Week 11: Better Alternatives - 12 comments

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I couldn’t believe it. None of us could. At the time, it didn’t make sense. But now, just a few days later, I totally get it. As you probably know by now, the Redskins signed Eagles third string quarterback Donovan McNabb to a $70 million extension. Okay, that was a cheap shot. Throw the flag. But, when you examine the events that led up to the contract extension, can you really blame me? Two weeks ago, McNabb was benched for his awful play. Depending on who you believe in the Redskins organization, he was also benched for not knowing the playbook, being out of shape, and not giving his team the best chance to win. Quite a resume. So how exactly did Washington go from, “This guy stinks” to “We need to give this guy a boatload of money?” The answer can be summed up in one word: alternatives.
 
Before the season, the Eagles were criticized for trading McNabb within the division. Many wondered why they would take such a seemingly unnecessary risk. However, the Eagles knew they had two other quality quarterbacks in Michael Vick and Kevin Kolb. Put simply, the Eagles had alternatives. Contrast that with the current situation in Washington. The Redskins benched McNabb in favor of Rex Grossman. For those who aren’t familiar with Grossman’s work, just know that he’s essentially the difference between Peyton Manning and Dan Marino. From there Washington turned to JaMarcus Russell. For those who aren’t familiar with Russell’s work, call your cable operator and demand full coverage of the CFL’s Hamilton Tiger-Cats, as they own his rights.
 
After watching the likes of Grossman and Russell, one may begin to view a guy like McNabb through rose-colored glasses. Think about it. If you’re working out JaMarcus Russell, can McNabb really be “out of shape?” Moreover, I defy you to watch Rex Grossman run a two-minute drill and then claim Donovan’s grasp of the playbook is anything less than solid. After analyzing his would-be replacements, McNabb looks a lot better … and richer.
 
With that, let’s get to Start/Sit. Here at the Café, we rank 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 match-up, 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. Finally, below each table, I will give my personal Start/Sit recommendations for each position. Without further ado, here’s Start/Sit for Week 11.
 

Rank	Quarterbacks	Team	Opp	Average
1	Drew Brees	NO	SEA	94.33
2	Peyton Manning	IND	at NE	93.00
3	Michael Vick	PHI	NYG	92.67
T-3	Philip Rivers	SD	DEN	92.67
5	Aaron Rodgers	GB	at MIN	90.33
6	Tom Brady	NE	IND	83.33
7	Eli Manning	NYG	at PHI	83.00
8	Ben Roethlisberger	PIT	OAK	81.00
9	Kyle Orton	DEN	at SD	78.67
10	Mark Sanchez	NYJ	HOU	78.00
11	Joe Flacco	BAL	at CAR	76.67
T-11	Josh Freeman	TB	at SF	76.67
13	Matt Ryan	ATL	at STL	76.33
14	Matt Cassel	KC	ARI	75.67
15	Carson Palmer	CIN	BUF	75.00
16	David Garrard	JAC	CLE	74.00
17	Shaun Hill	DET	at DAL	73.21
18	Vince Young	TEN	WAS	72.60
19	Sam Bradford	STL	ATL	72.33
20	Ryan Fitzpatrick	BUF	at CIN	71.67
T-20	Jay Cutler	CHI	at MIA	71.67
22	Jon Kitna	DAL	DET	70.33
23	Donovan McNabb	WAS	at TEN	69.67
24	Troy Smith	SF	TB	68.33
25	Matt Schaub	HOU	at NYJ	67.40
26	Jason Campbell	OAK	at PIT	65.00
27	Colt McCoy	CLE	at JAC	64.67
28	Matt Hasselbeck	SEA	at NO	63.18
29	Tyler Thigpen	MIA	CHI	63.00
30	Derek Anderson	ARI	at KC	62.33
31	Brett Favre	MIN	GB	59.87
32	Brian St. Pierre	CAR	BAL	52.33
33	Tim Tebow	DEN	at SD	13.67
34	Matt Leinart	HOU	at NYJ	13.33

 
Start: Kyle Orton, Denver Broncos. It’s been three weeks. Three long weeks since Orton has been featured in this space. I can’t believe I let it get this far. Some will say this is not the week to start Orton due to stingy Chargers pass defense. To those people I offer the following irrefutable facts:
1) Under standard scoring systems, Orton hasn’t scored under 17 points in any game.
2) Last week, Orton lit up Kansas City with four passing touchdowns.
3) The Chiefs hadn’t allowed more than two passing scores in any other game.
4) The Chargers have only allowed 250 yards passing twice all season.
5) Those two games were their last two games.
 
