Week Eleven Starters and Bench Warmers

Favre you didn't... You did...  Wonder
if the CFL is hiring coaches?

Remember no more bye weeks which means no more excuses about having to play your second tier options. Here are your week 11 starters...

QB, Matt Cassel, KC Chiefs: do you smell a run-up? After last week's shellacking in Denver, KC Chiefs coach Todd Haley has vengeance on his mind, and who better to dish it on then a bad AZ passing d? The Cardinals give up 240 ypg and more then twice as many touchdowns as interceptions (15-7). The Cardinals have given up totals of 41-41-22-27 in their last 4 road games. Expect Cassel to connect on multiple scores with his favorite target Bowe.

RB, Mike Tolbert, SD Chargers: with injury prone Ryan Matthews out Tolbert looks to get the bulk of SD's carries Monday against the 30th ranked Denver rushing defense allowing 143 ypg. Tolbert has shown his ability to find the end-zone whether starting or backing up Matthews. After Rivers throws the Denver offense out of the game expect a steady diet of Tolbert to keep Orton off the field and the Chargers to a 5-5 record.

WR, Dwayne Bowe, KC Chiefs: see above in Cassel section.

TE, Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars: Monday morning may find these Jags tied for the AFC South lead as NE beats Indy, and Garrard trashes Cleveland as he has done in previous outings. Excluding last weeks game against the Jets (Sanchez just isn't looking Dustin Keller's way in the red zone any more) the Browns had given up 4 touchdowns in 3 games to opposing TE's. When near the red zone Garrard looks for his big tight end from UCLA, thus, making the recipe for a good game for Lewis against the Browns Sunday.

D-ST: because the bye weeks are done your regularly played D should be played this Sunday. Besides, their are no real breakout match ups that catch your eye. Hope you played the Bears D.

K, David Akers, Philadelphia Eagles: 3 straight weeks of double digit fantasy points should make him start-able anyways. Sunday his Eagles play a tougher defense in NY giving Akers plenty of opportunities for field goals. Plus, with Vick playing like he is Akers should get more then his chances at XP's.

Because you have a bye week don't be suckered into starting these guys:

QB, Brett Favre, Minnesota Vikings: if you haven't already benched captain interception please do so now. Although his record is good at home when playing for the Vikings a stingy Packers D will limit Favre as they have done to previous opponents. GB is giving up a 10th best 212 ypg while talling up more interceptions then touchdowns given (14-9) and have a league leading 28 sacks. If this game doesn't get Chilly fired what will?

RB, Arian Foster, Houston Texans: why sit the one guy who IS THE Texans offense? Because when it comes to RBs and the Jets D at home it's never good news. Against opposing RBs the Jets have given up only 1 td and no 100 yard games.

WR, Steve Smith, Carolina Panthers: who doesn't have a touchdown since week 2? Not just Wes Welker, but Carolina's Steve Smith. Although his match up against the Ravens looks favorable be prepared to sit him until the Carolina QB situations gets sorted out. Who would have thought the loss of Matt Moore for the season would hurt the value of Smith?

TE: who else should you leave alone besides Brent Celek? How about Dustin Keller, John Carlson, or Kevin Boss?

Week Nine Top Performers and Under Achievers

Week Nine thus far was the week of the RB as 3 out of the top 5 fantasy scorer's were RB's. If this were the NBA Peyton Hillis would be making strong considerations for comeback player of the year as he continues to make Josh McDaniel look stupid for trading him to Cleveland for a 3rd string QB in Brady Quinn. Meanwhile in Houston Arian Foster took on the bulk of the Texans offense in a losing effort to the surging Chargers, and Adrian Peterson worked to help keep Brad Childress employed for another week in Minnesota.

Here are your week nine top scorers:

• Against the Patriots Hillis rushed 29 times for 184 yards and 2 touchdowns. 
• Arian Foster had a combined 197 yards and 3 touchdowns, nearly 4, against the Chargers. 
• Adrian Peterson had 81 yards on the ground, and 63 through the air with 2 touchdowns against AZ. 
• The Cowboys and Jon Kitna kept up their losing ways by giving the Packers defense 2 touchdowns, 2 interceptions, and scoring only one touchdown (a pass from Kitna to Dez Bryant) on them in a lopsided defeat. 
• As I tweeted last night; you could give Philip Rivers a couple of homeless guys and he would find them in the end zone. Rivers threw for 295 yards and 4 touchdowns; 2 a piece to a backup Te (Randy McMichael and Seyi Ajirotuto)

On the flip side here are some guys who underperformed you into a possibly loss yesterday:

• Matt Schaub was mediocre again yesterday as he threw for 267 yards and 1 score plus an interception. And you spent a 4th round pick on him?
• How do you follow up a 117 yard/ 2 touchdown performance against the Vikings? You run 9 times for 14 yards marking the first time in 6 weeks he didn't find the end zone. 
• One trade that McDaniels may have gotten right was the Brandon Marshall trade. Or maybe it's just that Chad Henne is an interception waiting to happen. Marshall hauled in 5 receptions for 30 yards. Save the Sunday night game against the Jets Marshall has no touchdowns for the season. 
• He's owned in over 80% of standard leagues, was probably started in most due to a 6 team bye week, and yielded his owners a 0 receptions for 0 yards performance equalling 0 points combined over the last two weeks. And you still own him why?

Check back for later for Week 9 trends and topics...