Ready ... set ... no!

By Chris Ryan, RotoExperts.com, Special to SI.com

Minus big outings against the Broncos and Jets, Patriots QB Matt Cassel has been quite pedestrian as a starter. Tom Croke/Icon SMI

Over the last few weeks, we've focused on players that you either needed to get into your lineup, or guys that were possible sneaky good plays. This week let's switch it up a bit, and turn our attention to those who could be out to destroy your last gasp at a playoff chance, or could cost you important playoff seeding position. Remember, sometimes a smart benching can be just as effective as a great play.

Quarterbacks

Ready ...

Tony Romo vs. San Francisco
Aaron Rodgers @ New Orleans
Kurt Warner vs. New York Giants
Peyton Manning @ San Diego
Drew Brees vs. Green Bay
Jeff Garcia @ Detroit
Jay Cutler vs. Oakland
Jason Campbell @ Seattle
Donovan McNabb @ Baltimore
Philip Rivers vs. Indianapolis
Ben Roethlisberger vs. Cincinnati
Brady Quinn vs. Houston

Set ...

Kerry Collins vs. New York Jets
Jake Delhomme @ Atlanta
Tyler Thigpen vs. Buffalo
David Garrard vs. Minnesota
Eli Manning @ Arizona
Matt Cassel @ Miami
Kyle Orton @ St. Louis
Sage Rosenfels @ Cleveland
Brett Favre @ Tennessee
Chad Pennington vs. New England
Gus Frerotte @ Jacksonville

No!

Matt Ryan vs. Carolina
Matt Hasselbeck vs. Washington
Trent Edwards @ Kansas City
Marc Bulger vs. Chicago
JaMarcus Russell @ Denver
Ryan Fitzpatrick @ Pittsburgh
Joe Flacco vs. Philadelphia
Shaun Hill @ Dallas
Daunte Culpepper vs. Tampa Bay

Cassel: I get a perverse sense of giddiness out of watching professional sports teams make obviously horrible decisions, so consider me especially enthused for the impending Cassel sweepstakes this offseason. As for the more immediate future, his 400-yard, three-touchdown performance against the Jets was pretty impressive, but he's still "Backup Matt," and I still don't trust him.

He's thrown six touchdown passes in two games, and just four in his other eight. Take away those two stellar outings -- against the Broncos and the Jets by the way, two of the worst pass defenses in the league -- and he's averaging right around 10 fantasy points a game. It's easy to be seduced by the logo on the helmet, the excellent receivers and Cassel's pedigree. But it's all just a smokescreen designed to distract us from the fact that we're dealing with a very mediocre quarterback here.

Manning: Eli Manning is doing exactly what Tom Coughlin and the Giants need him to do. He's completing a career high 60.5 percent of his passes. He's utilizing multiple receivers (eight Giants have caught touchdowns, and six have over 200 yards receiving), and not turning the ball over nearly as much as he has in the past.

And New York is 9-1 because of it.

So what has his newfound maturity and prudence brought to fantasy owners? The proverbial flaming bag of poo on the doorstep, that's what. Manning has thrown for under 200 yards in six consecutive games, and he's averaging just 12.8 fantasy points over that span. On paper, the matchup against Arizona seems to be a fruitful one for Manning as the Cardinals have given up a league leading 19 TD passes. Considering though, that the only way to stop the unfathomably brilliant Kurt Warner and his band of potent pass catchers is to keep them off the field, there's no doubt that the Giants will once again be relying on their imposing running game to gobble up the clock (yes, even without Brandon Jacobs). Trust me, there are better options for you to utilize this week.

Other notables

Since the start of the season, I've told you that Campbell would be nothing more than the occasional matchup play. Some games he airs it out with great results, and other times, he soils his drawers. If you keep an even keel when dealing with him, and use Campbell at the appropriate times, he can be a great asset to your team. This week against the Seahawks 31st-ranked pass defense would appear to be one of those appropriate times ... Remember the ground swell of support for Edwards as a blossoming fantasy stud when he went 25-of-30 for 261 yards against the Chargers in Week 7? Well, since then he's thrown only three touchdowns against eight interceptions, and is averaging less than 200 yards passing. I don't care if he is playing the Chiefs -- no way should he be your starter this week ... You think the Bears will be teeing off with Steven Jackson and Orlando Pace out this week? Twenty bucks says Bulger doesn't finish the game ...

Running backs

Ready ...

Adrian Peterson @ Jacksonville
LaDainian Tomlinson vs. Indianapolis
Marshawn Lynch @ Kansas City
Matt Forte @ St. Louis
Frank Gore @ Dallas.
Marion Barber vs. San Francisco
Ryan Grant @ New Orleans
Joseph Addai @ San Diego
Willie Parker vs. Cincinnati
DeAngelo Williams @ Atlanta
Clinton Portis @ Seattle
Warrick Dunn @ Detroit
Derrick Ward @ Arizona
Jamal Lewis vs. Houston
Brian Westbrook @ Baltimore
Larry Johnson vs. Buffalo
Steve Slaton @ Cleveland|
Thomas Jones @ Tennessee
LenDale White vs. New York Jets

Set ...

Chris Johnson vs. New York Jets
Ahmad Bradshaw @ Arizona
Jonathan Stewart @ Atlanta
Ronnie Brown vs. New England
Michael Turner vs. Carolina
Darren McFadden @ Denver
Maurice Jones-Drew vs. Minnesota
Antonio Pittman vs. Chicago
Justin Fargas @ Denver
Peyton Hillis vs. Oakland
Tatum Bell vs. Oakland
Ricky Williams vs. New England
Julius Jones vs. Washington
Fred Jackson @ Kansas City
Ahman Green @ Cleveland
Pierre Thomas vs. Green Bay