1. Cowboys vs. Bengals
Start em': Every single Cowboys position player (even Patrick Crayton), TJ Housh, Chad "Ocho Cinco"
Sit em': Bengals QB Carson Palmer and RB Chris Perry
Why?: Bengals quite frankly have the worst pass defense in the league, and are injured up front in their D-Line so Marion Barber is good for 100+ yards and a TD. If Palmer starts for the Bengals (hes questionable with an elbow/shoulder injury), then Housh and Ocho Cinco are good starts. However, if the Bengals have to go with Havard Alum Ryan Fitzpatrick for another game, then I would be careful to start Chad and Housh.
2. Titans vs. Ravens
Start em': Titans RB Chris Johnson, Ravens WR Derrick Mason and RB Laron McClain
Sit em': Ravens RB Willis McGahee and TE Todd Heap, Titans WR Justin Gage
Why?: Battle of the defenses in this game. I would be hesitant to start any of the 3 players I said above, but with McGahee banged up, McClain will get alot of carries, and with Ravens QB Joe Flacco still learning the system, in a PPR (point per reception) league, Derrick Mason will be a good play because he is the most consistent of the Ravens' offensive weapons.
3. Kansas City vs. Carolina
Start em': Carolina RB Jonathan Stewart and WR Mushin Muhhammed, Kansas City RB Larry Johnson
Sit Em': Kansas City WR Dwayne Bowe
Why?: Kansas City is so undecided at QB that they still have 3 Quarterbacks taking reps with the first team in practice. Larry Johnson now has two straight 100+ yard games, so look for him to get alot of touches. Kansas city is 24th in overall team defense, so look for talented rookie RB Jonathan Stewart to get an chance to show why he was a first-round draft pick this year.
4. Chicago vs. Detroit
Start em': Bears RB Matt Forte and WR Brandon Lloyd, Bears Defense
Sit Em': Lions QB Jon Kitna and WR Roy Williams
Why?: Bears defense will be pressuring Jon Kitna all game with a blitz that sacked Donavan Mcnabb four times last week. I can assure you that Mcnabb is a much better decision-maker than Kitna, so look for some INT's to go to the Bears Defense. The Lions defense is absolutely terrible against the run, and they have no cover-corner to matchup with the size and speed of WR Brandon Lloyd.
5. Seattle vs. NY Giants
Start em': Giants RB Brandon Jacobs and WR Amani Toomer, Seattle RB Julius Jones
Sit em': Seattle QB Matt Hassleback, Giants WR Plaxico Burress
Why?: Plaxico Burress, if you haven't heard already, is suspended for this game for insubordination, so obviously starting WR Amani Toomer in his place would be a smart decision if you hand-cuffed the two, because now Toomer is the #1 threat in the passing game. Also, with Plax being out, his touches will go towards RB Brandon Jacobs, who is averaging over 100 yards rushing a game for the first 3 games he has played. I will not start Matt Hassleback until he has some proven recievers playing with him, and although Seattle WR's Deion Branch and Bobby Engram are coming back from injury to play this week, they will not be even close to 100%.
6. Philadelphia vs. Washington
Start Em': Eagles WR DeSean Jackson and RB Correll Buckhalter, Skins' TE Chris Cooley and WR Santana Moss
Sit Em': Eagles RB Brian Westbrook and TE LJ Smith
Why?: The closer game-time approaches, the more is seems like Brian Westbrook is going to have a smaller role in week 5's game. I wouldn't be surprised if Andy Reid doesn't let him suit up again, so therefore Correll Buckhalter will be the spot start there. With that said, Washington will also go without CB Shawn Springs and DE Jason Taylor due to injury, so look for DeSean Jackson to have time to get open. On the other side, TE's always kill the Eagles, especially good TE's like Chris Cooley. Washington WR. Santana Moss has been on a tear lately, and while the matchup against Eagles CB Asante Samuel will be entertaining, Moss will still be able to put up some solid numbers.
