Quarterbacks
Start ‘Em
1. Philip Rivers: He’s a must-start nearly every week, especially in points-per-completion leagues. He’s going up against one of the worst defenses in the NFL in New England. Antonio Gates is hurt, but he’ll probably play since the Chargers will be without Nannee and Malcolm Floyd.
Prediction: 21 of 30, 275 yards, 3TD, 1INT
2. Brett Favre: He’s going to have something special for the Packers this weekend. He has another week of practice with Randy Moss under his belt.
Prediction: 22 of 29, 265 yards, 2TD, 1INT
3. Drew Brees: I can’t see why he’d have any trouble against a mediocre Browns defense, especially at home.
Prediction: 20 of 26, 310 yards, 3TD, 0INT
4. Tom Brady: He’ll have to keep his offense in the game, as the Chargers will put up points. In a points-per-completion league, this is a must-start.
Prediction: 26 of 32, 265 yards, 2TD, 1INT
5. Joe Flacco: He’s been very good against bad teams, and he gets to face the Bills this week.
Prediction: 19 of 26, 260 yards, 2TD, 0 INT
Sleeper Pick
Jay Cutler: If his offensive line can pass protect, he is going against the 31st-ranked pass defense in the NFL.
Sit ‘Em
1. Chad Henne: Going up against the Steelers defense isn’t good for many QBs, especially mediocre ones like Henne.
Prediction: 19 of 29, 217 yards, 1TD, 2INT
2. Max Hall: The rookie QB is going into perhaps the noisiest venue in the NFL in Seattle. The Arizona running game won’t do much against the #2 run defense, which will allow Hall to struggle mightily.
Prediction: 16 of 27, 205 yards, 1TD, 2INT, 1 fumble
3. Donovan McNabb: Donovan hasn’t been much of a threat this year, and going against the league’s #3 defense in terms of points allowed makes him a sit this week.
Prediction: 18 of 28, 210 yards, 1TD, 1INT
4. Ryan Fitzpatrick: Going up against a great Ravens defense that ranks #3 in the NFL easily makes him a sit. Buffalo might not score a touchdown this week.
Prediction: 17 of 27, 185 yards, 0TD, 2INT
5. Whoever starts for the Titans: The Eagles are the #9-ranked pass defense, and the Titans will likely look to run the ball a lot.
Prediction: 18 of 28, 175 yards, 1TD, 2INT
Bust
Tony Romo: Normally he’s a must-start, and perhaps I’ll eat some crow here, but he’s facing the league’s #2 pass defense in the NFL, and the offense as a whole has been struggling.
Prediction: 22 of 30, 257 yards, 2TD, 2INT, fumble
Running Backs
Start ‘Em
1. Michael Turner: He’s been struggling a bit lately, but that should change this week against the Bengals’ 18th-ranked run defense. The Falcons should be able to move the ball reasonably well.
Prediction: 105 yards, 2TD
2. Ray Rice: Going up against the league’s worst run defense will favor any running back.
Prediction: 137 yards rushing, 5 receptions, 45 yards receiving, 2TD
3. Steven Jackson: He’s going up against the 31st-ranked run defense in the NFL. You do the math here.
Prediction: 126 yards rushing, 5 receptions, 53 yards receiving, 2TD
4. Marshawn Lynch: He should have a big day against a bad Cardinals run defense.
Prediction: 95 yards, 2TD
5. Jamaal Charles: The Jaguars don’t play well against the run, and Charles is a good receiving threat.
Prediction: 95 yards rushing, 5 receptions, 40 yards receiving, TD
Sleeper Pick
Peyton Hillis: He’ll be going up against a mediocre Saints defense and will be leaned on to carry the Browns’ offensive load. The Saints have allowed six rushing touchdowns this year.
Prediction: 105 yards, 1TD
Sit ‘Em
1. Ronnie Brown: Going up against the league’s #1 run defense makes Brown a sit this week.
Prediction: 45 yards rushing, 3 receptions, 22 yards, 0TD
2. Felix Jones and Marian Barber: They haven’t been effective this year, and that won’t change against the Giants’ #7 run defense.
Prediction: 35 yards, 0TD and 55 yards, 0TD
3. Fred Jackson: He’ll likely get most of the carries, but it won’t matter much against the Ravens defense.
Prediction: 65 yards rushing, 3 receptions, 23 yards receiving, 0TD
4. Brandon Jackson: He hasn’t filled the shoes of Ryan Grant. Aaron Rodgers has 3x more rushing TDs than Jackson, and going against the Vikings defense isn’t easy.
