Start Um’

Quarter Backs

Matt Cassel – Kansas City is high on life right now winning 4 of their last 4. They take on Miami at home who have allowed an average of 276 passing yards and 2 touch downs per game to opposing teams quarterbacks. I have a good feeling that Todd Haley will continue to grow his beard and wear that disgusting, good luck charm of a hat for another week.

Josh Freeman – Yeah, he has not lived up to expectations but he has been great the past two weeks throwing for a combined 558 yards and 4 touch downs. He is also getting LeGarrette Blount back who will make defenses focus on the run just a little bit more. This week will renew your faith in Josh Freeman.

Running Backs

Jackie Battle – He’s not fast but he is tough. He grinds out the yards and sees the goal line carries. I wouldn’t expect crazy yardage out of him but he will find the end zone again this week and it’s safe to expect 60-70 yards out of him. Consider him a great flex or a low end #2 running back option this week.

LeGarrette Blount – He is back. He is playing his NFC South rival the Saints who give up an average of 18 fantasy points a game to opposing running backs. The plus with Blount is that Earnest Graham is out and won’t be stealing any carries. It’s time for Blount owners to get what they expected from him.

Cedric Benson – Cincinnati’s defense has been creating turn overs and that means Cincinnati’s offense will have the ball more. If Cincinnati’s offense has the ball more that means more opportunities for Cedric Benson. And more opportunities for Cedric Benson, who is running against a Tennessee defense that allows the seventh most fantasy points to opposing running backs, means more points for fantasy owners. Logic is fun.

Wide Receivers

Julio Jones – He is fresh coming off his bye week and has been a full participant thus far in practice for the week. In the two games before Jones’ injury, he had over a 100 yards receiving in each game. Atlanta is playing Indy this week and while they may decide to lean on the run game, they do not have the size or power in their secondary to match up with Julio.

Michael Crabtree – It comes down to the numbers with Crabtree. Not only leading the Niners wide receivers with receptions and targets the past two weeks, but also having the most yards out of anyone in their wide receivers. Oh, he also leads them with 6 red zone targets as well.

Darrius Heyward-Bey – Palmer has the deep arm and Heyward-Bey is the deep threat. Once Palmer stepped under center in week 7 there seemed to be a good connection between him and Heyward-Bey. And now after having the bye week to get his rust off and practicing with his team and his receivers he should feel more than comfortable facing Denver.

Tight Ends

Brent Celek – I’m telling you to start this guy for the exact same reason he was on my waiver wire pick ups. Week 6 against Washington he posted 41 yards and a touch down and not only did he find the end zone again in week 8 but racked up a total of 94 yards. He faces Chicago next week and they have struggled with opposing teams tight ends allowing an average of 56 yards and just about 1 touch down a game. That’s the most out of any other team in the NFL.

Jake Ballard – He has been consistent to say the least. Finding at least 55 yards in his last 3 games with a high of 81 yards. He has a decent match up in a game against New England where the Giants should be throwing the ball a ton.

DS/T

Oakland – Well, we saw what Detroit did to Tim Tebow in Denver last week. I bet that Oakland does the exact same thing to him. Oakland will exploit Denver’s inefficiency to run the ball, Denver’s weak offensive line, and the biggest factor here, the man under center, Tim Tebow himself.

Dallas – Seattle has given up an average of 15 points to opposing defenses and has to travel to Dallas for this game. Definitely worth a start this week. Not to mention they are available in over 40 percent of NFL leagues.

 

Sit Um’

Quarter Backs

Jay Cutler – It is going to be the Matt Forte show in Philly at Lincoln Financial Field. Now some of Fortes success will come from passes from Cutler, but not nearly enough to make him worth a start. Also Cutler and his receiving core face a stout Philadelphia secondary who have only allowed an average of 10 points in the past three games to opposing quarterbacks.

Ben Roethlisberger – This will be the second time the Steelers and Ravens meet this year. The first time they met, Ray Lewis and company held Big Ben to 280 yards with just 1 touch down. He was also sacked 4 times and threw 3 interceptions. Granted, the Steelers have improved on their offensive line since week one, but not enough to keep Baltimore’s defense from ripping a hole in it and putting the pressure on Ben.

Running Backs

Ahmad Bradshaw – It’s not that I’m afraid to start him because of his foot issue (swollen and sore), it’s that I’m afraid he will be left out with all of the passing that will be taking place in Gillette stadium. Also, with Jacobs coming back into the mix, Bradshaw will most likely be losing his goal line carries and that is where he racked up all those points in week 6 against Buffalo.

Chris Johnson – Yup, officially on the Sit list. Javon Ringer out produced him last week and with Tennessee having a shot to win its division they will ride the hot hand. Johnson averaged a mere 2.4 yards a carry in week 8 while Ringer averaged 4.3 in rushing attempts and 8.4 yards in receiving. If Johnson wasn’t able to find his legs in week 8 against the Colts miserable run defense, what makes you think he will find them at all this season?

DeMarco Murray – He averaged a little over 9 yards a carry against Philadelphia and looked like he was running well when he had the ball. So why is he a Sit? For starters he is facing his toughest match up yet going up against a stout Seattle run defense. Now if Dallas cant run the ball against Seattle then they will throw it. This leaves DeMarco Murray sitting in the back field providing pass protection for Tony Romo. Murray only saw 8 rushing attempts against one of the weakest run defenses in the league. Why would he any more than that against one of the best…?

Wide Receivers

Steve Johnson – I don’t like Stevie being paired up with Revis. Unlike Matt Moore who just force fed the ball to Brandon Marshall a couple weeks ago, Fitzpatrick will look at his other receivers like David Nelson and Brad Smith. And with the way Chandler has been targeted in the end zone, he may not look Steve’s way at all if Revis is shutting him down after the first quarter.

Devin Hester – I have Hester listed here for the same reason you should all put Cutler on your bench this week. Philadelphia’s secondary has been phenomenal the past three games and with Hester seeing some time against Nnamdi Asomugha, he has a very good chance at getting shut down.

Vincent Jackson – Jackson has not seen more than 3 receptions since week 4 and has only found the end zone once since week 3. Rivers barely looks his way and with Pro Bowler Charles Woodson on coverage for the night that that trend should continue.

Tight Ends

Scott Chandler – This one is simple. If Chandler doesn’t find the end zone he doesn’t produce. He is facing the Jets who are very good at defending the pass and have allowed only 1 touch down the entire season to opposing teams tight ends. It was Gates in week 7

Tony Gonzalez – It seems that trams playing the Colts can do two things, pass deep and run all over them. Well, with Roddy White and Julio Jones being two huge, deep threats; and with Turner in the backfield I don’t see a whole lot of love coming to Tony Gonzalez. Don’t get me wrong he is still very talented in his old age, but his talent has absolutely nothing to do with how many targets he gets.

DS/T

Chicago Bears – Philadelphia’s offensive line has improved drastically in the past few weeks. This means better protection for Vick. That leads to more accurate passes and better decision making, ultimately leading to fewer turn overs and less sacks for Chicago.

Pittsburgh Steelers – They haven’t done much all year and I expect that to continue, which is a shame because a lot of people spent a higher draft pick than usual for a
DS/T to get the “almighty” Steelers. They put up negative 3, I repeat, negative 3 points against Baltimore in week one getting 35 points scored on them and managing to squeeze out one sack on the night. Maybe this is me telling you to not only sit them, but you should drop them at this point.

Kickers

Seriously… Just start one that isn’t hurt or that isn’t on a bye.