Week 6: Start 'em
Week 6 is a big week in fantasy. It's near the halfway point for most fantasy leagues and 6 teams have a bye. With the amount of injuries building up and with so many players off on a bye, there will be many of you looking for players to fill your lineups. It's also that time of year when fantasy owners are beginning to panic over why their top draft picks seem to suck and can't score a TD or do much else. Each week it will become harder and harder to convince yourself to start someone just because you drafted him in one of the top few rounds. Well if you are dealing with poor draft picks, injuries or bye weeks, and can't decide who to start or who to sit, take a look at some of these guys and put them in your lineup.
RB Larry Johnson, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
If someone would have told you that after 5 weeks LJ only had 275 yards rushing and no TD's, not sure you would have believed them. Well, it is true!!!! If you have LJ, I'm sure you're not very happy with the fact that you drafted him and you might even be debating sitting him. Not just yet; this upcoming week he has a great match up vs. the Bengals and there is a better then even chance that he will finally get into the end zone. With starting QB Damon Huard out with an injury and 2nd year man Brodie Croyle making his first career start, Kansas City will be looking to establish the run early to take the pressure off of the young QB. Make sure not to give up on LJ too early and keep him in your lineup; watch him put up some big numbers.
WR Bernard Berrian, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
Being a starting WR on the Chicago Bears offense isn't always a great place to be, especially early on this season. Berrian is suffering like all the rest of the receivers. While Berrian has yet to get in the end zone, he is still averaging 5 catches a game for about 66 yards. This week he faces a Vikings' defense giving up 266 yards per game. Berrian did leave the game early last week, but by all reports he should be ready to go against
WR Dwayne Bowe, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
Dwayne Bowe had a bit of a down week last Sunday. After scoring TD's in each of his last 3 games, he caught only 4 balls for 70 yards. While the Chiefs will be looking to establish the run with 2nd year QB Brodie Croyle making his first NFL start, Croyle knows that Bowe is his big play and red zone target. Other then TE Tony Gonzalez, KC has no one else to throw the ball to. With the Chiefs playing the lowly Bengals defense, Bowe should see plenty of opportunities to make some big plays. Bowe is steadily becoming a very good WR3 and with a few more good weeks he will soon become a must start every week, if he hasn't already. Cincinnati is giving up 250 yards passing and 32 points a game, so look for the Chiefs' offense as a whole to put up big numbers. That most definitely includes Dwayne Bowe. Look for him to get back in the end zone this week and probably go over 100 yards receiving.
WR Chris Chambers, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
The mystery that is the downfall of Chris Chambers - from fantasy stud to fantasy dud - took another hit last weekend with the injury to starting QB Trent Green. While normally starting a WR when his QB is unproven Cleo Lemon would be considered a bad idea, this week against the Browns, it's a very good idea to start him. The Browns are giving up 185 yards per game to the opposing team's WR and since Chambers is the only real threat at WR, look for him to get plenty of chances to score fantasy points (with a good chance to finally put one in the end zone against a very weak Cleveland defense). While Chambers can no longer be counted on for regular fantasy production, when he faces a match up like he does this weekend, he is a great WR3 or flex start.
WR Bobby Engram, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
You might have already inserted Bobby Engram into your lineup once starter D.J. Hackett went down, but now with the other Seattle starting WR Deion Branch out for the next few weeks, Engram is a very solid start vs. the Saints this week. With the injuries to the other 2 starting WR's in Seattle, Engram now becomes the #1 receiving option and in leagues where receptions count, he will be even more valuable. QB Matt Hasselbeck and Engram have always worked well together. With the rest of the receiving corps lacking in experience and consistency, Engram will be the guy. As long as Branch and Hackett stay injured, Engram should be a solid WR3 or flex. Expect something like 5 catches for 70 yards and if you're really lucky, a TD.
WR Jerry Porter, ---
FANTASY PROFILE / STATS & MORE
Up and down, up and down, is the story of Jerry Porter's fantasy life. One week good, one week non-existent. This week looks like it could be the good one as he faces a San Diego defense giving up 247 yards per game. It seems that new starting QB Dante Culpepper likes to look for Porter in the end zone, making him a great start as a WR3 or flex this week. Porter is averaging a whopping 20.6 yards per reception and has scored 3 TD's in the first 4 games, so he is more then capable of putting up big fantasy numbers if he gets the looks and has the right match up, which he does this week.
Remember to read all our columns for this week and use our Who To Start Rankings
