WEEK 8 PREVIEW

WASHINGTON REDSKINS@DETROIT LIONS: The Redkins continued their combination of luck and skill in Chicago, forcing Cutler into 4 picks by Deangelo Hall. The performance was outstanding, but it's not a statement game for this secondary which still ranks at the bottom of the league. That belongs to the Washington front seven whom continue to be impressive and are pressuring QB's into mistakes. Mcnabb now travels to Detroit where he faces the 12th ranked pass defense. Granted that number is skewed due to the bye, but Detroit is a more balanced team at home. Where the Lions do struggle is against the run. They rank 25th and will have problems trying to stop Ryan Torain. Expect the Redskins to have success on both fronts and for Anthony Armstrong to post solid numbers as the attention focuses on Moss and Cooley along with the run game. This could turn into a high scoring affair where whomever has the ball last wins. The Skins have proven if they do then they will come away with the win.
LIONS: The Lions come off a weeks worth of rest and look to have Stafford back in the fold. This team has been competitive throughout injuries and should have everyone healthy for the first time since opening day. Washington is at the bottom when it comes to pass defense so Stafford should have no problem readjusting. Washington also ranks 23rd against the run which is bad news considering the lightning fast Best. Expect the Lions to try and get Best involved early to allow Stafford to settle in as well as control the ball.

Though all signs point to another Washington win, I am a big believer in the bye week giving teams an extra advantage and see Detroit being amped up and ready. This team has lost marginally in all but one game against some solid opponents whom have more fire power than the Skins.....DET 31-WASH 21.

FANTASY STARTS: WASH: Mcnabb (250yds. 2 TD) Torain ( 14 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Armstrong (4 for 75 yds. 1 TD) Cooley ( 5 for 60 yds. 1 TD). DET: Best (13 for 70 yds. 1 TD/ 5 for 40 yds) C. Johnson (6 for 110 yds. 2 TD) Burleson (3 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Stafford (300 yds. 3 TD)
SLEEPER: Pettigrew DET...while I am all in on Megatron this week, Stafford may have a little rust to bang off in the first half and expect some safe underneath throws to Pettigrew. He could easily steal one of the scores I have slated for CJ.

JACKSONVILLE JAGS@DALLAS COWBOYS: JAGS: Gerrard has been cleared to play and should get the start despite Bouman's performance last week. I liked what I saw from a guy who looked every bit as Gerrard despite not throwing an NFL pass for five years. Regardless, nobody knows how Dallas will react on a short week with a new QB. Kitna will no doubt make his mistakes and this secondary proved it can be torched. After the 200yd day by the Giants run game, MJD has to be salivating after a good last few weeks. He seems to be hitting his stride just in time to face a Cowboys rush defense that is 14th. Gerrard is an enigma when it comes to his play and nobody can be sure how he comes out looking. Simms-Walker has seen an increase in targets the last two weeks and will need to be a factor if the Jags have a shot here. Look for a ton of MJD and Mercedes Lewis first half, with some Simms-Walker after Gerrard gets his feet wet.
COWBOYS: Kitna is no spring chicken, but that also means he is a savvy veteran who can manage a game. He is facing the 29th ranked pass defense which has been especially bad the last two weeks. Miles Austin's deep ball value is the only thing I see taking a hit here and for the duration of Romo's absence. A guy like Dez Bryant will be a target often looked to. Don't forget Roy and Kitna were team mates back in Detroit and had a good relationship. Felix Jones should see a big increase in production as they won't want to put it all on Kitna's shoulders.

Expect Dallas to rally around Kitna this week. Jones has probably given this team a motivated tongue lashing after being embarrassed nationally. Wade Phillips knows he is a goner at end of the year and needs to prove he is worthy of another job. DAL 27-JAGS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: JAGS: MJD (16 for 100yds 1 TD/ 5 for 40 yds). M. Lewis (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Simms-Walker (80 yds.)
COWBOYS: F. Jones (14 for 80 yds. 1 TD/ 4 for 40 yds) Williams ( 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Bryant (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Austin (8 for 90 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Marion Barber DAL...even with Felix Jones emergence as the lead back, games like this offer great value for strong secondary backs. Expect a score.

MIAMI DOLPHINS@CINCINNATI BENGALS: MIA: The Dolphins are coming off a heart breaking loss to the Steelers and have a chip on their shoulder coming in. They face a Bengals team that is one dimensional ranking 11th in passing but 24th rushing. This fits well for Miami's solid pass defense ranked 10th and even better for their 9th ranked run defense. Offensively, Miami has been plagued by their 22nd rush attack, a far cry from what expectations were. They have been forced into throwing more, but they are doing it effectively. They face a Bengals team down Adam Jones so look for them to attack through the air here.
BENGALS: The Bengals have been one of the bigger disappointments this year. The bulk of the blame needs to sit on Cedric Benson and Palmer's shoulders. Palmer has no excuse given his weapons yet he continues to struggle with accuracy. He is very fantasy relevant because of his work load, but needs to find a rhythm. While he did have success last week, he will continue to be vulnerable with the lack of a run game. I have always been low on Cedric Benson because of his consistency issues year to year. While he is by no means having a bad year, he is not the explosive guy we saw last season. Cinci is currently 24th rushing and faces a Miami rush D ranked 9th whom held Mendenhall in check last week. Don't expect much from Benson this week. Do expect TO and Ocho to have decent days as Carson will be forced to throw 40 plus times again.

Miami proved they can handle road trips when they beat Green Bay, but the Bengals season is on the line if they lose this one. Given the Miami rush issues, I don't see Henne being able to match Palmer's pass game.
CINCI 28- MIA 24.

FANTASY STARTS: MIA: Marshall (7 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Bess (5 for 60yds.) Fasano (3 for 40 yds. 1 TD) Brown (13 for 60 yds. 1 TD). BENGALS: Palmer (280 yds. 2 TD) Ochocinco (8 for 85 yds. 1 TD) TO (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Benson (13 for 60 yds) Greisham (5 for 45 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Bengals defense....while I do expect the loss of Pac Man to hurt overall, I can see them off setting the damage with Henne turnovers and a score.

BUFFALO BILLS@KC CHIEFS: BILLS: the Bills came close to a huge upset, catching the Ravens sleeping. The emergence of Steve Johnson along side Lee Evans was just what this team needed. The future looks bright for Fitzgerald whom put up 28 fantasy points last week. The Bills are still a run first team but unless they get more production from Spiller and Jackson things may shift more to passing as we saw last week. Expect just that as KC's run defense is ranked a legitimate 3rd. Where KC can be beat is their 19th pass defense. Given the success they had last week, the Bills will try to recapture that lightning they sparked last week.
CHIEFS: I will say it again, TJ and JC may be the only RB tandem worth starting every week! If you have them. The duo must be sleepless this week knowing they face the 31st ranked rush defense. The Chiefs may not even need to throw a pass in this one. The pass game will no doubt open up because of the run so expect another decent day from Cassel but huge performances by the backs. Of course, watch it become a low scoring affair because of the easy expectations.

While the Bills should be confident after a great performance, they could also be shaking off the bad taste left in their mouths after their best performance coming up short. Arrowhead would be the last place I expect them to win their first game. KC 28-BUFF 17

FANTASY STARTS: BUFF: Fitzpatrick (280 yds. 2 TD) Johnson (6 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Evans ( 5 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
KC: Charles (13 for 90 yds. 1 TD/ 3 for 40 yds.) Jones (10 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Bowe ( 4 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Mokeaki (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: CJ Spiller BUFF....while the Chiefs will be ready for Jackson, speed backs like Spiller have had some success against the Chiefs.