Sit: Matt Schaub, Houston Texans. Schaub hasn’t been Schaub this year. And, while he may yet salvage a respectable fantasy season, it’s unlikely to be this week against the Jets on the road. In keeping with the theme of this article, you can find a better alternative.
 

Rank	Running Backs	Team	Opp	Average
1	Adrian Peterson	MIN	GB	91.67
2	Chris Johnson	TEN	WAS	91.33
3	Frank Gore	SF	TB	90.00
4	Peyton Hills	CLE	at JAC	89.33
5	Jamaal Charles	KC	ARI	87.33
6	Arian Foster	HOU	at NYJ	87.00
7	Ahmad Bradshaw	NYG	at PHI	84.00
8	Maurice Jones-Drew	JAC	CLE	83.67
T-8	Rashard Mendenhall	PIT	OAK	83.67
10	Darren McFadden	OAK	at PIT	83.00
11	Michael Turner	ATL	at STL	82.33
12	Ray Rice	BAL	at CAR	81.67
T-12	Steven Jackson	STL	ATL	81.67
14	Knowshon Moreno	DEN	at SD	79.67
15	Thomas Jones	KC	ARI	79.33
16	Cedric Benson	CIN	BUF	77.67
17	LaDainian Tomlinson	NYJ	HOU	77.00
18	LeSean McCoy	PHI	NYG	76.67
19	Felix Jones	DAL	DET	76.33
20	Fred Jackson	BUF	at CIN	76.00
21	BenJarvus Green-Ellis	NE	IND	74.33
22	Ronnie Brown	MIA	CHI	72.33
23	Mike Tolbert	SD	DEN	72.00
24	Keiland Williams	WAS	at TEN	71.00
25	Brandon Jackson	GB	at MIN	70.67
26	Donald Brown	IND	at NE	70.33
27	Reggie Bush	NO	SEA	69.60
28	Matt Forte	CHI	at MIA	69.33
29	Ricky Williams	MIA	CHI	69.00
30	Jahvid Best	DET	at DAL	68.53
31	LeGarrette Blount	TB	at SF	68.00
32	Shonn Greene	NYJ	HOU	67.33
T-32	Marshawn Lynch	SEA	at NO	67.33
34	Willis McGahee	BAL	at CAR	67.00
T-34	Danny Woodhead	NE	IND	67.00
36	Brandon Jacobs	NYG	at PHI	66.00
37	Tim Hightower	ARI	at KC	65.00
38	Mike Goodson	CAR	BAL	64.00
T-38	Marion Barber	DAL	DET	64.00
40	Justin Forsett	SEA	at NO	63.00
41	Jarvarris James	IND	at NE	62.00
42	Michael Bush	OAK	at PIT	61.67
43	Jason Snelling	ATL	at STL	58.67
44	Toby Gerhart	MIN	GB	57.33
45	Cadillac Williams	TB	at SF	56.00
46	Beanie Wells	ARI	at KC	49.78
47	Maurice Morris	DET	at DAL	48.00
48	Darren Sproles	SD	DEN	45.33
49	Ryan Torain	WAS	at TEN	44.30
50	Chester Taylor	CHI	at MIA	40.00
51	Bernard Scott	CIN	BUF	39.67
52	Mewelde Moore	PIT	OAK	39.33
53	Tashard Choice	DAL	DET	36.67
54	Mike Bell	CLE	at JAC	36.33
55	Ryan Mathews	SD	DEN	36.00
56	Jerome Harrison	PHI	NYG	33.67
57	Javon Ringer	TEN	WAS	32.00
58	Ladell Betts	NO	SEA	31.67
59	John Kuhn	GB	at MIN	31.33
60	Derrick Ward	HOU	at NYJ	31.13
61	Correll Buckhalter	DEN	at SD	30.03
62	Sammy Morris	NE	IND	20.00
63	Deji Karim	JAC	CLE	19.67
T-63	Kenneth Darby	STL	ATL	19.67
65	Laurence Maroney	DEN	at SD	18.67

 
Start: Ray Rice, Baltimore Ravens. Don’t be fooled by his mediocre stat line last week against Atlanta. Rice looked sharp and was productive when given the chance (4.9 yards per carry). Unfortunately, the Falcons got up early and Baltimore was forced to abandon the running game. The good news is the Ravens have a more favorable match-up against Carolina in Week 11. The Panthers have implemented a strict policy against getting up early (or late) in games. Start Rice in all formats.
 
Sit: Marshawn Lynch, Seattle Seahawks. Let me be the first to congratulate the Seahawks on clinching the NFC West by notching their fifth victory against … (editor’s note: the information provided here is being researched for possible inaccuracy). Anyway, Lynch is still the starter, but it was Justin Forsett who was the better runner last week. Forsett looked explosive, averaging over seven yards per carry. Possible RBBC.
 

