With many of the bigger fantasy producers from last year struggling this season (Peyton Manning, Maurice Jones-Drew, Ryan Grant, Braylon Edwards, Chad Johnson, etc.), it's become more and more challenging to set those fantasy line-ups. Who to start and who to sit? A simple question that no longer has a simple answer. So, what do you do when you can no longer just turn to your big names, well, why not to turn to one of the big names in the fantasy football industry, Bruno Boys Fantasy Football! Take a look at our Week 6 Start Em and Sit Em, and you'll be well on your way to that week 6 victory!
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QUARTERBACKS - START 'EM
Aaron Rodgers (Green Bay Packers) @ Seattle
So much for that sore shoulder. After having his durability questioned, which will happen when you replace the iron man, Brett Favre, Rodgers ended up playing in week 5 against the Atlanta Falcons and lit up the fantasy scoreboard, going for 313 passing yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. With the performance, Rodgers has proven he can not only play through pain, but that he can excel with it. He should excel again this week as the Packers get set to face a Seattle Seahawks defense that was just shredded by Eli Manning and has allowed 7 passing TDs on the year, while intercepting opposing QBs just once.
Eli Manning (New York Giants) @ Cleveland
Speaking of that shredding of the Seattle Seahawks by Eli Manning, make sure the quarterback is in your fantasy line-ups again for week 6. Eli's no longer living in the shadow of older brother Peyton. With a Super Bowl win under his belt, he's much more confident as a passer and more comfortable in the pocket. Without Plaxico Burress, Manning spread the ball around in week 5 to the tune of 267 yards and 2 TDs. With Burress back on the field in week 6, he should have just as solid an outing against a Browns' secondary that really hasn't been tested since week 1, when they gave up 320 yards and a TD to Tony Romo.
David Garrard (Jacksonville Jaguars) @ Denver
Much to my chagrin, I have to give credit to Bruno Boys Cavigs, who predicted that the momentum of that week 3 comeback against the Indianapolis Colts would propel Garrard to play at the level many expected him to be at this season. Since that week 3 win, Garrard has had two solid back-to-back games, going for 23 and 13 fantasy points. He should at least be somewhere between those two numbers in week 6 as he'll be throwing against the 30th ranked pass defense in the league in the Denver Broncos.
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QUARTERBACKS - SIT 'EM
Peyton Manning (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Baltimore
It used to be that the only question surrounding Peyton Manning when it came to the weekly quarterback rankings was whether the Colts' QB would be number one. Now, Manning is on the brink of slipping out of the top ten and is no longer a must play. While Manning did put up 15 points against the Houston Texans in week 5, a good deal of those came only after Sage Rosenfels' fumblitis in the last 4 minutes of the game. We're not too thrilled about Manning's week 6 match-up with a Ravens defense that is giving up just 128.5 passing yards per game and has intercepted QBs 7 times, while only giving up 3 passing TDs, and you shouldn't be either.
Jon Kitna (Detroit Lions) @ Minnesota
While it was back spasms that led to Kitna taking a place on the bench in the Lions' embarrassing loss to the Chicago Bears, don't be surprised if poor play puts the QB there permanently. Minnesota just held Drew Brees, one of the best QBs in the league, to a scant 11 fantasy points. Kitna may longer even be mediocre, so what makes you think he'll do any better?
Marc Bulger (St. Louis Rams) @ Washington
With Scott Linehan shown the door and Jim Haslett taking over, Bulger has been reinstated as the Rams' starting QB, and rightfully so, as the Rams' offensive woes are not solely the QBs fault. But, just because he got his NFL job back, doesn't mean Bulger should earn himself any fantasy jobs back. The fact of the matter is that through 4 games, the Rams have just 43 points. It's going to take a lot more than a new head coach to right this ship.
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RUNNING BACKS - START 'EM
Clinton Portis (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis
Portis' most disappointing outing of the year, came in week 1 when the back ran for 84 yards for just 8 fantasy points. Since then, Portis has gone for at least 13 fantasy points each game. He's coming off an outing in which he totaled 145 rushing yards and a score against a team, the Philadelphia Eagles, that despite Portis' big game is still just allowing 86.6 rush yards per game. Ya, we're pretty confident, he'll be just fine going against the St. Louis Rams and their 28th ranked rush defense.
