Week 7 Start 'Em and Sit 'Em

Start 'Em & Sit 'Em is our weekly look at the best and worst matchups from around the NFL and how they might affect lineup decisions for your Fantasy Football team. We are not in the business of stating the obvious, so you won't be reading here why you need to start Peyton Manning, Adrian Peterson or any other top-tier players.

Peyton Manning is running away with the MVP award. The Colts have made postseason plans already as the AFC South title is already in their grasp. It's been a great start to the season.

And, quietly, Joseph Addai is starting to come along as he tries to rebound from last year's disappointing season. That should continue this week at St. Louis, and Addai is our Start of the Week.

The Colts made it clear this season that Addai either had to play better or he would be replaced. They spent a first-round draft pick on running back Donald Brown, and Addai had to step up after he was limited by injury and poor play in 2008.

That's exactly what he's done. He hasn't been great for Fantasy owners as a must-start option, but Addai has been serviceable. And he's continuing to improve each week.

He has four total touchdowns and four games with at least 70 total yards. In leagues where receptions count, Addai is the No. 3 running back in the NFL with 26 catches behind Ray Rice (33 catches) and Tim Hightower (29). Addai has been targeted 28 times, which is a good thing when you play with Manning.

Now, Brown has cut into Addai's production. But in the past two games against Seattle and Tennessee, Brown only has 15 carries for 55 yards and a touchdown and three catches for 26 yards and a lost fumble. Addai, meanwhile, has 26 carries for 73 yards and two touchdowns and 17 catches for 103 yards.

It's starting to become clear Addai will continue to get the majority of touches with Brown the No. 2 option. But this week, you can start both running backs based on how the Rams have played.

St. Louis is No. 26 in run defense, and the Rams have been among the worst teams against opposing running backs. The Rams have allowed 668 rushing yards and eight touchdowns and 24 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown to opposing rushers.

The Rams have allowed over 100 total yards against Ryan Grant, Glen Coffee and Maurice Jones-Drew in three of the past four weeks. In the last two weeks, Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor and Jones-Drew have combined for six touchdowns. The Rams also just traded one of their key defenders in Will Witherspoon to the Eagles, which will further weaken an already weak defense.

Addai has the chance for another good outing this week, and a safe projection for him is about 100 total yards with the chance to score a touchdown. And Brown should come in and help close things out.

The Colts are playing at a high level, and Addai should continue to do his part. He's on his way toward a bounce back season.

Sit of the Week

The Redskins have plenty of problems. We all know that Jim Zorn is on the verge of being fired, Jason Campbell was benched last week against Kansas City and Daniel Snyder's franchise is in disarray. Go figure, there's a mess in Washington, and it just isn't the political arena.

But the defense for the Redskins continues to play well, and that shouldn't change. With linebacker London Fletcher leading the way, Washington should remain a tough opponent for any offense, including the Eagles.

The Redskins have a solid secondary with Carlos Rogers, DeAngelo Hall and LaRon Landry, and Philadelphia wide receiver DeSean Jackson knows that as well as anyone. He has struggled with the Redskins in his young career, and he should not be used this week.

Last year, Washington held Jackson to three catches for 22 yards and no touchdowns in two games. The Redskins come into this game at No. 3 in pass defense and have done a good job against opposing wide receivers. Dwayne Bowe is the lone receiver to surpass 100 yards, and Mario Manningham, Laurent Robinson, Bryant Johnson and Antonio Bryant are the only receivers who have scored touchdowns against the Redskins this year.

Washington limited Calvin Johnson to five catches for 49 yards and Carolina's Steve Smith to five catches for 65 yards. Jackson could suffer a similar fate.

Let's also keep in mind that Jackson and Donovan McNabb haven't been on the same page this season. Jackson has three games with over 90 yards receiving and two touchdowns this year, but the bulk of that production came with Kevin Kolb at quarterback.

In three games with McNabb at quarterback, Jackson has nine catches for 104 yards and no touchdowns. The two played well together last week at Oakland with six catches for 94 yards, so there could be momentum there.

But Washington could be the momentum killer based on how Jackson did against the Redskins last year and how Washington is playing now. The offense might be in trouble, but the defense hasn't given up yet.

