Week 9: No MoJo Lost

Sorry about the piece going up a little incomplete, folks. I do want to pass along the info that we’re No. 1 (of about 30 different sites) in a very comprehensive rankings comparison done by independent site FantasyXPERT.com. It’s great to see that we’ve had such a successful year already! Mad props to Dan Lambskin, utility-hook, WWM, and the entire ranking team!

Terpfan will hopefully be along in a few to give you guys a little in-depth analysis on a few Start/Sit choices.

…and here I am. Great job by the rankers! Let’s see what we have this week…

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Peyton Manning	IND	HOU	93.00
2	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at TB	90.75
3	Tom Brady	NE	MIA	90.00
4	Drew Brees	NO	CAR	85.75
5	Donovan McNabb	PHI	DAL	83.25
6	Philip Rivers	SD	at NYG	81.75
7	Matt Schaub	HOU	at IND	81.25
8	Kurt Warner	ARI	at CHI	80.00
9	Carson Palmer	CIN	BAL	79.00
T-9	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	DET	79.00
11	Joe Flacco	BAL	at CIN	78.25
T-11	Jay Cutler	CHI	ARI	78.25
13	David Garrard	JAC	KC	75.50
14	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	at DEN	75.25
15	Matt Cassel	KC	at JAC	74.75
16	Eli Manning	NYG	SD	72.75
17	Tony Romo	DAL	at PHI	71.50
18	Alex Smith	SF	TEN	71.00
19	Matt Ryan	ATL	WAS	70.25
20	Kyle Orton	DEN	PIT	66.75
T-20	Jason Campbell	WAS	at ATL	66.75
22	Matthew Stafford	DET	at SEA	58.93
23	Chad Henne	MIA	at NE	55.50
24	Jake Delhomme	CAR	at NO	55.00
25	Vince Young	TEN	at SF	53.75
26	Josh Freeman	TB	GB	25.25

 
Start: Donovan McNabb, Eagles. Hiccup against the Raiders aside, McNabb and the Eagles have been humming along since their Week 4 bye week. McNabb has seven touchdowns and zero interceptions in that time. This week they host Dallas at home in a big divisional matchup. The Cowboys are 22nd in the league in passing defense, and have allowed 12 passing touchdowns this season. Keep McNabb in your lineup this week.
 
Start: Joe Flacco, Ravens. Despite only passing for 175 yards against Denver last week, Flacco looked as cool and collected as ever, and should be ready for his rematch with the Cincinnati Bengals. Flacco had his worst game of the season last time he faced the Bengals, but having seen them once should help him improve this time around. The Bengals are ranked 30th in the NFL by passing yards allowed, so a big day for Flacco and the Ravens would not be a surprise.
 
Sit: Eli Manning, Giants. Manning’s three touchdowns to six interceptions in his last three games are not what his fantasy owners want to see. San Diego is ranked 6th in passing defense, and is not the great matchup that Eli needs to get back on track. Leave Manning on your bench for now.
 
Sit: Matt Ryan, Falcons. Ryan had a rough game last week against the Saints, throwing three interceptions. Despite all their problems, the Redskins’ pass defense is actually quite good. The Skins are ranked 2nd in the NFL in passing yards, with six touchdowns allowed. While Matt Ryan will certainly be hoping for a bounce back game his matchup is not a favorable as it might seem.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	KC	96.00
2	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	at NO	83.75
3	Frank Gore	SF	TEN	82.50
4	Ronnie Brown	MIA	at NE	82.25
5	Ray Rice	BAL	at CIN	81.50
T-5	Chris Johnson	TEN	at SF	81.50
7	Ryan Grant	GB	at TB	80.75
8	Michael Turner	ATL	WAS	80.50
9	Joseph Addai	IND	HOU	79.50
10	Cedric Benson	CIN	BAL	79.00
11	Pierre Thomas	NO	CAR	78.75
12	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	SD	77.25
13	Ricky Williams	MIA	at NE	75.75
14	Kevin Smith	DET	at SEA	75.50
15	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	SD	73.23
16	Clinton Portis	WAS	at ATL	72.50
17	Steve Slaton	HOU	at IND	71.75
18	Marion Barber	DAL	at PHI	71.00
19	Mike Bell	NO	CAR	70.50
20	Matt Forte	CHI	ARI	69.75
T-20	Jamaal Charles	KC	at JAC	69.75
22	Brian Westbrook	PHI	DAL	69.42
23	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	at NYG	68.75
24	Julius Jones	SEA	DET	68.25
25	Reggie Bush	NO	CAR	68.00
26	Tim Hightower	ARI	at CHI	67.00
27	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	at NO	66.00
28	LeSean McCoy	PHI	DAL	64.00
T-28	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	at DEN	64.00
30	Beanie Wells	ARI	at CHI	63.75
31	Ryan Moats	HOU	at IND	63.00
32	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	PIT	60.75
T-32	Laurence Maroney	NE	MIA	60.75
34	Felix Jones	DAL	at PHI	60.50
35	Cadillac Williams	TB	GB	58.25
36	Darren Sproles	SD	at NYG	58.00
37	Justin Forsett	SEA	DET	54.25
38	Derrick Ward	TB	GB	53.25
39	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	PIT	52.75
40	Willie Parker	PIT	at DEN	51.50
41	LenDale White	TEN	at SF	51.00
42	Maurice Morris	DET	at SEA	49.25
43	Chris Brown	HOU	at IND	46.25
44	Donald Brown	IND	HOU	45.28
45	Kevin Faulk	NE	MIA	45.25
46	Sammy Morris	NE	MIA	44.75
47	Tashard Choice	DAL	at PHI	43.50
48	Glen Coffee	SF	TEN	42.25
49	Garrett Wolfe	CHI	ARI	41.00
50	Kolby Smith	KC	at JAC	35.63
51	LeRon McClain	BAL	at CIN	33.25
T-51	Willis McGahee	BAL	at CIN	33.25
53	Ahman Green	GB	at TB	29.50
54	Rashard Jennings	JAC	KC	28.00
55	Ladell Betts	WAS	at ATL	27.75
56	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	MIA	26.50
57	Mewelde Moore	PIT	at DEN	25.50

