Start/Bench List Week 9

Here’s some bold predictions for week nine: 1) The Dolphins won’t lose this week; 2) Brandon Jacobs won’t rush for 100 yards; 3) The Bears defense won’t look terrible! Only two more bye weeks to go…

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. The first two weeks the studs list remains the same (except for injury). After week two, players are added/removed as needed.

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.

Enough of the chit-chat, onto the list!!

Quarterbacks

Bye Weeks:

Brian Griese, Rex Grossman, Cleo Lemon, Eli Manning, Marc Bulger, Gus Frerotte

Studs (* = new addition to the list)

Tom Brady, New England vs. Indianapolis

Tony Romo, Dallas vs. Philadelphia

Carson

Palmer, Cincinnati vs. Buffalo

Peyton Manning, Indianapolis vs. New England

Brett Favre, Green Bay vs. Kansas City

Donovan McNabb, Philadelphia vs. Dallas

Derek Anderson, Cleveland* vs. Seattle

Removed from Studs List

-Jon Kitna, Detroit

Start

Matt Hasselbeck, Seattle (vs. Cleveland): Hasselbeck has thrown two TDs in each of the past two games. Coming off a bye week, look for Hass to keep on rolling facing the Browns defense who are ranked 31st in the NFL in passing yards allowed.

Drew Brees, New Orleans (vs. Jacksonville): Is it too little, too late for Brees owners? Probably. But if you one of the believers, it’s time scroll to the bottom of your roster and stick Brees into the starting lineup. His 336 yards and four TDs from last week will be tough to surpass, but he’ll post strong enough numbers at home to make him worthy of a start.

Bench

Ben Roethlisberger, Pittsburgh (vs. Baltimore): If you own Big Ben, you’ve probably started him the last couple weeks and enjoyed his numbers. Don’t expect the same success this week against the Ravens. The Steelers will have success running the ball so I like FWP to have a big game. Look for Roethlisberger to attempt around 20-24 passes which will minimize his chances for big numbers.

Kellen Clemens

, N.Y. Jets (vs. Washington): Hold on you waiver wire scoundrels. Give Clemens some time before crowning him as the Jets saviour and starting him in your lineup. Laveranues Coles is dinged up and the Redskins pride is still hurting from last week’s thrashing by the Patriots. Unfortunately for Clemens, he’ll bear the brunt of the Redskins anger.

Running Backs

Bye Weeks:

Cedric Benson, Adrian Peterson (CHI), Ronnie Brown, Jesse Chatman, Brandon Jacobs, Derrick Ward, Reuben Droughns, Steven Jackson, Brian Leonard

Studs

LaDainian Tomlinson, San Diego vs. Minnesota

Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia vs. Dallas

Adrian Peterson, Minnesota vs. San Diego

Joseph Addai, Indianapolis vs. New England

Willis McGahee, Baltimore vs. Pittsburgh

Reggie Bush, New Orleans vs. Jacksonville

Willie Parker, Pittsburgh vs. Baltimore

LaMont Jordan, Oakland vs. Houston

Larry Johnson, Kansas City vs. Green Bay

Start

Marshawn Lynch, Buffalo (vs. Cincinnati): Lynch has yet to rush for over 100 yards in a game, but that should change this week against Cincy. The Bengals have allowed a RB to rush for over 100 yards in five of their past six games. Make it six out of seven after this week.

LenDale White

, Tennessee (vs. Carolina): Don’t get too close, LenDale is HOT right now. White has become the focal point of the Titans offense and for good reason. Back-to-back 100-yard rushing games with another favorable matchup in sight can only mean one thing: start the big man until further notice.

Clinton Portis, Washington (vs. N.Y. Jets): Portis has yet to rush for 100 yards in a game this season and it hasn’t been due to Ladell Betts, Portis just hasn’t found his ‘groove’ yet. It’s getting late in the season, so for the Redskins sake the ‘groove’ will be close by this week against the Jets. Portis will have a much easier time of running the ball against this AFC East team. The century mark plus a score is not out of the question.

Bench

Thomas Jones, N.Y. Jets (vs. Washington): We had such high hopes for you, Thomas. After that big performance against the Eagles, we thought it was the beginning of something special. Alas, if you can’t crack 75 yards against the Bengals and Bills, it ain’t happening against the Redskins.

DeShaun Foster, Carolina (vs. Tennessee): Foster has posted decent numbers this season, but even though he’s not splitting time with D’Angelo Williams, he faces the Titans defense this week that has allowed the fewest rushing yards in the NFL. Look elsewhere.

Earnest Graham, Tampa Bay (vs. Arizona): Graham’s 191 combined rushing/receiving yards in week seven was the buzz of fantasy football circles everywhere. Last week he returned to normalcy with 74 combined yards and he hasn’t scored a TD in the past four games. The Cardinals have been solid against the run and should keep Graham in check this week.

