Here is our Week 6 Fantasy Football Start and Bench Advice for the 2009 Fantasy Football Season. Start ‘EM & Sit ‘Em Advice was meant to be bold, yet calculated. We know that and we understand that. We also understand that fantasy owners aren’t looking for answers to the obvious questions, which is why we have addressed more dilemma-like situations entering Week 6 of the 2009 fantasy football season.
Smitty’s Week 6 Thoughts
Get Ready For The Show!You can blast me all you want on the forums, I welcome the debate, but I stand by last week’s recommendation. Go trade for DeAngelo Williams while his value is on sharp decline. I firmly believe that he will bounce-back and dominate down the stretch, as will both Tom Brady and Randy Moss. I have already seen some threads on the forums about our overly optimistic New England projections each and every week, but if I have anything to do with it, none of that will change. We have played just five weeks people! I don’t care if Brady and Moss both struggle again this week, buy-low, buy-low, buy-low. Even if Brady struggles to play at that elite level in Week 6 and 7, New England has a bye in Week 8 and I really see that New England offense clicking coming off the bye. However, I do not see that offense, especially Brady, struggling in even Week 6. Invest. Did I mention where you can debate this? Try our forums! How about another controversial disappointment? Brian Westbrook’s value has taken a HUGE hit this season and many are starting to think that things won’t get any better in weeks 6-17. I have to admit that I’m torn on this topic. I think that it is important to note that it isn’t like that Eagles’ offense has given Westy the carries to prove himself this year, and there is still hope for Westy owners in redraft leagues… If things don’t improve in the "carries per game" department for the starting rusher, Westy owners are surely in trouble moving forward. In a sense it doesn’t matter how he busts, whether it be by way of situation (carries), or by way of diminished talent (lack of production when given the touches)… A bust is a bust and if Westy does have an elite season left, this is it. His dynasty value is low. My advice is this… If you own him in redraft leagues, don’t sell cheap. Just make sure you have LeSean McCoy. If you don’t currently own the rookie, go get him now! His redraft value isn’t all that high right now, as the entire offense isn’t moving the football on the ground and Westy is healthy… Strike on all that and handcuff Westbrook to McCoy! Then ride this out… If Westbrook gets hurt, McCoy will shine. Selling low just isn’t an option given Westbrook’s current market value… In fact, buying low, and I mean "bargain" low, is advised, especially if you already own McCoy due to your crafty drafting. Not sure about some of your start/bench dilemmas in week 6? ASK OUR STAFF !!!!!! |
Knowshon Moreno gets the nod for me in this matchup of the 5th ranked rushing offense and a San Diego defense allowing 151 yards on the ground per game. While it is always possible that SD will re-discover its run game, I would not count on LaDainian Tomlinson this week when he is getting less than half of the rushes for his team – The running back is averaging only 10 rushes per game. Include Denver’s 6th ranked defense against the run and it’s a good time to use other options.
Terrell Owens is a shell of his former self in this anemic offense. While he is being targeted more recently, this game looks to be grind-it-out affair more favorable to the likes of Thomas Jones and Marshawn Lynch than the receivers. With Darell Revis likely shadowing Owens all over the field, look for T.O. to have a very quiet day. Hines Ward faces the same game situation against Cleveland; the RBs look to have the edge. Cleveland’s pass defense is 10th in the league but that’s because everyone wants to run on the Browns and their last place rush defense. As poor as these two options are, I start Ward. He won’t face a shut down corner as talented as Revis.
Cedric Benson racked up 120 yards and a TD against the Ravens last week. If you aren’t starting him regularly, you’ve been sitting double-digit fantasy points in 4 out of the 5 games played by the Bengals. Houston’s offense is more of a threat to Benson than their defense, who have allowed 8 rushing TDs this year. Ray Rice is the clear #1RB for the Ravens and a double-threat coming out of the backfield. The Vikings have not allowed a rushing touchdown this year. While Rice may give you 100 total yards, Benson is the start.