Ronnie Brown (Miami Dolphins) @ Houston
Usually, it takes running backs a couple of years to bounce back from the type of injury Ronnie Brown suffered last season, but Brown is not your usual running back, and it appears the Dolphins' back is back dominating opposing defenses. In his last two games, Brown has produced 39 and 18 fantasy point efforts. The Dolphins are making him a focal point of the offense, utilizing what is known as the "Wildcat" offense, in which Brown lines up as QB in a shotgun formation and takes a direct snap, and should continue to do so against a Houston Texans team that's allowing opposing teams 139.8 rushing yards per game to go along with 8 total rushing TDs.
Steve Slaton (Houston Texans) vs. Miami
In that same Miami Dolphins - Houston Texans match-up, don't forget the other back that's been making a statement of late, the Texans' Steve Slaton. After a rude welcome to the NFL in which he totaled just 43 yards on 13 attempts against the Pittsburgh Steelers in week 1 of the season, Slaton has been on fire, going for 17, 17, and 21 fantasy points. Yes, the Dolphins boast the 7th best rush defense in the league, but the best part about Slaton is that he can hurt you with either the run or the pass. You can be sure, he'll find one way or another to get his this week.
LeRon McClain (Baltimore Ravens) @ Indianapolis
So, I know I normally just talk about three Start Ems each week for running backs, but I love McClain so much this week that I just had to add a fourth. A relative unknown before the season, McClain has gone for 10 or more fantasy points in each of the Ravens' 4 games this season. And, he should make it 5 straight as Baltimore heads to Indy to take on the Colts. This game is the perfect storm for McClain as the Ravens will look to keep Manning and Co. off the field by pounding the ball all day long against the league's worst rush defense.
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RUNNING BACKS - SIT 'EM
Jonathan Stewart (Carolina Panthers) @ Tampa Bay
After DeAngelo Williams' week 5 performance that netted his owners 32 fantasy points, you can bet the Carolina Panthers try to ride the hot hand and give Williams the bulk of the carries in this one. Even if Stewart was getting the majority of touches, I still wouldn't suggest using him in this match-up. After all, the Bucs are giving up less than 100 rushing yards per game and have yet to yield a rushing TD.
Jamal Lewis (Cleveland Browns) vs. New York Giants
Let's get one thing straight, their hasn't been a bigger let down this season than the Cleveland Browns offense. And, while Jamal Lewis did get 14 fantasy points before the team's week 5 bye, he'll be back to single digits this Monday Nights as the Browns welcome the New York Giants to town. On the year, the Giants are allowing just 82 rushing yards per game and have allowed just one rushing TD.
Chris Perry (Cincinnati Bengals) @ New York Jets
Ok, maybe I was wrong before, Perry may be just as big a let down this year as the Cleveland Browns offense. After being handed the starting job, Perry has done little with it. Yes, he had two nice performances for 12 and 14 fantasy points in weeks 2 and 3, but he has managed a combined 4 fantasy points in the Bengals other three games. Perry's been so bad that he could end up losing his job to Cedric Benson. A week 6 match-up against a tough New York Jets rush D won't help Perry gain any job security.
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WIDE RECEIVERS - START 'EM
TJ Houshmandzadeh (Cincinnati Bengals) @ New York Jets
The Jets may be proud owners of the 5th best rush defense in the league, but they also sport the 31st ranked pass defense, and it is through the air that the Bengals will try to get their first win of the season. That's great news for Housh, who has 19 more targets than Chad Ocho Cinco on the year. It's obvious that Housh is Carson Palmer's target of choice, which means a big week is ahead.
Santana Moss (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis
Don't let the goose eggs from week 5 dissway you from starting Moss in week 6. The Philadelphia Eagles went into their battle with the Washington Redskins last week with the belief that if they took Moss away from Jason Campbell, they would get the win. Turns out they were wrong as the Redskins rolled to a 23 to 17 victory. The Rams won't copy the Eagle's losing game plan, and even if they did, their 28th ranked pass defense would still have trouble keeping the ball out of Moss' hands.
