Start/Bench
List - Week 5
By Whitney
Walters
October 2, 2003 |
| |
| Player
List by Position |
| Start/Bench Codes (SBC) |
S1: Must
start, 1st string.
S2: Solid starter, 2nd
string. |
X: No start or bench indications
/ Could go either way.
B: Bench 'em / Too much
risk. |
| U: Upside
player / Possible sleeper. |
| Early Injury Status (O): Out (D): Doubtful (Q): Questionable (P): Probable |
|
|
| Arizona (1-3) at Dallas
(2-1) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Texas
Stadium |
Back to top |
| Arizona |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Jeff Blake (P) |
U |
Still mistake prone under pressure,
Blake continues to be a hit-n-miss fantasy QB. This
week the running game is likely to go nowhere so look
for Blake to put it up with some success against a
Dallas secondary that has lacked consistency. |
| RB |
Emmitt Smith |
X |
Did score his first Cardinal TD last
week but averaged a terrible 2.1 YPC in the process.
It's hard to bet against the proud, and obviously motivated,
Smith's return to big D, but the Dallas run defense
is 4th
in the league and will be
just as motivated. |
| RB |
Marcel Shipp |
B |
The team needs to get him on the
field but only gave him one touch last week. This week
with Emmitt's return to Dallas he may not even get
that. |
| WR |
Anquan Boldin |
S2 |
The surprise of the fantasy season
continues to lead all NFL receivers in yardage and
is #2 in catches. Not likely to explode this week but
will be solid against a secondary that will give him
a bit too much cushion in coverage. |
| WR |
Bryant Johnson |
X |
The #17
pick in the 2003 draft shows improvement each week
and Blake continues to look his way. |
| WR |
Larry Foster
Bryan Gilmore |
B |
Neither got a single look last
week but may be more active on Sunday given they
will be closer to 100% healthy.
|
| TE |
Freddie Jones |
B |
Even with all the injuries to the
receivers Jones' production has decreased each week
and he was blanked last Sunday. |
| Dallas |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Quincy Carter |
S2 |
The Cardinals don't fall to the
bottom of the pass defense rankings, but as a group
they may have the weakest secondary in the league.
Carter and his three amigos will make them suffer.
The only thing holding back his production this week
will be a very successful running game.
|
| RB |
Troy Hambrick |
S2 |
May play with a bit of a chip on
his shoulder this week with Emmitt's return, but what
will help him even more will be an increased workload
and a weak Cardinal defense. |
| RB |
Aveion Cason |
B |
Only the change of pace back. |
| WR |
Joey Galloway |
S2 |
The driving force in the passing
game. Arizona has no option in the secondary to match
his down field speed. |
| WR |
Terry Glenn |
B |
He remains the starter with Galloway
but other than his big game in week 2 against the Giants
he has done nothing. |
| WR |
Antonio Bryant |
U |
Made his one catch last week count,
scoring a touchdown. Should get many more opportunities
against the suspect Arizona secondary.
|
| TE |
Dan Campbell
Jason Witten |
B |
The Dallas tight ends continue to
be a non-factor. |
|
|
| Cincinnati (1-3) at Buffalo (2-2) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on CBS at Ralph
Wilson Stadium |
Back to top |
| Cincinnati |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Jon Kitna |
X |
When Kitna can play mistake free
he's a solid fantasy QB. But against the Bills pressure
and ball-hawking secondary mistakes will be harder
to avoid this week.
|
| RB |
Rudi Johnson |
X |
With Dillon out this week, expect
second-year back Johnson to carry the bulk of the load.
Unfortunately the Bengals could only muster 80 yards
on the ground last week against a Cleveland team giving
up over 140 per game. The Bills are not much better
but it's hard to recommend a shared Bengal backfield. |
| RB |
Brandon Bennett |
B |
Even though he will share the carries
with Johnson it won't be enough to warrant any fantasy
consideration. |
| WR |
Chad Johnson |
S2 |
A premier talent that will have his
hands full with the corner tandem of Antoine Winfield
and Nate Clements. A borderline start this week. |
| WR |
Peter Warrick |
X |
Starting to emerge and Kitna is gaining
confidence in him. Will also get you some extra yardage
in the running game with reverses. |
| WR |
T.J. Houshmandzadeh (Q)
Kelly Washington |
B |
TJ may return this week. With
the strong corner coverage on Johnson and Warrick
the #3 WR spot is key this week for the Bengals.
Both of these guys may see increased looks but neither
are worth a fantasy start.
|
| TE |
Matt Schobel (Q)
Reginald Kelly
Tony Stewart |
B |
Schobel is expected to return this
week but will not be 100%. The tight end may get extra
attention this week due to the limits put on the starting
wide receivers. But with what could be a 3-headed TE
this week, none can be recommended. |
| Buffalo |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Drew Bledsoe |
S2 |
Without a commitment to the running
game Bledsoe is being asked to carry this offense.
