WEEK EIGHT FANTASY PREVIEW

Oakland @ Tennessee
I still can’t really believe that Kerry Collins is still in the NFL, but he actually put up nice numbers last week, despite not throwing a touchdown. It looks like Vince Young will be back this week, but that doesn’t really change much for Tennessee receivers, who haven’t been great or reliable all year. For Oakland, get Ronald Curry in there: you can’t run on them, so the Raiders are going to have to pass. It was interesting to see Dominic Rhodes get 9 carries and perform similarly to LaMont Jordan, but save that nugget for after the Titans.

Detroit @ Chicago
Kevin Jones has been a tease in that offense for years, and he’s doing it again. Since I am a sucker for talented running backs in explosive offenses, I’ll take the bait (sigh…). Jones scored again last week, and received the bulk of the carries. Mike Martz is never gonna be a pounder, but he will get the ball to the backs in the passing game (great for PPR leaguers), and Jones has seen decent success lately. Meanwhile, Chicago continues to allow opposing runners to beat them.

Before I talk about Chicago, I need to introduce you all to one of my favorite lame fantasy players: Muhsin Muhammad. Muhsin is 34, slow, on a weird lame offense, and has been generally disrespected in the fantasy world the last few years. Well, I have been in some pretty dire WR situations on my teams the last few years (especially this year…some readers are perhaps laughing at this understatement as they read this), and am always looking for guys like this to get me through. Muhammad also happens to be a large man for a receiver, and he’s crafty, especially in the end zone. Muhsin has caught a TD in 3 of the 4 games since Brian Griese has taken the job from Sexy Rexy, and has another excellent matchup this week. Get him in there, and join me in praising his fantasy contributions.

Philadelphia @ Minnesota
So it looks like the only thing that can stop the Viking running game is the Viking passing game (and Dallas I guess…but you get my meaning). I went into this season looking for a neato prediction for a team that could come out of nowhere, and mine was the Vikings. I thought, look, they had a ridiculous run defense last season, an effective runner (Taylor), and a stud rookie runner (Peterson), and all the talking heads we love so much can’t ever stop talking about how running and stopping the run are the keys to success in the National Football League (does anyone else think it’s a bit smug the way they always call it the National Football League, as though it were base to abbreviate such a hallowed organization?). I thought if there could be a way that Tarvaris Jackson was any better than terrible that they had a shot to make some noise. Especially in that division. I mean, he was a second round pick. Well, guess what happened…

Anyway, in regards to this game, Philly has had a good record vs. the run, but I think they’re overrated. They’ve faced GB (don’t even try to run), Washington (can’t score much against anyone but Detroit), Detroit (don’t like to run, and were down by a klabillion points early), the Giants (without the punishing and scary Brandon Jacobs), the Jets (who ran for over 100), and Chicago (Cedric Benson doesn’t like football). So, yeah, overrated. Start Peterson, and give Taylor a look if you need him: he’s been quietly effective with the touches he’s gotten since AP exploded, and caught some passes last week too.

Cleveland @ St. Louis
Steven Jackson’s back! Don’t hesitate starting him here. This is one of those games where almost anyone you have has a chance to be productive. Look for Bulger to bounce back and for Isaac Bruce to finally do something. Start Jamal Lewis, or his replacement, Jason Wright, depending on injury status. Joe Jurevicius also has a great matchup.

Pittsburgh @ Cincinnati
Kenny Watson. I watch my Jets play the Bengals, expect Chad and Houshmandzadeh to run all over the place, but why use awesome players to win when you can use obscure ones that mess up the fantasy world? Sit the Bengal runners this week against Pitt, though. I love Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward this week, for obvious Bengal-defense-related reasons.

Indianapolis @ Carolina
Kenton Keith stole Joseph Addai’s show on Monday Night, which should make sense to us based on Indy’s history of using two running backs. He looked good too. Keith is a decent play this week against Carolina given his success against that stout Jacksonville D last week. I hate to rain on Vinny Testaverde’s parade here, but did anyone else notice that on his touchdown pass to Steve Smith that the cornerback sorta, like, stopped playing football while the ball was in the air, and that Smith walked into the endzone? Vinny, god bless him, came back “off his couch”, “from mowing his lawn”, “from watching the games last Sunday”, etc., in 2005 for the Jets and, um, wasn’t good. I’m just not buying him yet. But, from the numbers this year, fantasy players want him in there because David Carr looks worse.

New York Giants @ Miami
I was watching the games last week with a couple of friends, one of whom is (was) a Ronnie Brown owner. I had just advised him on keeping Brown going forward despite the Dolphins’ tough schedule coming up. He had always planned on selling Brown before the Patriots game, assuming he would play well against the bad teams earlier on the schedule and would return to his normal Ronnie Brown form soon enough. Well, Ronnie Brown went on to lead running backs in points, and I told him I thought he had been far too dominant and involved in the offense for his production to dip too much. Ronnie Brown Owner decided to keep him, and as we were watching he was thanking me for my wisdom, as Brown was having another good day. About a minute later, Brown tore his ACL on a broken turnover play. Ouch. The good news for some of us is Jesse Chatman didn’t look too bad, and he has a decent matchup this week. My Ronnie Brown Owner friend wasn’t so lucky as to be able to claim Chatman. That privilege went to the guy in our league who irritates everyone with his outlandish trade demands. Ugh.

Meanwhile, in London (London?), the Giants are growing on me. I maintain they haven’t really beaten anyone good, but the Dolphins certainly aren’t good, so look for more of the same from your G-Men. Miami can’t stop anything. Jacobs has looked the best in the backfield, and should continue to get most carries.

Buffalo @ New York Jets
These two very stoppable forces and moveable objects meet again in their second divisional showdown. Chad Pennington, everyone’s favorite noodly-armed pigskin tosser, will be starting again. Mangini seems to think he is doing a lot of good things amidst the bad things, and he’s probably right. The Jets are just not good. But, Laveranues Coles, Jerricho Cotchery and Chris Baker all have good matchups here. So do Thomas Jones and little Leon Washington. So do Lee Evans and Roscoe Parrish. Yeah, these defenses are bad…

Houston @ San Diego
It’ll be interesting to see how the Chargers handle having an actual wide receiver in their offense. The only wide receiver who has caught over 60 passes for them since David Boston in 2003 was old man Keenan McCardell, and he was old (David Boston!) Chambers is definitely a start here, and we’ll see what happens. He should provide the deep threat to open up Tomlinson and Gates even more, but Chambers is a bit of a flake who has the drops and doesn’t run clean routes consistently. The Chargers have a very beatable secondary, so my boy Kevin Walter, who I have hated on in the past but seems to continue to get looks and catches, as well as his cohort Andre Davis, are good starts this week. I’d consider sitting Ahman Green against them, though. Also, keep in mind that this game has a chance of being postponed due to the wildfires near San Diego, so keep an eye on how your league deals with this.

Jacksonville @ Tampa Bay
In one of the more pathetic displays of quarterback play in recent memory, Quinn Gray came in for David Garrard on Monday Night, and will be starting for the Jags for the next few weeks. Yeesh. The Jaguars really have no choice but to run the ball now, which elevates Fred Taylor’s and Maurice Jones-Drew’s stock. Since you were not starting any Jaguar receivers, continue to not start them (I mean, none of you were starting them, were you?). The Bucs’ Earnest Graham had himself a game with 92 rushing yards and 13 catches on the day that Michael Bennett came to town. I still think Graham is the better play going forward because he’ll get the goal line carries, but Bennett looked good. I’d only start Graham this week, though, and he isn’t a great play. Jeff Garcia, by the way, hasn’t thrown an interception yet this year. Just thought that was cool; don’t start him here.

New Orleans @ San Francisco
Devery Henderson finally caught a touchdown, but it was his only catch, and only target of the day. Fluke! I hate Devery. The interesting question is: who is the Saints’ second receiver behind Colston. It looked like David Patten again last week (I think my Lance Moore experiment is over…), but I just don’t trust Patten somehow: he was irrelevant for so long after leaving the Pats, and for him to just emerge as significant again out of nowhere smells funny to me. If you’re desperate for a receiver this week, Patten and Moore are decent reach plays since Nate Clements will be on Colston. It looks like Alex Smith will end the short-lived Trent Dilfer era in San Francisco this week, so start keeping an eye on their receiver situation again. I’m still sort of attached to Darrell Jackson despite his lameness this year, but watch Ashley Lelie and Arnaz Battle also. If Jackson plays, he has a good matchup against the Saints. Battle saw most of the looks last week, and he’s also a solid play.

Washington @ New England
The Skins have a great defense, but who cares. Tom Brady is driven, and as long as Randy Moss can catch touchdowns in double coverage with his biceps (one of the sickest catches I have ever seen), he’s unstoppable. Laurence Maroney looked awful, and I’d stay away from him for a while: they seem content to just pass anyway, even when they’re up 50. I don’t like Washington’s offense this week. Portis had a great game last week, but this is not the Cardinals, and they’re going to be passing in their futile attempt to keep up with Tom WelMossworth. Santana Moss is having serious problems these days, and I’d stay away.

Green Bay @ Denver
This is an interesting matchup for Green Bay because Denver stops the pass but can’t stop the run. Do the Packers dare leave their fate in the hands of DeShawn Wynn and Vernand Morency? Start Wynn. Denver doesn’t have a great fantasy matchup here, so Brandon Marshall may have a tough time. Travis Henry has some uncertainty surrounding him this week, so keep an eye on whether or not he plays. Denver, as usual, has like 12 guys who could play (namely 3 guys named Selvin Young, Andre Hall, and Cecil Sapp), so if Henry is out it’s anybody’s guess who will emerge. The favorite is Young.

WEEK SEVEN FANTASY PREVIEW

San Francisco @ New York Giants
Eli Manning is looking a lot better, and the Giants are running really well using all three of their backs. I like Reuben Droughns and Brandon Jacobs, who both got carries last week. I’m tempted to play Amani Toomer, who had a great game last week, but San Fran stops opposing WR pretty well. I don’t like many 49ers this week, regardless of whether Alex Smith plays or not.

Atlanta @ New Orleans
New Orleans finally woke up, and I like them again this week. David Patten was the beneficiary last week, but where has he been? He hasn’t done anything in years. Play Lance Moore, who is younger and also returns kicks. Short of Jerious Norwood breaking a long run like last week, which he hadn’t done before this season, I don’t like any Falcons even against the weak Saints’ D. Byron Leftwich takes about 20 minutes to drop back and throw, and behind that line he’ll have problems. Falcons wide-outs are also targeted fairly evenly, and it remains to be seen who Leftwich will look for.

