Aaron Rodgers has been an unstoppable fantasy football quarterback the past six weeks. He’s gone for three scores almost every week, and on those few times he was limited to two touchdowns he threw for well over 300 yards.

Fantasy owners should be happily watching those big stats roll in, but they can’t. They’re just too stressed out by Rodgers’ other big number: 37 sacks. He’s been taken down far more than any other QB. He’s endured 10 more sacks than the famously lineless Matt Cassel. His total is almost 10 more than the combined sacks of Drew Brees, Peyton Manning and Tom Brady.
It’s painful to watch Rodgers standing there for so long, knowing nobody around him really knows how to block and he’s seconds away from being crushed once again. He’s on pace for the league’s first 70-sack season since David Carr’s 76 in 2002. Even Bucs and Lions are getting to him. It makes you wonder whether he can limp through long enough for your fantasy playoff run.
Maybe he can be like Ben Roethlisberger, who’s always getting sacked but still always puts up numbers. But, just in case, keep your eyes peeled for a solid backup you could turn to down the stretch.
As you again wonder why the Packers don’t throw more quick passes, here’s a look at some players to start and some to sit in Week 10:
QUARTERBACKS
TAKE A SHOT:
—It’s way too easy to predict big numbers for Peyton Manning and Tom Brady in their epic Sunday night showdown. So here’s guaranteeing seven combined TD passes and 700 combined yards, even though the Pats rank fourth in pass defense and the Colts have allowed a league-low four passing TDs.
—You would think it’s about time for Minnesota’s Brett Favre to go into handoff mode to save his arm for later in the season. He’ll do that plenty against the Lions, but there will also be all sorts of easy TD passes there for the taking.
—Joe Flacco’s slump is certain to come to an end in Cleveland because most slumps end against the Browns. Flacco had a 300-yard game against the Browns earlier this year and two TDs in Cleveland last year.
—If you’re really desperate, undefeated Tampa Bay rookie Josh Freeman’s worth a shot. He looked like a real QB last week, and he faces Miami’s 28th-ranked pass defense that has allowed a league-high 39 plays of 20 or more yards.
BACK AWAY SLOWLY AND NOBODY GETS HURT:
Please, in the name of Matt Flynn, don’t start these guys:
—Carson Palmer had just one score and failed to reach 200 yards in the Bengals’ win over the Steelers earlier this year, and that was against a defense that was without Troy Polamalu. The Steelers have allowed one TD pass in the three games since Polamalu returned.
—Donovan McNabb has plenty of weapons, but apparently they only work well at home. He has one TD in his past two road games. Since last year, he’s gone for either one or no scores in eight of 11 road games.
—Whoever starts for Buffalo should not start for your fantasy team. The Titans rank last in yards and TDs allowed (21), but they’ve looked competent lately. The Bills’ offense has not.
RUNNING BACKS
ALL DAY LONG:
—It appears the worries about Pierre Thomas losing time to other Saints’ backs are starting to ease. He had 18 touches last week, compared to nine for Reggie Bush and five for Mike Bell. Thomas should easily hit 100 yards with a couple scores against the Rams.
—Same for Rashard Mendenhall in Pittsburgh. Willie Parker wasn’t on the injury report but didn’t even get one carry. (Though Mendenhall owners fear it could all go away with his next fumble or bonehead play.)
—It’s time to quit worrying about what role Tim Hightower has and accept the fact he always does something good. He’s scored or totaled at least 88 yards in all but one game.
—In other time-share news, Denver’s Knowshon Moreno should bounce back against the Redskins’ 25th-ranked run defense that is falling apart in a hurry.
RED FLAGS:
—The Steelers’ No. 1 run defense just shut down the upstart Vikings and Broncos, and they continue their reality check tour against the surprising Bengals. That means a quiet day from Cedric Benson, who’s scored in four straight games and has gone over 100 yards in three of those games.
—The Packers’ Ryan Grant is having a nice season, but he seems to only put up huge numbers against terrible teams. He’s averaging just over 40 yards rushing in three games against teams with winning records.
—The Raiders have allowed more TD runs than anyone, but it’s not worth getting into that Kansas City quagmire with Jamaal Charles or Kolby Smith. (Seriously, does your roster really need another Chief?)
WIDE RECEIVERS
THROW HIM THE DARN BALL:
—The Broncos have decided to try getting the ball to their best player, so Brandon Marshall is back to being a guy you never bench. Don’t overthink the Redskins’ No. 1 pass defense; that ranking’s largely because they can’t stop the run.
—The Panthers might dabble in the forward pass again, considering Steve Smith’s record against Atlanta. His only 100-yard game this year came against the Falcons, and in his past three games against them averaged seven catches and 132 yards.
—The Jets’ Braylon Edwards should continue to light up the state of Florida. He scored in both games against Miami and now faces Jacksonville’s 26th-ranked pass defense. Rookie Mark Sanchez had the bye week to prepare for a defense that has recorded a league-low eight sacks.
—Like many players, Baltimore’s Derrick Mason loves playing Cleveland. He had 118 yards and a TD in his last game against the Browns, 136 yards and a score in the game before that.
SHOW HIM THE DARN BENCH:
—Count me among the fantasy owners really tired of seeing Seattle spread the ball around, reserving only the 3-yard passes for T.J. Houshmandzadeh.
—Calvin Johnson has scored in all three career games against Minnesota, but the Detroit passing game seems to be regressing. A rookie QB in a road game against the defense that leads the league in sacks doesn’t bode well for Johnson.
—Robert Meachem should be quite the free-agent pickup after 98 yards and a rare score, but it’s doubtful he’ll duplicate that this week. The Saints spread the ball around so much, and Drew Brees may want to feed Marques Colston after his quiet day last week.
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BYES THIS WEEK: Houston, NY Giants.
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FREE AGENT SHOPPING LIST: RB Ladell Betts (70 yards, TD, possible start with Portis hurting), WR Robert Meachem (98 yards, TD), QB Josh Freeman (3 TDs), WR James Jones (103 yards, TD), WR Chris Chambers (2 TDs), WR Laveranues Coles (6 catches), WR Jason Hill (2 TDs), RB Kolby Smith (more touches).
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WHAT DO I KNOW?
Big Hits: I expected Ben Roethlisberger (3 TDs) to exploit the rough Denver defense. I also expected good things for Julius Jones (114 total yards, TD), T.J. Houshmandzadeh (TD), Steve Breaston (TD) and Alex Smith (2 TDs). I thought there would be more struggles for Jonathan Stewart (24 yards) and Knowshon Moreno (3 yards).
Big Misses: I for the last time ever suggested LaDainian Tomlinson (22 yards) could do something good. I also expected success from Jamaal Charles (36 yards), Derrick Mason (31 yards) and Michael Crabtree (30 yards). I didn’t expect much from Matt Cassel (2 TDs), Eli Manning (2 TDs) or Brandon Marshall (112 yards).