derrick Ward	TB	CAR	65.00
29	Fred Jackson	BUF	at NYJ	63.00
30	Reggie Bush	NO	NYG	60.70
31	Larry Johnson	KC	at WAS	60.33
32	Darren Sproles	SD	DEN	60.00
33	Beanie Wells	ARI	at SEA	59.33
34	Julius Jones	SEA	ARI	58.00
35	Mike Bell	NO	NYG	56.07
36	Willis McGahee	BAL	at MIN	56.00
37	LenDale White	TEN	at NE	54.00
38	Michael Bush	OAK	PHI	53.33
39	Jamal Lewis	CLE	at PIT	52.67
40	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at SD	52.05
41	Sammy Morris	NE	TEN	51.33
42	Willie Parker	PIT	CLE	51.23
43	Chester Taylor	MIN	BAL	48.67
44	Justin Fargas	OAK	PHI	44.00
45	Jamaal Charles	KC	at WAS	41.67
46	Chris Brown	HOU	at CIN	41.00
47	Kevin Faulk	NE	TEN	38.67
48	Jerome Harrison	CLE	at PIT	38.00
49	Mewelde Moore	PIT	CLE	36.33
50	Edgerrin James	SEA	ARI	35.33
51	LeRon McClain	BAL	at MIN	34.67
52	Laurence Maroney	NE	TEN	34.33
53	Ladell Betts	WAS	KC	34.00
54	Jerious Norwood	ATL	CHI	33.67
55	Rashard Jennings	JAC	STL	29.67

 
Start: Cedric Benson, Bengals. Welcome back to the spotlight Mr. Benson! The Bengals’ runningback has now rushed for over 70 yards in all five games this year, and coming off a 120-yard effort against the Ravens, he looks primed to continue his success. The Houston Texans have one of the worst rush defenses in the league (26th in yards, 32nd in touchdowns) so you can start Benson with confidence!
 
Start: Knowshon Moreno, Broncos. It looked like the Broncos’ rookie runner might be phased in slowly after his eight-carry Week 1 performance, but since then Moreno has been very involved, touching the ball at least 15 times in each of the last four games. San Diego’s run defense has been shaky this season (26th in yards, 26th(T) in touchdowns). Knowshon is certainly a worthy start this week.
 
Sit: Reggie Bush, Saints. A playmaker like Bush could break out at any time, but the truth is, with a stable of backs like New Orleans has, opportunities are limited. Sure, Bush is more of a receiving threat than anything else, but his 14 catches for 121 yards through four games but him on a career-low pace. He’s still a starter in PPR leagues, but against a tough defense like the Giants, he’s an iffy starter in more standard formats.
 
Sit: Willis McGahee, Ravens. McGahee has been one of the nicer surprises this season at the runningback position, but it seems like his role in Baltimore’s offense is diminishing. His carries have declined every week since Week 2, while Ray Rice’s touches have increased. McGahee is now quite clearly playing second fiddle after last week’s one carry effort. Willis is a particularly risky play against the Vikings’ big defensive line in Week 6.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Randy Moss	NE	TEN	94.67
2	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at SEA	91.67
3	Greg Jennings	GB	DET	88.67
4	Steve Smith	CAR	at TB	88.33
T-4	Andre Johnson	HOU	at CIN	88.33
6	Wes Welker	NE	TEN	86.67
7	Anquan Boldin	ARI	at SEA	86.33
8	Roddy White	ATL	CHI	84.67
9	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	ARI	84.00
10	DeSean Jackson	PHI	at OAK	83.33
11	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	STL	82.67
T-11	Steve Smith	NYG	at NO	82.67
T-11	Nate Burleson	SEA	ARI	82.67
14	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	HOU	82.00
15	Brandon Marshall	DEN	at SD	80.00
16	Donald Driver	GB	DET	79.33
17	Santana Moss	WAS	KC	77.67
18	Hines Ward	PIT	CLE	76.67
19	Marques Colston	NO	NYG	75.67
20	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at WAS	73.67
21	Vincent Jackson	SD	DEN	73.00
22	Santonio Holmes	PIT	CLE	72.67
23	Donnie Avery	STL	at JAC	70.67
24	Bernard Berrian	MIN	BAL	70.33
25	Kevin Walter	HOU	at CIN	69.00
26	Percy Harvin (Q)	MIN	BAL	68.33
27	Derrick Mason	BAL	at MIN	67.33
T-27	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	BUF	67.33
29	Devin Hester	CHI	at ATL	66.00
T-29	Mario Manningham	NYG	at NO	66.00
31	Eddie Royal	DEN	at SD	65.33
32	Torry Holt	JAC	STL	64.00
33	Sidney Rice	MIN	BAL	63.00
34	Johnny Knox	CHI	at ATL	62.00
35	Steve Breaston (Q)	ARI	at SEA	61.67
T-35	Terrell Owens	BUF	at NYJ	61.67
37	Nate Washington	TEN	at NE	60.00
38	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	at TB	59.00
39	Bryant Johnson	DET	at GB	58.33
40	Earl Bennett	CHI	at ATL	58.00
T-40	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at OAK	58.00
T-40	Keenan Burton	STL	at JAC	58.00
43	Andre Caldwell	CIN	HOU	56.67
44	Lee Evans	BUF	at NYJ	55.67
T-44	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	KC	55.67
46	Mark Clayton	BAL	at MIN	55.33
T-46	Antonio Bryant	TB	CAR	55.33
48	Julian Edelman	NE	TEN	54.67
T-48	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	at NO	54.67
50	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	at PIT	53.67
T-50	Devery Henderson	NO	NYG	53.67
52	Michael Jenkins	ATL	CHI	52.67
53	Kevin Curtis	PHI	at OAK	52.50
54	Justin Gage	TEN	at NE	51.33
55	Mike Wallace	PIT	CLE	50.00
56	Dennis Northcutt	DET	at GB	49.67
57	Laveranues Coles	CIN	HOU	49.33
T-57	Jason Avant	PHI	at OAK	49.33
T-57	Kenny Britt	TEN	at NE	49.33
60	Chris Henry	CIN	HOU	48.67
61	Lance Moore	NO	NYG	45.67
62	Robert Meachem	NO	NYG	44.33
63	Mark Bradley	KC	at WAS	42.33
64	David Clowney	NYJ	BUF	42.00
65	Michael Clayton	TB	CAR	40.67
66	Louis Murphy	OAK	PHI	40.00
67	Chris Chambers	SD	DEN	38.33
68	Brandon Stokley	DEN	at SD	36.67
69	Deion Branch	SEA	ARI	34.67
70	Bobby Engram	KC	at WAS	33.67