That won't always work. This week it should
as the Bengals struggle to mount much of a pass rush. |
| RB |
Travis Henry (Q) |
S2 |
Should return to action this week
but at this time it is a late week, game-time decision.
If he is healthy and does play Henry is a solid fantasy
option this week against a Bengal unit that allows
over 130 YPG on the ground. |
| RB |
Joe Burns |
B |
Didn't fair well in his first start,
but not many do against the Philly defense this year.
This week it looks like it's back to the bench. |
| WR |
Eric Moulds |
S2 |
Has not put together two straight
solid fantasy efforts this season. The Bengals' pass
defense is much improved this year, but Moulds will
give his owners two in a row this week. |
| WR |
Josh Reed |
B |
Started the season well but the past
two weeks has been outperformed by Shaw. Only a single
catch last week and not a one of the last 25 Bledsoe
passes went his way. |
| WR |
Bobby Shaw |
U |
Has really come on the last two
weeks as Reed fades. It's still too early to say
whether or not this becomes a permanent situation.
|
| TE |
Mark Campbell |
U |
Campbell shares time with Dave
Moore, but it's Campbell that seems to be the focus
in the passing game. Hasn't shown enough to make him
a fantasy starter however. |
|
|
| Denver (4-0) at Kansas City
(4-0) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on CBS at Arrowhead
Stadium |
Back to top |
| Denver |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Jake Plummer (P) |
B |
Finding his groove in Denver's offense.
This week will be a struggle however. Nothing in his
pro career has prepared him for a Bronco game at Arrowhead.
The potential loss of his starting center doesn't help. |
| RB |
Clinton Portis (Q) |
S2 |
Regardless what Shanahan says this
week, expect Portis to play. What will hurt him more
than his chest will be the potential loss of center
Tom Nalen. Still, his speed will serve him well getting
to the edges of the KC defense where they are the weakest. |
| RB |
Mike Anderson |
B |
Back to fullback. |
| WR |
Rod Smith |
S2 |
Despite the solid play of the KC
defense so far their secondary does tot match up
well with the speed of both Smith and Lelie. If the
offensive line can give Plummer some time against the
aggressive KC rush then Smith ... |
| WR |
Ashley Lelie |
U |
... and Lelie will get some opportunities
for plays down field.
|
| WR |
Ed McCaffrey (P) |
B |
Still a solid possession receiver
and will get a few key catches a game. Just not
a fantasy option any more. |
| TE |
Shannon Sharpe (P) |
S2 |
The spread offensive approach is
serving Sharpe well as he leads all tight ends with
three TDs. |
| Kansas City |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Trent Green |
X |
Green has developed into a mere caretaker
of the high-powered Kansas City offense. Success for
him now is finishing a game with no interceptions,
around 250 yards passing, MAYBE two TDs and a lot of
handoffs to Priest. Don't expect that much this week,
well... except for that last part. |
| RB |
Priest Holmes (P) |
S1 |
Look for the Chiefs to run the ball
right at the Broncos' defense in an attempt to neutralize
their linebacker speed. |
| RB |
Derrick Blaylock |
B |
Only if Priest is hurt. And maybe
not even then. |
| WR |
Eddie Kennison |
X |
The Broncos' corners have the ability
to press both Kennison and Morton this week with bump-and-run
coverage. Both lack the strength to combat the
jams at the line and the speed to beat them down
field. Expect both Kennison ... |
| WR |
Johnnie Morton |
X |
... and Morton to struggle on the
parameter. |
| WR |
Marc Boerigter |
B |
A complete non-factor at this point.
With Kennison and Morton likely locked down, Boerigter
may get a few extra looks this week, but it won't matter. |
| TE |
Tony Gonzalez |
S2 |
Almost 100% healthy now and should
fair well against the Broncos' safeties who are the
weak link in the defense due to the injury to starter
Kenoy Kennedy. |
|
|
| Miami (2-1) at New York Giants
(2-1) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on CBS at Giants
Stadium |
Back to top |
| Miami |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Jay Fiedler |
B |
Fiedler's value to the Dolphins will
be how well he can make opposing defenses pay for cheating
to stop the run. Even if successful that will only
lead to a typical 200 yards and
a TD performance. Not what most fantasy teams need. |
| RB |
Ricky Williams |
S1 |
Miami leads the league in rushes
per game. No big surprise there. |
| RB |
Travis Minor |
B |
Purely a backup. |
| WR |
Chris Chambers |
S2 |
Chambers
continues to mature as a receiver. With the added support
needed to combat the Dolphins' running attack
the play-action passing game is almost always there
and
Chambers is
Fiedler's
best option downfield. |
| WR |
Derrius Thompson |
B |
There are about 15 completions a
game generated by the Dolphins. Williams, Chambers
and McMichael get about 80% of those. That pretty much
says it all for Thompson's and ... |
| WR |
James McKnight |
B |
... McKnight's fantasy value.
