What Can J-Stew Do For You?

by JFort14

A lot. Jonathan Stewart of the Carolina Panthers is an excellent start this weekend. Buffalo's run defense couldn't stop Dewey if he was the opposing team's ball carrier.

Speaking of Dewey, he wants you to sit the Wildcat this weekend? Dewey, do you realize that Miami runs the football more than any team in the NFL (53.8%)? The best way to stop Drew Brees is simple: keep him off the field. How do you do that? By RUNNING the football. The Fish aren't going to abandon what they do best.

GET ‘EM IN THE LINEUP

Jonathan Stewart RB Carolina Panthers: Running back DeAngelo Williams is an obvious start, but J-Stew is a great play this weekend as well. Few teams in the NFL are as bad against the run as the Buffalo Bills, who are giving up 181.8 rushing yards per game (32nd) and 5.3 yards per carry (32nd). In addition, the Bills have allowed eight rushing touchdowns (28th), and no team in the NFL has given up more net rushing yards (1,091).

Still not enough? Opposing offenses KNOW they can run the ball on coach Dick Jauron’s defense. Buffalo’s opponents are averaging 34.3 rushing attempts per game; only one team in the NFL (Tampa Bay) is being run on more.

Also Start: DeAngelo Williams

Ben Roethlisberger QB Pittsburgh Steelers: If you’re a Roethlisberger owner, did you take a look at the schedule this week, see that the 6-0 Minnesota Vikings are coming to town and consider sitting your Pro Bowl quarterback? If so, I’ve got some statistics you’re going to love. (Note: Vikings defensive ranks are in parentheses).

Quarterbacks who have played the Vikings this season have combined for an average QB rating of 91.0 (23rd), are completing 64.9 percent of their passes (26th) and have tossed nine touchdowns (22nd). Overall, Minnesota ranks 24th against the pass (248.3 yards per game). Those are all great numbers for Big Ben, who is currently rocking a QB rating of 104.5 and has thrown for more than 275 yards in five of six games this season.

Also Start: Hines Ward, Heath Miller, Santonio Holmes

Johnny Knox WR Chicago Bears: Let me start by saying there are better options on the board this week, and Knox is more of a sleeper WR option for owners in deeper leagues. However, that doesn’t mean the kid won’t produce.

The rookie from Abilene-Christian has found the end zone in three of his past four outings and is averaging 7.8 fantasy points per game. Not outstanding, but great, consistent WR3 numbers. Additionally, Knox is being targeted 6.2 times per game.

The Bengals’ defense has given up nine passing touchdowns (22nd), 1,627 gross passing yards (29th) and is ranked 28th against the pass, allowing 254.8 yards per game. Expect the Bears to establish their passing game early in this one.

Also Start: Jay “Captain Comeback” Cutler

PUT ‘EM ON THE BENCH

Rashard Mendenhall RB Pittsburgh Steelers: It’s been a great ride with Mendenhall the past three weeks, but this Sunday is not a good matchup for him. The Minnesota Vikings are coming to town, and their defense has been very stout against the run, allowing just 93.5 yards per game on the ground (ninth).

The real concern here will be the battle in the trenches. The Vikings have an elite front-four anchored by stud defensive ends Jared Allen and Ray Edwards. This is a unit that has allowed just two rushing TDs all season (tied for third) and has limited opposing running backs to only 3.87 yards per carry.

Pittsburgh’s average offensive line is going to struggle opening holes and getting an initial surge. Mendenhall is going to have to scratch and claw for anything he gets in Week 7.

Also Sit: None. The rest of the Pittsburgh Steelers are solid plays this weekend.

Marc Bulger & Donnie Avery QB/WR St. Louis Rams: Everybody loves garbage time numbers, but the Colts’ defense has figured out how to limit just how much garbage they want to allow.

Indianapolis has only surrendered two passing touchdowns this season (first), and the defense is holding opposing quarterbacks to a QB rating of 71.0 (seventh) and only 5.46 yards per attempt (first), meaning they aren’t giving up the deep ball. Couple that with the fact Bulger has thrown for less than 200 yards in four games this season and you have a very weak matchup for two players that owners in deeper leagues may have been considering.

**Bonus Start** Get the Indianapolis Colts D/ST in the lineup this weekend.

Brandon Jacobs RB New York Giants: Outside of the Tennessee Titans, if everyone in the NFL were offered a re-do to the start of the 2009 season, Jacobs would be one of the first in line. The Giants bruiser is averaging a meager 3.6 yards per carry and has found the end zone just once in six games. In addition, he has yet to rush for over 100 yards in a game and has only topped the 70-yard barrier twice.

Add in the fact that the league’s top rushing defense (Arizona Cardinals) is coming to town Sunday and you have another bad matchup for one of the fantasy world’s top preseason running backs. The Cards are giving up just 2.76 yards per rush this season and have allowed only two touchdowns via the ground. Get Jacobs out of the lineup.

Not so fast…Dual-threat running back Ahmad Bradshaw is still being recommended as a start for Week 7. He’s got a similar style to Houston rusher Steve Slaton, who put up 98 total yards on the Cardinals in Week 5.

Hit me up on Twitter: @JoeFortenbaugh

Add Comment

• pelechati said October 28, 2009

  Your fantasy advice is brutal. Benching Owen Daniels last week? How in the hell do you recommend benching him in any week he leads the team in receptions.
  
  Good thing you are a kick ass writer :)

  Reply