Who should I start for Week 1?

Question

Offense:

QB Peyton Manning
WR Chad Johnson
WR Hines Ward
WR Reggie Wayne
RB Edgerrin James
RB Brian Westbrook
TE Todd Heap
BN Joe Jurevicius (WR)
BN Jake Plummer (QB)
BN Willis McGahee (RB)
BN Reggie Bush (RB)
BN Deion Branch (WR)
BN Derrick Mason (WR)

Kickers:

K Neil Rackers
BN Nate Kaeding

Team Defense:

DEF Chicago
BN Seattle

DB/DL:

DB: Nate Clements
DL: Mike Vrabel
BN: Terrence McGee (DB)
BN: Troy Polamalu (DB)
BN: London Fletcher (DL)
BN: Nathan Vasher (DB)

I may need to drop 2 players but who ever I drop it messes up my games because of the BYE week issue..

Any advice?

Thanks a lot for your help and responses.

I may have to drop two players because the number of benches may be reduced to 10 instead of 12.

Thanks again.

Answer 1

the team is loaded - I have no idea how you put that together - is it an 8-team league? You have 3 top-15 players, so maybe its a 5-team league?

anyway, start exactly what you have listed here. cut extra D/PK/ and defensive players. they are a dime a dozen that you can pick up when you need to for a bye. Keep extra depth at WR and RB instead.

Answer 2

As to starting week one with I would make three changes. One I would start McGahee and bench James. I am still not convinced that the Cardinals line has improved enough to allow James the ability to run as he has in the past. I would start Polamalu over Clements. He is an explosive force on the field. If you need to cut two players I would cut one of your kickers. You can always pick up a good one during the bye week and drop one of your DB's you have 4 of them and can only start one.