Week 10: Thursday Football - 13 comments

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With the NFL Network’s Thursday Night Football schedule kicking off this week, we’re posting our Start and Sit rankings early. I’m proud to say that the Cafe is still rolling along at No. 1 in the FantasyXpert.com rankings, doing better than nearly 30 other fantasy sites that post weekly rankings. When broken down by position, the Cafe has turned in top-five seasons at each fantasy position but kicker. You’re getting the No. 1 rated rankings on the web here, folks. - R.J.

Thanks RJ! And thanks again to all our rankers, not only for doing a great job every week, but for getting this week’s edition in just a bit early. We’ve got football on Thursday! I know I’m excited, so without further adieu, let’s move onto the rankings!

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Drew Brees	NO	at STL	96.50
2	Aaron Rodgers	GB	DAL	88.00
3	Peyton Manning	IND	NE	87.75
4	Tom Brady	NE	at IND	86.75
5	Brett Favre	MIN	DET	86.00
6	Kurt Warner	ARI	SEA	85.00
7	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	CIN	82.50
8	Philip Rivers	SD	PHI	79.25
9	Joe Flacco	BAL	at CLE	78.25
T-9	Jay Cutler	CHI	at SF	78.25
11	Donovan McNabb	PHI	at SD	77.50
12	Tony Romo	DAL	at GB	76.75
13	Carson Palmer	CIN	at PIT	73.75
14	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at ARI	73.00
15	Matt Ryan	ATL	at CAR	68.25
16	Alex Smith	SF	CHI	67.75
17	Chad Henne	MIA	TB	65.00
18	Kyle Orton	DEN	at WAS	63.25
T-18	Matt Cassel	KC	at OAK	63.25
20	Jake Delhomme	CAR	ATL	61.00
21	Matthew Stafford	DET	at MIN	59.00
22	David Garrard	JAC	at NYJ	58.00
23	Jason Campbell	WAS	DEN	57.00
24	JaMarcus Russell	OAK	KC	53.50
25	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	JAC	51.75
26	Vince Young	TEN	BUF	51.50
27	Trent Edwards	BUF	at TEN	44.75
T-27	Josh Freeman	TB	at MIA	44.75
29	Marc Bulger	STL	NO	40.25
30	Brady Quinn	CLE	BAL	32.50

 
Start: Brett Favre, Vikings. The 40-year-old has shown no signs of slowing down so far this season. Coming off a four-touchdown performance against the Packers in Week 9, Favre looks primed for yet another big game this week. Favre’s Vikings face a Detroit defense that has allowed the second most passing yards per game in the NFL (263.1) and the second most touchdowns (19).
 
Start: Phillip Rivers, Chargers. Rivers has been spectacular at times this season, but perhaps just as important to fantasy players, he has been consistent. The Chargers’ signal-caller has yet to really have a “bad” fantasy start. He has not thrown more interceptions than touchdowns in any game this season and has at least 200 yards and a score in every game as well. The Chargers possess a dangerous passing game and only a mediocre rushing attack, meaning that Rivers is always going to be involved. That makes him a solid start this week, even against an above average pass defense like Philadelphia.
 
Sit: Matt Ryan, Falcons. I don’t think you can quite call it a sophomore slump, but some of the interception issues that plagued Ryan in college seem to be finally showing up on the pro level. Ryan has now thrown eight picks in his last four games, and has gone over 200 yards only once. The Falcons’ opponent this week, Carolina, ranks 6th in the NFL in passing yards allowed. It would probably be best to bench Ryan for the time being.
 
Sit: Kyle Orton, Broncos. Orton was putting up great numbers during the Broncos’ 6-0 start, but over their last two games, Denver is 0-2 and Orton’s numbers reflect that. Orton has thrown zero touchdowns and three interceptions over that span. He even shaved his trademark beard in hopes of turning it around this week against Washington. I think everyone expects the Broncos to stop their losing streak against the Redskins, but I would not expect particularly good numbers from Orton. The Redskins rank #1 in the NFL in pass defense, having allowed only 159.9 yards per game and 7 touchdowns.

