2008 Fantasy Football: Start Em, Sit Em
2008 Fantasy Football: Week 12 Start Em, Sit Em
Rather than quickly listing start em and sit em players on my Week 11 NFL Picks page, I thought I'd devote a new page for this.
NEW FEATURE - Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings
Bengals at Steelers
Start Em:
Though Donovan McNabb struggled last week, he still managed to throw 330 yards and a touchdown against the Bengals. Roethlisberger torched the Chargers for 300 yards on Sunday. Expect similar numbers.
The only Cincinnati Bengal I'd start. The Steelers have an elite pass defense, but Houshmandzadeh is a top-notch wideout who can't be benched. But do you start him over someone like Eddie Royal? Check out the Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings on Thursday morning.
PIT: RB Willie Parker, WR Hines Ward, WR Santonio Holmes.
Sit Em:
Starting a Bengal running back might be tempting (if you want to lose on purpose). Pittsburgh is No. 2 versus the run.
Chad Ocho Cinco is out for this game. Not that it matters; he has yet to record more than 57 receiving yards in any game this year.
Vikings at Jaguars
Start Em:
As I write every week, Maurice Jones-Drew can't be out of your lineup, no matter whom he plays, because he's a touchdown machine. But do I have him ahead of Brandon Jacobs or Michael Turner? Make sure you check out my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings on Thursday morning to find out.
Justin Gage just torched Jacksonville's 25th-ranked secondary. Bernard Berrian could have a big game as well.
Matt Jones is listed as probable and hasn't been suspended. He's a very good WR3 this week.
MIN: RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings Defense.
Sit Em:
If Matt "Coke Zero" Jones sits, make sure you do the same with David Garrard. If Jones plays, Garrard isn't a terrible start, but there are better options out there.
Bills at Chiefs
Start Em:
Keep starting Tyler Thigpen. Over the past four games, Thigpen has averaged 230 yards and two touchdowns - legitimate QB1 numbers. He has also rushed for at least 20 yards in those contests, so you're getting two points or more from that as well. Thigpen is clearly mobile, so he a rushing touchdown could be coming soon (Emmitt wrote that last sentence).
Lee Evans not catching a pass had to be a fluke. Look for the Bills to get him in their game plan against Kansas City.
BUF: RB Marshawn Lynch.
KC: WR Dwayne Bowe, TE Tony Gonzalez.
Sit Em:
I know he's playing the Chiefs, but Trent Edwards could barely do anything (148 yards, 1 TD, 3 INTs) against the Browns. Edwards has just eight touchdowns on the year.
Unless you get points for players spitting at women in your league, sit Larry Johnson. It's pretty difficult to run at Marcus Stroud.
Patriots at Dolphins
Start Em:
Matt Cassel has evolved into a legitimate QB1 somehow. He threw for 400 yards and rushed for 60 more yards last week. Miami has a pretty awful secondary. Don't expect him to match those figures, but he should be able to piece together a solid game.
I don't know if you'd consider him an obvious start yet, but Ronnie Brown ran for 113 yards on 17 carries the last time he played the Patriots. Thomas Jones had success running the ball versus New England last week, so it's likely Brown will eclipse the century mark again.
Anthony Fasano is worth a start if you're hurting at tight end. Fasano led the Dolphins with 66 receiving yards and a touchdown when the team beat New England in Week 3. We saw Brett Favre use Dustin Keller repeatedly last Thursday. Fasano could be targeted multiple times here.
MIA: WR Greg Camarillo (PPR), Dolphins Defense.
NE: WR Wes Welker, WR Randy Moss.
Sit Em:
The Dolphins have a top 10 rush defense, so it'll be difficult for any Patriot runner to have a good game.
Buccaneers at Lions
Start Em:
Unless you're in a Touchdown League, Jeff Garcia could be a solid start here. In his last four games, he has thrown for an average of 283 yards per contest. He doesn't have many touchdowns, so he's not an elite QB1 or anything. Check out my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings on Thursday morning to find out where I rank him among other quarterbacks for Week 12.
With Earnest Graham out for the year, Warrick Dunn will get all of the work. Detroit can't stop the run at all.
A WR2 in PPR Leagues and a WR3 in other formats, Antonio Bryant has emerged as Jeff Garcia's favorite target.
TB: Buccaneers Defense.
DET: WR Calvin Johnson.
