START ‘EM:
Broncos QB Tim Tebow – Tebow mania has officially started rolling, and I’m jumping on for the ride. After Kyle “My Beard Makes Me Look Tough” Orton lost his starting job, Tebow came in against the Chargers and looked great. Yes, the Chargers had the game under control, but he looked pretty darn good. Tim is now the Broncos full time goal-line back as well. This gives you that dual threat that all fantasy owners thrive for. On top of that, the guy goes against one of the softest defenses in the league, in the Dolphins. If Mark Sanchez can run a QB draw from 5 yards out for a touchdown against this defense, what can Tim do? Sky is the LIMIT here, folks. Start Him! Prediction: 260 Passing Yards, 40 Rushing Yards, 2 Touchdowns.
Steelers RB Rashard Mendenhall – He’s back folks. I couldn’t believe the articles and blogs I was reading the past week on this guy, and how many had given up hope on him. Rashard, when healthy, is a very dangerous player. And after the looks of him last week (23 carries, 146 yards) I’d say that hamstring is back to full health. Now it gets even better for him as he faces a Cardinals defense that is vulnerable to the run, and gives up the 8th most points to the RB position. They gave up 122 yards to AP, not to mention 3 touchdowns (all in the 1st quarter), and a touchdown to each back (Jacobs & Bradshaw) against the Giants in Week 4. Mendenhall should SHRED this defense apart. Prediction: 120 Rushing Yards, 1 Touchdown.
Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray – I might be reaching here, but this is what this is all about, right? Finding valuable players on the wire is tough, but this is the guy if you ask me. With Felix Jones out at least 2-4 weeks, Murray and Tashard Choice will share the workload. However, Cowboys have named Murray the starter, and I think they made the right CHOICE (no pun intended). Murray looked like the faster and more elusive back against the Patriots last week, and now he gets to face the swiss cheese defense in the Rams. In a game that might turn into a real nightmare for the Rams, I can see DeMarco getting his fair share in a lopsided game. If you need a flex play, or a bye week fill-in. Look here, he’s worth the match up. Prediction: 85 Rushing Yards, 1 Touchdown.
Packers WR Jordy Nelson – Aaron Rodgers is a ROBOT. I’ve even had a few followers on twitter tell me that Rodgers is so good, that he may have sold his soul to the devil! I don’t know about all that, but I do know that Jordy is the Packers purest deep threat and Rodgers seems to always find him. No doubt, Greg Jennings is the #1 in cheese land, but Nelson may very well get his own against this Vikings defense. Last week we saw Devin Hester burn this same secondary for a 50 yard touchdown in the 1st quarter. My thinking here, is if Hester can get behind this secondary, I’m more than SURE of it that Jordy can. Vikings are giving up the 10th most points to WR’s in their last 5 games. My guess is the trend continues, and Jordy hauls in a deep one from the robot. Prediction: 70 Receiving Yards, 1 Touchdown.
SIT ‘EM:
Texans QB Matt Schaub – Andre Johnson is listed as DOUBTFUL for this week’s match up against the Titans. I’m pretty sure he will be on the sidelines for at least another week. Not good news for Schaub owners. Titans are currently giving up only 185 yards through the air when playing at home. If you look at Matt’s past performances against elite defenses, he tends to slow it down. Last week, he only threw for 220 against the Ravens D, with 1 pick and 1 touchdown. Played the Steelers at home in Week 4, same mediocre result, 138 passing yards, and 1 touchdown. Titan’s defense is no walk in the park, especially at home. My guess is Matt doesn’t have a BAD game per say, but a GREAT game, I highly doubt it. He has 7 turnovers on the year, and I smell at least one in this game. Prediction: 200 Passing Yards, 1 TD, 1 INT
Browns RB Peyton Hillis – Funny how things work out. Do some of you out there still really believe that the “Madden Curse” isn’t real? I owned Hillis last year, and made my buddies look like chumps, and funny part about is I DRAFTED Hardesty ahead of him. He’s now “battling” a hamstring issue and is questionable for Sunday’s game. Even if he’s cleared to go, I’d steer clear of this guy. Hard to imagine, that Hillis has only scored double digit fantasy points in ONE WEEK so far this season. And that was against the Colts, back in Week 2 where he scored 2 touchdowns. Then he sat out the following game against the Dolphins because of “strep throat”? Nah, I’m good on having this guy in my lineup this week. Surprisingly, Seattle has actually held their own defending the run, holding opponents to 86 rushing yards per game. I just don’t see the upside here, do you? Prediction: 45 Rushing Yards, 1 Touchdown (if he plays).
