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

 

Byron Leftwich, Jaguars (YES!): Leftwich as an NFL player is a far cry from the prolific passer he was at Marshall. No matter. He’s become a solid NFL quarterback, and he’s got a matchup with arguably the league’s least efficient pass defense. The Texans don’t give up that many yards because they tend to get behind, but don’t let that fool you. They allow a lot of yards when the game is in its competitive stages. Leftwich should have an easy time of it in this one.

 

Drew Brees, Chargers (NO!): For a few years, LaDainian Tomlinson was a rare commodity – a featured runner on a bad team who could be counted on for consistent fantasy points. Now the Chargers have the passing game to go with him, yet they sit at the midway point with a .500 record. Look for them to get back to the basics against the Jets, and shove Tomlinson down their opponent's throats. That means Brees takes a backseat this week. 

 

RUNNING BACKS

 

Larry Johnson, Chiefs (YES!): Teams far less proficient at running than the Chiefs have run all over the Bills this year. With Priest Holmes potentially sidelined, this is the perfect week to start Johnson. He ought to get adequate points if Holmes plays, and he could explode if Holmes does not.

 

Curtis Martin, Jets (NO!): The Chargers stop the run well this year, and Martin has often struggled with all the quarterback injuries for the Jets.  

 

WIDE RECEIVERS

 

Joey Galloway, Bucs (YES!): Why is Galloway, 33 and in his 11th NFL season, having the best year of his career? I have no idea. But even the lackluster offense behind Chris Simms couldn’t stop him. I say go with it for as long as you can.

 

Derrick Mason, Ravens (NO!): Despite a dispute with Anthony Wright last week, he’s having a pretty good season. However, he can’t seem to find either the end zone or a 100-yard game, and it gets more difficult this week with the ball-hawking Bengals.

 

TIGHT ENDS

 

Erron Kinney, Titans (YES!): Kinney is quietly putting up a big season. His numbers project out to nearly 80 catches and 800 yards. Unfortunately, he has yet to get in the end zone, but his consistency is unusual at the tight end position.

 

Marcus Pollard, Lions (NO!): He’d lost his sheen over the last couple of years even when he was still in the high flying Colts pass attack. Now he doesn’t even have that.  . 

 

KICKERS

 

Neil Rackers, Cardinals (YES!): The conventional wisdom is often to avoid the kickers for bad teams – particularly teams that can’t get into the end zone. However, the Cardinals have produced the most field goal attempts in the league, and Rackers is so good that he’s made every one. 

 

John Kasay, Panthers (NO!): This game may come down to the kickers, but that isn’t necessarily a good thing for fantasy players.

 

DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS

 

Cincinnati Bengals (YES!): I’ll press my luck with the Bengals again. The team that produces the most turnovers on defense faces a Ravens team that is near the league leader in giveaways.    

 

New England Patriots (NO!): It’s time to recognize that this team isn’t going to score a lot of fantasy points this year.