Quarterbacks

Start 'Em

Jay Cutler (at CIN): The Bears gave Cutler a nice raise after his first five games in Chicago. He's coming off his first 300-yard game at Atlanta, and he has at least two touchdown passes in his past four games. He's also spreading the ball around to Devin Hester, Johnny Knox, Earl Bennett and Greg Olsen, and he has a good matchup this week against the Bengals. Cincinnati has done well on defense this year, but the Bengals pass defense is No. 28 and the fourth-worst against opposing quarterbacks. Aaron Rodgers, Ben Roethlisberger, Derek Anderson and Matt Schaub have all had good Fantasy outings against the Bengals this year, and Cincinnati just lost its best pass rusher in Antwan Odom (Achilles' tendon) for the season.
Eli Manning (vs. ARI): We expected Manning to struggle last week at the Saints, and he finished with 178 passing yards, one touchdown, one interception and one fumble. It was a tough matchup for him, but he has a better outlook this week at home. The Cardinals, despite the job they did against Seattle last week, have a shaky pass defense. They are ranked No. 30, and David Garrard, Peyton Manning and Matt Schaub have had excellent Fantasy outings against Arizona this year. It's not like Eli will need any tips from his older brother either because last year against the Cardinals he passed for 240 yards and three touchdowns at Arizona. Manning will bounce back this week and play like a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback again.
Matt Ryan (at DAL): The Cowboys have yet to face an elite quarterback this season with Eli Manning their toughest opponent to date. Yet they have still allowed quality Fantasy production to Byron Leftwich, Kyle Orton and Matt Cassel. The secondary should improve this week with safety Gerald Sensabaugh expected to return from a broken thumb, but Dallas still has trouble rushing the passer. Dallas, which is No. 26 in pass defense with eight touchdowns allowed and only two interceptions, has only 10 sacks in five games. Ryan has only taken two sacks this season and none since Week 1 against Miami. He also has two touchdown passes in four of five games this season and continues to thrive in his second year in the NFL. This is another week where Ryan should post solid Fantasy stats.
Tony Romo (vs. ATL): Romo has had two big games this season in Week 1 at Tampa Bay and Week 5 at Kansas City, but he's still looking for a good outing in the new stadium. That should happen this week. The Falcons have done well in pass defense this year, but their young secondary took a hit with Brian Williams (knee) going on injured reserve. Romo also is expected to get Roy E. Williams (ribs) back for this matchup, and it will be fun to watch how Miles Austin is used coming off his big game against Kansas City (10 catches, 250 yards and two touchdowns). The Falcons just allowed Jay Cutler to pass for 300 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions, and Romo is capable of matching that production.

Sleeper alert: Matt Cassel (vs. SD): With several solid quarterbacks on a bye this week -- Joe Flacco, Matt Hasselbeck, Kyle Orton and David Garrard -- finding a good replacement isn't going to be easy. But Cassel should suffice. He faces a San Diego team that is coming off a tough loss on a short week after losing to Denver on Monday night. San Diego has also allowed big passing stats the past two games to Ben Roethlisberger and Orton, and the Chargers are among the worst teams at getting to the quarterback with only seven sacks. Cassel continues to play well for a bad team. He didn't throw a touchdown in Week 6 at Washington for the first time this season, but he also hasn't turned the ball over since his first start in Week 2 against Oakland. He has seven touchdowns on the season, and this game has the potential for a fun AFC West shootout since neither defense is very good. Cassel hasn't been worth his contract yet, but he could be a useful Fantasy quarterback this week.