Jaguars RB Maurice Jones-Drew – Boy, I’m really trying to earn my paycheck this week. MJD is MJD; he is the only running back in the NFL to have rushed for 84 yards or more in every game. So basically, the man is going to give you 100 all purpose yards every game. At some point though, we all have to realize that Blaine Gabbert might be running for his life in this game. Ray Lewis and co. are going to be licking their chops in this one. I see the Ravens keying on MJD and stacking the box. What do they have to fear in Gabbert? He has 4 touchdowns compared to 7 turnovers. MJD running the ball down 21 points will not be an option in the Jaguars game plan if this gets ugly, and my guess is it does. Ravens will have more turnovers, than Gabbert and MJD have in touchdowns is what I’m predicting. Ravens will limit him. Look elsewhere.
ALL Redskins RB’s – See Mike Shanahan. I can’t deal with this guy anymore. I’m an owner of Torain and Hightower now, and I have NO CLUE what to do with these guys. Unless anybody here knows Mike’s cell phone number, and we can call him and ask him what the plan is here, I can’t tell you who’s going to be a member of his elite rushing attack. I have no crystal ball over her folks; just stay away is my best guess. If you start one of them, may the fantasy gods be with you!
Jets WR Santonio Holmes – Yes, he’s caught 2 touchdowns in consecutive games. Last week’s was all on the play of him though, as he avoided a few tackles and it looked to me like the Dolphins D sort of just gave up on the play and wanted to go hang out on Ocean Drive instead. The reality is, Mark Sanchez is his quarterback, and the Jets are starting to focus on their running attack more. Holmes had only 3 catches last week, 4 the week prior to that, 3 again against Baltimore, and 1 against a soft Raiders secondary. You see a trend here? The guy just isn’t getting enough targets (6.5) and receptions (3.3) per game to be a threat. So if you want to bet on a 3 catch, 1 touchdown performance, by all means. I tip my cap to those that have the courage. Prediction. 3 Catches, 45 Receiving Yards.
**** OTHER NOTABLE START ‘EM SIT ‘EM ****
Jets QB Mark Sanchez – SIT ‘EM (I’m sorry I can’t take a QB serious if he can only complete 14 passes against the Dolphins)
Browns TE Benjamin Watson – START ‘EM (Available in 80% of ESPN leagues and McCoy is throwing an awful lot these days, I think he finds the end zone, nice bye fill-in if you need it)
Chargers WR Malcom Floyd – START ‘EM (Difference here is Floyd gets Cromartie while Vjax has to go to Revis Island. Give me Floyd, Cromartie gets lost at times.)
Jaguars TE Marcedes Lewis – SIT ‘EM (Remember this guy had double digit TD’s last year? HA!)
Texans RB Arian Foster – START ‘EM (Told you to sit him last week and he failed to reach double digits. Let’s go the other way now. He will be a WORKHORSE in this one. The numbers will come.)
And that concludes my Week 7 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em folks. I hope you enjoyed the read, and maybe even helped you along the way. If you have any other questions, you can contact me on twitter or on the fftoday forum boards. I have my own thread up where you can ask me any lineup dilemma that you may have and I will personally answer them. I’m just one man, giving my opinion, one day at a time. Good luck in Week 7 my friends.