Week 9 Start 'Em / Sit 'Em

What? You mean there’s more than one football game happening this weekend?! You better believe it. Start those Colts and Pats, all of whom are too good to sit out for a week, but what about the guys in the rest of the games?

Welcome back to Start ‘Em & Sit ‘Em, Week 9. I think you know the drill by now…

*Start of the Week – Clinton Portis @ NY Jets*
The Redskins were absolutely embarrassed last weekend on national television. A season that once looked very promising has now left the Redskins without a real identity and on the edge of throwing away the season. Well Coach Gibbs is a Hall of Famer and he has been in the team’s face all week, and it’s time to go back to pounding it out and winning the game on the ground. Throw in a terrible Jets defense, and Portis is ready to really hit his stride.

*Sit of the Week – Derek Anderson vs Seattle*
You wouldn’t guess it with Seattle having a pretty mediocre secondary, but they’ve actually done a pretty good job against opposing QBs so far this season. Anderson has been great so far but is about to hit a tough stretch with Seattle, then Baltimore and Pittsburgh. If you still have Anderson, hope you have enjoyed the ride but you have yourself an average – at best – QB the rest of the way, and it starts this week.

Quarterbacks

Start 'Em – Matt Hasselbeck @ Cleveland
Cleveland has surprised us all with a record over .500 for the first half of the season, but it might be more of a mirage than you think. The defense has still been anywhere from average to bad depending on the week, and Seattle is fresh off a bye week and ready to put up some points and finish the job the Rams couldn’t last week.

Start 'Em – JP Losman vs Cincinnati
Look, just pick an NFL QB, any one of them on any roster, and plug them in when they are playing the Bengals. Losman will have to throw to keep up with the Bengals’ offense and should get plenty of yards and a few scores.

Start 'Em – Jay Cutler @ Detroit
Cutler has been less than great so far this year but the Lions defense has been pretty poor, especially the passing defense. Expect Cutler to play conservatively enough to be safe but well enough to get you some good points.

Sit 'Em – Brett Favre @ Kansas City
Favre has been brilliant this season and threw those long TDs as well as any player in the league could have on Monday night. But Kansas City is the one team Favre hasn’t ever beat before, and Arrowhead will be rocking with a tough pass defense. Favre will struggle.

Sit 'Em – Kurt Warner @ Tampa Bay
Warner has been all guts this season, playing a few weeks ago with a barely attached arm and almost leading the team to a gutsy victory. But he’s still not healthy and playing on the road against a Tampa secondary that has been one of the best in the league.

Sit 'Em – Ben Roethlisberger vs Baltimore
Big Ben has been great at times this season, but his two huge games have been against terrible defenses. Baltimore is not what it once was, but this MNF battle should be a defensive war and you’ll want to stay away.

Running Backs

Start 'Em – Lamont Jordan vs Houston
Jordan started out awesomely but has been driving owners mad of late, dealing with a back injury and no passing offense. The good news is abundant this week though. McCown is starting at QB again and that is where Jordan has been at his best, and if that wasn’t enough, he gets a matchup against a beaten and battered Texans team. Time to let Jordan have one more big game, and then don’t hesitate to sell high on Monday.

Start 'Em – Edgerrin James @ Tampa Bay
Things have gotten dicey for the Cardinals after an exciting start and, like the Redskins above, expect Coach Whisenhunt to go back to his roots and some in-your-face running football. Edge was at his best at the beginning of the year when rested and should be as close as he can be this week, so expect 100 yards and a score.

Start 'Em – Marshawn Lynch vs Cincinnati
Lynch is a little banged up, but this is Cincinnati we are talking about and Lynch is still waiting for his big breakout game. With any luck, this could finally be it.

Sit 'Em – Willie Parker vs Baltimore
Parker has been as good as any RB this season as far as getting consistent rushing yards, but he still doesn’t score many TDs and also faces his toughest matchup of the season. You can find better options this week.

Sit 'Em – Willis McGahee @ Pittsburgh
Look, do the math. If you shouldn’t be counting on Big Ben and FWP at home against a good defense, you definitely shouldn’t look for big numbers from McGahee on the road against a great one in the same matchup.