CAROLINA PANTHERS@ST. LOUIS RAMS: PANTHERS: Carolina came off the bye beating a underachieving 49ers team. While a win is a win but the Panthers can't be over confident about it. Carolina won because of their under rated defense which is 1st against the pass. The return of Steve Smith bodes well for Matt Moore but even better is the emergence of a possible second receiving threat in Gettis who blew up against the 49er secondary. They have another good match up here in the Rams 25th pass defense. The possible loss of Williams this week will hurt as the Rams are middle of the pack against the run. Even if Williams plays, he will be slowed down by the injury and Stewart hasn't done anything this year that stands out in the run game. I do see solid days for Smith and Gettis with Stewart doing some damage coming out of the back field for passes.
RAMS: S. Jax injured a finger last week and had surprise surgery on Tuesday. He tweeted he would be good to go this week and I would expect so since he has played through worse. What is more perplexing was the dissapearing act of Denario Alexander last week against the Bucs leading to rumours he was injured. The Rams will need him against this top ranked pass defense. Carolina is 21st against the rush and very similar to the defense the Rams just played in Tampa as weaknesses go. Expect Jackson to be the main weapon of choice and Spagnulo to try and chip away at the Panthers with a hefty dose of Amendola.

St.Louis should be ready to regroup from their mistakes last week as they face another team which is similar to the Bucs. This will be Matt Moore's first road trip since injury and there may be some adjusting. A less than 100% Williams or lack thereof completely only makes things easier for the Rams. However, Amendola will not be enough to keep Jackson from seeing a stacked box up front. CAR 20-RAMS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: CAR: Smith (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Gettis (4 for 50 yds.) Stewart (15 for 60 yds.1 TD/ 6 for 40 yds.)
RAMS: Jackson (17 for 80 yds. 1 TD/ 3 for 20 yds.) Amendola (7 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Brandon Gibson.....The Rams will need him involved if nothing else than to serve as a distraction from the focus on the run game. I don't see big numbers, but he could sneak in for a score on a play action inside the ten.

DENVER BRONCOS@SF 49ERS: DEN: Mcdaniels no doubt led an ass chewing after one of the worst beatings we've seen in a while. It must especially hurt that it came against the Raiders. There are whispers in Denver of bringing in Tebow so look for Orton to be more focused than ever in order to squash the whispers. He should right the ship as he faces the 21st ranked 49er pass defense. SF is middle of the pack versus the run and Moreno had a good game but he did most his damage through the air. Expect a heavy pass attack this week.
49ERS: Alex Smith will miss this week in all probability with a shoulder sprain, but David Carr did little last week to instill confidence. Troy Smith is getting the reps in practice and will get the start. Denver is 16th against the pass and have fallen to dead last against the run after last week. There will be many holes for Gore, but expect Denver to make stopping him priority one. The question is how rusty is Smith and can he take advantage of the match up?

Denver is banged up defensively and it showed last week. Now they go to visit a team equally as desperate but in a better situation overall. Singletary was not crazy to think they still have a shot at the division. SF muscles up here and puts on their best game of the year for win number two. SF 24-DEN 21.

FANTASY STARTS: DEN: Lloyd (6 for 90 yds. 1 TD) D. Thomas (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD). Moreno (11 for 50 yds/ 3 for 40 yds. 1 TD) Gaffney (4 for 60 yds.)
SF: Gore (16 for 80 yds. 1 TD/ 5 for 50 yds) Davis ( 6 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Crabtree (5 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Troy Smith SF....He knows what this can do for his career. He has no pressure and has nothing to lose. Don't be shocked if he is the surprise of the week. I like Troy Smith and think he has the tools to win!

GREEN BAY PACKERS@NY JETS: PACKERS: Aaron Rogers and company outlasted Favre last week in a game that had implications moving forward. Donald Driver was limited due to injury and James Jones stepped up for him, posting 107 yards, proving it doesn't matter who Rogers is throwing to. Brandon Jackson has gotten more effective as the season moves on fantasy wise scoring no lower than about 8 pts the last three weeks. However, this week he faces the stingy Jets run defense which ranks 4th. He should wind up with his average day of 50 yds. and a score since the Jets are vulnerable to the pass game. With Jennings likely to see a lot of Revis island, expect James Jones to be the match up Rogers looks for. Lowery and Wilson have had games where they have been caught with their pants down and Jones has the talent to be a solid play even if Driver is 100%. We also could have found Jermichael Finley's replacement in Quarless. He looked every bit athletic as Finley and looks to be an upgrade from Lee. He should see more time this week.

NY JETS: They are coming off a bye, at home against a Green Bay team finding a new way to win without a good run game. The Jets 15th pass defense should have it's hands full and will face some mismatches if James Jones plays as well as he did last week. Tomlinson and Greene will be facing a Packer defense that has fallen to 28th. The Packers are better at defending the pass, so expect to see a lot of run plays early on. Both Tomlinson and Greene have value here and could both see the end zone. While the Jets will be effective passing, Sanchez seems to be a guy whom the bye week can affect in a negative way. He can be very streaky and was looking great throwing the ball. The down time may take him the half to get back into the swing of things.

While I am a big fan of the bye weeks, the Packers just beat a Minnesota team delivering their best shot. Clay Mathews is back and will cause problems for Sanchez who makes mistakes under pressure. In the end, it's a Sanchez pick that makes the difference.

GB 31-NYJ 24.

FANTASY STARTS: GB: Jennings (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Jones (6 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Jackson ( 13 for 50 yds. 1 TD) NYJ: Tomlinson (14 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Greene (9 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Holmes (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: A. Quarless GB...He could very well be the difference maker, that one guy whom the Jets are not able to account for amid the pass game. I expect him to be put more on display and get another score.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS@ARIZONA CARDINALS: Josh Freeman has a knack for 4th Quarter come back wins and it's a good thing he does. Tampa has been able to hang around close enough each game to allow his theatrics but may have found an answer to their problems. The lack of running game which has averaged 3 YPC (25th) this year was helped with the emergence of Legarette Blount last week as he rushed for 72 yards on 11 carries. Up until the second half when he was given the ball, it has been the Freeman show. Finding the run game will only make the Bucs more effective at the pass where they are ranked 22nd. Mike Williams is quietly having a great rookie year catching 3 TD passes in six games played and leads the NFL WR's with 365 passing yards...no joke. He is Freeman's top target and a solid #3 WR. Blount will also have good value moving ahead as a bye week play/low end #3 RB and is a possible start here as the Cards rank 26th against the rush.

CARDINALS: Max Hall had a rookie game last week but looks to rebound but will find it hard against the Bucs 2nd ranked pass defense. Especially without a decent option at the #2 WR spot, the Bucs will be able to bring up help in stopping the run where they rank 29th in rush defense. Beanie Wells has been slowly getting his feet under him and has a great match up as mentioned. He will face a stacked box until Hall makes the Bucs back off, but the match up is still good enough to start him if better options are on a bye week. Fitzgerald has had a hard time this year with all of the changes and being the only weapon on the team. He should still get good numbers this week but it will be the run game that sees the most use.

These two teams couldn't be more opposite of where they were last year overall, but the Cardinals are still 3-3 and not going away lightly. The Bucs actually have played better and more effective on the road. I'm not being a homer here and believe that because of the Bucs better balance and new found run game they squeak another one out. TB 19- ARI 17

FANTASY STARTS: BUCS: Mike Williams (5 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Blount (12 for 60 yds. 1 TD) C. Williams (10 for 55 yds.) Winslow ( 4 for 60 yds.) ARI: Wells (14 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Fitzgerald (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Sammy Stroughter TB....with Rogers-Cromartie likely to shadow Williams, Stroughter is the second most reliable target who is a possession guy with good speed that can rack up yardage if the holes are there.

TENNESSEE TITANS@SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Kenny Britt of all people has emerged as fantasy's #4 WR and has taken full advantage of teams focus on CJ. It looks like Vince Young will return after Collins played hurt last week but still managed a win. Young will face the Chargers rated 3rd pass defense and Johnson faces the Chargers 8th ranked pass rush. Where the Titans will find the most success will be special teams and the run game. Vince coming off injury, on the road, with a little rust doesn't point to another 40 point day for Britt. Expect CJ to get his usual work load but lower receiver expectations.

