Salahlipop is back with his expert fantasy advice. Be sure to post questions about sit/starts in the comment sections to be answered by our experts!

Quarterback

Studs:

Kurt Warner vs. NYG

Drew Brees vs. GB

Peyton Manning @ SD

Jay Cutler vs. OAK

Donovan McNabb @ BAL

Philip Rivers vs. IND

Aaron Rodgers @ NO

Tony Romo vs. SF

Start:

Jason Campbell @ SEA: Campbell has been struggling the last couple weeks, but look for him to turn it around this week at Seattle. Only one team (Chargers) has allowed more passing yards on the season than Seattle.

Eli Manning @ ARI: Manning has been a great QB all year long, but only an average fantasy performer, rarely throwing for over 200 yards. This week should be different. Combine the facts that 1)Arizona has an explosive offense that needs to be kept up with; 2)Brandon Jacobs is banged up and emphasis has been shifted to the passing game; and 3)Arizona has given up the most receiving TDs in the league, and we have what should be a great day for Eli Manning.

Sage Rosenfels @ CLE: Rosenfels is getting comfortable as the starter and is facing the porous Cleveland secondary. Him and both Texan’s wideouts should have good days.

Sit:

Jake Delhomme @ ATL: Delhomme has thrown for less than 100 yards in two straight weeks, and one of those games was against the Lions. He has another good matchup this week, but the Panther’s running game has been owning, and I just don’t trust him.

Matt Hasselbeck vs. WAS: Hasselbeck struggled last week coming off of an injury, and should have another tough time this week against a Redskin secondary that has been improving as of late.

Brett Favre @ TEN: Going up against the Titan’s tough secondary (who have only given up 5 passing TDs all year), don’t expect much from Favre this week.

Running Back

Studs:

Brandon Jacobs @ ARI*

Frank Gore @ DAL

Adrian Peterson @ JAC

Clinton Portis @ SEA

Joseph Addai @ SD

Matt Forte @ STL

Brian Westbrook @ BAL**

Ladainian Tomlinson vs. IND

Marion Barber vs. SF

Willie Parker vs. CIN

Start:

Warrick Dunn @ DET: With Earnest Grahm out for the year, Dunn gets the starting job this week against the lowly Lions. Pick him up, and start him with confidence.

DeAngelo Williams @ ATL: I predict that the Panthers continue to pound the run this week against Atlanta. J. Stewart should have a good game too.

Ryan Grant @ NO: Grant has performed well against very tough defenses the last few weeks, and should far even better this week against the Saints, who are far from an elite defensive unit.

Steve Slaton @ CLE: Slaton had a great game last week, despite Ahman Green vultering away a couple TDs from him. Look for Slaton to be heavily involved in both the rushing and passing game this week.

Sit:

Tim Hightower vs. NYG: Hightower appears to have been a one week wonder, and with J.J. Arrington now apparently receiving goal line carries don’t expect much, if anything, from Hightower against the tough Giants D.

Maurice Jones-Drew vs. TEN: MJD had an unexpectedly good game against the Titans last week, but this week he faces the Vikings, who are arguably the best rushing D in the league. Temper your expectations.

*Brandon Jacobs @ ARI: Check his injury status before starting him. Even if he does play, it may be in a limited role.

** Brian Westbrook @ BAL: Also make sure to check his injury status. He is clearly banged up and not performing well, plus he has a very tough matchup.

Wide Receiver

Studs:

Anquan Boldin vs. NYG

Larry Fitzgerald vs. NYG

Andre Johnson @ CLE

Reggie Wayne @ SD

Brandon Marshall vs. OAK***

Randy Moss @ MIA

Steve Smith @ ATL

Greg Jennings @ NO

Roddy White vs. CAR

Calvin Johnson vs. TB

Santana Moss @ SEA

T.J. Houshmandzadeh @ PIT

Start:

Marvin Harrison @ SD: It appears as though the Colts offense is getting together down the stretch, and this week they face a San Diego Defense that gives up the most passing yards in the league. Start any Colt that you can.

Lance Moore vs. GB: I’m going out on a limb here, but Lance Moore has been putting up Marques Colston type numbers, at the expense of Marques Colston!