Rank	Wide Receivers	Team	Opp	Average
1	Calvin Johnson	DET	at DAL	92.00
2	Roddy White	ATL	at STL	91.67
3	Andre Johnson	HOU	at NYJ	89.20
4	Hakeem Nicks	NYG	at PHI	88.67
5	Dwayne Bowe	KC	ARI	87.33
6	Reggie Wayne	IND	at NE	86.00
T-6	DeSean Jackson	PHI	NYG	86.00
8	Miles Austin	DAL	DET	84.33
9	Dez Bryant	DAL	DET	83.67
10	Larry Fitzgerald	ARI	at KC	83.00
11	Terrell Owens	CIN	BUF	82.33
T-11	Mike Williams	TB	at SF	82.33
13	Marques Colston	NO	SEA	81.67
14	Brandon Lloyd	DEN	at SD	80.67
15	Anquan Boldin	BAL	at CAR	80.33
16	Percy Harvin	MIN	GB	79.57
17	Santonio Holmes	NYJ	HOU	79.33
18	Greg Jennings	GB	at MIN	78.67
19	Mario Manningham	NYG	at PHI	78.00
T-19	Braylon Edwards	NYJ	HOU	78.00
21	Steve Johnson	BUF	at CIN	77.33
T-21	Mike Wallace	PIT	OAK	77.33
23	Randy Moss	TEN	WAS	76.00
24	Nate Washington	TEN	WAS	75.00
25	Mike Thomas	JAC	CLE	74.33
T-25	Michael Crabtree	SF	TB	74.33
T-25	Danny Amendola	STL	ATL	74.33
28	Pierre Garcon	IND	at NE	74.00
29	Brandon Marshall	MIA	CHI	73.67
30	Jeremy Maclin	PHI	NYG	72.33
31	Lee Evans	BUF	at CIN	72.00
T-31	Santana Moss	WAS	at TEN	72.00
33	Malcom Floyd	SD	DEN	71.80
34	Chad Ochocinco	CIN	BUF	71.67
35	Johnny Knox	CHI	at MIA	71.33
36	Nate Burleson	DET	at DAL	70.67
37	Mike Sims-Walker	JAC	CLE	69.67
T-37	Mike Williams	SEA	at NO	69.67
39	Wes Welker	NE	IND	69.33
40	Hines Ward	PIT	OAK	68.08
41	Steve Breaston	ARI	at KC	67.67
T-41	James Jones	GB	at MIN	67.67
T-41	Robert Meachem	NO	SEA	67.67
T-41	Lance Moore	NO	SEA	67.67
45	Jabar Gaffney	DEN	at SD	67.33
T-45	Deion Branch	NE	IND	67.33
47	Steve Smith	CAR	BAL	67.28
48	Roy Williams	DAL	DET	65.67
T-48	Jacoby Ford	OAK	at PIT	65.67
T-48	Brandon Gibson	STL	ATL	65.67
51	Jacoby Jones	HOU	at NYJ	65.33
52	Davone Bess	MIA	CHI	64.67
53	Derrick Mason	BAL	at CAR	63.87
54	Eddie Royal	DEN	at SD	63.33
55	Louis Murphy	OAK	at PIT	62.90
56	Mohamed Massaquoi	CLE	at JAC	62.33
T-56	Patrick Crayton	SD	DEN	62.33
T-56	Arrelious Benn	TB	at SF	62.33
59	Earl Bennett	CHI	at MIA	60.67
T-59	Kevin Walter	HOU	at NYJ	60.67
61	Devery Henderson	NO	SEA	60.33
62	Austin Collie	IND	at NE	60.07
63	Devin Hester	CHI	at MIA	60.00
64	Chansi Stuckey	CLE	at JAC	57.00
T-64	Brandon Tate	NE	IND	57.00
66	T.J. Houshmandzadeh	BAL	at CAR	56.67
T-66	Josh Morgan	SF	TB	56.67
68	Bernard Berrian	MIN	GB	55.93
69	Jordan Shipley	CIN	BUF	54.33
70	Deon Butler	SEA	at NO	53.67
71	Ben Obomanu	SEA	at NO	52.33
72	David Gettis	CAR	BAL	51.33
73	Brandon LaFell	CAR	BAL	42.33
74	Michael Jenkins	ATL	at STL	41.67
75	Justin Gage	TEN	WAS	41.33
T-75	Anthony Armstrong	WAS	at TEN	41.33
77	Joshua Cribbs	CLE	at JAC	40.00
78	Legedu Naanee	SD	DEN	38.67
79	Harry Douglas	ATL	at STL	38.33
T-79	Seyi Ajirotutu	SD	DEN	38.33
81	Jordy Nelson	GB	at MIN	37.67
82	Jason Avant	PHI	NYG	37.33
83	Mardy Gilyard	STL	ATL	36.75
84	Early Doucet	ARI	at KC	36.67
85	Sammie Stroughter	TB	at SF	35.00
86	Antwaan Randle El	PIT	OAK	34.33
87	Emmanuel Sanders	PIT	OAK	31.67
88	Greg Lewis	MIN	GB	31.00
89	Donte Stallworth	BAL	at CAR	30.33
90	Demaryius Thomas	DEN	at SD	24.50
91	Brad Smith	NYJ	HOU	23.00
92	Donald Driver	GB	at MIN	22.33
93	Brian Robiskie	CLE	at JAC	21.33
94	Michael Spurlock	TB	at SF	20.67
95	Devin Aromashodu	CHI	at MIA	20.33
96	Brian Finneran	ATL	at STL	19.67
97	Bryant Johnson	DET	at DAL	19.33
T-97	Joey Galloway	WAS	at TEN	19.33
99	Riley Cooper	PHI	NYG	18.67
100	Julian Edelman	NE	IND	18.33

