BustedKnuckles
Footballguy
By PFW staff
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007
AFC East
Buffalo — J.P. Losman is getting the starting nod at quarterback against the Dolphins, and has a good opportunity to put up some big numbers against Miami’s shoddy secondary. But then again, he was supposed to do that last week against a similarly plagued Bengals secondary, and tossed just a single TD pass. Until he shows worthy of putting up respectable fantasy numbers, he doesn’t warrant a play regardless of the opponent. … RB Marshawn Lynch had the breakout game of his career last week, running for a career-high 153 yards. He should have a second-straight 100-yard outing Sunday. Miami hasn’t stopped anybody on the ground, and despite the return of DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), lacks the bodies to man up on Buffalo’s bullish front. … WR Lee Evans is officially out of his slump. He’s averaging 133.7 yards in the Bills’ current three-game winning streak, scoring two touchdowns. He needs to be in your lineup. … The Dolphins’ offense is not as bad as their 0-8 record suggests, but Buffalo has improved enough on the defensive side to make the Bills’ defense a decent option in a pinch.
Miami — Head coach Cam Cameron opted for Cleo Lemon at quarterback over John Beck, but Lemon’s three-TD, four-interception stat line on the season means he’s best left on the bench. … RB Jesse Chatman has had two nice games in relief of the injured Ronnie Brown, racking up 82 and 100 yards from scrimmage in the past two games. But a vastly improved Bills defense will key on Chatman as they’re unlikely to give much respect to the Miami passing attack. … WR Ted Ginn Jr. should develop into a dangerous weapon down the line. But it’s not his time quite yet. Ginn has yet to exceed 37 yards in a game, and has scored just a single touchdown.
New England — On bye
New York Jets — On bye
AFC North
Baltimore — RB Willis McGahee (concussion) is likely to play Week 10 vs. Cincinnati, and he figures to get starting consideration in the vast majority of leagues against the Bengals’ awful defense. … QB Steve McNair might not be a bad bye-week option, as the Bengals’ secondary is really struggling. But so is McNair, and after Week 10, it may be best to devote a roster spot to someone else — perhaps Kyle Boller, whom the Ravens may turn to if McNair doesn’t pick up his play. … TE Todd Heap (thigh) could be back this week; if he’s in the Ravens’ lineup, he might be a good fit in your lineup. … WR Derrick Mason, so valuable in points-per-catch leagues, gets another favorable matchup this week.
Cincinnati — The Bengals’ offense could be more freewheeling now that No. 3 WR Chris Henry is back. Henry’s ability to stretch the field gives the Bengals one more weapon. Henry (nine TD catches last season) will step back into his old role and will play regularly. …WR Chad Johnson (neck) was limited in practice on Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday at Baltimore. Johnson hasn’t caught a TD pass since Week Two, but he played well vs. the Ravens in Week One (5-95-1), and the Baltimore secondary is banged-up. … Don’t read too much into WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh sitting out practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury. He’ll play Sunday. … Look for RBs Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson to again split the workload this week, with Johnson getting most of the carries and Watson playing in passing situations. Neither comes recommended against a tough Baltimore run defense.
Cleveland — Don’t sit QB Derek Anderson this week simply because the Steelers’ defense poses a tough matchup. Unless you have another star quarterback on the roster, Anderson is likely the best option you have. And he’s not a bad one at all, given how well the Browns’ offensive line has protected Anderson all season. You are going to hear how the Steelers sacked then-starting QB Charlie Frye five times in the season opener, but he often made his own bad luck with indecisiveness. Anderson is not indecisive. … The only thing holding WR Braylon Edwards back are drops. That problem cropped up in Week Nine. It shouldn’t hold you back from starting him, though. Nor should a nagging knee injury that flared up last week vs. Seattle prevent you from starting TE Kellen Winslow. He’ll play through it. RB Jamal Lewis is a tougher call for most Fantasy owners. Lewis, who scored four TDs last week but rushed for only 37 yards, could find the going tough vs. the Steelers.
Pittsburgh — RB Willie Parker (knee inflammation) missed practice on Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday vs. Cleveland. Parker rushed for 27-109-0 vs. the Browns in Week One. The Ravens held Parker to 42 yards on Monday night, but Baltimore usually holds Parker in check, and the Browns’ run defense is porous. … QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown four TDs or more three times this season (including against Cleveland in Week One) and has already thrown more TDs (20) in eight games than he did all of last season (18). Roethlisberger, WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes and TE Heath Miller should all be in your lineup this week vs. Cleveland.
AFC South
Houston — On bye.
Indianapolis — Fantasy owners of WR Marvin Harrison should have legitimate concern. The Colts insist there’s nothing all that wrong with his knee, but it’s hard to believe that after catching just four balls for 24 yards in the past five games. He was limited in practice this week and even if he does play vs. the Chargers, there’s far too much murkiness surrounding his status to warrant a play. … Making the Harrison situation even more problematic is the dislocated thumb suffered by replacement Anthony Gonzalez vs. the Patriots. He didn’t practice as of Wednesday, a good sign that he won’t be ready for Sunday. … Because of all the WR question marks, Reggie Wayne is sure to be a marked man. But he’s good enough to put up solid statistics even when fighting double-coverage. He should be in your lineup. … TE Dallas Clark’s production has dramatically tailed off recently, catching just four passes for 37 yards in the past two games as opposing defenses key on him and Wayne with Harrison sidelined. However, he still deserves to be in your lineup. His 403 yards and six touchdowns this season is the stuff of upper-echelon talents. … RB Joseph Addai was positively brilliant vs. the Patriots, and anyone who can gash the Pats has a good chance to abuse anyone. … The Chargers’ offense is an enigmatic one, and will present a very difficult matchup for the Colts’ defense if it’s clicking. Six of Indy’s starting 11 defenders were listed on Wednesday’s injury report, with key performers DT Raheem Brock (neck), MLB Gary Brackett (hip) and CB Marlin Jackson (foot) not participating at all.