Sit 'Em – DeShaun Foster @ Tennessee
I’m still seeing some people using Foster, and I just don’t see it. Carolina’s offense looks as stagnant as any team in the league right now, and the Titans have quietly had a very impressive defense this year.

Wide Receivers

Start 'Em – Lee Evans vs Cincinnati
If you’ve been following this for awhile, you’re starting to see Lee Evans here a lot. He’s been getting a lot of looks lately and finally got one of those long TDs last week. Could that be just what he needed to finally break out? If it wasn’t, Cincy’s defense should do the rest.

Start 'Em – Deion Branch @ Cleveland
Branch has been out awhile but has looked great in practice this week and should be ready to go for a road game the Seahawks have to win and a matchup against a very bad pass defense that gives up pass TDs like they are going out of style.

Start 'Em – Brandon Marshall @ Detroit
With Walker continuing to be out, Marshall is the man in Denver, even if earlier than expected. He’s been a bit up and down, but Detroit has struggled with big physical receivers this year, so Marshall could have a big game.

Sit 'Em – Roy Williams vs Denver
The Broncos were embarrassed by MNF’s defeat where both Champ Bailey and Dre Bly were burned badly on long balls, and they may take out their frustrations on a Detroit pass offense that has been pretty stagnant lately.

Sit 'Em – Dwayne Bowe vs Green Bay
Bowe has had a great rookie season thus far but has struggled against physical corners who get in his face and bump him at the line. The Packers can sic Al Harris on him and limit him most of the day.

Sit 'Em – Marques Colston vs Jacksonville
Colston finally had a great game last week out of nowhere last week but he gets another tough matchup this week with Rashean Mathis and should return to normalcy this week.

Tight Ends

Start 'Em – Tony Gonzalez vs Green Bay
Gonzalez hasn’t been at his best of late, but don’t do anything stupid. This week may be his biggest game of the season against a Packers team that is worst in the league at defending the tight end.

Start 'Em – Visanthe Shiancoe vs San Diego
Alright, so I tried Shiancoe earlier in the season but the Vikings blindsided me by starting Tarvaris Jackson. As long as Holcomb or Bollinger is starting, Shiancoe will continue to get some good looks over the middle and maybe even an occasional TD.

Sit 'Em – Kellen Winslow vs Seattle
Winslow has been great this year and continues to keep the moniker of Solja as he plays through the injuries all year. But Seattle defends the tight end well, and you can find better options this week.

Sit 'Em – Heath Miller vs Baltimore
Miller seems to be on one of these lists every week, but follow the trend and stay away from MNF game altogether if you can.

Kickers

Start 'Em – Morten Andersen vs San Francisco
The Falcons should be able to move the ball some against the 49ers but will continue to struggle to punch it in, and Andersen should get his looks.

Start 'Em – Rian Lindell vs Cincinnati
Neither of the PK starts this week is someone you’d normally consider, but both have nice matchups, and you’ve seen a lot of Bills above – they’re going to score.

Sit 'Em – Jason Elam @ Detroit
The Broncos too should score, but Detroit has had a knack for allowing teams that make the redzone to go on into the endzone, and too often that leaves no field goal opportunities.

Sit 'Em – Neil Rackers @ Tampa Bay
The Cardinals could struggle on the road in Tampa as both of these teams fight to stay in the playoff race.

Defenses

Start 'Em – Oakland vs Houston
Houston should be starting Sage Rosenfels again, and the gig is up at this point. The Raiders actually have a pretty good defense and should be able to force some Texan mistakes.

Start 'Em – Philadelphia vs Dallas
Surprised? Don’t be. Dallas has a huge stretch ahead with three straight division games, and the Eagles have been garnering some momentum. Expect them to play with a lot of adrenaline and take a shot at a win and pulling right back into this division race.

Sit 'Em – Cincinnati vs Buffalo
Remember what happened last time you thought the Bengals defense were a sneaky play? You bit the dust with negative points while the Browns exploded at home against a defense that just isn’t good. Have you learned your lesson?

Sit 'Em – New Orleans vs Jacksonville
I’ve seen a few people suggesting you try out the Saints defense this week, and I’m not sure I buy it. They’re still a poor defense, and Gray is not great but the Jags just play within themselves and don’t make a lot of mistakes.