New England @ Miami
With Sammy Morris out, it looks like Kevin Faulk will probably be the guy this week, but the Patriots are crafty and could surprise everyone by using Heath Evans. I wouldn’t be surprised, though, if they go up very early and both runners make noise. I’d lean toward Faulk over Evans, but it’s hard to call. Without Chris Chambers, who was traded to San Diego, the Dolphins are even more pathetic on offense. Ronnie Browns will probably catch a lot of passes, but it’s hard to run on the Pats.

Arizona @ Washington
Kurt, I know you tend to hurt yourself, but couldn’t you have maybe lasted more than 2 drop backs? You made your coach put in Tim Rattay. Yuck. Warner may be back this week, but regardless, Washington is nasty to passing games, and I’d play my Cardinals with care. Santana Moss supposedly benched himself last week, but if he plays this week he has a great matchup. Randle-El is also a play if he suits up.

Baltimore @ Buffalo
Baltimore has been iffy against the pass, allowing a few teams to go off. But I just don’t see Trent Edwards, who has been mostly dinking (sometimes dunking), down the field. Buffalo’s O gets dominated here. Kyle Boller is starting, and could see some success against the Bills.

Tampa Bay @ Detroit
OK, so my hunch about Earnest Graham didn’t quite pan out last week. But, I’m sticking with my guy here. He’s a strong runner, they pound it at the goal line, and Detroit is Swiss cheese. Michael Bennett probably won’t factor in much this soon after being acquired, so Graham is still the man here for now. Ike Hilliard is also a strong play. Tatum Bell wanted to get traded, but wasn’t. Welcome back to potential fantasy relevance, Kevin Jones. He’s decent this week.

Tennessee @ Houston
If Vince Young’s injury forces Kerry Collins into the lineup, get ready for some ineptitude. He looked awful last year for the Titans. LenDale White will play well, especially if Chris Brown is out. Houston’s Kevin Walter continues to play well, but the Titans are tough. I’m also sitting the Texans run game against Tennessee.

Kansas City @ Oakland
Jeff Webb surprised and was targeted as many times as Dwayne Bowe last week, but I’d wait to see this again before I buy. Bowe has tough corner Nnamdi Asomugha, but I’d play him anyway. Ronald Curry still got the most targets last week, but I’d keep watching Jerry Porter. Neither is great this week, though.

New York Jets @ Cincinnati
Alright, loyal NFL Draft Bible readers, I need to get something off my chest. I am a New York Jets fan. This is a rough year for Gang Green, and for their quarterback, Chad Pennington, whom I have loved for years.. He has always had a noodle-arm, but his arm is the least of his problems right now. He used to make up for it with sound decision-making, accurate passing, and good leadership. Right now, those positive qualities are absent, and the Jets are left with just the weak arm: ask Thomas Jones, Laveranues Coles and Jerricho Cotchery. Sure, Jones had 120 yards last week, but much of that came on the Jets’ first drive of the game before the Eagles remembered Pennington can’t throw more than 12 yards down field. Now, having said all of this, Coach Mangini is sticking with Chad this week, and the Bengals certainly won’t provide too much resistance: they allow almost 250 yards in the air and almost 150 on the ground. Start all of your Jets this week, but get ready for some potential changes in the coming weeks.

Oh, I almost forgot. Start all your Bengals: the Jets’ D may have more holes than the O.

Minnesota @ Dallas
Adrian! I had been thinking that Peterson would be a sell because of Chester Taylor coming back, the fact that he was relying on some big plays to get his yards, and that the Vikings were going to see some tougher opponents coming up. Never mind all of that. Peterson is the most talented player on his team, and as much as I want to caution his owners from counting too heavily on a guy who needs to bust big runs for points, I can’t. He’s too good. He keeps breaking out for monster gains. Forget Chester. Forget the Bears’ defense. Forget the Cowboys’ defense. He’s a great player, and will score for you against most teams. For Dallas, it’s the usual story against Minny. Sit the running backs, start everyone involved in the passing game (2nd best run D, worst pass D).

Chicago @ Philadelphia
After being torched by Adrian Peterson last week, the Bears get to face Brian Westbrook, another excellent open field runner. I could see this game being all about Westbrook running and catching screens all day, and I still can’t rely on any Eagle WRs. I’m still banking on Reggie Brown eventually emerging here, but this isn’t a great matchup. Cedric Benson runs like an old man, and looks generally lame. Sit him and get the other Adrian Peterson, who I bet will be fantasy relevant before the end of the year.

St. Louis @ Seattle
Shaun. Please. You were the MVP 2 years ago. You look hesitant, slow, and bored. But if you can’t have yourself a game this week, then I don’t know what to tell you. The Rams can’t do anything on either side of the ball, so Shaun should have the chance to run in the second half this week. By the way, keep an eye on Leonard Weaver, who broke a big one, and could get a bigger role as the season progresses. D.J. Hackett looks like he’ll play this week, and he couldn’t have a better matchup. Bobby Engram, and even Nate Burleson are solid starts also. Marc Bulger is back this week, so Torry Holt should see a better game. Seattle’s defense is fairly middle-of-the-road, so use your Rams as you would any other week.

Pittsburgh @ Denver
Denver’s rush defense has fallen quite a bit this season, allowing 187 yards per game. This makes Najeh Davenport startable this week. Pittsburgh is also getting Santonio Holmes and Hines Ward back this week, but Denver is great vs. the pass. Denver’s RB situation is a bit up in the air, but it’s not a good week against Pittsburgh.

Indianapolis @ Jacksonville
You can’t ever sit your Colts, but the Jags have given them problems in the past. Maurice Jones-Drew is back, and is a start for sure. As for Jaguar receivers, it’s anyone’s guess from week to week who will emerge as they are pretty egalitarian. I don’t particularly like any of them.

SELLER'S MARKET

Ralph Mancini, FFI Sr. Writer

Fantasy articles lending advice on who’s heating up and who to pick up are a dime-a-dozen. This week, FFi takes a look the players whose values may have peaked. These are the ones you should be looking to unload.

DEREK ANDERSON (QB-CLE)- One of the league’s biggest surprises this season has masterfully played the role of gunslinger by connecting with stars Braylon Edwards and Kellen Winslow Jr. on several big plays. Coming off his most efficient performance versus an inept Miami Dolphins team, with three touchdowns and no interceptions, the 6’6” Anderson has reached unexpected heights in fantasy circles. For all his attributes, however, Anderson has been playing with house money for much of the year by getting away with dangerous throws in double and triple coverage that have often landed in his receivers’ hands. Look for his interception totals to rise as he faces tougher defenses later in the year. With road games against Pittsburgh and Baltimore coming up in weeks 11 and 12, this might be a most propitious time to gauge his value in the trade market.

MATT SCHAUB (QB- HOU)- For all the accolades Schaub has received during the early part of the season, the first-year Texan is slowly beginning to show his warts. In Sunday’s loss versus Jacksonville, the former Falcon badly missed both the wide open Kevin Walter and Owen Daniels in the end zone while the Texans were still the ballgame. Also factor in that Schaub has only two touchdowns and four interceptions since week three. The 26-year-old does have a promising future ahead of him, but for the time being, take advantage of the early season hype and trade him for a more proven player.

JAY CUTLER (WR-DEN)- With quite possibly the best arm in the league, Cutler has the physical tools to become a future star. Unfortunately for Cutler, his top receiver, Javon Walker, has been banged up for much of the season, making life difficult for the still developing passer. Although it sounds as though Walker will be suiting up this Sunday, it’s also very dubious that he’ll be playing at full strength for the remainder of the year. Use Cutler’s week nine matchup versus the Lions as a selling point and look to upgrade your running backs or receivers.

CLINTON PORTIS (RB-WASH)- Make no mistake, Portis is a quality back, but also know that the Redskins offensive line has become a veritable mash unit with injuries to Jon Jansen, Randy Thomas, Casey Rabach and Todd Wade. The man of many disguises has yet to surpass 100 yards rushing in any one game this year. Don’t expect that to happen against the likes of New England, Chicago and Minnesota. His tendonitis may also flare up at any time. Trade him.

LAMONT JORDAN (RB-OAK)- A bad back combined with a crowded backfield featuring the likes of Dominic Rhodes and Justin “Huggy Bear” Fargas should spell less carries for the former Maryland Terrapin going forward.

MARQUES COLSTON (WR-NO)- While many are expecting better things from Colston in the coming weeks, a number of secondary receivers (David Patten, Lance Moore) have been quietly emerging in the Saints offense. In last Sunday’s win over Seattle, Colston was rarely targeted and when he was thrown to, he dropped the ball. Is the former rookie standout better than this? Yes. But in an offense dominated by Reggie Bush, Colston cannot be counted on as an every week starter. This week he matches up with Atlanta’s cover corner D’Angelo Hall. Trade him before others begin to notice his shortcomings.

VINCENT JACKSON (WR-SD)- A lot was expected from the 6’5” Jackson this year, and for the most part, he hasn’t delivered. The third-year professional has dropped a number of passes this season and cost San Diego valuable points. The acquisition of Chris Chambers clearly moves Jackson down in the hierarchy of Charger receivers.

BERNARD BERRIAN (WR-CHI)- This deep threat should worry his fantasy owners, as he has been plagued by a sore foot and an injured toe all season. His downfield speed, furthermore, may be deemphasized in future weeks with tight ends Desmond Clark and Greg Olsen becoming prime targets for quarterback Brian Griese, who isn’t exactly known for having a howitzer arm. Sell Berrian’s 39-yard touchdown catch this past weekend when trading him and don’t mention the fact that Viking corner Antoine Winfield slipped and left the wide out all by his lonesome on his path to the end zone.

WEEK 7 WAIVER WIRE HELP

SEARCHING THE SCRAP HEAP

VINNY TESTAVERDE (CAR-QB)- If you have any extra space on your roster, make room for Vinny. Yes, that Vinny---43-years young. Signed just days ago to fill in for a banged-up David Carr, the 21st year journeyman authored a very credible performance versus the Cardinals this Sunday by completing 20 of 30 passes for 206 yards and one touchdown. Testaverde kept his team out of trouble and also uncorked some long throws, including a 65-yard touchdown to Steve Smith. While Carr will probably regain his starting role, coach John Fox will not be hesitant to turn to Vinny from Elmont once again if necessary.

