Most of the borderline players are looking like they’re going to play, but check back until 10:00 a.m. to see if anything changes as official inactives are announced.

8:59 - Earnest Graham added to Not Playing. What’s he doing on your roster anyway?
9:05 - Matthew Stafford is officially not playing. What’s a Lion other than Kevin Smith doing on your roster?

Playing

Joseph Addai
Donnie Avery (but Kyle Boller is throwing to him, so beware)
Antonio Bryant
Jamal Lewis (limited carries, bench anyway)
Eli Manning
Zach Miller
Jonathan Stewart
Wes Welker

Not Playing

Marc Bulger
Earnest Graham
Felix Jones
Matthew Stafford
Roy Williams

Too Close to Call

Jerricho Cotchery
Steve Breaston

Is it cheating to plug a backup RB who gets the start in on All-Start?  I say no.  Especially since I’m starting both as bye week replacements.  Always keep an eye on injury reports, you never know who you’ll find to fill in for a week or two.

Also, last week Buffalo was both my All-Start and All-Bench defense.  I don’t know how that happened.  So I dropped both.  And, come on, someone warn me about things like that.

(Wins) Team: Week (Season)
(2) All-Start: 87 (225)
(1) All-Bench: 52 (215)

Read the rest of this entry »

Things did not go well in Week 2.

In my defense I nailed Moss, Boldin, Slaton and the San Diego D on All-Bench.  Of course I couldn’t possibly be more wrong on Cutler, Larry Johnson and Carolina’s Steve Smith.  So the total wasn’t good.

But now things are evening out.  Brighter days are ahead.

(Wins) Team: Season (Week)
(1) All-Start: 53 (138)
(1) All-Bench: 91 (163)

Read the rest of this entry »

Week 1 could have been worse.

Like the NFL’s players (except Adrian Peterson), I’m still shaking the rust off.  So I’ll take an 85-72 All-Start win.  I did nail Matt Ryan and Cedric Benson on All-Start and Lee Evans and the Miami D on All-Bench after all.  Of course with four double-digit All-Bench performances I whiffed on my fair share as well…

But it’s a new week!  A week in which I take some big risks, putting quite a few Pro Bowl players on the All-Bench team.

Week 2 picks below, Week 1 results past that.

(Wins) Team: Season (Week)
(1) All-Start: 85 (85)
(0) All-Bench: 72 (72)

Read the rest of this entry »

That’s right, Start/Bench is back!

If you’re just joining us, every week I choose a starting lineup of non-obvious players for an All-Start Team and an All-Bench Team, and pit them against each other using default Yahoo scoring. Basically, these are borderline guys who I think will have a good or bad week.

Last season All-Start (thankfully) won with a 9-3 record.  Their total scores were 1,167 for All-Start and 893 for All-Bench.  Can I beat that?  I really hope so.  And the quest starts…now.

Read the rest of this entry »

Well, it’s the home stretch.  The playoffs.  For those of you who made it this far, Start/Bench this week is weighted to players who have something to play for, teams right on the edge of the real playoffs for whom every week is an elimination game.  And for those of us you who fell short of the playoffs, well, this’ll help you in your consolation tournament to save face.

Team: Last Week (Season)
All-Start: 61 (1167)
All-Bench: 42 (893)

Read the rest of this entry »

Week 14.  The games really count now.  You might be in the playoffs, you might be desperately trying to make the playoffs, you might be trying to make the consolation tournament, but you owe it to yourself to make one last check of your lineup.

And I’m here to help with the quarterbacks, running backs, tight ends, kickers and defenses who will perform better or worse than average this week.  The wide receivers are basically a formality at this point.

Oh, and one bonus prediction: Alabama wins by seven.

Team: Last Week (Season)
All-Start: 100 (1106)
All-Bench: 39 (851)

Read the rest of this entry »

In honor of Thanksgiving, that time of family, overeating and eight televised pro football games in one week, Start/Bench is coming early.  You better enjoy this because it’s also your Christmas present.

As an added challenge to myself, I’m including one player from each Thursday game on each team.  Why?  Because if possible I try to do the same on my fantasy team.  Makes the games more exciting, gives you a rooting interest.

Team: Game (Season)
All-Start: 83 (1006)
All-Bench: 73 (812)

Read the rest of this entry »

My goal for this week?  No All-Bench players having inexplicable breakout weeks.  Last week I got burned by a few players who came out of nowhere, but not this time!  I hope.

Team: Game (Season)
All-Start: 77 (923)
All-Bench: 86 (739)

Read the rest of this entry »

Would it be too easy to list Jay Cutler on the All-Start team?

I think next week this will come on Wednesday since missing a game limits my possibilities.  Also there won’t be an election next Tuesday so I’ll have the time.  At least I hope there’s not an election.  We’re done with those for a while, right?  Please?

Team: Game (Season)
All-Start: 73 (728)
All-Bench: 64 (607)

Read the rest of this entry »