Editor's note: Each week Dave Richard, Jamey Eisenberg and Nathan Zegura will tackle lineup dilemmas that you might be facing. These subjects are derived from discrepancies in Dave's and Jamey's weekly rankings .
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 Cam Newton isn't the most accurate passer, or the most
efficient passer, or even the most exciting passer in the NFL. But
he's still doing some pretty amazing things. There's no need to run
down his stats, except for this: He's finished as a Top 6 Fantasy
passer in standard formats in three of his first four weeks, getting
at least 28 points each time. If the Bears couldn't sack him last
week, the Saints don't have much of a shot either. Moreover, New
Orleans has allowed two 300-yard, three-touchdown quarterbacks
already this season -- those are numbers right in Newton's
wheelhouse. Tom Brady was
emasculated the last time he took on the Jets and they're good at
defending the pass. Philip Rivers
hasn't been himself lately and Matt Ryan
doesn't have the same kind of potential as Newton. I'll take the
rookie.
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Let's make one thing clear: No one is saying to sit Newton this week
against the Saints. He's had three games with at least 28 Fantasy
points, and the one game he had fewer than 20 points was when he
played in a monsoon in Week 3. But let's keep Newton in some
perspective: He's still a rookie quarterback who could struggle at
any moment, so don't start him over Brady, Rivers or Ryan. If this
is a matchup thing then Ryan has the best matchup of any passer this
week since Green Bay has allowed the most Fantasy points to opposing
quarterbacks. Rivers faces Denver, which is No. 3 in most Fantasy
points allowed to opposing quarterbacks. Brady has the toughest
matchup of any quarterback this week, but the Jets pass defense is
overrated. They got abused by Tony Romo
in Week 1, and their positive stats have come against Jacksonville,
Oakland and Baltimore. And if your argument is that Newton has been
impressive so far this season, look at Brady. He has been better
than Newton in three of four weeks this year. And he, along with
Rivers and Ryan, will be better than Newton this week.
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 Cam Newton has now produced 28-plus Fantasy points in three
of his four career starts and has a very good shot to make it four
out of five this week against the Saints. Newton will have to throw
it a lot to keep up with the Saints, who did give up 373 yards and
three scores to Matt Schaub in his
best game of the year. For the season, the Saints are allowing 281
yards and two scores per game through the air and they have given up
21.5 points per game to opposing quarterbacks, tied for ninth most.
Add in Newton's 30-40 yards rushing and his likely goal line
touchdown (he leads all players in the NFL with four rushing
touchdowns from inside the five yard line) and it is easy to see
another big game for the young quarterback. That is why I am
starting him over some big name quarterbacks this week including Tom Brady, who has a very tough matchup against the Jets. Brady
has only a 25 percent big game rate against the Rex Ryan led Jets,
who enter the game as the second ranked pass defense. They have also
allowed a league low two passing scores this year and no team is
allowing fewer Fantasy points per week to opposing quarterbacks.
Brady is still a solid start, but for our purposes here, I would
take Newton's upside in Week 5.
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I've seen enough from Cruz over the last two weeks to be sure that
he's not vanishing from the Giants' offense. More specifically, he's
not vanishing from the Giants' offense against the Seahawks
secondary this week. He matches up well against either of their
starting corners, but more importantly, proved himself worthy last
week with six catches on nine targets from Eli Manning. Hakeem Nicks he's
not but for the time being, he'll play in two-receiver sets opposite
Nicks or in the slot with Nicks and Mario Manningham split out wide. Either way, he's going to see a
fair amount of work. With several receivers on bye and Cruz an easy
reach off waivers, he's going to be helpful to Fantasy owners in
Week 5. I'd start him over: Nate Washington (at PIT), Jacoby Jones (vs. OAK), Reggie Wayne (vs. KC) |
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I consider Cruz a solid No. 3 Fantasy receiver this week. He should
have been added in all leagues, and he's someone to have on your
roster in case his performance the past two weeks against
Philadelphia and Arizona continues. But don't look for Mario Manningham to remain in a secondary role to Cruz for long.
