We had great success in week six, as you can find all about in in the Start/Sit Week Six Review. But now we’re onto greater pastures, running high on last week’s 12-3 record.
Some of the match-ups are difficult to predict, but well do our best to lead you in the right direction.
Read on for the five guys in which you should confide, the five to ride the pine, and the five you might want to give a try:
Start
Aaron Rodgers, QB, Green Bay Packers
Some guys with Matt Schaub on their team may elect to go the Houston Texans route, but I say nay, revert back to Rodgers, who has a tasty match-up with a horrible Cleveland Browns defense.
Just ask Ben Roethlisberger.
Prediction: 23-30, 314 yds, 3 TD, 0 INT
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Speaking of Big Ben, you have to like the roll he’s on. Combine that with a nice match-up with a likely Antoine Winfield-less Minnesota secondary, and the Steelers passing game could have a field day.
The Vikings will likely stop the run fairly well anyways, so Big Ben was likely in for a big day, regardless.
Prediction: 22-31, 334 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
Benson had an off game against a supposedly soft Houston run defense, but don’t count on that happening against his former team. The Bears basically called him a bust and sent him packing, so he’ll be determined to give them an up-close-and-personal view of just how good he is.
Expect a ton of touches. Am I reaching? Maybe, but sometimes you have to ride the wave of upside.
Prediction: 23 car, 144 yds, 2 TD
LaDainian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
Tomlinson put-up solid yardage against a tough defense in the Denver Broncos, so there’s room for optimism with him facing a team he has terrorized over the years.
With Darren Sproles pretty much a non-factor, look for LT to look like his old self for at least one week.
Prediction: 16 car, 97 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 29 yds, 0 TD
Santonio Holmes, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers
It’s amazing how effective the passing game has been this season, but how Holmes has yet to get back into the end-zone since week one.
For the same reasons Ben Roethlisberger should have a huge day, you can expect big numbers for Holmes (and Hines Ward).
Prediction: 7 rec, 108 yds, 2 TD
Sit
Kurt Warner, QB, Arizona Cardinals
Don’t get over-confident and start thinking Warner can do what Drew Brees did last week. Arizona’s inability to run the ball will have that massive and aggressive Giants defensive line keying in on the immobile Warner all day. He might get his yards in the end, but you won’t be overly satisfied with the limited scores and inevitable picks.
Prediction: 31-46, 334 yds, 2 TD, 3 INT
Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets
I know the Jets won’t be doing so but regardless of the reason for him being in your line-up, you’ve got to pull the plug.
Sanchez is making terrible mistakes and has turned the ball over nine times in his past three outings, all losses for the Jets.
They have a good chance of rebounding against the Oakland Raiders, but after seeing Donovan McNabb struggle mightily against Oakland’s solid pass defense, it doesn’t bode well for Sanchez.
Prediction: 15-27, 148 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
Jacobs has not been an elite back all season, and is splitting carries with Ahmad Bradshaw, who has actually been out-performing him.
The Giants face a surprisingly solid Arizona Cardinals run defense that is only giving up 2.7 yards per carry to running backs. Not a great weak to start him.
Prediction: 16 car, 55 yds, 0 TD
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
Like any back that faces the Williams Wall, you can’t like Mendenhall’s chances. Ray Rice’s shifty and elusive running style broke him a few runs that made him an excellent start, but Mendenhall is unlikely to find that kind of daylight.
Prediction: 15 car, 47 yds, 0 TD
Chris Cooley, TE, Washinton Redskins
I have him on my fantasy team, so I actually hope I’m wrong about this one. However, with the loss of tackle Chris Samuels, Cooley has been blocking more than usual.
He will definitely be asked to block even more against an aggressive Philadelphia Eagles defense. That doesn’t mean he won’t get some looks, but it’s enough to drop his value and give a different TE a shot.
Prediction: 3 rec, 37 yds, 0 TD
Sleeper
Austin Collie, WR, Indianapolis Colts
He’s been on fire lately, Anthony Gonzalez still won’t be back, and he’s going up against the St. Louis Rams.
Peyton Manning loves the kid and spread the ball around like Fabio does butter. It’s too easy. I’d say give him a solid WR3 start, but the ability to firmly predict Indianapolis Colts’ receiver stats is leaving even the best experts.
I love him as a Flex play this week, though.
Prediction: 6 rec, 72 yds, 1 TD
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Carolina rush offense got back on track against a bad Tampa Bay defense, and they truly looked like they were back in 2008 form. Whether they are or not remains to be seen, but you can’t sit Stewart against the Buffalo Bills.
Thomas Jones and Jamal Lewis posting insane yardage in back-to-back games demands that you start Stewart at a Flex spot, and even as a RB2 if you have the faith.
Prediction: 12 car, 88 yds, 1 TD
Lance Moore, WR, New Orleans Saints
Moore came back and played well against the Giants, registering his most action of the year, while also hauling-in a touchdown.
Look for his targets and scoring opportunities to increase as the season goes on, especially with a mouth-watering match-up against Miami’s shaky secondary.
Prediction: 7 rec, 75 yds, 1 TD
Michael Crabtree, WR, San Francisco 49ers
He may not be a safe bet for this week, despite reportedly getting the starting nod over Josh Morgan, but he’s definitely worth a look in deep leagues if you’re hurting at receiver.
He could project as a fine WR3 if the 49ers fall behind the potent Houston Texans, and that is entirely possible.
Prediction: 4 rec, 52 yds, 1 TD
Jason Campbell, QB, Washington Redskins
I know, it sounds crazy, but what if Jim Zorn is actually the problem, and Sherman Lewis calling the offensive plays changes everything?
The weapons are there for Campbell. He just needs to find them and deliver the ball. It won’t be easy against a solid Eagles defense, but crazier things have happened.
Prediction: 21-31, 244 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
