Week 10

You don’t need me to tell you to start LT and LJ (and PM).  And it’s safe to say that you know that TE Reggie Kelly is in for another quiet week.  I am here to talk about the not-so-obvious players in terms of whether you should “Start’em or Sit’em.” 

QUARTERBACKS 

START

Kurt Warner (Arizona) – Last week, Warner was pedestrian, but that was to be expected at Tampa Bay.  This Sunday, he’ll face a Lions defense that is adept at making big plays but also gives up a lot of points and yards through the air.  The Lions rank 30th in passing yards allowed (258 per game) and 27th in TD passes allowed (14 on the season).  In four career starts vs. Detroit, Warner has averaged 306 passing yards, with a total of eight TDs and 3 INTs.   

SLEEPER

Eli Manning (NY Giants) –  With Brandon Jacobs running well and the Giants’ defense coming on strong, Manning has been fairly quiet lately, passing for fewer than 187 yards in four of his last five games.  This week, however, the New York offense will need to be hitting on all cylinders to keep pace with the high-scoring Cowboys.  In his last three games vs. Dallas, Manning has averaged 257 passing yards, with a total of eight TDs and two INTs.    

BENCH

Jay Cutler (Denver) – Cutler was knocked out of last week’s contest against the Lions with a leg/ankle injury, missing out on a chance to post big numbers against a struggling pass defense.  He was able to practice this week without any reported problems, but I don’t expect him to have a great day in Kansas City.  The Broncos’ offensive line has been depleted by injuries, WR Javon Walker (knee) is still out, and RB Travis Henry is very questionable due to a knee injury.  Also, Cutler will be facing an underrated Kansas City defense that has allowed just eight TD passes this season.   

RUNNING BACKS 

START

Willis McGahee (Baltimore) – McGahee has been the lone bright spot for the Ravens’ offense this season.  He currently ranks fifth in the league with 689 rushing yards, and he is averaging more than three receptions per game.  This week, he should feast on the Bengals, who rank 28th against the run (144 yards per game).  In the Week 1 matchup at Cincinnati, he had a solid game, totaling 111 yards on 22 touches.   

SLEEPER

Cedric Benson (Chicago) – Benson has been one of the bigger busts of the season, but he should have a decent day on Sunday in Oakland.  The Raiders have been horrible against the run this season, allowing 153 yards per game, and they are giving up a league-high 5.1 yards per carry.   

Priest Holmes (Kansas City) – With Larry Johnson out at least one week due to a foot strain, Holmes and rookie Kolby Smith will share the Chiefs’ rushing load on Sunday against Denver.  With Holmes playing in just 17 games over the past four seasons, he is a risky play, but given that he’s facing the league’s worst run defense, he is probably worth a shot.   

BENCH

Rudi Johnson (Cincinnati) – Johnson’s injured hamstring has apparently healed, but you wouldn’t know it by his performance in Buffalo last week, when he was held to 11 yards on nine carries.  This week, Johnson will face a Baltimore defense that has problems in the secondary but remains stout against the run.  The Ravens are allowing just 74 rushing yards per game, and on the season, they have given up only one score on the ground.  In his last two games vs. Baltimore, including Week 1’s matchup, Johnson has been limited to 97 yards and no scores on 34 carries. 

Ryan Grant (Green Bay) – You don’t want any part of Grant, who suffered a concussion last week, against a Minnesota defense that ranks second against the run (70 yards per game) and has allowed just three rushing scores all season.   

WIDE RECEIVERS AND TIGHT ENDS 

START

Plaxico Burress (NY Giants) – Despite playing on a sprained ankle for most of the season, Burress has scored in six of eight games.  His best effort came against the Cowboys in Week 1, when he caught eight balls for 144 yards and three TDs.  Burress has actually scored in three straight games vs. Dallas, totaling 16 receptions for 281 yards and five TDs over that span.   

Anquan Boldin (Arizona) – I discussed Detroit’s struggles against the pass (see Kurt Warner), but I especially like Boldin because he has owned the Lions in the past.  In three career games against them, he has caught 20 balls for 352 yards and two scores.   

SLEEPER

Donald Driver (Green Bay) – No. 2 Greg Jennings has been cutting into Driver’s production, at least in the touchdown department.  Jennings has six scores on the season, while Driver has just two.  However, I like Driver’s chances this week against the Vikings’ 31st-ranked pass defense.  In his past six matchups with Minnesota, the veteran receiver has caught 46 balls for 708 yards (118 ypg.) and five scores.  

Todd Heap (Baltimore) – Despite the facts that Heap hasn’t played in the past two games due to a thigh injury and the Ravens’ quarterbacks suck, I would take a chance on the tight end this week vs. Cincinnati’s porous defense.  The Bengals rank 28th against the pass (254 yards per game) and have given up an NFL-high 20 TD passes.  Heap practiced this week and is listed as probable. 

BENCH

Antwaan Randle El (Washington) – The Skins list Randle El as probable, but he didn’t practice on Thursday and Friday due to a sore hamstring.  Even if he does play against the Eagles, I wouldn’t expect much.  He hasn’t caught more than three balls in four straight games, and he hasn’t scored all season.   

Chris Chambers (San Diego) – QB Phillip Rivers continues to struggle, and Chambers is coming off a mediocre 59-yard performance against a poor Minnesota pass defense.  This week, Rivers and Chambers will go against a fast-improving Colts defense that did a good job containing the Patriots’ explosive passing attack last week and ranks third against the pass, allowing less than 175 yards per game. 

KICKERS AND DEFENSES 

START

Jeff Reed (Pittsburgh) – The Steelers’ offense is hitting on all cylinders, and this week, they will face a Cleveland defense that ranks 30th in scoring defense, allowing more than 29 points per game.  Reed, who ranks 13th in league in scoring with 60 points, has averaged 9.2 points in his last five games against the Browns.   

SLEEPER

Green Bay Defense – The Vikings may have the greatest rookie RB of all-time in Adrian Peterson, but they don’t have many other weapons.  Minnesota is averaging less than 152 passing yards per game and has allowed 21 sacks this season, the tenth highest total in the league.  Making matters worse, the Vikings will likely be forced to start third-stringer Brooks Bollinger at QB, and could be without their hottest receiver, rookie Sidney Rice, who is nursing a hamstring injury.  The lack of a passing game will allow the Packers to focus on stopping Peterson, and while the rookie will likely get his share of yards, it may not equate to a lot of points for his team.  When the two teams met at Minnesota in Week 4, Peterson gained 112 yards, but the Vikings committed two turnovers, allowed four sacks, and produced just one touchdown, which was scored by Rice.   

BENCH

Vikings Defense – The Minnesota defense has been fairly productive this season, scoring four times off turnovers and limiting opponents to 19.3 points per game.  This week, however, they have an unfavorable matchup against the Packers’ red-hot passing attack.  In the last four games between the teams, Green Bay has averaged 322 net passing yards and scored at least 20 points three times.   

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