2009 Fantasy Football Who Should I Start Thread?

[MikeVic]

Yeah, I think Olsen can still become useful as a starter... I'm hoping at least. The only problem I see is then I'd have a 2nd WR of either Moss, Ginn Jr., or Breaston. But having Chris Johnson and Steve Slaton as my RBs would be nice...

[Samdari]

I have an interesting choice myself this week:

Two of
Steven Jackson vs GB
DeAngelo Williams @ DAL
Ronnie Brown @ SD
Knowshon Moreno @ Oak

[MikeVic]

I'd eliminate Moreno right away. I think Williams has the highest upside out of the remaining three.

[MikeVic]

As for the trade I asked about yesterday...

The guy has Brandon Marshall... think I should get rid of Mike Bell from the deal and try to get Marshall back somehow, and use him as my WR #2? Maybe offer Olsen since I'd be getting back Carlson anyway...

[albionmoonlight]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

As for the trade I asked about yesterday...

The guy has Brandon Marshall... think I should get rid of Mike Bell from the deal and try to get Marshall back somehow, and use him as my WR #2? Maybe offer Olsen since I'd be getting back Carlson anyway...

I'd wait and see on Bell. I think that the coaches might feel more comfortable with him than Thomas at this point--even when both are healthy. If you have the roster space, I might keep him around for a week and see what happens in Buffalo. If Thomas does not get a lot of work v. the Bills, I'd figure that Bell is going to be the main back for the Saints when he comes back from the injury.

[MikeVic]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

I'd wait and see on Bell. I think that the coaches might feel more comfortable with him than Thomas at this point--even when both are healthy. If you have the roster space, I might keep him around for a week and see what happens in Buffalo. If Thomas does not get a lot of work v. the Bills, I'd figure that Bell is going to be the main back for the Saints when he comes back from the injury.

Well, it's a trade I'm working on. Mike Bell is in the deal right now. I have Pierre Thomas, that's why the guy threw him in for me. But my #2 WR would suck if I traded Harvin away... so I'm thinking of switching out Bell for Marshall.

[Qwikshot]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I have an interesting choice myself this week:

Two of
Steven Jackson vs GB
DeAngelo Williams @ DAL
Ronnie Brown @ SD
Knowshon Moreno @ Oak

I'd go with Williams and Brown; Steve Jackson just seems to be in a bad way with the Rams offense.

[Solecismic]

I had an interesting theory about the ten-team league I'm in, because it gave a slightly lower bonus for passing touchdowns (maybe 4 points instead of 6) and an insanely higher one for defenses.

All proud of myself for grabbing Pittsburgh, I then became the tenth person to draft a quarterback - a half-round after everyone else started picking up backups (oops, thought I would get Eli).

To make matters worse, I didn't immediately draft a backup myself, and ended up waiting until the last round (oops again).

So, my quarterbacks are: Carson Palmer, Jake Delhomme and Brett Favre (sort-of FAed as a joke). Somehow, I'm 1-1. Palmer has the "hot" hand of the three, but he's going against Polamaluless Pittsburgh. Who do I start? Or, better question, should I just accept I'm going to be taking some beatings this season. Someone offered me Joe Flacco for my best receiver. Gotta admire the guy for trying.

[MikeVic]

I'm thinking Eli Manning over Romo right now... Bucs' defense sucks.

As for Jim's QB thing, I think you can play the matchups with Favre and Palmer? I don't trust Delhomme at all though. But expect frustrations with those two QBs I guess.

[TLK]

How about this one? If Westbrook is announced as out...

McCoy vs. KCY
or
Slaton vs. JAC

[hoopsguy]

Got three I'm chewing on for today:

QB - Cutler @ Sea or E. Manning @ TB (storms predicted)
HB - two of three: Chris Johnson @ NYJ, S. Jackson vs GB, or W. McGahee vs Cle
D - Denver @ Oak or NYJ vs Ten

[PurdueBrad]

Mine is pretty quick and I'm second-guessing myself a lot after last week:

Schaub vs. Jacksonville or Brady vs. Atlanta? 6 pts per td, -2 per pick, pt per 20 yards. Thanks in advance.

