This report has been a staple at FFToday since I started coming to the site. Over the years, it has stuck to a certain formula and I have been hesitant to alter it. The problem is, as the newly crowned Shot Caller, I just can't come up with more scintillating reasons to start Peyton Manning every week. Owners start him because he is the best fantasy quarterback out there and they don't need me telling them this. Beginning immediately, I am going off the beaten path and exploring new trails, hopefully to everyone's enjoyment. Please use the message boards to let everyone know what you think. And, if your comment is particular scathing or kind, email away!

This week I am calling my shots - picking a handful of guys who are on the bubble but should be in starting lineups. Alternatively, I will also call out players I expect to disappoint, mostly because it is fun to crush people's hopes and dreams.

Quarterbacks

Must Start:

Brett Favre @ NYG – The clock is winding down on my favorite quarterback so start him now while you still can. Favre, and the entire Green Bay offense, struggled mightily against a stout Eagle defense. Luckily for Favre owners, the Giant defense is a little more forgiving. They were waving the white flag by the end of last week with Tony Romo chucking the rock. With no running game, Favre will spend a lot of time abusing the clowns trying to play secondary on the other side of the ball.

Drew Brees @ TB – I know I promised not to give obvious advice, but there have been mutterings of benching Brees in more than one league where the owner has a solid backup. Don’t do it. Either New Orleans has degenerated into a horrible team or Indianapolis has discovered the wonders of playing defense and I am going with the latter. Tampa Bay knows how to play but doesn’t have the personnel necessary to cover all the weapons the Saints can throw at them.

Jake Delhomme v. HOU – Another quandary here: is the Houston defense for real or the Kansas City offense that bad? I will again go with the second choice. Maybe it is their years of futility, but I just can’t take the Texans very seriously. Everyone knew the Chief’s offense was fading. We just didn’t realize how far it had slid into the toilet. They may not be drowning yet but they are taking refuge on any floaters they can find. Houston’s defense still isn’t good and Carolina will have no problem dealing with it. Steve Smith is the most exciting receiver in the NFL and he can single-handedly carry the Panthers if he needs to.

Jon Kitna v. MIN – I drafted Kitna in a number of my leagues this year, considering him to be the best value anywhere along the QB board. Week One made me look smarter than I really am, but I will take it. He had no problems with what is supposed to be a very good Oakland defense, leaving me confident than Minnesota will be manageable. With Mike Martz calling the plays and the talent he has at receiver, Kitna will quickly win over all doubters this season.

Jay Cutler v. OAK – 300 yards and a touchdown were a good start against Buffalo. Oakland just got owned by the Lions and it is now the Broncos turn. Travis Henry is a nasty weapon running and catching the ball. He’ll add to Oakland’s woes this week. Cutler won’t be a great play every week with Denver’s run-first mentality, but start him with confidence this Sunday.

Grab A Clipboard:

Vince Young v. IND – Do you really want to start Young against the defense that just shut down the New Orleans Saints? The Saints may have some issues, but their offense is a heck of a lot better than the one Tennessee boasts. Additionally, the Colts have had an extra couple days to prepare for Young’s scrambling. I have a feeling Indianapolis is going to destroy the Titans, leaving only garbage time for Vince to get his numbers. And it won’t be enough to risk starting him.

Josh McCown/Daunte Culpepper @ DEN – Oakland started out pretty good, certainly better than expected by most football pundits. But Denver has a defense, unlike their Week One opponent, and isn’t afraid to use it. The Raiders actually look like an NFL team again, but it won’t be enough against Denver. Regardless which of these guys gets the start, just pass them by. If McCown was smart, he would take the week off, let Dante get mangled, and then step back in and hold down the starting job until Oakland is eliminated from the playoffs and JaMarcus Russell takes over. Does anyone think that might be any later than Week Ten?

Philip Rivers @ NE – The Patriots have a great defense and the Chargers have no real wide receivers. Who else see the problem here? Just to add insult to injury, Tomlinson vultured a touchdown throw last week. It was funny for Tomlinson owners, less so for Rivers’ owners. And watch out for camera work on the sidelines. As if New England needed more of an advantage than Bill Belichick’s diabolical genius on the sidelines.

J.P. Losman @ PIT – Let me tell you a story about a quarterback who faced the vaunted Pittsburgh defense. Crowned the opening day starter, he played so badly he got yanked in the second quarter after enduring fifteen minutes of chanting from the home crowd calling for the 3rd string QB. Just to top it off, days later he got traded to another team for a lousy 6th round pick. I don’t think Losman is as bad as Frye, but he isn’t that much better either.

Jared Lorenzen v. GB – Just in case anyone is thinking about getting cute, Lorenzen is not a good play this week. Eli Manning is still saying he could play this week and Green Bay’s defense is good enough to make Lorenzen look like the inexperienced quarterback he is. Hopefully there is something more interesting in the free agent pool.

Running Backs