D’ANGELO WILLIAMS (CAR-RB)- The second-year runner clearly distanced himself from the less explosive DeShaun Foster by breaking off some long runs to the outside during the second half of Carolina’s 25-10 victory over Arizona. Williams capped off his day with a 75-yard burst down the left sideline and later added a 13-yard touchdown run. The writing’s on the wall, and it won’t be long before Carolna starts phasing out the fumble-prone Foster in favor of the younger, faster Williams.

TROY WILLIAMSON (MIN-WR)- The much maligned and often criticized Williamson put his best attribute (his speed) on grand display Sunday by scoring on a 60-yard touchdown pass against Chicago. Although, he only ended up with two receptions, it should be noted that Tarvaris Jackson is back starting at quarterback and while that may alarm most Viking fans, the 24-year-old signal caller has a good arm and will be looking to Williamson quite often when he needs to throw it deep.

ERIC MOULDS (TEN-WR)- Far removed from his halcyon days in Buffalo, Moulds has gradually been carving out a bigger role for himself as a reliable possession receiver in Tennessee’s aerial attack. Following his four-catch 31-yard performance versus Atlanta last week, Moulds recorded 6 receptions for 49 yards. In bigger leagues, the grizzled veteran may be one to look at as a bye-week fill-in.

CHRIS HENRY (CIN-WR)- The troubled, but extremely gifted receiver is only two weeks away from returning from his eight-week suspension. Picking him up now could pay immediate dividends for those looking to reinforce their receiver corps. Quite simply, Henry is the most talented third receiver in the league and his 6’4” frame can pose matchup nightmares for nickelbacks trying to defend him.

RYAN LONGWELL (MIN-K)- The oft-overlooked Longwell has been a model of consistency this season by connecting on eight of nine field goal attempts. The former Packer kicked field goals of 48 and 55 yards in Minnesota’s 34-31 win over Chicago. The fact that Longwell plays his home games indoors is another added bonus.

ONES TO WATCH

KERRY COLLINS (TENN-QB)- Collins stepped in for starting quarterback Vince Young, who left Sunday’s game versus Tampa Bay with a groin injury, and didn’t exactly distinguish himself with 10 completions for 125 yards. Monitor Young’s status. At last report, he is considered day-to-day. Although he still has a strong enough arm to make deep throws, Collins can be disastrous when forced out of the pocket. The former Giant is a total crapshoot at this point.

LEONARD WEAVER (SEA-RB)- In the wake of Mack Strong’s retirement, Weaver has assumed the role of lead fullback in Seattle’s backfield. Blessed with good size (242 pounds), quick feet and soft hands, Weaver put his talents to good use versus New Orleans with three carries for 40 yards and four receptions for 53 yards. Weaver might be looking at more carries if Shaun Alexander continues to disappoint.

KEENAN McCARDELL (WASH-WR)- The recently signed 37-year-old chipped in with two catches for 30 yards in Washington’s 17-14 loss to Green Bay. Although it’s hard to speculate how many snaps McCardell will get going forward, it’s safe to say that the Redskins should make more room for the dependable possession receiver on a team with so many health risks and question marks at the position.

JUSTIN GAGE (TENN-WR)- The fifth-year professional is commonly looked upon as a disappointment. Gage did show some vital signs this Sunday with four receptions for 82 yards, including a 42-yard grab. At 6’4” 212 pounds, Gage has the tools to make tough catches over the middle, although as a receiver he isn’t the fleetest of foot.

DAVID ANDERSON (HOU-WR)- The obscure wide out was frequently targeted in Houston’s loss to Jacksonville and finished with three receptions for 30 yards. With Andre’ Johnson rumored to be at least another month, the Colorado State product may continue to see more time as a third receiver. Keep an eye on him once rookie Jacoby Jones returns.

SUNDAY MORNING QUARTERBACK

The quarterback carousel is in full effect as we enter week number six.

It was announced earlier in the week that Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow) will be out for the season. After flying across the country for the Cardinals game, David Carr was downgraded to questionable with a bad back. This means recently signed forty-three year old Vinny Testaverde could get the start. This is one quarterback mess you should be sure to steer clear from.

The Cardinals also dipped their toes into the free agent pool this week. With Matt Leinart (shoulder) out for the season, the Cardinals brought Tim Rattay back into the league with the fragile Kurt Warner now at the helm. Next to be signed is veteran Tim Hasselbeck, who will be playing in the same division as his brother Matt. With Warner prone to concussions, this is another quarterback situation to avoid.

After getting benched last week, Joey Harrington maintains his starting job as Byron Leftwich (ankle) has been ruled out this week.

It appears that Ravens quarterback Steve McNair (back) will not play on Sunday and Kyle Boller will get his second start of the season. Boller took snaps with the first team, while McNair sat out practice this week.

Tarvaris Jackson (groin) returns to the starting line-up for Minnesota. Kelly Holcomb goes back to holding the clipboard.

Good ‘ol Gus Frerotte (ankle) will start despite injury as he continues to fill in for Marc Bulger (ribs) and Daunte Culpepper starts once again in place of Josh McCown (toe).

Keep an eye on Jets quarterback Chad Pennington this week. Another lousy outing and/or Jets loss could finally cost him his job. The coaching staff has had high praise for Kellen Clemens and the fans have been calling for the backup for weeks. The pressure is mounting.

Cleo Lemon verses Derek Anderson is actually a key fantasy matchup this week, as both quarterbacks could put up solid fantasy numbers on Sunday.

The Patriots will be without Laurence Maroney (groin) once again this week for their showdown with New England. Sammy Morris; play’em if you got’em.

It has been announced that Jamal Lewis (foot) will not play Sunday. Jason Wright will get the start for Baltimore.

It appears as if LaMont Jordan (back) will be out Sunday. Look for Justin Fargas and Dominic Rhodes to split the carries in his absence. Rhodes is seeing action for the first time this season as he comes off a four-game suspension.

Those of you in deep leagues planning to play Kenneth Darby this week, the Buccaneers pulled a switch-a-roo. Darby was released on Saturday and the team activated Lionel Gates from the practice squad to serve as the backup to Earnest Graham. Michael Pittman (ankle) will be out at least two months. Zack Crockett was also signed.

Fred Taylor (groin) will most likely play, but if he re-aggravates the injury, look for Greg Jones to be in the mix for carries in addition to a heavy dose of Maurice Jones-Drew.

Maximize your use of Brian Leonard, as he gets one more solid start against a porous Dolphins team before Steven Jackson returns.

Rams wide out Torry Holt admitted this week that his current knee condition is an injury that he’ll just have to deal with for the remainder of his career. Holt is no longer in the top fantasy wide out conversation and has also been hurt by bad quarterback play.

Speaking of stud wide outs, it looks like Texans wide out Andre Johnson (knee) is plotting his return for week eleven after the team’s bye week.

The Seahawks will be without Deion Branch (foot) for two weeks. Bobby Engram steps in as the starter. D.J. Hackett (ankle) is expected to play, with former Auburn standouts Ben Obomanu and Courtney Taylor serving as the number three and four guys.

Despite Anquan Boldin’s public proclamation that he is healthy enough to play, head coach Ken Wisenhunt stated that Boldin needs to practice before he suits up for game action.

Need a second half sleeper at the tight end position? You may want to scoop up Tony Scheffler off the waiver wire. With Denver on a bye this week, chances are that Scheffler is sitting in your league’s free agent pool. With Nate Jackson out for the season, Scheffler becomes the top receiving target at the tight end position in Denver and could produce a handful of touchdowns over the second half of the season.

Where Are They Now: Former first-round pick Akili Smith was released by the Calgary Stampeders of the CFL this week.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE

By The Fantasy Trader, NFL Draft Bible

This week I will give you a little insight into my fantasy teams. I own 3 teams and they are a combined 14-1. This has been my greatest fantasy football season so far. While I was adjusting my lineups for this week, I was trying to figure out what makes these teams so good. There are two common traits in all three of them. Each team has a dominating QB. This was the first year that I planned on taking a QB early. In previous years, I was always a “wait until the dime-a-dozen quarterbacks start going” kind of drafter. If I pulled that this year, I would have Manning (not the good one!), Cutler or Leinart. Instead I took Palmer in two leagues and Brady in the other.

Another common component that all three share is the X factor guy. You know… the guy that you were on the fence about but just had to take because he was still there. Those guys for me were Randy Moss, Ronnie Brown and Adrian Peterson. All three of my teams are obviously very healthy. Now that I have jinxed the rest of my season, here is who I like and hate in week 6!

BIG WEEK 6
RB Larry Johnson- This is it, I swear! If Johnson does not rack up big numbers against the Bengals, then it is time to abort this mission. Despite his struggles, LJ is still getting a heavy dose of carries. With opportunity comes reward. The Bengals are giving up over 5 yards a carry. KC has a banged up QB in Huard, so look for an even heavier dose of Johnson. Prediction: 30 Rushes 137 Yards 1 TD

WR The Original 81- I was shocked that TO was so quiet on Monday Night Football. He must have been saving it up for this week. The human quote machine left nothing but a note for reporters this week. Owens is getting ready to put on a show against a very tough New England secondary. TO hates nothing more than being shown up by a counterpart. I’m feeling Randy Moss touchdowns so TO will have to get his as well.

Prediction: 8 Rec 115 Yards 1 TD

WR The Other 81- Is it just a coincidence that Mr. Moss had his first poor showing of the season? I think not! The man has admitted to dogging every now and then. The Cowboys secondary has a tough time defending the home run ball. I’m not sure there is a deeper threat than Moss. This one is straight cash homey!

Prediction: 8 Rec 115 Yards 1 TD

QB Kurt Warner- This might be the waiver wire claim of the year. He won’t be throwing it to Holt and Bruce anymore, but Fitzgerald and Boldin are pretty good. Boldin is banged up, but I expect Warner to post big numbers. The Panthers defense is 24th against the pass and is giving up over 230 yards per game.

Prediction: 300 Yards 3 TD


QB Philip Rivers - I hope you bought that Rivers stock on the cheap last week because he had his coming out party. The Broncos are the number 1 ranked defense against the pass and Rivers destroyed them. I understand that Champ Bailey got injured, but Rivers was 13 for 18 for 270 yards. I know what he will do to the Raiders this week.

Prediction: 300 Yards 2 TD

SMALL WEEK 6
RB Cedric Benson- This guy can’t seem to catch a break. He waits forever to get the starting gig and when he finally does, he looks like he might lose it. Benson is averaging 3 yards per carry. His longest run in over 300 carries is 16 yards. The numbers are awful and now he gets the number 1 ranked rushing defense. Good luck against the Vikings Cedric! Prediction: 20 Rushes 60 Yards 1 Fumble


RB Thomas Jones- At least the Bears can take solace in the fact that Jones stinks. The problem for Jones owners is that he actually has had several favorable match-ups. The Bills run defense make Moses’ parting of the sea look like a joke. The bigger joke was TJ couldn’t find the part. It is officially time to panic against the Eagles.

