Week 9 - Start / Sit

BYE WEEK: Carolina, New Orleans, San Diego, San Francisco

QB – Kurt Warner, Donovan McNabb, Peyton Manning, Aaron Rodgers

INJURY WATCH: Tony Romo(DAL), Jay Cutler(DEN), Carson Palmer(CIN), Matt Hasselbeck(SEA), Brian Griese(TB), Vince Young(TEN)

Start

David Garrard (JAC) – Garrard has been playing at a very high level lately and I expect the same to continue this week. The Jaguars will be playing the Bengals and the offense should be able to move the ball up and down the field most of the game. The defense should create some opportunities and short fields for Garrard to capitalize on. Garrard also makes plays with his legs, leading the Jags in rushing yards last week. He will also have his top receiver available this week, so things are looking good.  20 of 27 275yrds, 2 TD’s, 30yrds rush

Marc Bulger (STL) – The Rams have been resurgent lately and the passing game has seen improvements over the past weeks. Bulger is getting more support in pass protection and his run game has alleviated a lot of the pressure. The Rams may get into a shootout with the Cardinals this week, or they could get down in the game and be forced to throw more. I’d expect a closer game though even though it may be a high scoring affair. I wouldn’t count of Bulger every week, but if you have Brees, Rivers, or Delhomme, Bulger could fill in this week for you.  24 of 32 250yrds, 2 TD’s, 1 INT

Sit

Matt Cassell (NEP) – I think Cassell runs into some problems this Sunday night in Indianapolis. The Colts could get Bob sanders back, instantly upgrading a run defense that has already been playing pretty good despite the game against Tennessee last week. If the Colts come out gunning and get a lead, Cassell will be forced to throw. And when he’s on the road, the results are not very favorable.  16 of 28 175yrds, 1 TD, 2 INT’s

Eli Manning (NYG) – When Dallas comes to town, it’s typically a low scoring, defensive struggle, with both teams keeping it tight to the vest and utilizing the run game to try and wear out the others’ defense. Wade Philips is now calling the defensive plays, his specialty, and it shut down Tampa’s offense last week. Manning may catch a break here and there, but I wouldn’t expect anything spectacular from him.  17 of 25 200yrds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 1 FUM

RB – Brian Westbrook, Adrian Peterson, Steven Jackson, Clinton Portis, Marion Barber, Ronnie Brown, Brandon Jacobs, Michael Turner, Marshawn ####, Chris Johnson(TEN)

INJURY WATCH:  Clinton Portis(WAS), Joseph Addai(IND), Steven Jackson(STL), Willie Parker(PIT), Reggie Bush(NO), Willis Mcgahee(BAL), Warrick Dunn(TB), Selvin Young(DEN), Michael Pittman(DEN), Darren McFadden(OAK), Sammie Morris(NEP), Chris Perry(CIN), Justin Fargas(OAK), Lamont Jordan(NEP), Maurice Morris(SEA), Jerious Norwood(ATL), Felix Jones(DAL), Ahman Green(HOU), Jamaal Charles(KC)

Start

Earnest Graham (TBB) – Graham should once again get the bulk of the carries this week with Warrick Dunn still nursing a troubled back. Kansas City’s rush defense ranks in the bottom three in yards against, and Tampa will want to run as much as possible on the road this week. Those of you looking for Graham’s breakout game, get ready to smile.  110yrds, 2 TD’s, 4 for 25yrds

Dominic Rhodes (IND) – For the Colts to be successful, they’ll need to run. With Joseph Addai still recovering from an injury, Rhodes will be the workhorse this Sunday Night. The Colts offense is predicated on play-action, and for that to work, they’ll need to feed Rhodes a healthy dose of the rock to make it believable. This is a game the Colts will especially want to win, and I think they’ll get it done.  100ydrs, 1 TD, 4 for 35yrds

Sit

Edgerrin James (ARI) – James will be on the short end of a team that wants to test the future of the franchise this year, and this is the perfect opportunity to do so; on the road against a sub-par defense. James will still get his touches, but it won’t be enough to warrant a start this week. This could be the beginning of the end for James, so monitor his situation closely.  30yrds

Willis Mcgahee (BAL) – Mcgahee is still ####ed up and his game is suffering because of it. Cleveland will be determined to shut down the Raves run this week and force Flacco to beat them threw the air. Ray Rice has also seen his touches increase over the past couple of weeks. All of these things throw up a big, red caution flag on Mcgahee. Unless BYE weeks are forcing your hand, keep him on your bench.  40yrds, 2 for 10yrds

