Week 4 Start/Sit: Getting You Ready for a Win

- By Chet Gresham

With the byes here your lineup choices are getting more difficult. We will try to help you out with this weeks start/sit:

Start ’Em

Quarterback

Jay Cutler: He went into hostile Seattle territory last week and put up good fantasy numbers. This week he gets a horrid Detroit pass defense (340 yards to Jason Campbell!) at home. Cutler should have the best game of his young Bears’ career.

David Garrard: He’s facing the Titans poor pass D and is coming around a little from his poor start. Tennessee’s D won’t completely stop MJD, but enough to make the Jags throw more than they would like.

Jason Campbell: He is purely a situational starter and this week at home against a poor Tampa pass defense is the right situation. Last week he exploited a poor Detroit secondary and he should be able to do the same this week. Clinton Portis is hurting and they will have to rely on the pass yet again.

Running Back

Darren McFadden: JaMarcus Russell hurts his value no doubt, but Houston is just plain pitiful on rush D. They have given up a leagues worst 205 yards per game on the ground along with a league high 8 touchdowns.

Cedric Benson: He gets the Cleveland Browns who are about as bad as the Texans on rush D. Cedric Benson, so far, has disproved a lot of analysts and has run strong every game. He won’t have to be all that great to have a good game against the poor Browns defense.

Donald Brown: He had somewhat of a coming out party in Arizona and should build on that. Coach Manning has only one goal and that is to win games. Brown gives them their best chance to do that. The Seahawks will be traveling and are still banged up. There is no reason to think the Colts won’t get up early and then run the ball so they can get home for dinner on time.

Wide Receiver

Nate Washington: The Jaguars have given up an incredible 77% completion rate this year. Kerry Collins isn’t Dan Marino, but he’ll get the ball to Gage and Washington and I believe Washington is going to take over that top wide receiver position. He could make that move this weekend.

Johnny Knox: The Lions give up large chunks of real estate to wide receivers and Johnny Knox is fast enough to gain a lot of real estate quickly. He’s not getting targeted enough to start every week, but against Detroit you’ve got to get him in there.

Terrell Owens: He ended with no catches last week. This week he gets the Dolphins pass D which has given up 15.5 yards per reception. If Edwards and Owens can’t get it done this week he will need a miracle to become worthwhile this season.

Sit Down!

Quarterback

Mark Sanchez: The guy has guts and poise and all the intangibles, but the Saints pass D is better than some of their numbers look. They’ve only allowed 3 touchdowns to 7 interceptions, and they’ve also held opposing quarterbacks to a 54% completion rate. They give up a lot of yards because they are usually far ahead and are getting thrown on. Sanchez will have trouble in the Big Easy.

Brett Favre: He wants revenge and he gets the biggest stage to look for it, but the Packers’ pass D is a ball hawking bunch and will pick Favre once or twice as he tries to force the ball in an attempt to beat his old team. He could win the game on some last second heroics, but I don’t think his numbers will be great.

Matt Cassel: He has yet to get an easy matchup this year. The Giants pass D is playing slightly above their heads, but they are getting the job done and I’m scared of starting a QB against them. The Chiefs will be at home, but the Giants have only given up 124 yards per game through the air and 2 touchdowns while intercepting 5.

Running Back

Marshawn Lynch: He will need to be eased back into the offense and the Dolphins run D has been pretty good this year giving up only 66 yards per game. Does this mean start Fast Freddie? I think so, he should get a lot of looks in space.

LaDainian Tomlinson: You drafted him early and you’ve been waiting for him to heal so you can start him, but this is the Steelers D and LT could be limited. Hold off a little longer and hope he doesn’t get hurt n Pittsburgh, or on the bus.

Fred Taylor: You may have picked him up after a good game last week, but he gets the Ravens and their NFL best run defense. Sit him down, way down.

Wide Receiver

Dwayne Bowe: He looks like he’ll play this week, but hamstring injuries can reoccur. Add to that the Giants’ NFL best passing defense and you have a good sit candidate.

Marques Colston: Darrelle Revis is a giant killer. He shut down Randy Moss and Andre Johnson and now he gets Colston. Do you really sit Colston? Probably not. He’s your starter! But if you happen to be stacked at WR with good matchups I would.

Roy Williams: The Broncos’ pass defense has been insane. They’ve given up no touchdowns through the air and have 5 interceptions. I don’t know how they can keep it up, but they will be at home and Champ Bailey should be able to handle Williams.

This Start/Sit was authored by Chet Gresham.