Sit 'Em

Donovan McNabb (at WAS): It's hard to bench McNabb, but there are several things working against him this week, including his poor performance at Oakland last week when he completed less than 50 percent of his passes for 269 yards and no touchdowns. His left tackle, Jason Peters (knee/ankle), is dealing with injuries and could miss this game or be limited. McNabb had trouble when he left the game against the Raiders. McNabb also has struggled against the Redskins with no touchdowns in his past two meetings with Washington and only averaging 213 passing yards over that span. Washington has also been great in pass defense this year. The Redskins have only had one game allowing over 250 passing yards and no games with multiple touchdown passes. Washington also has 15 sacks on the season and could harass McNabb into another rough game.
Chad Henne (vs. NO): The Saints have done a great job in pass defense this season. They held Eli Manning in check last week and have only allowed one quarterback to pass for multiple touchdowns this year, which was Kevin Kolb in Week 2 in a comeback effort for the Eagles. Henne was fantastic in Week 5 against the Jets with 241 passing yards and two touchdowns, but the Saints are tied for the NFL lead with 11 interceptions. If the Dolphins get behind early and are forced to throw in this game, Darren Sharper can sit back and wait for Henne to make a mistake. It's time to add Henne in all leagues, just don't plan on starting him yet. Remember, the Dolphins are still a running team, and Henne doesn't have an explosive receiving corps.
Mark Sanchez (at OAK): What happened? After posting 21 Fantasy points against Tennessee in Week 3, Sanchez has looked terrible against New Orleans, Miami and Buffalo. He has one touchdown, eight interceptions and a lost fumble over that span and looks like a rookie. On his player page on CBSSports.com, Sanchez was compared to former Jets rookie quarterback Browning Nagle, who was a bust. The Raiders are riding high after their upset victory against the Eagles and will look to rattle Sanchez. Remember, Brett Favre took the Jets into Oakland last year and lost with 197 passing yards, two interceptions and three lost fumbles, and Sanchez could suffer a similar fate based on his recent play.
Carson Palmer (vs. CHI): The Bears pass rush should improve with the recent acquisition of defensive end Gaines Adams from Tampa Bay, but that's not the reason to avoid Palmer this week. The Bears have done well against some of the top quarterbacks in the league this year. They have only allowed multiple passing touchdowns once, which was last week against Matt Ryan. They previously held Aaron Rodgers to under 200 passing yards and Ben Roethlisberger to under 225 passing yards, the only teams to do so against those two quarterbacks. Palmer is completing less than 60 percent of his passes, and he only has two games with multiple touchdowns this year in Week 2 at Green Bay and Week 4 at Cleveland. Like McNabb, it's hard to bench Palmer, but consider it a good move.

Bust alert: Brett Favre (at PIT): Favre has been unbelievable this season. He has 12 touchdowns and two interceptions and is playing at a high level to help Minnesota get to 6-0. But this should be a tough matchup for him. Favre has faced some easy opponents in Cleveland, Detroit, San Francisco, Green Bay, St. Louis and Baltimore, with the Packers the only team in the Top 15 in pass defense this year. The Steelers are finally healthy in their secondary with Troy Polamalu back after hurting his knee in Week 1 against Tennessee, and Favre is playing outdoors for the first time since Week 1 at Cleveland. We all know Pittsburgh is a tough place to play, and Favre lost the lone game he's played there in his career. Since Favre wasn't drafted as a starting Fantasy option in most leagues this is a good game to keep him reserved.

