Start/Sit: Covering All the Bases

Start ’em!
Quarterback
Matt Hasselbeck: The Arizona pass defense has given up the most yards per game through the air of any team this year and Hasselbeck is coming off a monster game at home. I expect more of the same.
David Garrard: Garrard and company were humiliated up in Seattle and need to regroup quickly. They had actually looked decent for a stretch of games before Seattle bulldozed them and now they get to go back home and play the St. Louis Rams which is always good medicine.

Jason Campbell: Campbell is not a very good quarterback. He has a tremendous arm and flashes good things, but in the end he just can’t seem to put together complete games, but that doesn’t mean he can’t be a decent fantasy quarterback. A game at home against a team that just allowed 250 yards to Miles Austin in their own stadium is just the matchup Campbell needs to have a decent game.

Running Back

Leon Washington: When the Jets were moving the ball last Monday night it was usually behind Leon Washington. He is clearly the superior talent to Thomas Jones at this point and Buffalo’s pass defense is stout, but their run defense not so much. The Jets will need to run to win.

Knowshon Moreno: Correll Buckhalter is back, but Moreno is now the clear #1 while Buckhalter is the change of pace back. I like him against a weak San Diego rush defense.

Rashard Mendenhall: Don’t worry about the return of Willie Parker. Mendenhall is the number one back now and they are going against the horrible run defense of the Cleveland Brownies. Mendenhall did sit out practice due to illness so make sure he practices Friday and is ready to go.
Wide Receivers

Donnie Avery: The Jags pass defense is poor to worthless. The St. Louis Rams offense is about the same. But there was a glimmer of hope last weekend when Marc Bulger returned and threw a nice touchdown pass to Avery. Bulger will be in and Avery is the clear #1 wide receiver. This game could be a shootout and Avery could be a beneficiary.

Mike Sims-Walker: After missing bed-check and watching his team get slaughtered we should see a bounce back game from Walker.

Bernard Berrian: The Ravens have been giving up long pass plays this year and that’s what Berrian does. The Ravens run defense is stout so even Purple Jesus will have some trouble against them. Look for Favre to test his old arm and the Ravens secondary on Sunday.
Sit Down!
Quarterback
Matt Cassel: The Redskins aren’t very good, but their pass defense is. Cassel on the road against a good pass defense doesn’t sound appealing to me.
Philip Rivers: Rivers is almost matchup proof, but if you have another quarterback with a better matchup it might be worth switching them out. The Denver pass defense is legit.
Mark Sanchez: Buffalo’s pass defense has shut down some good quarterbacks and some not so good; I’m looking at you Derek Anderson. Sanchez is a good quarterback, but not a good fantasy quarterback. Sit him unless he has puff-ball matchups.
Running Back
Jamal Lewis: The Steelers lost Aaron Smith so you may be thinking Lewis is worth a start after his good game last week. Don’t do it. The Steelers are going to eat the old man for breakfast.
LaDainian Tomlinson: I wouldn’t start LT until he shows something. I know he had the Steelers last, but he did not look like a fifth of the LT of old. Add to that Denver’s rejuvenated defense and you have a chance for a clunker.

Willis McGahee: He had two yards last week while Ray Rice went off LT style. Rice is clearly the better back and will continue to get more carries. The Vikings aren’t going to allow much room to run for either back, but without the touches McGahee is a bad play.

Wide Receivers
Terrell Owens: You may still be running him out there just because, but against the Jets and Darrelle Revis I wouldn’t want anything to do with TO.

David Clowney: With Cotchery likely out you may think Clowney can grab another nice game, but the Bills pass defense is too good.
Mario Manningham: The New Orleans pass defense has been on fire this year and I don’t think the bye week will cool them down.

This Start/Sit was by SB Nation Fantasy contributor Chet Gresham.