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	DET	97.00
T-1	Chris Johnson	TEN	BUF	97.00
3	Ray Rice	BAL	at CLE	93.50
4	Michael Turner	ATL	at CAR	89.50
5	Ronnie Brown	MIA	TB	88.50
6	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	at NYJ	85.25
7	Ricky Williams	MIA	TB	83.50
8	Pierre Thomas	NO	at STL	82.75
9	DeAngelo Williams	CAR	ATL	82.44
10	Frank Gore	SF	CHI	82.25
11	Steven Jackson	STL	NO	81.75
12	Thomas Jones	NYJ	JAC	79.25
13	Joseph Addai	IND	NE	75.50
14	Cedric Benson	CIN	at PIT	74.25
15	Marion Barber	DAL	at GB	73.25
16	Mike Bell	NO	at STL	72.25
17	Ryan Grant	GB	DAL	71.50
18	LeSean McCoy	PHI	at SD	71.00
T-18	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	CIN	71.00
20	Reggie Bush	NO	at STL	70.75
21	Marshawn Lynch	BUF	at TEN	69.75
22	Jonathan Stewart	CAR	ATL	68.75
23	Matt Forte	CHI	at SF	68.25
T-23	Laurence Maroney	NE	at IND	68.25
25	Tim Hightower	ARI	SEA	68.00
26	Jamaal Charles	KC	at OAK	67.50
27	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at WAS	65.75
T-27	Kevin Smith	DET	at MIN	65.75
29	LaDanian Tomlinson	SD	PHI	64.75
30	Justin Fargas	OAK	KC	64.50
31	Chester Taylor	MIN	DET	64.25
32	Beanie Wells	ARI	SEA	62.75
33	Felix Jones	DAL	at GB	62.00
34	Shonn Greene	NYJ	JAC	60.25
35	Michael Bush	OAK	KC	58.75
36	Darren McFadden	OAK	KC	57.93
37	Fred Jackson	BUF	at TEN	56.25
38	Cadillac Williams	TB	at MIA	56.00
39	Tashard Choice	DAL	at GB	55.50
T-39	Julius Jones	SEA	at ARI	55.50
41	Jamal Lewis	CLE	BAL	53.75
T-41	LenDale White	TEN	BUF	53.75
43	Ladell Betts	WAS	DEN	53.06
44	Darren Sproles	SD	PHI	52.75
45	Kolby Smith	KC	at OAK	49.75
46	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at WAS	49.25
47	Kevin Faulk	NE	at IND	46.25
48	Maurice Morris	DET	at MIN	45.25
49	Derrick Ward	TB	at MIA	45.00
50	Brian Westbrook	PHI	at SD	43.81
51	Jerome Harrison	CLE	BAL	43.75
52	Sammy Morris	NE	at IND	43.25
53	Donald Brown	IND	NE	42.28
54	Glen Coffee	SF	CHI	41.25
55	Justin Forsett	SEA	at ARI	41.00
56	Ahman Green	GB	DAL	37.00
57	Willie Parker	PIT	CIN	36.50
58	Mewelde Moore	PIT	CIN	27.25
59	Rashard Jennings	JAC	at NYJ	26.25
60	LeRon McClain	BAL	at CLE	26.00
61	Willis McGahee	BAL	at CLE	25.00
62	Garrett Wolfe	CHI	at SF	24.25
63	Jason Snelling	ATL	at CAR	15.75
64	Adrian Peterson	CHI	at SF	12.50
T-64	Dantrell Savage	KC	at OAK	12.50

 
Start: Ricky Williams, Dolphins. I think one of this year’s more interesting story lines is the 32-year-old Williams’ resurgence in the Dolphins’ wildcat offense. Sure, he only gets around 10 touches a game, but he’s got a 5.4 yards-per-carry average, he’s involved in the passing game, and he’s got a nose for the endzone. There is plenty of room for both Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams to produce in the wildcat, and this week’s matchup against the Bucs should have the two backs licking their chops. The Buccaneers may have finally gotten their first win last week, but they still allow a whopping 163.4 yards per game on the ground.
 
Start: Pierre Thomas, Saints. Thomas is in a similar situation as the previously mentioned Williams this week, in that they are both sharing carries, but also both play a weak run defense. Thomas has topped 80 total yards and scored in the Saints’ last two games. It seems that he is slowing wresting the lead runner role from Mike Bell, and is getting more looks in the redzone. That’s good news for his fantasy owners, as the Saints are sure to find the redzone several times this week against St. Louis.
 
Sit: Cedric Benson, Bengals. OK, so I’m not necessarily suggesting that everyone has a better option than Benson just hanging out on their bench. After all, Benson is still ranked in our top 15 this week. However, be aware that Benson has a tough game ahead of him against the Steelers’ top-rated run defense. Pittsburgh allows just 70.4 rushing yards per game, and has given up just 2 total touchdowns on the ground. If you are having a tough time deciding between Benson and another top back, you should keep that in mind.
 