Running backs

Start 'Em

Larry Johnson (vs. SD): I'll take my chances with Johnson this week with Ray Rice, Willis McGahee, Knowshon Moreno, Kevin Smith, Maurice Jones-Drew, Julius Jones and Chris Johnson all on a bye. In his past five games against the Chargers, Johnson has four touchdowns and three games over 100 yards rushing. Johnson hasn't scored a touchdown this year and is still looking for his first 100-yard game, but he's coming off his best game of the season with 23 carries for 83 yards at Washington. The Chargers are No. 27 in run defense and have struggled with opposing running backs, giving up seven touchdowns on the season. San Diego also has injuries on the defensive line and is coming off a short week with the Monday night loss against Denver. This is a chance to use Johnson as a starting Fantasy running back.
Laurence Maroney (at TB): With Sammy Morris (knee) expected to miss the game and Fred Taylor (ankle) out, Maroney becomes the starter for the Patriots. And he has a great matchup against the Bucs in London. Tampa Bay just allowed over 250 yards rushing against Carolina as DeAngelo Williams (152 yards and two touchdowns) and Jonathan Stewart (110 yards and one touchdown) each had a big day. Maroney could follow suit after he just had 16 carries for 123 yards and a touchdown against Tennessee last week. Kevin Faulk will also see an increase in production, and he's a good flex option in deep leagues where receptions count. If Morris somehow plays that will change the outlook for Maroney and Faulk, but this is actually a good week to trust Maroney based on how he performed against the Titans.
Leon Washington (at OAK): We called Washington a sleeper last week, and he responded with 15 carries for 99 yards and three catches for 46 yards against Buffalo. He has another favorable matchup this week against the Raiders, and you should consider Thomas Jones a must-start option as well. Washington had 40 total yards, a touchdown and a fumble at Oakland last year. This season, the Raiders are the fourth-worst team against opposing running backs and have allowed seven touchdowns. You can bet with how Mark Sanchez has played that the Jets will rely on their ground game with Jones and Washington in this matchup.
Jonathan Stewart (vs. BUF): We had Stewart as a sleeper last week, and he responded with 17 carries for 110 yards, a touchdown and a fumble at Tampa Bay. Look for him and DeAngelo Williams to run well this week against the Bills, who are last in the NFL in run defense. The Bills have allowed nine touchdowns to opposing running backs, and the Panthers will lean on Williams and Stewart again this week. Stewart has two touchdowns in his past two games, so it appears like the Achilles' injury that limited him earlier this season is not going to limit his production the rest of the year.
Marshawn Lynch (at CAR): Lynch hasn't had the breakout game we've been waiting for since coming back from his suspension. He had over 100 total yards in Week 5 against Cleveland, but he struggled last week at the Jets with only 61 rushing yards. This week he faces a Panthers defense that is ranked No. 29 against the run. Carolina has allowed seven touchdowns to opposing running backs, and last week Cadillac Williams had 77 rushing yards and a touchdown against the Panthers. Lynch is capable of posting similar stats, so consider him a No. 2 Fantasy running back for this week.

Sleeper alert: Justin Fargas (vs. NYJ): The Jets run defense took a big hit with Kris Jenkins (knee) being lost for the season. That should allow Fargas to build off last week's performance against the Eagles when he had 23 carries for 87 yards and one catch for 11 yards. Michael Bush will steal some carries from Fargas, but it appears like the Raiders will rely on Fargas to lead the way. And he could find running room with Jenkins out of the picture. Fargas had 28 carries for 74 yards and two catches for 7 yards last year against the Jets, so he's familiar with his opponent. And the Jets run defense has been vulnerable this year even when Jenkins was 100 percent.

Sit 'Em

Reggie Bush (at MIA): The return of Mike Bell from his knee injury last week against the Giants along with Pierre Thomas has made Bush the third option for the Saints. He scored a touchdown against the Giants, but Bush has just 12 carries in his past two games. He also hasn't been a huge factor in the passing game with only 15 catches on the season. This posting should be considered a red flag for Thomas, Bell and Bush since all three will split carries. The Dolphins are also among the better teams against the run. They are No. 3 in run defense and have only allowed four touchdowns to opposing running backs.
Cadillac Williams (vs. NE): Williams played well last week against Carolina with 16 carries for 77 yards and a touchdown. It was a close game where the Bucs could continue to run the ball, but this week Tampa Bay will likely be playing from behind against the Patriots in London. That should render Williams ineffective like he was against the Giants in Week 3 and Philadelphia in Week 5 when he combined for 12 carries for 16 yards. New England has also allowed only one rushing touchdown this year, so Williams could be in for another long day in what has been an up and down season.
Jamal Lewis (vs. GB): You might be surprised to know that the Packers are the No. 2 team in the NFL against opposing running backs. They have only allowed one touchdown to an opposing running back, which was Adrian Peterson in Week 4. Green Bay has allowed two running backs to rush for 100 yards (Cedric Benson and Steven Jackson), but it's doubtful Lewis will reach that mark. The Browns are dealing with all sorts of problems, including a bout of the flu running through the locker room heading into this game. And Lewis came off his 117-yard outing at Buffalo in Week 5 with 21 rushing yards at Pittsburgh last week. You can expect a similar performance in this matchup.
Tashard Choice (vs. ATL): Like the situation in New Orleans, the Dallas backfield is about to get crowded with the expected return of Felix Jones (knee). That could mean limited touches for Marion Barber, who is dealing with a thumb injury, and Choice. Atlanta did a good job against Matt Forte (15 carries for 23 yards) last week and has only allowed one 100-yard rushing game against Fred Taylor in Week 3. If you need to start one member of this trio it's Barber, but with all three possibly splitting the production it could be hard to figure out what to do with the Dallas backfield.
Rashard Mendenhall (vs. MIN): Prior to Ray Rice's late-game explosion against the Vikings last week, Minnesota had been stellar in run defense. Rice's two touchdowns were the first two rushing scores allowed by the Vikings this season. Mendenhall's rushing totals have decreased each of the past three weeks from 165 yards against San Diego to 77 yards at Detroit to 62 yards against Cleveland. He has four touchdowns over that span, but he fumbled last week, which is troubling. And with Willie Parker back in the fold, he's going to take some carries away from Mendenhall. The Vikings are Mendenhall's toughest opponent since taking the job away from Parker, so consider him a low-end No. 2 Fantasy running back or flex option this week. If you can afford to bench Mendenhall, this could be a good week to do so.

