Week 16 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Michael Vick and Arian Foster, or bench Jerome Harrison and Terrance Copper? 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 16 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs vs. Titans. He made it through last week’s game at the Rams without setback, and returns home for a tantalizing matchup against the Titans’ soft secondary. Cassel and Dwayne Bowe should have a field day, while Tennessee is forced to respect KC’s explosive backfield tandem.


Marshawn Lynch, RB, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Lynch has been up-and-down in recent weeks, but he’s a great bet against the league’s 29th-ranked run defense. The Bucs have given up 369 rushing yards over the past two games.

Felix Jones, RB, Cowboys at Cardinals. Only Denver has coughed up more fantasy points to opposing rushers than Arizona. Even if Marion Barber returns, he’ll poach carries from Tashard Choice, not Jones. The featured back should roll on Christmas night.

Pierre Garcon, WR, Colts at Raiders. With Austin Collie out for the season, Garcon will again be Peyton Manning’s No. 2 receiver. Oakland has surrendered the third-most passing TDs in the NFL, and shut-down corner Nnamdi Asomugha will be focused on Reggie Wayne.

Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks at Buccaneers. Despite the poor quarterbacking in Seattle, a healthy Williams is still getting a remarkable number of targets. The Bucs’ pass defense is vulnerable, making Williams a great start, especially in PPR leagues. For that matter, the Bucs’ Mike Williams is a solid play against Seattle’s porous secondary, too.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Matt Schaub, Aaron Rodgers, Jon Kitna, David Garrard, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Tim Tebow; RBs Mike Tolbert, LeGarrette Blount, Ryan Torain, Brian Westbrook, Ronnie Brown, BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Darren McFadden, Fred Jackson, Matt Forte, Rashad Jennings (if Jones-Drew sits); WRs Vincent Jackson, Steve Johnson, Hakeem Nicks, Larry Fitzgerald, Mike Sims-Walker, Brandon Lloyd, Jacoby Ford, Jeremy Maclin, Santana Moss, Brandon Marshall.

Roll ‘em back

Eli Manning, QB, Giants at Packers. In the bone-chilling conditions of the frozen tundra, Manning will face off against the NFL’s third-ranked pass defense. He was terrific last week against the Eagles, but that followed two games in which he had just one total TD pass and three interceptions.


Cedric Benson, RB, Bengals vs. Chargers. Coming off his best game of the season, it’s tempting to let Benson ride this week. But San Diego sports the league’s second-toughest run defense, and Benson is unlikely to get much cover from Cincinnati’s depleted air attack.

Peyton Hillis, RB, Browns vs. Ravens. He has missed practice time with a knee injury and his body appears to be breaking down due to the heavy workload. Even worse, Ray Lewis has vowed that Hillis’ huge game against the Ravens in Week 3 “won’t happen again.” Cleveland’s workhorse hasn’t scored in the past three games, so it’s not crazy to consider sitting him.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets at Bears. He’s dealing with a turf toe injury, while Mark Sanchez has a cartilage tear in his throwing shoulder. They’re both facing the swarming Bears defense at frigid and windy Soldier Field. No thanks.

Chad Ochocinco, WR, Bengals vs. Chargers. Ocho himself says he may only take half the snaps in Sunday’s game due to painful bone spurs in his ankle. He’s a risky start against the league’s top pass defense even without the injury; and especially with Terrell Owens sidelined and unable to distract the opposing secondary.

More thumbs down: QBs Mark Sanchez, Shaun Hill, Matt Hasselbeck, Kerry Collins, Jay Cutler, Carson Palmer; RBs Maurice Jones-Drew, LaDainian Tomlinson, Tim Hightower, Pierre Thomas, Anthony Dixon, Broncos RBs, Lions RBs; WRs Malcom Floyd, Sidney Rice, Johnny Knox.

TAKING A FLIER

Joseph Addai, RB, Colts at Raiders. He’s back at practice and has been targeting a Week 16 return from his neck injury since November. If Addai plays, he should be in line for plenty of carries, including those in the red zone, as well as passes out of the backfield. Oakland’s rush defense is nothing to write home about.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…forgets to set your lineup for Saturday’s game. You’ve gotten used to the Thursday night matchups by now, but don’t let the Yuletide gaiety distract you from assigning the appropriate spots to your Cowboys and Cardinals for the Christmas night contest.

Lynch to Seattle, injury updates and the return of Big Ben

It's been a busy week so far.

Marshawn Lynch has been traded to Seattle for future draft picks. There's nothing surprising about this development, as Buffalo has been showcasing Lynch for weeks in anticipation of trading him.

This helps clear up the Bills' backfield situation, where Fred Jackson is currently locked in as the starter, while rookie C.J. Spiller tries to reclaim the feature back role he thought was his after a phenomenal preseason. Jackson has more short-term value, but despite his early struggles during the regular season, Spiller is destined to emerge as the better long-term fantasy performer. And given the fact that Buffalo (0-4) is already essentially out of the playoff picture, it only makes sense for them to give their No. 1 pick plenty of work as the season progresses.

In Seattle, I don't anticipate much change in the short term, as Justin Forsett remains the primary ballcarrier. But Lynch wasn't acquired as window dressing...he'll be worked into the offense as quickly as possible. The Seahawks, fittingly, operate a West Coast offense, which is new to Lynch, so it could take a couple of weeks. But the timing is perfect, as Seattle has their bye this week. Don't be a bonehead and release Forsett (as some sites have already suggested), but if you're still holding out hope for Leon Washington, it's time to say goodbye. He'll likely be relegated to return duties. Julius Jones is already looking for work.

On the injury front, Michael Vick says he will be out 1 or 2 weeks, or more. The Philadelphia Inquirer is speculating that it could be more like 6 weeks. You didn't come into the season counting on Vick, so hopefully you can manage without him while he recovers from his rib cartilage injury.

LeSean McCoy, currently the No. 3 RB in Fantasyland, fractured a rib in the same game in which Vick went down. He kept playing through it, though; and the Eagles are hoping he can tough it out this week, too. But you can bet this will come down to a game-time decision, which could be problematic since the Eagles-49ers contest is on Sunday night. Mike Bell will start if McCoy is unavailable.

Clinton Portis has hinted that he won't be able to play on his injured groin in the Week 5 matchup with Green Bay, which makes Ryan Torain an intriguing play, especially with several good RBs on bye and injured.


A sore hammy will probably keep Darren McFadden out of action for at least a week, giving Michael Bush a shot at the feature role against San Diego. The Raiders aren't yet a good team, but they aren't awful anymore either. Bruce Gradkowski is a legitimate passing threat, which helps open up the running lanes. Bush could be a solid bye-week filler this weekend.

And, in case you've been too busy watching Dancing With the Stars to notice, Big Ben is back with the Steelers preparing to torch the Browns when they visit in Week 6. Pittsburgh is one of four teams on bye this week (along with the Dolphins, Patriots and Seahawks).

Santonio Holmes will be on the field when the Jets host the Vikings on Monday Night Football. No telling how quickly Holmes will get into the groove with Sanchez, but I imagine Rex Ryan will be eager to see what his new toy can do.

Look for game-time decisions for both Andre Johnson and Jacoby Jones. You'd think that would be great news for Kevin Walter and his owners, but AJ's absence proved detrimental to Walter last weekend, when he drew Oakland's top CB, Nnamdi Asomugha. He should have an easier go of it in Week 5 against the Giants' secondary.

Carolina's Steve Smith will surely miss Sunday's contest due to his high ankle sprain.