Week 15 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Peyton Manning and Andre Johnson, or bench Brodie Croyle and Brad Smith? The network bozos specialize in that kind of advice. If you’re looking for real help with your starting lineup conundrums, read on.

Here are my picks to roll, and get rolled, in Week 15 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars at Colts. He combined for three TDs against the Colts in Week 4 and passed for three scores last week against the Raiders. Indy’s defense has been torched over the past four weeks, most recently by Kerry Collins; so look for Garrard to pad his resume in this divisional showdown.

Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers vs. Cardinals. Though Mike Goodson remains a key part of the backfield mix, Stewart has reclaimed the leading role over the past three weeks. Finally looking like the powerhouse back of recent years, Stewart will have no trouble exploiting Arizona’s 30th-ranked run defense Sunday.

Ryan Torain, RB, Redskins at Cowboys. It’s easier to pass than run on Dallas, but Torain gives the Redskins their best chance to control the game, especially with Rex Grossman taking the snaps. Torain burst back on the fantasy radar last week, and he’ll stay there Sunday.

Kenny Britt, WR, Titans vs. Texans. Now that he has returned from his hamstring injury and supplanted the incredible, shrinking Randy Moss as the starter, get Britt back in your lineup against the hapless Houston secondary.

Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars at Colts. Just as I expect good things from Garrard, I foresee glad tidings from his most dangerous receiver, now that he has put his ankle injury behind him.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Ryan, Matt Schaub, Jon Kitna, Jason Campbell; RBs Tim Hightower, Knowshon Moreno, Ronnie Brown, Jamaal Charles, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Darren McFadden, Felix Jones, LeGarrette Blount; WRs Hakeem Nicks, Deion Branch, Miles Austin, Brandon Marshall, Jeremy Maclin.

Roll ‘em back

Joe Flacco, QB, Ravens vs. Saints. New Orleans has surrendered an NFL-low eight passing TDs all season. The likelihood of Flacco connecting on multiple passing scores Sunday is awfully slim.

Fred Jackson, RB, Bills at Dolphins. Miami has given up just six rushing TDs all year, and they’ve stifled several top backs in recent weeks, including Peyton Hillis and the Jets’ tandem. Jackson won’t find much room to roam against this formidable run defense.

Packers RBs at Patriots. Not only are they facing a solid defensive front in New England, but they’re splitting the load among four players. James Starks took a huge step backwards last week after bursting on the scene in Week 13, and Brandon Jackson has proven he can’t handle a heavy workload. If Aaron Rodgers sits out, as expected, a bad situation gets even worse.

Sidney Rice, WR, Vikings vs. Bears. With Joe Webb expected to start at QB, all bets are off on the Vikings’ passing attack against a Chicago defense looking to atone for its humiliating loss to the Patriots. It won’t help that the game will be played outdoors on a frozen and unfamiliar surface.

Anquan Boldin, WR, Ravens vs. Saints. Am I bitter about his paltry stats against the lousy Texans secondary on Monday night? You bet. Would I start him against the Saints’ stingy pass defense? Not a chance.

More thumbs down: QBs Kyle Orton, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Jay Cutler, Matt Hasselbeck, Josh Freeman, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer; RBs Donald Brown, Cedric Benson, Thomas Jones, Jets RBs, Chris Ivory; WRs Brandon Lloyd, Mario Manningham, Mike Wallace, Dwayne Bowe (if Matt Cassel is out), Mike Williams (TB), Stevie Johnson, Austin Collie, Steve Smith (CAR), Davone Bess, Bears WRs, Packers WRs.

TAKING A FLIER

Kerry Collins, QB, Titans vs. Texans. Houston blanked the Titans in Week 12, but that was with Rusty Smith at the controls. Collins is far from a lock, but he’s coming off an excellent outing against Indy, and the Texans’ secondary is downright sieve-like. With Britt back healthy, Collins could come up big for risk-taking owners, or those needing a proxy for Rodgers.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…risks a goose egg with Aaron Rodgers on Sunday night. We may not know if he’s playing until after the afternoon games have ended. If you take your chances, you’ll need to hedge your bets with Flynn (yuck) or one of the Monday night passers (double yuck).