|
| TE |
Randy McMichael |
S2 |
Chambers is likely to draw safety
help this week, helping to open up the middle for McMichael. |
| New York Giants |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Kerry Collins |
S2 |
The passing game provides the best
matchup for the Giants this week. Collins has too many
weapons at his disposal not to succeed against a Miami
pass defense that ranks 27th in the NFL. |
| RB |
Tiki Barber |
S2 |
Having to work hard behind the young
line this season. Could play a factor in his durability.
Will be an interesting matchup this week with the quick
yet overaggressive Zach Thomas. Look for much of Barber's
production to come in the short passing game. |
| RB |
Delvin Joyce |
B |
Has touched the ball once in three
games. |
| WR |
Amani Toomer |
S2 |
The Giants' WR matchups this week
depend on how well both Toomer and Hilliard deal
with the mostly man coverage by corners
Sam Madison and Patrick Surtain. The spread offense
should provide both Toomer and ...
|
| WR |
Ike Hilliard (P) |
X |
... Hilliard with plenty of one-on-one
opportunities. Both should make the most of them. |
| WR |
Tim Carter |
B |
The #3 WR just isn't going to
get many looks in this offense.
|
| TE |
Jeremy Shockey |
S1 |
As with most teams Shockey poses
matchup problems for the Miami linebackers and safeties. |
|
|
| Minnesota (4-0) at Atlanta (1-3) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Georgia
Dome |
Back to top |
| Minnesota |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Gus Frerotte |
S2 |
Early indications are that the Vikings
will rest Culpepper this week. Atlanta is playing so
poorly that it won't really matter. Whoever ends up
starting for the Vikings should also be in your fantasy
starting lineup. |
| RB |
Moe Williams |
X |
Just what fantasy owners need, another
RBBC. With Smith's emergence last week look for fewer
carries for Williams, and even a few less goal-line
opportunities. Throw a healthy Doug Chapman in the
mix and you have a real mess. |
| RB |
Onterrio Smith |
U |
And so it begins. Smith's 10 carries
last week is just the beginning. Expect him to continue
to split time with Williams, and even Chapman, but
begin to pull ahead. The terrible Atlanta run defense
at least provides plenty
of production to spread around this week. |
| WR |
Randy Moss (P) |
S1 |
Hey, I've got an idea. Let's line-up
7-9 yards off the ball and let this Moss dude run free
into the secondary. That'll really confuse 'em. |
| WR |
D'Wayne Bates (Q) |
B |
Slowed by the foot injury but may
return this week. Likely to be limited if he does play. |
| WR |
Kelly Campbell
Nate Burleson |
X |
With Bates continued to be slowed
the opportunities for either Campbell or Burleson
are there each week. Problem is, it could be
either.
|
| TE |
Jim Kleinsasser (P) |
B |
Dinged up last week but should return
to action on Sunday. |
| Atlanta |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Doug Johnson |
B |
Johnson is not making good decisions
under pressure. The offensive line's pass
protection has been weak and the receivers' ability
to adjust
to the blitz has been inconsistent at best. You think
he may see a blitz or two from the Vikings on Sunday? |
| RB |
Warrick Dunn |
X |
In week 3 Dunn saw only nine carries
and in week 4 he was not the starter and saw only four.
It's hard to imagine the Falcons allowing their team
captain to fade away, but panic is setting in and anything
is possible now. |
| RB |
T.J. Duckett |
X |
The Falcons' best chance is to slow
the game down with a power running game. If Atlanta
can keep from falling behind early (a big if) then
Duckett has a chance running at the heart of the quick
Viking defense. |
| WR |
Peerless Price (D) |
X |
Price's production is improving slightly,
but until Vick returns it's best to steer clear of
the Falcon
passing
game. |
| WR |
Quentin McCord |
B |
Has four receptions for 24 yards
in four games despite facing favorable one-on-one
matchups as a result of opponents giving Price more
attention. |
| WR |
Jimmy Farris |
B |
If Price has little value, what
possibly could Farris bring to your team?
|
| TE |
Alge Crumpler (P) |
S2 |
Remains the best fantasy option in
this passing attack, and on this team. |
|
|
| New Orleans (1-3) at Carolina
(3-0) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on FOX at Ericsson
Stadium |
Back to top |
| New Orleans |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Aaron Brooks |
X |
Statistically the Panthers are only
the 29th best pass defense. They do pressure the QB
very well though. This has great potential for Brooks
but the bottom line is that he's playing badly. Until
he turns it around he'd be hard to rely on at this
point. |
| RB |
Deuce McAllister |
S2 |
The only bright spot in last week's
pasting was the running game. The Panthers are tough
but that shouldn't stop New Orleans from getting McAllister
25-30 touches in this make-or-break game for the Saints.