Bust alert: Steve Slaton (vs. SF): The 49ers had two weeks to correct what happened to them in Week 5 against Atlanta when Michael Turner ran for 97 yards and three touchdowns. Those were the first three rushing touchdowns by an opposing running back, and you can bet coach Mike Singletary will fix that problem heading into this matchup with Slaton. Fantasy owners have gotten more production from Slaton as a receiver than a running back this year. He's averaging just 3.0 yards per carry with one rushing touchdown, but he has 23 catches for 282 yards and two touchdowns. In his past two games, Slaton has 12 catches for 161 yards and a touchdown against Arizona and Cincinnati. He also has two fumbles in his past three games and needs to do a better job of holding onto the ball. It's hard to bench Slaton, but he did struggle earlier this year with less than 10 Fantasy points in his first two games against the Jets and Tennessee. This could be a similar outing in this matchup.

Wide receivers

Start 'Em

Dwayne Bowe (vs. SD) Bowe has done well against the Chargers in his career, and he's playing at a high level this season. In four games against San Diego, Bowe has two touchdowns and is averaging six catches for 84 yards. This season, Bowe has three touchdowns in five games and is coming off his best game of the year with six catches for 109 yards at Washington. The Chargers have done well against opposing wide receivers this year in limiting Santonio Holmes (four catches for 52 yards) and Brandon Marshall (five catches for 49 yards). But Hines Ward (eight catches for 113 yards) played well against the Chargers, and you should expect Bowe to post solid stats. He should remain a No. 2 Fantasy wide receiver this week.
Mario Manningham (vs. ARI): This is a good week to start Manningham, Steve Smith and even Hakeem Nicks because the Cardinals secondary should give up plenty of yards to the Giants passing game. Arizona has allowed over 100 yards and a touchdown to Mike Sims-Walker, Reggie Wayne and Andre Johnson, and Pierre Garcon is the other wide receiver to score against the Cardinals this season. Manningham and Nicks have combined for five touchdowns in their past three games, and Smith got off to a hot start at the beginning of the year. Look for all three Giants receivers to be involved in what should be a fun game to watch.
Donald Driver (at CLE): This is another week where you have to keep Driver active in your lineup. The Browns are among the worst teams against opposing wide receivers with Percy Harvin, Derrick Mason, Chad Ochocinco, Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes either scoring a touchdown or going over 100 yards against them this year. Driver had seven catches for 107 yards last week against Detroit and has three games over 90 receiving yards with two touchdowns this season. The Browns continue to struggle on defense and losing linebacker D'Qwell Jackson (shoulder) won't help matters. Look for the Packers passing game to again play well with Greg Jennings and Driver, and you can even consider James Jones a sleeper this week.
Santonio Holmes (vs. MIN): Fantasy owners are starting to lose faith in Holmes after he struggled the past few weeks. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 1 and has just one game over 100 yards in his past five games. But Holmes showed last week that he's still an integral part of the offense. He caught five passes for 104 yards against Cleveland and was targeted nine times. And with Minnesota cornerback Antoine Winfield (toe) out or limited, that will open things up for Holmes and Hines Ward. The Vikings have yet to allow a 100-yard receiver this year, but they have given up five touchdowns to opposing wide receivers, including two last week against Derrick Mason and Mark Clayton in the game where Winfield got hurt.
Miles Austin (vs. ATL): He's worth starting this week with the Falcons dealing with injuries to its secondary now that Brian Williams (knee) is out for the season. The Cowboys are keeping Austin as a starter opposite Roy E. Williams in place of Patrick Crayton, and that should allow him the chance to prove his Week 5 game against Kansas City was no fluke. While he's not going to do that again, he is worth starting against the Falcons as a No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver. Tony Romo will definitely be looking in Austin's direction, and he has the chance to be the best receiver for Dallas again this week.

