2009 Start/Bench List Week 11 Nov 18, 2009 | More

The bye weeks are finally over and the fantasy playoffs are just around the corner. Scoring will come from different places this week as both the Giants and Texans will have success returning from their bye week. Look for Arizona and St. Louis to post solid passing numbers and there are some diamonds in the rough for those in need.

When using this list, try and remember a couple basic rules:

1) Studs - always play your studs. Each position will include a list of players that are considered studs and should not be benched. If you have the luxury of needing to decide between studs, check out the matchups or feel free to let the shark tank assist you in your decisions.

2) Depth - every fantasy team is different and some have more depth than others. Only follow the recommended moves if your team depth allows you to make such a move.

Quarterbacks

Studs

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis vs. Baltimore
Tom Brady, New England vs. N.Y. Jets
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay vs. San Francisco
Drew Brees, New Orleans at Tampa Bay
Matt Schaub, Houston vs. Tennessee
Philip Rivers, San Diego at Denver
Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh at Kansas City

Start

Kurt Warner, Arizona at St. Louis: Warner tore apart the Seattle secondary last week, surpassing 300 yards passing for the third time this season. Look for Warner to continue to compensate for Arizona’s lack of a consistent running game as he airs it out on the road in St. Louis flashing back to his glory days of the “Greatest Show on Turf.”

Eli Manning, N.Y. Giants vs. Atlanta: Manning returns from the bye week fully recovered from the foot injury suffered earlier this season. Manning seemed to right the ship in Week 9, completing 75.8 percent of his passes while throwing two touchdowns and no interceptions. This was quite the difference from the previous three weeks when Manning completed an average of only 49.5 percent of his passes while throwing three touchdowns and six interceptions. Look for Manning to continue his success from Week 9 against a Falcons pass defense ranked 28th in the NFL in passing yards allowed.

Bench

Matt Ryan, Atlanta at N.Y. Giants: After a hot start to the season, Ryan continued his struggles last week as he threw two more interceptions, giving him 11 on the season and at least two interceptions in four of his past five games. This week, Ryan gets to face a well-rested Giants defense likely without the services of Michael Turner. Look elsewhere for your starter as Ryan struggles again this week.

David Garrard, Jacksonville vs. Buffalo: Garrard has played well the last two weeks, completing 64 percent of his passes for an average of 242 yards passing with two touchdowns and no interceptions. These numbers won’t win a week by themselves, but they won’t cost you a week either. Look for the Jaguars offense to have so much success simply handing the ball off to Maurice Jones-Drew that Garrard will be lucky if he throws 25 passes on the day.

Running Backs

Studs

Chris Johnson, Tennessee at Houston
Maurice Jones-Drew, Jacksonville vs. Buffalo
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota vs. Seattle
Ray Rice, Baltimore vs. Indianapolis
DeAngelo Williams, Carolina vs. Miami
Steven Jackson, St. Louis vs. Arizona
Michael Turner, Atlanta at N.Y. Giants *Doubtful for Week 11*
Frank Gore, San Francisco at Green Bay
Cedric Benson, Cincinnati at Oakland *Questionable for Week 11*
Matt Forte, Chicago vs. Philadelphia

Start

Ricky Williams, Miami at Carolina: With Ronnie Brown officially out for Thursday’s game against the Panthers, Williams gets the nod at running back and he won’t disappoint. Williams went over 100 yards rushing last week against Tampa Bay and the Carolina run defense has been just as bad this season. You won’t see much Wildcat, but Ricky won’t need it to pile up the yardage.

Pierre Thomas, New Orleans at Tampa Bay: Do not worry about the Reggie Bush sighting last week. Thomas will be the lead back this week against a Tampa Bay rush defense that has allowed the second-most rushing yards all season.

Kevin Smith, Detroit vs. Cleveland: Even the Lions will beat up on the lowly Browns this week! Smith rushed for over 100 yards only once this season, but he’s played some tough defenses facing four teams in the Top 11 in fewest rushing yards allowed in the past five games. The Browns have allowed an average of 166.4 yards per game on the ground this season, which will be more than enough for Smith to break 100 yards rushing for the second time this season.

Bench

Jamaal Charles, Kansas City vs. Pittsburgh: From the penthouse to the outhouse. Charles made the most of his new starting role by rushing for over 100 yards and a score last week, but that was against the Raiders. This week, Charles faces the Steelers, who have allowed a league-best 69.3 yards rushing per game.

Joseph Addai, Indianapolis at Baltimore: Check on Addai’s status closer to game time as he missed significant time on Sunday night with a finger injury. Even if Addai starts, he won’t have much success on the ground against the Ravens run defense.

Ryan Moats, Houston vs. Tennessee: Moats was the waiver wire darling after Week 8 when he rushed for over 100 yards and three touchdowns. Moats rewarded his new owners with a 38-yard, one-TD receiving stink bomb in Week 9. The running back by committee is in full effect and the Titans will do just enough defending the run to prevent any member of the Texan runners worthy of a place in your starting lineup.

