There’s a small group of stars who are so great you can never leave them out of your fantasy football lineup, regardless of matchup, recent performance or minor injuries.
Now that it’s halfway through the fantasy season in many leagues, it’s time to call out some impostors who’ve slipped out of that no-brainer category.
So goodbye, Steve Smith (no TDs). Adios, Clinton Portis (no line, little hope), LaDainian Tomlinson (1 TD, 2 missed games), Brian Westbrook (injuries, age) and Marion Barber (fragile time-sharer). See you later, Matt Forte (sophomore slump ends brief stay in this group). And if it weren’t for a 200-yard game that makes it just too scary to bench him, Frank Gore would be out, too, thanks to injury and the 1940s offense he plays in.
That’s not to say these guys should automatically hit the bench every week, just don’t be afraid to sit them down.
As you wonder why you didn’t sit Portis three losses ago, here’s a look at some players to start and some to sit in Week 8:
QUARTERBACKS
TAKE A SHOT:
-Is there any reason to think the Green Bay-Minnesota game won’t be a race to 42? It would be wrong not to start Minnesota’s Brett Favre in his return to Green Bay. And don’t fear for Aaron Rodgers’ health. Sure, he’ll get beat up, but he’ll get his stats, too.
-Jacksonville’s David Garrard has been up and down, but the Titans’ pass defense is the most predictable thing going. They were dead last in the NFL even before Tom Brady spent a few minutes throwing 6 TDs on them.
-After two rough games, Chicago’s Jay Cutler is pretty much a guarantee to take out some frustrations on Cleveland. The Browns have allowed a league-high 33 passing plays of 20 yards or more.
-Matthew Stafford or whoever else starts for Detroit could be a decent bye-week start against the winless Rams. Seriously. (The down side is, you might be tempted to actually watch some of this game.)
BACK AWAY SLOWLY AND NOBODY GETS HURT:
Please, in the name of Jake Delhomme’s latest vote of confidence, don’t start these guys:
-Seattle’s Matt Hasselbeck is swell at home against terrible opposition. But his blocker-free offense travels to Dallas this week, where DeMarcus Ware is just starting to warm up again.
ed 2 TD passes.
-Miami’s Chad Henne had a nice game against New York a few weeks ago, but the Jets defense got a big boost of confidence from last week’s shutout. (They also have some more game film on Henne.)
RUNNING BACKS
ALL DAY LONG:
-Steven Jackson of the Rams should get his first TD in 2009 against Detroit’s 30th-ranked run defense, while the Lions’ Kevin Smith should see the end zone for the first time in a month against Rams defense that has allowed an NFL-worst 11 touchdowns.
-It’s time for 2009 Fantasy Bust of the Year Matt Forte to redeem himself. If he can’t do it against the 31st-ranked run defense of the Browns, he’s an even more hopeless case than anybody imagined.
-Houston’s Steve Slaton has also been disappointing, but his 1-yard score last week shows he’s not done as the short-yardage guy after all. He faces the Bills’ NFL-worst run defense.
-Keep an eye on the early inactive lists Sunday. If Brian Westbrook can’t go because of his concussion, LeSean McCoy’s a great start. The Giants have slipped to the middle of the pack against the run, and have allowed just one fewer rushing TDs than the Rams.
RED FLAGS:
-Dallas’ Marion Barber doesn’t seem like the same guy he was before the quad injury. His yards per carry have gone down the past three games, he hasn’t surpassed 15 carries in those games and hasn’t scored in 11 quarters.
Tim Hightower seems destined for even fewer touches after yet another fumble and a nice game from Chris Wells. Don’t be tempted to start Hightower, even against Carolina’s wobbly run defense.
-Fred Jackson’s coming off a day that was like a microcosm of the Buffalo defense: 2 yards on five carries and tackled for a safety. More alarming for fantasy owners hoping to use Jackson as a bye-week replacement is that he’s getting even fewer carries.
WIDE RECEIVERS
THROW HIM THE DARN BALL:
-Jacksonville’s Mike Sims-Walker is guaranteed fantasy points against the Titans. He has averaged 100 yards the past four games and caught 2 TDs against Tennessee earlier this year.
-Sadly for owners of the Giants’ Steve Smith, the days of Eli Manning throwing his way almost exclusively appear to be numbered. That’s been good news for rookie Hakeem Nicks, who has scored in four straight games.
-There’s at least one fan of the Ryan Fitzpatrick era in Buffalo. Lee Evans has a TD in each of the last two games Fitzpatrick has played, both Buffalo wins.
-With Andre Johnson hurting and Owen Daniels getting a lot more attention, Kevin Walter could put up some decent numbers for Houston.
SHOW HIM THE DARN BENCH:
me meltdown.
-In two games since the bye, the Bears have made a point of getting the ball to Devin Hester (14 catches), so don’t consider Earl Bennett or Johnny Knox as bye-week fill-ins.
-The usual game of find the Lions and start a receiver against them can’t be played this week. Donnie Avery and whoever else the Rams need to get the ball from Marc Bulger.
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BYES THIS WEEK: Cincinnati, Kansas City, New England, Pittsburgh, Tampa Bay, Washington.
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FREE AGENT SHOPPING LIST: RB Shonn Greene (142 yards, 2 TDs), WR Michael Crabtree (5 catches), RB Jamaal Charles (possible starter with Larry Johnson in trouble), QB Alex Smith (3 TDs, new starter), TE Fred Davis (78 yards, TD), QB Vince Young (could end up starting, at least until his first couple interceptions).
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WHAT DO I KNOW?
Big Hits: I expected good things for Sidney Rice (136 yards), Dwayne Bowe (TD) Marshawn Lynch (rare end zone visit) and Austin Collie (TD). I predicted more tough times for Pierre Thomas (30 yards), Matt Forte (24 yards) and Clinton Portis (43 yards).
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