Sleeper alert: Steve Breaston (at NYG): There's a good chance Anquan Boldin (ankle) could miss this game or be limited, which will allow Breaston more of a chance to make plays. Last week at Seattle he scored his first touchdown this season, but Breaston has at least 65 receiving yards in each game in 2009. Last year, Boldin missed four games due to injury, and in three of those games Breaston had 20 catches for 270 yards and two touchdowns (the fourth game was at the Patriots in the snow where none of the Cardinals played well). The Giants just got steamrolled by the Saints passing attack with secondary options in Lance Moore and Robert Meachem scoring touchdowns, so look for Breaston to have another good outing this week. Some other sleepers to consider this week include Kevin Walter (vs. SF), Johnny Knox (at CIN) and Austin Collie (at STL).

Sit 'Em

Terrell Owens (at CAR): Owens continues to get worse each week. It's almost like you have to check the box score to see if he's played. Last week at the Jets, Owens had three catches for 13 yards. He has one touchdown on the season and hasn't topped 60 yards in six games this year. And now the Bills have issues at quarterback with Trent Edwards dealing with a concussion, leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick as the possible starter. That's even more reason to stay away from Owens. The Panthers have also done a great job in pass defense and rank No. 2 with six touchdowns allowed, three interceptions and 13 sacks. Making matters worse, Carolina is No. 2 against opposing wide receivers, allowing only one touchdown to Roddy White in Week 2. Carolina has not allowed more than 75 yards receiving to any single wide receiver in any game this year.
Braylon Edwards (at OAK): The Raiders secondary hasn't played that great this season, but Edwards should still see a lot of Nnamdi Asomugha this week. And with Mark Sanchez struggling (one touchdown, eight interceptions and a lost fumble the past three games), Edwards could have trouble getting the ball. He only had three catches for 40 yards last week, and now he's dealing with a bruised quadriceps. You should allow Sanchez to work out of his funk before considering Edwards a good option this week. This is a good game for Thomas Jones and Leon Washington to carry the offense and take pressure off Sanchez.
Santana Moss (vs. PHI): The Eagles are the No. 3 defense against opposing wide receivers this year. They have allowed four touchdowns to opposing wide receivers this year, but only Marques Colston and Devery Henderson went over 70 yards against Philadelphia this season. Moss has also struggled with the Eagles in his career. In his past five games against the Eagles, Moss has 16 catches for 168 yards and no touchdowns. Moss also has suffered the past two weeks with the offensive woes in Washington. He only has five catches for 86 yards the past two games. With Jason Campbell benched last week against Kansas City, this is not a good week to count on Moss as a starting Fantasy option.
Donnie Avery (vs. IND): As we said last week, Avery was useful for his matchup against the Jaguars and that's about it. He came through with a 17-yard touchdown catch before leaving with a hip injury, which he's still dealing with this week. Even though he has two touchdowns in his past two games, the Colts present a much tougher challenge. Indianapolis has only allowed two passing touchdowns this year and one to an opposing wide receiver. The Colts have given up at least 75 receiving yards against Ted Ginn, Jr., Anquan Boldin, Steve Breaston, Larry Fitzgerald and T.J. Houshmandzadeh, and Avery will struggle to reach those stats. When he has a favorable matchup again he could be worth starting, but this is not one of those games.
Bernard Berrian (at PIT): You should be a little concerned with all of the Vikings receivers this week going against the Steelers and playing outdoors. Berrian has two touchdowns in his past three games, but he has combined for only 12 catches for 132 yards over that span. Brett Favre appears to favor Sidney Rice and Visanthe Shiancoe over Berrian when it counts, and the Steelers secondary is getting healthy with the return of Troy Polamalu. In Berrian's past five games on grass he has only two touchdowns and no games over 100 yards.