CHARGERS: Tennessee gets toasted by wide out's and faces a team set to get back Naanee and will have Gates a week healthier. Malcom Floyd is not scheduled to return until next week so look for Naanee to have a good first day back. Mathews has been a huge let down and will not come close to his pre season expectations. If you have Tolbert as his handcuff, he is the one I would actually start because of his red zone potential. The Titans are solid against the rush 13th so expect what we've seen from Tolbert the last few weeks in a score with low yardage.

The Titans will have a harder time against the Chargers whom are another team that despite their horrible start are still viable division contenders. SD 24- TEN 17

FANTASY STARTS: TENN: Johnson (15 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Britt ( 5 for 60 yds. 1 TD)

SD: Rivers ( 300 yds. 2 TD) Naanee ( 4 for 60 yds.) B. Davis ( 6 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Gates ( 5 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Tolbert ( 6 for 40 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Bo Scaife TEN....Tight Ends have had great success against the Chargers and Scaife could be the wild card here. Young will look for him often and Scaife catches a score.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS@ NE PATRIOTS: MINN: Favre seems like a 50-50 shot but even if he is not able to go, do not sleep on Tavaris Jackson. No he is not the leader Favre is but he is not a scrub either and has never had these weapons to throw to. They face a Patriots secondary ranked 26th against the pass and 5th against the run. Expect Tavaris to have no choice but to pass and this bumps up the value of Schiancoe if Jackson does get the start. If not, I still bump Schiancoe up because they are trying to get him more looks. Harvin should have another solid day, but look for Moss to get the lions share of the catches. Facing his old team....from....3 weeks ago, weird....Moss showed frustration last week and you can bet the Vikings want him happy. Expect them to ensure he is the biggest part of the pass game plan.

PATS: Everyone is trying to get used to this dink and dunk offense, but until Tate or somebody steps up they will continue on this path. Woodhead looks to be the changing of the guard and replacement to Welker. He is targeted often by Brady who trusts him and he is a dual role players guaraunteed to get a certain number of snaps and receptions. He is a good play here against the Vikes 6th rated pass defense. The Vikings allowed J. Jones from GB to rack up the yardage last week while they focused on the Packer's main threats. I see a similar game plan here only the Packers had more fire power. Another guy to expect and see good production out of is Aaron Hernandez whom has been impressive and will be the one who can sneak over the middle for chunks of yards.

The Vikings are in a very serious position here and now travel to New England. The Patriots need that deep threat to keep a defense like the Vikings on their heels and New England doesn't have the run game to force the Vikings up. MIN 24-NE 21.

FANTASY STARTS: MIN: Harvin ( 4 for 60 yds 1 TD/ 3 for 25yds) Moss ( 7 for 90 yds 1 TD) Peterson ( 14 for 70 yds. 1 TD/ 4 for 40 yds.) PATS: Woodhead ( 4 for 50 yds/ 6 for 35 yds.) Hernandez (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Welker (6 for 80 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Brandon Tate NE...The Pats have set a base line of what teams are to expect out of them now, and the deep ball is not part of that. A few surprise deep balls to him may catch the Vikings off guard.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS@OAKLAND RAIDERS: SEATTLE: The Seahawks just continue to find ways to win despite their low ratings. What they are is effective at moving the chains when they need to and stopping the run, where they rank 2nd right now. They travel to Oakland who will put that ranking to the test with Mcfadden and Bush. Mike Williams should be lining up opposite Routt/Johnson and not Asomugha, so it will be interesting to see if Cable assigns Asomugha to Williams since he is really Seattle's only pass threat and will limit Seattle. Marshawn Lynch looks to have taken on the lead back duties, carrying over 20 times last week and faces a very porous Raider run defense. Forsett could be very involved in the pass game out the back field if and when Williams is limited in his production.

RAIDERS: They are riding high after last week and return home against an opponent more suited to expose their weaknesses. However, the Raiders will be able to afford bringing up extra help against the run this week since Seattle lacks talent depth at WR and are facing a strong secondary. The Raiders plan should be simple, use Mcfadden to set up the pass. While Seattle is good at stopping the run, they have not faced a team as effective at running the ball as Oakland. Mcfadden will come back to human status this week but still post decent numbers and Campbell could have another surprise day against this secondary. Zach Miller will be more involved since Murphy looks to miss this game with a bruised lung. Heyward-Bey could possibly become a fantasy factor, but when Murphy has been out in the past he has failed to produce.

The loss of Louis Murphy will make this a low scoring affair since each team will be somewhat one dimensional for the defensive match up's. Oakland's defense has been creating pressure for opposing QB's and are on a roll since beating San Diego. After last week, they must be prepared.

OAK 24-SEA 21.

FANTASY STARTS: SEA: Lynch (17 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Forsett (6 for 35 yds/ 5 for 50 yds. 1 TD) OAK: Mcfadden (15 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Miller (7 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Bush ( 7 for 50 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Carlson SEA...widely ignored this year, he will be the best chance at Seattle moving the ball through the air.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS@NO SAINTS: PITT: Big Ben has sparked the pass game, making Miller, Wallace, and Ward fantasy studs again. Expect a performance much like last week though as New Orleans is very good against the pass (3rd) but weaker against the run. The defense is very similar to Miami although Mendenhall should find room against the Saints middle of the pack run defense. This will be Ben's second road game with a tough match up for him. As stated, the numbers for your fantasy guys should be similar to last week except for Mendenhall. Look for Heath Miller to be more involved as the Steelers opt for those short intermediate throws and the run game to move the ball.

SAINTS: They can still pass the ball, and that's where the Steelers can be beat. The Steelers 3rd ranked rush defense doesn't bode well for Ivory. Chris Ivory should be very ineffective this week and warrants a benching if you have options. Look for Brees to throw a hell of a lot to exploit this secondary.

The Steelers face their second straight road game and Ben faces an even tougher match up than last week. While Mendenhall will ease the pressure, the Saints pass game should be effective and prove to score more than the Steeler Offense can. NO 28-PITT 21

FANTASY STARTS: PITT: Mendenhall (15 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Ward (7 for 65 yds 1 TD) Miller (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) SAINTS: Moore ( 6 for 70 yds 1 TD) Colston (5 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Meachem (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Ladell Betts NO....While Ivory will get the nod with Bush and Thomas out, I like Betts the best to score. The Steeler defense is nasty and effective against suave backs like Ivory. Betts is hard nosed and can push the pile on a short yardage red zone situation. Don't expect big yardage, but he may be good for a score.

FRIDAY GUT CHECK

A list of players whom may have a bad match-up or may be low on your list as far as options on your fantasy team whom for some reason you get the feeling in your gut to start them regardless.
Last week David Gerrard, Shonn Greene, the Carolina back field were called here.

MATT CASSEL KC: If you have a borderline starting QB this week consider Cassel. Yes, he has looked bad except for the game before the bye week. He was able to hook up with Dwayne Bowe and has been using Mokeai as a safety valve. The Colts are only middle of the road against the pass but worse against the run. Given the focus this Colts D will need to put on the run, there will be throws there in easy coverage. Cassel has had two weeks to prepare and look for Weiss to surprise the Colts with a more balanced attack than run heavy.

MIKE SIMMS-WALKER and DAVID GERRARD JAX: Much like the KC game, special attention will be paid an MJD and the Bills just don't have the horses to be effective in both protecting against him and the pass. Gerrard should have some confidence after last week and he knows one game won't be enough to secure his job. He can be a streaky player when motivated and focused. Simms-Walker on the other had has been a forgotten man, but last time he cried to the media and staff he became more involved in the game plan and scored. He was not happy after being shut down again last week and made it known, so look for Del Rio to satisfy his WR.

