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We picked out some great starters for fantasy teams in week 11.   Some of the best recommendations made this past week include: Corey Dillon, Reuben Droughns, Donald Driver, and the Seattle Seahawks Defense.   Hopefully most fantasy teams stayed away from players like Keyshawn Johnson, Marty Booker, and Eli Manning that were recommended as players to bench.   While we made a lot of great calls week 11, you can never get them all correct.   Join us for the weekly fantasy bench/start wrap up as we take credit for our good predictions and own up to our blunders of the week.

Nostradamus (a.k.a. psychic)
Start:
Corey Dillon – Dillon had a super fantasy game on Monday Night Football.   He had 98 yards rushing and 20 yards receiving, but his real fantasy upside came in his two touchdowns.   Dillon owners will likely be hoping for more of those goal line carries from him over the next few weeks. If the Patriots do use Dillon for more goal line carries, his fantasy owners will be in for a pleasant surprise in the playoffs. (P.S. We told you the Patriots would win this game)

Reuben Droughns – If Droughns’ fantasy owners took our advice and gave him the nod, they were rewarded with 166 yards rushing, 25 yards receiving and a long (51 yards) TD run.   You just can’t ask for much more out of a fantasy football running back.   Droughns has been one of the best waiver wire pickups of the year.   Hopefully, you were able to grab Droughns.

Donald Driver – A lot of people had forgotten about Donald Driver at the beginning of this season.   Most people were hyped on Javon Walker coming into 2004.   While Walker has had a solid year, Driver has been the real fantasy value out of the Packers’ WR corps.   This past week Driver had 148 yards receiving and a touchdown.   Most of his fantasy owners won’t be putting him on the pine very soon.

Andre Johnson – After David Carr’s terrible week 10 performance, we told you that he would be able to turn things around this week and get the ball to Johnson.   He did just that by getting the ball to Johnson for 107 yards.   It was a great day from Andre “The Giant”.   Johnson should be a solid fantasy start from here on out.

Jerome Bettis – The Bus racked up yet another 100+ yard game on Sunday.   With 129 yards rushing, Bettis’ fantasy owners don’t have anything to complain about this week.   The longer that Staley is out of action the better it is for Bettis owners who would like to use him down the stretch.   We aren’t sure if Bettis will be someone who can be counted on in fantasy playoff games, but right now his is looking like a better option each week.

Jake Plummer – The Snake had a solid game for his fantasy football teams.   He posted no interceptions, 224 yards passing, and 2 TDs in Week 11.   If your fantasy players are playing the Saints, you should be in for a solid fantasy week.   We don’t want to give anything away, but let’s just say that Michael Vick, Alge Crumpler, and the gang are looking like good starts week 12.

Willis McGahee – McGahee had a tough week 10 against the stingy Patriots D.   We told his fantasy owners to brush their shoulders off and get back on this horse again for week 11.   McGahee didn’t disappoint.   He had 100 yards rushing and 27 yards receiving.   The fantasy owners who drafted McGahee way back in August and have held onto him all year are finally being well rewarded.

Seattle Seahawks Defense – Having the Dolphins on your fantasy defense’s schedule should now look like blood in the water.   Lately, the Seahawks hadn’t been the team that they were early in the season, but we had a strong feeling they would bust out in week 11.   Seattle did break out with 2 interceptions, 4 sacks, 2 fumble recoveries, only 17 points allowed, and a 63 yard TD.   It just doesn’t get much better than that.   Fantasy teams that have to go up against defensive output like this will have a tough time getting the win.

Bench:
Patrick Ramsey – Ramsey was getting his first start of 2004 and we told everyone to stay away from him.   Hopefully our advice was heeded.   Ramsey only had 162 yards passing, no TDs, and 1 INT.   Most fantasy teams shouldn’t consider Ramsey an option unless your team is very desperate.

Eli Manning – Manning was making his first start of his career against the Falcons.   We told you to leave his hind end on the pine as well.   Hopefully you took our advice because he only had 162 yards, 2 INTs, and a touchdown.   Manning will throw lots of picks this season, but if he keeps looking Jeremy Shockey’s there may be hope for the Giants fantasy future yet.

Marty Booker – Booker had 2 receptions for 20 yards.   This is not the type of fantasy game most owners want from their WR.   Chambers did have a great day opposite of Booker, but Booker just can’t seem to get things going with any of the QBs down in Miami.

Keyshawn Johnson – Johnson has had several good games this season, but we didn’t think that week 11 would be one of them.   Johnson proved us correct with only 3 receptions for 40 yards.   Johnson’s numbers could be devastated by a change in QB.   With Drew Henson in at QB, we suspect that Johnson may not be a fantasy option for most team throughout the rest of 2004.


Farmer's Almanac (a.k.a. not so bad/not so good)
Start:
Derrick Blaylock –   While Blaylock didn’t have the big time game that we hoped he would have, he did have 5 receptions that would have been great in a point per reception league.   In addition to those 5 receptions, Blaylock had 91 total yards.   This is just the type of so-so performance that lands players in the “Farmer’s Almanac.”

Bench:
Anquan Boldin – Boldin had 75 yards this past weekend.   That isn’t a mega game, but it isn’t a bust either.   Boldin might be able to benefit from a change in QB in Arizona, so his fantasy owners had better keep their fingers crossed that King can get the job done.

Joe Horn – Horn managed to post a decent game week 11 despite the presence of Champ Bailey.   Bailey did have a spectacular interception in the end zone to help make up for Horn’s numbers on Sunday.


Weather Forecast (a.k.a. oops better luck next time)
Start:
Rod Smith – Smith had a terrible game with only 26 yards.   Smith is a streaky player and can be good, but he can also be equally as bad.   We are disappointed that Plummer could get him the ball a little more on Sunday.

Emmitt Smith – Smith was a little banged up on Sunday and we feel like this contributed to some of his poor performance week 11.   However, bad is bad and Emmitt Smith only managed 30 total yards on Sunday.

Bench:
Todd Pinkston – The Pink one toasted us with over 100 yards receiving.   Pinkston has had two solid weeks in a row and he might be a good sleeper down the stretch if your team needs depth.

Larry Fitzgerald – The Rookie had a solid game with 92 yards receiving and a TD.   The big mistake was when we suggested benching him.   Fitzgerald is another player who could benefit from a QB change in Arizona.