Nostradamus Never Played Fantasy Football

The San Diego Chargers, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints are all off honing their X-box skills this week. That means the following fantasy studs are on the bench:

QBs - Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Jay Cutler, and Philip Rivers

RBs - LaDainian Tomlinson, Darren Sproles, Ryan Grant, Matt Forte, Pierre Thomas and Reggie Bush

WRs - Greg Jennings, Donald Driver, Marques Colston, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox, Devin Hester, and Vincent Jackson

TEs - Antonio Gates, Jermichael Finley, Greg Olsen and Jeremy Shockey

--Quarterbacks--

Four of the top 10 QBs are out this week, and a couple more are hurt and may or may not play.

Shaun Hill, SF - Hill keeps quietly getting the job done, and I expect another win against the Falcons this week.

Derek Anderson, CLE - Well look who crawled out of fantasy mothballs. Anderson looked solid last week in nearly beating the Bengals. he has a new receiver he likes in Mohamed Massaquoi, and the team diva, Braylon Edwards is gone. Rookie Jerome Harrison revived the running game last week. This week they face the combustible Bills defense.

David Garrard, JAX - I recommended Garrard last week and he was money for fantasy owners. He could do just as well this week, shredding a tragic Seahawks secondary.

Brett Favre, MIN - I recommended Favre last week as well, and he tossed a paltry 3 TD passes. This week he faces cellar-dwelling St. Louis. That sound you hear is Favre licking his lips.

--Running Backs--

Rashard Mendenhall, PIT - Last week I pegged Steelers RB, Willie Parker to have a great game. Then he didn’t play and his partner, Rashard Mendenhall lit up the scoreboard and became this weeks, waiver wire gem. This week he faces the Detroit Lions.

Glen Coffee, SF - This week’s list will almost be a duplicate of last weeks. Pour yourself another cup of Coffee in week 5.

Tashard Choice, DAL - Marion Barber played last week and scored, but it was Choice who handled most of the load, especially in the passing game. Barber should play this week, but look for Choice to get a heavy dose against a weak Chiefs team.

Jerome Harrison, CLE - Jamal Lewis is hurt and old, James Davis is out for the season, so Jerome Harrison gets the nod. He puts up over a 100 yards against the Bengals solid defense. This week he gets the Bills, suspect defense.

Tim Hightower, ARI - Hightower has been the Cardinals best RB so far, though that isn’t saying much. This week the Cards face the Houston Texans who are making every RB look like Adrian Peterson.

--Wide Receivers--

Mohamed Massaquoi, CLE - Derek Anderson is back at QB for the Browns, and he lit up Massaquoi for 148 yards last week. He should have another 100 yard day against the Bills.

Michael Walker-Sims, JAX - I picthed this guy the last several weeks and he hasn’t failed to perform. This week he gets the swiss-cheese Seahawks secondary to feast on.

Pierre Garcon/Austin Collie, IND - Reggie Wayne is a no-brainer, but this week, against the Titans defense, (worst against the pass), all Colts receivers should be on fantasy rosters.

Sam Hurd, DAL - Patrick Crayton and Miles Austin are good picks too, but with Roy Williams out, Hurd is the word in Dallas. I like Hurd to get 80 yards and a score against the Chiefs.

--Tight Ends--

Heath Miller, PIT - Miller is an up or down fantasy TE, and last week he was way up. This week he faces the Lions who have surrendered more TDs (5) to tight ends than any other team.

Dustin Keller, NYJ - Keller face the Dolphins who have given up 320 yards and 2 TDs to tight ends. I like Keller to find the endzone again this week, especially with new WR Braylon Edwards there to spread the field.

Vinsanthe Shiancoe, MIN - Favre hasn’t used him much so far in 2009, but when he does it’s often in the redzone, as we saw against the Packers Monday night. This week Shiancoe gets a Rams defense which has surrendered 3 TDs and 251 yards to TEs.

Generally, I always recommend starting your top picks, regardless of match-ups, barring injury, of course. It is obvious that you’ll always play guys like Randy Moss, Adrian Peterson and Peyton Manning. I try to save this list for guys who are not always obvious starts.

Rustyn Rose also writes a weekly Start and Sit Team Defense, check it out.