James Morris hails from Rio Rancho, NM and has been playing fantasy sports for well over a decade. Not only does he write the Bengals fantasy section, but he also does the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Diego Chargers fantasy sections, as well as the Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves and Utah Jazz fantasy basketball sections in the NBA. Last season James finished with an 82 percent accuracy rating for fantasy predictions and will be here to answer any questions you may have about your specific team. Just send him an email and he will reply back the same day with your answer.
Here we are, Week 4 of the NFL season and the start of the bye week. Many people are having trouble finding who to drop so they can get a bye-week filler, while others are still holding onto guys that should be cut in favor of hot pickups like Glen Coffee. I?ll give you a few hot waiver-wire adds then head right into the Start/Sit predictions.
Glen Coffee: Frank Gore is out at least three weeks and Coffee is going to be the feature back. The Niners have shown to have major problems passing the ball with any consistency, so Coffee will most likely see 20+ carries a game. He is a good rental while Gore is out.
Tashard Choice: Marion Barber should be back this week to face the Broncos, but at what percentage will we see him at? Felix Jones is out of commission for a while, which means Choice is an interesting handcuff to Barber owners. If Barber sits out once again, Choice could see a lot of action this weekend.
Cincinnati Bengals Defense: The Bengals are surprising some people this season after beating the Steelers last week, but I knew better since I write for them. Their defense is a legit top 15 defense and should be owned and played this week against the helpless Cleveland Browns.
Fred Jackson: Marshawn Lynch is back this week, so Fred Jackson is no longer a starting RB in fantasy leagues. You can make a case for him in the flex spot, but Lynch is the main guy in Buffalo once again.
Jerome Harrison: I told people about this guy as a possible sleeper in Cleveland, but everyone was all hyper on James Davis instead. Jamal Lewis continues to nurse hamstring injury and that could mean Harrison gets the start this weekend against the Bengals. I?d pick him up just in case you need some RB depth in the future.
Mike Sims-Walker: He is a guy to own if you need a WR. In just two games he has 12 catches for 187 yards and a TD, so why are you still holding on to Louis Murphy and not adding Sims-Walker?
Shaun Hill: Although I like Coffee as a waiver wire addition and possible start this week, Hill should get every chance in the world to have a big game against a Rams team that is ranked No. 25 against the pass (255.3 YPG). Hopefully that translates over to Josh Morgan and Vernon Davis as well because I own them in a few leagues.
Jay Cutler: Cutler hasn?t been the hottest QB on the block so far, but the Bears face off against the Lions and that is an easy matchup for fantasy owners. I would have no problems putting Cutler in the top five for fantasy QBs this week.
Glen Coffee: I already mentioned why Coffee is a good pickup, so it is no surprise I think he is a good play against the Rams. St. Louis is weak against the pass and even worse against the run (148 YPG, ranked No. 27). I think this game could get out of control before halftime and Coffee will get some good garbage-time stats.
Cedric Benson: To be honest, I have more faith in Benson to put up good numbers this weekend than I do Portis, but the numbers are in Portis? favor. Cleveland is allowing 184.3 YPG to runners and Benson has been reborn in Cincinnati.
Pierre Garcon: Peyton Manning is Peyton Manning, but who is Pierre Garcon? Garcon has increased his production each of the first three weeks (24, 48 yards and a TD, 64 yards and a TD), so it should be no surprise he is getting some fantasy love.
Mike Sims-Walker: I love the sleeper potential in this guy so much I am going to take him from the waiver wire and start him this week. The Titans give up over 274 YPG via the air and Sims-Walker has the eye of QB David Garrard. I truly believe in this one!
Antonio Gates: Now most weeks you would say I am just trying to pad my stats with correct picks. But, this week the Chargers face the Steelers and people are honestly thinking about sitting Gates down in favor of Vernon Davis. Don?t do it; the Steelers can stop the run, but they give up 212.7 passing yards and Gates will see a lot of action.
Cincinnati Bengals Defense: The Browns are just terrible. I don?t even really need to explain this pick any further than to say they switched QBs and Derek Anderson came in and threw three INTs, and they could be using a new RB this weekend too. My lock of the week is right here.
Tony Romo: Romo has the tools to get the job done, which is probably why he has been anointed a superstar in the NFL. But, this weekend he faces a Broncos defense that gives up just 136.3 passing yards and they are tied for fifth with five interceptions on the season.
Mark Sanchez: Everyone loves the rookie Sanchez; but remember, he is still a rookie. The Saints have picked off opposing QBs seven times and since Brees will be out to prove he is better than his Week 3 performance, Sanchez will play catch-up and the Saints should add to that INT total.
Marshawn Lynch: I know I said Lynch is the man again, but the Dolphins allow just 66 rushing yards per game and Lynch is going to be too rusty to use this weekend. You?ve been sitting him until now, so one more week won?t hurt.
Thomas Jones: I don?t see Jones busting anything big against a Saints defense that has allowed just 67 rushing YPG and two TDs this season. Jones shows flashes of still being good, but he is averaging only 3.8 YPC this season and has just two catches for one yard; not what you call a versatile back.
Dwayne Bowe: Bowe is quickly becoming a WR1 bust in that awful Chiefs offense. Bowe failed to take a single rep at practice on Wednesday and even if he does play the Giants lead the NFL in passing YPG allowed (124.0).
Roy Williams: I guess it goes hand-in-hand that Romo and Williams are on this list. Williams will match up against Champ Bailey and even though Bailey isn?t what he once was, he is still better than Williams.
John Carlson: I had so many high hopes for this guy before the season started, but when Hasselbeck went down the hopes went out the window. The Colts are ranked 10th in pass defense (192.3 YPG) and Seneca Wallace doesn?t help the value at all.
New England Patriots Defense: The Baltimore Ravens come into this game ranked No. 2 in total yards per game with 430.3. The Patriots don?t have the defense they once did but people keep starting them because they are still a ?name? defense.
Q: I need your expertise on this one. I have Marshawn Lynch on my roster. I know that Fred Jackson is off to a good start. Would you start Marshawn Lynch thinking he will be Buffalo's starter again or sit him?
--Matt, Cincinnati, OH*
A: I always like to give guys one week to see how rusty they are. Lynch is going to be the No. 1 RB and the passing game is not that good. Remember, Miami is only giving up 66 rushing yards per game and they are ranked No. 3 in the NFL right now. I'd sit him this week if you can, which shouldn?t be too hard since we have all done without him for the first three weeks of the season.
