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
Jake Delhomme, Panthers (YES!): In most systems, this week’s four starting quarterbacks were differentiated by less than two fantasy points per game this year. You probably won’t win or lose this week based on your choice, but the best matchup of the four is Delhomme against Seattle. The Seahawks play good defense, but they play the worst pass defense of the four remaining teams. And Delhomme has certainly demonstrated his ability to come up big in the postseason, even on the road.
Jake Plummer, Broncos (NO!): Again, not a lot differentiates these guys, so it’s hard to be too critical. However, if I have to pick one to have a bad week, it’s Plummer. This is the type of high pressure stage where the tendency to make mistakes that he seems to have put behind him could suddenly reassert itself.
RUNNING BACKS
Nick Goings, Panthers (YES!): Whoever gets the majority of carries for the Panthers tends to be a viable fantasy option. That includes Goings, who has carried the load effectively in the past when injuries necessitated it.
Willie Parker, Steelers (NO!): I got this wrong to a degree last week, and now I’m just going to hop on the Bus as far as he takes me.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Darrell Jackson, Seahawks (YES!): He looked like the Darrell Jackson of old last week, even bouncing back from a painful shot to the lower back when his team absolutely needed him on the field after Shaun Alexander got hurt. Keep an eye on Jackson's knee, which still bothers him, but he should do well if healthy.
Ashley Lelie, Broncos (NO!): After averaging more than 20 yards a catch in 2004, Lelie fell hard to earth this year, managing just one touchdown and one 100-yard receiving effort.
TIGHT ENDS
Heath Miller, Steelers (YES!): His numbers are about even with Jeramy Stevens among the remaining tight ends, but his numbers went way down while Big Ben was out.
Jeb Putzier, Broncos (NO!): You’re probably not going to win or lose at tight end this week, but Putzier is a step behind Miller and Stevens.
KICKERS
John Kasay, Panthers (YES!): In the interest of full disclosure, I told you to start Jay Feely Wild Card weekend and not to start Kasay last week. This week I’m back to starting the highest scoring kicker on the remaining teams.
Josh Brown, Seahawks (NO!): Brown kicked the fewest field goals of any kicker who played every game this year. That’s a result of two things: the Seahawks tend to reach the end zone when they get close, and Brown tends to miss an unusually high percentage of his attempts.
DEFENSES/SPECIAL TEAMS
Pittsburgh Steelers (YES!): The Steelers have been playing tremendous defense for over a month, and their blitzes drove even Peyton Manning to distraction. Or maybe he was distracted by his own offensive line.
Seattle Seahawks (NO!): The other defenses playing Sunday are all very good. The Seahawks are merely good.