Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
Let's jump right into it
Detroit at Chicago
Jon Kitna: Last time the two teams faced each other Kitna went for 247/2TD, but most of it was in the 4th quarter and Chicago was missing both starting CB at the time. The Bears have not been pathetic against the pass, they have been torn up on the ground. With Kevin Jones coming back, it would appear Detroit will try to run the ball at least some to take the pressure of the passing game. Kitna has been a mixed bag this season but there is no real reason he can’t duplicate what he did the 1st time around. I am concerned that as the running game gets better that it will ease the numbers of Kitna a little bit. Flip side to that would be that the running game should make the passing game more effective.
Brian Griese: A great start this week. 10 TD vs 3 Int are the Linos pass defense over the last 4 games. Griese put up almost 300 yds and 2 TD despite his 3 interceptions in his 1st full under Center a few weeks ago against these Lions. Griese is avg 300 yds and 2 TD a week since he took over. He has tossed 6 interceptions along the way as well. Nice solid start this week. Also the Bears cannot run the ball so they need griese to win the games for them.
Indy at Carolina
Peyton Manning: He has 2 pretty nice starts this year and 4 other games where he is just sort of average. 250/TD, or maybe 250/2TD…nothing that is single handedly winning games for owners. Carolina has not given up a passing TD since week 3…that will change this weekend.
David Carr/Vinny Testaverde: Neither is a good play against the Indy cover 2 system they run. They are 1st in the league allowing only 160 a game…people will point to the fact they can be run against…fine but teams are not beating themrunning the football so eventually they get tired of that and take to the air when they fall behind…Indy has a sound passing defense because of their great DL play which can get pressure on the QB. VInny will have no where to run and neither will David Carr. I expect about 4-5 sacks from the Colts “D” in this contest.
Cleveland at St Louis
Derek Anderson: I talked about it last week when Hass was being toggled around as a bench player for the week and I said he would find success and he did with almost 200 yds and 2 TD in that contest. Anderson will find success as well. St Louis was tattooed by Delhomme in week 1 and Romo…they were OK against the likes of Warner/Leinart where matt went down, Alex Smith, Kyle Boller…I like Anderson and the suddenly potent passing game of Cleveland much better than the rest of those guys right now. Anderson has been wasted bench points so many weeks and with 6 teams on bye weeks this weekend, he has to be a play for some of you.
Marc Bulger: The match up looks good but he still cannot get anything going. Seattle is not that great against the pass and he floundered. Probably still nursing injuries but that’s not my problem nor should it be yours. He has caused so many losses for owners this season, how can you trust him to deliver this week against the Browns?
Oakland at Tennessee
CulPepper/McCown: Word is that if McCown is healthy he is starting. I don’t like either this week as the Titans until the 4th quarter of last week have been pretty lights out all the way around on defense. Credit Jeff Fisher for once again showing why he is one of the best player evaluation coaches in the National Football League…boy he would have looked nice in a Miami Dolphins shirt when he was thought gone a year or two ago. Guy simply knows how to evaluate talent and get the most out of his defenses. Oh yeah…bench DC and McCown this weekend.
Vince Young: Supposed to be starting. I am cautiously optimistic that he can do well this weekend. Might want to leave him on the bench another week as the QB position has not been lighting it up on Oakland as of late. Rivers didn’t have a TD, Huard was OK last week, Miami was basically shut down by Oakland…Young is a very iffy play this week. 3 TD vs 8 Int over the past 5 games for Oakland.
Philly at Minnesota
Donovan McNabb: 5 of the 7 games for the Vikes defense the opposing QB has had 1 or ZERO TD in the game. Everyone likes to rip apart their secondary as being so bad…Favre and Griese had big days…Griese was playing form behind. Romo was OK last week but didn’t tear them apart. McNabb has struggled most of the season. This is not the green light that some want to believe it is.
TJax/K.Holcomb: Either of them is a waste in your starting line up. Doesn’t matter what the match up is, sorry.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Big Ben: Coming off a terrific game last week, all signs would point to him having a nice day this weekend. With all the bye weeks, he is almost a must start in most leagues. I think 250/2 TD is well within his grasp this week against the Bengals who let Chad flippin Pennington torch them for 3 scores last week.
