Fantasy Football Week 6 Start ‘Em Sit ‘Em: Return Of Ben Roethlisberger
With bye weeks in full swing and injuries mounting, starting lineups require more than the “set it and forget it” approach. Get the right advice on in this week’s Start/Sit.
START
QB Ben Roethlisberger (vs. CLE) - Think this guy is excited to get back on the football field? After over 40 distracted, messy weeks away from live NFL action, Roethlisberger returns to an expanding offense, solid playmakers, and a tasty home matchup against a Cleveland secondary Big Ben torched for over 415 yards in their 2009 meeting at Heinz field. The emergence of RB Rashad Mendenhall will make it hard for the Browns to focus on forcing Big Ben into mistakes and it's likely that an expanded Steeler offensive playbook will translate into solid totals against a Cleveland defense that handles the run better than the pass. Expect Ben to be back in playmaking form on Sunday on his way to low-end QB1 TD and yardage numbers.
RB Ryan Mathews (vs. STL) - Yes, we said start Matthews with the matchup against a Rams defense allowing 140 total yards per game to opposing RB's. But this "start" has more to do with Mathews progress back from a high ankle sprain that has hobbled the first year standout over the last few weeks. Backup RB Mike Tolbert isn't nearly as talented as Mathews, a fact HC Norv Turner seems to understand well, saying over the course of the last week:
“We want to push it and get him as many carries as we can .... hopefully everything goes smooth tonight and he feels good in the morning, that we will be able to up his load a little bit.”
and
“I think Ryan will be our lead guy. That’s why he’s here. I look forward to him being our lead guy.”
Turner is known for leaning on one back, somewhat downplaying the importance of neo-strategy RBBC (running back by committee). With a favorable coaching philosophy, a solid matchup, and a young frame that’s quick to heal, we like Mathews to boast solid RB1 yardage totals and perhaps a TD to go with it.
WR Anquan Boldin (@NE) - Boldin was almost invisible last Sunday as CB Champ Bailey continues to be the NFL's most underrated defensive back, limiting Quan to just one reception for 8 yards. This week Boldin and the Ravens take on an opportunistic and mistake prone Patriot secondary that ranks 28th in receptions, 21st in yards, and 22nd in TD's allowed to opposing wideouts. The Patriots boast a much better run defense that should limit RB Ray Rice and force Boldin into a featured role on Sunday. Expect Boldin to add to his TD totals and see double digit targets as QB Joe Flacco's top option.
SIT
QB Chad Henne (@GB) - HC Tony Sparano loves to run the football. 15 of his 17 losses since taking over as coach have come in games where the offense threw more than it ran. In Miami's last two games (both losses) the team has lined up with 89 pass plays compared to just 44 run plays. Look for the Dolphins to get back to their running ways this Sunday as they head to Green Bay to face a banged-up Packer team. QB Aaron Rodgers is fresh off of a concussion and TE Jermichael Finley is gone for the year. The Dolphins boast a top-5 fantasy defense against QB's making it likely that Green Bay won't be pulling away early in this one. The Pack also have injuries to key LB's with Nick Barnett already ruled out and Clay Matthews likely a game time decision. The Dolphins will assuredly unleash Ronnie Brown and Ricky Williams in tandem to weaken the Packer front, which often includes just 2 down lineman. After two weeks above 300 yards passing in each contest, expect Henne to return to his QB2 ways with a performance somewhere in the 240 yd, 1 TD realm.
RB Marshawn Lynch (@CHI) - HC Pete Carroll hasn't appointed a starter yet in Seattle, but Lynch is expected to get the bulk of the carries in his road debut for his new team. While owners who hung onto Lynch must be excited to get him into their starting lineup, its important to see how such moves shake out. I'm not saying that Lynch will be a bust in Seattle, but we'll have to see just how much RB Justin Forsett will be used. Another consideration is the long natural grass that slowed opponents Jahvid Best (21 yards) and Green Bay RB's (43 yards) in games Soldier Field this season. While Lynch is a valuable commodity in fantasy leagues going forward it's wise to wait and see if possible. Giving a player a week to get comfortable in his new surroundings is never a bad idea. Lynch is at best a flex-play this week.