Lee Evans @ KC: I recommended to start Evans last week, and he embarrassed me with zero catches (although that was really Trent Edward’s fault, not his). I expect him and Edwards to turn it around this week against the more generous Chiefs secondary.

Dwayne Bowe vs. BUF: Thigpen’s favorite target, start him with confidence.

Sit:

Chad Johnson @ PIT: Ochenta y Cinco slept through a team meeting and has been deactivated for tonight’s game. Unless you want a big fat zero, put him on your bench ASAP. Better yet, drop him, because he sucks (j/k about dropping him, but I wouldn’t want him on my team).

Bernard Berrian @ JAC: Welcome to the APET show. Don’t expect much from Berrian or the Vikings passing game.

***Brandon Marshall vs. OAK: I’d start him anyway, but keep in mind that Marshall will face shutdown corner Nmandi Asomugha

Alright, that’s it for this week. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions feel free to send me a message or post it as a comment. Good luck and happy trading!

Hello everyone. Welcome to the first weekly edition of my Fantasy Football Start/Sit list. Every week I will list a few players who I think are start worthy at each position, and a few players who I think should be left on your bench. I will try to avoid mentioning obvious every week starters, unless they have been significantly underperforming (hello, LT). For this week I will preface my start decisions with a list of studs (players to start every week, regardless of match up). I will also avoid mentioning obvious bench players. Just keep in mind that, despite my careful research, I am only human and will get predictions wrong from time to time. Take my recommendations with a grain of salt alongside your own research, and never bench your studs in favor of one of my recommendations, unless you feel that their upside potential is worth it. Keep a lookout every Tuesday for my Start/Sit Revisit, in which I will analyze my predictions to see how I did. On to the list…

Quarterback

Studs:

Kurt Warner @ SEA
Drew Brees @ KC
Peyton Manning vs. HOU
Jay Cutler @ ATL
Donovan McNabb @ CIN
Philip Rivers @ PIT

Start:

Aaron Rodgers vs. CHI: The other A-Rod would be on the Stud List if he was not so inconsistent week to week. Despite his inconsistencies, Rodgers will be Stud List worthy this week against a mediocre Chicago pass defense. The Packers running game has been struggling, and against Chicago’s stout run defense the Pack will be forced to throw early and often. 250+ yards and a couple TDs should be expected.

Jake Delhomme vs. DET: They’re playing Detroit at home. Need I say more? Rule #1 in Fantasy Football - Start everyone playing Detroit. Delhomme will make up for his abysmal performance last week.

Ben Roethliberger vs. SD: Tough Big Ben is recovering nicely from his various injuries and apparently was throwing 50 yard bombs in practice this week. Look for the Steelers to air it out against a mediocre and banged up San Diego secondary, especially with their running squad banged up.

Matt Ryan vs. DEN: It’s time to get on the Matt Ryan bandwagon and ride this hot hand. The impressive rookie has surprised everyone this season and should have continued success against Denver’s terrible pass defense. Expect a shootout in Atlanta this week.
Tyler Thigpen vs. NO: The return of Larry Johnson should open up the passing game even more for the impressive Thigpen, especially against the Saint’s weak secondary.
Shaun Hill vs. STL: I great spot start if you’re hurting at QB this week. Hill has looked good thus far and should find success against the struggling Rams.

Sit:

Eli Manning vs. BAL: While consistent in his production, the other Manning has failed to produce stellar numbers this year. Temper your expectations for him even further against the Ravens and look for the Giants to do what they do best: run, run, run.

Joe Flacco @ NYG: The impressive rookie will have a reality check against the stout Giants pass rush. Needless to say, I think this will be a low scoring affair.

David Garrard vs. TEN: Garrard posted a great stat line last week, against Detroit. This week he faces the Titans, a completely different story. Combine this with the fact that Matt Jones is banged up and you’ve got a definite sitter.

Kyle Orton/Rex Grossman @ GB: It looks like Orton will play this week, but don’t expect him to have a good game against the Packers 3^rd ranked pass defense.

