Ministry of Pain
Footballguy
On we roll to week 9.
Arizona at Tampa Bay
Edge: Seems like every week he is grinding out about 80-90 yds on the ground and every other week he gets a TD…the numbers reflect that although Edge has not made a BIG FF impact this season…yet he is #9 in most points scored in non PPR leagues. I try to emphasize every preseason that just a handful of players make all the difference. Now this week will not be easy. Tampa Bay is giving up 125 yards a game on the ground which is a significant amount but they are only allowing about 3.9 ypc…and they are pretty strong against the pass, and AZ likes to throw the ball to their big play WRs. Owners will be lucky to get 100 yds this week out of Edge…he might be due for a short plunge in this one however.
Earnest Graham: He hasn’t scored a TD since week 4 although he has had his moments when you count his receptions if you play in PPR leagues. Pittman is starting to practice a little but more likely to see action in the upcoming weeks. Arizona is about as the same as the Bucs against the run, allowing 6 rushing TD on the season. At home, big game, Graham has a chance to to hit 100 yds and a score in this one which makes him very playable.
Carolina at Tennessee
DeShaun Foster: With Carr and Testaverde doing the work under center, I am not real big on either Carolina RB right now. When you factor in they are playing the Tennessee Titans who are #1 in rush defense for the season…I like them even less this week, and it’s a road game to boot.
DeAngelo Williams: See Above
LenDale White: White has 25, 27, and 25 carries the past 3 weeks…those are some serious touches. The Panthers give up about 100 yds and a TD a week on the gorund. The Titans have been winning ugly but they are winning football games. When you factor in how they closed last season…they are on an impressive 12-16 game stretch here. I greenlighted White last week and I would do the same this week.
Chris Henry: Had a nice couple of games but you can’t rely on him getting a bunch of touches so I would keep him on the bench for now.
Cincinnati at Buffalo
Rudi Johnson: Practiced fully on Wed so you know he is playing this weekend. Watson is likely out with a concussion. Buffalo is allowing 4.7 ypc and 127 ypg, but only 4 rushing TD on the season. I just question the OL in front of Rudi and even though the match up is there, I will be starting guys ahead of him in several leagues. I want to see him produce for a week before I get excited.
Marshawn Lynch: Play him all day long. The Nati is giving up almost 140 a game, 4.7 ypc, and 5 rushing TD in 7 games…look for Lynch to get a healthy dose of carries on Sunday and we might be looking at a 4-4 Buffalo team that has wildcard aspirations after this week.
Denver at Detroit
Travis Henry: Again, he practiced fully on Wed. Detroit is not the worst in the league against the run but they give up an avg of a TD per week on the ground. I think Henry will find success on the road this week…and it may be one of the last weeks where owners can use him, so why not start him.
Selvin Young: If Henry practiced fully, I wouldn’t expect a large dose of Young this week.
Kevin Jones: A greenlight last week and again this week. Teams are running on Denver, look what GB was able to accomplish and they don’t run the ball very effectively. Detroit has the advantage at home this week, a chance to go 6-2, look for Martz to be pulling out the stops on Sunday…with this talent they have assembled at WR, I just can’t see how defenses are scheming to stop the run.
Green Bay at Kansas City
Ryan Grant: No No No…not on the road at KC, not against a KC team that is fairly tough on defense, not for a team where the starting RB can’t finish games, not for a RB that only runs well in straight lines…NO NO NO!!!
Larry Johnson: Pack are allowing 98 ypg, 3.8 ypc, and only 2 rushing TD for the season. I still like LJ this week…Chiefs are 4-3 in case anyone has been paying attention. I think you will see LJ running with a lot of gusto this weekend, and I expect him to take the Chiefs on his back down the stretch as the schedule plays into their favor quite a bit. I have seen him as a fringe top10 because of the match up…I think he is good for top5 this week even against the Pack.
Jax at NO
Fred Taylor: I don’t like him this week on the fast surface in New Orleans. The Saints are actually pretty good against the rush believe it or not only allowing 3.6 ypc. The Saints are on a roll winning their last 3…Jax lost a big game at Indy, then went on the road to beat TB in a game they had no business winning…I think they lay an egg in all aspect this week in New Orleans.
MJD: I like him a little better for dump off passes and I also like the fast track for him better. Flex spot I would start him.
Reggie Bush: Jax is good against the run but the 2 way threat of Bush makes hima must start especially in PPR leagues where he is top5-10 every week.
