Start ‘Em and Sit ‘Em: Week 16

December 21, 2007 in Start & Sit - Season 2007
Tags: 2007, em, sit, start, starter, week 16

QUARTERBACKS

START ‘EM

Donovan McNabb (at NO): McNabb appears to thrive when he’s in some sort of controversy or being scrutinized, and this latest snafu with a FOX sideline reporter about what he said or didn’t say regarding his future could be all the motivation he needs. It also helps that he’s facing one of the worst secondaries in the NFL this week. The Saints have allowed 26 passing touchdowns this year and give up 249.6 yards per game.

Carson Palmer (vs. CLE): This game also calls for starting Derek Anderson as well since their first meeting was his coming-out party. When these teams met in Week 2, Palmer passed for 401 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions, and Anderson had 328 yards, five touchdowns and one interception. This game should be high-scoring depending on the weather, but I still like both passers this week. In Palmer’s past three games against the Browns he has 1,028 yards passing, 11 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Kurt Warner (vs. ATL): It will be interesting to see what the Cardinals do with Warner and Matt Leinart next year because Warner is making it hard to keep him on the bench. In his past six games Warner has 15 touchdowns and two games over 300 yards passing with at least two touchdowns in each game. The only problem is he also has 10 interceptions during that span, but that shouldn’t be too much of a concern this week. His top two receivers in Larry Fitzgerald (groin) and Anquan Boldin (toe) are playing through pain, and Warner is also using little-known tight ends Ben Patrick and Troy Bienemann with Leonard Pope out.

Ben Roethlisberger (at STL): There are two concerns with Big Ben: He doesn’t throw for a ton of yards (less than 200 yards passing in his past five games) and he takes too many sacks (he has 43, which is second behind Detroit’s (Jon Kitna). But Roethlisberger throws touchdowns, and he had three more last week. His shoulder is fine, and this is a big game for the Steelers, so he should play well.

Matt Hasselbeck (vs. BAL): After a tough week at Carolina, Hasselbeck returns home where he has thrived recently. In Seattle’s past five home games, Hasselbeck has 12 touchdowns and only three interceptions, with at least two touchdowns in each game. The Ravens secondary has been a disappointment all season, and Hasselbeck should shine in this matchup.

Jeff Garcia (at SF). This is the first time Garcia will face the 49ers since leaving there in 2003, so you figure he has something to prove. He returned to the lineup last week after missing two games with an injured back and was mediocre with 109 yards passing, one touchdown and one interception. In Garcia’s past three road games this year he has six touchdowns and no interceptions. And the last time he faced one of his former teams in Week 7 at Detroit, Garcia had 316 yards passing and two touchdowns.

QUARTERBACKS

SIT ‘EM

Eli Manning (at BUF): Manning has only one game over 200 yards passing in his past three and hasn’t thrown multiple touchdowns in a game in his past seven. In fact, over that span he has six touchdowns and eight interceptions. Now Manning is dealing with dropped passes from his wide receivers and is without Jeremy Shockey for the rest of the year. This game also could have inclement weather, so keep Manning on the bench.

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