Prediction: 18 Rushes 58 Yards


QB Vince Young- The Titans offense has been struggling, but it seems to be flying under the radar because their defense has been electric. The VY will have a tough time against an underrated Bucs defense. I never thought I would write that the Tampa D was underrated. The Bucs rank 9th against the pass and have held opposing QBs to a rating of 73.9. Prediction: 180 Yards 1 TD 1 INT


WR Braylon Edwards- I’ve heard other experts predict big things for Edwards this week, but I’m not so sure. I’m not taking anything away from what he has done this season. He is averaging over 20 yards a reception, but the Dolphins pass defense is elite. The Dolphins are allowing just 171 yards per game through the air.

Prediction: 3 Rec 60 Yards


QB Tony Romo- This prediction has a chance to backfire so badly that I’m thinking about changing it right now. I won’t because he deserves to be on the stink list after throwing 5 first half INT to the worst defense in the league. This poor man’s Brady will show he is exactly that this week. That was pretty harsh. You would think he stole my girlfriend or something.

Prediction: 280 Yards 2 TD 4 INT

FANTASY FILL-INS FOR WEEK 6

-Ralph Mancini, FFI Sr. Writer

Fantasy owners of Peyton Manning, Willie Parker, Roy Williams and Marshawn Lynch, take heed and listen---the treacherous bye weeks are upon us.

There a couple of different ways to battle this predicament in order to assemble a competent lineup for the upcoming week. One can either make a desperate trade and get fleeced---especially if you’re 1-4---or you can scour the waiver wire for solutions.

Granted, at this point of the season, you’re probably not going to stumble upon any week- in and week-out starters, but remember you’re playing for Week Six and once your regulars come back, you might not have to use these fill-ins ever again.

Here are a few names that might still be available. Some of these players happen to be quite talented, while the others just have good matchups.

GUS FREROTTE (STL-QB)- At first glance, the well traveled journeyman has a less-than-favorable matchup versus the traditionally stingy Baltimore Ravens defense. A closer look ,however, reveals that this defensive unit has absorbed it’s fair share of injuries which have caused starting cornerback Samari Rolle (medical illness) and defensive end Trevor Pryce (wrist) to miss games and it doesn’t look as though they’ll be returning this week. In addition, the Ravens defense has allowed 20 or more points in three of their five games and, with the exception of a special teams touchdown, have failed to score. While still formidable versus the run, this unit has allowed receivers Jerricho Cotchery (7 receptions, 165 yards) and Anquan Boldin (14 receptions, 181 yards, two touchdowns) to achieve memorable performances.

DeSHAWN WYNN (GB-RB)- If you know anything about Packer running back Vernand Morency, it’s that he doesn’t stay healthy for a long time and while many aren’t certain who’s top dog in Green Bay’s backfield---make no mistake that man is DeShawn Wynn. Along with showing good power in short yardage and goal-line situations, Wynn also has the ability to bounce runs outside for long gainers. The rookie looked good against Chicago and can certainly do the same versus Washington this week.

LEON WASHINGTON (NYJ-RB)- This may very well be the week that the Jets decide to hand the ball off to Thomas Jones 20 times to finally establish a running attack, but that doesn’t mean that Gang Green will stop going to elusive runner Leon Washington. New York’s opposing defense, the Philadelphia Eagles, are tied for second in the league in sacks with 16, so you better believe they’ll be coming hard after quarterback Chad Pennington, who may be throwing quite a few dump-off passes to Washington this week. The second-year runner already recorded eight catches in week three’s loss at Buffalo. Definitely start him in point-per-reception leagues.

JERRY PORTER (OAK-WR)- Porter has made the most out of his seven receptions this season by scoring on three of them. The enigmatic receiver showed very positive signs with Daunte Culpepper at quarterback two weeks ago versus the Dolphins and should be called upon quite often against a rather pourous San Diego secondary that gave up 369 yards and 284 yards to quarterbacks Brett Favre and Damon Huard in weeks three and four before shutting down the Broncos. With rookie JaMarcus Russell waiting in the wings, you can be certain that Culpepper will be taking some downfield shots to his newfound favorite wide out.

DENNIS NORTHCUTT (JAX-WR)- Very quietly, Dennis Northcutt has been cementing his status as Jacksonville’s most dependable receiver. As such, the former Brown was targeted seven times in the Jaguars’ win over Kansas City last Sunday. On one of those occasions, he was sought for in the end zone which led to a touchdown. Northcutt should have several opportunities to score against a Houston defense that has surrendered an average of twenty five points a game in their last three contests.

NY GIANTS DEFENSE- Need big-time fantasy points? Take a gander at the Big Blue Wrecking Crew’s league leading 17 sacks. Want another reason to start the Giants this week versus the Falcons? Atlanta’s starting left tackle Wayne Gandy is out for the year with a knee injury. Even Big Blue’s much-maligned secondary has been slowly crawling out of an early season funk with rookie Aaron Ross leading the way last week with two interceptions versus the Jets.

BUSTED, BRUISED & BROKEN

By David Kaye,Fantasy Football Insiders

AFC Injury Report
Buffalo Bills wide receiver Peerless Price (neck) will be out for the remainder of the season after it was discovered that the disc problem he has in his neck will require surgery. As Price is placed on the injured reserve, he becomes the ninth Bills player who
will miss the rest of the season. In his absence, look for Roscoe Parrish and Josh Reed to see increased playing time as the number two receivers.

Laurence Maroney (ankle) did not play for the second consecutive week and his status for Sunday’s showdown at Dallas is still unknown. Sammy Morris has served as the quintessential backup for Maroney as he has had back-to-back 100-yard performances against the Bengals and Browns. He is a must have in all fantasy leagues.

While trying to tackle Houston Texans defensive lineman Travis Johnson, quarterback Trent Green was inadvertently kneed in the head and appeared motionless on the field for several seconds. Green (grade-three concussion) will most likely be out of action for
Sunday’s game at Cleveland and backup Cleo Lemon will make the start.

Jamal Lewis (foot) is experiencing considerable pain in his right foot and it has not been determined whether or not he’ll suit up for Sunday’s game against the woeful Dolphins.

Tight end Todd Heap (thigh) did not play in Sunday’s loss at San Francisco and is currently questionable for Sunday’s game against the 0-5 Rams.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh (knee) is listed as probable for this week’s game at Kansas City.

Hines Ward (knee) missed his second straight game, but will likely be able to start week seven following the Steelers bye week. Ward has been ineffective when healthy and should not be relied upon at all by fantasy owners this season.


Pro Bowl kick returner Jerome Mathis (leg) has been placed on injured reserve after it was discovered that he had a stress fracture in his left leg. Mathis has played an integral part in the Texans special teams over the past two seasons and it will be very difficult for them to provide any sort of stability to that position in the final eleven weeks of the season.

Running Back Ahman Green (knee) has missed the past two weeks and remains questionable for Sunday’s game at Jacksonville.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Damon Huard (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game with the Bengals after sustaining a right shoulder contusion in last week’s loss to the Jaguars.

Wide receiver Vincent Jackson (shoulder) is probable for Sunday’s game against the Raiders.

Denver Broncos center Tom Nalen (torn right biceps) will undergo surgery this week and be out for the remainder of the season.

NFC Injury Report
Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El (hamstring) left Sunday’s 34-3 victory over the Lions early with an apparent injury to his hamstring and is listed as questionable for this week’s matchup at Green Bay.

Brandon Jacobs (knee) returned to action for the first time after missing the last three weeks and rushed for 100 yards and a score. Look for his production to continue to rise and for Derrick Ward to receive less carries.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (elbow) will have season-ending surgery next week to repair his badly sprained right elbow. Once thought to be a week-to week injury, Delhomme was unable to show any considerable improvement while throwing on the side. The Panthers offensive leader is expected to face seven to nine months of recovery time.

Quarterback David Carr (back) left Sunday’s win over the Saints early and his status for this week at Arizona is unknown. Undrafted rookie Matt Moore out of Oregon State is the only remaining signalcaller on the roster.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers running back Michael Pittman (broken fibula) will miss the next six-to-eight weeks after sustaining the injury in Sunday’s loss to the Colts. With Pittman and Carnell Williams out indefinitely, Earnest Graham will be thrusted into the starting role.

Matt Leinart (broken left collarbone) will be out for an indefinite period of time after being sacked in the first quarter of Sunday’s win by Will Witherspoon. Kurt Warner, who combined for two touchdowns in Leinart’s absence, becomes an attractive fantasy option.

Running back Steven Jackson (partially torn groin) has been ruled out for Sunday’s game at Baltimore by head coach Scott Linehan.

2005 Super Bowl MVP Deion Branch (foot) will be out of action for the next two weeks after sustaining a mid-foot sprain. With an already depleted wide receiver core, Bobby Engram is expected to receive the bulk of throwing opportunities.

Fifteen-year veteran Mack Strong (neck) played the last game of his football career Sunday after it was revealed that he has a pinched nerve in his neck.

THE STOCK EXCHANGE

By The Fantasy Trader, NFL Draft Bible

We have reached the quarter mark here on the trading floor. The first four weeks have produced some surprises in Sammy Morris and Derek Anderson. The market has also seen some fatal crashes in Cadillac Williams and Deuce McAllister. What is important about this time of year is that owners need to realize that it is only the quarter mark. No championships have been won and no season has been lost. Now is the time where you either buy low or sell high. The market has dictated the value on these players and set a price accordingly. I’m sure the price is drastically different then it was on draft day.

BUY LOWQB Philip Rivers - Owners look to be jumping off the Norv Turner ship and are selling Rivers for IOU’s. Once LT becomes LT again, Rivers will be able to flourish. Turner needs time to work with Rivers. The Chargers faced top notch defenses in the Bears, Patriots and Packers. The schedule will get easier and the offense will get rolling.

RB Larry Johnson- LJ was the consensus third pick overall on draft day, but is currently ranked 21st among running backs in fantasy points. Owners have to still like his 75 carries and 90 touches. His schedule will get better as he faces Jacksonville, Cincinnati and Oakland the next three weeks. Johnson is currently getting traded for guys like Ronnie Brown and Marion Barber. I would suggest dealing an over-producing back like Marion Barber and a middle of the road WR like Laveranues Coles or Ronald Curry.