Jacksonville — Tennessee’s defense has been one of the season’s most surprising success stories, and shouldn’t have too much difficulty matching up against a Jaguars offense rife with issues. QB David Garrard practiced this week for the first time since spraining his ankle in Week Seven, and head coach Jack Del Rio left open the possibility that he could start. For fantasy purposes, it’s irrelevant. Garrard has tossed just six TD passes in six games. Quinn Gray (three TDs, five INTs) cannot be in your lineup either, if indeed he gets the call on Sunday. … The Titans are ranked first in the league in run defense, yielding just 66 yards per game. Naturally, that doesn’t bode well for RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. You can get away with playing the multi-dimensional Jones-Drew, but it’s hard to justify a play for Taylor — he has yet to find paydirt this season. … The Jaguars' defense has looked very shaky in recent outings and no longer can be thought of as a must-start. Tennessee’s offensive limitations should allow the Jags to get back on track, but it’s hard to forget how badly the Titans mauled them in their Week One matchup, running roughshod for 282 yards. The Jags’ “D” is nothing more than a middling option this week.
Tennessee — RB Chris Brown (ankle) practiced on Wednesday and could return for Sunday’s game vs. Jacksonville. Brown, who rushed for 175 yards vs. the Jags in the season opener, will get regular work if he’s active. The Titans have given RB LenDale White a lot of work of late (108 carries the past four weeks), and White is battling a toe injury. White will start and will likely get most of the carries, but he’ll likely get fewer than he’s had of late. … If you have TE Ben Troupe on your roster, it may be time to drop him. Word is he’s unlikely to have much of a role in the passing game in the weeks to come.
AFC West
Denver — Swelling in his left knee kept RB Travis Henry out of practice on Wednesday, but both Henry and head coach Mike Shanahan expect him to play on Sunday against the Chiefs. … WR Brandon Marshall received treatment on his sore foot Monday but isn’t expected to be slowed on Sunday, when he and Brandon Stokley will face a Kansas City secondary that was torched by Brett Favre and the Packers a week earlier. … QB Jay Cutler’s deep bone bruise in his lower left leg received a lot of treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and he was out on the practice field Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, he should be penciled in for Sunday. … The Broncos have run 84 times for just 297 yards the past four games, good for a clip of 3.5 yards per carry. In those four games, Broncos running backs have only five carries of 10 yards or more.
Kansas City — With Larry Johnson all but ruled out of Sunday’s game with the Chiefs with his sprained foot (which we hear could linger for several weeks), it will be Priest Holmes who assumes the role of the featured back for a Kansas City team that has struggled to move the ball on the ground all season. Holmes will be spelled by rookie Kolby Smith, who has yet to attempt a carry but should see his chances increase starting this week. The team is said be high on Smith and his versatile skills. Holmes could be a decent start this week if you have RB issues, considering he’s facing a Denver defense ranked last in stopping the run (161.5 yards per game), but he’s not going to be overworked in his first start in more than two years. “He can’t handle a full load, obviously, and we don't anticipate that,” head coach Herm Edwards said. “We wouldn't want to give him a full load, but he can handle his share of carries.” … As luck would have it for fantasy owners of Johnson, he has rushed for at least 140 yards in each of the Broncos’ past three visits to Kansas City. … The hamstring problem that kept WR Dwayne Bowe out of action for stretches last week does not appear to be anything to worry about long-term, as he is expected to start this week.
Oakland — As expected, RB Justin Fargas will hold on to the starting job over LaMont Jordan for this week against the Bears and likely the foreseeable future. Not only did Fargas gain 61 yards on 12 carries against the Titans’ top-ranked run defense in Week Eight, but he churned out 104 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries last week vs. Houston in his first start of the season. With Jordan getting only four carries in that game and Dominic Rhodes getting shut out, it seems pretty clear the Raiders’ coaching staff believes the hard-running Fargas is the one to hitch the wagon to. … Despite a lackluster 13-of-28 performance last week that included three interceptions, Josh McCown will get another start at quarterback this week against the Bears, but we’re told by reliable sources that head coach Lane Kiffin contemplated going with rookie JaMarcus Russell in the second half last week, and that the Russell era will likely get under way in the next week or two.
San Diego — After looking generally more under control and efficient in the Chargers’ three-game winning streak, QB Philip Rivers looked like the passer who struggled at the beginning of the season against Minnesota last week, completing only 19-of-42 passes for no touchdowns and one interception. With the Colts possessing a better pass rush and more speed than the Vikings, it may be a good idea to shelve him this week. … RB LaDainian Tomlinson has three games so far with fewer than 44 yards rushing. He had just one in his MVP season of 2006. … With the Colts coming to town and injuries to DE Luis Castillo, OLB Shaun Phillips and CB Quentin Jammer, the Chargers’ defense is best left on the pine this week.