San Diego at Minnesota
LaDainian Tomlinson: He is always going to be the #1 RB every week on most cheatsheets but the Vikings only allow 2.9 ypc…this is a tough task for the OL and LT this week. I actually think if owners can get 100 yds and a TD this week they should be very happy with it and move on. Last week the SP was riddled with whiners complaing about LT not getting touches in that 35-3 halftime BLOWOUT!!! Please ship LT to the rest of us, we would love to have him.
Adrian Peterson: The Chargers are good against the run, factor in that they don’t have to worry about the pass, they should be able to shut ADP down. I know you have to start ADP, but last week I talked about him having an average day and people went nuts. Again this week I am calling for a very average day for ADP.
San Fran at Atlanta
Frank Gore: Time for the Niners to get healthy and take some of these losses thye have been piling up…time to take someone to the woodshed….enter the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are not a good run defense and Gore could have a very big game this week. He did have an ankle injury last weekend but so far he is being assumed to start.
Warrick Dunn/Jerious Norwood: Atlanta cannot run the ball well and now Joey Harrington is back under center. The Niners are not a pushover against the run. The Falcons in general have not been a good team to get points with the RB, I don’t see this week as anything different.
Washington at NY Jets
Clinton Portis: It would seem with the injuries at LB to the Jets that the Skins and Portis have a big advantage this week. After being shelled by the Pats last week, I look for the Skins to take it out on the Jets this Sunday. Portis has not single handedly won a game for owners this year…Sunday that might change. Time for him to have a breakout game. The 2 TD and 40 yds he put up 2 weeks ago was not a breakout game for me. He has been very average all season.
Thomas Jones: Clemens under center now, Skins are pretty good on defense…I don’t love the match up and I expect below average numbers.
Seattle at Cleveland
Shaun Alexander: Some think he is done…some think he is injured…I think Shaun will be a lot better assuming that cast is off. The Seadogs will be getting their starting WRs back and Cleveland already is challenged on defense to stop the pass…they can’t sell out to stopping Shaun. I think the lanes should be there, it’s a road game where Seattle tends to struggle so I think this game could be close enough to where he will factor in a lot.
Jamal Lewis: Seattle is average against the run, and Cleveland has a much improved OL this season, that actually could get better when Bentley gets back form his injury. Lewis has a good shot at 100 yds and a TD this weekend.
Houston at Oakland
Ahman Green: Was supposed to start last week and then he was inactive all of a sudden. He ha a total of 300 yards and a TD on the season battling injuries…just keep looking elsewhere till we see that he can start and finish a game.
LaMont Jordan: Really rough game last week but he has a juicy match up this week. I look for a bounce back game, the Texans have lost 3 straight and seem to be heading in the wrong direction on defense. This is the best match up Jordan has had for a few weeks so play him.
Justin Fargas: Certianly a guy to keep on your radar but I don’t see him outplaying Jordan this week.
New England at Indy…can we just enjoy this one? Ohhhh OK…
Laurence Maroney: Has not been asked to do a lot this season and also battling thru injuries. I think New England has set the table so they can go out and try to run over Indy. I can’t imagine they want Peyton on the field all day long, look for them to use the short passing game and the run in order to win the game this weekend. Anything they can do to shorten the game, I feel they will. They haven’t faced too many teams with this much firepower…and Dallas, the one team that had a lead on them in the 3rd quarter…that game might have been a wake up call to them that they need to run the ball at times. Sunday would qualify.
Joseph Addai: Sure there’s a 2 back system in Indy. Addai when he is coming off an injury, and Addai when he is healthy and they need him to win a game. Look for the 2nd this week. I expect him to have success, maybe not like last week but he is a threat in this offense to go off almost every week, depending on what the defense dictates.
Dallas at Philly
MB III: Philly is not that easy to run on, however Dallas can hurt them with so many different weapons thru the air, I look for them to be a little softer against the run this week. MB III put up 100 yds and a TD on Minnesota and they are pretty stiff against the run. No reason to bench him or drop him too low on the cheatsheets.
Julius Jones: Only averages about 5 points a week in non PPR leagues…clearly not the guy to lean on.
Brian Westbrook: Always start Brian Westbrook.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Willis McGahee: Very consistent producer in PPR leagues all season…on pace for 50 catches, not many predicted that type of production from him. The match up will not be easy this week but you can’t relegate him to the bench unless you have 2 other backs with serious top5-10 potential this week.
Willie Parker: 5 of his 7 games he has cleared 100 yds rushing. The Ravens are tough against the run but I would fall back to what I said about McGahee…you would have to own 2 other backs like Westbrook and Lynch or something along those line in order to bench FWP.
Good luck everyone!
