Never Bench Peyton?

I usually adhere to the "never bench your studs" theory when setting a fantasy football lineup. However, I must admit that I have gotten cold feet three times this season with the safest quarterback play in fantasy football: Peyton Manning.

In Week 6, I benched him on one of my teams (in favor of Kurt Warner) when the Colts played the Ravens. At the time, the Ravens ranked at or near the top of the league in every defensive category and Manning was still a little gimpy with a twice-surgically repaired knee and ordinary (for him) stats. Bad idea! Peyton threw for 271 yards and three touchdowns that week.

In Week 8, in my "Start 'em, Sit 'em" column at Fantasy Football Champs, I placed Peyton in the "Bench" category (provided another viable option was available) as he prepared to face the undefeated Titans. The Titans had allowed only one touchdown pass all season to that point and had also allowed the fewest points in the league. They still rank No. 1 in points allowed, but no thanks to Manning who went for 223 yards, two touchdown passes, and one touchdown run against them.

Then this past weekend, in Week 10, I went to the well a third time and endorsed the benching of Manning given a decent alternative in my FFChamps column. After all, he was on the road facing the Steelers, who ranked No. 1against the pass and in total defense. The jinx worked again. Peyton registered 240 yards and three touchdown passes against the Steel Curtain.

Lesson learned.

There's a reason Manning has been the safest quarterback play in fantasy football for years. He is capable of having great games against any team in any week regardless of their defensive rank. Is he going to mix in some clunkers? Sure, everyone does. More often than not, however, Manning will come through. Just keep him in the lineup and reap the rewards of great numbers 90 percent of the time.

The rest of the Colts schedule only includes one more game that looks like a tough one for Manning, by the way. However, it doesn't come until Week 17 against the Titans and you saw what he did to them last time. Besides, Week 17 should never be used to decide a fantasy football championship, but that's another blog entry for another time.