NFC East
Dallas — TE Jason Witten was a major factor in the first meeting against the Giants in Week One, catching six passes for 116 yards and a TD, and although the Giants have held down tight ends pretty well since that game (opposing tight ends are averaging four-plus catches for 38 yards against them after Week One). But don’t assume that Witten will be bottled up this time. If they try to contain him, there’s WR Terrell Owens to deal with. Although rookie CB Aaron Ross, who wasn’t starting when the teams played the first time, has the confidence to match up with Owens, the Giants will not leave him on an island.
NY Giants — TE Jeremy Shockey might be good for at least one TD this weekend. Word is the team spent the bye week looking for ways to get Shockey more involved and move him around into favorable matchups. With Cowboys CB Anthony Henry working his way back into the lineup, Dallas might commit a safety instead of a linebacker to Shockey, and that could result in a fair number of catches for him.
Philadelphia — At this point, the list of start-worthy Eagles is diminishing with each week that the team fails to produce points that are commensurate with the yardage the team is gaining. RB Brian Westbrook remains the only sure thing. WR Kevin Curtis has cooled off a bit. And WR Reggie Brown, who looked like he was starting to break out, remains an unknown after an up-and-down past few weeks.
Washington — The Redskins' defense was popular early in the season, but many fantasy owners dropped them like a bad habit following New England’s 52-point beatdown. It might be time to hop back on board. The defense performed better last week against the Jets and played well in the first meeting with the Eagles. … Another guy who was on thin ice, PK Shaun Suisham, who made some big kicks last week, should have some opportunities this game. He’s not a great kicker, but you can find worse bye-week options.
NFC North
Chicago — You can pretty much consider RB Cedric Benson a lost cause from a fantasy perspective if he is unable to break out of his prolonged slump this season against the Raiders’ 30th-ranked run defense this Sunday in Oakland. The Raiders’ “D” has allowed five consecutive 100-yard rushers, including 122 yards to Texans RB Ron Dayne last Sunday. … Don’t rule out the possibility of Benson sharing a lot more playing time with Adrian Peterson, who many close observers believe deserves to play more. … One more Bears offensive player who could be entering the mix a bit more is WR Mike Hass, one of the team’s more impressive performers in the preseason. … Rookie TE Greg Olsen could do some fantasy damage this Sunday. Olsen has at least 48 yards receiving in each of the last four games and two TD catches, including one in the Bears’ last game.
Detroit — The Cardinals’ secondary has taken away a lot of deep passes this season by playing two deep safeties, and they are expected to do that again this week. We keep waiting for the other shoe to drop with Mike Martz at some point getting frustrated with the amount of cover-2 his team faces, but RB Kevin Jones should be a solid play despite that. The matchup is good, he has his spring back as well as his confidence, and the Lions say they are going to take what they are given.
Green Bay — Look for the Packers and QB Brett Favre to continue emphasizing the team’s high-octane passing attack against a Vikings defense that is extremely stingy vs. the run but very vulnerable in passing situations. … WR Greg Jennings has been quite the fantasy force in recent weeks. One week after scoring the game-winning TD in overtime on an 82-yard bomb from Favre against the Broncos, Jennings had three catches for 85 yards and two TDs last Sunday against the Chiefs — the fourth game in which he has had at least 80 yards receiving and the fifth game out of the six in which he has played that he has caught a touchdown. … Ryan Grant, who suffered a concussion against the Chiefs, took part in most of Wednesday’s practice and looks the most likely starter at running back for the Pack this Sunday against Minnesota. … Look for TE Donald Lee, who signed a new contract early in the week, to continue being a decent under-the-radar fantasy performer this Sunday against the Vikes. Lee is tied with WR James Jones for second on the team with 29 catches and is fourth in yards (382).
Minnesota — Despite the fact that RB Adrian Peterson opens things up for the passing game, there are few good reasons to play any other Vikings skill-position player this week at Green Bay. Seriously. The quarterbacks are in rough shape; if Tarvaris Jackson can’t go, it’ll be Brooks Bollinger. And although he hooked up with WR Sidney Rice — perhaps the one guy you could make a case for to play this week — for a 40-yard TD pass against the Chargers, Bollinger won’t do that in games where Peterson is held up. The Packers’ good run defense suggests they will not allow a 150-yard rushing game. That said, there’s no way you can sit Peterson.
NFC South
Atlanta — The Falcons found a way to win last week despite the poor play of QB Joey Harrington (14-for-25 passing, 138 yards, one interception) against an average 49ers secondary. He faces an equally middling pass defense this week at Carolina and while his numbers may improve slightly, Harrington still isn’t worth consideration for an addition to your team. If Panthers DE Julius Peppers gets going, it could be a rough day for Harrington. … RB Warrick Dunn exploded for his first 100-yard rushing game in more than a year last week, and should see increased carries against the Panthers with RB Jerious Norwood (ankle) questionable. For the first time in a while, he is a solid start. … Falcons WR Roddy White continues to impress in his third season and could have a big day against Panthers CB Ken Lucas, who can be beaten deep. … WR Joe Horn had a season-high four catches (for only 23 yards) last week, but figures to see fewer balls thrown his way with rookie WR Laurent Robinson making a strong push for increased playing time.
