Week 11 Starters & Benchwarmers

Wondering whether or not to start Michael Vick and Frank Gore, or bench Brian St. Pierre and Joey Galloway? 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 11 of the 2010 season.

Watch ‘em roll

Matt Cassel, QB, Chiefs vs. Cardinals. This should be another very good week for fantasy passers, so Cassel’s excellent matchup against the awful Arizona secondary merely gets him in the conversation. He certainly won’t equal his stellar 469-yard, four-TD outing against the Broncos; but Cassel should continue to build on his strong play over the past five games (12 TDs vs. just one INT).


Keiland Williams, RB, Redskins at Titans. The rookie managed to have a career game (139 combined yards, 3 TDs) on Monday night despite playing from behind from the get-go. With both Ryan Torain and Clinton Portis still on the mend and uncertain for Sunday’s game, Williams should get another chance to carry the load against a slumping Titans run defense.

BenJarvus Green-Ellis, RB, Patriots vs. Colts. Though Tom Brady was last week’s hero against the Steelers, Green-Ellis totaled more than 100 yards against the league’s toughest defense. He should find the holes much bigger against Indy’s sorry run defenders.

Santonio Holmes, WR, Jets vs. Texans. With Jerricho Cotchery (groin) out, Holmes will continue to secure his role as his team’s most dangerous receiving weapon. Facing Houston’s pathetic pass defense, this could be his best game yet as a Jet.

Lance Moore, WR, Saints vs. Seahawks. New Orleans’ running game remains a work in progress, so Drew Brees will keep his receivers busy against Seattle’s generous secondary. Moore leads the team in TDs (five), and he should continue to flourish along with Marques Colston.

More thumbs up (excluding the no-brainers): QBs Shaun Hill, Joe Flacco, Mark Sanchez, Carson Palmer, Jon Kitna, Josh Freeman, Matt Ryan; RBs Knowshon Moreno, Fred Jackson, Ray Rice, Felix Jones, Jamaal Charles, Peyton Hillis, LaDainian Tomlinson; WRs Randy Moss, Dwayne Bowe, Mario Manningham, Hines Ward, Mike Wallace, Braylon Edwards, Malcom Floyd, Miles Austin, Dez Bryant, Nate Washington, Jeremy Maclin.

Roll ‘em back


Matt Schaub, QB, Texans at Jets. Schaub spent Tuesday night in the hospital having fluid drained from his knee. Though he is expected to play Sunday, the injury, coupled with a tough matchup in New York, makes him an overly risky play. Schaub has just four multi-touchdown games to his credit this year, even when healthy.

Colts RBs vs. Patriots. Joseph Addai has returned to limited practice is hopeful to play, but don’t count on it. More likely is another week of disappointing output from Donald Brown, who will yield to Javarris James at the goal line. Even if Addai suits up, New England’s improving run defense will have little trouble slowing the Colts’ subpar rushing game.

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers at 49ers. The rookie is coming off a solid game against the Panthers, but he is more likely to replicate his mediocre performance from Week 9 in Atlanta (46 total yards). The 49ers are playing tough run defense of late, and Cadillac Williams is still in the picture as the better receiving option.

Jabar Gaffney and Eddie Royal, WR, Broncos at Chargers. San Diego’s pass defense is among the league’s stingiest, so even the vaunted Broncos’ air attack could struggle this week. Brandon Lloyd is too hot to sit, but his fellow wideouts aren’t.

Mike Williams, WR, Seahawks at Saints. Matt Hasselbeck appears set to play despite his broken left wrist, but neither he nor his receivers are likely to fare well against the Saints’ ball-hawking secondary. They’ve allowed a league low six passing TDs, so don’t expect great returns from the Comeback Player of the Year candidate in this contest.

More thumbs down: QBs Hasselbeck, Donovan McNabb, Jason Campbell, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Brett Favre; RBs Mike Goodson, Marshawn Lynch, Beanie Wells, Ryan Torain, Ryan Mathews, Jahvid Best; WRs Donald Driver, Bernard Berrian, Jacoby Ford, Steve Smith (CAR), Kevin Walter, Mike Williams (TB).

TAKING A FLIER

Reggie Bush, RB, Saints vs. Seahawks. Watch the game-day inactive list or, better yet, follow my tweets; but Bush is on track to return from his leg injury against the soft Seattle defense. He should quickly resume his critical receiving and return roles, while picking up the occasional backfield carry. In point-per-reception leagues especially, a fresh-legged Bush should excel right out of the gates.

DON’T BE THE BONEHEAD WHO…assumes your kicker is set for the duration. Gone just this week are Joe Nedney, Jeff Reed and Mike Nugent. Nate Kaeding is expected back soon for the Chargers; possibly as early as Sunday. Both Nick Folk and David Buehler are skating on fairly thin ice. It’s a topsy-turvy season for the big-footed men, so don’t overlook this position.