Week 6: Start Your Steelers - 7 comments

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The Steelers offense gets a boost in Week 6 when Ben Roethlisberger makes his first start of the season. The Pittsburgh QB missed the first four weeks of the season due to suspension, and he’s been chomping at the bit to get back under center. The reality is that Pittsburgh hasn’t struggled without him, going 3-1 while looking like a Super Bowl favorite. Roethlisberger has looked great it practice, and his transition back into form should be fluid and quick.
 
His first “test” is Cleveland. The Browns have been surprisingly spunky this season, losing three close games to start the season before defeating the Bengals in Week 4. Unfortunately, the team looks headed in the wrong direction now. With both starting quarterbacks out with injuries, Colt McCoy will be asked to make his first NFL start under the worst of conditions. A Pittsburgh blowout may suppress Roethlisberger’s stats, but he’ll get his in the first half. I’m starting all my Steelers this week, and you should too.
 
Big thanks to Dan Lambskin, tclangham, Case Ace, LMack, 204BC, 2centworth, WWM, B-Chad and Amuk for helping with the rankings in Week 6!
 

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opp	Average
1	Peyton Manning	IND	at WAS	87.00
2	Drew Brees	NO	at TB	82.87
3	Philip Rivers	SD	at STL	81.77
4	Tom Brady	NE	BAL	74.36
5	Matt Schaub	HOU	KC	73.64
6	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	CLE	73.55
7	Eli Manning	NYG	DET	73.32
8	Tony Romo	DAL	at MIN	72.73
9	Kyle Orton	DEN	NYJ	71.82
10	Joe Flacco	BAL	at NE	68.27
11	Donovan McNabb	WAS	IND	67.45
12	Matt Ryan	ATL	at PHI	67.41
13	Vince Young	TEN	at JAC	64.27
14	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	at DEN	63.91
15	Jay Cutler	CHI	SEA	63.57
16	Kevin Kolb	PHI	ATL	62.00
17	Brett Favre	MIN	DAL	61.49
18	Aaron Rodgers	GB	MIA	59.86
19	Matt Cassel	KC	at HOU	59.45
20	Alex Smith	SF	OAK	57.95
21	David Garrard	JAC	TEN	57.55
22	Josh Freeman	TB	NO	56.78
23	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at CHI	55.82
24	Sam Bradford	STL	SD	55.55
25	Shaun Hill	DET	at NYG	54.64
26	Chad Henne	MIA	at GB	49.55
27	Jason Campbell	OAK	at SF	48.95
28	Colt McCoy	CLE	at PIT	30.40
29	Bruce Gradkowski	OAK	at SF	24.82
30	Caleb Hanie	CHI	SEA	17.51
31	Matt Flynn	GB	MIA	17.18
32	Michael Vick	PHI	ATL	15.17
33	Jake Delhomme	CLE	at PIT	14.95
34	Seneca Wallace	CLE	at PIT	14.85
35	David Carr	SF	OAK	4.27
36	Tim Tebow	DEN	NYJ	4.18
T-36	Tarvaris Jackson	MIN	DAL	4.18

 
Start: Kyle Orton, Broncos. Yes, he’s up against the “vaunted” Jets defense. However, Revis Island needs a little emergency aid and may miss this game. If Darrelle Revis does play, he’ll be less than 100 percent. Moreover, Orton needn’t be benched against any defense right now. He’s conquered both the Titans and Ravens on the road in the last two weeks. With the running game expected to struggle again against New York, Orton is a clear must-start.
 
Sit: Jay Cutler, Bears. He’s coming back from his concussion, which is great news for any Bears fans (or fantasy owners of Bears receivers) that had to watch Chicago’s Week 5 stink-fest against the Panthers. Even so, the Seahawks are playing solid defense right now, and until Cutler proves he can get rid of the football in a hurry — his tendency to hold on to the ball in Week 4 is what caused multiple hits against the Giants — he’s going to be a shaky start.
 