Bust alert: Steve Smith (vs. BUF): Maybe this is the week Smith breaks out of his funk, and it's good to hear him complaining about his role in the offense. He has to be upset after not scoring a touchdown all year and coming off a poor game at Tampa Bay where he had one catch for 4 yards. The Bills are terrible against the run, so look for DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart to carry the offense. But Buffalo has been good in pass defense based on the stats. The Bills are No. 1 against opposing wide receivers, and Brian Hartline was the only one to score a touchdown. Randy Moss, Wes Welker and Maurice Stovall all went over 75 yards against Buffalo this year, but the Bills haven't allowed a wide receiver to catch more than 50 yards in the past three games. Let Smith have a rebound game before you start to trust him again.

Tight ends

Start 'Em

Heath Miller (vs. MIN): If you like trends and stats then this is a matchup for you. The Vikings have struggled with tight ends all season and are the worst team at defending the position. They have allowed 41 catches for 519 yards and four touchdowns to opposing tight ends. Already this season, Robert Royal, Vernon Davis and Jermichael Finley have scored against the Vikings, and four tight ends have gone over 50 yards receiving. That sets up perfectly for Miller, who has four touchdowns in his past three games and three games over 60 yards receiving this season. The Vikings secondary could be in trouble this week with Antoine Winfield (toe) hurting, so expect Miller to remain a big part of the passing game.
Jeremy Shockey (at MIA): Shockey did well last week against the Giants with four catches for 37 yards and a touchdown. He remains consistent with at least four catches each week, and the Dolphins have struggled with tight ends this year. They've done a better job recently against Buffalo and the Jets, but those teams don't use the tight end like the Saints do or Miami's first three opponents. The Dolphins opened the season by allowing at least 60 receiving yards to Tony Gonzalez, Dallas Clark and Antonio Gates, including two touchdowns and seven catches each game. Shockey should remain a No. 1 Fantasy tight end in his return to Miami, where he played in college.
Chris Cooley (vs. PHI): The Eagles are turning into a terrible team against opposing tight ends with their play the past two weeks. First it was Kellen Winslow catching nine passes for 102 yards and two touchdowns in Week 5, and then Zach Miller went for six catches, 139 yards and a touchdown last week. Cooley had five catches for 57 yards last week against the Chiefs, but he went without a catch in Week 5 at Carolina. Last year against the Eagles, Cooley had 12 catches for 137 yards and one touchdown in two games, so he should be the one member of this Washington passing game to play well in this matchup.

Sleeper alert: Greg Olsen (at CIN): Olsen has been one of the best Fantasy tight ends recently yet his start percentage remains stagnant. Only twice this season in leagues on CBSSports.com has he been above 80 percent, but he's been below 60 percent the past two weeks despite his production. Olsen has a touchdown in each of his past three games, and he had five catches for 57 yards and a touchdown last week at Atlanta. The Bengals are getting abused by tight ends recently with Steve Heiden and Owen Daniels combining for three touchdowns in two of the past three games. The Bengals have also allowed six tight ends (Jermichael Finley, Donald Lee, Heath Miller, Heiden, Todd Heap and Daniels) to see at least six targets in a game, so Olsen should be open. It's just a matter of Jay Cutler getting Olsen the ball and keeping his touchdown streak alive. Some other sleepers to consider this week include Sean Ryan (vs. SD), Dante Rosario (vs. BUF) and Kevin Boss (vs. ARI).