7. Colts vs. Texans
Start em': Colts RB Joseph Addai and WR Marvin Harrison, Texans RB Steve Slaton
Sit Em': Texans WR Andre Johnson and Colts TE Dallas Clark
Why?: Addai is a usual starter in all fantasy leagues, but is not racking up any yardage this year. That should change against a Houston defense that got torched by Jacksonville RB's Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew for over 5 ypc (yards per carry). It's not like the Colts run defense is that much better, as they gave up 240 rushing yards to Jacksonville two weeks ago, and 161 rushing yards to Adrian Peterson 3 weeks ago, so Slaton is a smart start. Both Johnson and Clark have injury concerns, especially Johnson's, who's production has declined heavily over the past two weeks.
8. San Diego vs. Miami
Start Em': San Diego WR's Chris Chambers and Vincent Jackson, Miami RB Ronnie Brown
Sit Em': All Miami Offensive Players besides Brown.
Why?: The last time we saw Miami, they put up 38 points against the Super Bowl Runner-up Patriots. 35 of those points came from RB Ronnie Brown, and the one-man offense will continue this week. Miami's defense played well against Patriots QB Matt Cassel, but I'd be surprised if they have the same luck vs. San Diego QB Philip Rivers, who I look to have a big day while spreading the ball around to Chambers, Jackson, Slot WR Craig Davis, and TE Antonio Gates.
9. Tampa Bay vs. Denver
Start Em': Bucs RB Earnest Graham, Broncos WR Eddie Royal and TE Tony Scheffler
Sit Em': Broncos RB Selvin Young, Tampa Bay Defense
Why?: Broncos have the most prolific passing offense so far this season, and they will be throwing the ball even more with Tampa Bay's Defense being so good against the run. Denver on the other hand, has a horrendous run defense, so Earnest Graham should have a big day, most likely his third 100+ yard rushing game will be achieved with ease.
10. Buffalo vs. Arizona
Start Em': Bills QB Trent Edwards and WR Lee Evans, Arizona WR Steve Breaston
Sit Em': Cardinals WR Anquan Boldin and Buffalo Defense
Why?: The problem with Arizona is not that they cant put up any points, because they can with ease. The problem is that they flat out cannot stop anyone, which was evident in Brett Favre throwin 6 TD passes last week against the troublesome Cardinals defense. Trent Edwards won't throw for 6, but he might get 2 or 3 TD passes, which makes him a must-start in most leagues. For Arizona, with star WR Anquan Boldin out for a couple week after a bone-jarring hit in the late seconds of last weeks game, look for WR Steve Breaston to get alot more looks, as he had his first 100+ yard recieving game of his career last week.
11. New England vs. San Francisco
Start Em': Patriots WR's Randy Moss and Wes Welker, SF RB Frank Gore
Sit Em': Patriots TE Ben Watson and SF. TE Vernon Davis
Why?: Even though I'm not very high on Patriots QB Matt Cassel, you have to start Moss and Welker against a defense who gave up 360 some passing yards last week to Drew Brees. As for Watson and Davis, both offenses have moved on with their season without usage from the Tight End position, and that won't change this week as they seem destined for pedestrian like statistics.
12. Pittsburgh vs. Jacksonville
Start em': NOBODY
Sit Em': EVERYBODY
Why?: If you are in a position that you have to start somebody from both of these teams, then Big Ben, Ward, Holmes for the Steelers, and Jones-Drew, Taylor and Gerrard for the Jaguars should put up OK numbers. The rest, do not even touch them. This is going to be a old-school, physical, dirty game where the defenses will over shadow the offenses. But it won't be about turnovers, it will be about field-positioning. Alot of bad blood from these teams are evident from last years wild-card game, and it's going to be a good game to watch, just not from a fantasy standpoint.
13. Vikings vs. Saints
Start Em': Saints WR's Lance Moore and Devery Henderson(or Robert Meachem), Vikings QB Gus Ferrotte
Sit Em': Saints RB Reggie Bush (in non PPR leagues), Both defenses
Why?: From an offensive standpoint, this will be a great fantasy game. Both offenses, especially the Saints passing attack and the Vikings Running Game will put up HUGE numbers. With the Vikings Run Defense being of the league's best, look for Brees to throw the ball more then usual (that means 50+ attempts), while getting everybody involved. Also, the Saints defense is just god awful, so yes I am saying that their could be a Gus Ferrotte sighting on a fantasy roster somewhere, and it won't be so bad. High scoring game here, big time fantasy implications on Monday Night Football.
Tommorow's entry I will predict all of the week 5 games for all you gambling addicts.
Go Phillies!
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