We're promoting all of the Steelers this week.
We’ve had two straight average-to-unsatisfactory weeks of our Start/Sit column, and based on our track record of solid calls and usual winning record in most weeks, quite frankly, we’re just getting annoyed.
But the playoffs are quickly approaching, and now is not the time to feel sorry, give up, or cry. Read on for our picks that will help you make the final push.
Here are the five guys to see the lights, five to ride the pine, and five to give a try:
Start
Ryan Fitzpatrick, QB, Buffalo Bills
We know it sounds insane, but the Chiefs corners are slow, and they don’t have a Darrelle Revis to contain the previously extremely hot Terrell Owens. Fitzpatrick doesn’t do much that scares us in a good way, but he should hook up plenty with his top two options, making us look like absolute geniuses in the process.
Prediction: 20-29, 278 yds, 3 TD, 1 INT
Rashard Mendenhall, RB, Pittsburgh Steelers
This is probably a no-brainer, but consider this TRZR’s “start all your Steelers” sounding alarm. The Browns don’t pose a threat when defending the run or pass, so all of Pittsburgh’s top guys are emphatic “go’s” from us. We especially like Mendenhall this week, who should produce some nice numbers, even if he ends up exiting early.
Prediction: 17 att, 124 yds, 2 TD, 3 rec, 26 yds, 0 TD
Rock Cartwright, RB, Washington Redskins
He has a nice match-up with an Oakland Raiders run defense that has trouble stopping just about any back, and with Clinton Portis still out, he will continue to see the majority of the load. He remains a quality RB2.
Prediction: 15 att, 72 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 10 yds, 0 TD
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Cincinnati Bengals
I’m not sold on the Bengals doing what the Cardinals did last week (Jared Allen won’t allow it), but I don’t really think they can contain Ochocinco all game, either. He should spring for a couple big plays, and should be good for a score, as well.
Prediction: 6 rec, 98 yds, 1 TD
Jeremy Shockey, TE, New Orleans Saints
Shockey has the luxury of facing an Atlanta Falcons defense that is vulnerable to the pass (and run, really), but especially poor against tight ends. Even though Drew Brees loves to spread the rock around, look for Shockey to emerge from his funk with a solid day.
Prediction: 5 rec, 64 yds, 1 TD
Sit
Tom Brady, QB, New England Patriots
Sorry, Tom, but we’ve been noticing how much you struggle against defense that even remotely cover your weapons well. He put up solid numbers last week, and could very well play the yardage game against Carolina in Week 14, but if there’s one thing the Panthers do well, it’s control the clock and force turnovers through the air. Brady won’t deliver the points you’re asking for.
Prediction: 23-36, 305 yds, 1 TD, 3 INT
Mark Sanchez, QB, New York Jets
Forget about the supposedly nice match-up with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, and go ahead and over analyze his knee sprain. Sanchez can’e be trusted, especially with an injury, and no match-up is about to change that fact.
Prediction: 13-22, 175 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT
Cedric Benson, RB, Cincinnati Bengals
The Vikings just got taught a lesson in humility by the Arizona Cardinals, and they’re not about to return home and let the Bengals do the same. Cincy’s pass offense isn’t much to fear, so the Vikes will concentrate most of their effort on shutting Benson and the ground game down. He’ll get the rock, but it won’t be pretty.
Prediction: 16 att, 54 yds, 0 TD, 2 rec, 8 yds, 0 TD
Brandon Jacobs, RB, New York Giants
I know he just scored two touchdowns and had an amazing 74-yard catch, but he’s going up against the Eagles. The Giants are turning a leaf of sorts and will make this a good game to watch, but you can’t expect gold in Week 14. Jacobs hasn’t topped 100 yards all season, so don’t bank on it coming now.
Prediction: 14 att, 59 yds, 0 TD, 3 rec, 20 yds, 0 TD
Greg Olsen, TE, Chicago Bears
The Green Bay Packers do a very solid job against tight ends, and we haven’t see Olsen and Jay Cutler hook up for a score in a while now. The potential still remains, but the match-up doesn’t suggest fireworks.
Prediction: 4 rec, 28 yds, 0 TD
Sleeper
Brady Quinn, QB, Cleveland Browns
There’s almost no way Quinn ever makes it into any writer’s “Start/Sit” column in 2009 (or ever?), but this as close as it gets to a full-blown promotion. He threw three scores in a game for the second time this season, showing that while he may be young and inconsistent, the talent is definitely there. If Bruce Gradkowski can tear up the Steelers hurting secondary, Quinn has a chance.
Prediction: 18-29, 244 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Bruce Gradkowski, QB, Oakland Raiders
Speaking of Gradkowski, we liked what we saw last week so much, we decided to ride the wave. You should too. The Redskins contained Drew Brees (we’re not comparing the two), but ended up letting him air it out for 400+ yards and two scores. In other words, regardless of the quarterback, the Skins’ pass defense isn’t unbeatable.
Prediction: 16-30, 277 yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Willis McGahee, RB, Baltimore Ravens
McGahee’s role is increasing a bit, and he’s scored twice in his past three games. The Ravens shouldn’t have many issues moving the ball through the air or on the ground against the Detroit Lions, so there’s reason for optimism for McGahee, especially late in the game.
Prediction: 7 att, 40 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 9 yds, 0 TD
Shonn Greene, RB, New York Jets
Greene is a lot like McGahee, only we like his role a bit more, as he’s slightly more reliable in the touches category. With Mark Sanchez banged up, the Jets should focus on pounding the rock even more than usual. Thomas Jones can’t do it all by himself, and the soft match-up with a weak Buccaneers defense bodes well for Greene.
Prediction: 12 att, 69 yds, 1 TD, 2 rec, 14 yds, 0 TD
Lee Evans, WR, Buffalo Bills
Evans has been extremely quiet in the past four weeks, failing to top 50 yards in a game over that span. He has the speed to wreak some serious havoc with T.O. against some slow KC corners, so we like his chances this week. He should be a solid WR3 with his match-up.
Prediction: 6 rec, 77 yds, 1 TD
