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
Ben Roethlisberger (YES!): I got this hideously wrong last week, but the Seahawks really are vulnerable against the pass -- if you don't lose your top four tailbacks to injury leaving you devoid of a running game. A lot will have to go wrong for that to be the case with the Steelers. This is the game where Big Ben may cement his rising status as one of the best quarterbacks in the league.
Matt Hasselbeck (NO!): This isn't a knock on Hasselbeck; it's just that there aren't a lot of choices this week, and he's got the tougher matchup.
RUNNING BACKS
Willie Parker (YES!): If you're still playing a fantasy game that involves starting more than one back this week, don't forget about Parker. He'll probably get more touches than Bettis in this game, so he should be very productive as a second back.
Maurice Morris (NO!): If you're trying to pick a second back this week, Bettis, Parker, and Verron Hayes are all likely to outscore Morris. Alexander was the workhorse all year, and now isn't the time to let up, particularly with all of the media discussions about his toughness.
WIDE RECEIVERS
Bobby Engram (YES!): Darrell Jackson's return makes evaluating the Seahawks' receivers more complex than just looking at the numbers. Engram is clearly the number two receiver, and his numbers don't suffer a whole lot (if at all) with Jackson playing.
Joe Jurevicius (NO!): Jurevicius, on the other hand, went from a decent third fantasy receiver to a deep backup when Jackson returned. He still shows up in the red zone, but he never caught more than three balls in a game where Jackson played.
TIGHT END
Jerramy Stevens (YES!): He'd better have a good game, after placing a bull's eye squarely on his own chest on media day.
Heath Miller (NO!): As with the quarterback decision, not a lot differentiates these guys this year.
KICKER
Jeff Reed (YES!): From a fantasy perspective, these guys are pretty evenly matched. However, Reed is the more consistent kicker, which may matter on the big stage.
Josh Brown (NO!): Brown has the stronger leg, but he also was very erratic outside forty yards this year. And Seattle's red zone efficiency works against the kicker.
DEFENSE
Pittsburgh (YES!): They've ridden a remarkable defensive high for well over a month. My guess is they've got one more strong game in them.
Seattle (NO!): Seattle's defense has played very well in the playoffs, but again, they have a vulnerability that the Steelers don't appear to have.