 
Start: Marques Colston, New Orleans Saints. I know that Colston is one of roughly 108 weapons in the Saints offense. I know that sometimes makes predicting his weekly output a difficult task. Point taken. However, I also know that Colston has seen over eight targets in each of his last three games after only one such contest prior to that. He may not be the only weapon in town, but he’s establishing himself as Brees’ favorite.
 
Sit: Santana Moss, Washington Redskins. Speaking of the only weapon in town, Santana Moss is finding it difficult to get open without a complementary receiver. After his hot start, he’s seen more double teams and no one else has stepped up in the Washington offense. Until someone does, opposing defenses will continue to limit Moss, whose yardage totals have declined in each of the last five weeks.
 

Rank	Tight Ends	Team	Opp	Average
1	Jacob Tamme	IND	at NE	86.33
2	Dustin Keller	NYJ	HOU	83.67
3	Jason Witten	DAL	DET	80.00
T-3	Marcedes Lewis	JAC	CLE	80.00
5	Zach Miller	OAK	at PIT	79.17
6	Antonio Gates	SD	DEN	78.73
7	Brandon Pettigrew	DET	at DAL	77.33
8	Todd Heap	BAL	at CAR	76.67
9	Chris Cooley	WAS	at TEN	76.33
10	Visanthe Shiancoe	MIN	GB	76.00
11	Ben Watson	CLE	at JAC	75.67
12	Jermaine Gresham	CIN	BUF	75.00
13	Heath Miller	PIT	OAK	72.33
14	Tony Gonzalez	ATL	at STL	71.33
15	Kevin Boss	NYG	at PHI	71.00
16	Greg Olsen	CHI	at MIA	70.67
17	Vernon Davis	SF	TB	70.17
18	Aaron Hernandez	NE	IND	69.33
19	Anthony Fasano	MIA	CHI	69.00
20	Kellen Winslow	TB	at SF	68.77
21	Jeremy Shockey	NO	SEA	68.00
22	Bo Scaife	TEN	WAS	65.00
23	Brent Celek	PHI	NYG	64.00
24	John Carlson	SEA	at NO	63.67
25	Joel Dreessen	HOU	at NYJ	63.33
26	Daniel Fells	STL	ATL	62.67
27	Randy McMichael	SD	DEN	61.67
28	Rob Gronkowski	NE	IND	61.00
29	Tony Scheffler	DET	at DAL	57.07
30	Daniel Graham	DEN	at SD	49.33
31	Tony Moeaki	KC	ARI	49.00
32	Ben Patrick	ARI	at KC	46.67
33	Jeff King	CAR	BAL	46.00
34	Andrew Quarless	GB	at MIN	45.67
35	Fred Davis	WAS	at TEN	42.67
36	Jonathan Stupar	BUF	at CIN	34.00
37	Donald Lee	GB	at MIN	33.47
38	Dante Rosario	CAR	BAL	28.57
39	Shawn Nelson	BUF	at CIN	26.67
40	Owen Daniels	HOU	at NYJ	22.67

 
Start: Dustin Keller, New York Jets. Keller started off hot this year, but has cooled off considerably over the last few weeks. Fortunately, in Week 11, he’ll face a Houston team that boasts the NFL’s worst defense against the pass and has surrendered four touchdowns to opposing tight ends in the last three games. The Texans have proven to be a potent remedy for countless struggling pass-catchers. They are the Dr. James Andrews of pass defenses. Credit Keller for seeking help before it was too late.
 