Sit Em:
Kevin Smith ran for 100 yards for the first time in his career last week, but don't expect a repeat performance. The Buccaneers are tied for ninth in rush defense.
Jets at Titans
Start Em:
I know the Jets are awesome against the run, but I'd keep Chris Johnson and LenDale White in your lineup, depending on who your other running backs were. Johnson is such a dynamic threat and a factor in the passing attack. White, meanwhile, is a touchdown machine. Find out whom to start and sit Johnson and White over in my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings, to be posted on Thursday morning.
Brett Favre told Dustin Keller, "I wish I found you earlier in my career." How sweet. Keller has become Favre's No. 1 option, catching 14 passes for 194 yards and a touchdown the past two weeks.
Despite the signing of Alge Crumpler, Bo Scaife has emerged as Kerry Collins' favorite weapon. Keep riding Scaife, despite last week's pedestrian outing.
TEN: Titans Defense.
Sit Em:
Ever since notching six touchdowns against the Cardinals, Brett Favre has failed to throw for more than one touchdown in all but two games. He has reached the two-score figure only twice since Sept. 28. The Titans are third against the pass, and will make Favre's life really difficult.
Speaking of life being difficult, Thomas Jones won't be able to run against the Titans' eighth-ranked rush defense.
Bears at Rams
Start Em:
Even though Marc Bulger is struggling, Donnie Avery and Torry Holt seem to be picking up decent yardage in garbage time. That may not mean anything in the real world, but fantasy points are fantasy points, no matter when you get them.
CHI: RB Matt Forte, Bears Defense.
Sit Em:
Steven Jackson is out. Antonio Pittman and Kenneth Darby won't get much done against the league's sixth-ranked rush defense.
Eagles at Ravens
Start Em:
Despite playing the Bengals game like a crack addict, Donovan McNabb still threw for 330 yards and a touchdown. Baltimore has two starting defensive backs on IR. McNabb should be able to throw effectively against them.
The recipients of Donovan McNabb's predicted success.
Though Joe Flacco is playing well, you have to like Jim Johnson versus a rookie quarterback. He baited Matt Ryan into a couple of turnovers.
BAL: Ravens Defense.
Sit Em:
The Washington Post is reported that Brian Westbrook is really injured and could miss this game. The Ravens have one of the top rush defenses in the NFL, so consider other options.
Ray Rice and Willis McGahee were held to 35 combined rushing yards on 17 carries against the Giants. The Eagles are ranked just a bit worse than New York is against the run. Don't start either of these guys.
Derrick Mason looks like a game-time decision this week. Don't mess around with him and find someone else.
Todd Heap's lacking production doesn't mean he sucks; the Ravens simply need him to block against dominant pass rushes. Philadelphia qualifies.
Texans at Browns
Start Em:
Good old Sage Rosenchoker is worth a start as a lower-end QB1 if you're stuck. Cleveland's secondary sucks, and despite his yardage totals, Rosenchoker played pretty well last week, completing 13-of-18 passes for a YPA of greater than 10.
Kevin Walter is averaging about 70 yards and a touchdown the past four weeks. It's been Owen Daniels' production that has slipped since Matt Schaub suffered an injury; not Kevin Walter's.
That said, I'm not giving up on Owen Daniels. He's too talented to sit. He'll bounce back sooner or later.
HOU: RB Steve Slaton, WR Andre Johnson.
CLE: WR Braylon Edwards, TE Kellen Winslow Jr.
Sit Em:
I know the Texans are 22nd against the run, but Jamal Lewis couldn't even put together a good game against the defensively challenged Broncos. This guy is done.
49ers at Cowboys
Start Em:
In my write-up, I said Marion Barber would struggle to gain rushing yardage because the 49ers are ninth against the run. However, Barber is still worth starting because he's a weapon in the passing game and he has a knack for scoring touchdowns. Who should you start or bench instead of Barber? Find out in my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings on Thursday morning.
SF: RB Frank Gore.
DAL: QB Tony Romo, WR Terrell Owens, TE Jason Witten.
Roy Williams is beginning to do some things in the passing game, but he's still not ready to be worthy of WR3 consideration.
Raiders at Broncos
Start Em:
This could be the game Justin Fargas finally runs for 100 yards. The Broncos are 25th versus the run.
In a potential shootout, Jay Cutler will be throwing a lot. Eddie Royal needs to be in your lineup. I have Brandon Marshall listed as an obvious start. I know he's going against Nnamdi Asomugha, but you can't sit your studs. I would never recommend doing so.