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opp	Average
1	Chris Johnson	TEN	at JAC	87.45
2	Adrian Peterson	MIN	DAL	83.73
3	Frank Gore	SF	OAK	82.27
4	Ray Rice	BAL	at NE	77.80
5	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	DET	77.49
6	Michael Turner	ATL	at PHI	76.48
7	Arian Foster	HOU	KC	75.55
8	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	TEN	75.51
9	LaDainian Tomlinson	NYJ	at DEN	73.18
10	Steven Jackson	STL	SD	72.40
11	Jamaal Charles	KC	at HOU	70.82
12	Jahvid Best	DET	at NYG	69.86
13	LeSean McCoy	PHI	ATL	69.25
14	Matt Forte	CHI	SEA	69.09
15	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	CLE	68.77
16	Ronnie Brown	MIA	at GB	68.64
17	Ryan Mathews	SD	at STL	67.97
18	Michael Bush	OAK	at SF	67.11
19	Shonn Greene	NYJ	at DEN	64.55
20	Ryan Torain	WAS	IND	64.18
21	Ricky Williams	MIA	at GB	63.82
22	Thomas Jones	KC	at HOU	61.18
23	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	DET	60.22
24	Felix Jones	DAL	at MIN	60.18
25	Joseph Addai	IND	at WAS	58.23
26	Peyton Hills	CLE	at PIT	57.43
27	Cadillac Williams	TB	NO	56.42
28	Marion Barber	DAL	at MIN	56.36
T-28	Mike Tolbert	SD	at STL	56.36
30	Brandon Jackson	GB	MIA	55.86
31	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	BAL	55.05
32	Willis McGahee	BAL	at NE	54.55
33	John Kuhn	GB	MIA	53.32
34	Darren McFadden	OAK	at SF	52.26
35	Chris Ivory	NO	at TB	50.73
36	Jason Snelling	ATL	at PHI	49.77
37	Darren Sproles	SD	at STL	47.82
38	Ladell Betts	NO	at TB	47.64
39	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at CHI	46.91
40	Laurence Maroney	DEN	NYJ	46.82
T-40	Justin Forsett	SEA	at CHI	46.82
42	Danny Woodhead	NE	BAL	46.05
43	LeGarrette Blount	TB	NO	43.86
44	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	NYJ	42.74
45	Pierre Thomas	NO	at TB	42.66
46	Chester Taylor	CHI	SEA	42.27
47	Kareem Huggins	TB	NO	41.88
48	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	NYJ	39.87
49	Steve Slaton	HOU	KC	39.82
50	Javon Ringer	TEN	at JAC	36.09
51	Kevin Smith	DET	at NYG	35.68
52	Earnest Graham	TB	NO	33.73
53	Jerome Harrison	PHI	ATL	32.89
54	Derrick Ward	HOU	KC	31.82
55	Mike Hart	IND	at WAS	31.82
56	Donald Brown	IND	at WAS	31.56
57	Leon Washington	SEA	at CHI	29.55
58	Tashard Choice	DAL	at MIN	29.09
59	Kenneth Darby	STL	SD	28.73
60	Mike Bell	CLE	at PIT	26.73
61	Toby Gerhart	MIN	DAL	25.36
62	Mewelde Moore	PIT	CLE	20.32
63	Deji Karim	JAC	TEN	18.55
64	Keiland Williams	WAS	IND	17.55
65	Anthony Dixon	SF	OAK	16.64
66	Maurice Morris	DET	at NYG	16.32
67	Sammy Morris	NE	BAL	16.00
68	Brian Westbrook	SF	OAK	15.99
69	Rashad Jennings	JAC	TEN	12.94
70	Fred Taylor	NE	BAL	12.75

 
Start: Ryan Mathews, San Diego. The Chargers rookie has been gradually working his way back to full health, and before Week 5, San Diego was more than willing to give him all the time he needed. That was because Mike Tolbert was playing out of his mind, but the fullback came back down to Earth last week with an 11-yard performance. Mathews may not be ready for a full complement of carries, but he’ll earn more than Tolbert this week, making him a solid RB2 against the Rams.
 
Sit: Peyton Hillis, Browns. The way he’s played, Hillis is a surefire fantasy starter every week. But if there was one game where he should ride the bench, it’s this one. The Steelers have had no trouble shutting out elite backs this season; well-rested coming off a bye, they should have no trouble with Hillis either. With Cleveland figuring to have no luck moving the ball via the pass, the Steelers should stack the line against the ailing bruiser back. I’d look elsewhere for my RB2.
 