Matt Ryan could be in for a busy afternoon. Chicago’s weak link is the passing defense giving up 226 ypg and at least 1TD per game through the air. Include Chicago’s offense vs the Atlanta defense and this could be a back and forth affair where the team with the ball at the end has a chance to win it. The only thing that will keep Donovan McNabb’s numbers down seems to be the play calling by Reid and the holes Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy will be running through. I believe the Eagles will find it so much easier to run the ball that I’ll go with my gut and start Ryan.
Here are the defensive ranks against the run through Week 5.
Rk |
Team |
G |
Yds |
Yds/G |
TD |
1 |
Arizona Cardinals |
4 |
284 |
71 |
2 |
2 |
Pittsburgh Steelers |
5 |
356 |
71.2 |
1 |
3 |
Tennessee Titans |
5 |
377 |
75.4 |
3 |
4 |
Baltimore Ravens |
5 |
380 |
76 |
3 |
5 |
Miami Dolphins |
5 |
382 |
76.4 |
4 |
6 |
Denver Broncos |
5 |
405 |
81 |
2 |
7 |
New Orleans Saints |
4 |
333 |
83.2 |
3 |
8 |
San Francisco 49ers |
5 |
443 |
88.6 |
4 |
9 |
Chicago Bears |
4 |
374 |
93.5 |
4 |
10 |
Minnesota Vikings |
5 |
480 |
96 |
0 |
11 |
New England Patriots |
5 |
484 |
96.8 |
1 |
12 |
Cincinnati Bengals |
5 |
494 |
98.8 |
3 |
13 |
Philadelphia Eagles |
4 |
403 |
100.8 |
3 |
14 |
Indianapolis Colts |
5 |
516 |
103.2 |
4 |
15 |
New York Giants |
5 |
529 |
105.8 |
5 |
16 |
Dallas Cowboys |
5 |
532 |
106.4 |
2 |
17 |
Seattle Seahawks |
5 |
534 |
106.8 |
4 |
18 |
Jacksonville Jaguars |
5 |
538 |
107.6 |
3 |
19 |
New York Jets |
5 |
552 |
110.4 |
4 |
20 |
Green Bay Packers |
4 |
449 |
112.2 |
2 |
21 |
Detroit Lions |
5 |
567 |
113.4 |
5 |
22 |
Washington Redskins |
5 |
598 |
119.6 |
2 |
23 |
St. Louis Rams |
5 |
629 |
125.8 |
6 |
24 |
Atlanta Falcons |
4 |
508 |
127 |
3 |
25 |
Kansas City Chiefs |
5 |
664 |
132.8 |
6 |
26 |
Houston Texans |
5 |
704 |
140.8 |
9 |
27 |
San Diego Chargers |
4 |
604 |
151 |
6 |
28 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers |
5 |
763 |
152.6 |
3 |
29 |
Buffalo Bills |
5 |
773 |
154.6 |
7 |
30 |
Carolina Panthers |
4 |
622 |
155.5 |
4 |
31 |
Oakland Raiders |
5 |
805 |
161 |
7 |
32 |
Cleveland Browns |
5 |
852 |
170.4 |
8 |
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[...] Moreno has now reached a point in his football career where he would be considered a better start than LaDainian Tomlinson. [Fantasy Football [...]
[...] Moreno has now reached a point in his football career where he would be considered a better start than LaDainian Tomlinson. [Fantasy Football [...]
absolutely. i would trade LT for moreno in a second. LT will be out of ALL top 30 rb rankings before i can chug a beer. he is DONE.
The question is, has Westy fallen as well? I say no, but I can’t guarantee the carries will be there for him to prove me right or wrong. I think if getting the touches, he could still finish this last season of his with top 10 fantasy RB numbers… If he gets 10 carries per game, obviously he will bust his way out of fantasy football…
if we are comparing westy to moreno, then that’s easy…moreno. if we have westy and we’re predicting stats the rest of the year, he’s probably a decent low grade rb 2 with some risk