Everyone is confronted with tough decisions week in and week out. Those who make the right decisions on who to start and who to bench will win. Outsiders often attribute the ability to make the right decision to luck. It can be the case, but skilled owners make far more right choices than wrong. Makes sense, right? Below is my way of making those tough decisions a little bit easier.
QUARTERBACKS
Mark Brunell, Redskins (YES!): Whatever was wrong with Brunell last year seems to have been addressed. He even manages to get the ball downfield sometimes. San Francisco, on the other hand, can’t seem to stop the pass, and can’t seem to avoid giving up big yardage totals. If you’ve got Brunell, this is the best chance you’ll have all year to start him.
Kerry Collins, Raiders (NO!): Collins will be without Randy Moss this week. He’ll also be facing the stingiest pass defense in the league, which is only accentuated by the most porous run defense in the league.
RUNNING BACKS
Lamont Jordan, Raiders (YES!): For the second week in a row, the Bills face a team that they know will have to run with one of their main skill players out. And for the second week in a row, the Bills won’t be able to stop what they know is coming.
Jamal Lewis, Ravens (NO!): For years, Lewis has defied the odds by playing well despite serious injuries and serious legal troubles. It turns out that returning from career-threatening injuries and playing with imprisonment hanging over his head were far easier than just playing football without distraction. Lewis just hasn’t been very good this year, and the Bears haven’t allowed a rushing touchdown all season.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Santana Moss, Redskins (YES!): This offseason, Moss appeared even more poorly suited to a Redskins attack led by Brunell than Laveraneus Coles did. But surprise, surpise, Brunell has been able to take some shots down the field, and Moss has been able to get open.
Nate Burleson, Vikings (NO!): He’s healthy this week, and he came into the season as the heir apparent to Moss in Minnesota. It turns out the Vikings aren’t very good this year. Even at home against the Pack, it’s best to pass until you see how Burleson does.
TIGHT ENDS
Jermaine Wiggins, Vikings (YES!): The rumors of his demise turned out to be a little premature.
Courtney Anderson, Raiders (NO!): One of a number of tight ends whose production is misleading due to a big week.
KICKERS
Jay Feely, New York Giants (YES!): I’m trying to get the word out. The Giants have a couple of very good players at the peripheral fantasy positions.
Sebastian Janikowski, Raiders (NO!): His name recognition makes him go too high in fantasy drafts.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
New York Giants (YES!): They just might be the top fantasy defense this year, despite some of their yardage issues. And still nobody seems to notice.
Washington Redskins (NO!): A very good defense. Do you know how many fantasy points they’ve scored in five games this year in standard leagues? Nine.