Sit: Ladainian Tomlinson, Chargers. It seems like just yesterday that LT was the best runningback in the league, and a must-start every week. In reality though, those days are long-gone. Tomlinson has yet to top 80 rushing yards in a game this season, is not finding the endzone, and is not involved in the passing game like he used to be either. He’s a decent play against weaker opponents, but hopefully you have a couple better options available when he plays tougher defenses (ie. the Eagles).

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	SEA	95.50
2	Marques Colston	NO	at STL	88.50
3	Randy Moss	NE	at IND	85.75
4	Reggie Wayne	IND	NE	85.00
5	Sidney Rice	MIN	DET	84.25
6	Vincent Jackson	SD	PHI	84.00
7	Percy Harvin	MIN	DET	82.75
8	Wes Welker	NE	at IND	81.25
9	DeSean Jackson	PHI	at SD	80.25
10	Anquan Boldin	ARI	SEA	79.38
11	Calvin Johnson	DET	at MIN	79.35
12	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	at PIT	78.00
13	Derrick Mason	BAL	at CLE	77.75
T-13	Steve Smith	CAR	ATL	77.75
T-13	Donald Driver	GB	DAL	77.75
16	Nate Burleson	SEA	at ARI	77.25
17	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	JAC	76.75
18	Miles Austin	DAL	at GB	75.75
T-18	Hines Ward	PIT	CIN	75.75
20	Greg Jennings	GB	DAL	75.50
21	Roddy White	ATL	at CAR	75.40
22	Devin Hester	CHI	at SF	74.75
23	Bernard Berrian	MIN	DET	74.25
T-23	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	SEA	at ARI	74.25
25	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at OAK	73.50
26	Lee Evans	BUF	at TEN	73.25
T-26	Brandon Marshall	DEN	at WAS	73.25
28	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	JAC	73.00
29	Santonio Holmes	PIT	CIN	70.75
30	Terrell Owens	BUF	at TEN	70.00
31	Steve Breaston	ARI	SEA	69.75
32	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	at NYJ	69.25
33	Michael Crabtree	SF	CHI	68.50
34	Mark Clayton	BAL	at CLE	67.00
35	Devery Henderson	NO	at STL	65.50
36	Johnny Knox	CHI	at SF	64.75
37	Earl Bennett	CHI	at SF	64.25
38	Robert Meachem	NO	at STL	64.00
39	Davone Bess	MIA	TB	63.25
40	Santana Moss	WAS	DEN	63.00
41	Austin Collie	IND	NE	62.04
42	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	at SD	62.00
T-42	Josh Morgan	SF	CHI	62.00
T-42	Antonio Bryant	TB	at MIA	62.00
45	Roy Williams	DAL	at GB	61.75
46	Mike Wallace	PIT	CIN	60.75
T-46	Donnie Avery	STL	NO	60.75
48	Bryant Johnson	DET	at MIN	59.50
49	David Clowney	NYJ	JAC	58.75
50	Pierre Garcon	IND	NE	58.50
T-50	Ted Ginn	MIA	TB	58.50
T-50	Malcom Floyd	SD	vs. PHI	58.50
53	Eddie Royal	DEN	at WAS	57.25
54	Louis Murphy	OAK	KC	57.00
55	James Jones	GB	DAL	56.75
56	Patrick Crayton	DAL	at GB	56.25
57	Torry Holt	JAC	at NYJ	55.75
T-57	Deion Branch	SEA	at ARI	55.75
59	Laveranues Coles	CIN	at PIT	54.25
60	Michael Clayton	TB	at MIA	53.50
61	Nate Washington	TEN	BUF	52.25
62	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	KC	52.00
63	Muhsin Muhammad	CAR	ATL	51.13
64	Keenan Burton	STL	NO	50.25
65	Danny Amendola	STL	NO	49.00
66	Michael Jenkins	ATL	at CAR	47.50
67	Kenny Britt	TEN	BUF	47.25
68	Sam Aiken	NE	at IND	43.50
69	Antwaan Randle El	WAS	DEN	43.00
70	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	BAL	41.50
T-70	Greg Camarillo	MIA	TB	41.50
72	Josh Cribbs	CLE	BAL	40.00
73	Johnnie Lee Higgins	OAK	KC	39.50
74	Kelley Washington	BAL	at CLE	39.25
75	Mark Bradley	KC	at OAK	38.25
76	Jason Avant	PHI	at SD	36.00
T-76	Devin Thomas	WAS	DEN	36.00
78	Jerheme Urban	ARI	SEA	35.75
79	Brian Hartline	MIA	TB	35.00
80	Lance Moore	NO	at STL	34.75
81	Malcom Kelly	WAS	DEN	33.50
82	Jason Hill	SF	CHI	32.25
83	Chris Chambers	KC	at OAK	29.75
84	Chaz Schilens	OAK	KC	28.61
85	Sam Hurd	DAL	at GB	28.50
86	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	BAL	27.50
87	Andre Caldwell	CIN	at PIT	25.75
T-87	Brandon Stokley	DEN	at WAS	25.75
T-87	Isaac Bruce	SF	CHI	25.75
90	Josh Reed	BUF	at TEN	25.50
91	Dennis Northcutt	DET	at MIN	25.25
92	Bobby Wade	KC	at OAK	25.00
93	Maurice Stovall	TB	at MIA	24.50
94	Sammie Stroughter	TB	at MIA	24.00
95	Mike Thomas	JAC	at NYJ	22.00
96	Limas Sweed	PIT	CIN	19.50
T-96	Legedu Naanee	SD	PHI	19.50
98	Jabar Gaffney	DEN	at WAS	14.75
99	Brandon Gibson	STL	NO	9.75

