Week 11: Start 'em
So here we are at week 11, no more bye weeks and only a few weeks left till the fantasy playoffs. As usual, another week went by, leading to some new injuries that will keep players out and some other players showing signs of being fantasy stars. By this point in the season many of your teams do not resemble the teams you drafted and you might not be sure whom to start and whom to sit. Many players that started slow have begun to pick it up and many that started off hot have begun to slow down. If you have some injured players, or you aren't sure about some other players on your roster, here are some guys that you should definitely make sure to keep in your starting lineup.
RB Frank Gore, ---
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If Frank Gore isn't the biggest fantasy bust this season, then I'm not sure who is. Gore hasn't rushed for over 100 yards once this season, hasn't scored a TD since week 2 and has been dealing with nagging injuries all season. Although the 49ers got shutout on Monday night vs. the Seahawks, Gore ran well for the most part gaining 72 yards on only 13 carries. Had the game been just a little closer, the 49ers would have run the ball a lot more and Gore would have had a good chance at breaking the century mark. This weekend San Francisco faces the Rams and the last time they faced them was week 2 when Gore rushed for 81 yards and 2 TD's. Well, the Rams aren't much better then they were then, so expect much of the same from Gore. If he is healthy enough to play a full game, don't be surprised when he goes over 100 yards and scores a TD. Keep Gore active this week.
RB Steven Jackson, NE
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Finally, last weekend Steven Jackson showed why he was taken #2 in most fantasy drafts, gaining 100 total yards, with one TD, to go along with 5 receptions and 1 passing TD. After not scoring in the first 3 games of the season before being injured, Jackson has scored in the last 2 games. The fact that he not only scored a rushing TD, but he caught 5 balls and threw a TD pass, shows that he might be ready to be the guy we all thought he would be before the season started. This week he faces a 49ers offense who seem to be going nowhere after a 2-0 start. The Rams will look to build on last week's first victory of the season vs. the Saints and there is no better way to do this then by getting Jackson going. Be happy you stuck with him and make sure to have Jackson in your lineup.
RB Chester Taylor, ---
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If it wasn't for the injury to rookie sensation Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor would be nothing more then a quality back up. Taylor isn't just any back up. He rushed for over 1,200 yards last season, while scoring 6 TD's. The Vikings have one of the best offensives lines to run behind and Taylor will be fresh because he has only carried the ball 61 times so far this year; add that to the fact that he is at home facing the Raiders and Taylor is a must start. Not only is Taylor fast and very capable of breaking off a long run, he has very good hands, making him a threat to catch the ball out of the backfield. So if your league counts receptions, then he is probably a low end RB1 this week. Don't expect anything less then 100 yards and a TD this weekend. Be glad you have had Chester on your bench all year and watch him break out vs. Oakland this weekend
WR Chris Chambers, ---
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The San Diego Chargers made a deal to acquire Chris Chambers for a reason. They needed a WR who can help open up the game. He was pretty invisible during last week's victory against the Colts, but they won so no big deal. This week they face the Jacksonville Jaguars who are giving up 244 yards through the air. The Chargers will look to get their passing game going early and to get that going they will need the help of Chambers. Chambers has been known to be somewhat inconsistent, but he has also been known to come up with big plays. Chambers has now been with San Diego for 3 weeks, so he should be finally getting into a grove with his new team and this week he has a solid match up against the Jags. Keep Chambers active this week.
WR Derrick Mason, ---
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After starting the season off on fire, averaging 8 catches and 75 yards per game, Mason, like the whole Ravens offense has really stumbled over the last 2 games, averaging 5 catches for only 32 yards. The Ravens have only scored 14 points total the last 2 weeks (both rushing TD's) and QB Steve McNair has been pretty much useless. Early signs point to a QB change. While no one is mistaking Kyle Boller for the next Brett Favre, he can't be any worse then McNair has been lately. The Browns' defense is giving up 273 yards per game through the air and since Mason is the #1 option in Baltimore, he should have plenty of opportunities to get back on track and put up some solid fantasy points. Especially if you're in a point per reception league, Mason is a solid WR2 and a great WR3 this week.
TE Owen Daniels, ---
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After having a great run from weeks 2 through 5 where he didn't have less then 5 catches or 56 yards, Owen Daniels has had it rough the past 3 games. Between a high ankle sprain, his QB going down, and some extra attention paid to him by defenses, Daniels has struggled, averaging only 3 catches and 32 yards per game. The bye week couldn't have come at a better time for Houston, giving Daniels and QB Matt Schaub more time to heal. Both look like they will be healthy when they play host to a New Orleans team that is giving up 251 yards per game through the air. Daniels has been Schaub's safety net whenever he needs a big catch or a first down. Look for Daniels to go back to his early performances and expect something like 5 catches for 60 yards and maybe even a TD.
To view our weekly rankings for all offensive positions, visit our who to start rankings.Remember to read all our columns for this week and use our Who To Start Rankings