Week 5 Start 'Em Sit 'Em: Why You Must Start Kevin Kolb

Arizona quarterback Kevin Kolb has a favorable matchup against the Minnesota Vikings Sunday. Start him if you don't have an elite quarterback already.
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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb should be started in fantasy formats Sunday when his team battles the Minnesota Vikings at Mall of America field.

Kolb was brought in to be the Cardinals’ “savior.” He was brought in by the organization to show that it was dedicated to winning. He was brought in to help re-sign receiver Larry Fitzgerald.

He’s lived up to two of those three points. But the third could come Sunday.

The Cardinals (1-3) haven’t impressed much in 2011. But look for a big day out of Kolb on Sunday. And if you need a quarterback for fantasy, Kolb would be a great player to scoop up off of waivers, if he’s there. 

Here's why...

Going Against a Weak Minnesota Pass Defense

Vikings cornerback Chris Cook (31) is part of the 28th ranked pass defense unit in the NFL.
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To say that the Minnesota Vikings pass defense is a weakness for the Vikings is an understatement.

Minnesota is ranked 28th against the pass through the first four games of the season and it doesn’t show any signs of improving.

The pass defense has been a weakness going back to the 2009 season when the Vikings overcame a weak pass defense through a strong offense and an amazing pass rush.

In 2011 the offense is quite weak and the pass rush is still strong, but not 2009 strong.

Minnesota has twice allowed its opponent to gain 335 yards or more through the air and hasn’t held an opponent to under 240 yards passing.

There is a guarantee of 16 points – scoring that gives one point per 25 yards passing and six points for a passing touchdown – for Kolb on Sunday. He will throw for 250 yards and a touchdown at least.

Going Against a Strong Minnesota Rush Defense

Middle linebacker E.J. Henderson (56) is the leader of Minnesota's fifth ranked rush defense. It should lead to more Kolb throws than Arizona run plays on Sunday.
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Minnesota has been a dominant run stuffing defense since 2006. From 2006 until now, the defense hasn’t finished a season outside the top 10 for stopping the run. And it stands as the fifth best defense against the run this season.

With such a talented run defense across the line of scrimmage, Kolb should get plenty of opportunities to sling the ball around the field as the Cardinals should look to pass more often than they run against the Vikings.

And with Minnesota’s weak pass defense and Kolb’s ability to sling the ball around the field, it should be a good day to be a Kolb owner.

Arizona Receiver Larry Fitzgerald Loves Playing Minnesota

In 2010 Larry Fitzgerald posted 107 yards receiving. Only once in four regular season games has Minnesota held Fitzgerald under 100 yards receiving.
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Fitzgerald loves playing against the team he used to idolize and work as a ball boy for as a youth.

In four regular season appearances against the Vikings Fitzgerald has only been held under 107 yards receiving once – he was held to 52 yards receiving in 2008. But the other three games he’s gone off for 107, 143 and 172 yards receiving.

With Fitzgerald due for a big game against the Vikings, that should bode well for Kolb. Fitzgerald is his No. 1 receiver. And when the No. 1 receiver is happy, it means the quarterback is happy. And when the quarterback is happy it means the other eligible receivers are happy because they get a quarterback who is comfortable, calm, and at his best.

Kolb Too Talented to Continue Playing Average Football

Kevin Kolb has only one 300-yard passing game on his 2011 resume. He's too talented to keep that number at one.
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Kevin Kolb is a young quarterback who is in his first full year as a starter – 2010 he was benched for Mike Vick.

But the Minnesota pass defense should set him up nicely for a big day – he’s only had one 300 yard passing game and hasn’t thrown more than two touchdown  passes in four 2011 contests.

In 2009 in his first ever NFL start he threw for 391 yards and two touchdowns. There were also three interceptions, but 391 yards in a game is impressive nonetheless.To follow that up, he threw for 327 yards in his second NFL start. The man has raw talent.

And with Larry Fitzgerald as his No. 1 wide receiver, he should be able to produce more than he has thus far in his Arizona career. This should be his breakout game.