 
Start: Derrick Mason, Ravens. Mason’s performance has been inconsistent this year, so ideally you would play him only when his matchup is good. The Cleveland Browns would certainly be considered a good matchup. Cleveland is 22nd in the NFL is passing defense, and last time the Ravens faced the Browns, Mason record a season high 118 yards and a touchdown.
 
Start: Steve Smith, Panthers. I firmly believe that despite the Panthers’ failure to get him the ball, Smith is still one of the NFL’s best receivers. I like his matchup this week against Atlanta. The Falcons have shown weakness in their passing game recently, and have dropped near the bottom of the league in passing yards allowed. Not to mention that the last time Smith faced Atlanta he had his best game of the season (8 catches, 131 yards).
 
Sit: Santana Moss, Redskins. As the Redskins’ only reliable wide receiver, Moss has been able to put up somewhat respectable numbers, despite a decimated offensive line and shaky quarterback play. His matchup against the Broncos is not a favorable one though. He will likely be lining up across from one of the NFL’s best cornerbacks in Champ Bailey, and with the Redskins trotting out banged up and inexperienced offensive lineman, Jason Campbell will likely get very little time to look downfield.
 
Sit: Donnie Avery, Rams. Avery was considered by many (myself included) to be a possible breakout candidate this year. Unfortunately, that never materialized, even after a five-catch, 87-yard game a few weeks ago that I thought might help him turn the corner. Avery now has only four catches in his last three games. This week, the Saints’ aggressive blitzes and ball-hawking corners should be more than the Rams’ passing game can handle.

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Dallas Clark	IND	NE	89.00
2	Vernon Davis	SF	CHI	88.00
3	Antonio Gates	SD	PHI	86.50
4	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at CAR	84.25
5	Jeremy Shockey	NO	at STL	84.00
6	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	DET	83.50
7	Brent Celek	PHI	at SD	82.75
8	Kellen Winslow	TB	at MIA	82.00
9	Jason Witten	DAL	at GB	81.75
10	Zach Miller	OAK	KC	79.50
11	Heath Miller	PIT	CIN	78.00
12	John Carlson	SEA	at ARI	77.50
13	Greg Olsen	CHI	at SF	77.00
14	Dustin Keller	NYJ	JAC	71.50
15	Todd Heap	BAL	at CLE	70.50
16	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at MIN	68.00
17	Anthony Fasano	MIA	TB	65.25
18	Tony Scheffler	DEN	at WAS	65.00
19	Donald Lee	GB	DAL	63.00
T-19	Ben Watson	NE	at IND	63.00
21	Fred Davis	WAS	DEN	61.75
22	Gary Barnidge	CAR	ATL	61.25
23	Ben Patrick	ARI	SEA	60.00
24	Bo Scaife	TEN	BUF	58.00
25	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	at NYJ	56.50
26	Sean Ryan	KC	at OAK	56.25
27	Robert Royal	CLE	BAL	55.25
28	Daniel Coats	CIN	at PIT	53.25
29	Martellus Bennett	DAL	at GB	47.00
30	Derek Fine	BUF	at TEN	44.25

 
Start: Visanthe Shiancoe, Vikings. I believe I recommended Shiancoe as a “Sit” in Week 4, stating that he did not seem too involved in the Vikings revamped passing game. Well, Visanthe must have taken that personally, because he’s scored five touchdowns in five games since then. He’s a great start against the struggling Lions this week.
 
Sit: Todd Heap, Ravens. Maybe I can inspire Heap by listing him as a “Sit” this week. The former Arizona State Sun Devil has been involved in the Ravens’ offense, but has not scored since Week 2. He’s got a good matchup this week, but it is still hard to recommend him over the fourteen guys listed ahead of him on our list.