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opp	Average
1	Reggie Wayne	IND	at WAS	86.00
2	Roddy White	ATL	at PHI	82.32
3	Randy Moss	MIN	DAL	80.68
4	Miles Austin	DAL	at MIN	80.09
5	Andre Johnson	HOU	KC	78.29
6	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	DET	76.58
7	Brandon Marshall	MIA	at GB	76.45
8	Anquan Boldin	BAL	at NE	76.27
9	Hines Ward	PIT	CLE	74.32
10	Malcom Floyd	SD	at STL	74.14
11	DeSean Jackson	PHI	ATL	73.22
12	Greg Jennings	GB	MIA	71.18
13	Percy Harvin	MIN	DAL	71.12
14	Marques Colston	NO	at TB	71.05
15	Steve Smith	NYG	DET	70.68
16	Mike Wallace	PIT	CLE	70.59
17	Wes Welker	NE	BAL	70.00
18	Austin Collie	IND	at WAS	69.85
19	Santana Moss	WAS	IND	69.09
20	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	NYJ	66.95
21	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	at DEN	66.73
22	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	at DEN	66.64
23	Dwayne Bowe	KC	at HOU	66.36
24	Donald Driver	GB	MIA	65.64
25	Nate Washington	TEN	at JAC	65.27
26	Michael Crabtree	SF	OAK	65.23
27	Louis Murphy	OAK	at SF	65.14
28	Mike Williams	TB	NO	64.95
29	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	ATL	64.18
30	Johnny Knox	CHI	SEA	63.73
31	Kenny Britt	TEN	at JAC	63.55
32	Pierre Garcon	IND	at WAS	63.13
33	Calvin Johnson	DET	at NYG	62.42
34	Derrick Mason	BAL	at NE	61.64
T-34	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	TEN	61.64
36	Kevin Walter	HOU	KC	61.27
37	Lance Moore	NO	at TB	60.41
38	Mario Manningham	NYG	DET	60.19
39	Jabar Gaffney	DEN	NYJ	59.14
40	Eddie Royal	DEN	NYJ	59.05
41	Roy Williams	DAL	at MIN	58.27
42	Devin Hester	CHI	SEA	57.09
43	Robert Meachem	NO	at TB	56.77
44	Mike Thomas	JAC	TEN	56.55
45	Devery Henderson	NO	at TB	56.32
T-45	Danny Amendola	STL	SD	56.32
47	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	BAL	at NE	56.18
T-47	James Jones	GB	MIA	56.18
49	Davone Bess	MIA	at GB	55.82
50	Dez Bryant	DAL	at MIN	55.54
51	Jerricho Cotchery	NYJ	at DEN	55.27
52	Darrius Heyward-Bey	OAK	at SF	55.23
53	Brandon Tate	NE	BAL	51.18
54	Chris Chambers	KC	at HOU	50.82
55	Dexter McCluster	KC	at HOU	50.64
56	Nate Burleson	DET	at NYG	48.45
57	Deion Branch	NE	BAL	48.36
58	Josh Morgan	SF	OAK	47.59
59	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	at PIT	47.55
60	Jacoby Jones	HOU	KC	47.35
61	Mike Williams	SEA	at CHI	47.09
62	Brandon Gibson	STL	SD	45.41
63	Sammie Stroughter	TB	NO	45.32
64	Jason Avant	PHI	ATL	44.00
65	Joshua Cribbs	CLE	at PIT	43.45
66	Harry Douglas	ATL	at PHI	43.41
67	Buster Davis	SD	at STL	42.64
68	Joey Galloway	WAS	IND	41.27
69	Bernard Berrian	MIN	DAL	40.86
70	Mardy Gilyard	STL	SD	38.55
71	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	NYJ	38.29
72	Legedu Naanee	SD	at STL	36.34
73	Julian Edelman	NE	BAL	35.96
74	Michael Jenkins	ATL	at PHI	35.54
75	Patrick Crayton	SD	at STL	35.45
76	Blair White	IND	at WAS	35.42
77	Devin Aromashodu	CHI	SEA	35.32
78	Golden Tate	SEA	at CHI	34.91
79	Brandon Stokley	SEA	at CHI	33.73
80	Deon Butler	SEA	at CHI	33.64
81	Earl Bennett	CHI	SEA	32.18
82	Ted Ginn Jr.	SF	OAK	31.95
83	Brian Hartline	MIA	at GB	31.36
84	Antwaan Randle El	PIT	CLE	30.55
85	Laurent Robinson	STL	SD	29.36
86	Brad Smith	NYJ	at DEN	29.09
87	Brian Robiskie	CLE	at PIT	28.73
88	Brian Finneran	ATL	at PHI	28.36
89	Greg Lewis	MIN	DAL	28.27
90	Anthony Armstrong	WAS	IND	28.18
91	Arrelious Benn	TB	NO	25.82
92	Bryant Johnson	DET	at NYG	25.27
93	Jordy Nelson	GB	MIA	24.64
94	Michael Spurlock	TB	NO	24.45
95	Justin Gage	TEN	at JAC	18.93

