Faceoffs: Cutler's last stand for 2009
Editor's note: Each week Senior Fantasy Writers Dave Richard and Jamey Eisenberg will debate the value of a handful of key Fantasy players heading into a certain week. They not only state their case below, but they also provide owners with some alternatives.
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
 I realize the Rams pass defense is ranked 22nd in the NFL but they've been pretty decent against the pass, all things considered. Only one quarterback (David Garrard) has posted over 300 yards on them and only four receivers have had 100 yards against them. They have schemed fairly well against the likes of Drew Brees and Peyton Manning, holding both of them to under 250 yards passing, and their pass rush has improved a little bit of late. The matchup against Chicago's poor offensive line and below-average receiving corps is not even close to a mismatch, and when you consider the Bears' red-zone problems that date back to their Week 8 game vs. the Browns (when Cutler had no touchdowns against that punchless defense), it's almost an advantage for St. Louis. I wouldn't start Cutler under any circumstances this week.I'd rather start: Carson Palmer (vs. DET), Kyle Orton (at KC) and Joe Flacco (at GB) |  Dave said I'm insane for liking Cutler this week, and he might be right. After all, Cutler has combined for only 23 Fantasy points the past three games while throwing two touchdowns and eight interceptions over that span. He's been terrible, and you should be hesitant to trust him. But this week he faces the Rams at home, and St. Louis has not done well in pass defense this year. Six quarterbacks have passed for multiple touchdowns against the Rams, and St. Louis is among the worst teams at rushing the quarterback with only 18 sacks. That should allow Cutler time to look downfield and make plays without a pass rush in his face. He's also at home, where he's averaged 228 passing yards with eight touchdowns and only three interceptions in five games. I might be crazy for counting on Cutler this week, but this is one week where being crazy just might work out.I'd start Cutler over: Joe Flacco (at GB), Carson Palmer (vs. DET) and Ben Roethlisberger (vs. OAK) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| Have we seen a breakout game from Crabtree yet this season? The answer is no -- he's had two games over 60 yards receiving and none over 81 with one touchdown. Sure, he's got a good matchup against the Seahawks but he hasn't resembled a receiver worthy of a roster spot in standard leagues. Smith is a similar story -- he's got two games with three touchdowns and has had some success throwing touchdowns (mainly to Vernon Davis). But like Crabtree, his yardage has been modest in all but one game this season. And let's not forget how the Niners have rolled against the 'Hawks -- on the ground (Frank Gore had 246 total yards and two touchdowns against them earlier this year). It shouldn't be hard for owners to plug in someone else at each position this week. I'd rather start: Matt Hasselbeck/Nate Burleson (vs. SF), Carson Palmer/Chad Ochocinco (vs. DET) and Vince Young/Kenny Britt (at IND) | Let's start with Smith since he's been one of the hottest Fantasy options the past two weeks. He has five touchdowns and one interception in his past two games while averaging 23 Fantasy points over that span. He faces a Seattle defense that has allowed seven quarterbacks to pass for multiple touchdowns this year, including five of the past six games. I'd be shocked if Smith didn't finish as a No. 1 Fantasy quarterback this week. As for Crabtree, the matchup is also in his favor since the Seahawks have allowed 11 touchdowns to opposing wide receivers in the past five games. He's been targeted 21 times the past three games, so consider him a No. 2 option this week. I'd start Smith and Crabtree over: Vince Young/Kenny Britt (at IND), Kyle Boller/Donnie Avery (at CHI) and Ben Roethlisberger/Mike Wallace (vs. OAK) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| Reality must be settling in for the Raiders, who are on the road against a playoff contender for the second week in a row. Getting motivated might be an issue for the Raiders, but the bigger dilemma is corralling so many weapons in Pittsburgh. As I said last week, cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha can only cover one man (likely to be Holmes based on where both players line up most of the time), and the Raiders have had their share of