Prediction: 62 yards, 0TD
5. Darren McFadden: He’s a talented running back, but he likely won’t receive the full load.
Prediction: 55 yards rushing, 3 receptions for 17 yards, 0TD
Bust
Ryan Matthews: The Patriots run defense isn’t amazing, but it is getting better. With the Patriots’ ability to put points on the board, Rivers may be forced to the air.
Wide Receivers
Start ‘Em
1. Patrick Crayton: With Malcom Floyd and Legedu Nannee out, Rivers will have to throw to someone other than Antonio Gates. The Patriots allow everyone to catch footballs.
Prediction: 8 receptions, 95 yards, TD
2. Anquan Boldin: Buffalo’s defense is awful this year, and Flacco to Boldin could be repetitive this week.
Prediction: 7 receptions, 92 yards, TD
3. Deion Branch: He lit up the Ravens secondary a week ago, and I don’t see why he can’t play well again. Tom Brady likes Branch as much as Welker.
Prediction: 8 receptions, 82 yards, TD
4. Jeremy Maclin: He has six touchdowns and is going against a mediocre pass defense in Tennessee.
Prediction: 6 catches, 84 yards, 2 TD
5. Terrell Owens: He’s having a big year, and the Bengals shouldn’t have problems airing it out against the Falcons.
Prediction: 6 catches, 80 yards, TD
Sleeper Pick
Mike Williams: Going up against a poor Cardinals defense, Mike Williams should have a big day.
Prediction: 6 receptions, 62 yards, TD
Sit ‘Em
1. Miles Austin: He’s going up against a good pass defense and likely won’t score.
Prediction: 5 receptions, 55 yards, 0TD
2. Donald Driver: He hasn’t looked great lately and doesn’t have a TD in his last 5 games against the Vikings.
Prediction: 4 receptions, 62 yards, 0TD
3. Kenny Britt: The Eagles secondary is good, and Britt will likely have a tough day getting open.
Prediction: 3 receptions, 45 yards, 0TD
4. Mike Sims-Walker: It’s not due to lack of talent or opposition; it’s because of who his QB is. Starter David Garrard might be out with a concussion.
Prediction: 4 receptions, 37 yards, 0TD
5. Lee Evans: The Bills’ top receiver will have another rough day at the office against the Ravens.
Prediction: 4 receptions, 45 yards, 0TD
Bust
Brandon Marshall: Few are as talented as Brandon, but in two games against the Steelers in his career, he hasn’t scored a touchdown.
Prediction: 6 receptions, 65 yards, 0TD
Tight Ends
Start ‘Em
1. Heath Miller: The Dolphins have trouble containing tight ends, and Heath Miller is arguably Ben Roethlisberger’s favorite target. Last time Miller faced the Dolphins: 5 receptions, 56 yards, TD.
Prediction: 6 receptions, 65 yards, TD
2. Ben Watson: Without Josh Cribbs (concussion), someone has to catch the football. He already leads the team in receptions, yards, and touchdowns. This is a no-brainer.
Prediction: 7 receptions, 75 yards, TD
3. Tony Gonzalez: He had a poor outing receptions- and yardage-wise last week, so he’ll look to improve against the Bengals. Matt Ryan loves throwing to him.
Prediction: 5 receptions, 52 yards, TD
Sleeper Pick
Tony Moeaki: The Jaguars have problems stopping tight ends, and Cassel loves throwing to Moeaki.
Prediction: 4 receptions, 52 yards, TD
Sit ‘Em
1. Greg Olsen: He has been unproductive in his last three games and will likely be needed as a blocker.
Prediction: 3 receptions, 25 yards, 0TD
2. Visanthe Shiancoe: Another one who has been unproductive in his last three games: just 3 receptions, 35 yards, 0TD.
Prediction: 2 receptions, 27 yards, 0TD
3. Anthony Fasano: He’s a good tight end, but the Steelers are good at stopping men in this position.
Prediction: 3 receptions, 31 yards, 0TD
Bust
Marcedes Lewis: It’s not due to lack of talent, but the uncertainty of the QB and the fact that the Chiefs have allowed only 2TD all year to TEs are reasons to worry.
Prediction: 4 receptions, 35 yards, 0TD
Defense/ST
Start ‘Em: Seattle Seahawks, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers
Sit ‘Em: Buffalo Bills, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers
Kickers
Start ‘Em: Robbie Gould, David Akers, Josh Scobee
Sit ‘Em: Jay Feely, Rian Lindell, John Kasay
Feel free to comment and ask questions.