 
Start: Wes Welker, Patriots. The departure of Randy Moss is sure going to scare Welker owners, who may think about benching the elite wide receiver with the Ravens on tap. Don’t. The Patriots have had two weeks to prepare for this game, and they’ll surely find ways to get Welker the ball, as he’s the only reliable option in the receiving corps. An added bonus, Aaron Hernandez has played exceedingly well, and teams will have to respect him in the passing game. Even if Welker is constantly double-teamed to start the game, the Ravens will have to adjust at some point to account for Hernandez.
 
Sit: Calvin Johnson, Lions. Megatron is a game-time decision heading into Week 5, but I’m going to make your decision before game time: sit him. If he plays, he’ll clearly be far less than 100 percent. Whether he plays or not, Detroit quarterback Shaun Hill will feel like he’s in the middle of the new Medal of Honor game, with bodies flying all around him until the game is over. The Giants defense has played the pass admirably this season, and one main reason is the pass rush. No one on the Lions pass offense looks like a good play, especially an injured Johnson.
 

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opp	Average
1	Antonio Gates	SD	at STL	86.91
2	Vernon Davis	SF	OAK	83.36
3	Dallas Clark	IND	at WAS	83.18
4	Zach Miller	OAK	at SF	74.89
5	Dustin Keller	NYJ	at DEN	74.50
6	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at PHI	73.27
7	Jason Witten	DAL	at MIN	72.41
8	Chris Cooley	WAS	IND	72.23
9	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	DAL	71.80
10	Brent Celek	PHI	ATL	68.64
11	Greg Olsen	CHI	SEA	66.55
12	Aaron Hernandez	NE	BAL	66.50
13	Todd Heap	BAL	at NE	64.86
14	Kevin Boss	NYG	DET	64.47
15	John Carlson	SEA	at CHI	64.09
16	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	TEN	63.27
17	Jeremy Shockey	NO	at TB	62.60
18	Heath Miller	PIT	CLE	60.86
19	Bo Scaife	TEN	at JAC	60.27
20	Kellen Winslow	TB	NO	59.94
21	Tony Moeaki	KC	at HOU	59.27
22	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at NYG	58.73
23	Owen Daniels	HOU	KC	57.53
24	Tony Scheffler	DET	at NYG	56.18
25	Ben Watson	CLE	at PIT	52.64
26	Andrew Quarless	GB	MIA	50.27
27	Daniel Graham	DEN	NYJ	49.55
28	Anthony Fasano	MIA	at GB	47.27
29	Rob Gronkowski	NE	BAL	39.32
30	Michael Hoomanawanui	STL	SD	34.73

 
Start: Brent Celek, Eagles. With Kevin Kolb under center, we thought Celek would have a solid Week 5, and he did, hauling in his second TD of the season. He scored his first when Kolb entered the Week 4 game as an injury replacement. On Sunday, Celek should make it three for three, as Kolb is expected to play at least one more game in relief of Michael Vick. His opponent will be Atlanta, a team that allowed TDs to Jeremy Shockey and Vernon Davis in Weeks 3 and 4 as well as five catches to Ben Watson in Week 5.
 
Sit: Marcedes Lewis, Jaguars. This run of TDs is going to have to stop at some point, and when it does, Lewis owners are going to be left with not much. He’s made fantasy headlines by catching five TDs to date, but his yardage totals of 31, 70, 15, 22 and 54 are positively yawn-inducing. He a complete boom-or-bust fantasy option, and if he doesn’t boom with a score, you’re getting something close to a zero. Rather than cut him, I’d be dealing him to the highest bidder before his next stinker.
 