WR – Brandon Marshall, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Greg Jennings, Calvin Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, T.J. Houshmanzedah, Plaxico Burress

INJURY WATCH: Reggie Wayne(IND), Santana Moss(WAS), Marques Colston(NO), Plaxico Burress(NYG), Anquan Boldin(ARI), Chris Chambers(SD), Laveranes Coles(NYJ), Jerricho Cotchery(NYJ), Deion Branch(SEA), Eddie Royal(DEN), Anthony Gonzalez(IND), Kevin Walter(HOU), Justin Gage(TEN), Justin McCareins(TEN), Javon Walker(OAK), Joey Galloway(TBB), Sidney Rice(MIN), Brandon Stokely(DEN), Darrell Jackson(DEN), Brandon Lloyd(CHI), David Patten(NO), Drew Bennett(STL), Dante Stallworth(CLE), Marty Booker(CHI), Reggie Williams(JAC), Josh Reed(BUF)

Start

Santonio Holmes (PIT) – This is a redemption game for Holmes after letting his team down last week due to a run-in with the local authorities. The Steelers will need to throw and Washington’s defense is ####ed up. Washington has a meager 10 sacks this year, so there should be lots of time for Ben to have a look downfield to Holmes. He’s looking to prove how valuable he is to this team and he’ll have a big game to make up for it.  6 for 115yrds, 1 TD

Eddie Royal (DEN) – Jay Cutler should have a bounce back game this week as the Dolphins and their 27th ranked pass defense roll into town. Marshall and Scheffler, if he plays, should draw most of the defensive attention, leaving Royal in plenty of single coverage opportunities to taka advantage of. According to Vegas, this should be the highest scoring game of the week, so expect Denver to continue to throw late into the game.  6 for 90yrds, 1 TD

Sit

Dwayne Bowe (KC) – Kansas City is in trouble this week against Tampa Bay. The Cover 2 effectively shuts down receivers on the outside and limits any deep balls. This will likely be a low scoring game with most of the action coming from the ground games. Until Bowe starts converting on more of the targets he receives, you may want to keep him benched.  4 for 30yrds

Jerricho Cotchery (NYJ) – Cotchery was destined for a huge season this year after last year’s numbers and the addition of Brett Favre, but things haven’t quite worked out. Besides from being hurt for most of the season, Cotchery doesn’t seem to draw the eye of Favre as much as Coles and Stuckey do. Buffalo should do a good job of neutralizing him this week.  2 for 50yrds

TE – Chris Cooley, Kellen Winslow, Tony Gonzalez, Owen Daniels, Dallas Clark

INJURY WATCH: Jason Witten(DAL), Tony Scheffler(DEN), Jeremy Shockey(NO), L.J. Smith(PHI), Leonard Pope(ARI), Ben Utecht(CIN), Bubba Franks(NYJ)

Start

Greg Olsen (CHI) – It should be a big scoring day for Chicago this week and I’d expect Olsen to get in on the action. Kyle Orton has been phenomenal this season and Chicago’s offense has been one of the more productive. The Bears should have success against the Lions this week with their defense and special teams setting up lots of short field opportunities.  5 for 50yrds, 1 TD

K – Mason Crosby, Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Vinatieri, John Carney, David Akers, Robbie Gould

INJURY WATCH:  Lawrence Tynes(NYG), Mike Nugent(NYJ)

Start

Ryan Longwell (MIN) – It should be a high scoring game in Minnesota this Sunday, and Longwell will get the opportunities as the Vikings drives stall. The game is indoors and Minnesota should be able to move the ball well between the 20’s. Longwell is very accurate and should have no trouble converting.  3 FG’s, 2 XP’s

DEF – Ravens, Titans, Packers, Giants, Eagles, Vikings, Buccaneers

INJURY WATCH: Baltimore (Chris McAllister-CD, Samari Rolle-CB), Minnesota (Madieu Williams-S, David Herron-LB), Chicago (Tommie Harris-DT, Charles Tillman-CB, Nathan Vasher-CB), Pittsburgh (Ryan Clark-FS, Bryant McFadden-CB), Tampa Bay (Jermaine Philips-S, Jovan Haye-DT), Indianapolis (Marlin Jackson-CB, Daymeion Hughes-CB), Green Bay (Charles Woodson-CB), Dallas (Terence Newman-CB, Anthony Henry-CB), Washington (Jason Taylor-DE, Shawn Springs-CB, Cornelius Griffin-DT), NY Giants (Kevin Dockery-CB, Bryan Kehl-LB) New England (Ellis Hobbs-CB, Jarvis Green-DE)

