Week 6: Sit 'Em
Week 5 wrap-up:
LeGarrette Blount rushed for 34 yards and gained another 31 yards on a few receptions.
Darren Sproles rushed for 51 yards and gained 40 yards on 5 receptions.
Mike Tolbert left the game with a concussion, but only gained 49 total yards between rushing and receiving.
Deion Branch did produce this week after a few non-productive outings. He had 7 receptions for 74 yards and a score.
Pierre Garcon surprised again this week. 125 yards and two scores proved me wrong.
Devery Henderson's opportunities have dwindled. This week he gained 11 yards on one reception.
Scott Chandler had one reception for 4 yards.
This week I think you should sit:
Curtis Painter - two decent weeks, but no reason to jump on the bandwagon and start him.
Ben Roethlisberger - Wow, an excellent and surprising Week 5, but where can he go from here, only down.
Matt Schaub - Schaub made my list earlier this season to much criticism. This week his match-up against Baltimore deserves the sit.
Tim Hightower - Hightower seemed to be the clear starter, but now looks to be taking a back seat to Torain.
Jonathon Stewart - Stewart has the ability to gain rushing yardage and play a role in the passing game, but Cam Newton eats into his carries and Williams is the clear starter. This week these two guys will burn Atlanta.
Johnny Knox - Knox and his passing offense are struggling. Matt Forte is the Chicago offense so far this season. Cutler was all over the field and made some great plays last evening, but Knox was not the beneficiary.
Washington defense - This season they are allowing about 300 total yards per game and this week face a reeling Philadelphia team. Vick torched them last season and I expect the same this week.
QB Curtis Painter, ---
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I am sure there are those fantasy owners out there that are saying wow, Curtis Painter threw for nearly 300 yards and two scores without a pick and Indy almost won a game. However, I warn against jumping on the Painter train yet. I suggest waiting until we see some consistent production out of the young QB before throwing him into your bye week mix. Painter has had two decent (and I mean decent) games thus far out of his starting opportunities, but personally, I need to see more before I trust this guy to score points and support my fantasy team. I would start Pierre Garcon this week as he has proven to be Painter's prime target.
QB Ben Roethlisberger, ---
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Roethlisberger surprised many fantasy owners last week with his 5 touchdown performance. I would have loved to have capitalized off his fantasy points last week. This week Pittsburgh faces a Jacksonville defense that on paper is not much different than the Tennessee defense he torched this past week. I am skeptical that Roethlisberger can have another performance like he did in Week 5 especially not back-to-back great games. I suspect that Big Ben will throw for around 200 yards this week and throw 1 touchdown. I believe he will be more productive this week at throwing interceptions and getting sacked. Pittsburgh is due for a game with a focused running attack and I think this might be the week. Jacksonville will be watching the tapes and be prepared to stifle Ben and his receivers.
QB Matt Schaub, ---
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Matt Schaub faces a tough Baltimore defense this week. Schaub made my sit'em list earlier this season and my pick gained much criticism. I think Schaub deserves to make the list this week because of his match-up. Schaub did throw for a season high 416 yards last week against Oakland, but along with his two touchdowns, threw two interceptions and lost the game. Baltimore is allowing just over 200 passing yards per game to QBs and less than 80 yards per game to running backs. I think both Schaub and Foster may struggle this week, but Schaub will not produce as expected.
RB Tim Hightower, ---
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Tim Hightower looked to be the sure thing for the Washington running game up until a week ago. Now Shanahan, the king of the running back shuffle, has Ryan Torain slotted as the potential starter this week. As usual, the Shanahan's have yet to release the name of their starter and will keep fantasy owners guessing until game day. I have to give Torain my vote and am now looking to get Hightower off my roster to open an additional spot. Torain has been with Shanahan since his tenure on Denver and obviously Torain can produce as we saw last week. Watch this situation closely, but in my book Hightower now has value in receiving sets only (and as a spell for Torain unless we see otherwise). I like Hightower and think he deserves a starting back position, but doubt that he will get another opportunity in Washington as Shanahan has made his feelings and doubts somewhat evident.
RB Jonathan Stewart, ---
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Stewart has not scored a touchdown this season and has clearly taken a back seat to both DeAngelo Williams and Cam Newton in the rushing attack. Stewart can have value in the passing game, but in recent games this has not played out either. What used to be the one-two punch with Williams and Stewart, is now the one-two punch from Williams and Newton. Newton's athletic ability allows him to call his own number. Stewart and Carolina face a banged up Atlanta defense this week, so I suspect Newton and Williams will have their way and dominate this week. If Stewart gets carries and is productive, it will likely be in garbage time.