That will be necessary to keep the battered defense
off the field. |
| RB |
James Fenderson |
B |
Got a carry last week. Same as the
kicker. |
| WR |
Joe Horn |
S2 |
The typically consistent Horn has
now had two subpar performances in a row. Even though
the Saints are reeling odds are that it won't be three
in a row. |
| WR |
Donte Stallworth |
X |
Seems to be a forgotten element of
the passing game. Only five catches since his 8 catch
game in week one. If the Saints can get the running
game going then Stallworth could end up with some favorable
one-on-one matchups. |
| WR |
Jerome Pathon |
U |
#3 receives' production typically
relies heavily on the depth of the opposing cornerback
corps. The Panthers' is lacking and Pathon could
make them pay.
|
| TE |
Ernie Conwell |
B |
Has not been used much until last
week when he lead all receivers with nine passes thrown
his way. Will be used more for pass protection this
week. |
| Carolina |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Jake Delhomme |
U |
Should have another solid outing
this week against a Saints' defense that's barely keeping
their heads above water due to sever injury problems. |
| RB |
Stephen Davis |
S1 |
The Panthers have the #3 rushing
attack in the league. The only downside right now is
the single touchdown scored in three games. There is
little doubt this will be Davis' 4th 100 yard game
in a row. |
| RB |
DeShaun Foster |
B |
Working his way back into the mix
and had a season high 10 carries last week. |
| WR |
Muhsin Muhammad |
S2 |
Muhammad's size and speed present
a matchup advantage this week against the aging and
inconsistent Saint corners. Once the running game gets
it going and the safeties begin to cheat up look for
Muhammad ... |
| WR |
Steve Smith |
X |
... and Smith to have some big plays
in the play-action passing game. |
| WR |
Ricky Proehl |
B |
An occasional target, but does
seem to get his share of looks around the end-zone.
|
| TE |
Kris Mangum (Q) |
B |
Not a big part of this offense and
splits time with Jermaine Wiggins. |
|
|
| Oakland (2-2) at Chicago (0-3) |
|
| Sun, Oct 5, 1:00 PM ET on CBS at Soldier
Field |
Back to top |
| Oakland |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Rich Gannon |
S2 |
If the Raiders can carry forward
the last few drives from last week's win then this
could get ugly. The Bears are just flat out bad. |
| RB |
Charlie Garner |
S2 |
Got a few more carries last week
but 12 is still terrible. Falling behind early didn't
help though. Against the worst run defense in the league
you can bet Garner will see more than 12 this week. |
| RB |
Tyrone Wheatley |
U |
With the running game in full swing
this week Wheatley will likely see some extra work
and he continues to be the main ball carrier around
the goal-line. |
| RB |
Justin Fargas |
B |
Super-talented rookie but no carries. |
| WR |
Jerry Rice |
S2 |
May have lost their down field
speed, but both Rice and Brown can produce when given
the opportunities and a favorable matchup ...
|
| WR |
Tim Brown |
X |
... This week they get both.
|
| WR |
Jerry Porter (D) |
B |
Could return to action this week.
If he does he'll likely see only limited action.
|
| TE |
Doug Jolley |
X |
Scored his first touchdown last week
and should continue seeing more looks around the end-zone
due to his size advantage over the smallish Chicago
safeties. |
| Chicago |
| Pos |
Player |
SBC |
Comments |
| QB |
Kordell Stewart |
B |
Without his running last week he
wouldn't even register on the fantasy value scale.
Avoid Stewart. |
| RB |
Anthony Thomas (P) |
S2 |
Finally flashed some of that rookie
form and speed on Monday night. Look for the carries
to continue to increase this week against the Raiders,
who are
ranked
30th against the run and allowing over 150 YPG on the
ground. |
| RB |
Adrian Peterson |
B |
May see some limited action but not
enough to warrant fantasy attention. |
| WR |
Marty Booker |
B |
The only premier talent in this offense.
But he's no down field threat and the short passing
attack employed by the Bears continues to fail miserably.
To top it off he get to battle Charles Woodson this
week. Stay away. |
| WR |
Dez White |
B |
Just not getting it done in this
vertically challenged offense managed by a talent
challenged quarterback. |
| WR |
David Terrell |
X |
If there's any success in the
passing game it will likely come to Terrell as he
works against nickel coverage playing catchup.
|
| TE |
Desmond Clark |
S2 |
Clark is proving to be the Bears'
most consistent matchup to take advantage of. He has
the speed to shake most linebackers in coverage. |
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