Champs and Chumps: Week Six Start or Sit

 

Despite our recommendation to sit De’Angelo Williams last week, we still provided 15 out of 21 solid recommendations. So we were wrong about Mr. 3 TD. But, we were right on about Big Ben, Lee Evans, Brandon Jacobs, Matt Forte, Clinton Portis, and DeSean Jackson among others.

You can always count on TJI for well researched predictions. Just because we’re wrong every once in awhile isn’t reason to jump ship. Ignore the bad and ride the good, that’s what it’s all about right?

And speaking of the good, let’s get to this week’s Champs and Chumps…

Quarterbacks
CHAMPS
Eli Manning at CLE–Someday, someone will slow the Giants down. That day will not be Monday. That someone will not be the Browns.
Kurt Warner vs. DAL–Few players have suprised us like Warner has. He should be good for at least 2 TD against a Dallas secondary that no one ever seems to notice isn’t very good..
Peyton Manning vs. BAL–What’s that, you say? Peyton is a must start, he shouldn’t be allowed in this column? Well, his recent un-Peyton-like performances combined with his match-up against the solid Ravens’ D has some folks contemplating sitting him down. We advise against it.

CHUMPS
Philip Rivers vs. NE–As LT goes, so goes Rivers. And LT goes nowhere with this injury.
Matt Ryan vs. CHI–No team has surprised us like the Bears. Plus, remem ber that old saying about rookie QB’s? How’s that go? Oh, yeah. “Just say No!”
Derek Anderson vs. NYG–Finally, 18 months of warming up on the sidelines might finally pay off for Brady Quinn.

Running Backs
CHAMPS
Marion Barber at ARI–Remember this guy?
Ryan Grant at SEA–Okay, you probably remember Marion, but Grant might have fallen off your radar. Get him in there against a Seahawks team that is still giving up yards to Brandon Jacobs 5 days later.
Maurice Jones-Drew vs. SEA–A superstar in the making at one point, MJD’s star is quickly crashing down to Earth. But against Denver here, we see him rising again, if only for a weekend.

CHUMPS
Earnest Graham vs. CAR–A sign your fantasy stock is dropping: you’re sharing carries with Warrick Dunn. 
Willis McGahee vs. IND–If you can think of a more disappointing player than Willis this season, let us know.
De’Angelo Williams at TB–Yes, we’re serious. No Panthers RB is allowed to have two good weeks in a row. It’s a team rule or something. And no, we’re not still bitter about Steven Davis in 2005.

Wide Receivers
CHAMPS
Jerricho Cotchery vs. CIN–Coles had his turn, now Jerricho wants a piece of the pie.
Bobby Engram vs. GB–He’s great in PPR leagues, especially, because he gets so many targets. Look for he an Hasselbeck to connect on a long TD against the Pack.
Brandon Stokley vs. JAX–Speaking of lots ot targets, Stokley gets them. And with Royal ailing and Scheffler worse, Jay Cutler needs a partner for B Marshall. 

CHUMPS
Chris Chambers vs. NE–Not a good week to be a Charger.
Roy Williams at MIN–Kitna out, Orlovsky in? Seriously? Someone tell the Lions they’re not an NFL Europe team.
Isaac Bruce vs. PHI–O’Sullivan’s go to guy might have a rough week against the Philly secondary.

As for tight end, we think Owen Daniels should finally find the end zone against the Dolphins. However, don’t look for Todd Heap to do much versus the Colts. When it comes to Defense, the Redskins just might make Marc Bulger wish he was back on the bench. Meanwhile, one defense to stay away from is that of the Seahawks.

Finally, we are kind of stuck in the habit of picking a sleeper of the week. We’re certainly no better than 50 percent, but we were so close last week. You see, we thought Giants’ WR Steve Smith would benefit from Plaxico’s suspension. If only we had picked one of their other two back-ups, Domenik Hixon and Sinorice Moss , both of whom tore it up. So close, yet so far.

Since WR hasn’t paid off in this spot for us more than a couple times, let’s take a look at the QB position instead. We’re going to go with Matt Hasselbeck as our sleeper this week. He’s fallen so far from grace he’s got to be considered a sleeper now. We think he’s on the rebound and this is the week it starts.

Tune in next week to see how we did. Never a dull moment, if nothing else!

And for those of you waiting for our sleeper pick of the week…here you go. Wide receivers have been very, very good to us as sleepers this week, so we bring you another. A guy that’s going to step up because his team’s top WR is on the bench…Steve Smith of the New York Giants. You heard it here first.

There you have it. All the starts and sits fit to print. It’s no $700 billion bailout bill, but it’ll get you through for now.