- Every week, usually on Friday, we will put together our "start them - sit them" list. Obviously, if Maurice Jones-Drew, Adrian Peterson and Tom Brady aren't walking on crutches you are going to start them. This list is aimed at the borderline "start-or-sit" players.
Considering it's the second Sunday in November, the weather looks great everywhere except for a 60% chance of rain in Seattle.
Washington at Atlanta
Redskins
Start - Clinton Portis, Santana Moss, Shaun Suisham
Falcons
Start - Matt Ryan, Michael Turner, Roddy White, Tony Gonzalez, Jason Elam, Falcons Defense
Comments - The Atlanta defense is vulnerable to the pass, but the Washington offense doesn't have the personnel to take full advantage of the situation. Turner got untracked last week and should continue again on Sunday against the No.22 rush defense. White is battling a knee injury (missed Wednesday and Thursday practice), but is expected to play.
Arizona at Chicago
Cardinals
Start - Kurt Warner, Chris Wells, Larry Fitzgerald, Steve Breaston
Bears
Start - Jay Cutler, Matt Forte, Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Greg Olsen, Robbie Gould, Bears Defense
Comments - Warner had a "Jake Delhomme" type week last Sunday with five picks, but should bounce back. Breaston likely to play in Boldin's spot this week as I expect Boldin to rest his ankle. Forte finally showed up last week and DeAngelo Williams proved you can run against the Cardinals. Look for a repeat performance.
Baltimore at Cincinnati
Ravens
Start - Joe Flacco, Ray Rice, Derrick Mason, Steve Hauschka, Ravens Defense
Bengals
Start - Carson Palmer, Cedric Benson, Chad Ochocinco
Comments - This game could actually be a more high-scoring than usual. The Bengals offense is running on all cylinders both on the ground and in the air, and Ray Rice has shown how explosive he is with 302 yards of offense over the past two games including three touchdowns.
Houston at Indianapolis
Texans
Start - Matt Schaub, Andre Johnson, Kevin Walter, Kris Brown
Colts
Start - Peyton Manning, Joseph Addai, Reggie Wayne, Dallas Clark, Austin Collie, Matt Stover
Comments - Kevin Walter should pick up many of the targets that normally would have gone to Owen Daniels (out for the season). Schaub and Johnson will have to be working at peak efficiency to stay with Manning-to-Wayne. Donald Brown is expected back, reducing Addai's top end, but he's still "fantasy-worthy."
Kansas City at Jacksonville
Chiefs
Start - Dwayne Bowe
Jaguars
Start - David Garrard, Maurice Jones-Drew, Mike Sims-Walker, Torry Holt, Josh Scobee, Jaguars Defense
Comments - The Jacksonville offense should be able to do whatever it wants to do, both in the air and on the ground. But if you had make a choice between "MJD" and Garrard, which would you think is the safer route to victory?
Miami at New England
Dolphins
Start - Ronnie Brown, Ricky Williams
Patriots
Start - Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, Randy Moss, Wes Welker, Steven Gostkowski
Comments - Just as when the Dolphins played Indianapolis and dominated time-of- possession, they'll try to keep the ball away from Brady by running, running and more running. Eventually the trio of Brady, Moss and Welker will take control and get their usual fantasy points.
Green Bay at Tampa Bay
Packers
Start - Aaron Rodgers, Ryan Grant, Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Mason Crosby, Packers Defense
Buccaneers
Start - none
Comments - This should be a day the Packers build up their statistics. You definitely want to be a part of it.
Carolina at New Orleans
Panthers
Start - DeAngelo Williams, Jonathan Stewart, Steve Smith, John Kasay
Saints
Start - Drew Brees, Pierre Thomas, Marques Colston, Jeremy Shockey, John Carney
Comments - This game should look eerily similar to the Miami-New England matchup. Carolina using Williams and Stewart to keep the ball away from Brees and the potent Saints offense. It doesn't work in this game any better than it does in Foxboro. Brees & Co. put up another 35+ point afternoon. The only "problem" with the Saints offense is that other than Brees and Colston, New Orleans spreads the wealth among too many players for then to be reliable fantasy starters. Starting Mike Bell, Reggie Bush, Robert Meachem, Devery Henderson and Lance Moore are risky propositions.
Detroit at Seattle
Lions
Start - Kevin Smith, Calvin Johnson
Seahawks
Start - Matt Hasselbeck, Julius Jones, T.J. Houshmandzadeh, Nate Burleson, John Carlson, Seahawks Defense
Comments - The Seahawks are usually very tough at home and against a weaker opponent like the Lions could get their third home shutout (see St. Louis and Jacksonville games). Seattle averages almost 23 points at home and 14 on the road. Against the Lion's 27th-ranked pass defense, Hasselbeck, "Housh" and Burleson should enjoy a good day. Calvin Johnson will be a game time decision, so check back Sunday morning for my 15-minute updates beginning at 11:30 am.
San Diego at New York Giants
Chargers
Start - Philip Rivers, LaDainian Tomlinson, Vincent Jackson, Antonio Gates, Nate Kaeding
Giants
Start - Eli Manning, Brandon Jacobs, Ahmad Bradshaw, Steve Smith, Lawrence Tynes
Comments - The Giants have been vulnerable to the pass of late (1,040 yards, eight TDs vs. one INT over the last three games) and the San Diego Chargers own the No.4 passing game. But the good news is that it will force the Giants to open up the offense and Manning should produce plenty of fantasy points.
Tennessee at San Francisco
Titans
Start - Chris Johnson, Rob Bironas
49ers
Start - Frank Gore, Michael Crabtree, Vernon Davis, Joe Nedney
Comments - We should see another chapter of the "Chris Johnson Show" to keep the pressure off Vince Young. The trouble is, the 49ers are ranked No.2 against the run at just 84.9 ypg and held Adrian Peterson, Steven Jackson and Michael Turner below 100 yards in Weeks 3, 4 and 5. Gore has been inconsistent this year, with just two double-digit fantasy weeks in five weeks of play (he missed a couple of weeks due to injury). He should get healthy against the 31st-best defense (out of 32).
Dallas at Philadelphia
Cowboys
Start - Tony Romo, Marion Barber, Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Nick Folk
Eagles
Start - Donovan McNabb, Brian Westbrook, DeSean Jackson, Brent Celek, David Akers
Comments - The Sunday night game could be a shootout if Dallas decides to show up, unlike in Week 17 of 2008 when they were embarrassed 44-6. The Cowboys have scored 101 points in their last three outings. The Eagles will get Westbrook back giving McNabb plenty of weapons to exploit the vulnerable Dallas pass defense. Look for more than 50 points combined in this game, making it a must to have players started in it.
Pittsburgh at Denver
Steelers
Start - Ben Roethlisberger, Hines Ward, Santonio Holmes, Heath Miller, Jeff Reed, Steelers Defense
Broncos
Start - Kyle Orton, Brandon Marshall, Tony Scheffler, Matt Prater
Comments - The Steelers are No.1 against the run, meaning you should sit Knowshon Moreno is you have another viable option. They are 16th against the pass, making the Orton-to-Marshall hook up a solid play. It hasn't been the case for much of the past 20 years, but Pittsburgh is a pass-first, run second offense. "Big Ben" & Co. average 276 ypg through the air versus just 107 ypg on the ground. And against the No.1 overall defense at home, neither Rashard Mendenhall or Willie Parker figure to go big. Both starting tight ends could get extra opportunities to shine.
Byes - Buffalo, Cleveland, Minnesota, New York Jets, Oakland, St. Louis