 
Start: Deangelo Williams, Panthers. Williams ran all over the Cardinals last week, while the Saints were torched by Michael Turner of the Falcons for 151 yards. That combination of results make it clear that Williams should be a sure-fire start against the Saints this week. He should be one of the week’s top rushers.
 
Start: Brandon Jacobs, Giants. Brandon Jacobs has yet to really break out this year. He’s yet to top 100 yards and has only scored twice. This week he has a pretty solid matchup in San Diego (27th ranked rush defense) though. Both Jacobs and his backup Ahmad Bradshaw are solid, if unspectacular, starts this week.
 
Sit: Rashard Mendenhall, Steelers. Going to Denver is a tough task for opposing offenses this season. The Broncos are in the top five in the NFL in rushing yards allowed, and have given up only three touchdowns on the ground. This could be a game in which Mendenhall, as well as backups Willie Parker and Mewelde Moore, all get a few touches, but don’t produce much on the ground.
 
Sit: Knowshon Moreno, Broncos. On the other side of the ball, Moreno will probably find yards about as hard to come by as the Steelers’ various running backs. Unsurprisingly, the Steelers have the best rush defense in the NFL, both in terms of yards allowed and touchdowns allowed. That should mean tough sledding for the Broncos’ rookie rusher.

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Reggie Wayne	IND	HOU	93.00
2	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at CHI	90.50
3	Randy Moss	NE	MIA	87.25
T-3	DeSean Jackson	PHI	DAL	87.25
5	Andre Johnson	HOU	at IND	86.25
T-5	Wes Welker	NE	MIA	86.25
7	Vincent Jackson	SD	at NYG	85.75
8	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	KC	85.50
9	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at JAC	84.00
10	Donald Driver	GB	at TB	82.50
11	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	BAL	82.25
12	Roddy White	ATL	WAS	81.25
T-12	Marques Colston	NO	CAR	81.25
14	Greg Jennings	GB	at TB	80.75
15	Nate Burleson	SEA	DET	80.25
16	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	DET	78.75
17	Brandon Marshall	DEN	PIT	77.75
18	Steve Smith	NYG	SD	77.25
19	Steve Smith	CAR	at NO	76.25
20	Miles Austin	DAL	at PHI	75.00
21	Torry Holt	JAC	KC	74.50
22	Santana Moss	WAS	at ATL	74.25
23	Devin Hester	CHI	ARI	73.25
T-23	Michael Crabtree	SF	TEN	73.25
25	Calvin Johnson	DET	at SEA	71.86
26	Derrick Mason	BAL	at CIN	71.50
27	Austin Collie	IND	HOU	70.75
28	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	DAL	67.50
29	Pierre Garcon	IND	HOU	64.75
30	Antonio Bryant	TB	GB	64.25
31	Mark Clayton	BAL	at CIN	63.75
T-31	Johnny Knox	CHI	ARI	63.75
33	Bryant Johnson	DET	at SEA	62.75
T-33	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	SD	62.75
35	Kevin Walter	HOU	at IND	62.50
36	Isaac Bruce	SF	TEN	62.25
37	Earl Bennett	CHI	ARI	61.75
38	Steve Breaston	ARI	at CHI	61.56
39	Eddie Royal	DEN	PIT	61.25
40	Malcom Floyd	SD	at NYG	61.00
41	Nate Washington	TEN	at SF	60.75
42	Deion Branch	SEA	DET	59.25
43	James Jones	GB	at TB	58.25
44	Kenny Britt	TEN	at SF	57.25
45	Roy Williams	DAL	at PHI	55.80
46	Mark Bradley	KC	at JAC	55.75
47	Lance Moore	NO	CAR	55.25
48	Devery Henderson	NO	CAR	55.00
49	Hines Ward	PIT	at DEN	54.50
50	Josh Morgan	SF	TEN	54.25
51	Laveranues Coles	CIN	BAL	54.00
52	Justin Gage	TEN	at SF	53.75
53	Robert Meachem	NO	CAR	53.50
T-53	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	at ATL	53.50
55	Patrick Crayton	DAL	at PHI	52.75
56	Michael Jenkins	ATL	WAS	51.75
57	Ted Ginn	MIA	at NE	49.75
58	Santonio Holmes	PIT	at DEN	48.50