KAREEM HUGGINS TB: Everyone is on the Blount band wagon, but he will most likely be the goal line back and short yardage guy. While that is a good reason in itself to put him here, I like Huggins more due to his absolute speed. He ran a 4.28 40 and while that means nothing since game speed is different, anyone who has watched him knows he is one of the few who carry it over to the field in pads. Since the Bucs plan on splitting time between he and Cadillac Williams, he could have a very Jamaal Charles esque game. He is a change of pace back whom when thrown in there can catch a defense by surprise. The Bucs do run plays that focus on his strengths and will continue here. Not necessarily a start this week, but he could be a super sleeper that pays off huge if your studs are on a bye this week.

JONATHAN STEWART and DEANGELO WILLIAMS CAR: Carolina faces the Bears 6th rated rush defense, but the loss of Steve Smith this week and a rag tag bunch of WR's with a rookie QB means both backs will be playing multiple roles as pass catchers and runners. Look for both of them to be relied on heavily in the game which makes them solid starts due to sheer number of touches.

MIKE CRABTREE SF: Yes he was here last week and yes the Eagles have the 5th rated pass defense. However, he has improved from his 37 yd. performance in week 3 to 58 yds in week 4 and the game plan has been simplified to involve him more. He called out Alex Smith, and while normally not a good thing, Alex is trying to keep his job and better get the game changers on his side. The 49ers will have to pass since the Gore show will be limited this week and since this one could get out of hand if a decent Kolb shows up.

WEEK 5 PREVIEW

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS at BUFFALO BILLS:
JAGS: David Gerrard knew he had to produce after the team made a statement by signing Edwards last week and produce he did. Leading the Jags to a 31-28 win in his most productive game so far. MJD showed he may be getting healthy and may have found his rhythm. This week he faces the league's worst rush defense allowing 172 RYPG. Expect Drew to continue where he left off, most likely breaking the century mark again with at least a score. Mike Simms-Walker was shut out once again last week and Gerrard just isn't showing the chemistry they had last year. The Bills have faced Brandon Marshall, Randy Moss, and Greg Jennings not allowing anything more than 53 yards receiving. The Bills do love giving up big games to TE's however and Mercedes Lewis should be able to put up his best game of the year yardage wise along with a score.
BILLS: The Jags defense faces a reverse problem, ranking 30th against the pass and 13th against the run. But the trade of Marshawn Lynch on Tuesday I think actually makes it easier for the opposition. Planning a defensive game plan around two rather than three backs will make things easier. Especially considering Lynch was the team's leading rusher with 167 yards. The Bills have allowed 11 sacks in four games and the line continues to be an issue. If the Bills have a hope, it will be because Fitzpatrick has just enough time to find his receivers. His longest pass has gone for 37 yards and is averaging only 5.8 yds. per pass so don't expect any big numbers here regardless of the rankings. Due to the fact they will be throwing the ball playing catch up, there may be a decent game here to be had for either Johnson, Parrish, or Lee but good luck guessing which one. Look for other options.

This game should be close due to the commitment to the run games on both sides of the ball which will eat the clock. The Bills are always at their best at home and while a win wouldn't surprise me it is not likely given their youth and lack of talent. JAGS 23- BILLS 13

FANTASY STARTS: JAGS: MJD (18 for 117yds. 1 TD) Mercedes Lewis ( 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)
BILLS: Jackson (14 for 60 yds. 1 TD) S. Johnson (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Mike Simms-Walker....sad that he's is now sleeper status, but the Bills had not faced a truly talented rusher until last week and we all saw what LT and Greene did which allowed Braylon Edwards to be the first number one receiver to put up 86yds. and a score. Simms-Walker will be a high risk high reward play.

DENVER BRONCOS at BALTIMORE RAVENS:
BRONCOS: Kyle Orton has been on fire and is for now ranked in the upper tier of QB's. The Broncos are a passing team and they have to be since they are dead last averaging 55 yds. RPG. Thus far, they have been able to get away with it but they are facing the 1st ranked pass defense in Baltimore whom are allowing only 14 PPG. There is no way they are able to shore up the run game in a week leaving Mcdaniels to be very creative in finding ways for Denver to move the ball. The good news is that Denver has three very capable WR's whom have all taken turns standing out. The most consistent of them being Lloyd who is where the Ravens focus will be. Look for Mcdaniels to try and get Royal in the middle of the field often and incorporate Graham and Gronkowski in this game to help on those short yardage situations. Moreno will need to have his best showing and set the tone early in hopes Baltimore can eat the clock. He may have relative success too since I don't see the Ravens being as agressive as normal given Orton has the weapons to expose weak coverage.
BALTIMORE: The Ravens were the first team to beat the Steeler defense last week and while Denver is ranked 17th and 12th in passing and rushing, they are not the Steelers. The Ravens are just starting to hit their stride and should have Ray Rice in a healthier situation than last week. Housh, Mason, and Boldin are proving that you won't be able to cover all the Raven weapons at once so whover you ignore will make you pay. Add to that Todd Heap who is actually second on the team with 188 receiving yards. The Ravens look to be just getting their chemistry going and defining roles for their players. They will be a match up problem for defenses all year if they can stay healthy.

A battle against wills, something will have to give between the Broncos pass attack and the Ravens Pass defense. Given the Broncos have yet to face a top rated, complete defense like this, count on the Ravens winning this one. RAVENS 26-BRONCOS 20.

FANTASY STARTS: BRONCOS: Moreno (11 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Royal ( 4 for 65 1 TD)
RAVENS: Rice (15 for 70 yds. 1 TD/ 3 rec for 40 yds) Mason (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD)  Heap ( 4 for 60 yds 1 TD)
SLEEPER: D. Graham DEN....given the blanket coverage the Baltimore secondary provides and the focus on the WR trio of Den, Graham could actually post good numbers if Moreno is able to at least force the Ravens to respect the possibility of a run. Super deep sleeper here that could factor into the game.

GREEN BAY PACKERS at WASHINGTON REDSKINS:
PACKERS: Surprisingly, the Packers are only 14th in passing offense and have not looked like the explosive attack we expected. Part of that has been the efficiency of the defense in giving them short fields (unless they're playing Chicago). This week should help the passing game get in better sync as the Redskins defense ranks 30th against the pass allowing over 300 PYPG. The loss of Grant is proving to be part of their slow start since teams are playing cover 2 without worry of the run game being a threat. Kuhn has at least brought the Packers back to respectable in the run game, adding a dimension they have lacked. The Skins are 14th against the run allowing 101 YPG so this is a game the Packers can employ a balanced attack. If Jackson or Kuhn are able to have success in keeping the defense honest, this could become a blow out by the third quarter.
REDSKINS: Coming off an emotional but physical game with the Eagles, the Redskins really did little to prove to me they have what it takes to competed against top defenses. Here is their first shot to do do. After facing the likes of Houston, Dallas, and Philadelphia's secondaries, Mcnabb faces his first real test against the Packers 7th ranked pass defense. The Pack are weak against the run allowing 118 RYPG. but with Portis out and the lack of any weapons past Cooley, the Packers will be able to focus on the run game more. Torain has been the lone bright spot in the run game and will be the key to the Skins keeping competitive in this one.

Washington was shopping D. Thomas on Tuesday and have been looking for some help in the pass game. Cooley is the only steady pass catcher, but with a team like Green Bay his damage will be limited. The Redskins are too one dimensional and take away the TD called back against Dallas they would be 1-3. The Packers  handle Washington easily. PACKERS 31-REDSKINS 20.

FANTASY STARTS: PACKERS: Rogers ( 310 yds. 3 TD) Finley (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Driver ( 6 for 80 yds 1 TD) Jennings (4 for 90 1 TD) Kuhn (14 for 70 yds 1 TD)
REDSKINS: Cooley ( 6 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Moss ( 4 for 60 yds.) Torain (16 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Keiland Williams WASH....with Portis all but ruled out officially, somebody will have to spell Torain. Williams has the speed but has yet to be trusted by Shanny. Thrust to 2nd on the depth chart, this will be Williams chance to shine since the run game will be the most effective part of the Redskin attack.