Carson Palmer: Should always be in your line up. I can only think of a handful of Qb or potential plays this week that would make me bench him. Pittsburgh secondary has been tough as nails but they let Cutler do a lot of damage to them last week.
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins…World Bowl in London
Eli Manning: Should be able to systematically crucify the Miami secondary this weekend. I expect him to have if not his best, close to his best performance of the season. Only downside is Zach Thomas likely will not be making the trip and that means the running lanes will be open all day for Jacobs, Ward, and anyone else they want to throw at Miami. This is a great match up for Manning.
Cleo Lemon: Can’t wait to see who he can get killed on interception returns this weekend. We don’t have a starter left hardly that we had week 1…owning a Miami Dolphin is scary business right now. Miami will wish they never got on the plane by about halftime in this one.
Buffalo at NY Jets
Trent Edwards: He has played OK but I don’t think Losman should have been pushed to the bench so fast. The match up is nice but are you really going to roll this rookie out this week? You would have to be really desperate in a start 1 QB league to do this but I guess I can see how some might. He’s as big a risk to lay an egg as he is to post 200/2 TD which is about the best you could hope for.
Chad Pennington: Does get the nod for yet another week. The Bills give up almost 300 yards and 2 TD a week thru the air so Pennington should fare well this week.
Houston at San Diego
Sage Rosenfels: I am assuming Schaub will sit this one out. I know Sage had a nice 4th quarter last week but I wouldn’t count on a repeat performance against the suddenly strong looking San Diego Chargers.
Phillip Rivers: I do like the match up and the addition of Chambers for him. I expect his numbers to go up the rest of the way. I would play him without hesitation this week however the Chargers have been in the middle of these wildfires…I understand they are paid professionals but they are human too and many of them know folks that have lost their homes…it does have an impact on the mind. Hoping they win one for the folks in San Diego this weekend.
Jax at Tampa Bay
Quinn Gray: No Way!
Jeff Garcia: This will not be easy for Garcia and company. Jax only allows about 215 yards a game and 4 TD total on the season. This is not a good match up for Garcia however I expect him to be working off a short field set up by the Bucs defense as they tear Quinn apart.
Washington at New England
Jason Campbell: He will have some opps to put points up on Sunday. I expect NE to have a much harder time than they have had all season moving the ball. To this point they have looked like an NFL team taking on middle to upper class high school football teams…just hasn’t been pretty. Wouldn’t be my 1st choice at Qb this week but I expect the Skins to be in the game so I expect Campbell to produce somewhat.
Tom Brady: Still will have good numbers this weekend but not the usually 300/5TD performances we have grown accustomed to seeing as of late. Some of you will try to earn your MBA in FF this weekend and bench Brady for a better match up…don’t be one of those people.
New Orleans at San Fran
Drew Brees: Avg 225/2TD the past 2 weeks. He should be alright this weekend. San Fran is not terrible against the pass but they are not world beaters as of late either. Brees should at least score this weekend.
Alex Smith/Trent Dilfer: Bench either or both of these guys. Match up looks inviting but the Qb situation here dictates you not playing them right now.
Green Bay at Denver
Brett Favre: I don’t expect big numbers form him in Mile High this weekend. Big Ben was nice last week but I think Champ Bailey was injured in that game and he may or may not play this weekend. Favre has cooled off a bit the past few weeks too. 1 TD vs 4 Int the past 2 weeks…not good.
Jay Cutler: Had a great game last week but the 5-6 weeks before that were pretty average at best. I don’t trust him enough to start him blindly every week. Other than Rivers they have pretty much kept most Qb down this year. Cutler will ne middle of the pack this week.
Good luck this weekend...chime in and post your thoughts about the match ups this week.
Detroit at Chicago
Jon Kitna: Last time the two teams faced each other Kitna went for 247/2TD, but most of it was in the 4th quarter and Chicago was missing both starting CB at the time. The Bears have not been pathetic against the pass, they have been torn up on the ground. With Kevin Jones coming back, it would appear Detroit will try to run the ball at least some to take the pressure of the passing game. Kitna has been a mixed bag this season but there is no real reason he can’t duplicate what he did the 1st time around. I am concerned that as the running game gets better that it will ease the numbers of Kitna a little bit. Flip side to that would be that the running game should make the passing game more effective.