[PurdueBrad]

Originally Posted by hoopsguy

Got three I'm chewing on for today:

QB - Cutler @ Sea or E. Manning @ TB (storms predicted)
HB - two of three: Chris Johnson @ NYJ, S. Jackson vs GB, or W. McGahee vs Cle
D - Denver @ Oak or NYJ vs Ten

QB- Cutler
HB- C. Johnson and McGahee (just for the goal line work)
D- Denver

[PurdueBrad]

Originally Posted by TLK

How about this one? If Westbrook is announced as out...

McCoy vs. KCY
or
Slaton vs. JAC

I think this is the week that Slaton gets things going, so I would take that gamble.

[hoopsguy]

Originally Posted by PurdueBrad

Mine is pretty quick and I'm second-guessing myself a lot after last week:

Schaub vs. Jacksonville or Brady vs. Atlanta? 6 pts per td, -2 per pick, pt per 20 yards. Thanks in advance.

I think Brady is the play here, as I'm guessing they are going to need to score points to win this game.

[TLK]

Originally Posted by PurdueBrad

Mine is pretty quick and I'm second-guessing myself a lot after last week:

Schaub vs. Jacksonville or Brady vs. Atlanta? 6 pts per td, -2 per pick, pt per 20 yards. Thanks in advance.

Both games will be high-scoring. Probably can't go wrong with either. Hard to sit Schaub after last weeks game, especially going against a poor pass defense. Start Schaub.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Originally Posted by TLK

McCoy vs. KCY
or
Slaton vs. JAC

Slaton

QB - Cutler @ Sea or E. Manning @ TB (storms predicted)
HB - two of three: Chris Johnson @ NYJ, S. Jackson vs GB, or W. McGahee vs Cle
D - Denver @ Oak or NYJ vs Ten

Cutler
Johnson/Jackson (always start my studs)
NYJ

Schaub vs. Jacksonville or Brady vs. Atlanta?

The way Schaub looked last week vs. Brady last week you've got to go Schaub.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Ok, I need to decide between McCoy and McFadden.

Who do you pick
a) if Westbrook plays but gets less work
b) if Westbrook is out

also, with DeSean's injury status, assuming he is active would you consider starting either Kevin Walter or Laurent Robinson over him?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Westbrook looks to be out FWIW so I'm going McCoy.

[rowech]

Benson at home against the Steelers or Felix Jones at home against the Panthers?

Normally, I'd go with Benson since he's a clear #1 but I get the impression Barber isn't going to play or is going to be really limited which would make Jones a fairly clear #1 as well. Thoughts?

[RainMaker]

Jay Cutlers @ Seattle or Trent Edwards vs NO

[RainMaker]

Originally Posted by rowech

Benson at home against the Steelers or Felix Jones at home against the Panthers?

Normally, I'd go with Benson since he's a clear #1 but I get the impression Barber isn't going to play or is going to be really limited which would make Jones a fairly clear #1 as well. Thoughts?

I say Benson. Not sure if the Cowboys will use Jones near the goalline as I believe they use that back Choice.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I actually like Edwards over Cutler.

[DeToxRox]

Is it pouring in NE?

[AlexB]

Philip Rivers (vs MIA) or Trent Edwards (vs NO)

Does the likely shootout against NO raise Edwards ahead of Rivers this week?

[Solecismic]

Originally Posted by MikeVic

I'm thinking Eli Manning over Romo right now... Bucs' defense sucks.

As for Jim's QB thing, I think you can play the matchups with Favre and Palmer? I don't trust Delhomme at all though. But expect frustrations with those two QBs I guess.

Went with Palmer, likely headed for a 1-2 record. Figured the Steelers would load up on Benson and would take an early lead, forcing passing accumulations. If I had chosen Favre, probably would have eked this week out. I didn't really consider Delhomme, should probably dump him and pick up a flyer.

[JS19]

I'm down 16 points going into tonight, I have Felix Jones and DeAngelo Williams going for me, while my opponent has Steve Smith. I'm not all too confident in pulling this one out, but I hope they run all over each other tonight, mostly Williams since I want the Boys to lose.

My fantasy question is this though, with the Bucs offense looking so terrible this week, I'm hesitant to keep Antonio Bryant in my starting lineup, so I'm thinking about going with a 3rd RB in my WR/RB flex spot, I'm gonna hold on to J. Stewart, should I drop Leon Washington and grab Bradshaw? I'm a huge Giants fan, so my gut says grab Bradshaw, but I'm looking for an unbiased opinion.