Arizona at Tampa Bay
Edge: Seems like every week he is grinding out about 80-90 yds on the ground and every other week he gets a TD…the numbers reflect that although Edge has not made a BIG FF impact this season…yet he is #9 in most points scored in non PPR leagues. I try to emphasize every preseason that just a handful of players make all the difference. Now this week will not be easy. Tampa Bay is giving up 125 yards a game on the ground which is a significant amount but they are only allowing about 3.9 ypc…and they are pretty strong against the pass, and AZ likes to throw the ball to their big play WRs. Owners will be lucky to get 100 yds this week out of Edge…he might be due for a short plunge in this one however.
Earnest Graham: He hasn’t scored a TD since week 4 although he has had his moments when you count his receptions if you play in PPR leagues. Pittman is starting to practice a little but more likely to see action in the upcoming weeks. Arizona is about as the same as the Bucs against the run, allowing 6 rushing TD on the season. At home, big game, Graham has a chance to to hit 100 yds and a score in this one which makes him very playable.
Carolina at Tennessee
DeShaun Foster: With Carr and Testaverde doing the work under center, I am not real big on either Carolina RB right now. When you factor in they are playing the Tennessee Titans who are #1 in rush defense for the season…I like them even less this week, and it’s a road game to boot.
DeAngelo Williams: See Above
LenDale White: White has 25, 27, and 25 carries the past 3 weeks…those are some serious touches. The Panthers give up about 100 yds and a TD a week on the gorund. The Titans have been winning ugly but they are winning football games. When you factor in how they closed last season…they are on an impressive 12-16 game stretch here. I greenlighted White last week and I would do the same this week.
Chris Henry: Had a nice couple of games but you can’t rely on him getting a bunch of touches so I would keep him on the bench for now.
Cincinnati at Buffalo
Rudi Johnson: Practiced fully on Wed so you know he is playing this weekend. Watson is likely out with a concussion. Buffalo is allowing 4.7 ypc and 127 ypg, but only 4 rushing TD on the season. I just question the OL in front of Rudi and even though the match up is there, I will be starting guys ahead of him in several leagues. I want to see him produce for a week before I get excited.
Marshawn Lynch: Play him all day long. The Nati is giving up almost 140 a game, 4.7 ypc, and 5 rushing TD in 7 games…look for Lynch to get a healthy dose of carries on Sunday and we might be looking at a 4-4 Buffalo team that has wildcard aspirations after this week.
Denver at Detroit
Travis Henry: Again, he practiced fully on Wed. Detroit is not the worst in the league against the run but they give up an avg of a TD per week on the ground. I think Henry will find success on the road this week…and it may be one of the last weeks where owners can use him, so why not start him.
Selvin Young: If Henry practiced fully, I wouldn’t expect a large dose of Young this week.
Kevin Jones: A greenlight last week and again this week. Teams are running on Denver, look what GB was able to accomplish and they don’t run the ball very effectively. Detroit has the advantage at home this week, a chance to go 6-2, look for Martz to be pulling out the stops on Sunday…with this talent they have assembled at WR, I just can’t see how defenses are scheming to stop the run.
Green Bay at Kansas City
Ryan Grant: No No No…not on the road at KC, not against a KC team that is fairly tough on defense, not for a team where the starting RB can’t finish games, not for a RB that only runs well in straight lines…NO NO NO!!!
Larry Johnson: Pack are allowing 98 ypg, 3.8 ypc, and only 2 rushing TD for the season. I still like LJ this week…Chiefs are 4-3 in case anyone has been paying attention. I think you will see LJ running with a lot of gusto this weekend, and I expect him to take the Chiefs on his back down the stretch as the schedule plays into their favor quite a bit. I have seen him as a fringe top10 because of the match up…I think he is good for top5 this week even against the Pack.
Jax at NO
Fred Taylor: I don’t like him this week on the fast surface in New Orleans. The Saints are actually pretty good against the rush believe it or not only allowing 3.6 ypc. The Saints are on a roll winning their last 3…Jax lost a big game at Indy, then went on the road to beat TB in a game they had no business winning…I think they lay an egg in all aspect this week in New Orleans.
MJD: I like him a little better for dump off passes and I also like the fast track for him better. Flex spot I would start him.
Reggie Bush: Jax is good against the run but the 2 way threat of Bush makes hima must start especially in PPR leagues where he is top5-10 every week.
San Diego at Minnesota
LaDainian Tomlinson: He is always going to be the #1 RB every week on most cheatsheets but the Vikings only allow 2.9 ypc…this is a tough task for the OL and LT this week. I actually think if owners can get 100 yds and a TD this week they should be very happy with it and move on. Last week the SP was riddled with whiners complaing about LT not getting touches in that 35-3 halftime BLOWOUT!!! Please ship LT to the rest of us, we would love to have him.