Start

Cleveland Browns – The top defenses are all playing this week, so there may not be a need to find a BYE week fill in, but if you do, take a peek at the Browns this week. They’re at home, and playing a Baltimore offense that ranks in the bottom five in scoring and has been quite generous with turnovers lately. The Ravens will want to run, but Cleveland has been playing extremely well lately and if they can shut things down early, it would force Flacco into throwing more; something he hasn’t done well consistently.  <250 YA, <17 PA, 3 sacks, 2 INT’s, 1 FUM

Week 4 - Start / Sit

BYE WEEK:  Patriots, Colts, Dolphins, NY Giants, Lions, Seahawks

QB – Peyton Manning, Drew Brees, Tony Romo, Ben Roethlisberger, Donovan McNabb, Jay Cutler

INJURY WATCH: Ben Roethlisberger(PIT), Donovan McNabb(PHI), Matt Hasselbeck(SEA), Brett Favre(GB), Damon Huard(KC)

Start

J.T. O’Sullivan(SF) – If you followed my advice from last week, you were rewarded by O’Sullivan to a quality start of 16-23, 189yrds, 2 TD’s, and 0 Turnovers. With a shootout brewing in New Orleans this week, I expect very similar numbers. The defense will concentrate on slowing Gore, leaving a lot of single coverage on the outside. San Francisco has the receivers to take advantage of those situations.  250yrds, 2 TD’s

Trent Edwards(BUF) – Edwards and the Buffalo offense are hot right now, and there’s no reason to see that trend not continuing this week in St. Louis. The Rams are the most dysfunctional team in the league outside of Kansas City and Edwards will be able to take advantage downfield as the defense attempts to contain Marshawn ####. Though Roscoe Parrish will not play this week, Buffalo has the receivers to make the big plays.  225yrds, 2 TD’s

Sit

Marc Bulger/Trent Green(STL) – St. Louis has announced they are going with Trent Green this week. Bulger may quickly become a fantasy afterthought if Green comes out and performs. The Rams can’t do any worse at this point and it’s possible Green can spark something in this offense, relegating Bulger to the bench until Green gets hurt, which seems inevitable at this point in his career.

Aaron Rodgers(GB) – May be a reach here, but I think Rodgers and the Green Bay offense will struggle at Tampa Bay. It’s hard to sit Rodgers this week with so many high profile QB’s on BYE, but if you have two capable QB’s, I think Rodgers should be benched. Though he has the receivers to make the plays, I expect him to be under pressure all day and scrambling around in the backfield. If he continues to run as much as he has through the first three weeks, he won’t last much longer this season.  250yrds, 1 TD, 2 INT’s, 1 FUM

RB – LaDanian Tomlinson, Adrian Peterson, Brian Westbrook, Steven Jackson, Marshawn ####, Larry Johnson, Clinton Portis, Frank Gore, Marion Barber, Willie Parker, Reggie Bush, Michael Turner

INJURY WATCH:  Adrian Peterson(MIN), Brian Westbrook(PHI), Steven Jackson(STL), Willie Parker(PIT), Willis Mcgahee(BAL), Darren McFadden(OAK), Justin Fargas(OAK), Ahman Green(HOU), Deuce McAllister(NO), Laurence Maroney(NEP), Lamont Jordan(NEP), Maurice Morris(SEA)

Start

Jonathan Stewart(CAR) – I can’t see why Stewart won’t receive the bulk of the carries this week against Atlanta. It’s obvious he’s a much better back than Williams, and there has to be something with his blocking that is keeping him from being an every down back. I expect Carolina to continue to be a run first team and pick their spots to go downfield. That means a lot of touches for Stewart and a lot of opportunity to score.  100yrds, 2 TD’s

Jamal Lewis(CLE) – This is the week that Lewis finally gets it going. The Browns are desperate for a win and they can’t afford to fall to last place in the AFC North. They know that if they lose this game, they’re all but eliminated from playoff contention. With Anderson struggling, I expect to see a lot of Lewis to alleviate the pressure on the offense.  100yrds, 2 TD’s

Sit

Philadelphia RB’s – Brian Westbrook might play this week, but I highly doubt it. Even if he does play, given his condition, it will be a time-split and that spells trouble, especially against the Chicago defense. This could end up like last week’s game against Pittsburgh; very low scoring, with defenses dominating.  30-40yrds each, 3 for 15-20yrds each, 0.33 TD each