So I just took a look at the FA wire, and Roy Williams is also available. As of now, I have R. White and D. Driver locked in as my WR's, I took a gamble with B. Edwards and A. Bryant, but their teams just suck so bad they really can't produce. I like my Williams/McGahee RB combo, so with my flex position, should I go with Williams (WR), or stick it our with either Bradshaw/Washington/Stewart?

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Jari Rantanen's Shorts

Philip Rivers (vs MIA) or Trent Edwards (vs NO)

Does the likely shootout against NO raise Edwards ahead of Rivers this week?

For the record, other than Rivers being definitively ruled out due to injury (or suspension) there is nothing that would elevate Edwards ahead of Rivers. Even then, its a toss up between Rivers and Edwards. Just cross this off of your list of things to think about each week.

[flere-imsaho]

This isn't advice, just a funny story.

In one league (a PPR league), I have (actually, had) Frank Gore. Now, I've had Frank Gore in various leagues the past few seasons and he's always seemed to disappoint me, either between injuries, poor performance, or inconsistent performance.

So after Gore's awesome Week 2 performance, and given the fact that I need WRs (I started Earl Bennett and Braylon Edwards in Week 3, for example), I decided to sell high. My decision was also made by a sick feeling in my stomach that Gore was teetering on the edge of a) his team suddenly imploding or b) injury.

Prior to this weekend's games, then, I completed a trade (which will be official for Week 4) of:

Gore & TE V. Shiancoe

for

WR V. Jackson & TE J. Witten

I felt good before the weekend, but imagine how good I feel now!

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by JS19

I'm down 16 points going into tonight, I have Felix Jones and DeAngelo Williams going for me, while my opponent has Steve Smith. I'm not all too confident in pulling this one out, but I hope they run all over each other tonight, mostly Williams since I want the Boys to lose.

My fantasy question is this though, with the Bucs offense looking so terrible this week, I'm hesitant to keep Antonio Bryant in my starting lineup, so I'm thinking about going with a 3rd RB in my WR/RB flex spot, I'm gonna hold on to J. Stewart, should I drop Leon Washington and grab Bradshaw? I'm a huge Giants fan, so my gut says grab Bradshaw, but I'm looking for an unbiased opinion.

So I just took a look at the FA wire, and Roy Williams is also available. As of now, I have R. White and D. Driver locked in as my WR's, I took a gamble with B. Edwards and A. Bryant, but their teams just suck so bad they really can't produce. I like my Williams/McGahee RB combo, so with my flex position, should I go with Williams (WR), or stick it our with either Bradshaw/Washington/Stewart?

You should always plan for the RB/WR flex spot to be a RB, and draft that way.

Don't drop Stewart (although he's clearly a #2, he's good insurance for Williams). But, you could drop either Bryant or Edwards for Bradshaw - no need to keep them around, and Leon Washington is more valuable than either.

[Mustang]

This week, Turner and Williams are on byes so, gotta pick 2 from this crop

Portis
Addai
McGahee
L. Johnson

[flere-imsaho]

Not even looking at the matchups I'd go Addai and McGahee as both Portis and Johnson look like they're done. I'm very seriously considering dropping Johnson to the WW in one of my leagues this week and in another league Portis might not be far behind.

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Dunno, I'd still start Portis over Addai.

[dervack]

Eli Manning vs KC or Brees vs Jets?

[flere-imsaho]

I think you have to keep starting Brees.

[Honolulu_Blue]

I got very good advice last time around, so... who do I start this week:

Steve Slaton vs. Oakland

or

Pierre Thomas vs. Jets

[albionmoonlight]

H_B, I'd go with Thomas. Bell's injury takes more than one week to come back from, and the Saints have shown that Bush is not going to get a lot of carries. So Thomas is the man this week, and the Saints have put up good numbers from that spot (be it Thomas or Bell) all three weeks so far.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by albionmoonlight

H_B, I'd go with Thomas. Bell's injury takes more than one week to come back from, and the Saints have shown that Bush is not going to get a lot of carries. So Thomas is the man this week, and the Saints have put up good numbers from that spot (be it Thomas or Bell) all three weeks so far.

Thanks, albion! That's what I was thinking. Slaton has been a big disappointment thus far, I just worry about the matchups. The Jets defense has been killer all year and Oakland, well, not so much...

