Week 10 - Start / Sit

BYE WEEK: Cincinnati, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Washington

QB – Drew Brees, Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers

INJURY WATCH: Tony Romo(DAL), Jay Cutler(DEN), Ben Roethlisberger(PIT), Matt Schaub(HOU), Carson Palmer(CIN), Matt Hasselbeck(SEA), Kyle Orton(CHI), Dan Orvlosky(DET), Brian Griese(TB), Vince Young(TEN)

Start

Chad Pennington (MIA) – Pennington has been a very strong play in recent weeks and I look for him to continue his good play. The game is at home and Seattle’s defense has been much better shutting down the run than the pass. Pennington doesn’t throw the deep ball all that well, but there’s no one more accurate on shorter routes. He is excellent in giving his receivers a chance to run after the catch and makes plays in space. Seattle gave up huge yards to the tight end last week, and Miami has some good ones.  19 for 25 250yrds, 2 TD’s

Jake Delhomme (CAR) – Delhomme has an excellent match up this week going on the road to Oakland. The weather will be perfect for Steve Smith and Mushin Muhammed to abuse the Oakland secondary. I would expect Carolina to have many opportunities to score and they may lean on the run late after the game is well in hand, but they’ll throw, oh yes, they’ll throw.  16 for 22 225yrds, 2 TD’s

Sit

Ben Roethlisberger (PIT) – It pains me to say this, but the Steelers may need to sit Big Ben down a few games to let that nagging shoulder injury get healed. Byron Leftwich looked good enough in relief to convince me that Ben will at least miss one game. Even if he does start, there’s a chance he won’t finish. Indianapolis has had success against the Steelers in the past, so this offense could get shut down anyway.

Trent Edwards (BUF) – New England is a much better home team than when they’re on the road, so I look for them to use that home field advantage to rattle Edwards and force into bad situations. The Bills have given up a lot of sacks recently and you know the Patriots will try to exploit the problems in the offensive line to their advantage. Marshawn #### is also ####ed up a little and that could put more burden on the passing game. 18 for 30 225yrds, 1 TD, 2 INT’s, 1 FUM

RB – Brian Westbrook, Adrian Peterson, LaDanian Tomlinson, Frank Gore, Ronnie Brown, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Turner, Marshawn ####, Chris Johnson(TEN), Willie Parker

INJURY WATCH:  Joseph Addai(IND), Marshawn ####(BUF), Steven Jackson(STL), Reggie Bush(NO), Willis Mcgahee(BAL), Earnest Graham(TB), Warrick Dunn(TB), Selvin Young(DEN), Michael Pittman(DEN), Darren McFadden(OAK), Sammie Morris(NEP), Chris Perry(CIN), Justin Fargas(OAK), Lamont Jordan(NEP), Maurice Morris(SEA), Jerious Norwood(ATL), Felix Jones(DAL), Ahman Green(HOU), Antonio Pittman(STL), Kolby Smith(KC), Dominic Rhodes(IND), Andre Hall(DEN), Ladell Betts(WAS)

Start

Jamal Lewis (CLE) – There are many factors that play in to Lewis being a smart bet this week. Cleveland will be deploying a new QB this week, and as it happens, it’s a short week with the game falling on a Thursday. The Browns are at home and are facing a defense that ranks in the bottom five against the run and will be without DJ Williams and Champ Bailey. I expect Lewis to get an extremely heavy workload to help ease the pressure on Quinn.  125yrds, 3 for 25yrds, 2 TD’s

Ryan Torain (DEN) – After gaining only 1 yard on three carries last week, Torain will be the featured back due to fact that he’s the only healthy back on the team. Denver needs the run game to be successful to setup all of the play-action and boot legs that they run in the passing game. Pittman and Hall were placed on IR this week and Young is still battling a hamstring injury. Due to the short week, Torain should also get a heavy workload to wear down the Cleveland defense and protect their vulnerable defense by keeping the Browns offense on the sidelines as much as possible.  100yrds, 4 for 25yrds, 1 TD

Sit

Matt Forte (CHI) – Forte has the unfortunate circumstance of playing the Titans this week and Rex Grossman is playing quarterback. I can’t see Chicago being able to do much of anything in this one and there’s a good chance they’ll find themselves behind early and having to try and catch up later. Forte may catch some passes as an outlet receiver, but I would expect very much this week.  35yrds, 3 for 25yrds

Ryan Grant (GBP) – The Packers are going to have to throw more in this one to be successful. Minnesota will be able to shut down the run inside and Grant doesn’t have the best ability to get to the corner, the one spot the Vikings might be vulnerable. No, the Packers will attack threw the air, passing first to try and loosen up the front seven, but it will be with little success. Given the BYE week situations you shouldn’t have trouble finding a good fill-in.  50yrds, 3 for 15ydrs

WR – Brandon Marshall, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, Marques Colston

