Fantasy Football: Week 11 Preview, Part Two

Before we get into the second half of the preview, let's talk about last night.

I don't know who that guy was or what he did with Matt Cassel, but the Patriots quarterback just earned himself a starting job somewhere in the NFL next year.

Cassel still makes mistakes. He runs better than Brady, but he runs too quickly. Some of them are situations where Brady finds it possible to get the ball to a receiver. He's not as sound in the pocket, and there are instances he doesn't finish his reads.

That said, we're talking about a guy that now has 10 career starts under his belt. If his defense could have made a play last night, the Patriots win that game. I'm not sold on Cassel as an every-week fantasy starter, but I'm certainly never going to call for him to be as majorly shut down as I thought he would be last night.

The Jets' secondary looked confused. You can throw on them, and the Pats proved that. Leon Washington has plenty of value, and hopefully this sold a few more people on him. Dustin Keller had eight receptions last night. I'm not quite there yet, but he's a decent tight end option for guys that are looking to cut Shockey.

Let's get to the rest of the games.

Detroit at Carolina

Who to Start: Calvin Johnson, Kevin Smith, DeAngelo Williams, Muhsin Muhammad

Who to Sit: All other Lions, Jonathan Stewart

What to Expect: I'd expect this game to be uglier than usual for the Lions. Look, they've been bad and now face a decent team on the road. Just doesn't add up here.

It doesn't matter who is playing quarterback for the Lions, I wouldn't touch anyone in this passing game outside of Johnson. Johnson finds a way to get himself in the end zone every week, garbage time or not. As fantasy owners, we don't care when it happens as long as it does.

What about the rest of the Lions? I like Kevin Smith about the same as I have the last few weeks. Smith should put up 75 and a score. If you need him, he's worth the start. Smith has scored regularly, and the Panthers can be run on. Even Justin Fargas put up yards last week. It can be done.

On the Carolina side, I still can't recommend starting Jake Delhomme. Yes, this is the Lions, but he still has had accuracy problems and struggled against a secondary in Oakland that he should have been able to throw against. He should be able to find his receivers, specifically Smith and Muhammad, for two touchdowns, but the yardage hasn't been there. The Panthers are still going to be looking to run the ball as well.

And that's where you want to own DeAngelo Williams. He's going to have fun this week. Every back that has faced the Lions has had a good day. Keep him active and enjoy the ride on this one.

Sleeper Pickup: Dante Rosario. Just a feeling. I love the tight ends as sleepers because they're usually available.

St. Louis at San Francisco

Who to Start: Donnie Avery, Antonio Pittman (if Jackson can't go), Isaac Bruce, Josh Morgan
 
Who to Sit: Marc Bulger, Steven Jackson
 
What to Expect: Everyone is big on the San Francisco defense this week. Sure, the Rams don't have the talent that the Cardinals do, but did people watch the game last week?

Odds are I'm wrong on this one, but I wouldn't go reaching for a defense out of the NFC West if I had the chance to start some of the better ranked options in the league. Bulger was awful last week, but he has the weapons to make this a game. Donnie Avery is inconsistent, but I'll go with him for a touchdown and 70 yards in this one. I like Holt to put up a touchdown as well.

Steven Jackson is still hurt, and Antonio Pittman might get himself another start. Against the 49ers, I like Pittman as a flex option. He should find the end zone himself. I'm not recommending to start Bulger in this one just because receivers can have good games without their quarterback being successful. I think we could have that happen here.

I'm not a big fan of many guys on the San Francisco side of the ball. I did like what we saw of of Hill last week, and I think that makes Bruce and Morgan good starts. The St. Louis defense can be beaten through the air, and every team they have faced in recent weeks has proven that. With Frank Gore slightly injured, the need for performance out of the passing game is that much more important.

Look at both Bruce and Morgan as flex plays, but I feel they both score. Morgan is more of a yardage threat and will come up with a play of 40-plus yards. Bruce has more value in PPR formats, because of how good he is in the possession game.

