Week Six Start 'em or Start 'em

Have you seen me lately?

Before you set your lineup be sure to remove players from Arizona, Buffalo, Carolina, or Cincinnati. Here are your week 6 starters and bench warmers...

Start these guys or else:

• QB, Eli Manning, NY Giants: this week at home Manning and his 280 ypg, 8 touchdowns, faces off against the 26th ranked passing defense in Detroit giving up 235 ypg. Normally I would be against playing Eli because of his turnover problems, however, this matchup looks so good on paper you have to play Eli. A changed NY defense will keep a Calvin Johnson-less Lions offense off the field, and give Eli more chances to score. 
• QB, Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh Steelers: Ben is coming off a 4 week break/hiatus from all things Steelers football, plus throw in a bye week, and looks to take the reigns of a team QBed by Dennis Dixon and Charlie Bath to a 3-1 record. He will be welcomed back at Heinz Field to a steady receiving core, one of the top RB's in the league, and an opposing defense that has given up 8 touchdowns through the air while only picking off opposing QB's three times. 
• RB, Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins: despite rushing for 40 yards the Redskins showed their trust in Torain by handing off to him 16 times. This week, on Sunday night, Torain faces a banged up Indy defense giving up 142 yards and a score per game to opposing RB's. 
• RB, LaDainian Tomlison, NY Jets: against a good Minnesota D LT ran the ball 20 times for 94 yards, however, this week he faces off against the 26th ranked rushing defense in Denver giving up on average 127 ypg and a touchdown. For the season LT has been given the ball 14 more times then Shonne Green, 76-62, and the trend should continue as Rex Ryan looks to use his running game to keep Kyle Orton off the field. 
• WR, Malcolm Floyd: San Diego Chargers: in the pick 'em world you have to take the Rams because the Chargers have no idea how to win on the road this year no matter how badly the opponent tries to let them back into the game. However, individual wise Floyd is a great play as he has cemented himself as Rivers #1 WR option. With touchdowns in 3 of his 5 games this year, and playing against a Rams defense that was roasted by Shaun Hill last week, not to mention giving up 231 ypg and 6 scores, bodes well for the Rivers to Floyd combination. 
• WR, Brandon Lloyd, Denver Broncos: a guy who has been so inconsistent throughout his playing career is finally showing some consistency; thanks in part to his QB Kyle Orton. Floyd has caught for more then 100 yards in 4 of 5 games this year, and should have a repeat performance against a Jets defense that has given up 9 touchdowns and 235 ypg. With stats like that Kyle Orton looks like an amazing play, but with the year he has had it should be a no brainer to play him. 
• TE, Zach Miller, Oakland Raiders: it doesn't matter who his QB is; Gradkowski or Campbell both have looked early and often to Zach. He has scored a touchdown in each of his last 3 games and caught for 82 ypg, and plays against a 49ers defense that has given up at least 40 ypg and 3 touchdowns to opposing TE's. 
• D-ST, TB Buccaneers: most people know about QB Josh Freeman, and most people know about WR Mike Williams. However, most people don't know how well their defense has been performing this year. Save their game against Pittsburgh; the TB defense has scored double digit points in 2 out of their 3 games. This week they play against a shaky NO offense with little to no running game, and a QB who is probable for Sunday who just went for 3 interceptions and a fumble against the Cardinals. Digest this last morsel as well; for the season TB is ranked 5th against the pass. 

Unless you want to lose this Sunday keep these guys on the bench:

• QB, Sam Bradford, St. Louis Rams: he just lost his favorite target in Mark Clayton, his "new" favorite target will be double teamed beyond belief, and his running back is finally healthy. 
• RB, Peyton Hillis, Cleveland Browns: still recovering from a thigh injury, ran for just 28 yards last week, runs for a rookie QB who will be looking for his TE Ben Watson (also a nice play if you need a TE), and runs against a Steelers defense that has only given up 2 rushing touchdowns and 80 ypg. 
• WR, Greg Jennings, GB Packers: in his last 4 games he is averaging 25 ypg with only 2 touchdowns. His QB may not play Sunday, and the opposing Miami defense only gives up 182 ypg through the air. He will continue to be a 2nd/3rd round disappointment. 
• TE, John Carlson, Seattle Seahawks: the Seahawks stink on the road, he is averaging 40 ypg on 4 rpg with only 1 touchdown in those 4 games, the Bears defense has yet to give up a touchdown to an opponents TE, and on top of that he is probable. This late round sleeper will continue to sleep. 
• D-ST, Oakland Raiders: don't expect another performance from the Raiders like we witnessed last week against the Chargers. In 2 of their previous 4 games they had actually had negative scores. Coincidentally against teams with good running games. This week a hungry SF team comes to town looking for their first win along with a running back, Frank Gore, looking for his 2nd touchdown of the season. You may get a handful of points from Oakland's D, but hamper your expectations. Especially after the Chargers gave them three turnovers that resulted in immediate scores. 

Week Five Start 'em/ Sit 'em

Averages, averages, averages

Week five brings us to week two of bye weeks with such notable fantasy studs sitting this weekend (Tom Brady,  Brandon Marshall, Rashard Mendenhall); possibly leaving you with an empty roster spot previously filled by a for sure starter. Based on bye week implications here are your week five starters.