KANSAS CITY CHIEFS at INDIANAPOLIS COLTS:
CHIEFS: If you were showed the two team records on paper and asked which belonged to which, none of us would have made the right choice. The Chiefs have done it with their run attack and their 5th ranked Rush defense and 2nd ranked defense in points allowed. They are only allowing 4.9 yards per play and have allowed only 12 third down conversions on 25 attempts. Offensively, Cassel had finally had a decent game passing and then came the bye week. I am expecting given the bye that this will only help his cause in preparing to play against 15th ranked Pass defense of the Colts. Who is really salivating are Thomas Jones and Jamaal Charles. The Colts are 29th against the run, allowing just a hair under 150 YPG. Both guys are great plays here and maybe Dwayne Bowe.This could be the first RBBC where you would start both backs in most games. Even with the bye to prep, I lack confidence in Cassel given his very poor showings. That said, I do like Tony Moeaki who has been Cassel's blankie and is their leading receiver.
COLTS: The Colts are about where we would have expected, 2nd in Passing YPG and 29th in RYPG. The defense is not as stout as last year, ranking 15th against the Pass and 29th against the Rush. I think the pass ranking is a bit inflated when you consider the efficiency of Gerrard and Schaub against them and how Orton had them beat but failed to convert in the Red Zone. Though they're 2-2 on paper, they are showing like a 1-3 team thus far. It's Peyton so of course he will turn it around, but the absolute lack of a run game is allowing teams to sit back. Collie has been phenomenal this year in Garcon's absence and has locked up the number two target role. Though he has only one less reception than Reggie Wayne but more yards. Wayne has looked just a tad slower this year and I am wondering if there is a conditioning problem for the Colts. Clark, Collie, Garcon,Brown and Wayne have all been bothered by something this year, even if brief. This is a good match up passing wise for the Colts and all your starters should be in play except for Addai if you have options though he could bring in a score at any moment after the passing game gets him close. The scores will be there but when is the question.

I see this game being a complete toss up due to the KC bye and the Colts sluggish start by their standards. It is at home for Peyton though and the Colts are strong there. With Cassel's pass issues, the noise, and a lack of chemistry as it is with his wide outs, the one or two turnovers he will give up are the difference.
COLTS 23-CHIEFS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: KC: Charles ( 10 for 75 yds. 1 TD) Jones (15 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Moeaki ( 4 for 50 yds.)
COLTS: All your guys except Addai if you have a better option this week. If it is close between Addai and another back though start Addai since he has more upside and will have chances at the goal line.
SLEEPER: D. Mcluster KC...Weiss has committed to using his speed in different placements and he will be needed. Much like Percy Harvin last year, Mcluster is that wild card whom is hard to game plan for. If you do, then that leaves someone else open, if you don't, he will hurt you.

ST.LOUIS RAMS at DETROIT LIONS: RAMS: Much like the Lions, the Rams have been the most entertaining losing team to watch this year only....they are not a losing team anymore. Clayton and Amendola have given this team extra dimension, allowing Jackson some running room for the first time in years. Bradford has been impressive in his rookie season thus far in terms of his Red Zone decision making. He has a rating of 72.3 which isn't that bad at all for a rookie QB. The biggest help to this team has been the defense.While they are ranked 21st against the pass and 20th against the rush, they are more balanced than last season and have taken a step in the right direction which is amazing considering the lack of big name talent. They are winning the little batlles such as third down conversions, allowing opponents only 17 conversions on 55 attempts and holding the opposition to 13 PPG which is good for 4th in the NFL. That is the only stat which matters, and why they have been in every game this year and are .500. Amendola is a solid 3rd WR/Flex start, especially in PPR and Clayton and Jackson are must starts. Bradford has put up respectable fantasy numbers and should be good for about 15 to 18 points here.
LIONS: The Lions are only 10 points away from being 3-1 and have been an exciting team to watch. Even without Stafford, the Lions are 7th in Passing YPG and have a legitimate play maker at RB in Jhavid Best. The issue is on defense where their averages per game rank no better than 25th. I am expecting all the Lions offensive players to be quality starts in this one. Burleson will return this week and figures to be a threat.

This could be one of the most exciting games to watch this weekend. Two offensive teams against defenses that allow yardage. The slight edge goes to the Rams whom have shown a knack for allowing the yards but not the points. That said, this will be the best match up the Lions have faced all year and they are at home. St. Louis has had only one road trip this year and could find it a bit harder in a hostile environment.
DETROIT 28-ST.LOUIS 24.

FANTASY STARTS: ST.LOUIS: Bradford (280 yds. 2 TD) Clayton (6 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Amendola (9 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Jackson (17 for 90 yds. 1 TD)
DETROIT: Hill (300 yds. 2 TD) Best (10 for 55 yds./3 for 40 yds. 1 TD) C. Johnson ( 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Nate Burleson DET....His first week back comes at a time where he will have a good match up and is that extra piece which allows him to get open while defenses are focused on Megatron and Best.

CHICAGO BEARS at CAROLINA PANTHERS: BEARS: Jay Cutler suffered a concussion before the half last week and as of Wednesday, Chicago papers and Lovie Smith expect him to play after practicing.(UPDATE: Cutler has been ruled out and Collins gets the start) Thankfully, he will face a mediocre defense this week in Carolina. The offensive line should hold up better here since the Panthers don't have Osi and Tuck playing for them. Julius Peppers returns to his former team and as if he wasn't already looking great, he will have extra incentive to play his best. Carolina does have decent CB coverage but they are not deep enough to handle Forte out of the back field. I would expect Carolina to drop two LB in coverage and leave Beason focused on the run game. Forte and Olsen will be the factors to the game as Hester and Knox should be handled fairly well in coverage.
PANTHERS: No Steve Smith this week with a high ankle sprain and no Dwayne Jarrett with....well with no team. Clausen gave his best effort last week but is still fighting accuracy issues. He has all the tools but is a rookie with a bright future. He is going to have it even more rough now with no Steve Smith. Expect more Jonathan Stewart running routes and flares in two back sets. Chicago's defense has been swarming to the ball and are 6th in rush defense which will limit Deangelo Williams production. David Clowney is officially their best option and will most likely be thrust into starting only days after being signed. Overall it's recipe for disaster in Carolina when you throw in the Chicago let down last week and their need to bounce back.

Chicago will no doubt be in whole different frame of mind and will be looking to relieve the embarrassment of last week. The Panthers have not faced a defense this fast or disciplined yet , with the closest comparison coming against the Bucs who racked up 4 sacks on them. This one shouldn't even be close.
BEARS 24-PANTHERS 13. (UPDATE: Without Cutler, Collins seemed to have too much rust. Drop all Bears rankings down except for Forte!!!!)

FANTASY STARTS: BEARS: Olsen (6 for 70 yds 1 TD) Forte ( 13 for 55 yds./ 4 for 35 yds. 1 TD)
PANTHERS: J. Stewart ( 7 for 35 yds./ 5 for 40 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Jeff King CAR.....King and Rosario should get plenty of looks given the lack of receivers. Clowney may factor in here but with only a few days to learn the playbook don't expect much.

TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS at CINCINNATI BENGALS:
BUCS: The Bucs strength so far has been their passing game, and they face the Bengals 9th ranked pass defense. Knowing that the Bengals are mediocre against the run, Morris announced Kareem Huggins and Legarrette Blount will split carries with Cadillac who has not been good this year averaging under 3 YPC. The Bucs WR's will face a secondary much like Pittsburgh under 3 YPC. The Bucs WR's will face a secondary much like Pittsburgh in ways and will need to get physical. Best bet here is Mike Williams to put up decent yardage and maybe a score. I expect the Bucs to come out running the ball often as long as they don't fall behind early and use the pass once the Bengals creep up.Winslow is the wild card here since he will need to pose a threat and open up the WR's. They have had two weeks to prepare for this and last year after the bye beat Green Bay though it was in Tampa. Ball control and no turnovers are key for the Bucs to win.
BENGALS: The Bengals are seeing what the lack of a run game will do regardless of who you have at WR. I've never been a fan of Cedric Benson because of his inability to be consistently good and so far he has proven me right. The Bucs have a good secondary ranked 10th against the pass but are weaker against the run. Cedric Benson will be called on to carry the under achieving Bengals and I think it's only a matter of time before Scott gets even carries with him since Scott is averaging 4.9 YPC to Bensons 3.3.

This is a game that should be close if both teams play to their abilities on both sides of the ball. Given the Bengals loss last week in Cleveland, they should come out more disciplined and play better at home. The Bucs have their toughest road game to date here and come up short.  BENGALS 20-BUCS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: BUCS: Mike Williams (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Winslow ( 5 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
BENGALS: Benson ( 16 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Ochocinco ( 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: K. Huggins TB....we will finally see if the preseason star can carry it over to the regular season after missing 3 games due to injury. He has 4.2 speed and the abilitiy to break the big one. He will receive split time with Cadillac and if hot will wind up getting the biggest percentage of carries.

ATLANTA FALCONS at CLEVELAND BROWNS:
FALCONS: Good at home and bad on the road so far for Atlanta. Jason Snelling and not Turner has been the more efficient back of the two and Matt Ryan still has only Roddy White as a reliable pass option since Gonzales looks to have slowed a bit this year. The good news is Ryan faces the 24th ranked pass defense this week and the Browns are 17th against the run. The Falcons haven't looked amazing, but they are efficient, ranking 10th in passing and 4th in rushing through a concerted effort. In the end, looks don't matter and they are getting it done. Roddy White is a solid play here as is Matt Ryan. You have to start Turner, but if you don't have him but have Snelling he should be a good play as well depending on who your 2nd RB is.
BROWNS: Delhomme is expected to practice this week but the Browns have proven they are a better team with Wallace. The emergence of Peyton Hillis has helped ease the pass game woes and even with teams knowing what to expect, Hillis is running all over them. Coming off a big win against the Bengals, look for Cleveland to carry the momentum over to this game. Then again, I thought Chicago would do well after beating Green Bay. Cleveland has Cribbs giving them good field placement on special teams which has contributed to their success. The lack of any help past Cribbs is this teams weakness and the Falcons are good enough to limit Hillis productivity.

Cleveleand is strong at home, but the Falcons have too many options offensively and are a decent enough defense where Hillis won't run wild on them. The Falcons proved their mettle last week trailing all game until the final two minutes and scrapping out a win. Atlanta wins on the foot of Bryant again, but not as dramatic.
ATLANTA 20-BROWNS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: FALCONS: White (6 for 75 yds. 1 TD) Turner (15 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
BROWNS: Hillis (16 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Cribbs (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: B. Watson CLE...He has been a favorite target on this team and is essentially their number two receiver. The Atlanta LB will need to respect the run and may allow Watson to sneak behind them on a few throws.

NEW YORK GIANTS at HOUSTON TEXANS:
GIANTS: Bradshaw seems good to go this week after both he and Jacobs having their best games of the year. Of course, they had plenty of time to run given how much the Chicago defense was on the field. This week they face the 2nd ranked rush defense but the 32nd pass defense. Good news for Nicks, Manningham and Smith owners. The Giants are not afraid to throw and last weeks run explosion shouldn't be read into too much. The Texans will apply pressure and Manning will have success against this horrible secondary. If you have to start a Giants back, you have to go with Bradshaw and his outside speed. Brian Cushing returns this week for Houston so this run defense will only improve.
TEXANS: The bad news is Schaub faces the 2nd ranked pass defense of the Giants, the good news is the Giants rank 22nd against the run. Andre Johnson is still nursing his ankle and this is as good a week as any for Arian Foster to continue carrying this team in the run game. Not only will he move the ball, but it will alleviate the pass protection since the Giants will be forced to defend him and give Schaub some breathing room and allow routes to develop. Foster should wind up having another top five week and Johnson's rehab should be monitored on how much he practices this week. You can never bench the guy, but at least know his health risks since it will affect how much of a chance you take starting other WR's on your team this week.

The Giants will face a whole different team this week and on their only road trip this year the Colts pounded them. If Johnson is healthier than last week, the Texans will have more than the Giants can handle. Foster alone will be enough to cause problems and you don't want Schaub having space to throw in.
TEXANS 28-GIANTS 20.

FANTASY STARTS: GIANTS: Manning ( 310yds 3 TD) Nicks (6 for 90 yds 1 TD) Manningham ( 5 for 55 yds. 1 TD)
TEXANS: Foster (15 for 90 yds. 1 TD/ 2 for 40yds.) Johnson ( 6 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: O. Daniels....while the Giants are solid against the pass, they have shown weakness against athletic TE's.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at ARIZONA CARDINALS:
SAINTS: The Saints are winning, but are a shadow of what they were last year after four games. Carolina played them well but they face a Cards team in disarray who ranks 23rd against the pass and 30th against the run. Meachem was on the field for 28 snaps last week and is slowly becoming more involved. Henderson is the definitive number two but both he and Colston have not jumped out to the start we all expected. The loss of Reggie Bush is hurting the Saints more than anyone would have thought, but Lance Moore has essentially filled that role and Chris Ivory looks to be a good replacement. Pierre Thomas did not practice on Wednesday and may not make it come game time so Ivory may have another quality start here. Against the Cardinals all players are must starts. Even Meachem who I think breaks out here.
CARDS: Max Hall has been named the started because he led a drive last week which resulted in a field goal. Pretty sad state of affairs. Fitzgerald will only be dependable as a solid number two WR this year, at least until Hall proves he can do the job or until Fitz gets some weapons spread out with him. Wells and Hightower are week to week starts and it's a crapshoot which one has a better game. Other than Fitz, nobody is worthy of starting.

The Cards keep playing with the line up and keep falling flat. The last team this defense needs to face are the Saints whom are light years ahead of them after facing them in the playoff's just a year ago. Easy win for the Saints. SAINTS 31-CARDS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: SAINTS.....play em if you got em.  CARDS: Fitzgerald (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Wells (13 for 60 yds. 1 TD)

TENNESSEE TITANS at DALLAS COWBOYS:
TITANS: Their 13th ranked pass defense showed holes against the Broncos pass attack but overall did a good job considering the opponent. The Titans are 30th in Pass offense and 27th in total yards. Past CJ there is nobody producing. Vince Young has looked like the guy pre-benching instead of how he looked the second half of last year. He has been prone to starting out slow, so giving up on him is way too early. K. Britt has shown he is growing into a threat they can use but teams have been able to get away with putting their attention on keeping CJ somewhat normal. Not good news facing the Dallas 8th ranked rush defense.Young need to be able to exploit the coverage mis-matches and has yet to do so.
COWBOYS: Much like the Broncos, the Cowboys have great weapons to attack the Titans 13th pass defense but the key is they have a better run game. Albeit not that much better, but at 26th it's much more effective than Denvers. Dallas' 4th ranked passing offense is going to pose problems for the Titans which will allow Felix Jones and Barber to have open lanes. Jerry Jones stated he wants Felix more involved and what the boss wants the boss gets. Dallas also had two weeks to prep for this game and will come out strong.