I start Gore in this one unless I hear otherwise. He'll be in for a good day.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Pittman. With Jackson hurt, he can put up yards. Even did so last week in the blowout.

Arizona at Seattle

Who to Start: John Carlson, Steve Breaston, Tim Hightower
 
Who to Sit: Matt Hasselbeck
 
What to Expect: Arizona should be in for another big game this week.

Kurt Warner is getting a lot of pub for the MVP, and he should at this point. I think this week is another 300-yard, three touchdown performance. The Seattle pass defense is as bad as the Seattle run defense. I'd keep Boldin, Fitzgerald, and Breaston in any lineup I have.

These guys are all in for big games, whether it is in yardage or in the end zone. That's really all there is to it in this one. It's nice when they make it easy for us!

Keep Tim Hightower active in this game. I know he struggled a bit more than we might like last week, but this is a different team and a good matchup for the running back. He's in for 80 yards and a score for this one.

I'm still not sold on anything Seattle. Hasselbeck being back makes this better for the Seahawks, but he's going to be looking to regain timing as much as he is to make plays. I'm not looking at Engram or anyone else to do much beyond Carlson. Carlson gets the love because of his nature as the outlet and dump-of receiver.

I'd avoid the running game in Seattle, too. Just a feeling.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Carlson. He's available and is going to get the targets this week. Look for him to find the end zone.

Tennessee at Jacksonville

Who to Start: Justin Gage, Matt Jones, Bo Scaife, Brandon Jones
 
Who to Sit: Fred Taylor, David Garrard
 
What to Expect: Tennessee struggled running the ball last week, but I don't think that will be the case against the Jags.

As much trouble as Johnson and White had against the Bears, they'll have nearly as much success against Jacksonville. Both of these guys need to be in your lineup this week. The combination will reach 180 yards and three scores. Place on the field is as much a key to determining the division as anything.

Kerry Collins proved the last two weeks that he has the ability to throw the football. I don't think he'll be asked to do that this week. They just won't have to. Collins will still look to Gage and Scaife for yardage, but I only see Gage coming down with a score. Brandon Jones has had either 40 yards or a score in three straight weeks. Just making the note.

As you look at the Jags, you can't like matchups against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Jones-Drew is coming off one of his best rushing performances of his career, but the Jags still seem intent on continuing to give Fred Taylor carries. Against this defense, Jones-Drew is a better option because of his versatility. Taylor isn't going to find the room.

Garrard is likely in for a rough day. The Titans have been very tough against the pass and Garrard isn't consistent. I like Matt Jones, because he's always targeted. Jones finds the end zone and gets 80 yards to boot. If we're looking for other options, try Marcedes Lewis.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Gage. He's one of Collins' favorite receivers, and he seems to find a way to score.

San Diego at Pittsburgh

Who to Start: Vincent Jackson, Chris Chambers, Hines Ward, Willie Parker, Mewelde Moore
 
Who to Sit: Ben Roethlisberger, Santonio Holmes
 
What to Expect: I'm sticking to my guns on this one and not starting Big Ben. I don't think he's healthy, I don't like the way he's performed, and I don't think that's going to change even against San Diego.

Is this a better matchup for him? Of course it is. The Chargers could bet on gravity and lose at this point. Until he does it, though, I'm not buying. There are too many other good options available to start. Hines Ward still should be fine, as he's going to get his regardless of the situation. Add to that, Nate Washington continues to get himself in position to make a big play every week.

I'm just avoiding Holmes for this matchup. The San Diego secondary should be able to hold him away from the deep ball.

Whether it is Willie Parker or Mewelde Moore, both of these guys are great options against any poor rushing defense. That's what we have here with the Chargers. Parker is expected to start, and I'd have him active. I also think we'll still see enough carries for Moore to make him worth a flex start.

