12/14/06
The next two weeks are either the most exciting or depressing weeks
for fantasy football players.
If you made your league’s playoffs, you likely cancelled any
plans you had for Sunday and plan on sitting on the couch and watching
games all day in anticipation of every scoring update. If you missed
your league’s playoffs, you’re pouting and thinking,
“what if I had picked up this player or what if I hadn’t
made this trade or what if this player didn’t get hurt?”
Fantasy league playoffs have owners analyzing their lineups more
than ever. Who should I start? Who should I sit?
Start your studs, no matter what their matchup is. Stick with the
stud players who got you in the playoffs and don’t get cute
and start sub-par players just because they have a better matchup.
Here are some non-stud players that you should consider starting
and sitting this week: Start ’em
Jeff Garcia, QB, Philadelphia:
Owners of Donovan McNabb who picked up Garcia are grinning ear
to ear. Garcia has seven touchdown passes in his three starts
and faces the New York Giants’ 29th-ranked pass defense
this week that has allowed an average of 295 yards per game in
the last four weeks.
Others: Steve McNair, QB, Baltimore;
Rex Grossman, QB, Chicago; Ahman Green, RB, Green Bay; RB Edgerrin
James, RB, Arizona; Donte' Stallworth, WR, Philadelphia; Laveranues
Coles, WR, N.Y. Jets.
Sleepers: Jon Kitna, QB, Detroit;
Sammy Morris, RB, Miami; Justin Fargas, RB, Oakland; Desmond Clark,
TE, Chicago.
Sit ’em
Joseph Addai, RB, Indianapolis:
The rookie faces Cincinnati, which has allowed a stingy 133 rushing
yards and no touchdowns to running backs in the last three weeks.
The Bengals’ pass defense is ranked last in the NFL, so
it’s likely the Colts will be passing much more often than
running. Last week against Jacksonville’s stout run defense,
Addai recorded just 22 rushing yards. Also, Addai (27 carries)
has been splitting the carries with Dominic Rhodes (20 carries)
the last two weeks. If you have a similar-talent option on your
bench, sit Addai.
Others: Marc Bulger, QB, St.
Louis; Eli Manning, QB, N.Y. Giants; Philip Rivers, QB, San Diego;
Travis Henry, RB, Tennessee; Willis McGahee, RB, Buffalo; Carnell
Williams, RB, Tampa Bay; Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo; Chris Chambers,
WR, Miami; Joey Galloway, WR, Tampa Bay; Ben Watson, TE, New England.
Hot Read
D.J. Hackett, WR, Seattle: Do
you own Darrell Jackson and are looking for a replacement? Just
take a glance down the Seahawks’ depth chart, and you’ll
find a solid substitute while Jackson is out with a toe injury.
Hackett collected four catches, 104 yards and a touchdown last
week against Arizona and this week could get plenty of opportunities
against San Francisco’s 24th-ranked pass defense at home.
Broken Play(er)
Javon Walker, WR, Denver: The
Bronco hasn’t scored in the last four weeks and has just
six catches for 69 yards in the two weeks with rookie Jay Cutler
at quarterback. However, Walker has a great matchup this week
against Arizona’s 30th-ranked pass defense that has allowed
seven touchdowns to wide receivers in the last three weeks. Start
Walker and look for him to break out of his slump.
Off The Bench
Ahman Green, RB, Green Bay:
Last week, Minnesota backup Artose Pinner gashed Detroit for 125
yards and three touchdowns. This week, Green gets his shot at
the Lions’ 23rd-ranked rush defense at home. Green gained
131 total yards with a receiving touchdown against Detroit in
Week 3 and should record his second solid game of the season against
the struggling Lions this week.
Safe Bet
Tony Romo, QB, Dallas: Look
for the Cowboy to rebound from his second straight shaky outing
last week in Dallas’ lopsided loss to New Orleans. The Cowboys
face Atlanta’s 31st-ranked pass defense, giving Romo a good
shot to approach 250 yards and two touchdowns.
Extra Point
If you’re having trouble deciding on which wide receivers
you should start, consider whom your opponent has at quarterback.
If your opponent’s quarterback is a teammate of your wide
receivers, start that receiver and every time he catches a pass
from that quarterback, you’ll have the point advantage in
most league’s scoring systems.
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