Edgerrin James(ARI) – I think it’s only a matter of time before James rides the pine or comes off the bench in a relief role. He just doesn’t have it anymore, and the other RB in Arizona seems to be taking more and more away from him with each passing week. Speaking of passing, there’s also going to be a lot of that from Arizona this week. Couple that with the fact that James doesn’t get the goal-line carries and that equals a Fantasy Benching.  50-60yrds, 2 for 15yrds

WR – Terrell Owens, Reggie Wayne, Andre Johnson, Larry Fitzgerald, Brandon Marshall, Calvin Johnson, Plaxico Burress, Greg Jennings, Anquan Boldin (removed: Randy Moss, Braylon Edwards)

INJURY WATCH: Chad Johnson(CIN), Marques Colston(NO), Javon Walker(OAK), Reggie Brown(PHI), Kevin Curtis(PHI), Jerry Porter(JAC), Joey Galloway(TBB), Sidney Rice(MIN), Bernard Berrian(MIN), Deion Branch(SEA), Bobby Engram(SEA), Donte Stallworth(CLE), Devin Hester(CHI), Roscoe Parrish(BUF), David Patten(NO)

Start

Dwayne Bowe(KC) – You wouldn’t know it by his numbers, but Bowe actually leads the league in targets so far this season. Damon Huard is expected to start this week, and that gives Bowe the best chance to succeed in this offense. The Chiefs will have to abandon the run early in this one to keep pace with Denver and that means lots of opportunity for Bowe. This is his week to shine.  7 for 125yrds, 1 TD

Hines Ward/Santonio Holmes(PIT) – The Steelers were embarrassed last week at Philly, surrendering nine sacks and managing zero touchdowns. I don’t see that happening again this week. This is a Monday Night game at home where there’s nobody better than the Steelers. Think back to last year’s first meeting between these teams. Everyone’s going to overrate Baltimore based on their record against two very bad teams. A rookie RB starting will lead to many passing opportunities.  6 for 80-90yrds each, 1 TD each

Sit

Braylon Edwards(CLE) – Again, very difficult to sit such an explosive receiver, but Edwards is at the bottom of the barrel right now in Fantasy points through the first three weeks. Cincinnati did an excellent job of shutting down Plaxico Burress last week and I expect them to do the same to Edwards this week. Until you see something from Anderson, like a good game or him on the bench, I’d wait on Edwards unless the BYE week has made you desperate.  4 for 30-40yrds

TE – Jason Witten, Antonio Gates, Tony Gonzalez, Kellen Winslow, Chris Cooley

INJURY WATCH: Jeremy Shockey(NO), L.J. Smith(PHI), Ben Watson(NEP)

Start

Billy Miller(NO) – With Shockey, Colston, and potentially Patten on the sidelines for a while, Miller becomes a strong option this week with six teams on their BYE. This would be a great opportunity for a Shockey, Dallas Clark, or Anthony Fasano owner to make up those lost points. San Francisco has been generous in its defense this season and Brees is going to be slinging the ball all over the place.  6 for 40-50yrds, 1 TD

K – Nick Folk, Mason Crosby, Stephen Gostkowski, Adam Vinatieri, Rob Bironas, Nate Kaeding, Robbie Gould

Start

Phil Dawson(CLE) – I think the Browns get back on track this week because they need to. That still doesn’t mean they’re going to score a lot of touchdowns, but I do think they’ll score a lot of points. Cincinnati did a good job of slowing down the Giants last week, stalling many drives in field goal range.  3 FG’s, 2 XP’s

DEF – Vikings, Bears, Ravens, Cowboys, Steelers, Titans, Eagles (removed: Patriots)

INJURY WATCH: Indianapolis(Bob Sanders-SS), Pittsburgh(Casey Hampton-NT), Green Bay(Al Harris-CB), Washington(Jason Taylor-DE), Buffalo(Roscoe Parrish-PR), Arizona(Bertrand Berry-DE)

Start

Carolina Panthers – Though the Panthers are a little ####ed up, I expect their game-plan this week will be to control the ball and keep Michael Turner off the field. Their secondary will limit Roddy White and pressure Matt Ryan into making rookie mistakes. By shortening the game and scoring, they should force Atlanta into throwing late and taking advantage of the situation. This figures to be one of the lower scoring games this week and if you’re in a pinch for a defense, Carolina could pay good dividends.  <300 YA, <17 PA, 4 sacks, 2 INT’s, 1 FUM