Tim Williams - AccuScore Analyst
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There is nothing I hate more in fantasy football than a close loss where you left points on your bench.  Anyone who had Brett Favre benched last week, due to his questionable status leading up to the game, probably knows what I’m talking about.  I can take a 126-45 loss, because I know there was probably nothing I could do to stop that outcome.  A 136-126 loss is a little bit tougher, because you probably would have beaten every team in the league, except for the one you were scheduled against that week.

The close loss with points on your bench is the worst, because it causes you to second guess your decision all week.  Sometimes the thoughts are rational, like “If only I would have started Larry Johnson, instead of trying to be fancy with Darren Sproles.”  Sometimes the thoughts are irrational, like “I should have known that Deuce McAllister would score more points than Marshawn Lynch and Michael Turner.”  If I had to rank the worst ways to lose in fantasy football, I’d rank it this way:

1. A close loss with points left on the bench.  For the reasons listed above.
2. A 136-126 loss, where you beat everyone that week, except for your opponent.
3. A loss where a Monday Night Football touchdown gives you the win, but the touchdown is called back due to a horrible penalty call (happened to me in week one in my experts league.)
4. A 126-44 loss where you had absolutely no chance of winning, even if you knew that Lance Moore and Deuce McAllister would break out for big weeks.
5. A loss where you forgot to set your lineups.  It hurts, but you have no one to blame but yourself on this one.

On the other side of the coin, I’d say the best victories are:

1. A come from behind victory on Monday night.
2. A win thanks to a great call, like starting Steve Slaton over Michael Turner.
3. A win where you fall asleep thinking you lost, but wake up the next morning and find you won, thanks to an error in the defensive tracking on the live scoring page.
4. A 126-44 win.  Nothing like sealing a victory before the 4:00 games start on Sunday.
5. A close win where the opponent left points on the bench.  I rank this lower because you owe your victory a little bit to luck in this case.

The Truth About Week Five

AccuScore projected points in parenthesis.

-Peyton Manning (18.5) will score the most points out of any quarterback this week.  After combining for just three touchdowns in the first three games, Manning takes on a Texans defense that he torched for 584 yards and four touchdowns in two games last year.

-Matt Hasselbeck (14.6) will also be a top quarterback option with the return of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram.  With Branch and Engram both in the lineup last year, Hasselbeck completed 63 percent of his passes for 244 yards and about two touchdowns a game.

-Brian Griese (13.3) will score more points this week than Kurt Warner (13), David Garrard (13), Jason Campbell (12.7), Eli Manning (12.2), and Jon Kitna (11.8).  Griese plays a Broncos defense that has allowed over 70 percent of pass attempts to be completed.

-Two quarterbacks I like more than AccuScore simulations: Matt Cassel (12.8) and Matt Schaub (12.1).  Indianapolis is without Bob Sanders, and the Texans have found their running game with Steve Slaton.  Both of these facts will help Schaub.  Cassel is coming off a bye week, following that horrible loss to the Dolphins.  I think the Patriots come out firing against the 49ers.

-I would start Ben Roethlisberger (13.8) this week.  He threw for three touchdowns against the Jaguars last year.  You may look at the offensive line problems and think the result will be different this year.  That’s not exactly the case.  The offensive line problems aren’t new in Pittsburgh.  Roethlisberger was sacked five times in that regular season game.  In the playoffs he threw for 337 yards, two touchdowns, and three interceptions, getting sacked six times.  Even with the horrible protection, Roethlisberger does well against Jacksonville.

-Steve Slaton (16.5) will score more points this week than the following running backs: Ronnie Brown (15.6), Joseph Addai (15.3), Brandon Jacobs (15.2), LaDainian Tomlinson (13.8), Marshawn Lynch (13.6), Michael Turner (13.1), and Larry Johnson (11.9).

-For this one week, I rank Michael Turner ahead of Chris Johnson (9.4).  Johnson plays a tough Baltimore run defense, while Turner plays a Packers’ defense that has struggled against the run at the start of the season.

-Marion Barber (17.6) will bounce back this week, after being a non-factor last week.

-A running back I like a lot more than AccuScore simulations is Earnest Graham (10).  Not only does Denver have a horrible passing defense, but they sport one of the worst run defenses in the league.  Graham plays a factor in both the running and the passing games, which should mean big points for him this week.

-Randy Moss (9.7) will return to being a number one wide receiver option against the 49ers.  I like Cassel this week, so you know I also like Moss to rebound.  I also like Wes Welker (7.8) a lot more than the AccuScore simulations.

-Lance Moore (9.2) will score more points this week than DeSean Jackson (8.6), Steve Smith (8.5), Andre Johnson (8.1), Calvin Johnson (8), Santonio Holmes (8), and T.J. Houshmandzadeh (8).  Moore has been great with Marques Colston out, and there is talk that he could be the number two receiver when Colston returns.  For the record, I still like Robert Meachem (9), both now, and when Colston returns.

-I don’t like Houshmandzadeh or Chad Johnson (Sies.Siete) this week if Carson Palmer is not playing.

-I would trade any receiver for Brandon Marshall (12.8) or Greg Jennings (10.8).  They’ve both been off to hot starts this year, and neither is a fluke.

-Speaking of Broncos receivers, Eddie Royal (9.6) is a number one option this week, and is a must start every week.  This week the Broncos play a Tampa Bay pass defense that has been torched by pass heavy offenses like New Orleans and Green Bay.

-Wide receiver sleepers this week: Steve Breaston (6.7) and Antonio Bryant (6.8).  The Denver pass defense is my reasoning for Bryant, and I like Breaston if Anquan Boldin can’t go.  For the record, I like him even if Boldin plays, as Boldin probably won’t be 100 percent.

-I like Deion Branch (2.5) a lot more than the AccuScore simulations.  On that same note, I’m not as high on Amani Toomer (8.1).  Sure, Plaxico Burress will be out this week, making Toomer a number one receiver.  However, that also puts more coverage on Toomer.

-Anthony Fasano (7.1) is my top tight end option this week.  The Chargers have been torched by the following tight ends: Tony Scheffler (6 catches, 64 yards, 2 touchdowns), Zach Miller (5/95/1), Dante Rosario (7/96/1), and Dustin Keller/Chris Baker (7/67/1).  We will be able to add Fasano to that list after this week.

-John Carlson (8.8) will benefit from the additions of Deion Branch and Bobby Engram.

-The Carolina Panthers (12.2) are my sleeper defense this week.  With the exception of the horrible Broncos defense, every team that has played Kansas City has put up double digit points.  That includes the Raiders and Falcons.

-Like I said in my Waiver Wire Wonders article this week, I would take the Saints defense (10.8) against a Minnesota offense that can only seem to kick field goals.  Don’t take this pick if you suffer from the following conditions: heart disease, aneurysms, high blood pressure, lego man hands, mad cow disease, leprosy, or count choculitis. (Extra points to you if you got the Office reference on that last one).