59	Devin Thomas	WAS	at ATL	48.25
60	Domenik Hixon	NYG	SD	45.75
61	Mario Manningham	NYG	SD	45.11
62	Mike Wallace	PIT	at DEN	44.75
63	Michael Clayton	TB	GB	43.00
64	Anquan Boldin	ARI	at CHI	41.21
65	Malcom Kelly	WAS	at ATL	40.75
66	Davone Bess	MIA	at NE	40.50
67	Jason Avant	PHI	DAL	40.25
68	Andre Caldwell	CIN	BAL	39.75
69	Chris Henry	CIN	BAL	38.75
70	Sam Aiken	NE	MIA	38.00
71	Kelley Washington	BAL	at CIN	36.25
72	Mike Thomas	JAC	KC	35.00
73	Brandon Stokley	DEN	PIT	33.50
74	Jerheme Urban	ARI	at CHI	32.75
75	Jacoby Jones	HOU	at IND	31.75
76	Greg Camarillo	MIA	at NE	31.25
77	Brian Hartline	MIA	at NE	27.75
78	Sam Hurd	DAL	at PHI	27.25
79	Dennis Northcutt	DET	at SEA	25.25
80	Maurice Stovall	TB	GB	24.50

 
Start: Desean Jackson, Eagles. We are predicting a big game for Donovan McNabb this week, which would imply a big game for his #1 target, Desean Jackson. Jackson has appeared uncoverable at times this season, getting behind defenses with ease. I would almost be surprised if the speedy wideout did not beat the Cowboys deep at least once this week.
 
Start: Donald Driver, Packers. Driver has been old reliable for the Packers this season (and in pretty much every season he’s been there). His quarterback Aaron Rodgers has been spectacular this year, and Driver is one of the main beneficiaries. The Pack play one of the NFL’s worst teams this week, Tampa Bay, and so Driver should put up some big numbers.
 
Sit: Earl Bennett, Bears. Bennett showed some potential earlier this season, but just has not been productive. As a result he is clearly behind Devin Hester and Johnny Knox on the depth chart, and that’s not even mentioning pass catching tight end Greg Olsen. Bennett is a risky play in any league format.
 
Sit: Roy Williams, Cowboys. Much was made of Williams’ comments this week, in regards to Tony Romo throwing “better” passes to “#2″ wide receiver Miles Austin. Well, forever reason, Austin is getting the passes thrown his way, and he’s making the most of them. Williams, meanwhile, still struggles to make any impact on the offense. He did score last week for only the second time, but that was one of only two catches for 19 yards. Williams has caught four passes or more only once this season.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Dallas Clark	IND	HOU	92.75
2	Vernon Davis	SF	TEN	91.50
3	Antonio Gates	SD	at NYG	87.75
4	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	WAS	84.00
T-4	Jason Witten	DAL	at PHI	84.00
6	John Carlson	SEA	DET	83.50
7	Brent Celek	PHI	DAL	81.00
8	Kellen Winslow	TB	GB	76.50
9	Greg Olsen	CHI	ARI	75.75
10	Fred Davis	WAS	at ATL	74.25
11	Jeremy Shockey	NO	CAR	73.00
12	Todd Heap	BAL	at CIN	72.50
13	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	KC	71.25
14	Ben Watson	NE	MIA	70.75
15	Tony Scheffler	DEN	PIT	70.25
16	Donald Lee	GB	at TB	69.50
17	Kevin Boss	NYG	SD	65.50
18	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at SEA	59.75
19	Sean Ryan	KC	at JAC	58.75
20	Joel Dreessen	HOU	at IND	57.00
21	Heath Miller	PIT	at DEN	56.50
22	Anthony Fasano	MIA	at NE	56.00
23	Bo Scaife	TEN	at SF	55.25
24	Stephen Spach	ARI	at CHI	55.00
25	Daniel Coats	CIN	BAL	53.75

 
Start: Fred Davis, Redskins. Davis surprised a lot of people when he caught 8 passes for 78 yards and a touchdown in relief of the injured Chris Cooley in Week 7. Davis has now had a bye week to prepare for his first start against the Falcons, and will likely be the recipient of quite a few dumpoffs from Jason Campbell. If you are in need of a replacement tight end this week, Fred Davis could be worth a look.
 