Brian Griese: A great start this week. 10 TD vs 3 Int are the Linos pass defense over the last 4 games. Griese put up almost 300 yds and 2 TD despite his 3 interceptions in his 1st full under Center a few weeks ago against these Lions. Griese is avg 300 yds and 2 TD a week since he took over. He has tossed 6 interceptions along the way as well. Nice solid start this week. Also the Bears cannot run the ball so they need griese to win the games for them.
Indy at Carolina
Peyton Manning: He has 2 pretty nice starts this year and 4 other games where he is just sort of average. 250/TD, or maybe 250/2TD…nothing that is single handedly winning games for owners. Carolina has not given up a passing TD since week 3…that will change this weekend.
David Carr/Vinny Testaverde: Neither is a good play against the Indy cover 2 system they run. They are 1st in the league allowing only 160 a game…people will point to the fact they can be run against…fine but teams are not beating themrunning the football so eventually they get tired of that and take to the air when they fall behind…Indy has a sound passing defense because of their great DL play which can get pressure on the QB. VInny will have no where to run and neither will David Carr. I expect about 4-5 sacks from the Colts “D” in this contest.
Cleveland at St Louis
Derek Anderson: I talked about it last week when Hass was being toggled around as a bench player for the week and I said he would find success and he did with almost 200 yds and 2 TD in that contest. Anderson will find success as well. St Louis was tattooed by Delhomme in week 1 and Romo…they were OK against the likes of Warner/Leinart where matt went down, Alex Smith, Kyle Boller…I like Anderson and the suddenly potent passing game of Cleveland much better than the rest of those guys right now. Anderson has been wasted bench points so many weeks and with 6 teams on bye weeks this weekend, he has to be a play for some of you.
Marc Bulger: The match up looks good but he still cannot get anything going. Seattle is not that great against the pass and he floundered. Probably still nursing injuries but that’s not my problem nor should it be yours. He has caused so many losses for owners this season, how can you trust him to deliver this week against the Browns?
Oakland at Tennessee
CulPepper/McCown: Word is that if McCown is healthy he is starting. I don’t like either this week as the Titans until the 4th quarter of last week have been pretty lights out all the way around on defense. Credit Jeff Fisher for once again showing why he is one of the best player evaluation coaches in the National Football League…boy he would have looked nice in a Miami Dolphins shirt when he was thought gone a year or two ago. Guy simply knows how to evaluate talent and get the most out of his defenses. Oh yeah…bench DC and McCown this weekend.
Vince Young: Supposed to be starting. I am cautiously optimistic that he can do well this weekend. Might want to leave him on the bench another week as the QB position has not been lighting it up on Oakland as of late. Rivers didn’t have a TD, Huard was OK last week, Miami was basically shut down by Oakland…Young is a very iffy play this week. 3 TD vs 8 Int over the past 5 games for Oakland.
Philly at Minnesota
Donovan McNabb: 5 of the 7 games for the Vikes defense the opposing QB has had 1 or ZERO TD in the game. Everyone likes to rip apart their secondary as being so bad…Favre and Griese had big days…Griese was playing form behind. Romo was OK last week but didn’t tear them apart. McNabb has struggled most of the season. This is not the green light that some want to believe it is.
TJax/K.Holcomb: Either of them is a waste in your starting line up. Doesn’t matter what the match up is, sorry.
Pittsburgh at Cincinnati
Big Ben: Coming off a terrific game last week, all signs would point to him having a nice day this weekend. With all the bye weeks, he is almost a must start in most leagues. I think 250/2 TD is well within his grasp this week against the Bengals who let Chad flippin Pennington torch them for 3 scores last week.
Carson Palmer: Should always be in your line up. I can only think of a handful of Qb or potential plays this week that would make me bench him. Pittsburgh secondary has been tough as nails but they let Cutler do a lot of damage to them last week.
New York Giants at Miami Dolphins…World Bowl in London
Eli Manning: Should be able to systematically crucify the Miami secondary this weekend. I expect him to have if not his best, close to his best performance of the season. Only downside is Zach Thomas likely will not be making the trip and that means the running lanes will be open all day for Jacobs, Ward, and anyone else they want to throw at Miami. This is a great match up for Manning.