DEN: QB Jay Cutler, WR Brandon Marshall.
Sit Em:
As I write every week, no one knows what Mike Shanahan is going to do with his running backs. Don't give yourself a headache trying to figure that out.
Panthers at Falcons
Start Em:
The Falcons are 26th against the run, so both Carolina running backs are worth starting. Find out where I have each ranked in my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings on Thursday morning.
I love Michael Turner here, and I explain why on Page 10 of the USA Today Sports Weekly.
CAR: WR Steve Smith.
ATL: WR Roddy White.
Sit Em:
Jake Delhomme's numbers the past two weeks: 17-of-46, 170 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. If you don't have a calculator by your side, that's a completion percentage of 37.0 and a YPA of 3.7. I don't trust him.
The Panthers' defense is fourth in YPA (yards per attempted pass), so while I don't think Matt Ryan is a terrible start, I believe there are better options out there.
If Jake Delhomme keeps struggling, the only receiver worth starting on Carolina is obviously Steve Smith.
Giants at Cardinals
Start Em:
After noticing that Arizona's run defense is ranked fifth, you may think about sitting Brandon Jacobs. Don't do it. Jacobs cannot be tackled and he's a touchdown machine. Consider Derrick Ward in PPR Leagues.
Steve Breaston had an off week, but I would still start him as a WR3. The Cardinals use way too many three-receiver sets not to get him involved.
NYG: Giants Defense.
ARZ: QB Kurt Warner, WR Larry Fitzgerald, WR Anquan Boldin.
Sit Em:
Tim Hightower's decreased production will take another hit against the Giants, who are seventh versus the rush.
Major disappointment. The last time Plaxico Burress registered at least four catches or more than 50 yards in any game is Oct. 13. Sure, Burress could go off at any moment, but I wouldn't wait around.
SATURDAY NIGHT UPDATE: Burress is questionable to play. He should be on your bench.
Redskins at Seahawks
Start Em:
Don't worry about Clinton Portis' injury. If he played last week, he'll be good to go at Seattle.
SATURDAY MORNING UPDATE: Portis has been limited in practice the past two days. He'll probably play, but isn't 100 percent. Have a backup running back ready to go for the 4:15 games.
If your starting defense has a tough matchup, consider the Redskins. The banged-up Seahawks could commit numerous turnovers and allow a couple of sacks.
WAS: WR Santana Moss, TE Chris Cooley.
Sit Em:
Poor Matt Hasselbeck. He suffered a concussion in his first game off a back injury. He just can't stay healthy.
The Redskins are average against the run, but Julius Jones is one of the worst starting running backs in the league.
With Matt Hasselbeck ailing with multiple injuries, there's no reason either of these receivers should be in your lineup.
Colts at Chargers
Start Em:
The Colts haven't had much success versus the pass the previous four weeks. Even Sage Rosenchoker maintained a YPA of greater than 10. Bob Sanders might play, but he's probably not 100 percent.
Not a great play, as the Chargers are pretty average against the run. However, Addai is a factor in the passing attack and a threat in the red zone.
If Philip Rivers is worth a start, his No. 1 receiver should be in your lineups as a WR3 as well.
IND: QB Peyton Manning, WR Reggie Wayne, TE Dallas Clark.
SD: RB LaDainian Tomlinson, TE Antonio Gates.
Sit Em:
Marvin Harrison has one good game, and he's supposed to be back? I'm not buying it. I'm not playing Harrison until I can see that he can consistently produce.
Packers at Saints
Start Em:
Aaron Rodgers has a dream matchup against a Mike McKenzie-less Saints secondary. He'll be one of the top quarterbacks in my Weekly NFL Fantasy Football Rankings.
If you missed it, Ryan Grant completely dominated Chicago's sixth-ranked rush defense last week. He's a RB1 the rest of the way, and should be in your lineup every week.
Marques Colston's injury earlier this year really paved the way for Lance Moore to become a legit No. 2 receiver in the NFL. He's a very good WR3 in any league.
Jeremy Shockey finally got into the mix last week, and I have to believe the Saints will keep him in their game plan.
GB: WR Greg Jennings, WR Donald Driver.
NO: QB Drew Brees, WR Marques Colston.
Sit Em:
Reggie Bush might play in this game. He's coming off an injury, so there's no telling how limited he'll be.
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