ASYS-Always Start Your Studs

The golden rule in managing fantasy lineups is “always start your studs.”? By definition, a fantasy “stud”? is one of the elites at his position who should start each week regardless of match-up, getting benched only if injured or on bye.

But determining whether or not a player is deserving of “stud”? status is a tricky process, one open to interpretation. The player’s history should be weighed against recent performances, and the right balance of the two must be met to obtain or maintain stud status. Just because a player is extremely talented or loaded with potential or has done great things in the past does not automatically guarantee “studliness,”? nor does a hot streak with no history behind it propel one onto the list of bona fide studs.

For simplicity’s sake, here are the players whom I consider the top five (“super studs”?) at each skill position:

QUARTERBACKS

1. Donovan McNabb
2. Peyton Manning
3. Mark Bulger (started slow this season but back to his old self)
4. Eli Manning
5. Tom Brady (putting up decent numbers despite having no great receivers)

Other notables:

Rex Grossman is working his way to the stud list but needs a couple more strong weeks to convince me. He played pretty poorly against division opponents Minnesota and Green Bay after hardly playing at all last year, but he’s got some favorable match-ups on the horizon against some porous defenses.

Carson Palmer has two games without a touchdown pass, and in the other two games he threw four interceptions. Last week’s bye might have given him needed time to rest his reconstructed knee.

Matt Hasselbeck’s seven interceptions to go with six touchdowns is definitely cause for concern, as is the fact that he’s not thrown for more than 230 yards in a game this year. Perhaps when Alexander is healthy, Hass will return to elite status.

RUNNING BACKS

1. LaDainian Tomlinson
2. Larry Johnson (keep an eye on injury report for his status)
3. Clinton Portis
4. Tiki Barber
5. Rudi Johnson (one bad game this year against Pittsburgh, the only game in which he didn’t score)

Other notables:

Shaun Alexander is sure to regain his stud status when he’s healthy.

Brian Westbrook just missed the top five due to a nagging injury, his injury history and his last-second removal from the Green Bay game. Philadelphia may bench him against weaker opponents until 100-percent healthy, so check on his status each week shortly before game time.

Steven Jackson has probably been the most consistent running back this year, but his upcoming schedule looks like this: vs. Seattle, bye, at San Diego, vs. Kansas City, at Seattle, at Carolina. If he can perform well during this tough stretch, he could move to the top of the list.

Frank Gore’s fumbling problems and lackluster games against Philadelphia and Kansas City keep him from being considered among the elite. He also hasn’t scored since week two. He needs three strong games in a row to move into the top five.

WIDE RECEIVERS

1. Marvin Harrison
2. Steve Smith
3. Torry Holt
4. Andre Johnson (consistent, good numbers on a weak team)
5. Bernard Berrian (putting up the stats week in and week out)

Other notables:

Chad Johnson loses his spot due to the Palmer’s inconsistent play, the talent of other Bengals receivers and the superb play of Berrian. (Johnson is my No. 1 receiver in our money league, so it pains me to say that).

Terrell Owens is undoubtedly one of the most-talented receivers to ever play the game, but his well-documented problems on and off the field make him too risky to start every week. He’s also consistently out-performed by teammate Terry Glenn.

Marques Colston is just a rookie and should be drawing better coverage, opening up Joe Horn.

Anquan Boldin is a victim of circumstances beyond his control. Playing with a rookie quarterback, without Larry Fitzgerald and behind a bad offensive line will allow defenses to double-team Boldin. Plus, the Cards play Chicago this week.

Roy Williams is questionable this week after suffering a stinger against Minnesota.

Laveranues Coles is tough as nails and has been playing well despite injuries, so why was he on the bench during much of the Jets blowout loss to Jacksonville?

TIGHT ENDS
1. Antonio Gates
2. Kellen Winslow
3. Todd Heap
4. L.J. Smith
5. Alge Crumpler (Atlanta’s most consistent receiver)

Other notables:

Jeremy Shockey is nursing several injuries.

Tony Gonzalez is being relied on to block more and has yet to gel with Damon Huard. His numbers should improve when Trent Green returns.