Cleo Lemon: Can’t wait to see who he can get killed on interception returns this weekend. We don’t have a starter left hardly that we had week 1…owning a Miami Dolphin is scary business right now. Miami will wish they never got on the plane by about halftime in this one.
Buffalo at NY Jets
Trent Edwards: He has played OK but I don’t think Losman should have been pushed to the bench so fast. The match up is nice but are you really going to roll this rookie out this week? You would have to be really desperate in a start 1 QB league to do this but I guess I can see how some might. He’s as big a risk to lay an egg as he is to post 200/2 TD which is about the best you could hope for.
Chad Pennington: Does get the nod for yet another week. The Bills give up almost 300 yards and 2 TD a week thru the air so Pennington should fare well this week.
Houston at San Diego
Sage Rosenfels: I am assuming Schaub will sit this one out. I know Sage had a nice 4th quarter last week but I wouldn’t count on a repeat performance against the suddenly strong looking San Diego Chargers.
Phillip Rivers: I do like the match up and the addition of Chambers for him. I expect his numbers to go up the rest of the way. I would play him without hesitation this week however the Chargers have been in the middle of these wildfires…I understand they are paid professionals but they are human too and many of them know folks that have lost their homes…it does have an impact on the mind. Hoping they win one for the folks in San Diego this weekend.
Jax at Tampa Bay
Quinn Gray: No Way!
Jeff Garcia: This will not be easy for Garcia and company. Jax only allows about 215 yards a game and 4 TD total on the season. This is not a good match up for Garcia however I expect him to be working off a short field set up by the Bucs defense as they tear Quinn apart.
Washington at New England
Jason Campbell: He will have some opps to put points up on Sunday. I expect NE to have a much harder time than they have had all season moving the ball. To this point they have looked like an NFL team taking on middle to upper class high school football teams…just hasn’t been pretty. Wouldn’t be my 1st choice at Qb this week but I expect the Skins to be in the game so I expect Campbell to produce somewhat.
Tom Brady: Still will have good numbers this weekend but not the usually 300/5TD performances we have grown accustomed to seeing as of late. Some of you will try to earn your MBA in FF this weekend and bench Brady for a better match up…don’t be one of those people.
New Orleans at San Fran
Drew Brees: Avg 225/2TD the past 2 weeks. He should be alright this weekend. San Fran is not terrible against the pass but they are not world beaters as of late either. Brees should at least score this weekend.
Alex Smith/Trent Dilfer: Bench either or both of these guys. Match up looks inviting but the Qb situation here dictates you not playing them right now.
Green Bay at Denver
Brett Favre: I don’t expect big numbers form him in Mile High this weekend. Big Ben was nice last week but I think Champ Bailey was injured in that game and he may or may not play this weekend. Favre has cooled off a bit the past few weeks too. 1 TD vs 4 Int the past 2 weeks…not good.
Jay Cutler: Had a great game last week but the 5-6 weeks before that were pretty average at best. I don’t trust him enough to start him blindly every week. Other than Rivers they have pretty much kept most Qb down this year. Cutler will ne middle of the pack this week.
Good luck this weekend...chime in and post your thoughts about the match ups this week.
Last edited by a moderator:
on this format.....(didn't like the other format as much)
on this format.....(didn't like the other format as much)2- Philly passing to struggle: Thanks.....that was very helpful regarding the Minn defense. Convincing argument not to gamble on Philly if you have other options.3- Garcia probably having several short fields to work with: good call.....I see a lot of Garcia opportunity, but Matt Bryant might be the biggest beneficiary.
I had a toss up with Big Ben and McNabb and b/c of the matchups, I am planning on letting Ben take the helm of my FF team this week.
and Ditto for points 1 and 2. 
I don't think it's necessarily a great matchup for the reason you stated. Giants up by 3 touchdowns at half and basically pound Miami with Jacobs and Ward in the second half. The Niners game was supposed to be a good matchup for Eli too and he minimal yards passing in the 2nd half. I'm starting Griese over him even though most cheatsheets have Eli ranked much higher this week.
I don't think it's necessarily a great matchup for the reason you stated. Giants up by 3 touchdowns at half and basically pound Miami with Jacobs and Ward in the second half. The Niners game was supposed to be a good matchup for Eli too and he minimal yards passing in the 2nd half. I'm starting Griese over him even though most cheatsheets have Eli ranked much higher this week.