Bernard Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Detroit
We predicted that Berrian would find the endzone for the first time as a member of the Minnesota Vikings last week and sure enough he did. Berrian's week 5 effort in which he went for 110 receiving yards and a TD helped the Vikes pull off a huge win in New Orleans. The wide out should be rewarded with plenty of targets against a Detroit Lions team that may not even belong in the NFL. They rank 29th against the pass, so look for Berrian to put up solid numbers and get his second TD as a Viking.
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WIDE RECEIVERS - SIT 'EM
Marvin Harrison (Indianapolis Colts) vs. Baltimore
Even the optimists are beginning to see the glass as half empty when it comes to Harrison. Yes, the knee has held up through 4 games, but what good is a healthy knee when you're not producing on it. Harrison is averaging just 41 yards per game this season, and we believe he'd be lucky to hit that number this week against a stellar Ravens pass defense.
Chad Ocho Cinco (Cincinatti Bengals) @ New York Jets
Ocho Stink needs to pick up his game. If he doesn't, no way people will shell out cash for those Ocho Cinco jerseys next year. While it may be hard to drop Ocho Cinco at this juncture, it shouldn't be hard to sit him. His 19 fantasy points are just 3 more than the Bengals' 3rd wide out, Antonio Chatman. Until he has at least one decent game, let him ride the pine.
Deion Branch (Seattle Seahawks) vs. Green Bay
All those owners' stashing Branch on their bench were thrilled to see the wide out go in week 5 against the Giants; however, by the end of the game, chances are things got broken as Branch once again was bit by the injury bug. This time around it's the wide out's heel that's the problem. Is anyone else reminded of Samuel L. Jackson's character in Unbreakable.
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TIGHT ENDS - START 'EM
Visanthe Shiancoe (Minnesota Vikings) vs. Detroit
With Gus Frerotte under center instead of Tarvaris Jackson, the Vikings actually have two dimensions to their offense, something evidenced by Frerotte's 222 passing yards in the Vikings week 5 win over the New Orleans Saints. Because of that, Shiancoe has turned into a viable starting option at the tight end position, especially this season as multiple tight ends are failing to live up to their potential. Shiancoe is currently the 8th best fantasy tight end through 5 weeks of football, and a match-up with the Lions could move him even higher on that list.
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TIGHT ENDS - SIT 'EM
Todd Heap (Baltimore Ravens) @ Indianapolis
If your fantasy league rewards points for blocking, then Heap is your guy. If not, avoid using him at all costs. The Ravens' tight end, who was once a fantasy beast, has found himself occupying the role of a 6th offensive linemen more than he's been a pass catcher. With the Ravens relying heavily on the run, especially in this once, Heap's value is minimal.
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KICKERS - START 'EM
Shaun Suisham (Washington Redskins) vs. St. Louis
After a rocky start to the season, in which he missed 3 of his first 7 field goal attempts, Suisham has been rock solid, going 7 for 7 in the team's last two games. In those games, he has earned 14 and 15 fantasy points. You know the Redskins will go big against the Rams, so make sure Suisham is in your line-ups.
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KICKERS - SIT 'EM
Martin Gramatica (New Orleans Saints) vs. Oakland
Wait, we're suggesting you sit Gramatica against the Oakland Raiders at home? That's correct, and if you pay as much attention to fantasy football as we do, then you know why. Gramatica's season is over as the Saints have placed the kicker on injured reserve as the result of a groin injury. Still, how much you want to bet, some owner keeps him in his line-up for Sunday's game?
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DEFENSES - START 'EM
New York Giants @ Cleveland
What's not to like about a match-up that pits the league's 3rd best defense against the leagues worst offense? The Browns are averaging a putrid 11.5 points per game, while the Giants have given up just a smidge over 12 points per game at 12.2. Yea, the Browns aren't going to fix their offensive woes in this one.
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DEFENSES - SIT 'EM
Seattle Seahawks vs. Green Bay
The Seahawks were the 6th best defense when it came to limiting opponents' points in 2007, giving up just 18.2 a game; however, something has gone horribly wrong as the team is allowing the 4th most points a game this season at 31 points per game. Aaron Rodgers should shred them up just like Eli did in week 5.
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WEEK 6 RANKINGS (click to view)
Quarterbacks
Running Backs
Wide Receivers
Tight Ends
Kickers
Team Defense
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