Rank	Team Defense	Team	Opp	Average
1	Steelers	PIT	CLE	77.45
2	Chargers	SD	at STL	76.91
3	Jets	NYJ	at DEN	76.82
4	Giants	NYG	DET	75.86
5	Bears	CHI	SEA	75.82
6	Packers	GB	MIA	72.91
7	Ravens	BAL	at NE	72.77
8	Titans	TEN	at JAC	71.00
9	Vikings	MIN	DAL	70.73
10	Saints	NO	at TB	70.36
11	Raiders	OAK	at SF	68.91
12	Cowboys	DAL	at MIN	68.41
13	Eagles	PHI	ATL	68.23
14	Falcons	ATL	at PHI	67.50
15	Seahawks	SEA	at CHI	67.18
16	Patriots	NE	BAL	65.50
17	Dolphins	MIA	at GB	65.27
18	49ers	SF	OAK	64.64
19	Chiefs	KC	at HOU	62.50
20	Texans	HOU	KC	62.36
21	Colts	IND	at WAS	61.81
22	Buccaneers	TB	NO	58.77
23	Broncos	DEN	NYJ	57.82
24	Redskins	WAS	IND	55.73
25	Browns	CLE	at PIT	55.27
26	Lions	DET	at NYG	54.50
27	Jaguars	JAC	TEN	53.73
T-27	Rams	STL	SD	53.73

 
Start: Tennessee Titans. The Titans defense opened up the season with three solid games against Oakland, Pittsburgh and the Giants, but they’ve allowed plenty of points to Denver and Dallas over the last two weeks. Thankfully for the unit, Jacksonville is no Denver or Dallas. Jeff Fisher’s bunch will be bringing their A-game on Monday night in a divisional matchup that could wind up deciding the AFC South (all four teams are 3-2 heading into Week 6). I like the Titans D for double-digit points this week.
 
Sit: New England Patriots. Despite owning the second-best point average among fantasy defenses, we’re avoiding the Pats in Week 6. Ray Rice looked rejuvenated in his Week 5 game, and his clean bill of health adds the most important dimension to an offense that already features some pretty good receivers. Anquan Boldin should have no problem with the Patriot secondary through the air, and the Ravens should hang up a big point total on New England.
 

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opp	Average
1	Nate Kaeding	SD	at STL	81.27
2	Rob Bironas	TEN	at JAC	78.32
3	Mason Crosby	GB	MIA	75.09
4	Robbie Gould	CHI	SEA	74.73
5	David Akers	PHI	ATL	73.91
6	Ryan Longwell	MIN	DAL	73.41
7	Neil Rackers	HOU	KC	73.09
8	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	DET	72.73
9	Stephen Gostkowski	NE	BAL	71.95
10	Jeff Reed	PIT	CLE	71.32
11	Matt Bryant	ATL	at PHI	70.55
12	Adam Vinatieri	IND	at WAS	70.45
13	Nick Folk	NYJ	at DEN	70.05
14	Josh Scobee	JAC	TEN	69.82
15	Matt Prater	DEN	NYJ	69.14
16	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at SF	68.95
17	Ryan Succop	KC	at HOU	68.73
18	Garrett Hartley	NO	at TB	68.18
19	Jason Hanson	DET	at NYG	67.00
20	Dan Carpenter	MIA	at GB	66.27
21	Billy Cundiff	BAL	at NE	64.36
22	Graham Gano	WAS	IND	64.27
23	Josh Brown	STL	SD	63.14
24	David Buehler	DAL	at MIN	62.59
25	Joe Nedney	SF	OAK	61.50
26	Connor Barth	TB	NO	59.18
27	Phil Dawson	CLE	at PIT	58.95
28	Olindo Mare	SEA	at CHI	57.18

 
Start: Jeff Reed, Steelers. If Pittsburgh does go ultra conservative in the second half, it could lead to multiple FG attempts for Reed, who’s likely to have multiple extra points on his line already at that point of the game. I’d expect at least eight points from the Pittsburgh kicker, but double digits seems more likely.
 
Sit: Garrett Hartley, Saints. Yes, New Orleans had the confidence to turn back to Hartley and cut veteran John Carney, but there’s no telling if Hartley himself has the confidence to post a perfect game on Sunday. Wise fantasy owners will look somewhere other than the high-powered Saints team for their kicker this week.
 

 
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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