Running Back

Studs:

Frank Gore vs. STL

Adrian Peterson @ TB

Clinton Portis vs. DAL****

Joseph Addai vs. HOU

Matt Forte @ GB

Brian Westbrook @ CIN

Ladainian Tomlinson @ PIT**

Marion Barber @ WAS

Start:

Michael Turner vs. DEN: Burner could very well be on the stud list the way he has played this year. In his 4 games playing at home this year, Turner has averaged over 118 yards and has 6 TDs. Expect even bigger things this week against the Bronco’s 27^th ranked run defense. Burner is definitely the start of the week.

DeAngelo Williams vs. DET: Remember rule #1? Williams will continue his hot streak this week.

Ronnie Brown vs. OAK: Brown will post great numbers this week against the Raiders, who are ranked 29^th in rushing yards allowed per game

Deuce McAllister @ KC: Reggie Bush will be sitting out one more week so Deuce gets the cushy start against the Chief’s weak run D. The Saints do like to pass a lot, but I expect them to “run” down the clock in the 3^rd and 4^th quarters.

Sit:

Earnest Grahm vs. MIN: Easy bench call. Grahm, who has not played well since week 4, goes up against the 3^rd ranked Vikings run D. Combine this with the carries that “Cadillac” Williams will vulture and we’ve got a definite loser.

Ryan Grant vs. CHI: Despite playing well the last few weeks, Grant will struggle against the Bears tough run D. Expect the Pack to pass a lot, and Grant is not known as a very solid pass catching RB.

Maurice Jones-Drew vs. TEN: MJD had a great game last week against everyone’s favorite Lions. Temper expectations against the Titans.

****Clinton Portis vs. DAL: Portis is injured with an MCL sprain and is listed as day-to-day. Even if he does play, expect it to be in a limited role against a well rested Dallas defense coming off of a bye.

**LT @ PIT: I would start him anyway (because he is LT), but temper expectations against a very stout Steeler defense. If you have options with more upside, I might consider them over LT.

Wide Receiver

Studs:

Anquan Boldin @ SEA

Larry Fitzgerald @ SEA

Andre Johnson @ IND

Reggie Wayne vs. HOU

Brandon Marshall @ ATL

Randy Moss vs. NYJ

Steve Smith vs. DET

Greg Jennings vs. CHI

Roddy White vs. DEN

Calvin Johnson @ CAR

Santana Moss vs. DAL

Start:

Terrell Owens @ WAS: T.O. should bounce back this week with the return of Romo. It is slightly unpredictable how Romo’s pinky will hold up, but you gotta start him and T.O. anyway.

Marques Colston @ KC: He’s back from injury and will be put on the stud list next week after a big game this week.

Lee Evans vs. CLE: Evans struggled last week against the Patriots, but should find room this week against a Cleveland secondary that gave up almost 450 yards last week to Jay Cutler.

Hines Ward/Santonio Holmes vs. SD: Look for these two to have big games against the Charger’s terrible pass D, especially with the Steeler’s backfield banged up.

Antonio Bryant vs. MIN: The Bucs will have to pass a lot to beat the Vikings; expect Bryant to be an integral part of that passing attack.

Donald Driver vs. CHI: The Bears give up the 6^th most fantasy points to wide receivers, and Driver has been the focal point of the Pack’s passing attack, receiving more than 20 targets over the past 3 games.

Sit:

Devin Hester @ GB: Don’t expect much from Hester this week, who’ll be catching balls from a QB returning from injury or Rex Grossman and facing Green Bay’s third ranked passing D.

Chad Johnson vs. PHI: Expect this to be a sack fest, as the Eagle’s defensive line will give Palmer no time to throw the ball.

Bernard Berrian @ TB: After posting a big fat zero last week, Berrian should once again struggle against the 5^th ranked Buc’s pass D.

Chris Chambers @ PIT: Like Berrian, Chambers posted a zero last week, and should also struggle against the 1^st ranked Steel Curtain pass defense.

Ted Ginn Jr. vs. OAK: The Raiders suck (I think even Raiders fans accept this now), but Nnamdi Asomugha does not, as he continually shuts down #1 receivers. Don’t expect much from Ginn this week as he faces Asomugha, but all the other Dolphins should do great.

Alright, that’s it for this week. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions feel free to send me a message or post it as a comment. I’ll do my best to get back to you before tomorrow’s games. Good luck and happy trading!

Salahlipop Out.