What to do?

[Brother Brian]

So ever FF expert site I've been to recommends starting Cutler over Ryan and /or Cassel.

With the Pats going up against the #1 Pass D in the league, I can see that. Cutler is going against a softer Jets D. If the Jets stuff the run (and I think they can) Cutler will have to pass. On the other hand, Cutler has really sucked any number of times this year.


That said, Cassel is HOT right now, and the Patriots are stretching the filed better. I don't know that Pitt can blitz them like I figured they would be able to. Matt Light wasn't suspended for his Austin Powers Judo Chop last weekend, which helps.

Any advice?

[silverwhisper]

my feeling is that cassel's going to have a good day. i don't think that cutler's going to do well. the pats offense is gonna have serious problems running against pittsburgh, which means they're gonna go to cassel's arm--which has been as you noted pretty impressive of late.

however, i'm a dilettante at best in these types of discussions.

[Brother Brian]

I'm leaning towards Cassell myself.

Last time I made "pick 'em" decisions against Pat's players I got crushed.

Plus, Cassel just seems less antsy in there. (Which shouldn't be...but is.) He's less likely to make big mistakes.

And when you look at Cutler's only "big game" in the second half of the season, it was really driven by YAC, not by anything Cutler did.

[Wook]

Cassell isn't going to have a 3rd consecutive 400-3-0 game. I'm betting he'll do fine but have pedestrian numbers. Keep that in mind when you start him in terms of your expectations. I'd be expecting something more like 200-2-1 if I started him.

[Brother Brian]

Cassell isn't going to have a 3rd consecutive 400-3-0 game. I'm betting he'll do fine but have pedestrian numbers. Keep that in mind when you start him in terms of your expectations. I'd be expecting something more like 200-2-1 if I started him.

I'm not looking for a 40 point game. I'm looking for 12-15 points consistantly.

I'm especially NOT looking for -1.1 points, which Cutler gave me last week.

[carmachu]

So ever FF expert site I've been to recommends starting Cutler over Ryan and /or Cassel.

With the Pats going up against the #1 Pass D in the league, I can see that. Cutler is going against a softer Jets D. If the Jets stuff the run (and I think they can) Cutler will have to pass. On the other hand, Cutler has really sucked any number of times this year.


That said, Cassel is HOT right now, and the Patriots are stretching the filed better. I don't know that Pitt can blitz them like I figured they would be able to. Matt Light wasn't suspended for his Austin Powers Judo Chop last weekend, which helps.

Any advice?

Do NOT start whichever QB is going against the Jets. They are preforming very well right now and are a real deal.

[Wook]

I'm not looking for a 40 point game. I'm looking for 12-15 points consistantly.

I'm especially NOT looking for -1.1 points, which Cutler gave me last week.

Consdier that consecutive negative point games are probabbly, almost certainly, not going to happen.

[Paulypalooza]

Don't ask me. I was all expecting Berriman to go off last week and he netted me a whole lot of nothing.

[Detritus]

Consider the source and all, but this is my advice.

Now that the Thursday games are in the books and you're in a fairly big hole, I think you need to start the guy with the highest ceiling, whomever you think that is. It could still be Cassel, but "QB explodes vs. the Steelers D" isn't something that sings to me. I think Ryan and Cutler are both more likely candidates for huge games. Since you're already starting Turner, that might mean Cutler is your best bet at this point.

You're looking at having to put up a big number (110-120 to be conservative, as high as 135 if the remaining Trolls live up to their projections this week) to get to 7-6, and you really need to get to 7-6 to have a shot at the playoffs, IMO. There are going to be at least four teams with 7+ wins after this week, five if the Skillets can beat SnakeBitten. And you could fall into a tie with Demolition at 6-7, and they're off to a big start, too, so it's unclear if you could outpoint them if you both end up 7-7 and tied for the #4 spot in the seedings.

These considerations mean you need to swing for the fences. I think that means Cutler, but you'll have to weigh the likelihood of a big game out of each of your three QBs. Cassel has had a couple of huge games, but again, Pittsburgh is a pretty stout D. You also have to consider Bush here, IMO, although I don't know whom you'd bench to make room for him. I guess the guys you have in there are all capable of pretty big games, and it might be a lot to ask to lean on a guy just back from a long layoff. But you're going to need lots of guys to explode for you to pull out the W this week. Soaking up a 120-95 L isn't going to do your playoff prospects that much good.