Here's what the New York Daily News reported Tuesday about
Manningham's demotion against the Cardinals: "He's just coming off a
concussion, so maybe he deserves a pass here. He's also probably got
more upside than Cruz, so it's doubtful he'll lose his job
permanently even though he' s never been particularly crisp with his
routes." We can easily see Manningham have more targets than Cruz
against Seattle, and the Giants might also rely more on their ground
game this week. Cruz is a risky starter in standard 12-team leagues. I'd rather start: Santonio Holmes (at NE), A.J. Green (at JAC), Percy Harvin (vs. ARI) |
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With six teams on a bye this week, you will have to dig deep to find
your third wide receiver and young Victor Cruz is a good Bye Week Broski, but I would hope that you
have better options. I do like that Cruz is catching 61.1 percent of
his targets and is averaging a very healthy 12.5 yards per target,
so he is an excellent addition to your teams for the long haul
because Eli Manning will need three
options week in and week out in the passing game. If you are in a
pinch, go with him, but the matchup is far from ideal this week
against the Seahawks. So far, the Hawks have allowed only three
passing scores on the year -- second fewest in the league -- and
only opposing No. 1 receivers have scored against them. I also think Mario Manningham will be getting back into the mix, so I am not
yet totally clear on Cruz's role which is why I would keep him
reserved if I have another quality option. I'd rather start: Julio Jones (vs. GB), A.J. Green (at JAC), Plaxico Burress (at NE) |
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Last week we saw Starks get his best opportunity to be the Packers'
primary rusher, and he came up with good numbers, not great numbers.
He totaled 101 yards, which is nice, but it came without a touchdown
despite the fact that the Packers were in the Broncos' red zone on
six separate occasions. And when the Packers needed him to convert a
fourth-and-1, he was pushed backward. I'm not impressed with Starks,
and he's bound to split reps with a returning Ryan Grant this week; the last time they did that Starks was
virtually shut out. The Falcons' run defense is good, especially
compared to their pass defense, so we'll see more from Aaron Rodgers' arm than Starks' legs. If you can, find someone to
start in place of him. I'd rather start: Shonn Greene (at NE), Brandon Jacobs (vs. SEA), Mark Ingram (at CAR) |
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I'm starting every relevant offensive player in Sunday night's game
between Green Bay and Atlanta because we're looking at a potential
offensive bonanza. They combined for 69 points in their playoff
matchup last year, and they should score plenty of points again.
Starks will play a prominent role as the main running back for the
Packers. Yes, Ryan Grant should
return after missing last week with a bruised kidney, but he will
again play in a secondary role behind Starks. Starks has at least
nine Fantasy points in three games this season, and the Falcons have
allowed three running backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points
with Matt Forte, LeSean McCoy and Marshawn Lynch.
The worst performance by a running back was LeGarrette Blount in Week 3 when he had nine points. Look for Starks
to once again play well, and he's worth starting as a No. 2 Fantasy
option in all formats. I'm starting Starks over: Kendall Hunter (vs. TB), Jonathan Stewart (vs. NO), Stevan Ridley (vs. NYJ) |
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James Starks has produced double digit Fantasy points in
three of his four games this year, but with Ryan Grant back and a tough Falcons run defense on tap in Week
5, I do not consider him a top 20 option. Grant was the better
runner in Week 3 against Chicago and you have to think he will play
a big role against Atlanta. Even with Grant out last week, Starks
saw only 13 carries against Denver and at the end of the day, Green
Bay is a passing team. Starks does not have a single goal line carry
this year and he will need a touchdown to be a great starting option
this week. The Falcons are ranked 10th against the run at 97.2 yards
per game on just 3.7 yards per carry, so starting one half of a
running back by committee is risky when we really do not know how
the workload will be distributed. If you are in a bye week pinch,
roll with Starks, but ideally you would keep him reserved in Week 5. I'd rather start: Mike Tolbert (at DEN), Joseph Addai (vs. KC), Mark Ingram (at CAR) |
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Darren Sproles has been a joy to watch; the Saints are
using him in ways the Chargers couldn't and wouldn't. But this
matchup against the Panthers is just as good for Ingram as it is for
Sproles. Last week we saw the Saints turn to fullback Jed Collins for a goal-line score instead of Ingram. That was
disappointing, but that can't last. The Saints didn't draft Ingram
to watch Collins score from a yard out game after game, so Ingram
can get that chance back against a Panthers defense that's given up
a rushing touchdown from 7 yards or less in three of four games.