Wide Receivers

Bye Weeks:

Bernard Berrian, Muhsin Muhammad, Devin Hester, Marty Booker, Derek Hagan, Ted Ginn Jr, Plaxico Burress, Amani Toomer, Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce, Drew Bennett

Studs

Randy Moss, New England vs. Indianapolis

T.J. Houshmanzadeh, Cincinnati vs. Buffalo

Braylon Edwards, Cleveland vs. Seattle

Wes Welker, New England vs. Indianapolis

Reggie Wayne, Indianapolis vs. New England

Chad

Johnson, Cincinnati vs. Buffalo

Steve Smith, Carolina vs. Tennessee

Larry Fitzgerald, Arizona vs. Tampa Bay

Terrell Owens, Dallas vs. Philadelphia

Roy Williams, Detroit vs. Denver

Start

Bobby Engram, Seattle (vs. Cleveland): Even with Deion Branch potentially returning to the lineup this week, I like Engram’s chances of posting big numbers. Hasselbeck will have enough success that even if he spreads the ball around to multiple receivers, Engram will get enough opportunities to post stats worthy of a start.

Chris Chambers, San Diego (vs. Minnesota): It still seems strange to me to see San Diego next to Chambers name. The former fish caught his first TD in a Charger uniform last week and will post his best day yet as a lightning bolt against a Vikings defense that has allowed the most passing yards in the NFL.

Brandon Marshall, Denver (vs. Detroit): Marshall should get more than three catches this week against a Lions defense that ranks only ahead of Cleveland and Minnesota in passing yards allowed. Cutler will look Marshall’s way early and often and he won’t disappoint.

Donald Driver, Green Bay (vs. Kansas City): Greg Jennings? James Jones? Donald Lee? Say it ain’t so, Double-D! Favre has been spreading the wealth more than Scrooge after his visit with the three ghosts as of late. Call it a hunch, but I think he’ll remember his good old friend Cratchit, er, Driver this week and give him the extra bonus amount of catches he’s earned over the years.

Bench

Hines Ward, Pittsburgh (vs. Baltimore): Ward more than doubled his fantasy totals from weeks 1-6 in the past two weeks catching 15 passes for 166 yards and two TDs. Ward will be a productive receiver the rest of the way, but with the Ravens defense next up for the Steelers, temper your expectations.

Derrick Mason, Baltimore (vs. Pittsburgh): Mason quietly remains in the top 15 WRs for total points despite a bye week in week eight. However, the Steelers are ranked fourth in the NFL in passing yards allowed and won’t give Mason much room to work on Sunday. Look for a 4-catch, 40-yards receiving type of day.

Jerricho Cotchery

, N.Y. Jets (vs. Washington): See Kellen Clemens. Without Coles, Cotchery will be the center of attention for the Redskins secondary which doesn’t translate into big stats.

Joey Galloway, Tampa Bay (vs. Arizona): Introducing the biggest tease in fantasy football, Joey Galloway! Just when you write him off as a fourth string backup, he posts six catches for 115 yards and a score and you start to reconsider his place on your team depth chart. Don’t overreact over last week’s numbers. The Bucs will have trouble moving the ball this week (both in the air and on the ground) and Galloway’s stats will return to ‘normal’ (4-50, no TD).

Tight Ends

Bye Weeks:

Desmond Clark, Greg Olsen, Justin Peelle, David Martin, Jeremy Shockey, Randy McMichael

Studs

Antonio Gates, San Diego vs. Minnesota

Jason Witten, Dallas vs. Philadelphia

Tony Gonzalez, Kansas City vs. Green Bay

Dallas

Clark, Indianapolis vs. New England

Kellen Winslow, Cleveland vs. Seattle

Chris Cooley, Washington vs. N.Y. Jets

Start

Tony Scheffler, Denver (vs. Detroit): Scheffler has caught a TD in two straight weeks and should post solid numbers once again this week against a porous Lions pass defense.

Eric Johnson, New Orleans (vs. Jacksonville): Johnson has got to have a breakout game soon, right? With the Saints picking things up in the passing game, look for Johnson to get a bigger taste of the action at home against the Jaguars.

Bench

Leonard

Pope, Arizona (vs. Tampa Bay): Pope had his best game of the season prior to the Cardinals bye week catching three passes for 35 yards and a score. Unfortunately for you few Pope owners out there, he’s only caught nine passes on the season with two TDs. Don’t expect last week’s numbers to happen again for a while.

Alex Smith, Tampa Bay (vs. Arizona): Smith was inactive last week with an ankle injury. If he returns this week, don’t expect an automatic increase of action in the passing game. If you’re a Shockey owner looking for a one-week bye replacement, look elsewhere.