problems with deep-ball receivers. Wallace owns that role in Pittsburgh and with Ben Roethlisberger coming back, he should connect on a couple of long bombs and be the better Fantasy option than Holmes. I'd start Wallace over: Mario Manningham (vs. DAL), Lee Evans (vs. NYJ) and Donnie Avery (at CHI) | Wallace has been great all year and could be a useful No. 3 Fantasy wide receiver this week. But don't bench Holmes to start Wallace, who could be hitting the rookie wall. He only has three catches for 63 yards the past three games with a fumble. While Holmes has struggled to score for most of this season, he has been consistent with at least eight Fantasy points the past four games. And in the past three games, Holmes has 34 targets to only 12 for Wallace, which shows where the ball is going. Wallace could score on a deep pass, but Holmes is the safer -- and more consistent -- starting option. I'd start Holmes over: Terrell Owens (vs. NYJ), Kevin Walter (at JAC) and Jason Avant (at ATL) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| After what the Falcons have put us through with their handling of Michael Turner, I'm skeptical to start any rusher from their team. But with Chris Redman starting and the Falcons' offensive line beginning to crack, I'll take my chances with Norwood. Snelling has proven himself as a between-the-tackles runner, and that's a tough place to make hay against the Eagles, who play the Falcons in Week 13. Norwood is an outside rusher with excellent hands, and he saw time at the goal line before Snelling did last week against the Bucs. In fact, Snelling might have been in the game when the Falcons were going for their game-winning score last week but it was more for his blocking than it was for anything else. I wouldn't touch these guys unless you were desperate for a running back, but if that's the case then the one to trust is Norwood. I'd start Norwood over: Mike Bell (at WAS), Darren McFadden (at PIT) and Beanie Wells (vs. MIN) | We all know what happened with Snelling last week, and no one feels worse about his performance than I do. And if Michael Turner (ankle) plays again this week then you might want to avoid the Atlanta running backs altogether. But if Turner is out and you need one of his backups then go with Snelling. I would envision Snelling getting the carries on running downs with Norwood being used as a receiver and change-of-pace option. Snelling has proven he can be a grinder, while Norwood is the faster running back and better receiver. In a standard league, Snelling should finish with more Fantasy points this week. I'd start Snelling over: Mike Bell (at WAS), Chris Brown (at JAC) and Correll Buckhalter (at KC) |
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| Dave Richard | Jamey Eisenberg |
| Can you make heads or tails over the Texans' running back situation? I'm a fan of Slaton and I still think he's the long-term answer to Houston's ground game, but the Houston coaching staff doesn't agree with me. They like Chris Brown just as much and are using both guys nearly equally since their Week 10 bye. Not only is Slaton splitting, but he's going up against a Jacksonville defense that has held all opposing running backs except Chris Johnson to under 100 rush yards. Slaton had 100 total yards against them back when he wasn't sharing the ball in Week 3, and it's safe to assume he won't match that total now that his workload has been cut in half. I'd rather start: Fred Jackson (vs. NYJ), Kevin Smith (at CIN) and Cadillac Williams (at CAR) | Through 12 games you usually have an idea of what a player is based on his total production. And Slaton currently is the No. 20 running back in a standard-scoring league, which makes him a starting Fantasy option. He gained more than 100 total yards last week against Indianapolis, and he's capable of that against the Jaguars based on his history. He's dominated Jacksonville in three meetings with over 100 total yards each game and three touchdowns. The fumbles are no longer a concern if you see the way he's protecting the ball, and the Texans need Slaton to be productive if they want to make a final playoff push. You should feel the same way with your Fantasy team. I'd start Slaton over: Kevin Smith (at CIN), Tim Hightower (vs. MIN) and Rock Cartwright (vs. NO) |
Do you agree with Dave or Jamey? Send your thoughts or questions to DMFantasyFootball@cbs.com. Be sure to put Attn: Fantasy Faceoff in the subject field. Include your full name, hometown and state.