Carolina's actually been decent against running backs catching
passes, so that's another factor that helps Ingram and hurts Sproles.
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You can start both Sproles and Ingram in the majority of Fantasy
leagues this week based on the matchup since the Panthers have been
terrible in run defense all season. They have allowed four running
backs to reach double digits in Fantasy points this year with Beanie Wells, Starks, Maurice Jones-Drew
and Matt Forte. But if you
handcuffed Sproles and Ingram, there's no reason to go away from
Sproles now since he's been the better Fantasy option so far this
season. Sproles has double digits in Fantasy points in his past
three games, while Ingram hasn't reached double digits once. Sproles
is the one on passing downs for a passing team, and Ingram is a
glorified goal-line back who last week lost a goal-line touchdown to
fullback Jed Collins at
Jacksonville. I expect both running backs to reach double digits in
Fantasy points this week. But Sproles will finish with higher
production since he has done so in every game this year.
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If you are in a point-per-reception league, Darren Sproles is the better option for you and it is not even
close. Sproles leads all running backs with 35 targets and 26
catches and he has been very consistent with at least five catches
and 50-plus yards receiving in every game. Sproles has also seen his
rushing yards increase every game and is coming off of a season high
75 yards on a season high seven carries against the Jaguars. Sproles
has produced 125 total yards or scored a touchdown in every game
this year and is the safest Saints running back, regardless of
format, in most weeks. This week in standard leagues, however, I am
going with the bull Mark Ingram.
The Panthers are allowing 144 yards (second most) and a touchdown
(tied for seventh most) per game on the ground at a generous 5.2
yards per carry. Ingram is coming off of a 17-carry game and should
be busy again this week, so I am expecting a career high in rushing
yards and a score or maybe even two. Matt Forte just pounded the Panthers for over 200 yards rushing
and you can bet the Saints will have a very balanced attack this
week to take advantage of that. Both are great starts, but your
league's format determines which one I prefer for your team in Week
5.
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Cook led the Titans in targets last week and is a cinch to stay
involved in their pass attack. But there's no way he's going to
break short catches for long touchdowns on a regular basis, and
certainly not against the Steelers. Pittsburgh is desperate for a
win after falling apart in Houston and will work hard to tame the
Titans at home. They've been uncharacteristically weak against
opposing tight ends this season so there's probably some work to be
done there, and worse yet the Titans have used three tight ends as
part of their attack. When Craig Stevens
or Daniel Graham get involved, those
are numbers that are taken away from Cook. I want to like Cook, but
with last week's score being only the second of his three-year
career and with two catches max per game this season, he's got to
prove his worth before I count on him as anything more than a
one-week replacement. I'd rather start: Dallas Clark (vs. KC), Scott Chandler (vs. PHI), Dustin Keller (at NE) |
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Here's where we are with tight ends this week: Jason Witten and Fred Davis are
on a bye, Antonio Gates (foot) and Aaron Hernandez (knee) are injured, Dallas Clark has fallen apart without Peyton Manning (neck) and Kellen Winslow
is on the back of a milk carton. Why wouldn't you start Cook this
week? The Titans are in need of playmakers in the passing game with Kenny Britt (knee) out for the season, and Cook was No. 1 in
targets last week with six at Cleveland. He also showed his big-play
ability with an 80-yard touchdown catch against the Browns, and this
week he gets a Steelers defense that is falling apart. Pittsburgh is
without standout linebacker James Harrison
