Which players should be on your bench this weekend?
We have surprised ourselves by including names like James Franklin, Tajh Boyd, and Alex Carder on the Bench list in the same week. However, we feel that there are safer options available to fantasy owners, especially when Week Four features games rich with fantasy potential for quarterbacks (Baylor at UL-Monroe, Arizona at Oregon, and Marshall at Rice).
Start
Johnny Manziel, QB-Texas A&M vs South Carolina St
Manziel looks as if he should be a must-start every week except when the Aggies play Alabama and LSU later in the season.
Taylor McHargue, QB-Rice and Rakeem Cato, QB-Marshall Marshall at Rice
This game has the second-highest Vegas total on the board. Expect a lot of scoring from both offenses and solid fantasy production from their quarterbacks.
Connor Halliday, QB-Washington St vs Colorado
The Cougars’ offense may not be on par with some of the PAC-12’s elite, but expect big numbers from Halliday as he faces a defense giving up over 40 points and 476 yards per game.
Kolton Browning, QB-Louisiana-Monroe vsBaylor
After impressive games against Arkansas and Auburn to start the season, Browning faces a Baylor defense ranked 117th nationally against the pass.
LaDarius Perkins, RB-Mississippi St vs South Alabama
Perkins has had a nice start to the 2012 season, averaging over 100 yards rushing per game and scoring four touchdowns.
Shawn Southward, RB-Troy at North Texas
After rushing for 137 yards and two touchdowns last week against Mississippi State, Southward’s fantasy owners should be excited about Troy’s upcoming five-game conference slate.
Antonio Andrews, RB-Western Kentucky at Southern Miss
We’re not expecting him to duplicate his 34-125-3 numbers from a week ago, but he should come close.
Cody Getz, RB-Air Force vs New Mexico St
Getz may be a forgotten man because the Falcons did not play last week, but don’t get caught sleeping on a guy that has rushed for 348 yards and six touchdowns.
Andy Cruse, WR-Miami (OH) vs UMass
The 6-4 senior seems to be picking up the slack in the absence of fellow receiver Nick Harwell, who has been bothered by a leg injury.
Gabe Marks, WR-Washington St vs Colorado
Marks received a lot of attention throughout fall camp and he made a name for himself on the national stage last week with a six-catch, 126-yard game at UNLV.
Chad Bumphis, WR-Mississippi St vs South Alabama
Bumphis only has ten receptions on the season, but five of those have been for touchdowns and he is averaging 23 yards per catch.
Eric Ebron, TE-North Carolina vs East Carolina
Ebron’s eleven receptions are second-best on the team and his three receiving touchdowns lead the team.
Bench
James Franklin, QB-Missouri at South Carolina
Franklin may be the best fantasy option on the Missouri roster this week, but the Gamecocks are seventh-best against the run nationally (53.0 ypg) and are only allowing 9.7 points per game.
Tajh Boyd, QB-Clemson at Florida St
This move could come back to haunt many fantasy owners, but we are not risking our week against the nation’s #1 rated defense. Be on the lookout for our Emergency Starters list at the end of the week.
Alex Carder, QB-Western Michigan vs Connecticut
We have Carder listed at #30 in our weekly quarterback rankings because he’ll face a defense highly-rated against the pass (5th nationally) and points allowed (11th).
Rex Burkhead, RB-Nebraska vs Idaho St
Coach Pelini has indicated that Burkhead should play this weekend, but we are guessing that he’ll get just enough work to shake off the rust and then rest for next week’s matchup against Wisconsin.
Kevin Parks, RB-Virginia at TCU
The season is still young, but the TCU defense may be a lot better than we thought after three weeks.
Kendial Lawrence, RB-Missouri at South Carolina
Lawrence has been productive over the first three weeks of the season rushing for 224 yards and four touchdowns, but this week the Tigers travel east and face a defense that has not given up more than 70 yards rushing in a game this season.
LaRod King, WR-Kentucky at Florida
King is the best fantasy option on the Wildcats’ roster, but we wouldn’t take a chance against a tough Gators defense.
Alec Lemon, WR-Syracuse at Minnesota
Lemon is being overshadowed by the reemergence of fellow receiver Marcus Sales and has yet to find the end zone.
For Start/Bench advice from Joe DiSalvo, send an email to: [email protected]
Follow Joe on twitter (@theCFFsite)