Carolina — Panthers QB David Carr has been held out of practice all week after suffering a concussion vs. the Titans and it looks like QB Vinny Testaverde is going to start, despite being hobbled by an Achilles injury. It’s hard to predict how effective the soon-to-be 44-year-old will be with his health in question and it would a major risk to start him on your team this week. … Testaverde has shown he can get the ball to WR Steve Smith — something Carr has had a hard time doing — so the potential for a big game is there. Smith, however, has just one catch for 10 yards the last two times he has gone up against Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall. Despite that, Smith is worth taking a chance on, based on his talent and determination, and belongs in your lineup. … RB DeShaun Foster has been a major disappointment for the Panthers this season and will be chased all afternoon by Falcons OLB Michael Boley, who has made a habit of terrorizing opposing running backs. … Panthers PK John Kasay has just 14 FG attempts thus far — he’s tied for second fewest in the NFC among qualifiers — and is 4-for-7 on kicks of 40-49 yards. A normally reliable fantasy performer, Kasay has declined this season and you can find a better value on the waiver wire.
New Orleans — Saints QB Drew Brees has been Brady-esque in his last four games, firing 11 TD passes and one interception after going the first four games with just one score and nine picks. He will slow down at some point, but it probably won’t be against the Rams, who have allowed 27 or more points in four of their last five games. … RB Reggie Bush returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a bone bruise in his left knee. St. Louis has done a better job of stopping the pass than it has with the run and Bush, if close to 100 percent, should be able to break some long runs at the Superdome. … The Saints’ receiving corps has enjoyed a resurgence as Brees has sparked the team to 31- and 41-point outings the past two weeks. Saints WR Marques Colston has 18 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games and WR David Patten has gone for at least 81 yards in three of the past four contests. Patten would make for a nice midseason pickup in your league if he hasn’t been scooped up already.
Tampa Bay — On bye.
NFC West
Arizona — Coming off their weakest effort of the year offensively, the Cardinals will be looking for better things this Sunday against Detroit’s vulnerable pass defense from an attack that has suddenly scored only 39 points the past three games. The Lions continue to give up big chunks of yardage via the airways but have also been adept at making interceptions, which might not bode too well for QB Kurt Warner, whose penchant for picks is becoming more of a fantasy liability. … Looking like he was weighed down by the brace on his non-throwing arm, Warner completed only 10-of-30 passes in the loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday and had several of his throws dropped. … WR Larry Fitzgerald, who would have had a sure TD catch last week had he not inexplicably stepped out of bounds, could be a fantasy force against the Lions. … Even though he gained only 15 yards on nine carries vs. the Bucs, look for the Cardinals to try to set up their passing game with a substantial workload for RB Edgerrin James, who, like Warner, is coming off his worst game of the year.
St. Louis — Barring a setback before the week is over, RB Steven Jackson, who was providing a spark against the Browns in the Rams’ last game before injuring his back, is expected to start this Sunday vs. New Orleans, but he isn’t expected to get a full workload. That said, don’t make any plans to insert backup Brian Leonard into your fantasy lineup. Jackson should still see plenty of action and has the potential to rack up some fantasy points against the Saints. … LBs Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa have been making more tackles lately and could be quality IDPs this weekend. … Well-rested WRs Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett will be challenging a Saints pass defense that is ranked a lowly 27th.
San Francisco — We’ve been saying this every week for a while now, but the only real solid fantasy prospect on the offensively challenged Niners continue to be TE Vernon Davis, who has gained over 70 yards receiving in each of the last two games and has been the one target beleaguered QB Alex Smith has been able to find with any regularity. … The odds are strong that heavyweight IDP Patrick Willis, who has been a nonstop tackling machine all season, will continue making his presence felt despite a broken hand suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. After getting fitted with a soft cast at halftime in Atlanta, the rookie inside ’backer was no worse for the wear in the second half, finishing with 15 unofficial tackles according to a coach’s review of film. … It figures to be late in the week before RB Frank Gore, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, is cleared to play. If Gore can’t play again this week, backup Michael Robinson (17 carries for 67 yards last week) could be an intriguing fantasy option Monday night against Seattle’s undersized defense. Gore had his best overall performance of the season in the Niners’ Week Four loss to the Seahawks (16-79 rushing, 3-42 receiving).
Seattle — WR Deion Branch, who has missed three straight games with a knee injury, missed practice Wednesday but continues to run on the side in the hope of being able to suit up Monday night against the Niners. Team sources we talked to Wednesday morning think that, even if Branch does see action against the Niners, it will be very limited, which could mean another big fantasy day for veteran WR Bobby Engram, who caught a whopping 14 passes for 139 yards and a TD against the Browns last Sunday. … RB Shaun Alexander, who left the Browns game with knee and ankle injuries, also hasn’t been practicing this week and is considered questionable for the Niners. Whether Alexander plays or not, look for backup Maurice Morris (19-97 rushing the last two weeks) to get more playing time against a Niners run defense that is having all kinds of problems on the perimeter lately without the injured Manny Lawson. … Split end D.J. Hackett returned against Cleveland for the first time since spraining an ankle in the season opener and caught six passes for 58 yards and a TD. … QB Matt Hasselbeck (30-47-318 with two TDs vs. Browns) figures to keep on delivering solid fantasy numbers with head coach Mike Holmgren saying earlier this week that the passing game will become the offense’s featured attraction the rest of the season over the unit’s struggling ground game. Hasselbeck completed 23-of-31 passes for 281 yards and a pair of TDs vs. San Francisco in Week Four.
