CFB Start or Sit: Week 6

In every fantasy line-up, every week there are perilous decisions that can make or break a fantasy victory. While no other person can ever tell a GM who to play - only the owner can truly make that call - a little advice couldn't hurt, right? Each week we will glance at some players that deserve consideration for a starting spot this weekend and a few that owners might want to think twice about playing due to tough match-ups or extenuating circumstances.

Quarterback Rankings

Deserves a second look
Michael Desormeaux, ULL (@ ULM)
This kid is an absolute fighter. Although he is battling numerous small injuries, Des-Ex will still deliver this weekend on the ground and through the air. He is averaging over 100+ yards per game on the ground this season and is facing the 103rd ranked ULM defense. He is a great QB2 this week in those leagues that play two quarterbacks. His toughness will be on display this weekend in this in-state rivalry.

Julian Edelman, Kent St (Akron)
277 yards and five touchdowns. Those are the Edelman's numbers over the last three weeks...on the ground! Without Eugene Jarvis playing, the weight of the offense falls on the quarterback's shoulders. If he can eliminate some of the turnovers he could have a huge week.

Austin Davis, Southern Miss (UTEP)
The third dual-threat on this list, Davis has proven in only a few games that he is a play-maker. The one difference is that Davis averages over 250 yards passing. With a loaded fantasy offense and Larry Fedora's  play-calling, the Eagles should roll through a porous - 99th - pass defense.

Better think twice
Curtis Painter, Purdue (Penn State)
The Boiler's quarterback has been one of this fantasy seasons biggest disappointment (ahem, Rusty Smith). Only five touchdowns and four interceptions are not good numbers and against Penn State it will only get worse. PSU has a great defense and solid pass rush so Painter will be under pressure all day. Add in the Big Ten's top ground attack (267 ypg) for the Lions and Purdue's conference-worst rush defense (194 ypg) and it could get ugly quick.

Robert Griffin, Baylor (Oklahoma)
The two-sport star for the Bears has a chance to announce himself to the college football world this week. The Sooners will be just to big of an obstacle for huge fantasy numbers, though. Expect rookie mistakes against a solid front seven. Mistakes equal turnovers. He will make one or two dazzling plays, however.

Rudy Carpenter, Arizona St (@ Cal)
Cal is looking to place itself as the second best Pac-10 team this season and Arizona State has looked anything but the predicted national contender. The offensive line is still the biggest and most glaring weakness on this team. They are 110th in rushing offense (89 ypg) and 97th in sacks allowed (2.25 spg). Without a solid ground game and time to throw, quarterbacks generally do not accomplish much.

Running back Rankings

Deserves a second look
Tyrell Fenroy v. Frank Goodin (ULL @ ULM)
The Ragin' Cajun's will likely count on Fenroy to take the load off of Desormeaux this weekend. The Warhawks will do the same. Reaching the 100-yard mark and at least one score is likely for both as each team's defense ranks 103rd or worse (113th-ULL). Neither player should be slowed.

Kahlil Bell, UCLA (Washington St)
It may have been years - at Oregon State in September of 2007 - since Bell scored 20 fantasy points like he did last week, so inclusion on this section of this article may be surprising. However, the Cougars may be the worst BCS conference team in the nation and Bell reached the end zone twice last week against a solid Fresno State defense. Is 100 yards and a pair of scores way too much to ask for?

Vai Taua, Nevada (@ Idaho)
The Wolf Pack back is doing his best Luke Lippincott impression. Taua had his second 100-yard game last week and reached the end zone. He is no Colin Kaepernick but Taua seems to have grasped the starting job and could end being a great mid-season pick-up. Especially for Lippincott owners. And Idaho isn't good.

Better think twice
P.J. Hill, Wisconsin (Ohio State)
Hill has yet to record a positive rushing yard against the Ohio State Buckeyes. Okay, he didn't play in last year's meeting and UW didn't face OSU his freshman year. But still zero carries? In my book, that counts for something.

Kory Sheets, Purdue (Penn State)
The Nittany Lions are for real and could hold the ball for 45 minutes this weekend. With a shaky quarterback, Sheets has been the brightest spot on the Boiler's offense. Against a solid front seven and most likely a low snap count, the Purdue offense will struggle.

Jeremiah Johnson / LeGarrette Blount, Oregon (@ USC)
If the Ducks quarterbacks were healthy these two might be in the section above. There will be no middle ground with this Trojan defense this week. If they come out flat - a 25% chance - the Ducks could put up some points. The more likely scenario is an unbelievably dominate performance from the best defense in the nation.

Marlon Lucky, Nebraska (Missouri)
Another one of the Trusty-Rusty-Curtis-Painter-Smith award winners for 2008. It seems as if his role has never been defined in the offense and against a team that should score at least 40 points, this weekend does not feel like the right time to try to figure it out. All I know is that if Lucky was on my team, he would get more than 12 touches per game.

Wide Receiver Rankings

Deserves a second look
Brandon Banks, Kansas State (Texas Tech)
The diminutive - 140 pounds - receiver has quickly become Josh Freeman's favorite target. His size makes him a tough red zone option but in the open field he is incredible. He could also break a big play at any time. There might be a total of 15 rushes this week between these two teams so play him (and Deon Murphy too).

Damian Williams, USC (Oregon)
The Arkansas transfer has very quickly solidified the once-shaky Trojan receiving corp. He is a better route runner, pass catcher, blocker and worker than the rest and it shows on the field. Plus, it is clear Mark Sanchez trusts him. Oregon does have a solid secondary but stud safety Patrick Chung will be concerned more with Joe McKnight, Stanley Havili, C.J. Gable and Stafon Johnson. And Allen Bradford. Don't forget Marc Tyler. Oh yeah, Broderick Green too.

Briggs Orsbon, Ball State (@ Toledo)
The Dante Love fill-in caught 10 passes for 112 yards last week in his first game as the number one. He is going to keep it up. Coordinators have just too many other players to worry about on this offense. Pick him up right now in any league format.

Better Think Twice
Brandon Gibson, Washington State (@ UCLA)
Have you seen this team play football this season? If not, whatever you do, avert your eyes.

Jeff Moturi, UTEP (@ Southern Miss)
Southern Miss should control the ball and the scoreboard. If this game gets out of hand early there might be a chance for a garbage touchdown, so he is not a total bust this week. A big game is unlikely, though.

Greg Orton, Purdue (Penn State)
See Kory Sheets.

Brandon Tate / Hakeem Nicks, North Carolina (UConn)
This should be a low-scoring affair as both starting quarterbacks will be on the sideline. Cam Sexton looked like an actual college quarterback last week but against a very stout Husky defense, he could revert back to normal Sextonness. Each are capable of the big play so one of them may reach pay dirt but not both.

Defensive Rankings

Top waiver wire pick-ups:

1. Vanderbilt (Auburn)
2. BYU (@ Utah State)
3. Cincinnati (@ Marshall)
4. Tennessee (Northern Illinois)
5a. N.C. State (Boston College)
5b. Miami (Florida State)
5c. Kansas (@ Iowa State)

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