(eye), and the Steelers just allowed Owen Daniels to catch five passes for 69 yards and a touchdown
last week. Cook is definitely worth the risk as a starting option in
Week 5. I'm starting Cook over: Dallas Clark (vs. KC), Scott Chandler (vs. PHI), Visanthe Shiancoe (vs. ARI) |
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Jared Cook was a big time preseason sleeper but had not
lived up to the hype until Week 4 when he caught two passes for 93
yards and his first score of the season. Still, Cook has a long way
to go before I am putting him in my starting lineup. Cook has not
topped two catches in a game all year long and has not seen seven
targets in any game. I like that Cook saw six of Matt Hasselbeck's 20 passes in Week 4 and clearly he is in line
for a bigger role with Kenny Britt
out for the year. He did however only catch two of those six targets
and if he doesn't have an 80 yard touchdown, he struggles once
again. I do think he has nice value as a waiver pickup for your
teams due to his increasing role, but in Week 5 against the Steelers
(who have been average against tight ends) I would only consider
Cook a fill-in start if you are without Jason Witten. I'd rather start: Jermaine Gresham (at JAC), Brandon Pettigrew (vs. CHI), Greg Olsen (vs. NO) |
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We're all seeing Mike Williams melt
down before our eyes in Tampa Bay, and Kellen Winslow has been a major disappointment. Defenses are
keying in on these guys for the Bucs, taking away Josh Freeman's top two targets. That's where Preston Parker comes in: He's giving Freeman a nice slot option,
and he's getting targeted plenty (21 through four games, second-most
on the team). While Arrelious Benn
is another receiver I'd like to see get more of a chance, Parker is
the one getting most of the chances, and if defenses still prefer to
contain Williams and Winslow, then Parker's going to keep getting
some numbers.
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An NFL talent scout told me last year that Jacoby Jones was the best receiver on Houston's roster, and that
includes Andre Johnson. Yes, I
looked at him like he has two heads, but he said based on talent
that Jones has the most upside, even in comparison to Johnson. Well,
now we get to see if that's true, since Johnson could be out for at
least three weeks with a hamstring injury. Jones has done next to
nothing so far this season with just seven catches for 91 yards and
no touchdowns. But he's worth adding to your roster since the Texans
need him now. Even though Arian Foster
and Owen Daniels will carry the
offense with Johnson out, Matt Schaub
still needs his receivers to make plays. Kevin Walter will play a prominent role, but Jones has the most
upside. I've added him in several leagues, and if he plays up to his
potential then you might consider starting him while Johnson remains
out.
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Titus Young is a dynamic playmaker whose stock is on the
rise as far as I am concerned. He plays in a prolific offense in
Detroit and I could easily see him turning into the Lions version of Jordy Nelson as a big play receiver who can kill you out of the
slot or lineup up out wide. Over the last three weeks, Titus Young is actually third on the Lions with 181 yards
receiving (Brandon Pettigrew is
second at 183), 20 targets and 12 catches. I like that he is
averaging 15.1 yards per catch, a solid 8.6 yards per target and I
think as the season goes on, he will improve on his 57.1 percent
target conversion rate because he missed a lot of offseason time
with Matthew Stafford due to his
injury. With defenses forced to focus more and more on Calvin Johnson, Young will find himself in favorable matchups all
year long. As he gets more chances to make plays and develops his
rapport with Stafford, look for Young to be someone you can play
more often than not as your third wide receiver over the second half
of 2011.
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Stay in touch with the most passionate Fantasy staff in the business by following us via Twitter @CBSFantasyFB . You can also follow Dave at @daverichard , Jamey at @JameyEisenberg and Nathan at @NathanZeguraTFC .