Thursday, Nov. 8, 2007
AFC East
Buffalo — J.P. Losman is getting the starting nod at quarterback against the Dolphins, and has a good opportunity to put up some big numbers against Miami’s shoddy secondary. But then again, he was supposed to do that last week against a similarly plagued Bengals secondary, and tossed just a single TD pass. Until he shows worthy of putting up respectable fantasy numbers, he doesn’t warrant a play regardless of the opponent. … RB Marshawn Lynch had the breakout game of his career last week, running for a career-high 153 yards. He should have a second-straight 100-yard outing Sunday. Miami hasn’t stopped anybody on the ground, and despite the return of DT Vonnie Holliday (ankle), lacks the bodies to man up on Buffalo’s bullish front. … WR Lee Evans is officially out of his slump. He’s averaging 133.7 yards in the Bills’ current three-game winning streak, scoring two touchdowns. He needs to be in your lineup. … The Dolphins’ offense is not as bad as their 0-8 record suggests, but Buffalo has improved enough on the defensive side to make the Bills’ defense a decent option in a pinch.
Miami — Head coach Cam Cameron opted for Cleo Lemon at quarterback over John Beck, but Lemon’s three-TD, four-interception stat line on the season means he’s best left on the bench. … RB Jesse Chatman has had two nice games in relief of the injured Ronnie Brown, racking up 82 and 100 yards from scrimmage in the past two games. But a vastly improved Bills defense will key on Chatman as they’re unlikely to give much respect to the Miami passing attack. … WR Ted Ginn Jr. should develop into a dangerous weapon down the line. But it’s not his time quite yet. Ginn has yet to exceed 37 yards in a game, and has scored just a single touchdown.
New England — On bye
New York Jets — On bye
AFC North
Baltimore — RB Willis McGahee (concussion) is likely to play Week 10 vs. Cincinnati, and he figures to get starting consideration in the vast majority of leagues against the Bengals’ awful defense. … QB Steve McNair might not be a bad bye-week option, as the Bengals’ secondary is really struggling. But so is McNair, and after Week 10, it may be best to devote a roster spot to someone else — perhaps Kyle Boller, whom the Ravens may turn to if McNair doesn’t pick up his play. … TE Todd Heap (thigh) could be back this week; if he’s in the Ravens’ lineup, he might be a good fit in your lineup. … WR Derrick Mason, so valuable in points-per-catch leagues, gets another favorable matchup this week.
Cincinnati — The Bengals’ offense could be more freewheeling now that No. 3 WR Chris Henry is back. Henry’s ability to stretch the field gives the Bengals one more weapon. Henry (nine TD catches last season) will step back into his old role and will play regularly. …WR Chad Johnson (neck) was limited in practice on Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday at Baltimore. Johnson hasn’t caught a TD pass since Week Two, but he played well vs. the Ravens in Week One (5-95-1), and the Baltimore secondary is banged-up. … Don’t read too much into WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh sitting out practice on Wednesday because of a knee injury. He’ll play Sunday. … Look for RBs Rudi Johnson and Kenny Watson to again split the workload this week, with Johnson getting most of the carries and Watson playing in passing situations. Neither comes recommended against a tough Baltimore run defense.
Cleveland — Don’t sit QB Derek Anderson this week simply because the Steelers’ defense poses a tough matchup. Unless you have another star quarterback on the roster, Anderson is likely the best option you have. And he’s not a bad one at all, given how well the Browns’ offensive line has protected Anderson all season. You are going to hear how the Steelers sacked then-starting QB Charlie Frye five times in the season opener, but he often made his own bad luck with indecisiveness. Anderson is not indecisive. … The only thing holding WR Braylon Edwards back are drops. That problem cropped up in Week Nine. It shouldn’t hold you back from starting him, though. Nor should a nagging knee injury that flared up last week vs. Seattle prevent you from starting TE Kellen Winslow. He’ll play through it. RB Jamal Lewis is a tougher call for most Fantasy owners. Lewis, who scored four TDs last week but rushed for only 37 yards, could find the going tough vs. the Steelers.
Pittsburgh — RB Willie Parker (knee inflammation) missed practice on Wednesday but is expected to play Sunday vs. Cleveland. Parker rushed for 27-109-0 vs. the Browns in Week One. The Ravens held Parker to 42 yards on Monday night, but Baltimore usually holds Parker in check, and the Browns’ run defense is porous. … QB Ben Roethlisberger has thrown four TDs or more three times this season (including against Cleveland in Week One) and has already thrown more TDs (20) in eight games than he did all of last season (18). Roethlisberger, WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes and TE Heath Miller should all be in your lineup this week vs. Cleveland.
AFC South
Houston — On bye.
Indianapolis — Fantasy owners of WR Marvin Harrison should have legitimate concern. The Colts insist there’s nothing all that wrong with his knee, but it’s hard to believe that after catching just four balls for 24 yards in the past five games. He was limited in practice this week and even if he does play vs. the Chargers, there’s far too much murkiness surrounding his status to warrant a play. … Making the Harrison situation even more problematic is the dislocated thumb suffered by replacement Anthony Gonzalez vs. the Patriots. He didn’t practice as of Wednesday, a good sign that he won’t be ready for Sunday. … Because of all the WR question marks, Reggie Wayne is sure to be a marked man. But he’s good enough to put up solid statistics even when fighting double-coverage. He should be in your lineup. … TE Dallas Clark’s production has dramatically tailed off recently, catching just four passes for 37 yards in the past two games as opposing defenses key on him and Wayne with Harrison sidelined. However, he still deserves to be in your lineup. His 403 yards and six touchdowns this season is the stuff of upper-echelon talents. … RB Joseph Addai was positively brilliant vs. the Patriots, and anyone who can gash the Pats has a good chance to abuse anyone. … The Chargers’ offense is an enigmatic one, and will present a very difficult matchup for the Colts’ defense if it’s clicking. Six of Indy’s starting 11 defenders were listed on Wednesday’s injury report, with key performers DT Raheem Brock (neck), MLB Gary Brackett (hip) and CB Marlin Jackson (foot) not participating at all.
