Here are the first few Ask the Geek questions for week six. Hopefully you guys continue to dominate your leagues, but if not, all the more reason to get questions in so we can help! Remember, you can ask the geeks here or simply leave them as comments on our posts and we’ll try our best to respond to them as soon as possible.

Matt asks…

Hey guys! I’m leading my league and I want to stay undefeated. I have both Mendenhall and Parker and I don’t know who is going to produce more in my lineup… little help? Also I have Ochocinco, Colston and Brandon Marshall…What two would you keep in your lineup consistently… please help!


Brandon’s take: Although Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has stated that he’s undecided on the division of labor between Willie Parker and Rashard Mendenhall, I don’t see a way that he keeps Mendenhall out of the line-up, as he’s been playing terrifically for the past two weeks. I’d definitely put Mendenhall in this week against the Browns though. As for your wide receivers, those are three great options you have there. While I think you’re going to want Marshall and Colston in there most of the time, you probably want to make your decision based on their match-ups. This week, with the Saints playing the Giants (the top team against the wide receiver position this year), go with Marshall and Ochocinco.

Matt’s take: As long as Mendenhall is healthy, I think he’s going to be the guy. This week’s going to be a monstrous opportunity for him. I’m with Brandon on your receivers – all three are top-notch, so play the matchups.

Asher asks…

Week six, do I start Eli Manning or Flacco?

Brandon’s take: Even with Manning playing a Saints team that has been surprisingly good against the pass this year, I can’t recommend benching him as he’s been on fire (even with a bum foot!) Keep Eli in there and hope his foot doesn’t get re-injured during the game. I guess if the foot injury scares you a lot though, Flacco makes a pretty safe play for 200-250 yards and a score or two.

Matt’s take: Neither. Check your waiver wire.

Anthony asks…

Someone has offered me Brent Celek for Mike Sims-Walker. Should I take it or no?

Brandon’s take: It all depends on your current wide receiver and tight end situation. Is Sims-Walker your 4th best wide receiver and you start Todd Heap at TE? If so, go for the trade. If Sims-Walker is one of your top guys and you have a serviceable option at the tight end position already, you might want to reject the proposal.

Matt’s take: No. Sims-Walker is the real deal and will prove it this week against the Rams. Actually, he proved it last week without stepping foot on the field. The Jags were unable to do a thing on offense without him. Seems crazy to make him miss a game for apparently missing a curfew.

Will asks…

Hey guys-Love your site and excellent advice. I am in a smallish (8) team league and we had to have an auto draft and mine was all messed up…so I’ve been a waiver wire nutcase to try to build my team back up…I am in 5th and would like to settle on a solid starting roster…

QB’s-Eli and Big Ben (Flacco third) fine here…
WR’s -Djax, Smith (NYG) Hines Ward, MS Walker, D. Bowe (could you pick 4 to settle on?) We start three each week…
RB’s…(I got a bunch!) Mendenhall, Grant, Bradshaw, Slaton, Portis, Barber. Same as WR’s-start three each week…who to keep or cut bait?
TE-V. Davis and H. Miller-Fine here…

Thanks guys!!!

Brandon’s take: At wide receiver, I’d keep all of those guys if you can. However, my four favorite would be DeSean Jackson, Steve Smith (NYG), Hines Ward and Mike Sims-Walker. The Chiefs offense isn’t good enough for me to like Bowe as much as the other guys. This week though, I’d start Jackson, Smith and Sims-Walker. For running back, I would think you would be able to trade some of those guys instead of simply cutting them. As for the three to start this week, I’d go with Portis, Mendenhall and Grant. Hope this helps!

Matt’s take: Agreed on everything here. Was going to say that you should swap Grant out in favor of Slaton, but then I remembered Grant’s matchup. :)

Wolf asks…

I’ve got MJD up against the Rams in RB1, but who should I play in RB2…Ray Rice had a great game for me this week, but now he is up against the Vikings. I could put in Steve Slaton against Cin, or I could pick Ryan Grant back up against the Lions (but i’d most likely drop slaton for grant).

What do you guys think?

Brandon’s take: While I like Ryan Grant better this week than Steve Slaton, I can’t recommend dropping Slaton outright for him, as a lot of who to start between the two will be based on match-ups and I think Slaton has more upside. I’d keep Ray Rice in there anyways though, as I think he’ll have a solid game this weekend, even against the Vikings (who gave up 122 rushing yards to the Rams last week.) Plus, Rice is used a lot in the passing game, so if the running game is shut down, he should put up some numbers anyways.

Matt’s take: Why is Ryan Grant on your league’s waiver wire? Where can I find this planet that has fantasy football leagues where people seriously consider dropping Steve Slaton? Can I join you there? Are these money leagues?

Matt M asks…

Do you guys think Bradshaw (NYG) will have a good game against a legitimate opponent? I can pick up Cadillac Williams instead who will at least get a lot of touches.

Brandon’s take: Even though Cadillac should get carries, Tampa Bay’s passing game isn’t good enough at this point to make them a viable threat, so defenses can stack the box against their running game. This is not the case with the Giants and you can see how successful Bradshaw has been while splitting carries with Brandon Jacobs. Stick with Bradshaw.

Matt’s take: Yep, Bradshaw’s the better start. The Tampa Bay offense isn’t trustworthy in any way at this point.

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