Sit: Brandon Pettigrew, Lions. The rookie tight end has been far from a consistent fantasy player this season. His matchup this week on the road against Seattle is not particularly favorable. You can probably do better even if you are in desperate need for a tight end this week.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	David Akers	PHI	DAL	84.50
2	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	SD	83.50
3	Robbie Gould	CHI	ARI	81.75
4	Mason Crosby	GB	at TB	81.50
5	Kris Brown	HOU	at IND	81.00
6	Josh Scobee	JAC	KC	80.75
7	Neil Rackers	ARI	at CHI	80.25
8	Rob Bironas	TEN	at SF	79.75
9	Nick Folk	DAL	at PHI	78.50
T-9	Joe Nedney	SF	TEN	78.50
11	Jason Elam	ATL	WAS	76.75
12	Nate Kaeding	SD	at NYG	76.25
13	John Carney	NO	CAR	76.00
14	Matt Prater	DEN	PIT	75.75
15	Steven Hauschka	BAL	at CIN	75.50
16	Matt Stover	IND	HOU	74.50
17	Shayne Graham	CIN	BAL	69.75
18	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	MIA	69.25
T-18	Olindo Mare	SEA	DET	69.25
20	Shaun Suisham	WAS	at ATL	67.75
21	John Kasay	CAR	at NO	66.25
22	Dan Carpenter	MIA	at NE	65.75
23	Jason Hanson	DET	at SEA	64.00
24	Ryan Succop	KC	at JAC	62.50
25	Jeff Reed	PIT	at DEN	49.25
26	Shane Andrus	TB	GB	38.25

 
Start: Josh Scobee, Jaguars. The Jaguars offense has been far from explosive this season, but Kansas City has been a defense to cure all ills. Even if the Jaguars stall against the Chiefs, they should at least be able to get into the redzone and get Scobee a few field goal attempts.
 
Sit: Shaun Suisham, Redskins. Suisham has yet to miss a field goal this season (9/9) but his abysmal offense hasn’t given him many chances either. The Redskins could very easily get behind early on the road in Atlanta, meaning that once again, Suisham’s role would be minimal.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Saints	NO	CAR	87.50
2	Packers	GB	at TB	86.00
3	Eagles	PHI	DAL	85.25
4	Steelers	PIT	at DEN	84.00
5	Broncos	DEN	PIT	81.25
6	Seahawks	SEA	DET	80.00
7	Patriots	NE	MIA	75.50
8	49ers	SF	TEN	75.25
9	Giants	NYG	SD	73.75
10	Cardinals	ARI	at CHI	73.25
11	Colts	IND	HOU	72.25
12	Falcons	ATL	WAS	71.50
13	Ravens	BAL	at CIN	71.25
14	Dolphins	MIA	at NE	70.50
15	Bengals	CIN	BAL	67.75
16	Chargers	SD	at NYG	66.00
17	Cowboys	DAL	at PHI	65.25
T-17	Redskins	WAS	at ATL	65.25
19	Jaguars	JAC	KC	64.50
20	Bears	CHI	ARI	62.75
21	Lions	DET	at SEA	61.75
22	Panthers	CAR	at NO	60.50
23	Chiefs	KC	at JAC	59.00
24	Texans	HOU	at IND	58.00
25	Titans	TEN	at SF	57.50
26	Buccaneers	TB	GB	52.25

 
Start: Atlanta Falcons. Well, the Browns are on a bye this week, so I’ll pick on the Redskins this week. It’s no secret that the Redskins are having trouble on offense this year. A makeshift offensive line is the root of the problems, meaning that sacks and turnovers are up for grabs for the opposing defense. Atlanta has one of those middle of the road defenses that may be available to those owners that play a different defense each week based on matchups. Don’t hesitate to pick the Falcons up if they are available.
 
Sit: Miami Dolphins. The Patriots have scored 94 points in their last two games and are coming off their bye week. That should mean bad things for Miami’s defense. Did I mention that the Dolphins start two rookies in the secondary? Ouch.
 

 
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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