Last week was an average week for Start/Sit calls, but we nailed it right on the head with calls in favor of starting Cedric Benson and sitting Rashard Mendenhall.
If you’re feeling lost this week and need bye week help or just can’t decide on how to play from your own roster, allow this week’s column to guide you.
Start
Brett Favre, QB, Minnesota Vikings
Very few fantasy experts are giving Favre the credit he deserves. While he was at least partially responsible for the Vikings first loss against the Steelers, he still threw for 334 yards.
If Favre can put up a performance even close to what he did against Green Bay the last time, the Vikes will be 3-1 and you will have a solid chance of winning in Week Eight, as well.
Prediction: 20-29, 277 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Kyle Orton, QB, Denver Broncos
Orton has thrown nine touchdowns to just one pick (it was a Hail Mary), and he’s facing a very weak Baltimore secondary that saw Brett Favre throw three touchdowns.
Orton has been solid, and his offense is only getting better. You have to like his chances in Week Eight.
Prediction: 21-29, 265 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT
LaDanian Tomlinson, RB, San Diego Chargers
I know LT left you short-changed against the Chiefs last week, but if there’s a game he’s going to live up to his name this season, it’s going to come against the Raiders.
LT is due for a big game, and this is the one to start him with full confidence.
Prediction: 18 att, 120 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 17 yds, 0 TD
Miles Austin, WR, Dallas Cowboys
It looks like Austin’s performance against the Chiefs in Week Five wasn’t a fluke, and he truly is the game-breaker he’s advertised to be. And with a match-up against an only so-so Seattle secondary, his rise doesn’t figure to stop.
Don’t be the guy that sits the rising receiver with back-to-back 170+ yard and two score games.
Prediction: 7 rec, 104 yds, 1 TD
Devin Hester, WR, Chicago Bears
Chicago is reeling after two straight losses, but Hester’s recent success (108 yds and a TD), plus the tasty match-up at home against the Cleveland Browns, suggest the offense gets back on track.
Prediction: 6 rec, 95 yds, 1 TD
Sit
Eli Manning, QB, New York Giants
Manning is tough to sit, but with two straight mediocre games and a tough match-up with the Philadelphia Eagles, you shouldn’t chance it.
Prediction: 17-29, 239 yds, 1 TD, 2 INT
Terrell Owens, WR, Buffalo Bills
There’s always the possibility that T.O. could finally go-off, but you need to cut your losses and stop being the guy that waits for the washed-up receiver to prove his worth. He simply isn’t performing up to elite standards and isn’t even an effective WR3.
Prediction: 4 rec, 48 yds, 0 TD
Frank Gore, RB, San Francisco 49ers
Call me crazy, but the only way the 49es stay in their Week Eight contest with the Colts will be through the air. The Colts defense has defended both the pass and the run very well, but they will surely focus on shutting Gore down before they turn their sights to a normally inept passing attack.
Prediction: 14 att, 52 yds, 0 TD 4 rec, 33 yds, 0 TD
DeAngelo Williams, RB, Carolina Panthers
The Panthers are through the “easy” part of their schedule and now face a tough and improving Arizona Cardinals defense that just devoured the Giants.
If Jake Delhomme can’t be a distraction (he won’t), Williams won’t have much room to run.
Prediction: 15 att, 46 yds, 0 TD, 2 rec, 13 yds, 0 TD
Ryan Grant, RB, Green Bay Packers
The yardage was there in the last meeting, but Minnesota isn’t a safe bet, especially when we haven’t seen a whole lot to love from Grant this season.
Green Bay spreads the ball around and doesn’t focus on one player, making anyone not named Aaron Rodgers a difficult fantasy play.
Prediction: 10 att, 32 yds, 3 rec, 19 yds, 0 TD
Sleepers
Alex Smith, QB, San Francisco 49ers
He’s the guaranteed starter, so he will face a tough match-up with the Indianapolis Colts defense, but his showing against the Houston Texans left a good impression. Don’t start him just yet, but if you need a decent QB2 in deep leagues, he could be a heck of a find.
Prediction: 23-33, 244 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
James Jones, WR, Green Bay Packers
Aaron Rodgers will undoubtedly pick-up where he left off with Antoine Winfield likely out. Even if the Pro Bowl corner does play, the play-making Jones has a good chance of springing free for a couple of plays. He’s a solid WR3 candidate if you’re in great need.
Prediction: 4 rec, 70 yds, 1 TD
Darren Sproles, RB, San Diego Chargers
Sproles isn’t a huge factor in the Chargers offense right now, but with good success against Oakland in the beginning of the season, you have to at least contemplate throwing him in your line-up as a Flex play.
Prediction: 6 att, 44 yds,1 TD 3 rec, 29 yds 0 TD
Lendale White, RB, Tennessee Titans
The Titans are in disarray, but Jacksonville’s weak pass defense might be just the cure. If the passing game can open things up, look for the fabulous duo to return (for just one week), and make White a solid Flex play.
Prediction: 9 att, 55 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 13 yds, 0 TD
Chris “Beanie” Wells, RB, Arizona Cardinals
The rookie back is slowly starting to look like he’s ready to take over feature back duties, as he’s amassed 26 carries for 100+ rushing yards and a score in his last two games combined.
Wells is a special talent that will produce if given the ball. Look for his best game to date against a struggling Carolina Panthers team.
Prediction: 15 att, 77 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 12 yds, 0 TD
