FRIDAY GUT CHECK

A list of players whom have tough match ups, or maybe are not producing but feel are good starts despite their projections or status. It's that feeling in your gut that tells you it's their time.

1. RONNIE BROWN & RICKY WILLIAMS MIA.......Neither one has had a good season so far and neither one has been start worthy. This week they face the Bengals 15th ranked run defense on the road. Not much to feel good about, but Williams had a pretty good game last week against the top run defense. Both guys seem to slowly be getting things going, and with the loss of Adam Jones this week I can see Henne and the pass game opening things up for the back field. Brown has had some amazing games on the road in his past and both guys are over due.

2. CADILLAC WILLIAMS TB.....Legarette Blount for all intensive purposes has become the clear cut best running back in Tampa, yet Morris refuses to name a lead guy. Part of it is that Williams is the better 3rd down/blitz pick up guy. The emergence of Blount I think actually helps Williams value. Especially against the Arizona 26th ranked rush defense. Blount will open up lanes for Williams and since Williams will be considered just a pass threat, he could surprise with a few big runs. As he showed last week, Williams has value even if he is averaging only 3 YPC. I think he scores again this week but on the ground.

3. BEANIE WELLS ARZ......Another guy who has struggled with injury and has been slow to produce. Beanie has however received a huge majority of the carries over Hightower since he has come back and has been getting a bit better every week. He hasn't been start worthy all year, but the Bucs are a bad rush defense team and the Cards will need to run the ball since the Bucs are 2nd in pass defense. I expect to see Wells post over 60 yards and a score despite his poor start.

4. JHAVID BEST DET......He has been hurt and very ineffective since his huge two weeks to open the season. Best this week faces the 23rd ranked rush defense, and will have Stafford back whom will have the Redskins respecting the pass. Best had a bye week to help rest his ailing toe and will no doubt be in the best health he has been in since the toe injury. I don't expect him to be 100% but I do expect a big involvement from him Sunday.

5. TROY SMITH SF......This is the riskiest of the list since nobody knows where he stands after not seeing much action since the Baltimore release. However, we do know he has the tools and can manage a game. The guy is a former Heisman trophy winner and while that doesn't mean anything in the NFL, it does say the guy has a certain skill set. He can't be worse than Alex Smith, and he adds the threat of running with the ball which helps catch defenses off guard and move the chains. This week he faces Denver's banged up defense which ranks 16th against the pass and just got torched by Jason Campbell and the run game. SF has Gore, as well as more receiving weapons than the Raiders. Do not be surprised if he leads them to a win in London.