Fantasy Football Week 7: The Shame Of Eli

I am still recovering from my suggestion to start Eli Manning last week - may be a few more weeks.  But at least my other picks were pretty solid.  Tomlinson, Ocho, Westbrook, and Portis weren’t spectacular, but they all cracked 100 yards.  So even though plenty of teams probably lost their week due to my Manning suggestion, I will continue…

QBs: You know what, you have to face your fears head on.  That’s why if you have Eli Manning, start him (not over the likes of Drew Brees, though).  Why?  Because he is a Manning and he doesn’t like having back to back poor games.   His team just got torched and Eli is going to want to show his former mentor, Kurt Warner, that he is all grown up.  AZ shouldn’t be able to put much pressure on a stout NY line and this one should be a real shootout.  I think Eli bounces back and has the best game of any QB drafted in 2004’s first round (Big Ben and Rivers).  I like Cutler and Romo too over the likes of Favre and McNabb.

RBs: I don’t know if I believe myself, but Tim Hightower seems like a pretty attractive RB3 this week and a potential RB2.  Beanie Wells is back, but not 100%.  Breaston and Boldin are both iffy.  Hightower has the ability to catch the ball, and is the goal line hawk on the team in what could be the highest scoring game in the league this week.  At the same time I hate any runner on the Raiders (Fargas, Bush) or Bills (Lynch, Jackson) for the RB3 slot. Donald Brown, Tashard Choice and Carnell Williams are all better upside plays.

WRs: Did I mention Steve Breaston already?  I think so.  But if he starts, he will be a monster.  Kurt Warner should be able to take advantage of the huge slashes Drew Brees cut into the NY Giants defense.  Plus, as mentioned, Boldin is battling an ankle and hasn’t practiced yet this week.  Also, any Indianapolis reliever should be just fine.  No on Sidney Rice, T.O., or Crabtree.

TEs: If you own bye week players like John Carlson, Todd Heap, or Tony Scheffler and are out on the waiver wire, your options are probably pretty thin.  Ben Watson and Zach Miller should be serviceable for 5-7 points, with the upside leaning towards Watson.  I know Miller had the game of his life last week, but I never ever trust a Raider.  The most interesting available player is probably Packer great Jermichael Finley.  He is averaging 5 catches a game over the last 3, has big play potential, and is going against a weak Browns secondary.  It’s time for Rodgers to unleash the beast!