Sit: Rob Gronkowski, New England Patriots. Gut feeling? Yeah. It’s certainly tough to wager against a guy who scored three times against a tough Pittsburgh defense. Still, I think the Steelers dared Gronkowski to beat them by focusing on the receivers and putting Troy Polamalu on fellow TE Aaron Hernandez. Needless to say Gronkowski delivered. However, it’s tough to surprise defenses in consecutive games. I’m betting the Colts account for Gronkowski and make someone else beat them.
 

Rank	Team Defense	Team	Opp	Average
1	Steelers	PIT	OAK	87.33
2	Ravens	BAL	at CAR	86.00
3	Packers	GB	at MIN	84.57
4	Titans	TEN	WAS	83.00
5	Bears	CHI	at MIA	82.33
T-5	Giants	NYG	at PHI	82.33
7	Jets	NYJ	HOU	81.00
8	Chiefs	KC	ARI	80.67
9	Saints	NO	SEA	79.33
10	Raiders	OAK	at PIT	78.33
T-10	Buccaneers	TB	at SF	78.33
12	Lions	DET	at DAL	78.00
13	Dolphins	MIA	CHI	77.67
14	Eagles	PHI	NYG	76.67
15	Falcons	ATL	at STL	76.00
16	Chargers	SD	DEN	75.67
17	49ers	SF	TB	75.00
T-17	Redskins	WAS	at TEN	75.00
19	Browns	CLE	at JAC	74.33
20	Colts	IND	at NE	72.00
21	Rams	STL	ATL	71.67
22	Cowboys	DAL	DET	71.00
T-22	Patriots	NE	IND	71.00
24	Broncos	DEN	at SD	70.00
25	Bengals	CIN	BUF	69.67
26	Vikings	MIN	GB	68.83
27	Seahawks	SEA	at NO	67.67
28	Bills	BUF	at CIN	65.33
T-28	Jaguars	JAC	CLE	65.33
30	Cardinals	ARI	at KC	62.67
31	Texans	HOU	at NYJ	60.33
32	Panthers	CAR	BAL	56.67

 
Start: New Orleans Saints. We’ve already established that Marshawn Lynch isn’t going anywhere.
 
Sit: Seattle Seahawks. So yeah, I think the Saints win this one.
 

Rank	Kickers	Team	Opp	Average
1	Matt Bryant	ATL	at STL	87.33
2	David Akers	PHI	NYG	86.33
3	Rob Bironas	TEN	WAS	85.00
4	Sebastian Janikowski	OAK	at PIT	84.67
5	Dan Carpenter	MIA	CHI	83.00
6	Billy Cundiff	BAL	at CAR	82.67
7	Ryan Succop	KC	ARI	82.33
8	Adam Vinatieri	IND	at NE	82.00
T-8	Lawrence Tynes	NYG	at PHI	82.00
T-8	Nate Kaeding	SD	DEN	82.00
11	Robbie Gould	CHI	at MIA	81.67
12	Aaron Pettrey	CIN	BUF	81.33
T-12	Nick Folk	NYJ	HOU	81.33
14	Mason Crosby	GB	at MIN	81.00
15	Matt Prater	DEN	at SD	80.33
16	Shayne Graham	NE	IND	80.00
17	Rian Lindell	BUF	at CIN	79.67
T-17	Connor Barth	TB	at SF	79.67
19	Garrett Hartley	NO	SEA	78.67
20	Phil Dawson	CLE	at JAC	78.33
21	Graham Gano	WAS	at TEN	77.67
22	Neil Rackers	HOU	at NYJ	77.00
T-22	Ryan Longwell	MIN	GB	77.00
24	Josh Scobee	JAC	CLE	76.33
25	Jay Feely	ARI	at KC	75.67
T-25	Dave Rayner	DET	at DAL	75.67
27	Josh Brown	STL	ATL	74.67
28	Shaun Suisham	PIT	OAK	74.33
29	John Kasay	CAR	BAL	71.00
T-29	Olindo Mare	SEA	at NO	71.00
31	Shane Andrus	SF	TB	70.33
32	David Buehler	DAL	DET	69.33

 
Start: Dan Carpenter, Miami Dolphins. Better alternatives are few.
 
Sit: Josh Brown, St. Louis Rams. Better alternatives are many.
 

 
Drew is a lifelong Jets fan. Playing and writing about fantasy football has proven helpful in easing the pain.
 

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