Fantasy Sports Blogger

If only all prognosticators had the cohones to tell you when to sit your starters and elevate your bench players like I will this season. I mean, who told you to start Chris Brown and Plaxico Burress over Reggie Bush and Lee Evans last week? Well, it wasn’t me but you get the picture of what I’m aiming at here.

My over/under for this is 15 points for QB & RB, 10 for WR & DST and 5 for K & TE. Judge me on Tuesday.

Bench Starts
QB: Jeff Garcia - Should be playing from behind but look what Indy did to NO also
RB: B. Jackson - Entire Giants D is on IR this week it seems
WR: S. Holmes - Bills D is susceptible to long pass this week
TE: D. Clark - TEN showed signs of weakness down the middle
K: J. Carney - Should have many opportunities in a closer game than most think
DST: STL - At home and play SF coming off hard fought Monday night victory

Starters to Bench
QB: T. Romo - Jason Taylor will ride him like a mule this week!
RB: S. Alexander - Zona looks tough against the run this year
WR: R. Moss - Brady won’t have time to get it down field to Moss
TE: Heap - Boller never really has clicked with Heap in my opinion
K: Vinatieri - 4 extra points and a long missed FG right before half
DST: DEN - Oakland always finds a way to mess with Shanahan

Picks Against the Spread
ATL (+10.5) @ JAX - When has JAX won by more than 7 lately (forget that Jets win)
PIT (-9.5) vs. BUF - Bills are riddled with injuries and have to be drained this week
CIN (-6.5) @ CLE - Browns are that bad but this will be close until the 4Q
GB (+1) @ NYG - Changes if Eli plays but if not always play against Home favorites of <3
TEN (+7) vs. IND - Titans play well at home and Colts not as speedy on grass
CAR (-6.5) vs. HOU - Panthers have too much speed for Texans
STL (-3) vs. SFF - Originally I thought 49ers take this but upon further review I like SJ
NOS (-3.5) @ TBB - Normally like the home dog but Saints should go big in this one
MIA (+3.5) vs. DAL - Beware of the home dog, Jason Taylor, Chambers and the Sauna
ARI (+3) vs. SEA - Beware of the home dog part 2, Is that a cast on Alexander’s arm?
DET (-3) vs. MIN - Basically a pickem game but Lions showed more Offense last week
CHI (-12.5) vs. KCC - Danger, Danger but Chiefs still finding way with Offense
BAL (-4.5) vs. NYJ - No way Kellen Clements hangs more than 10 points on Ravens
OAK (+9.5) @ DEN - Culpepper will find a way to keep this close
SD (+3.5) @ NEP - Chargers play well at Pats and will be able to pressure Brady
PHI (-7) vs. WAS - Typically these are close games but Philly will explode this week

As promised here are my rosters for my four teams and who I’m starting this week (in italics) and why…

Team 1 Roster of 10 team veteran league
(Co-founder and 2 time champ of this league but it’s been awhile since I’ve hoisted our wooden Stanley Cup of a trophy but I’m off to a good 1-0 start because of a weak opponent’s lineup in week 1.)

QB: Leinart, V. Young - Leinart has better history versus Seattle
RB: F. Gore, McAllister, Jordan, C. Williams, L. White - Tough choice between Mc and Jordan but Mc should have field day with undersized front seven of TB
WR: S. Smith, R. Williams, S. Holmes, W. Welker, D. Patten - Holmes has my eye especially if DET keeps spreading the ball around
TE: D. Clark, LJ Smith - Hoping LJ is better than iffy soon but until then I’ll go with Clark with good matchup
K: Mare - Got my eye on Hanson, could be the Wilkins of DET this year
DST: SD - Not a good matchup but I have a feeling about a return TD this week

Team 2 Roster of 12 team PPR league
(I’m new to PPR leagues so I’m not sure what to expect. So far, I’m 1-0)
QB: Leinart, Schaub - If Leinart doesn’t wake up this week then Schaub is looking pretty
RB: Parker, Bush, Jordan (flex), Dunn - Jordan figures to catch many dump off passes from Culpepper with Bailey/Bly covering WRs
WR: Wayne, R. Williams, L. Coles, Welker, Randle El - Coles might have been flex option if not for Kellen Clements start at QB
TE: Witten, Scaife - I’m a Cowboy hater but I like Witten’s production
K: Gostkowski - Only kicker but I think this is a good week for him
DST: Chicago - After facing SD last week, this should be big week for them
(Picked up Welker and Randle El to replace M. Jones and backup K)

Team 3 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 3rd year, work league
(I’m defending champ of this league and off to 0-1 start so I’m nervous already)
QB: Brees, Leinart - Brees has to do better this week right?
RB: Gore, Parker, D. Williams, Jordan - Wish I could start 3 of them
WR: A. Johnson, R. Williams, D. Branch - Little worried about this position this week, hope I’m wrong
TE: LJ Smith, Scaife - If Scaife would have done anything last week he would get the start over gimpy LJ
K: Gould, Mare - Gould should have field day this week
DST: Baltimore, Jacksonville - Kellen Clements, Tasty!
(Picked up D. Williams when someone dropped him unbelievably, traded Eli Manning for Leinart last weekend, we’ll see if this is good long term)

Team 4 Roster of 10 team, auto-draft, 2nd year, work league
(Also defending champ of this league and off to 0-1 start so I’m equally nervous)
QB: McNabb, Leinart - McNabb should have 3TD game or us Philly and McNabb fans will be in trouble.
RB: Gore, Parker, D. Williams(flex), J. Lewis - Tough choice at flex between DW and Stallworth but DW should bust a long one at home in 4Q on HOU
WR: R. Wayne, R. Williams, D. Branch, D. Stallworth - Think this might be Harrison’s big week but Wayne should do alright
TE: LJ Smith, Daniels - I like Daniels but not at CAR this week
K: Mare - Only kicker but should get 5 extra points at least
DST: Baltimore, Jacksonville - Did I mention Kellen Clements is expected to get the start for NYJ this week?

My Survivor pick this week is Pittsburgh. Sorry Bills fans, I feel like I’m dogpiling this week and I know Berman says “NO ONE…Circles the wagons like the Buffalo Bills!” but they have to be emotionally drained this week. Plus PIT at home is pretty good as well.

I will give my warning for all of you thinking Dallas looked like a world beater last week against the Giants. The Fish are waiting for you Dallas in that sauna of a stadium. I like Miami to win this game outright as Dallas has no answer for Jason Taylor or Chris Chambers.

It’s late. Look for my picks against the spread, my bench starts and starters to bench tomorrow afternoon.