RB Maurice Jones-Drew- Is anyone enjoying a bye week more than this guy? He is playing more like Maurice Clarett at this point. In some leagues he is actually on the waiver wire. Are you kidding me? I realize he has two fumbles and no touchdowns, but he will turn it around. Look for MJD to start turning it around this week against KC. Offer Ron Dayne or Ladell Betts for him and see what happens.

WR Torry Holt- If you drafted Holt expecting the Holt of years past then I told you so. He admitted that he would not be 100% early on. Owners are frustrated and will be looking to sell. The switch from an injured Marc Bulger to a healthy Guy Frerotte will only help Holt. Steven Jackson should return in a week or two and also provide relief.

WR Brandon Marshall- Does this rookie look good or what? Marshall has been solid and could easily be considered a sell high guy, but I think his numbers will only get better as Jay Cutler gains more experience. Javon Walker has gotten off to a slow start and has been bothered by injury. I’m not sure Marshall is ready to be a number 1 WR so it is very important that Walker stay healthy. Marshall will continue to feast on teams’ second corners.

SELL HIGHQB Brett Favre - I think I’m like the anti John Madden when it comes to this guy. Predicting the downfall of Favre has become a mainstay in this column and has failed to this point. Most owners of Favre have another elite quarterback. The golden Bret was drafted as a fantasy back up and now being shopped with Romo and Brady like value. Don’t take the bait and if you have him sell, sell, sell like orange juice in Trading Places.

RB LaMont Jordan- He has done everything his owners hoped for when they took him between rounds 8 and 10. Now it is time to part ways if you still can. Jordan let the cat out of the bag when he hurt his back last week. The return of Dominic Rhodes and the emergence of Justin Fargas spell doom for the good LJ. (Sorry Larry) The Raiders signed Rhodes as a free agent and are not about to let their money go to waste. Dangle Jordan from your line and see if anyone bites.

RB Ronnie Brown- Brown is currently the number 1 ranked RB in fantasy. I got stuck with him in one league in the back of the first round. He has out played the other guys available at that point like Thomas Jones, Travis Henry and Cedric Benson. Now I’m selling and looking to land an elite WR like Steve Smith and a decent back. The Dolphins passing game will likely be the demise of Brown. Teams will eventually take him away and make Miami go to someone else. He might’ve single handily won weeks for his owners. You really can’t ask for more, but this is a business. Sell him like the elite stock he isn’t.

WR Randy Moss- Here is the best case of fantasy mimicking real life. The Patriots stole him from the Raiders and owners stole him on draft day. He is by far, and I mean real far, the number 1 ranked receiver. You can get crazy Viking day value for him. He will continue to produce, but he can’t do this every week. You can trade him for any receiver and a decent running back.

WR Braylon Edwards- I actually hung out with Edwards the night before he was picked by the Browns. This guy is a smooth cat, but not a top 5 fantasy receiver. He is also a Cleveland Brown. Bernie Kosar is not walking through that door so Derek Anderson will have to keep it up all season. Edwards has 375 yards and 4 TD already. Owners should use him as a great second player to get a trade over the top. He is a nice throw in to get an elite back or WR.

WEEK FIVE FANTASY PREVIEW

Jacksonville @ Kansas City
My bold call to sit LJ last week may have been a bit too bold, as he had his best game of the season with 123 yards. Dwayne Bowe continues to impress, catching a touchdown in his third straight game, but has a tough matchup this week. Jacksonville is great against opposing WR and has not allowed a TD to a wideout yet this year. Bowe may struggle this week, but is still the Chiefs’ only viable receiver. He’s becoming an every week start. KC’s defense has played well, and is a solid play against a Jaguar team that has difficulty scoring. Stay away from all Jacksonville receivers, as none seems to be reliable yet.

Atlanta @ Tennessee
I don’t quite believe in Joey Harrington just yet, but keep watching him and receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins. They are getting almost all of the targets from Harrington, and Jenkins scored twice last week. Tennessee is a decent matchup this week, and you should consider these two WR for your lineup. RB LenDale White has looked better than Chris Brown since Brown’s 175 yard game in Week 1, and is definitely getting goal line carries. He is the better play right now, and has a solid matchup if you need him.

Arizona @ St. Louis
St. Louis’ offense is a disaster right now. The O-line is in shambles, Steven Jackson is out, Isaac Bruce hurt his hammy, and now Marc Bulger is out. RB Brian Leonard wasn’t too impressive in place of Jackson last week, and faces a solid Arizona run D. He’ll probably catch a few passes, and could see more action than in last week’s blowout, but temper expectations. This could be the week for Drew Bennett to finally wake up. With Bruce out, he will probably start, and Arizona has trouble against opposing WR.

Cleveland @ New England
In yet another bonanza matchup for the Patriots, look for a solid game from Sammy Morris again. Definitely monitor Laurence Maroney’s status this week, but if Maroney is still too hurt to play, Morris will be able to run wild again this week. Also notable from last week was a hint of a Donte Stallworth sighting. Stallworth will continue to suffer from Brady’s past tendency to spread the ball, and from Brady’s uncanny connection with Randy Moss (34 targets, 31 catches!), but Cleveland is as good a matchup as any for Stallworth to get open. He’s worth a gamble if you need him. Wes Welker also remains a good start. Braylon Edwards caught another deep touchdown last week, and should still be started even against this defense. Joe Jurevicius had only 2 catches last week, but did catch a touchdown. If New England focuses on Edwards, as it did in shutting down Chad Johnson last week, then Jurevicius could benefit. He’s a long shot, but startable if you’re desperate.

Detroit @ Washington
Detroit’s receivers continue to benefit from Mike Martz’s socialist tendencies. Kitna targets everyone there, so Furrey and McDonald don’t suffer from their position on the depth chart. Keep using them if you have been. The Detroit running back situation isn’t pretty, but I’d lean toward Kevin Jones over Tatum Bell. He’s run for a TD in the past 2 games, and his goal line carries are the tie-breaker for me. Washington has also been making news this week, signing WR Keenan McCardell. Don’t get excited over McCardell yet, but this could mean they are worried about Santana Moss’ health. If Moss is out, Antwaan Randle-El’s value gets a boost, especially against Detroit’s defense. Clinton Portis’ knee is acting up, so keep an eye on his status this week. This could finally be Ladell Betts’ week to step up, especially if Portis is limited or out.

Carolina @ New Orleans
We’ll see if New Orleans figured anything out during its bye. The big story with them will be whether Aaron Stecker or Pierre Thomas can be of any value in fantasy trying to replace Deuce McAllister’s production. Carolina has been pretty tough against the run, so don’t count on big days from those two. Carolina TE Jeff King’s production slowed last week with only one catch, probably due to QB David Carr’s general lameness, so he could continue to struggle this week. DeAngelo Williams seems to have taken a backseat to DeShaun Foster after only 2 carries in the loss to Tampa. Foster did fumble twice, so keep watching this situation, but for now, Foster has an excellent matchup this week.

New York Jets @ New York Giants
The Jets can’t seem to stop anyone these days, with Buffalo’s Trent Edwards being the most recent beneficiary last week. Amani Toomer has a nice matchup this week. Both RBs Brandon Jacobs (returning from his Week 1 knee injury) and Derrick Ward are starts against the Jets. The Jets have trouble protecting the quarterback, and the Giants defense is coming off of a 12 sack game against the Eagles, so give the Giants’ D a look this week. Jets’ RB Leon Washington was very involved against the Bills, and should be again this week, both on offense and special teams. I’d also give RB Thomas Jones another chance this week. TE Chris Baker also has an excellent matchup, and should be played.

Seattle @ Pittsburgh
Seattle’s Bobby Engram caught another TD last week, and he seems to be emerging as the number two. Pittsburgh is tough, though, so he isn’t great this week. Pittsburgh’s Nate Washington was a hot play last week, but managed only 2 catches. This doesn’t look like a great week for Washington, either, especially if Hines Ward comes back.

Miami @ Houston
Ronnie Brown is having a great year so far, but has been known for peaks and valleys in production. Houston could bring him back to Earth a little. Houston’s Andre Davis had a great game last week, and is a start this week. Kevin Walter was also targeted last week, but he had done little before, and could have been a one-week flash. Miami is terrible vs. the run, so either Ahman Green or Ron Dayne will be a great play this week as well.

Tampa Bay @ Indianapolis
Tampa took some hits in last week’s win, losing Carnell Williams and LT Luke Petitgout for the season. There have been rumors of Tampa bringing in a runner in a trade, but for now Earnest Graham and Michael Pittman will share the load. Graham is a bruiser, while Pittman is good in space and will be better at catching passes. Since Graham will get goal line carries, he is the better option here. Interestingly, Indy’s Bob Sanders may not play this week. He was the catalyst for that defense last season, and without him they were embarrassing against the run. This makes Graham’s and Pittman’s matchup all the better. Tampa WR Ike Hilliard is also worth a look here, coming off a huge game last week. For the Colts, Marvin Harrison’s injury would bring Anthony Gonzalez into the starting lineup, making him a play this week. The injury will also help Dallas Clark, likely giving him an even larger role in the offense.

Baltimore @ San Francisco
Baltimore looked awful last week in its loss to Cleveland. Demetrius Williams is likely to start this week at receiver. He has shown some talent, and has the reach to catch Steve McNair’s errant throws. He’s worth a play if you’re desperate. I’d stay away from all 49ers other than Frank Gore this week. Alex Smith is banged up, and wasn’t playing well to begin with. Plus, look for Baltimore’s defense to come out even angrier and scarier than usual after last week’s embarrassment.

San Diego @ Denver
This is a tough matchup for San Diego receivers against Champ Bailey and Dre’ Bly this week, so sit them all. The Chargers will look to pound LT anyway, as they should always be doing. Keep tabs on the Broncos’ RB spot this week. If Travis Henry can’t go, the logical choice is Selvin Young, but Shanahan is crazy and could surprise us with Cecil Sapp or Mike Brown.

Chicago @ Green Bay
Consider sitting Cedric Benson, who looks uninspired on the field, against this Green Bay defense. WR Muhsin Muhammad apparently still exists, and caught a touchdown from Brian Griese. Griese could target Muhammad more in the future, and his large frame is always a threat in the red zone. Desmond Clark is worth a look also. Green Bay still looks disinterested in running, so don’t even bother with that RB mess. Greg Jennings caught another touchdown last week, and he, Donald Driver and James Jones are all getting looks from Favre. Chicago is tough vs. the pass, but the Packers will pass no matter what, so these guys are solid plays. TE Donald Lee is also a great play against a Bear defense that is surprisingly bad at stopping opposing tight ends.