QB, Sam Bradford, Detroit Lions: who cares that you don't have Tom Brady available to play this week? You picked up Bradford after his week one play when he showed he wasn't the second coming of Ryan Leaf. Always a good decision. After four games he ranks 12th among QB's with 6 touchdowns and 236 yards per game. This week he plays the 26th ranked passing defense in Detroit giving up 241 ypg and 13 touchdowns over all. Detroit's Shaun Hill has shown his ability to throw and should light up St. Louis 22nd ranked passing defense, thus providing Bradford with ample opportunity to light up the board for more yards and scores.

RB, Ryan Torain, Washington Redskins: of course you could be recommended to start Arian Foster or Frank Gore, but where is the risk in that? Torain looks to get most if not all of the carries this weekend against the Packers, thank you Clinton Portis, and their 25th ranked rushing defense giving up 118 yards per game. In one week Torain moves from pickup of the week to fantasy stud.

WR, Hakeem Nicks, NY Giants: can you be 3-1 and have the worst defense against the pass? If you are Houston yes you can. If Eli Manning didn't have such a tendency to turn the ball over he would be a great play at QB this week, however, his main squeeze Nicks definitely is. Facing a defense that averages on giving 2 touchdowns and 338 ypg means Nicks will get his targets, and you uber points.

However, you may want to bench these guys unless you have no other options...

QB, Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals: despite a bad game against a fiery Charlie Batch the TB defense is limiting QBs to 194 ypg with 6 interceptions. Palmer has given up more turnovers then touchdowns in four games, and has shown against good defenses his inability to rack up yardage or touchdowns. In fact, discounting garbage time against NE or a trashy Cleveland defense Palmer has thrown only two meaningful touchdowns.

RB, Ryan Matthews, San Diego Chargers: even though he was healthy last week for his return against Arizona he still split plenty of carries with Ryan Tolbert to the point that Tolbert rushed for more yardage and more fantasy points. Perhaps this is SD still being cautions with Matthews and his concussion, or Norv Turner trying to figure out if he has a usable two RB system, but without Matthews being a foreseeable #1 in this offense he is bench worthy.

WR, Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona Cardinals: Greg Williams crazy blitzes + rookie QB Max Hall + healthy Beanie Wells = bad fantasy points. Over the past two weeks, with Max Hall throwing his way, Fitzgerald is average 41 yards and .5 touchdowns. In fact, it hasn't mattered who has thrown the ball to Larry because his production has been horrible all year long.

• 2 touchdowns through four games
• Averaging 4.5 receptions per game
• Averaging 52 yards per game

Need any other reason not to start him?

Week Three Start em or Sit em

Coming into week three most owners find themselves at an even record of 1-1, however, due to bad lineup management or bad coaches, er Eric Mangini, some find themselves in a 0-2 hole. Properly deciding between who to start and who to bench may help dig one out of the fantasy pits or virtually sink one's season.

Week three starters by position:

Michael Vick, Philadelphia Eagles, QB: over two games Vick is sporting a 105.5 passer rating, 459 yards, and three touchdowns. This week he plays against a 29th ranked defense in Jacksonville giving up an average of 300 yards per game, and 120 on the ground. Expect Vick to throw and run his way to the #1 points ranking Sunday.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans Saints, RB: against good defenses in Minnesota and San Francisco Thomas has showed that he can bare the load of being a feature back, and do the job of Reggie Bush catching passes out of the backfield. This week he plays, at home, against an Atlanta D giving up an average of 130 yards to opposing running backs. Pierre looks to be the lead back, and perhaps the only back getting reps since Reggie Bush is out with an injury, Chris Ivory is probable, and Ladell Betts has just been signed. Picking a good fantasy WR option on this Saints team is a crap shoot, but RB is for sure with Thomas.

Santana Moss, Washington Redskins, WR: someone has to catch Donovan McNabb's passes, and it may as well be Santana. Over two games he is averaging 8 catches for 83 yards a game. Week three pairs him against a St. Louis D that has given up 497 yards; this against poor offenses in Arizona and Oakland. Moss has shown to be McNabb's favorite target, and should finally record his first touchdown of the year.

Mercedes Lewis, Jacksonville Jaguars, TE: coming into the season if asked who would have the most fantasy points for the Jaguars, through week two, most would answer MJD. Yet, two weeks into the season Mercedy Lewis leads all of Garrard's options fantasy points wise. He plays this week against a Eagles D giving up 248 yards in the air and 123 on the ground. Last week the Lions drove consistently down the field against Philadelphia earning numerous trips into the red zone. In week one against the Broncos Garrard showed his trust in Lewis by giving him two tosses in the end zone; both resulting in touchdowns. Don't let MSW fool you with his big game last week. Mister inconsistent will show up, and leave Garrard with one reliable option. Play Lewis.

Defense/ Special teams: roam waiver wires and play match ups if you need help. Favorable match ups include Redskins, Tennessee, and Kansas City.

Week three sit em:

Matt Ryan, Atlanta Falcons, QB: his play on the road fails in comparison to when he plays in Atlanta. Michael Turner is banged up, and the Saints D will be synced on Ryan's only option White. Less then a stellar performance should be expected from Ryan.

Jahvid Best, Detroit Lions, RB: he ran all over a bad rushing defense last week, and has a grand total of 5 touchdowns for the year. However, this week he plays against a stellar Minnesota D that will force Shaun Hill into throwing it to keep up with Favre reigniting his fantasy career.

The whole NY Giants WR core: as expressed earlier this week in my stock up/ down column I am not hot for Eli, and even more so against an improved Titans D giving up on average 85 yards per game while forcing 8 fumbles and 1 interception. Opposing QB's have been sacked 8 times already, and expect nothing less against an immobile Eli who showed his issues with waiting in the pocket too long and fumbling.

Good luck, and good roto...