INJURY WATCH: Reggie Wayne(IND), Santana Moss(WAS), Chris Chambers(SD), Laveranes Coles(NYJ), Jerricho Cotchery(NYJ), Deion Branch(SEA), Eddie Royal(DEN), Anthony Gonzalez(IND), Kevin Walter(HOU), Justin Gage(TEN), Justin McCareins(TEN), Javon Walker(OAK), Joey Galloway(TBB), Sidney Rice(MIN), Brandon Stokely(DEN), Darrell Jackson(DEN), Brandon Lloyd(CHI), David Patten(NO), Drew Bennett(STL), Dante Stallworth(CLE), Marty Booker(CHI), Reggie Williams(JAC), Josh Reed(BUF)

Start

Matt Jones (JAC) – Jones has been the only reliable target for Jacksonville and he’s earned the confidence of Garrard. That will be important when the Jaguars need to throw the ball. This could be a break out game for Jones this week as the Jaguars need this win at Detroit to have any chance of a playoff spot in the AFC. I expect the big receiver to have a big game as Jacksonville pounds Detroit this week.  7 for 100yrds, 1 TD

Derrick Mason (BAL) – It’s rare to see a Raven WR in the Start ‘Em section, but Mason has been lights out lately due to the continuing improvement of Joe Flacco. The Ravens need to open up the passing game more if they want to compete in January and this will be another tune-up game for Flacco before the schedule gets a lot tougher. When Flacco throws, Mason catches and catches a lot. He’s not the deep threat on the team, but he’s almost a guarantee for 6 or 7 catches a game. If you’re looking for a receiver to help this week, grab Mason.  6 for 85yrds, 1 TD

Sit

Plaxico Burress (NYG) – Plax has not had a good game in a while and he’ll draw Asante Samuel this week in coverage. Not good. The Eagles will apply heavy pressure on the Giants and try to force Eli into coughing up the ball, something he did 3 times last week against Dallas. Philly’s defense is strong enough to remove Burress’ big play ability and should have you considering having him ride the pine.  4 for 30yrds

Torry Holt (STL) – You may be able to throw on the Jets, and I expect the Rams to have to do so, but you don’t throw on Darrel Revis, one of the games top young corners. Unless we see a quarterback change in St. Louis, I wouldn’t expect Holt to do much from here on out, especially not his week.  4 for 40yrds

TE – Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Owen Daniels, Dallas Clark, Antonio Gates

INJURY WATCH: Jason Witten(DAL), Tony Scheffler(DEN), Heath Miller(PIT), Jeremy Shockey(NO), L.J. Smith(PHI), Leonard Pope(ARI), Ben Utecht(CIN), Bubba Franks(NYJ)

Start

Anthony Fasano (MIA) – Fasano should benefit from a lot of looks in this one. After what the Eagles were able to do with the tight end last week, I’d expect Miami to take a very similar approach. Martin may also be involved in the passing game, but Fasano is the better all around player and should get the majority of the looks. With players like Cooley and Witten on BYE’s and Scheffler, Shockey, and Heath Miller all ####ed up, you could do a lot worse than Fasano.

K – Mason Crosby, Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Vinatieri, John Carney, David Akers, Robbie Gould

INJURY WATCH:  Lawrence Tynes(NYG), Mike Nugent(NYJ)

Start

Jay Feely (NYJ) – Feely has only converted 75% of his tries this year, but he should get plenty of opportunities this week at home against the Rams. Check the weather before the game as it can always be a factor, but everything else points to this being a high scoring game for the Jets and lots of points for Feely.  3 FG’s, 3 XP’s

DEF – Steelers, Ravens, Titans, Packers, Giants, Eagles, Vikings, Buccaneers

INJURY WATCH: Baltimore (Chris McAllister-CD, Samari Rolle-CB), Minnesota (Madieu Williams-S, David Herron-LB), Chicago (Tommie Harris-DT, Charles Tillman-CB, Nathan Vasher-CB), Pittsburgh (Casey Hampton-NT, Bryant McFadden-CB), Tampa Bay (Jermaine Philips-S, Jovan Haye-DT), Indianapolis (Marlin Jackson-CB, Daymeion Hughes-CB), Green Bay (Charles Woodson-CB), Dallas (Terence Newman-CB, Anthony Henry-CB), Washington (Jason Taylor-DE, Shawn Springs-CB), NY Giants (Kevin Dockery-CB, Bryan Kehl-LB) New England (Ellis Hobbs-CB, Jarvis Green-DE), Denver (Champ Bailey-CB, D.J. Williams-LB), Cleveland (Shaun Rogers-DT, Corey Williams-DE)

Start

Carolina Panthers – Could there be a more inept team right now in the league than the Raiders. If they struggled against Atlanta’s mediocre defense last week, what are they going to do against the Panthers this week? I’d expect at least over 100yrds and maybe some points, maybe. Carolina is coming off their BYE and had ample time to get healthy and prepare for this game. If the run fails Oakland early and Carolina gets a lead, it forces the Raiders into passing, and that’s exactly what Carolina wants you to have to do.  <200 PA, < 14 PA, 5 sacks, 2 INT’s, 1 FUM