Wide Receivers

Studs

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis at Baltimore
Randy Moss, New England vs. N.Y. Jets
Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona at St. Louis
Andre Johnson, Houston vs. Tennessee
Steve Smith, N.Y. Giants vs. Atlanta
Vincent Jackson, San Diego at Denver
Wes Welker, New England vs. N.Y. Jets
Roddy White, Atlanta at N.Y. Giants
Hines Ward, Pittsburgh at Kansas City
Chad Ochocinco, Cincinnati at Oakland
Marques Colston, New Orleans at Tampa Bay

Start

Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Miami: Even though Smith caught only four passes for 34 yards last week, he found the end zone twice and salvaged what would have been another disappointing week. Look for Smith to continue to pile up the fantasy points this week as he faces the Dolphins, who have been poor against the pass all season.

Donnie Avery, St. Louis vs. Arizona: Yes, that Avery. He posted two scores last week against the Saints, and with the Rams likely to be playing from behind, they’ll be passing the ball often and Avery will be the top beneficiary of this game plan. Six catches for 100 yards and a touchdown is not out of the question for this once sleeper turned bust.

Sidney Rice, Minnesota vs. Seattle: You got to keep playing the hot hand, and Rice’s palms are burning up right now. Anytime a wide receiver posts over 200 yards receiving in a week as Rice did in Week 10, he is an automatic start the next week, no questions asked. After this week, Rice will take his place in the ‘Studs’ list as he continues to be Brett Favre’s No. 1 target and passing yardage will be easy to come by against the Seahawks.

Santonio Holmes, Pittsburgh at Kansas City: Holmes posted solid numbers last week, catching seven passes for 88 yards against the Bengals despite the fact that Ben Roethlisberger threw for only 174 yards. Look for Big Ben to find much more room to throw this week against the Chiefs, and Holmes is just the guy to take advantage of a Kansas City pass defense that has allowed a league-worst 12 receptions of 40 yards or more on the season.

Bench

Chris Chambers, Kansas City vs. Pittsburgh: Even though Dwayne Bowe was suspended and Chambers is now the No. 1 WR in Kansas City, he does not come recommended against the Steelers this week. Pittsburgh will blitz Matt Cassel early and often, and Chambers won’t be able to find the openings to make a difference in the passing game.

Roy Williams, Dallas vs. Washington: Yes, Williams has 10 catches for 180 yards and a touchdown in the past two games. Even though defenses are spending their time slowing down Miles Austin, the success Williams has experienced the last two weeks won’t last against the Redskins. Washington has allowed the fewest passing yards in the NFL this season and they haven’t allowed an opposing team to throw for more than 200 yards since Week 3. Tony Romo will struggle and there won’t be enough offense to keep Williams on the fantasy radar for another week.

Jerricho Cotchery, N.Y. Jets at New England: Cotchery had four catches for 87 yards the last time the Jets faced the Patriots back in Week 2, but that was before Braylon Edwards was in town. That game also didn’t follow a heart-breaking Patriots loss on a poor coaching decision. You can bet New England will be fired up for this one and that starts with the defense. Sit all your Jets this week. They are in for a world of pain.

Santana Moss, Washington at Dallas: Moss continued to struggle last week, catching only two passes for eight yards, marking the fourth time this season Moss has caught two or fewer passes in a game. With the Redskins experiencing success running the ball with Ladell Betts and the short passing game, the opportunities for Moss to make the big plays are limited. Keep Moss on your bench until Washington starts throwing down field on a consistent basis.

Tight Ends

Studs

Dallas Clark, Indianapolis at Baltimore
Vernon Davis, San Francisco at Green Bay
Brent Celek, Philadelphia at Chicago
Antonio Gates, San Diego at Denver
Kellen Winslow, Tampa Bay vs. New Orleans
Tony Gonzalez, Atlanta at N.Y. Giants
Heath Miller, Pittsburgh at Kansas City
Greg Olsen, Chicago vs. Philadelphia

Start

Todd Heap, Baltimore vs. Indianapolis: Heap has caught at least four passes in five of the Ravens’ nine games this season, but he’s only found the end zone twice mostly due to Ray Rice and Willis McGahee scoring pretty much at will. Look for the Ravens offense to get back in gear this week with Joe Flacco distributing the ball and Heap playing a big role in the offense as this game turns into a shootout early.

Kevin Boss, N.Y. Giants vs. Atlanta: Boss has caught a touchdown in each of the past two weeks as the Giants seem to have found their red zone answer to not having Plaxico Burress around. Look for Boss to post solid numbers against a Falcons defense that has allowed opposing tight ends to catch at least five passes for over 50 yards in four of the past six games.

Bench

Fred Davis, Washington at Dallas: Do you know who led the Redskins in receptions and yardage last week? Yep, Davis. Sorry Fred, Chris Cooley you are not.

Ben Watson, New England vs. N.Y. Jets: Watson had three catches for 23 yards back in Week 2 the last time he faced the Jets. Watson’s role in the New England offense has been limited as he caught a total of just six passes over the past four games. Look for New England to establish the running game early, keeping Watson’s value in blocking and when the Patriots open up the offense, Randy Moss and Wes Welker will be all they need.