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

The Pats had success running on the Jets, when they actually chose to do so.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Ok, let me expand this a bit then:

I can start 3 out 4:

Ronnie Brown vs. Buf
Brandon Jacobs vs. KC
Slaton vs. Oak
Thomas vs. Jets

(I don't know how I ended up with all of these guys (and Adrian Peterson). I am in a leauge with weird people.)

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

Jacobs for sure. Brown is next, then Thomas I'd say.

Flacco @NE or Roethlisberger vs. SD? I've been starting Flacco every week and very happy with his production, but the SD secondary is tempting.

[stevew]

I'm 1-2 and not very happy

Flacco or Romo

Slaton, Thomas Jones, Bensen, Fred Jackson, or Tashard Choice(pick 3)

WR Pierre Garcon or waiver pickup?

Is Fred Jackson going to still be viable here in a few weeks?

[cschex]

I have an interesting matchup this week as I have both Flacco and Brady. Been starting Brady, but am tempted to start Flacco because of the matchup. Opinions?

[Ronnie Dobbs2]

I would start Flacco over Brady until Brady starts looking like Brady. The NE DEF (and secondary) has been playing better this year, but until Brady shows me he's got his timing back I'd ride Flacco.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Ok, let me expand this a bit then:

I can start 3 out 4:

Ronnie Brown vs. Buf
Brandon Jacobs vs. KC
Slaton vs. Oak
Thomas vs. Jets

(I don't know how I ended up with all of these guys (and Adrian Peterson). I am in a leauge with weird people.)

I seriously don't know how the RB thing is a difficult decision. Slaton is a NFL third down back, not a starting RB. Not the right guy for a full time load, not currently getting the GL carries, etc. He is a poor man's Reggie Bush - and will have stats to match - think Kevin Faulk. Don't think about starting him, think about trading him. He should be considered a #4 fantasy RB, the guy you play when all your other RBs have byes or are injured, not someone you play when you have other options.

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by Samdari

I seriously don't know how the RB thing is a difficult decision. Slaton is a NFL third down back, not a starting RB. Not the right guy for a full time load, not currently getting the GL carries, etc. He is a poor man's Reggie Bush - and will have stats to match - think Kevin Faulk. Don't think about starting him, think about trading him. He should be considered a #4 fantasy RB, the guy you play when all your other RBs have byes or are injured, not someone you play when you have other options.

I haven't really had the chance to watch too many Houston Texans games either last year or this year, so I'll take your word for it, but, despite his struggles this year, I kind of find it hard to believe that Slaton is just a NFL third down back (in the Kevin Faulk/Reggie Bush mode) based on these 2008 numbers:

Attempts 268
Yards: 1,282
TDs: 9

Here are those same stats for Kevin Faulk based on his best year with regards to attempts and yards (2003):

Attempts 178
Yards: 638
TDs: 0

Here are those same stats for Reggie Bush based on his best year with regards to attempts and yards (2007):

Attempts 157
Yards: 581
TDs: 4

So, uh, yeah, upon further reflection maybe the comparison is quite as obvious as you think it is.

It's certainly possible that last year is a complete statistical anomaly for Slaton and that over the course of his career - starting as early as now - he will really only be a third down back like Faulk and Bush.

[Samdari]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

It's certainly possible that last year is a complete statistical anomaly for Slaton and that over the course of his career - starting as early as now - he will really only be a third down back like Faulk and Bush.

Well, I was speaking physically - in terms of stature, physiqe, and skill set, he is more similar to Bush and Faulk than he is to other NFL every down backs. I just have never seen him lasting very long as a #1 NFL back. I certainly was not trying to compare him to those guys statistically, I know he had a very good year last year. I just have never believed he would ever come close to that again, and obviously still do not.

[PackerFanatic]

Trade Question:

I get WR Jerricho Cotchery. I give up RB Steve Slaton.

I am in need of a decent WR (I have T.O., Nate Burelson, Johnny Knox, and Lee Evans - I had Anthony Gonzalez, but obviously that didn't work out) I have decent RBs (MJD, Slaton, Portis, McFadden), so I think giving one up to get SOMEONE that catches the damn ball isn't a bad idea. Thoughts?

[flere-imsaho]

I'd probably do that. If it is a PPR league I'd definitely do it.

[PackerFanatic]

It is - one full point too. I took the deal. Slaton will likely come around, but I like my other backs enough to give him up for a solid WR that is clearly the favorite target of his young QB.