START: Raiders QB Jason Campbell, vs. Browns. This is the only week this year I recommend starting Donovan McNabb or Jason Campbell, and I recommend them both. McNabb is going to be benched soon but the Bears secondary and linebacking corps have mismatches, and I expect the Vikings to get red zone opportunities. For Jason, I expect him to ride the wave of Al Davis tribute and have a really good game. He is bad against good defenses and good against bad ones. I think Cleveland is a decent, steadily-improving one yet Chad Henne is the only signal-caller they’ve faced that played with the same club last season. They’ve only got 3 INTs and that was Campbell’s problem against the Patriots. Campbell and McNabb are good bye week plays.
SIT: Bills QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, @ Giants. The NFL has firmly established certain players you start every week – Rodgers, Brady, Newton, Rivers, Stafford – and many of the ones that are usually tough calls are on bye. Therefore, I’m going to say to sit Ryan Fitzpatrick only if you have a better match-up. The Giants will be fired up at home as they renew this rivalry. I expect huge games from Osi Umenyiora and Jason Pierre-Paul.
START: Colts RB Delone Carter, @ Bengals. With Joseph Addai out, I expect the Colts to finally get a win as Curtis Painter gets better each week.
SIT: Patriots RB BenJarvus Green-Ellis, vs. Cowboys. The Cowboys are rested and have the best ypc allowed.
START: Ravens WR Anquan Boldin, vs. Texans. It seems like Cam has tried to get Boldin more involved at home than on the road. He’s scored 6 of his 8 regular season TDs as a Raven at home. Harbaugh and Cam have been working to make the offense more unpredictable. With Lee Evans still out – and the Texans likely allowing good field position -, I love Boldin this week.
SIT: Eagles WR Santana Moss, vs. Eagles. One of the adjustments the Eagles D will do is get back to letting Asomugha shut down receivers.
START: Dolphins WR Davone Bess, @ Jets.
SIT: Texans WR Kevin Walter, @ Ravens.
START: Packers TE Jermichael Finley, vs. Rams.
SIT: Lions TE Brandon Pettigrew, vs. 49ers.
START: Falcons D/ST vs. Panthers. With so many teams on byes – and the Packers, Steelers, Redskins and Ravens obvious starts -, there isn’t a preponderance to like about the mid-tier defenses and those on the waiver wire. This is a must-win for the Falcons and I expect their defense is better prepared for Cam having just played a scrambling quarterback in Aaron Rodgers. Cam’s been picked off six times but sacked just nine times in five games. I don’t think he’ll hit a rookie wall but I think the Falcons will have a good plan for him this week and the Panthers have allowed two punt return TDs so far this season.
SIT: Patriots D/ST vs. Cowboys. They sometimes give you points with turnovers, but Tony Romo will drive them into the negative in most leagues (my league won’t allow negative points on defense).