Fantasy Football Start/Sit, Week 4: Peyton’s Place Is On Your Bench

Last week’s fantasy football start/sit hit on all 5 selections--giving me 11 out of 12 correct on the young 2010 season. This week’s installment we advise owners to sit “Peyton”, start a “Saint” who’s been anything but for his owners, and call a breakout game that will be “Justin” time for fantasy GM’s.

Matt Ryan (SF) - You can bet that HC Mike Singletary and LB Patrick Willis will have their hands full planning for a Falcon ground game that has eclipsed 200 yards in back to back weeks. And while the Falcons try to churn between the twenties, they have one of the best QB’s in the game once they make it to the red zone. QB Matt Ryan ranks first in the league when inside the opponenets 20-yard line, hitting on 9 of 13 passes with 4 TD’s and no interceptions. Ryan benefits from having possibly the most prolific receiving TE in history in Tony Gonzalez, and NFL target leader Roddy White as his rock-solid WR 1. Ryan will have no trouble finishing what the running game starts for him, as the Falcons look to separate themselves as the number one contender in the NFC. Start Ryan with confidence as a safe bet to post solid QB1 totals.

Justin Forsett (@STL) - While Leon Washington was grabbing headlines last week, Forsett was busy handling all but one of the Seahawks designed run plays. After a preseason of speculation and “coach speak” Forsett is finally getting the opportunity he deserves. This week, Forsett will face a Rams defense that he rolled for over 120 yards and 2 TD’s in week 12 last year. The Rams are playing better on both sides of the football and probably aren’t much worse than the Seahawks--who have also shown signs of life under HC Pete Carroll. This should be a close contest, and Forsett figures to play a starring role in deciding the outcome. Start Forsett as a RB2 this week capable of bigger things if he is able to get to the outside on a pitch or swing pass.

Marques Coltson (CAR) - Not so much of a “start” as a “keep starting” here. Colston has been as quiet as a #1 WR on a pass heavy offense can be through three games, collecting 14 receptions with zero TD’s. Those who drafted Colston knew about his QB’s penchant for spreading the wealth as the Hofstra product has two separate 3 game scoreless streaks in his career. But you have to look back to Colston’s injury plagued 2008 to find a 4 game stretch without a receiving TD. This week, Colston will line up across a Carolina secondary that has struggled with big, physical wideouts ceding 4 scores to Hakeem Nicks and Mike Williams (TB). Look for Coltson to boom in the Big Easy this week as he provides fantasy owners with solid WR1 totals.

Louis Murphy (HOU) - Through three weeks Murphy has emerged as the top receiving threat on Oakland. While in years past such a statement would garner snickers and jeers, the presence of Bruce Gradkowski (or rather the absence of Jamarcus Russel) means that the Raiders have a viable QB at the helm. Murphy has a good combination of size, speed, and big play ability as shown by his 70 yard catch and run last week. Murphy currently ranks in the top-25 of all WR’s in terms of targets, receptions, and yards. This week he faces a Texan secondary that has surrendered 50 receptions, 750 yards, and 4 TD’s to opposing WR’s. Ride Murphy as he looks to get behind the defense for a big score, posting WR2 numbers in the process.

Matt Schaub (@OAK) - Coming off of a poor performance against in-state rivals, you would expect the Texans huckster to rebound against an inferior offense. And given what we’ve seen from the Texans so far this season that wouldn’t surprise anyone. But there is cause for concern. First, Schaub hasn’t posted good numbers against Oakland since joining with Houston. In his two starts Schaub hasn’t thrown for more than 260 yards and has just 1 TD to go along with 2 INT’s. The Raiders underrated CB Nnamdi Asomugha is good bet to take away Schaub’s top passing option, which may or may not be Andre Johnson (ankle) for the entire game. If Johnson is limited it may have a trickle down effect on the entire offense. Besides, the Oakland run defense is far from a stalwart unit and the Texans may opt to lean on rookie Arian Foster to get them a win and a return home for a two game stand before their bye. Expect Schaub to see his chance for elite QB1 totals vanish into the nothing of the Black Hole on Sunday.

Peyton Hillis (@CIN) - To be fair, this is not an indictment of Hillis as a fantasy “flash in the pan”. The guy has what it takes to be a starter in this league. He proved that back in 2008-gashing the Jets for 129 yards as he totaled 5td’s in a four game stretch-before injury sacked him of an opportunity to stick on the Bronco roster. Hillis is back in the featured role in Cleveland behind an offensive line that is one of the best run-blocking units in the league. So, why the sit you ask? Well, the Bengals boast two of the best young cornerbacks in the league in Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall, meaning Cincinnati can afford to play man-to-man coverage on the edges. This gives the defense flexibility to run 8-men fronts, often bringing Safety help to stop the run. Like I said, it’s not that Hillis doesn’t deserve the attention he’s getting. Just that opposing defenses are among those hearing about fantasy’s newest RB star. Keep Hillis reserved this week as he fails to post anything beyond Flex play numbers in what will be a long week for the Brown offense in a knock down drag out division matchup.