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Ryan Longwell	MIN	DET	95.50
2	David Akers	PHI	at SD	92.00
3	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	at IND	87.75
4	John Carney	NO	at STL	84.50
5	Nick Folk	DAL	at GB	81.00
6	Nate Kaeding	SD	PHI	80.75
7	Neil Rackers	ARI	SEA	80.50
8	Jay Feely	NYJ	JAC	80.25
T-8	Rob Bironas	TEN	BUF	80.25
10	Mason Crosby	GB	DAL	79.50
11	Matt Prater	DEN	at WAS	79.25
12	Robbie Gould	CHI	at SF	76.75
13	Matt Stover	IND	NE	76.50
14	Steven Hauschka	BAL	at CLE	76.25
15	Dan Carpenter	MIA	TB	74.50
16	Jason Elam	ATL	at CAR	73.25
17	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	KC	71.75
18	Rian Lindell	BUF	at TEN	71.25
19	Joe Nedney	SF	CHI	70.75
20	Jeff Reed	PIT	CIN	70.50
21	John Kasay	CAR	ATL	68.25
22	Josh Brown	STL	NO	68.00
23	Ryan Succop	KC	at OAK	67.25
24	Olindo Mare	SEA	at ARI	65.75
25	Josh Scobee	JAC	at NYJ	65.00
26	Shayne Graham	CIN	at PIT	64.50
27	Shaun Suisham	WAS	DEN	63.00
28	Jason Hanson	DET	at MIN	62.00
29	Phil Dawson	CLE	BAL	61.25
30	Connor Barth	TB	at MIA	61.00

 
Start: Jay Feely, Jets. Feely is probably available in most leagues, so if you normally start Lawrence Tynes or Kris Brown and need a bye-week replacement, the Jets’ kicker could be your man. Feely has topped seven points in each of his last five games, and the Jaguars are far from an intimidating defense.
 
Sit: Shayne Graham, Bengals. It’s funny, Graham is generally considered a good kicker, and the Bengals have been pretty good on offense, but for some reason he has only managed ten field goal attempts on the season (and he’s only made seven of them). I would not expect a big turnaround this week against the stingy Steelers’ defense at the less than kicker-friendly Heinz Field.

Rank	Defense	Team	Opponent	Average
1	Saints	NO	at STL	94.25
2	Vikings	MIN	DET	90.25
3	Broncos	DEN	at WAS	88.50
4	Steelers	PIT	CIN	86.25
5	Eagles	PHI	at SD	86.00
6	Dolphins	MIA	TB	83.75
7	Ravens	BAL	at CLE	82.50
8	Jets	NYJ	JAC	78.00
9	Packers	GB	DAL	73.75
10	49ers	SF	CHI	73.50
T-10	Titans	TEN	BUF	73.50
12	Cardinals	ARI	SEA	72.25
13	Bengals	CIN	at PIT	70.75
14	Cowboys	DAL	at GB	70.25
15	Falcons	ATL	at CAR	69.50
T-15	Panthers	CAR	ATL	69.50
T-15	Patriots	NE	at IND	69.50
18	Chargers	SD	PHI	69.25
19	Redskins	WAS	DEN	69.00
20	Seahawks	SEA	at ARI	67.75
21	Bears	CHI	at SF	67.00
22	Raiders	OAK	KC	64.00
23	Chiefs	KC	at OAK	63.25
24	Bills	BUF	at TEN	61.50
25	Buccaneers	TB	at MIA	59.75
26	Jaguars	JAC	at NYJ	59.50
27	Lions	DET	at MIN	54.50
28	Browns	CLE	BAL	53.00
29	Colts	IND	NE	52.75
30	Rams	STL	NO	44.00

 
Start: Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins don’t rank highly in many defensive categories, but they have also played some really tough offenses so far this year (the Saints, Colts, Patriots, Falcons, Chargers, Jets twice). This week, however, they play Tampa Bay, a team that averages just 15.4 points per game. And that’s after the 38 points they scored last week in their first win (that total includes two defensive touchdowns). Point is, the Dolphins have a good matchup this week, and could be available in your league if you need a replacement.
 
Sit: Indianapolis Colts. This one’s pretty simple. The Colts are top ten fantasy defense, but this week they play one of the league’s best offenses in the Patriots. Our rankers have taken notice, dropping Indy all the way to 29th in this week’s rankings (ouch!) If you have been starting the Colts every week up to this point, you might want to consider your other options for 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.
 

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