Dallas @ Buffalo
Dallas’ offense is looking pretty unstoppable, and Patrick Crayton was the beneficiary last week with 2 TDs. Start him again. Also start both RBs Marion Barber III and Julius Jones against this defense. Jason Witten also. Start all Cowboys. Buffalo’s Trent Edwards looked good against the Jets last week, completing 22 of 28 passes and making Lee Evans relevant again. Dallas will be a far greater challenge for this week, though, but keep an eye on him as he may beat out J.P. Losman in the long run.

MIDWEEK FANTASY DECISIONS

By Ralph Mancini, Fantasy Football Insiders Senior Writer

To those fantasy aficionados who are under the gun to reinforce your team by Wednesday or Thursday---it’s crunch time.

To say that the start of the 2007 NFL season has had more twists and turns than you can shake a stick at would be a gross understatement.

Injuries have hit most teams with a vengeance sending many owners scrambling for the waiver wire, but picking free agents isn’t all that easy when two or three different players are often rumored to inherit the same role.

Case in point: the tragedy that is Carnell “Cadillac” Williams and his season-ending torn patella tendon have many an owner rolling the dice on Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham as the dynamic duo pegged to fill in as feature backs.

But then comes word of negotiations to bring in recently-retired Corey Dillon, followed by whispers of a possible Bucs trade for Minnesota back Chester Taylor. What’s next—can Erric Rhett and James Wilder be far behind?

If that wasn’t enough drama for you, then you hear conflicting reports about Denver back Travis Henry and how he thought his season was over after his latest injury against Indianapolis this past Sunday. All of the sudden, backup Selvin Young becomes the pick to click.

X-rays on Henry’s knee, however, come up negative and the former Bill now believes that he should be ready to suit up for week five.

Handcuffing your stars with their backups may seem like the logical solution, but trying telling that to fantasy owners of Giant mega back Brandon Jacobs, who insured their prized runner by picking Rueben Droughns in the late rounds of the drafts---only to find out that the previously unheralded Derrick Ward would end up taking the baton and doing a surprisingly impressive job.

The problem with that is that many of those same Jacobs owners didn’t have the necessary waiver priority in order to add Ward to their rosters.

Fantasy football is an inexact science designed to leave you staring at your computer screen at 2:30 a.m. trying to project the contributions of Aaron Stecker versus those of DeShawn Wynn. It’s sheer madness.

One way to shed light on the matter is to carefully analyze injuries and make an educated guess as to whether a specific ailment is serious enough to limit a player for the rest of the season upon his return.

One of the more mind-blowing injuries was the one suffered by star receiver Andre Johnson, who after a blazing start succumbed to what is being termed as a sprained PCL in his knee.

A simple knee sprain this is not. In fact, subsequent reports had Johnson telling reporters how he’s “learning to walk again.” What?

Turns out, PCL sprains are terribly painful, which could make running and cutting unbearable. Johnson is probably looking at four more weeks on the shelf.

Back in 2005, then Minnesota Viking receiver Nate Burleson also sprained his PCL, and despite coming back only weeks later, never truly recovered the quickness he displayed earlier in the year. Knowing this should make most fantasy owners put a giant red flag by Johnson’s name.

In shallow leagues, it wouldn’t be far-fetched to outright drop Houston’s top wide out. The same argument may also apply to quarterback Jake Delhomme, who may or may not require season ending surgery.

Bone bruises to receivers Anquan Boldin and Hines Ward are also keeping people up late at night, as both are still in pain and far from certain to be suiting this coming Sunday.

That said, Houston’s Andre Davis becomes this week’s top free agent pickup. Those who remained unconvinced of his abilities after posting four receptions for 70 yards in week three are surely singing a different tune this week after the former Brown left Atlanta’s secondary in the dust with five catches and 117 yards, including a 35-yard touchdown. Davis is a legitimate deep threat that has even head coach Gary Kubiak singing his praises. With improving gunslinger Matt Schaub at the helm, the immediate future looks bright for Davis. Now let’s just hope he stays in one piece.

TUESDAY INJURY UPDATE

By David Kaye, Fantasy Football Insiders

AFC Injury Report
Ravens All-Pro tight end Todd Heap (hamstring) was injured in the third quarter of Sunday’s 27-13 loss and is listed as questionable for this week’s game.

Fantasy stud Joseph Addai (shoulder) is scheduled to receive an MRI on his injured shoulder this week and is listed as probable for Sunday’s game against the Buccaneers.

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison (bruised knee) sustained the injury in the first half of Sunday’s 38-20 victory over the Broncos and could possibly be out for this week’s matchup with Tampa Bay.

Oakland Raiders running back LaMont Jordan (back) re-injured himself in the second quarter of Sunday’s win at Miami and was seen on crutches after the game. Jordan has been a nice surprise for the Raiders this season as he has accumulated 424 yards rushing on 84 carries. With the emergence of Justin Fargas and the return of Dominic Rhodes in week six, there could be a running back controversy brewing by the bay.

Javon Walker (knee) missed last week’s game at Indianapolis and his status for Sunday’s game is uncertain.

Running back Travis Henry (ankle) is questionable forthis week’s game with San Diego.

NFC Injury Report Rookie phenom Calvin Johnson (back) is questionable for Sunday’s game at Washington after missing last week’s win over the Bears.

Minnesota Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson (groin) is hopeful that he’ll be able to start next Sunday at Chicago after missing the previous two weeks. Even when Jackson returns to the lineup he will not be a viable fantasy option at the quarterback position.

Running Back Carnell Williams (torn patellar tendon) will be out for the remainder of the season and be forced to undergo surgery to repair his badly injured right knee. Williams was carted off the field in the first quarter after being hit by Panthers safety Chris Harris. In the meantime, Michael Pittman and Earnest Graham will replace Williams who has been the Buccaneers leading rusher the past two seasons. Graham appears to be the better fantasy option as he has found the endzone three times in the past two weeks.

Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme (strained right elbow) appears to have staved off season-ending surgery by starting a demanding rehabilitating program. It’s unlikely that he’ll suit up for Sunday’s game at New Orleans and that means backup David Carr will receive his second straight start.

Wide Receiver Isaac Bruce (hamstring) is listed as questionable for Sunday’s game against Arizona.

All-Pro wideout Anquan Boldin (hip) missed last week’s game against the Steelers and is currently experiencing soreness in his hip. He’s questionable for this week’s game.

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Alex Smith (separated shoulder) will be out of action for this week’s game against Baltimore, but will luckily not require surgery. With the team off the following week it’s likely that he could make the start October 21st at New York. Trent Dilfer, who struggled in relief of Smith, will make the start against the team he guided to the Super Bowl in 2000.

WEEK FOUR FANTASY PREVIEW

Dan Lewis, Fantasy Football Insiders

Green Bay @ Minnesota

Green Bay comes into this game hot, having just overcome its biggest test of the year against San Diego last Sunday. Brett Favre looks great so far, which should continue against this Vikings defense. Minny has been great at stopping the run, but not the pass. Start Favre and WR Donald Driver for sure. WR Greg Jennings came back last week and got as many looks as WR James Jones, who had served as the Pack’s #2 for the first two games. Jennings also caught and ran for the game-winning touchdown. Both are decent starts if you need them. I would sit all Packer RBs this week. Between the muddled rotation of runners and the Vikings’ stifling run defense, this is not a good week for Brandon Jackson, DeShawn Wynn, or anyone else running for Green Bay. TEs Donald Lee and Bubba Franks remained solid last week, with Lee catching four passes and Franks catching a TD, so use them if you need them again. For Minnesota, RB Adrian Peterson remains the team’s only viable fantasy option. RB Chester Taylor may be back this week, but Peterson remains the play here regardless. I’d sit Taylor until he shows something.

Oakland @ Miami

Miami RB Ronnie Brown exploded for 3 TDs and over 200 yards of total offense vs. the Jets last week. Oakland is allowing over 100 yards to opposing running backs this season, so Ronnie has another nice matchup here. Get him in. WR Chris Chambers is also a nice play; he is getting by far the most targets from QB Trent Green, and is bound to catch a touchdown soon. Oakland RB LaMont Jordan is having a great season, and should play well against the Dolphins, who allow close to 140 yards per game to running backs. Coach Lane Kiffin has not revealed whether Josh McCown or Daunte Culpepper will start this week, but I’d stay away from this situation for now. Start WR Ronald Curry, who is getting the majority of the looks for Oakland. WR Jerry Porter is also getting targeted, but hasn’t been able to make many plays yet. If you’re desperate for a WR this week, give Porter a look.

New York Jets @ Buffalo

Buffalo enters this game without starting QB J.P. Losman. While Losman has not been very good this season, he is still their starting QB, and losing him will hurt, especially with rookie Trent Edwards starting. Stick with WR Lee Evans this week despite his slow start. WR Peerless Price is worth a look if you really, really need a WR in a pinch. Marshawn Lynch is also a good start against a porous Jets run D. For New York, Thomas Jones had his best game of the year last week, and should have another good one vs. the Bills. QB Chad Pennington has a nice matchup if you need a bye week fill-in. WRs Laveranues Coles and Jericho Cotchery are also nice plays. TE Chris Baker isn’t too involved in the offense, but continues to get lots of looks in the endzone, and caught another touchdown last week. He’s a nice play. The Jets’ defense, surprisingly, has a really nice matchup against a Buffalo offense led by a rookie QB, and is startable if you need it.

Houston @ Atlanta

Houston TE Owen Daniels had 7 catches last week, and will play well again, especially with top WR Andre Johnson out again this week. Don’t expect much from the rest of the Houston WR corps, as Atlanta has been good at shutting down opposing wide-outs; Carolina’s Steve Smith was held to a single catch last week. RB Ahman Green had an MRI this week on his injured knee, and it remains unclear for now whether or not he will play. However, whoever does start for Houston at RB has a great matchup against Atlanta. If Green is out, Ron Dayne is the logical choice to start, but monitor the situation as Sunday approaches. Whether it’s Green, Dayne, or Samkon Gado, give them a look depending on who starts. Houston’s defense is also a good start this week against Atlanta. For the Falcons, start TE Alge Crumpler. WR Roddy White seems to be QB Joey Harrington’s favorite target, and had a good game last week with 7 catches and a TD. If you need him, start him. Atlanta RBs are not good starts. Neither is QB Joey Harrington.