 
Start: Desean Jackson, Eagles. Despite only catching one pass last week in the Eagles’ blowout win, Jackson remains a big part of what has been an explosive offense all year in Philadelphia. The Raiders have been blown out this year by just about everybody, so on paper you have to like this matchup for Desean and the rest of the Eagles.
 
Start: Mike Sims-Walker, Jaguars. Sims-Walker missed last week for a disciplinary issue (maybe if they had used him Jacksonville could have at least gotten on the scoreboard… but I digress). The young wideout had 19 catches for 278 yards and 3 touchdowns in the three games prior. MSW should be back this week, and looks like a good start against a struggling St. Louis team.
 
Sit: Terrell Owens, Bills. TO’s struggles in Buffalo this season have been fairly well documented (ie. not catching a pass in a game for the first time since his rookie year). The Bills are having trouble moving the ball, and it’s hurting Owens’ fantasy value big time. He’s a risky start against anyone at this point, but particularly in a matchup with one of the NFL’s premier cornerbacks, the Jets’ Darrelle Revis.
 
Sit: Laveranues Coles, Bengals. Coles has been largely missing from the score sheet in Cincinnati this year, after being signed to fill Houshmandzadeh’s shoes and take some pressure off of Chad Ochocinco. This was capped off by the big zero he put up last week in Baltimore. He can’t be much of a consideration in fantasy unless you are really desperate.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	CHI	87.33
2	John Carlson	SEA	ARI	86.67
3	Antonio Gates	SD	DEN	84.00
4	Chris Cooley	WAS	KC	83.33
5	Brent Celek	PHI	at OAK	80.67
6	Owen Daniels	HOU	at CIN	80.00
7	Kellen Winslow	TB	CAR	76.00
8	Ben Watson	NE	TEN	75.33
9	Heath Miller	PIT	CLE	74.00
10	Greg Olsen	CHI	at ATL	73.67
11	Jermichael Finley	GB	DET	72.67
12	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	STL	71.00
13	Todd Heap	BAL	at MIN	69.33
14	Dustin Keller	NYJ	BUF	69.00
15	Jeremy Shockey	NO	NYG	68.00
16	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	BAL	65.33
17	Donald Lee	GB	DET	64.00
18	Tony Scheffler	DEN	at SD	62.00
19	Dante Rosario	CAR	at TB	61.33
20	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at GB	59.00
21	Zach Miller	OAK	PHI	58.67
22	Bo Scaife	TEN	at NE	57.33
23	Randy McMichael	STL	at JAC	55.00
24	Daniel Coats	CIN	HOU	54.67
25	Sean Ryan	KC	at WAS	52.33
26	Kevin Boss	NYG	at NO	47.97
27	Robert Royal	CLE	at PIT	47.00
28	Stephen Spach	ARI	at SEA	36.83
29	Daniel Graham	DEN	at SD	36.33
30	Derek Fine	BUF	at NYJ	27.00