Adrian Peterson: The Chargers are good against the run, factor in that they don’t have to worry about the pass, they should be able to shut ADP down. I know you have to start ADP, but last week I talked about him having an average day and people went nuts. Again this week I am calling for a very average day for ADP.
San Fran at Atlanta
Frank Gore: Time for the Niners to get healthy and take some of these losses thye have been piling up…time to take someone to the woodshed….enter the Atlanta Falcons. The Falcons are not a good run defense and Gore could have a very big game this week. He did have an ankle injury last weekend but so far he is being assumed to start.
Warrick Dunn/Jerious Norwood: Atlanta cannot run the ball well and now Joey Harrington is back under center. The Niners are not a pushover against the run. The Falcons in general have not been a good team to get points with the RB, I don’t see this week as anything different.
Washington at NY Jets
Clinton Portis: It would seem with the injuries at LB to the Jets that the Skins and Portis have a big advantage this week. After being shelled by the Pats last week, I look for the Skins to take it out on the Jets this Sunday. Portis has not single handedly won a game for owners this year…Sunday that might change. Time for him to have a breakout game. The 2 TD and 40 yds he put up 2 weeks ago was not a breakout game for me. He has been very average all season.
Thomas Jones: Clemens under center now, Skins are pretty good on defense…I don’t love the match up and I expect below average numbers.
Seattle at Cleveland
Shaun Alexander: Some think he is done…some think he is injured…I think Shaun will be a lot better assuming that cast is off. The Seadogs will be getting their starting WRs back and Cleveland already is challenged on defense to stop the pass…they can’t sell out to stopping Shaun. I think the lanes should be there, it’s a road game where Seattle tends to struggle so I think this game could be close enough to where he will factor in a lot.
Jamal Lewis: Seattle is average against the run, and Cleveland has a much improved OL this season, that actually could get better when Bentley gets back form his injury. Lewis has a good shot at 100 yds and a TD this weekend.
Houston at Oakland
Ahman Green: Was supposed to start last week and then he was inactive all of a sudden. He ha a total of 300 yards and a TD on the season battling injuries…just keep looking elsewhere till we see that he can start and finish a game.
LaMont Jordan: Really rough game last week but he has a juicy match up this week. I look for a bounce back game, the Texans have lost 3 straight and seem to be heading in the wrong direction on defense. This is the best match up Jordan has had for a few weeks so play him.
Justin Fargas: Certianly a guy to keep on your radar but I don’t see him outplaying Jordan this week.
New England at Indy…can we just enjoy this one? Ohhhh OK…
Laurence Maroney: Has not been asked to do a lot this season and also battling thru injuries. I think New England has set the table so they can go out and try to run over Indy. I can’t imagine they want Peyton on the field all day long, look for them to use the short passing game and the run in order to win the game this weekend. Anything they can do to shorten the game, I feel they will. They haven’t faced too many teams with this much firepower…and Dallas, the one team that had a lead on them in the 3rd quarter…that game might have been a wake up call to them that they need to run the ball at times. Sunday would qualify.
Joseph Addai: Sure there’s a 2 back system in Indy. Addai when he is coming off an injury, and Addai when he is healthy and they need him to win a game. Look for the 2nd this week. I expect him to have success, maybe not like last week but he is a threat in this offense to go off almost every week, depending on what the defense dictates.
Dallas at Philly
MB III: Philly is not that easy to run on, however Dallas can hurt them with so many different weapons thru the air, I look for them to be a little softer against the run this week. MB III put up 100 yds and a TD on Minnesota and they are pretty stiff against the run. No reason to bench him or drop him too low on the cheatsheets.
Julius Jones: Only averages about 5 points a week in non PPR leagues…clearly not the guy to lean on.
Brian Westbrook: Always start Brian Westbrook.
Baltimore at Pittsburgh
Willis McGahee: Very consistent producer in PPR leagues all season…on pace for 50 catches, not many predicted that type of production from him. The match up will not be easy this week but you can’t relegate him to the bench unless you have 2 other backs with serious top5-10 potential this week.
Willie Parker: 5 of his 7 games he has cleared 100 yds rushing. The Ravens are tough against the run but I would fall back to what I said about McGahee…you would have to own 2 other backs like Westbrook and Lynch or something along those line in order to bench FWP.
Good luck everyone!
Last edited by a moderator:
Nice
I've been waiting patiently all year. IMO, he looked pretty good against WAS, yet they sniff the goal line and yank him. He also caught his 1st 2 passes of the year and almost took one to the house.Yada, yada, yada, I just traded for Edge and have to decide between the two..... 
F'n shoot me.