Chicago @ Detroit

The Bears have been in the news this week because of the benching of disappointing QB Rex Grossman. QB Brian Griese was given a gorgeous matchup for his first week as the starter, and you should give him a look if you need a fill-in. Detroit is allowing almost 300 yards passing per game, and let Donovan McNabb and Kevin Curtis torch them repeatedly last week. WR Bernard Berrian is a great play this week, and WR Muhsin Muhammad, despite having done very little thus far, is worth a look this week against Detroit. RB Cedric Benson hasn’t been impressive yet, but the Lions are about as good a matchup as he’s going to get. You have to start him. Continue to monitor RB Adrian Peterson, though, as coach Lovie Smith seems to be tiring of Benson and could give more of the load to Peterson. TE Desmond Clark has a decent chance to catch a TD, too. Chicago’s defense hasn’t been as dominant as expected this season, and the Lions’ offense is explosive. QB Jon Kitna and WR Roy Williams are strong starts. WRs Mike Furrey and Shaun McDonald split the remaining WR targets last week after WR Calvin Johnson went down with a back injury. Both are decent plays this week, especially if Calvin can’t go. I hesitate to recommend RB Tatum Bell this week, but the Bears have not stopped the run well, allowing close to 100 yards per game, and close to 6 catches per game to running backs. They’re also missing Tommie Harris from their D-line. You can start him if you need him.

St. Louis @ Dallas

One of the top pickups this week has been St. Louis rookie RB Brian Leonard, who is filling in for the injured Steven Jackson. Leonard is a play because he is a starting running back who is known for having good hands out of the backfield, but the Cowboys are tough against the run this season, and Steven Jackson hadn’t seen too much success thus far. QB Marc Bulger and WR Torry Holt are also starts, just like every week, but the Rams will likely have more problems going forward having lost yet another starting offensive lineman last week (G Mark Setterstrom). WR Isaac Bruce injured his head last week, but it appears he will be ready to play. Start him if you need him. TE Randy McMichael has been very disappointing, and I’m done starting him for now. Dallas’ offense has been stellar. QB Tony Romo, RB Marion Barber III, WR Terrell Owens are starts every week, and should see plenty of success against St. Louis’ defense. Jason Witten is becoming an every week play, but the Rams have played decently against the tight end. Play him anyway. RB Julius Jones is losing his role for the Cowboys, but he may be able to break a long one against this defense. He’s a good bye week fill-in this week.

Baltimore @ Cleveland

Baltimore’s QB picture is messy, but both Kyle Boller and Steve McNair look for WR Derrick Mason and TE Todd Heap plenty, so start them. RB Willis McGahee is a start against the Browns’ unimpressive defense. Mark Clayton had a nice debut last week, and Cleveland won’t do much to stop him. Even WR Demetrius Williams could make some noise here. Other than WR Braylon Edwards (if you need him) and TE Kellen Winslow, sit all of your Browns this week against Baltimore.

Tampa Bay @ Carolina

Tampa Bay was impressive again last week against the Rams, but questions abound in the backfield. RB Carnell Williams was benched after a fumble, and RB Earnest Graham came in and ran for 75 yards and 2 TDs on just 8 carries. RB Michael Pittman also contributed. The question this week is who will be the main back for coach Jon Gruden. Gruden reaffirmed that Williams is the feature back, but Gruden can be unpredictable. Earnest Graham is a great pickup this week, and he’s playable if you need a fill-in. The Bucs always want to commit to the run, especially in the red zone, so Graham has a chance to do some damage even if he isn’t featured this week. Cadillac is a play regardless, but don’t be surprised if Gruden does something crazy. QB Jeff Garcia was good again last week, and is a good bye week fill-in. WR Joey Galloway is also a play. TE Alex Smith hasn’t done too much yet this year, but Carolina hasn’t been great vs. the tight end, and he could get some looks. Play him if you’re desperate. Carolina has some questions at QB entering this week, so keep an eye on whether Jake Delhomme or David Carr starts. I wouldn’t start either one, though, against this improved Bucs defense. TE Jeff King remains one of their favorite targets, so play him if you need him this week. WR Steve Smith had a tough time against Atlanta last week, but he’s a stud, so start him. Tampa allowed the Rams’ Steven Jackson to slowly pound his way to over 100 yards, but Carolina won’t commit to one of its runners enough for either one to have a huge game this week. They are decent plays.

Seattle @ San Francisco

Seattle RB Shaun Alexander has a broken wrist, but will play; it doesn’t change his status, so start him. WRs Deion Branch, Nate Burleson, and Bobby Engram continue to get most of the targets from QB Matt Hasselbeck, and all are decent plays again this week. San Francisco’s offense hasn’t quite gotten it together this year yet. Seattle’s defense against the pass is average, so you can start WRs Darrell Jackson if you’ve been using him. RB Frank Gore hasn’t been great yet, but he’s talented and will turn it on eventually. Start him.

Kansas City @ San Diego

RB LaDainian Tomlinson wasn’t as successful against Green Bay as he and his owners had hoped for, but he scored. The Chiefs aren’t good against the run, so he should be able to get going here. QB Phillip Rivers threw for 300 yards in last week’s shootout, finding WRs Vincent Jackson and Buster Davis for a TD each. This shows Rivers can still do it, but he has been inconsistent since last season. You can’t count on this from week to week, but San Diego’s passing game has a nice matchup this week. The Chiefs continue to struggle on offense, with another tough matchup for RB Larry Johnson. I hate to advocate benching a first rounder for two weeks in a row, but I will. Sit him if you have a viable alternative. Start TE Tony Gonzalez, though.

Pittsburgh @ Arizona

Pittsburgh’s offense has been solid all year, and the Cardinals’ defense isn’t too imposing. Start QB Ben Roethlisberger, if you need him. RB Willie Parker and WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes are also good plays this week. TE Heath Miller continues to see an expanded role, so start him as well. The Cardinals have a strange QB situation at the moment. Kurt Warner played at two separate times for Arizona last week, and was effective. I’d stay away from both Warner and QB Matt Leinart simply to avoid this mess, but I’d start WRs Anquan Boldin and Larry Fitzgerald because both are explosive and threats to score. RB Edgerrin James has a terrible matchup, and shouldn’t be played unless there is no other option.

Denver @ Indianapolis

The Colts have been tough against the run so far, but the Broncos pound RB Travis Henry, so start him. Start both WRs Javon Walker and Brandon Marshall, who continues to impress and outperformed Walker last week. QB Jay Cutler isn’t a great play, but a decent bye week fill-in. Start all your usual Colts. TE Dallas Clark caught another TD last week, and is getting close to an every week play.

Philadelphia @ New York Giants

Wow, Donovan. Way to shut all of your critics up. McNabb exploded last week and made WR Kevin Curtis look like a superstar. Curtis got all but 4 of the targets to WRs last week, and he seems to have become McNabb’s favorite receiver. Start him this week. WR Reggie Brown remains a huge disappointment, but the Giants’ defense has been bad this year, so it’s a good matchup. If you need him, give him one more try this week. RB Brian Westbrook has an injured knee and injured ribs, but he always plays despite his status. If it’s announced that he cannot go, RBs Correll Buckhalter and Tony Hunt will likely split carries. I’d prefer Buckhalter in that situation, but he is also nicked up. Watch these injuries closely as the week progresses and plan accordingly. The Giants’ offense woke up in the second half last week. Start QB Eli Manning if you need him. RB Derrick Ward continues to impress, but he may lose goal line carries to RB Reuben Droughns, as he did last week. He’s been good though, so start him. WR Plaxico Burress is a start, as is TE Jeremy Shockey.

New England @ Cincinnati

This matchup seems almost unfair. New England’s unstoppable offense meets the inept Bengals’ defense. WRs Randy Moss and Wes Welker are getting most of QB Tom Brady’s attention, so start them, but sit WR Donte Stallworth, as he has done almost nothing all year. RB Laurence Maroney is a start, as is RB Sammy Morris (if you need him), who has been given more of a workload lately. The Bengals are bound to put up numbers, as they do every week, so start QB Carson Palmer, WRs Chad Johnson and T.J. Houshmandzadeh. Monitor RB Rudi Johnson’s injury situation this week. If he goes, he’s a start. Otherwise, give RB Kenny Watson a look this week, but he may not get too many looks this week as Cincy tries to keep up with the Pats.

MONDAY INJURY REPORT

QUARTERBACKS
-- Jake Delhomme, Carolina Panthers - elbow - Status unknown
-- J.P. Losman, Buffalo Bills - sprained knee - Status unknown
-- Jay Cutler, Denver Broncos - mild ankle sprain - Status unknown
-- Josh McCown, Oakland Raiders - foot - Status unknown
-- Steve McNair, Baltimore Ravens - aggravated groin - Status unknown

RUNNING BACKS
-- Brian Westbrook, Philadelphia Eagles - ribs - X-rays negative; Status unknown
-- Rudi Johnson, Cincinnati Bengals - hamstring - Status unknown
-- Clinton Portis, Washington Redskins - undisclosed - Returned to game
-- Ahman Green, Houston Texans - sprained knee - MRI pending; Status unknown
-- Fred Taylor, Jacksonville Jaguars - bruised leg - Status unknown
-- DeShawn Wynn, Green Bay Packers - ankle - Status unknown

FULLBACKS
-- Paul Smith, Denver Broncos - neck - Status unknown

WIDE RECEIVERS
-- Santana Moss, Washington Redskins - strained groin - Status unknown
-- Hines Ward, Pittsburgh Steelers - bone bruise in leg - Expected to play
-- Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions - back - Status unknown
-- Jacoby Jones, Houston Texans - separated shoulder - Status unknown

TIGHT ENDS
-- Antonio Gates, San Diego Chargers - hand - Remained in game
-- Vernon Davis, San Francisco 49ers - sprained knee - MRI pending; Status unknown

FAVORABLE FANTASY MATCHUPS

By Dan Lewis, Fantasy football Insiders

Miami @ New York Jets

The Jets have faced two tough defenses (Ravens and Patriots) in their first two games, but look for some improvement this week against the Dolphins. Miami allowed 191 yards rushing to Washington Week 1 and 166 to Baltimore Week 2. Looks like a nice opportunity for Thomas Jones turn it on. Start WRs Coles and Cotchery for the Jets as well, but sit QB Chad Pennington, if he even plays, to make sure he comes back well from his ankle injury. For Miami, WR Chris Chambers is second in targets on the season with 27, and is bound to get opportunities against the Jets and their lackluster pass rush (0 sacks in 2007). Marty Booker may even make some noise in this game. Start Ronnie Brown this week also, as he had 2 of his top 4 rushing performances of last year against the Jets.