Jacksonville — Tennessee’s defense has been one of the season’s most surprising success stories, and shouldn’t have too much difficulty matching up against a Jaguars offense rife with issues. QB David Garrard practiced this week for the first time since spraining his ankle in Week Seven, and head coach Jack Del Rio left open the possibility that he could start. For fantasy purposes, it’s irrelevant. Garrard has tossed just six TD passes in six games. Quinn Gray (three TDs, five INTs) cannot be in your lineup either, if indeed he gets the call on Sunday. … The Titans are ranked first in the league in run defense, yielding just 66 yards per game. Naturally, that doesn’t bode well for RBs Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew. You can get away with playing the multi-dimensional Jones-Drew, but it’s hard to justify a play for Taylor — he has yet to find paydirt this season. … The Jaguars' defense has looked very shaky in recent outings and no longer can be thought of as a must-start. Tennessee’s offensive limitations should allow the Jags to get back on track, but it’s hard to forget how badly the Titans mauled them in their Week One matchup, running roughshod for 282 yards. The Jags’ “D” is nothing more than a middling option this week.
Tennessee — RB Chris Brown (ankle) practiced on Wednesday and could return for Sunday’s game vs. Jacksonville. Brown, who rushed for 175 yards vs. the Jags in the season opener, will get regular work if he’s active. The Titans have given RB LenDale White a lot of work of late (108 carries the past four weeks), and White is battling a toe injury. White will start and will likely get most of the carries, but he’ll likely get fewer than he’s had of late. … If you have TE Ben Troupe on your roster, it may be time to drop him. Word is he’s unlikely to have much of a role in the passing game in the weeks to come.
AFC West
Denver — Swelling in his left knee kept RB Travis Henry out of practice on Wednesday, but both Henry and head coach Mike Shanahan expect him to play on Sunday against the Chiefs. … WR Brandon Marshall received treatment on his sore foot Monday but isn’t expected to be slowed on Sunday, when he and Brandon Stokley will face a Kansas City secondary that was torched by Brett Favre and the Packers a week earlier. … QB Jay Cutler’s deep bone bruise in his lower left leg received a lot of treatment on Monday and Tuesday, and he was out on the practice field Wednesday. Barring any setbacks, he should be penciled in for Sunday. … The Broncos have run 84 times for just 297 yards the past four games, good for a clip of 3.5 yards per carry. In those four games, Broncos running backs have only five carries of 10 yards or more.
Kansas City — With Larry Johnson all but ruled out of Sunday’s game with the Chiefs with his sprained foot (which we hear could linger for several weeks), it will be Priest Holmes who assumes the role of the featured back for a Kansas City team that has struggled to move the ball on the ground all season. Holmes will be spelled by rookie Kolby Smith, who has yet to attempt a carry but should see his chances increase starting this week. The team is said be high on Smith and his versatile skills. Holmes could be a decent start this week if you have RB issues, considering he’s facing a Denver defense ranked last in stopping the run (161.5 yards per game), but he’s not going to be overworked in his first start in more than two years. “He can’t handle a full load, obviously, and we don't anticipate that,” head coach Herm Edwards said. “We wouldn't want to give him a full load, but he can handle his share of carries.” … As luck would have it for fantasy owners of Johnson, he has rushed for at least 140 yards in each of the Broncos’ past three visits to Kansas City. … The hamstring problem that kept WR Dwayne Bowe out of action for stretches last week does not appear to be anything to worry about long-term, as he is expected to start this week.
Oakland — As expected, RB Justin Fargas will hold on to the starting job over LaMont Jordan for this week against the Bears and likely the foreseeable future. Not only did Fargas gain 61 yards on 12 carries against the Titans’ top-ranked run defense in Week Eight, but he churned out 104 yards and a touchdown on 23 carries last week vs. Houston in his first start of the season. With Jordan getting only four carries in that game and Dominic Rhodes getting shut out, it seems pretty clear the Raiders’ coaching staff believes the hard-running Fargas is the one to hitch the wagon to. … Despite a lackluster 13-of-28 performance last week that included three interceptions, Josh McCown will get another start at quarterback this week against the Bears, but we’re told by reliable sources that head coach Lane Kiffin contemplated going with rookie JaMarcus Russell in the second half last week, and that the Russell era will likely get under way in the next week or two.
San Diego — After looking generally more under control and efficient in the Chargers’ three-game winning streak, QB Philip Rivers looked like the passer who struggled at the beginning of the season against Minnesota last week, completing only 19-of-42 passes for no touchdowns and one interception. With the Colts possessing a better pass rush and more speed than the Vikings, it may be a good idea to shelve him this week. … RB LaDainian Tomlinson has three games so far with fewer than 44 yards rushing. He had just one in his MVP season of 2006. … With the Colts coming to town and injuries to DE Luis Castillo, OLB Shaun Phillips and CB Quentin Jammer, the Chargers’ defense is best left on the pine this week.