On the San Diego side, I keep Rivers starting in this one. Even against the Steelers pass defense, you don't bench the top quarterback unless there is another fantastic option sitting on your bench. I'm not afraid of using him this week. The Steelers will key on stopping Tomlinson.

That will make decent starts out of Jackson and Gates for certain. Add to that, Chambers went through a whole practice without a problem yesterday, creating another option.

Jackson should be good for 90 and a score. Gates should find the end zone as well. Tomlinson will get another one and rush for 100 yards with 30 through the air.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Washington. He makes big plays. You can't deny that.

Dallas at Washington

Who to Start: Santana Moss, Shaun Alexander, Antwaan Randle El, Jason Campbell, Patrick Crayton
 
Who to Sit: Tony Romo, Felix Jones, Clinton Portis
 
What to Expect: The questions this week have largely focused on Tony Romo. Let's settle this one out of the gate.

I don't think this is a good play here. Romo isn't going to be 100 percent, he's even said that. He has no rapport with Roy Williams at this point. Felix Jones is still out. The Redskins' secondary is pretty good. It's a rough matchup to come back to, especially on the road. I'm going to leave this one alone.

Sure, he probably creates a good game for Owens and Crayton, certainly much more than what they got from Johnson or Bollinger anyway. Crayton gets the nod over Williams in our book because of how he'll work underneath the coverage. Williams draws the No. 2 corner, meaning Crayton is your slot guy. Romo probably gets one through the air.

Barber will be asked to do the damage on the ground. He should be able to do just that. I like him a lot in this one, and he'll find the end zone twice.

I'm going to go out on a limb with Campbell here. The Dallas secondary is weak, and Portis isn't a given as a start. To me, that means we'll need to see more of what Campbell can do in order to get the win. I'll start Cooley, Moss, and Randle El in this one, because I have more faith in Campbell than I do the Dallas secondary.

Look for Campbell to hit 260 yards with two touchdown passes. Moss and Randle El haul them in this week, with Cooley getting enough yards and receptions to be a fine tight end start in this one. I don't think Campbell breaks three scores, but he won't throw a pick either.

If they run, they could have a worse option than Shaun Alexander in reserve here. Alexander will break the plane of the goal and add 60 yards to that. He has much more upside, but this could be his first full-time work. I'm being conservative.
 
Sleeper Pickup: Alexander. Gotta love the upside here, especially if the Portis injury is more serious.

Cleveland at Buffalo

Who to Start: Marshawn Lynch, Lee Evans, Braylon Edwards, Kellen Winslow
 
Who to Sit: Trent Edwards, Steve Heiden
 
What to Expect: Expect that I know Brady Quinn isn't on either list.

Quinn is coming off a very solid first outing, but that's exactly what it was. He made mistakes, and he made some plays. This is going to be his first exposure to a road crowd, and Buffalo is COLD.

If you have better options, don't go reaching to use Quinn here. I like him for 230 and two scores, but I think he'll be picked twice in this one. Even with Buffalo's secondary struggling a bit of late.

Edwards and Winslow are your must starts, and I'd use Jamal Lewis in the running game as well. Winslow had a pretty good connection with Quinn last week, and I think that continues as he finds the end zone again. Edwards is going to get a top corner, but it's going to basically be a third-string guy. I'll take that matchup every day.

Lewis should grab the end zone with 90 yards.

I'm staying away from Trent Edwards here. We all seem to have overrated him at the beginning of the season, and it's time to take a step back here. Lee Evans is going to be fine, because he's still the best target Edwards has.

There just isn't much else in this one. There is a strong chance that Edwards presses a bit just because of the coverage this game is going to get.

I'm still starting Marshawn Lynch. This is the week he breaks 100. It has to be. We drafted him as a top back for a reason, and this is the week he shows it to us.
 
Sleeper Pickup: None in this one, stick with what you know.

Enjoy the games!