San Francisco @ Pittsburgh

The Steelers have been dominant thus far, but face a solid 2-0 49ers team. Start RB Willie Parker. You can start WRs Hines Ward and Santonio Holmes, but don’t expect too much as San Francisco’s defense is far better than either Buffalo’s or Cleveland’s. This goes for Ben Roethlisberger as well. TE Heath Miller doesn’t always put up big numbers, but he gets looks in the endzone and has a chance to score every week, so use him if you need him. For the 49ers, Frank Gore is an every week start. Darrell Jackson has been disappointing thus far, and he faces a solid Pittsburgh defense. Temper expectations. Arnaz Battle was also disappointing after a strong Week 1, and until Alex Smith improves, these two receivers will have problems. Vernon Davis was irrelevant again, and until he shows some of his explosive potential, he’s staying on my bench.

St. Louis @ Tampa Bay

Tampa Bay faces a defense not much better than the Saints’ squad that they scored on last week. Jeff Garcia is making a case for himself as a strong backup option, and with a few more solid performances could be considered as a matchup play going forward. Gruden seems committed to pounding Cadillac Williams, so he’ll get touchdown opportunities if they present themselves. Start him. Joey Galloway was his explosive self again, and he should have chances against the Rams again. We are all waiting for St. Louis’ Steven Jackson to turn it on. The more he plays, and the more the Rams’ retooled O-line can play together, the better Jackson will be. It’s not panic time yet, so get him in there. Bulger is an every week start, as is Torry Holt. Isaac Bruce made a strong case for himself last week with 8 catches for 145 yards, but Tampa’s defense is superior to New Orleans. Randy McMichael hasn’t clicked yet, and Tampa has been strong against tight ends so far this year. Not a strong play.

San Diego @ Green Bay

Two great defenses face off in this one, making it a tough game for players on both sides. Start LaDainian and Gates obviously. The Packers have a muddled running back picture, with rumors that DeShawn Wynn will start this week over rookie Brandon Jackson. Jackson had more carries last week, but Wynn was far more effective, averaging 5 yards per carry. However, neither is a good play against San Diego. Donald Driver is a start every week, and will likely get some looks as soon as the Chargers shut down the Packer running game. Both Green Bay TE Donald Lee and Bubba Franks had good games last week, but the Giants have been killed by tight ends the past two weeks now. Make those tight ends do it again before expecting too much.

Detroit @ Philadelphia

The feisty, pass-happy Lions face the disappointing Eagles, whose franchise quarterback looks distressed. Donovan McNabb had problems other than his own injuries on Monday night, but when he was given time to throw, and open receivers to throw to, he often missed them. This is a game for him to get back on track against a very weak Detroit defense, so start him if you need him. RB Brian Westbrook is dinged up again with that nagging knee, but he played well through several questionables last year, and he remains the Eagles only viable offensive option, especially in Coach Andy Reid’s stubborn pass-heavy offense. If he is ruled out for Sunday, Correll Buckhalter would likely start, but rookie Tony Hunt is also in the picture, and could emerge given the opportunity. Donovan has yet to develop chemistry with any of his receivers, so keep an eye on who he’s targeting this week; in the meantime, Reggie Brown and Kevin Curtis have gotten the most looks, but Jason Avant and Hank Baskett will probably be in the mix as well. None is a particularly strong play. The Lions’ QB Jon Kitna is a start, as are Roy Williams, Calvin Johnson, and a surprising Shaun McDonald, who has reunited with offensive coordinator Mike Martz from their days in St. Louis, and gotten more looks than last year’s surprise, Mike Furrey. RB Tatum Bell is an uninspiring play, as Martz has shown an eagerness to abandon the run in the past.

Arizona @ Baltimore

Despite Baltimore’s defense, WRs Larry Fitzgerald and Anquan Boldin are starts. Edgerrin James has gotten off to a nice start, but he faces a defense that has allowed only 60 yards rushing per game on the season, so sit him. Sit QB Matt Leinart as well. Steve McNair looks like he’ll play this week, but don’t play him. Derrick Mason has been targeted 12 times in both games this year; look for that to continue this week. Mark Clayton is working his way back from his toe injury. He is expected to reclaim his starting role for the Ravens, and he is a nice fantasy option if you need him. TE Todd Heap always starts.

Buffalo @ New England

This game should be a massacre. New England has been dominant, and Buffalo has been anemic. Tom Brady, Laurence Maroney, and Randy Moss are starts and should all have very nice games. Brady is notorious in the fantasy world for spreading the ball to his receivers, but he’s been consistently targeting Moss and Wes Welker more often this year. He should be able to pass to whomever he wants in this one, and those two remain great plays this week. Temper expectations for Donte Stallworth, as he hasn’t done much yet. Benjamin Watson is also a good play. Buffalo’s Lee Evans remains a potential deep threat, so start him. Roscoe Parrish has the second most targets for the Bills behind Evans, and he could make some noise in garbage time once the Pats take a sizeable lead.

Indianapolis @ Houston

The surprising Texans face their division rivals, but without top WR Andre Johnson. This fact, coupled with Indy’s strong defense, lowers QB Matt Schaub’s potential this week. RB Ahman Green could catch some balls out of the backfield, and he is a decent play. No Texan WR not named Andre Johnson has more than 2 catches on the season, so monitor Jacoby Jones and Kevin Walter to see who gets the looks, but don’t start either one this week.. Owen Daniels remains a decent TE option. Start all of your Colts (Manning, Addai, Harrison, Wayne, and even Dallas Clark, if he plays this week (neck)).

Minnesota @ Kansas City

Minnesota’s run-heavy offense faces the uninspiring Chiefs. QB Tarvaris Jackson may not play, but it doesn’t matter. Don’t start any Viking receivers or QBs. It looks at this point as though Chester Taylor may be back this week, so monitor the situation as Sunday approaches to see if you get a sense of how many carries he and Adrian Peterson will get. If Taylor is indeed back, both runners are strong plays. For the Chiefs, start Tony Gonzalez. RB Larry Johnson faces the top defense vs. the run in the NFL, and coupled with his slow start to the year (49 yards per game), I would look into alternate options this week.

Jacksonville @ Denver

Jacksonville has been unimpressive for fantasy thus far, including a disappointing start for RB Maurice Jones-Drew. Don’t look for the offense to get on track this week. If you have Jones-Drew or Fred Taylor, you may not have great alternatives, but temper expectations for them. For Denver, I’d start QB Jay Cutler, RB Travis Henry, and WR Javon Walker with high hopes. WR Brandon Marshall has also looked good, and he is startable.

Cleveland @ Oakland

Cleveland comes off of its astonishing 51 point game over the Bengals, but it ends here. I think Cincy’s defense may just be that bad… Oakland has a top defense vs. the pass, so sit Derek Anderson. Braylon Edwards and Joe Jurevicius were nice plays last week, but not this week. Start Edwards if you need him. Kellen Winslow is a start this week. Look for Oakland WR Ronald Curry to bounce back from last week’s disappointing performance. LaMont Jordan has been nothing but impressive this year, and he should continue to play well this week.

Cincinnati @ Seattle

Look for Seattle WR Bobby Engram to emerge this week. Cincinnati can’t stop anybody, and Engram has been effective in the past for Mike Holmgren. Engram and Deion Branch will have nice games this week. Nate Burleson is actually also a good play for this week because of the Bengals’ defensive ineptitude. For those of you in scoring systems where offensive players earn points for kick returns, Burleson deserves serious consideration, as Cincy will score and give him ample opportunity to return kicks. Start the typical Bengals this week (Carson, Chad, TJ, and Rudi).

New York Giants @ Washington

Washington QB Jason Campbell comes off of an encouraging outing against the Eagles. He’s making a case for himself as a bye-week replacement and decent backup. Start both Santana Moss, as you do most weeks, and Antwaan Randle-El against the Giants’ inept defense. Clinton Portis and Ladell Betts should play well. Betts has gotten fewer carries than some have speculated he might get this season, but against the Giants there should be enough gaping holes for 2 runners to share. Also, Happy Birthday, Chris Cooley owners. Expect an explosive day. The Giants have been terrible covering the TE thus far. For the Giants, start WR Plaxico Burress for sure, and the scrappy Derrick Ward and the improving Eli Manning, if you need them. Shockey is a decent play as well.

Carolina @ Atlanta

Atlanta may be the worst team in the NFL. They haven’t played a particularly strong offense yet, but Carolina will look great against them. Start Steve Smith for sure. WRs Keary Colbert and Drew Carter have been getting the rest of the targets from QB Jake Delhomme, but these aren’t particularly exciting options. The Carolina RB situation is muddled, but both DeShaun Foster and DeAngelo Williams could have nice games this week. Start them if needed. Tight End Jeff King has gotten some looks from Delhomme as well, and if you are trapped in some sort of dire TE shortage, he’s worth a look this week vs. the Falcs. Alge Crumpler’s matchup is decent.

Dallas @ Chicago

Dallas will have its troubles vs. the Bears. RBs Marion Barber III and Julius Jones don’t have a great matchup, but Barber is a threat to score a touchdown every week, so start him. Terrell Owens and Tony Romo are also starts, but if you have another option at QB, consider it over Romo. No WR has established himself in place of injured Terry Glenn. Neither Patrick Crayton nor Sam Hurd has impressed, so leave them alone this week. Jason Witten seems to have taken advantage of his Week 1 matchup against the Giants, but had problems against the Dolphins last week, catching only 2 passes. The Bears won’t make things any easier on him. For Chicago, don’t expect much from Cedric Benson or Adrian Peterson. Start WR Bernard Berrian, and TE Desmond Clark could have a nice game here.

Tennessee @ New Orleans

New Orleans is a mess. They aren’t giving Deuce McAllister the ball, Reggie Bush plays running back like a punt returner, and no receiver other than Marques Colston seems interested in excelling. Look for them to get back on track eventually, but the solid Tennessee defense won’t make it easy for them. I’d continue to start Deuce and Bush. Drew Brees and Colston are also starts. I was high on Devery Henderson coming into the season, but he dropped three passes last week, including a touchdown, and was benched for the second half. I’m not starting any Saints receivers other than Colston until this offense remembers how to play. For Tennessee, Vince Young is a solid play. My impression this season has been that Jeff Fisher wants to give the ball to LenDale White more than Chris Brown, so White is the stronger play. WR Brandon Jones is also a decent play, although the Titans’ passing game can be unpredictable.