 
Start: Owen Daniels, Texans. Matt Schuab and the Houston passing game are humming along, and as a result Daniels is on pace to set career highs in catches, yards, and touchdowns. [borat]Very nice! [/voice]
 
Sit: Kevin Boss, Giants. I’ll admit, I’m on a bit of streak when it comes to picking tight ends to “sit.” That is, the last three I’ve picked have scored touchdowns. I guess that’s the thing about mid level tight ends, it’s kind of a crap shoot. I’ll guardedly recommend sitting Boss, who is coming off an injury and hasn’t scored yet this season. *fingers crossed*

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	TEN	92.67
2	David Akers	PHI	at OAK	90.67
3	Ryan Longwell	MIN	BAL	89.00
4	Mason Crosby	GB	DET	86.00
5	Robbie Gould	CHI	at ATL	83.33
6	Matt Prater	DEN	at SD	81.33
7	Kris Brown	HOU	at CIN	79.33
8	Neil Rackers	ARI	at SEA	79.00
9	Josh Scobee	JAC	STL	77.67
T-9	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at NO	77.67
11	Nate Kaeding	SD	DEN	75.67
12	John Kasay	CAR	at TB	74.67
T-12	John Carney	NO	NYG	74.67
14	Rob Bironas	TEN	at NE	74.00
15	Jason Elam	ATL	CHI	73.33
16	Shayne Graham	CIN	HOU	71.00
T-16	Jay Feely	NYJ	BUF	71.00
18	Jeff Reed	PIT	CLE	70.67
19	Shaun Suisham	WAS	KC	69.33
20	Steven Hauschka	BAL	at MIN	67.00
21	Olindo Mare	SEA	ARI	66.00
22	Jason Hanson	DET	at GB	64.67
23	Rian Lindell	BUF	at NYJ	63.33
24	Josh Brown	STL	at JAC	61.33
25	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	PHI	59.00
26	Shane Andrus	TB	CAR	57.33
27	Ryan Succop	KC	at WAS	55.33
28	Billy Cundiff	CLE	at PIT	41.13

 
Start: Matt Prater, Broncos. Prater was the hero last week against the Pats, kicking the game winning field goal (although he missed one earlier in the game). He may not be the world’s most consistent kicker, but he’s got a good leg and the Broncos’ offense is really starting to click. He’s developing into a kicker you can start every week.
 
Sit: Rob Bironas, Titans. Bironas is a great kicker, and still maybe worth starting depending on your options, but the Titans’ mediocre offense combined with the potential for cold, rainy weather in New England makes Bironas a less than attractive start this weekend.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Eagles	PHI	at OAK	97.67
2	Steelers	PIT	CLE	91.00
3	Giants	NYG	at NO	84.33
4	Vikings	MIN	BAL	82.00
5	Jets	NYJ	BUF	80.67
6	Bears	CHI	at ATL	79.00
7	Ravens	BAL	at MIN	78.33
T-7	Broncos	DEN	at SD	78.33
9	Packers	GB	DET	77.00
10	Patriots	NE	TEN	71.67
T-10	Saints	NO	NYG	71.67
12	Bengals	CIN	HOU	70.00
13	Redskins	WAS	KC	69.67
14	Panthers	CAR	at TB	68.67
15	Jaguars	JAC	STL	68.33
16	Bills	BUF	at NYJ	67.67
17	Cardinals	ARI	at SEA	66.67
18	Seahawks	SEA	ARI	65.67
19	Chargers	SD	DEN	63.33
20	Buccaneers	TB	CAR	63.00
21	Texans	HOU	at CIN	62.33
22	Titans	TEN	at NE	61.33
23	Falcons	ATL	CHI	60.67
24	Rams	STL	at JAC	56.67
25	Chiefs	KC	at WAS	56.00
26	Lions	DET	at GB	54.00
27	Raiders	OAK	PHI	53.33
28	Browns	CLE	at PIT	51.33

 
Start: New York Jets. The Jets are coming off a disappointing effort last week against Miami. Rex Ryan will undoubtedly have them whipped into shape and ready to redeem themselves against the Bills. Buffalo, meanwhile, is coming off a 6-3 loss and searching for answers. I doubt they find any in New York. Start the Jets.
 
Sit: Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta’s defense has been solid this year, and guys like John Abraham can always cause trouble. However, this week they play a Bears’ offense that is starting to hit their stride and will be fresh off their bye week. This could be a potentially troublesome game for the Falcon defense.
 

 
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.
 

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