This week, we reach into the Inside Fantasy Football mailbag.
Dear Inside Fantasy Football,
My fantasy team took a hit last week with Willie Parker's bye week, and I can't wait to get him back in the lineup. But the Steelers will be running into San Diego's defense ... in San Diego. Should I start him?
-" Running On Empty"
This is a valid question, and there are always quite a few games during the season that make or break a fantasy team because of a star player's inability to produce against a good defense. Last week, running back LaDainian Tomlinson of the San Diego Chargers most certainly caused some problems for fantasy owners with his production, getting only 98 yards and failing to find the end zone in Baltimore against the league's best defense.
But if you're a fantasy GM, should you, in good conscience, sit your top pick or your second pick in the draft, just because he's up against a top defense? Doesn't being a marquee player mean that a player can produce in any situation?
Why take a chance? If you're pouring money into a fantasy league with a good second or third option, sit a top player in favor of that other option. Why play LT against Baltimore in Baltimore if you can start Detroit's Kevin Jones against St. Louis or Dallas' Julius Jones against Cleveland?
Here's a list of upcoming games you should watch out for:Tomlinson-Week 11 in Denver.
Larry Johnson, Chiefs-Week 6 in Pittsburgh.
Clinton Portis, Redskins-Week 7 in Indianapolis, Week 10 in Philadelphia..
Rudi Johnson, Bengals-Week 6 in Tampa Bay, Week 9 in Baltimore.
Steven Jackson, Rams-Week 8 in San Deigo, Week 10 in Seattle.
Dear Inside Fantasy Football,
There are quite a few rookies taking the reins this weekend, from Matt Leinart in Arizona to Vince Young (who started last week) and LenDale White in Tennessee. Should I start them?
-"Rookie Mistake?"
Let's take this case by case.
For Matt Leinart, I would most certainly start him, especially if you're in a league format that allows you to start two quarterbacks. Assuming he can hold onto the ball, he'll already be an improvement over Kurt Warner. He also has arguably the best wide receiving corps of any quarterback in football in Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald. Pick him up, and let him play, especially at home against a mediocre defense like Kansas City.
LenDale White and Vince Young are getting chances to play in Tennessee because their team stinks. The Titans are among the bottom 10 teams in yards per game and are third to last in scoring. When a team is that poor, there's something more flawed. Maybe having his power back in the lineup will give former USC offensive coordinator and current Tennessee offensive coordinator Norm Chow some inspiration, but right now, I would stay far away from this Tennessee situation until the Titans show some life. You can certainly stash these guys on your roster, but don't start them.
There's an ongoing situation in Oakland, also. Aaron Brooks is injured, and Andrew Walter might be able to play his way into a starting job. But like Tennessee, Oakland is awful. It shouldn't take too much to play better than Brooks has played so far this season. Additionally, Art Shell may be out of a job soon the way his team has played. The 2006 Raiders are an embarrassment to a proud franchise, and with star players like LaMont Jordan, Randy Moss, and Warren Sapp, critics need not look farther than the coach.
"Dear Inside Fantasy Football,
Your shameless (absolutely shameless) promotion of the Philadelphia Eagles masked as a column about how to put together a good fantasy football team made me feel dumber just for having read it. Thanks for filling my brain with lies, since we both know the Birds are a joke.
-"Terrell Owens"
Well Mr. Owens, Donovan McNabb threw for 288 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 47 yards and two touchdowns in Monday's win over Green Bay. That's good enough to give him the best fantasy week of any player. So Donte' Stallworth, Brian Westbrook, and Reggie Brown are a little banged up, and Correll Buckhalter fumbled two balls inside the five-yard line. At least one of my five highly touted fantasy Eagles came through. That would be hitting .200 in baseball and would probably get me a spot on the Phillies.