Week 8 Heroes & Zeros

This was a great week to start…

David Garrard, QB, Jaguars – Torched the Cowboys with 260 passing yards and 4 TDs, plus a 5th TD on the ground, with no INTs and one fumble.
Matt Stafford, QB, Lions – Passed for 212 yards and 4 TDs with just 1 INT.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots – Scored twice while rushing for 112 yards, plus an 11-yard reception.
LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers – Ran for 120 yards and 2 TDs.
Arian Foster, RB, Texans – Rumbled for 102 yards and 1 TD while adding 9 catches for 65 more yards.
Jamaal Charles, RB, Chiefs – Blasted the Bills with 177 rushing yards and 4 catches for 61 more.

Calvin Johnson, WR, Lions – Megatron amassed 9 catches for 101 yards and 3 TDs.
Terrell Owens, WR, Bengals – His 5 catches resulted in 65 yards and a pair of TDs.
Larry Fitzgerald, WR, Cardinals – 6 receptions produced 72 yards and 2 TDs.
Brandon Lloyd, WR, Broncos – Reeled in 7 passes for 169 yards and 1 TD.
Mike Sims-Walker, WR, Jaguars – Caught 8 passes for 153 yards and a score.

Marcedes Lewis, TE, Jaguars – Had just 2 catches, but they went for 51 yards and 2 TDs.
Antonio Gates, TE, Chargers – His 5 catches produced 123 yards and a score.
Jason Witten, TE, Cowboys – Pulled down 10 passes for 97 yards and 1 TD.

Dan Carpenter, K, Dolphins – Converted 5 fields (24, 31, 38, 42 and 54 yards) plus an extra point.

This was a great week to play against…

Aaron Rodgers, QB, Packers – Held to just 170 passing yards and 0 TDs.
Mark Sanchez, QB, Jets – Tossed 2 INTs and only 256 yards without a score.
Matt Hasselbeck, QB, Seahawks – Passed for 160 yards, no scores and 1 INT.
Ben Roethlisberger, QB, Steelers – Limited to just 195 passing yards and no scores, plus an INT.
Brett Favre, QB, Vikings – Passed for 259 yards, 0 TDs and an INT.

Tim Hightower, RB, Cardinals – One rush went nowhere, while his one catch went for 11 yards.
Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks – Limited to 7 rushing yards.
Donald Brown, RB, Colts – Given the chance to soar in Addai’s absence, he gained just 29 total yards while being upstaged by Mike Hart.
Saints RBs – Julius Jones led the pack with 16 rushing and 20 receiving yards.
Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys – Only 22 rushing and 14 receiving yards on 3 catches.
Jonathan Stewart, RB, Panthers – Spoiled his chance to shine, with just 30 rushing yards and an 8-yard catch.
Steven Jackson, RB, Rams – Just 59 rushing yards and a 4-yard reception.

David Gettis, WR, Panthers – Last week’s rookie sensation lost 11 yards on a reverse and was blanked in the receiving game.
Kenny Britt, WR, Titans – Pulled his hammy and left without a catch.
Donald Driver, WR, Packers – Had his second consecutive goose egg before leaving with an aggravated quad.
Jacoby Jones, WR, Texans – Left Indy with 2 catches for 6 yards. At least he wasn’t shut out completely like teammate Kevin Walter.
Randy Moss, WR, Vikings – Only an 8-yard catch to show for his return to New England. Now he's looking for work.
Deion Branch, WR, Patriots – A 21-yard catch was all she wrote.
Roy Williams, WR, Cowboys – Just one 21-yard catch from his old QB buddy.
Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks – A 27-yard reception was all he could muster.
Hines Ward, WR, Steelers – His 3 catches yielded 15 yards.
Wes Welker, WR, Patriots – Limited to 3 receptions for 24 yards.
Braylon Edwards, WR, Jets – Had a single 32-yard grab.
Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals – Upstaged by TO again with only 3 receptions for 34 yards.

Kellen Winslow, Jr., TE, Buccaneers – Held to a 5-yarder.
Zach Miller, TE, Raiders – Had only an 8-yard reception.
Owen Daniels, TE, Texans – Ditto.
Vernon Davis, TE, 49ers – Just one 12-yard catch.

Nick Folk, K, Jets – Whiffed on his only field goal try.