Start
Antonio Gates vs Jets – With the Chargers facing the Jets this weekend, you will want to consider sitting most of the Chargers receiving corps. The same cannot be said for tight end Antonio gates who is due back from injury this week. The Jets have been susceptible to getting burned by tight ends this season and going up against one of the best in the league this week they should struggle to stop Gates. Get him in your lineups as a TE1.
Mike Wallace vs Cardinals – On paper this is a very favorable match-up as Mike Wallace faces off with the youngest and most inexperienced secondaries in the NFL. Mike Wallace is heading into this match-up with a sore hamstring so we may want to temper expectations a little bit, but there is no getting around the fact that Wallace is set up for a potentially huge fantasy day, even with double coverage rolled his way.
Carson Palmer vs Kansas City – We expect Palmer to get off to a relatively quick start as a QB2. He is familiar with Raiders head coach Hue Jackson from their time together in Cincinnati and has been taking first-team reps this week leading up to Sunday. If you need QB help during the bye week than Palmer who is available in 51 percent of yahoo! leagues may be your man.
Update: Make sure Palmer is starting as reports Friday have that Palmer may not start this week after all.
DeMarco Murray vs St. Louis – DeMarco Murray has the right match-up to have a breakout game in what figures to be his first NFL start this weekend. Murray is a complete, three-down back and will probably surprise many who only looked at his last couple of season as opposed to his entire college career. The Rams have given up 134 yards rushing and 47 yards receiving per game to opposing running backs and Murray has the tools to exploit this plus match-up; get him in lineups this week.
Mark Ingram vs Indianapolis – Mark Ingram gets a plus match-up against a struggling Colts offense that should be down early. Ingram should get a chance to get feature back carries in what should be a run heavy second half attack with the Saints expected to be up big early. The Colts are giving up 123.8 yards per game on the ground to opposing running backs. Pencil Ingram in as a solid flex option with RB2 upside in week seven.
Sit
Ryan Mathews vs Jets – The New York Jets are always a defense you consider sitting your running backs against. However this week when Mathews faces off against the Jets owners have a tough decision on their hands. Do you go with a safer option, or do you ride the hot hand of Mathews who has been rock solid the last three weeks against a defense that has lloked beatable on the ground this season? In the end the decision will come down to what other options you have available this week. If you have other options, this is a week you will want to consider sitting Mathews.
Beanie Wells vs Steelers – Despite his noteworthy success this season Beanie Wells is a recommended sit against this Steelers this weekend. The Steelers are always tough against the run and the Cardinals are expected to be playing from behind, which when coupled with the lack of Wells’ involvement in the passing game, make Wells someone you may want to consider leaving on the bench in week seven.
Jackie Battle vs Oakland – Despite Battle’s strong week five, he is a recommended sit against a ferocious front seven of the Oakland Raiders. Battle is splitting carries and is facing a plus defense, so if you have otherwise equal options during this bye week we suggest rolling with them this week.
Delone Carter vs New Orleans – With the Colts expected to be trailing early against a explosive Saints offense, the ground game will likely not be put to extensive use in this one limiting Carter’s upside this week, despite Joseph Addai’s injury issues. Carter is worth hanging onto but his upside will be limited by the Colts lack of ability to stay competitive without the arm of Peyton Manning.