NFC East
Dallas — TE Jason Witten was a major factor in the first meeting against the Giants in Week One, catching six passes for 116 yards and a TD, and although the Giants have held down tight ends pretty well since that game (opposing tight ends are averaging four-plus catches for 38 yards against them after Week One). But don’t assume that Witten will be bottled up this time. If they try to contain him, there’s WR Terrell Owens to deal with. Although rookie CB Aaron Ross, who wasn’t starting when the teams played the first time, has the confidence to match up with Owens, the Giants will not leave him on an island.
NY Giants — TE Jeremy Shockey might be good for at least one TD this weekend. Word is the team spent the bye week looking for ways to get Shockey more involved and move him around into favorable matchups. With Cowboys CB Anthony Henry working his way back into the lineup, Dallas might commit a safety instead of a linebacker to Shockey, and that could result in a fair number of catches for him.
Philadelphia — At this point, the list of start-worthy Eagles is diminishing with each week that the team fails to produce points that are commensurate with the yardage the team is gaining. RB Brian Westbrook remains the only sure thing. WR Kevin Curtis has cooled off a bit. And WR Reggie Brown, who looked like he was starting to break out, remains an unknown after an up-and-down past few weeks.
Washington — The Redskins' defense was popular early in the season, but many fantasy owners dropped them like a bad habit following New England’s 52-point beatdown. It might be time to hop back on board. The defense performed better last week against the Jets and played well in the first meeting with the Eagles. … Another guy who was on thin ice, PK Shaun Suisham, who made some big kicks last week, should have some opportunities this game. He’s not a great kicker, but you can find worse bye-week options.
NFC North
Chicago — You can pretty much consider RB Cedric Benson a lost cause from a fantasy perspective if he is unable to break out of his prolonged slump this season against the Raiders’ 30th-ranked run defense this Sunday in Oakland. The Raiders’ “D” has allowed five consecutive 100-yard rushers, including 122 yards to Texans RB Ron Dayne last Sunday. … Don’t rule out the possibility of Benson sharing a lot more playing time with Adrian Peterson, who many close observers believe deserves to play more. … One more Bears offensive player who could be entering the mix a bit more is WR Mike Hass, one of the team’s more impressive performers in the preseason. … Rookie TE Greg Olsen could do some fantasy damage this Sunday. Olsen has at least 48 yards receiving in each of the last four games and two TD catches, including one in the Bears’ last game.
Detroit — The Cardinals’ secondary has taken away a lot of deep passes this season by playing two deep safeties, and they are expected to do that again this week. We keep waiting for the other shoe to drop with Mike Martz at some point getting frustrated with the amount of cover-2 his team faces, but RB Kevin Jones should be a solid play despite that. The matchup is good, he has his spring back as well as his confidence, and the Lions say they are going to take what they are given.
Green Bay — Look for the Packers and QB Brett Favre to continue emphasizing the team’s high-octane passing attack against a Vikings defense that is extremely stingy vs. the run but very vulnerable in passing situations. … WR Greg Jennings has been quite the fantasy force in recent weeks. One week after scoring the game-winning TD in overtime on an 82-yard bomb from Favre against the Broncos, Jennings had three catches for 85 yards and two TDs last Sunday against the Chiefs — the fourth game in which he has had at least 80 yards receiving and the fifth game out of the six in which he has played that he has caught a touchdown. … Ryan Grant, who suffered a concussion against the Chiefs, took part in most of Wednesday’s practice and looks the most likely starter at running back for the Pack this Sunday against Minnesota. … Look for TE Donald Lee, who signed a new contract early in the week, to continue being a decent under-the-radar fantasy performer this Sunday against the Vikes. Lee is tied with WR James Jones for second on the team with 29 catches and is fourth in yards (382).
Minnesota — Despite the fact that RB Adrian Peterson opens things up for the passing game, there are few good reasons to play any other Vikings skill-position player this week at Green Bay. Seriously. The quarterbacks are in rough shape; if Tarvaris Jackson can’t go, it’ll be Brooks Bollinger. And although he hooked up with WR Sidney Rice — perhaps the one guy you could make a case for to play this week — for a 40-yard TD pass against the Chargers, Bollinger won’t do that in games where Peterson is held up. The Packers’ good run defense suggests they will not allow a 150-yard rushing game. That said, there’s no way you can sit Peterson.
NFC South
Atlanta — The Falcons found a way to win last week despite the poor play of QB Joey Harrington (14-for-25 passing, 138 yards, one interception) against an average 49ers secondary. He faces an equally middling pass defense this week at Carolina and while his numbers may improve slightly, Harrington still isn’t worth consideration for an addition to your team. If Panthers DE Julius Peppers gets going, it could be a rough day for Harrington. … RB Warrick Dunn exploded for his first 100-yard rushing game in more than a year last week, and should see increased carries against the Panthers with RB Jerious Norwood (ankle) questionable. For the first time in a while, he is a solid start. … Falcons WR Roddy White continues to impress in his third season and could have a big day against Panthers CB Ken Lucas, who can be beaten deep. … WR Joe Horn had a season-high four catches (for only 23 yards) last week, but figures to see fewer balls thrown his way with rookie WR Laurent Robinson making a strong push for increased playing time.