Sit 'Em

Dustin Keller (at OAK): Keller has completely disappeared from the offense. He hasn't scored a touchdown since Week 2 against New England and has seven catches for 71 yards the past four weeks. With Mark Sanchez playing like a rookie quarterback, Keller has gone into a sophomore slump. Oakland has also yet to allow a touchdown to an opposing tight end, which is impressive since the Raiders have already faced Antonio Gates and Brent Celek this year. Sanchez said he wants to get Keller more involved, but we have to see it happen before saying he's a good start in any Fantasy leagues.
Anthony Fasano (vs. NO): Fasano is coming off his best game of the season with four catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in Week 5 against the Jets. That came in Chad Henne's second start, so that could be a good sign he's turning the corner in what has been a disappointing year. But that was Fasano's first touchdown on the season and his first game with more than two catches. The Saints are also among the best teams against opposing tight ends and have yet to allow a touchdown to a tight end this year. Only Brent Celek (eight catches for 104 yards) had a good outing against New Orleans in Week 2, but he's also the best tight end the Saints have faced. Still, Fasano isn't a star at his position, so avoid him this week.
Zach Miller (vs. NYJ): Don't buy into Miller turning into a starting Fantasy option after last week's performance when he caught six passes for 139 yards and a touchdown against the Eagles. It was his first touchdown this season, and he only had nine catches for 119 yards in his previous three games. The Jets also have a solid secondary and have done well against opposing tight ends. New York has only allowed one touchdown to a tight end and less than 50 yards to tight ends in six games this season. The Jets will likely focus in on stopping Miller in the passing game after his big outing last week.

Bust alert: Owen Daniels (vs. SF): You'll find it hard to bench Daniels this week with six teams on a bye, especially with how he's played this season. He has four touchdowns in his past five games, including two touchdowns last week at Cincinnati. But the 49ers are the best team at defending tight ends this year. Already this season they have held John Carlson, Visanthe Shiancoe and Tony Gonzalez to a combined 14 catches for 123 yards and no touchdowns. In their last game, Gonzalez was targeted 10 times and finished with six catches for 55 yards. Daniels could post similar stats, and again, it's hard to bench him. But just make sure to lower your expectations for Daniels this week if he remains in your lineup.

Defense/Special teams

Start 'Em

Indianapolis (at STL): The Colts are starting to get healthy on defense, which is a good thing since they have already played at a high level. Bob Sanders is expected to make his 2009 debut against the Rams, which should make this unit even better. St. Louis is among the worst offenses in the NFL. The Rams have Steven Jackson and little else, especially if Donnie Avery (hip) is limited or doesn't play. Indianapolis should continue to make teams one-dimensional by forcing the Rams to throw from behind. That should lead to a couple of turnovers, and we know St. Louis has helped turn some DST units (see the 49ers in Week 4) into great Fantasy options. That should happen again in this matchup.

Other DSTs with good matchups: New England (at TB), Carolina (vs. BUF) and Oakland (vs. NYJ)

Sit 'Em

Cincinnati (vs. CHI): The Bengals DST has actually been a Top 15 unit this season and rank ahead of the Steelers, Bears, Jets, Cowboys and Titans in terms of Fantasy production. But two key injuries to Antwan Odom (Achilles' tendon) and Domata Peko (knee) should limit the Bengals this week against a Bears offense with the potential to post solid stats. Jay Cutler should play well, and Matt Forte has the chance to run well if Peko is out. The Bengals will miss Odom's ability to get to the quarterback, which should allow Cutler time to pick apart the secondary. Look for the Bears to put some points on the board.

Kicker

Start 'Em

Matt Stover (at STL): Stover is back in the NFL with Adam Vinatieri going down with knee surgery, and he should be considered a No. 1 Fantasy option since he kicks for the Colts high-powered offense. Stover, the long-time kicker for the Browns and Ravens, is 41, but he's made at least 27 field goals each of the past six years. His long last year was 47 yards, and he should be more than serviceable, including this week. The Rams are among the worst teams against opposing kickers, and they are giving up more than 28 points per game. Two kickers (Shaun Suisham and Mason Crosby) have made three field goals against the Rams this year.

Other kickers with good matchups: John Carney (at MIA), Jay Feely (at OAK) and Ryan Succop (vs. SD)

Sit 'Em

Neil Rackers (at NYG): The Giants give up extra points and not field goals. In six games this season the Giants have allowed only three field goals and none in the past two games against Oakland and New Orleans. No kicker has made more than one field goal in a game against the Giants. Rackers doesn't have a lot of history kicking at Giants Stadium, but he played at the Jets last year and missed his lone field goal attempt with three extra points. Rackers also is struggling this year with just 34 Fantasy points, which doesn't even make him a No. 1 option despite kicking for the Cardinals. This is a good week to drop Rackers for a better option, and kickers like Matt Stover, Jay Feely and Ryan Succop are probably available.

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