Perhaps more difficult than any waiver-wire add, trade or start ’em, sit ’em decision is when owners have to decide to bench or start star players in tough matchups.
Sitting a star can save or ruin a week. There’s one school of thought suggesting owners start stars no matter what, but if this were the case—as a brief example—owners should have received more than six points from Carolina Panthers running back Jonathan Stewart last week in a projected rough encounter.
Slapping big names on the bench isn’t an easy call. But ego aside, since doing so and watching him explode on the bench is never fun, it’s a decision eventual league winners make at the right time.
Week 10 offers plenty of these puzzles, so let’s look at value comparisons at each position and then look at some of the stars to play and bench.
QB
Star to Know: Derek Carr, Oakland Raiders (vs. MIN)
Some might not consider him so yet, but Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr is the definition of a fantasy star.
Carr sits among the top 10 scorers at the position and touts five games with 20 or more points, including such performances in three consecutive outings, the last two featuring four touchdown passes apiece.
Wow, right? Carr’s a threat against any defense these days, meaning owners shouldn’t worry about a matchup with the pesky Minnesota Vikings defense.
The Vikings surrender the sixth-fewest points to quarterbacks this year, but a quick glance at the schedule shows it’s been a cakewalk so far. Not anymore, so keep Carr in those lineups.
Star to Sit: Jay Cutler, Chicago Bears (at STL)
Like it or not, Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler still qualifies for the “star” description.
His season’s been riddled with injuries and an organization that acts like it wants to look toward the draft, but Cutler’s still managed 17 or more points in five consecutive games.
A great run, no doubt, but don’t expect the same from Cutler against the St. Louis Rams.
The hosts allow the second-fewest points to quarterbacks. In back-to-back matchups against Carson Palmer and Aaron Rodgers, the unit didn’t allow more than 16 points in each contest.
Cutler won’t reach a floor close to that number on the road.
RB
Star to Know: James Starks, Green Bay Packers (vs. DET)
It’s over for Eddie Lacy in Green Bay, at least for now.
Thanks to putrid play from the starter, James Starks received a promotion from coach Mike McCarthy this week, according to the team’s Twitter account:
Don’t think Starks qualifies as a star? This is a guy who posted a whopping 23 points in Week 6 in relief of Lacy, then last week took on an elite Carolina Panthers defense on the road and turned 10 carries into 17 points.
Starks is a fantasy star at the least, and it’s why the Packers are comfortable making a change. The Detroit Lions allow the fourth-most points to running backs this year, so grab Starks and get him in those lineups.
Star to Sit: LeSean McCoy, Buffalo Bills (at NYJ)
Owners might wince, but it’s time to shy away from Shady again.
LeSean McCoy of the Buffalo Bills just cannot seem to stay healthy this year. He’s listed as probable for Thursday Night Football against the New York Jets at BuffaloBills.com, but firing up the oft-hobbled back on short notice doesn’t make a ton of sense.
McCoy might have looked great last weekend with 17 points, but it was just his third trip to double digits this year. These Jets surrender the second-fewest points to his position this year, with only one touchdown allowed and just two backfields reaching the double-digit mark.
If this weren’t a short turnaround for a Thursday game, fine. But Shady just suffered another injury, minor or not, going into a nightmare matchup. Owners can get more value from streaming options.
WR
Star to Know: Stefon Diggs, Minnesota Vikings (at OAK)
Vikings wideout Stefon Diggs finally had a down week with just four points in Week 9, snapping a three-game streak with 12 or more points.
Don’t expect it to start a downward trend, though.
Diggs still stands tall as one of the league’s premier deep threats going into a showdown with Carr’s Raiders, who have coughed up 21 or more points to opposing wideouts five times this year.
In fact, the unit’s last two times out, opposing wideouts posted 32 or more points. Diggs will get back to double digits, if not find paydirt against the struggling unit in what could devolve into a shootout right out of the gates.
Star to Sit: Jeremy Maclin, Kansas City Chiefs (at DEN)
Formerly one of the league’s premier target hogs in Kansas City, Jeremy Maclin hasn’t reached double digits since Week 4 as the Chiefs continue their downward spiral.
Despite the struggles, 92.3 percent of owners can’t help but hang onto Maclin, who can post major games at a moment’s notice, such as the 20-point outburst from Week 3 or the 14 points the following week.
Just don’t expect it to happen this weekend on the road against the Denver Broncos. Maclin last encountered the Broncos in Week 2, where he caught just four passes for 57 yards and five points.
No shock there—Denver surrenders the second-fewest points to the position with just one touchdown allowed to wideouts this year.
TE
Star to Know: Delanie Walker, Tennessee Titans (vs. CAR)
Tennessee Titans tight end Delanie Walker showed what he can do last weekend when the game plan goes his way (as well as a lucky tip or two) by catching seven passes for 95 yards and two touchdowns, good for 23 points.
The thing is Walker has caught six or more passes in five games this season, but has gone for double digits just twice. He’s consistent, but his fantasy production relies on the team getting him looks near paydirt.
Tennessee shouldn’t have any problems with that this week against the Panthers, a defense ranked in the middle of the pack against the position and having allowed three touchdowns to the spot over the past two weeks.
Star to Sit: Jimmy Graham, Seattle Seahawks (vs. ARI)
Jimmy Graham of the Seattle Seahawks hardly ranks among the top 10 scorers at his position this year, which says quite a lot about his role with his new team.
The crazy part? One would think part of this has to do with playing the elite Arizona Cardinals defense twice a year—but this week will be his first encounter with the team as a member of the Seahawks.
Graham has just two scores on the season and three trips to double digits. The Cardinals allow the third-fewest points to the position and have coughed up just one touchdown and as many double-digit outings.
Look for the Cardinals to silence Graham.
All scoring info courtesy of ESPN standard leagues, as is points-against info and ownership stats as of November 12. Statistics courtesy of ESPN. Atlanta, Indianapolis, San Diego, San Francisco on bye.
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