Carolina — Panthers QB David Carr has been held out of practice all week after suffering a concussion vs. the Titans and it looks like QB Vinny Testaverde is going to start, despite being hobbled by an Achilles injury. It’s hard to predict how effective the soon-to-be 44-year-old will be with his health in question and it would a major risk to start him on your team this week. … Testaverde has shown he can get the ball to WR Steve Smith — something Carr has had a hard time doing — so the potential for a big game is there. Smith, however, has just one catch for 10 yards the last two times he has gone up against Falcons CB DeAngelo Hall. Despite that, Smith is worth taking a chance on, based on his talent and determination, and belongs in your lineup. … RB DeShaun Foster has been a major disappointment for the Panthers this season and will be chased all afternoon by Falcons OLB Michael Boley, who has made a habit of terrorizing opposing running backs. … Panthers PK John Kasay has just 14 FG attempts thus far — he’s tied for second fewest in the NFC among qualifiers — and is 4-for-7 on kicks of 40-49 yards. A normally reliable fantasy performer, Kasay has declined this season and you can find a better value on the waiver wire.
New Orleans — Saints QB Drew Brees has been Brady-esque in his last four games, firing 11 TD passes and one interception after going the first four games with just one score and nine picks. He will slow down at some point, but it probably won’t be against the Rams, who have allowed 27 or more points in four of their last five games. … RB Reggie Bush returned to practice Thursday after sitting out Wednesday with a bone bruise in his left knee. St. Louis has done a better job of stopping the pass than it has with the run and Bush, if close to 100 percent, should be able to break some long runs at the Superdome. … The Saints’ receiving corps has enjoyed a resurgence as Brees has sparked the team to 31- and 41-point outings the past two weeks. Saints WR Marques Colston has 18 catches for 244 yards and three touchdowns in the last two games and WR David Patten has gone for at least 81 yards in three of the past four contests. Patten would make for a nice midseason pickup in your league if he hasn’t been scooped up already.
Tampa Bay — On bye.
NFC West
Arizona — Coming off their weakest effort of the year offensively, the Cardinals will be looking for better things this Sunday against Detroit’s vulnerable pass defense from an attack that has suddenly scored only 39 points the past three games. The Lions continue to give up big chunks of yardage via the airways but have also been adept at making interceptions, which might not bode too well for QB Kurt Warner, whose penchant for picks is becoming more of a fantasy liability. … Looking like he was weighed down by the brace on his non-throwing arm, Warner completed only 10-of-30 passes in the loss to the Buccaneers last Sunday and had several of his throws dropped. … WR Larry Fitzgerald, who would have had a sure TD catch last week had he not inexplicably stepped out of bounds, could be a fantasy force against the Lions. … Even though he gained only 15 yards on nine carries vs. the Bucs, look for the Cardinals to try to set up their passing game with a substantial workload for RB Edgerrin James, who, like Warner, is coming off his worst game of the year.
St. Louis — Barring a setback before the week is over, RB Steven Jackson, who was providing a spark against the Browns in the Rams’ last game before injuring his back, is expected to start this Sunday vs. New Orleans, but he isn’t expected to get a full workload. That said, don’t make any plans to insert backup Brian Leonard into your fantasy lineup. Jackson should still see plenty of action and has the potential to rack up some fantasy points against the Saints. … LBs Will Witherspoon and Pisa Tinoisamoa have been making more tackles lately and could be quality IDPs this weekend. … Well-rested WRs Torry Holt, Isaac Bruce and Drew Bennett will be challenging a Saints pass defense that is ranked a lowly 27th.
San Francisco — We’ve been saying this every week for a while now, but the only real solid fantasy prospect on the offensively challenged Niners continue to be TE Vernon Davis, who has gained over 70 yards receiving in each of the last two games and has been the one target beleaguered QB Alex Smith has been able to find with any regularity. … The odds are strong that heavyweight IDP Patrick Willis, who has been a nonstop tackling machine all season, will continue making his presence felt despite a broken hand suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Falcons. After getting fitted with a soft cast at halftime in Atlanta, the rookie inside ’backer was no worse for the wear in the second half, finishing with 15 unofficial tackles according to a coach’s review of film. … It figures to be late in the week before RB Frank Gore, who missed the last game with an ankle injury, is cleared to play. If Gore can’t play again this week, backup Michael Robinson (17 carries for 67 yards last week) could be an intriguing fantasy option Monday night against Seattle’s undersized defense. Gore had his best overall performance of the season in the Niners’ Week Four loss to the Seahawks (16-79 rushing, 3-42 receiving).
Seattle — WR Deion Branch, who has missed three straight games with a knee injury, missed practice Wednesday but continues to run on the side in the hope of being able to suit up Monday night against the Niners. Team sources we talked to Wednesday morning think that, even if Branch does see action against the Niners, it will be very limited, which could mean another big fantasy day for veteran WR Bobby Engram, who caught a whopping 14 passes for 139 yards and a TD against the Browns last Sunday. … RB Shaun Alexander, who left the Browns game with knee and ankle injuries, also hasn’t been practicing this week and is considered questionable for the Niners. Whether Alexander plays or not, look for backup Maurice Morris (19-97 rushing the last two weeks) to get more playing time against a Niners run defense that is having all kinds of problems on the perimeter lately without the injured Manny Lawson. … Split end D.J. Hackett returned against Cleveland for the first time since spraining an ankle in the season opener and caught six passes for 58 yards and a TD. … QB Matt Hasselbeck (30-47-318 with two TDs vs. Browns) figures to keep on delivering solid fantasy numbers with head coach Mike Holmgren saying earlier this week that the passing game will become the offense’s featured attraction the rest of the season over the unit’s struggling ground game. Hasselbeck completed 23-of-31 passes for 281 yards and a pair of TDs vs. San Francisco in Week Four.