Dallas' D matches up well against the Titans one dimensional attack and while CJ will get his yards and a score, Dallas is able to hold them in check.  COWBOYS 24-TITANS 17

FANTASY STARTS: DALLAS: Austin (8 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Bryant ( 5 for 60 1 TD) Barber (12 for 55 1 TD)     TITANS: CJ (16 for 100 yds. 1 TD) Britt (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Felix Jones....Jones has the better speed and is more of a pass threat should the Titans be able to put clamps on Miles Austin. Either way I see Jones having a productive day in total yardage and could be the one to score instead of Barber.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS at OAKLAND RAIDERS:
CHARGERS: Mike Tolbert has stolen some of Mathews thunder, causing Norv to name him a split chance goal line carry and after last week he will probably be eating into Mathews touches. Rivers has been nothing short of amazing, giving the Chargers the 3rd ranked pass offense. Even with the rivalry between them and Oakland and the Raiders 3rd ranked pass defense, I like Rivers to be effective in a game that should have the Chargers offense on the field for most the game. Given McFaddens injury, the Raiders 6th ranked run offense will take a hit and San Diego already would've been a tough match up being ranked 7th against the rush. Tolbert will see enough time to be a good fantasy play as will Mathews and all other offensive players.
RAIDERS: McFadden looks to not be available, Murphy's shoulder limited him to five yards last week and the Offensive line gave Gradkowski zero time to let anything develop. That was against Houston's horrible secondary. Had it not been for Miller it would have been far worse. This week, the opponent is far more stout against the pass and given the injuries it looks like a bad time to face a divisional foe with as much power as the Chargers. No real plays here for Oakland guys on your team.

The Chargers should have a fairly long possession time here since Oakland's defense will not be able to last with all the 3 and outs. CHARGERS 28-OAKLAND 14.

FANTASY STARTS: SD: All of them, including Naanee and Tolbert.  OAKLAND: Miller (7 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Bush ( 15 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEEPER: Heyward-Bey...Given Murphy's and McFadden's injuries, the Raiders will be playing from behind and will need another weapon with the focus on Miller.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at SF 49ers:
EAGLES: Kolb looked rusty last week in relief but should look much better after a full week of first team snaps. His start is good news for Celek owners like myself and if he can get a rhythm going he could spread the ball around making Jackson and Maclin solid starts. Mike Bell will likely be the lead back since McCoy has a busted rib and will cause Kolb to have to throw since Bell has seen nothing but limited action. The Eagles will be throwing often in this game making all WR and Celek good options this week on the road.
49ERS: Crabtree called out Smith, Singletary called out his defense, and the team is starting to point fingers at each other as Singletary sits on the hot seat. The Gore show has proven to be not enough, and they face a team who has equally under achieved this year and has had controversies of their own. The Eagles weakness is their pass defense and the 49ers may be able to take advantage of this depending on which Alex Smith comes out.

I will take the team with less chaos who is still in the hunt within their division. EAGLES 24-49ERS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: EAGLES: Celek (5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Jackson ( 7 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Maclin ( 4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
49ERS: Gore (15 for 60 yds./ 5 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Davis (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Crabtree...He has progressed slowly and with the team looking to get him more involved may have a decent game against this secondary.

WHAT WE LEARNED SUNDAY

NY JETS:  We learned Shonn Greene still has game despite LT being back to the stud we know. Dustin Keller worked out all off-season with Sanchez and it shows. Rex Ryan made the mistake of not trusting Sanchez to be able to throw the ball and doubting his receivers to make catches. The Jets have a new found confidence in the pass game which only makes them even more lethal. Greene and LT both put up over 110 yards and are the key to this team. If one goes down, we all know the other can handle full time duties now. The Jets have a great problem on their hands. Now temper all this with the fact it was the Bills.

BUFFALO BILLS: Ryan Fitzpatrick has ability, he just has nothing to throw to. I have been saying the Bills will not be good until they get a real QB, but Fitz sold me a bit today. The problem is he has a receiving core that is getting older and an O line that refuses to live up to it's potential. I've always had problems with the Bills front office and their decisions and  until they focus on making sound draft picks, trades and waiver signees, the Bills will continue to under achieve. Which is sad given that town loves football. Levy isn't the answer and Gailey has already proven he over values RB position too much.

GREEN BAY PACKERS: The sign of a great team is that they beat the teams they should despite getting the oppositions best shot. Rogers only threw for 181 yds but was 12 of 17 for 3 TD. The Packers are legit and should not face much opposition in getting to the Super Bowl. They are possibly the NFL's best team with New Orleans. The major concern continues to be the run game, where Jackson and Kuhn combines for under 80 yds. That will not cut it against the divisional winners come playoff time so the issue needs to be fixed NOW!

DETROIT LIONS: Much as the Rams, the Lions are explosive and are a great win less team to watch. This is the first year in recent memory where all NFL games are a blast to watch because anybody really could win. The Lions really need to buy a new rabbit foot since they continue to be victims of three or less games. Surprisingly, the drop from Stafford to Hill has not been that significant. The Lions are a competitive bunch and need to get defensive help. If they could just hold opponents they could become tangible and start pulling these games out. Considering this is the first year of all these FA signees, the Lions will be a team to be feared next year.

DENVER BRONCOS: They continue to prove they are possibly today's version of the greatest show on turf....only no turf. Orton has stunned everyone with his amazing accuracy and passing since coming to Denver. More amazing is the group of WR's. Lloyd and Gaffney are outcasts from previous teams whom were not considered number ones. Here they have new life and are putting up amazing numbers. The Broncos have no run game to speak of and will continue to pass all year. Why would you mix it up? Denver is for real, and if they could get a run game going, then sky is the limit.

TENNESSEE TITANS: Chris Johnson....,that's it. Yes the Defense is well balanced, but the pass game is not showing reflections of last season....yet. It's only four games, but Young had us all believing he would pick up on his play from last year. While he does make the plays, his lack of solid WR help and a defense that does have some holes makes for too much uncertainty week to week for this team. The Titans have been a one trick pony for too long and need to make that move on a young pocket rocket arm QB or bring in two real WR's who can help Young become better and make up his mistakes. As of now, the Titans look to wind up a .500 team.

CINCINNATI BENGALS: The signing of TO showed flashes of getting over the hurdles last year, but unlike last season it's not Carson Palmer but the run game which has gone awry. I have never been a fan of Benson because he has never strung good years together and is proving me right. Teams know who they need to focus on and once you take away the pass options, it makes this Offense become marginal. They have the weapons but if those weapons are targeted then the options become scarce. Look for the Bengals to focus on some shorter quick throw passes and the run game. So far the Bengals are far from what we all expected but do have time to turn it around.

CLEVELAND BROWNS: Seneca Wallace has become the Browns starting QB and has looked more effective than Delhomme has been the last two years. Peyton Hillis continues to prove he is for real after rushing for 102 and 1 TD. Who the leading receiver is continues to be a coin flip. The Defense continues to be undervalued and will be one to watch in the next week if you need a bye week fill in. The Browns will continue to be an unreadable team, and just as good as they looked this week, they could become the polar opposite next.

BALTIMORE RAVENS: Proving they can do it without their best RB healthy, the Ravens used a group effort to rush for 70 yards on one of the league's best defenses. The real story was Flacco and his receivers. My pick to win because of the fact the Titans would not be able to cover all the Raven receivers, Flacco passed for 256 yards. Yes, he only had one TD, but it was the one that mattered most. Mason,Boldin,Housh and Heap combined for 232 of those yards with Mason accounting for 80 and Housh catching the winning TD with time running down. The Ravens are back to form after a slow start so once Rice is back to 100% they will be a pick your poison team. Ray Lewis continues to defy his doubters and the Defense has been showing it's depth after losing multiple players to Rex Ryan and NY.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS: While Batch didn't throw a whole lot, his throws were confident and overall he managed the game well. With Ben now returning, the Steelers must be beyond pleased with how Batch and Dixon held the fort, going 3-1. Wallace is just waiting to use his speed and Ben will take advantage of it. If you thought the Steelers were a scary team before, wait until Ben knocks the rust off and gets settled in. Mendenhall can no longer be doubted and is here to stay, announcing it with a 79 yd. 2 TD day. His speed to the outside looked amazing compared to last year and he seems quicker overall. With a QB threat now, I can only see him producing even better numbers.

SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: Another one I saw coming, but not this bad! Forsett had another solid game, but the Seabags continue to play bipolar ball depending on if they are home or away. While St. Louis is no longer a laughing stock and is at the top in total points allowed, the Seahawks will need to figure out how to win on the road. A new coach, new youth on the field, but the same story every year. Regardless, there is no excuse for a team with this much talent to only put up a field goal with 27 minutes of ball control. This is where Pete's contract comes into play. It's been four games so let's see exactly what changes he makes to correct the road issues. Look for news of some type of scheme or personnel changes this week.

ST. LOUIS RAMS: I can no longer say the Rams are the best losing team to watch anymore, now that they have his .500 on the year. After catching a little flack for taking Bradford who was coming off injury, the front office is looking like they actually know what they are doing. They took Bradford anyway, and signed Mark Clayton who has turned this team around and given Bradford a legitimate target. Once Luarent Robinson gets healthy, this team will then become a real challenge. The Rams have continued to have success despite the opposition knowing exactly who Bradford is targeting so imagine when you add another factor to the equation. Steven Jackson's health is the key for this team since he keeps defenses honest, not allowing them to sit back on Bradford. Until they sign a legitimate back up, as Jackson goes, so will this team.

SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS: Another one of my upset picks, the Niner played a much more effective game overall with Alex Smith going 21 for 32 and Gore totaling 137 yds. They tried to spread the ball out more to their talent, but turnovers is what continues to kill them. Clements had this game sealed for them and let it slip away. The Defense, which was projected to be in the upper levels plays well but always seems to give up the big play that winds up costing them. Of course it is hard to shut down the opposition when your team continues to turn the ball over more than your squad produces, but the defense is what it going to have to carry this team. I do like the direction they took, simplifying things a bit and getting talent the ball, but fact remains they need more help. They are a team who feels only one player away from a 4-0 record.

ATLANTA FALCONS: The Falcons showed mettle in this one, fighting till the end after playing nothing but comeback for four quarters. Matt Bryant's 43 yarder to win is nothing new to him, having done it throughout his career. Matt Ryan still has yet to prove he can win a game when it's all on him, and continues to make turnovers. Given the Defense they were facing I can forgive Turner's 50 yard performance, but where is Tony Gonzalez? With Jenkins missing yet another game, Gonzo has failed to step up and be a valid number two threat. Maybe he has finally hit the age wall, but he has got to produce more that 41 on 7 touches. Jenkins is by no means the answer to the teams offensive woes, but he will make things easier on Ryan when he returns. This team is being led by their defense and the turnovers they create. They are a fast defense, and I think under rated so far by most people. This unit can compete with the best of them, but as we see with SF, your offense needs to help out too. Luckily, the Falcons have won despite their struggles and are only going to get better. This is a team that has the potential to give the Saints a run for the division.

CAROLINA PANTHERS: As if Clausen's development wasn't already an issue, Steve Smith went down with a high ankle sprain and will likely miss time. As expected, Fox limited the rookie's role and tried to pound it out on the ground. Williams had his second solid game, posting 86 yards and a TD while Stewart totaled 21 yds on the ground but caught a 55 yard pass for a TD. This was a team starting to look like they were finding a path and the injury to Smith will weaken them by allowing teams to fully focus on the run game. There are no legitimate WR's here past Smith and it looks like more of the same is to be expected until he returns. Clausen showed he has a great arm but accuracy and reads were an issue. He's a rookie and it's to be expected. Fox needs to let him take his bumps now so that he will be polished up next year. Benching him makes no sense at this point and would be the worst move.

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS: The Saints used the combination of Ivory and Betts to fill in for Pierre Thomas with good results, producing 114 yards on the ground. Though Ivory did fumble, he looks to be the lead candidate for Pierre Thomas' relief role. Brees had an off game for him, throwing only 1 TD on 275 yards but was able to pull it out. These divisional games always produce the best shot from an opponent, especially when you're the defending champs. The Saints took what has probably been their biggest fight yet and survived. They are doing it despite not quite having the same swagger on defense a year ago which is a good sign but also shows they can be vulnerable.

OAKLAND RAIDERS: Gradkowski's 3 turnovers wound up hurting them as the Raiders lost a close one. The good news is how they were able to hang with the league's top offense despite any production from Murphy and Bey. Miller was able to carry the load, showing he is one of the most under rated TE's in the NFL. The dreaded McFadden injury came to town, with him coming up lame after a run. Initial reports it's a hamstring which isn't exactly the best injury for your top back. Bush seems to be healthy and just in time. He carried 7 times for 40 yards with a TD and should be able to carry the run game while McFadden is out. Regardless, this offensive line needs major work as they continue allowing penetration during critical moments. McFadden was keeping defenses honest but without him teams may start focusing in on the pass more making life harder for Gradkowski. As if it wasn't hard enough already. News on the severity of the McFadden injury should be clear by Tuesday.

HOUSTON TEXANS: Schaub was mostly held in check by the Raiders corners, throwing for 192 and 2 TD's, but the Texans continue to find ways to win. Namely, Arian Foster. Andre Johnson being held out seemed to have little effect on containing Foster as he combined for 187 total yards and 2 TD's. While they were able to outscore the Raiders, the Texans will need Johnson to return quickly. Jacoby Jones went down with an injury and Kevin Walter averaged less than 9 yards a catch. This offense always seems to have a player step up when they need it but it's the defense that is going to cost them in the long run. Mario Williams is in beast mode again, but the secondary is a patchwork who looked primed for a turn around this year and have been anything but lousy. This is a major issue that will need to get fixed if the Texans are to compete in a year where the Colts have started slow and given them the advantage.

JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS: David Gerrard saved his job for now, not turning the ball over while throwing for two TD's and 163 yards along with rushing for 44 yards and a TD. I called him to be playing with fire under his ass, but now that he has produced it's just as likely he will vanish again. Coming out of exile though was MJD who rushed for 105 and a TD. I don't know what Simms-Walker did to Gerrard, but it must've been pretty bad since he was targeted just once and finished with goose eggs. The Jags are prone to feeding off wins like this and could string a few together if MJD is healthy and can continue to be productive like today. He is the heartbeat of this team and dictates the game flow. Gerrard is by no means safe and I would look for Del Rio to give Edwards a lot of reps with the first team from here on out to keep Gerrard on his toes and the fire under his ass burning.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: Reggie Wayne exploded for 196, Addai scores twice with 63 rushing yards, and Peyton throws two TD's.....So how do you still lose? Oh, no defense. The Colts have serious problems on defense and need to make a change quickly. So far their loss to Houston and now Jacksonville are results of a defense that can't hold when they need to. The Colts have enough Offensive talento part with and bring in some help for the secondary. Defense will be the big mantra this week and look for some moves to take place. Austin Collie? Yes, he came back down to Earth but is still a viable play. Buy low on him if you can because he should be a feast or famine guy.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: We Learned Kolb would be loving every minute of sweet vengeance....if he could have completed a pass. Yes he was coming off the bench, but this was his game to shine and he had major accuracy problems, missing guys badly. Early work is that VIck has rib cartilage injury and Leshaun McCoy has a fractured rib. Damn Washington did a number on them. Wait to hear the severity of each but it sounds like these are at least one week missed injuries.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS: Portis popped his groin, again. Thankfully, the Skins have Ryan Torain who was on his way to becoming the lead back anyway. Portis' time should be over after this season and I think could be dealt while he still has some kind of value. Santana Moss was ignored most the game because of pressure and coverage, leaving Mcnabb throwing for a measly 125 yds and a score. Anthony Armstrong made his one catch work, scoring on a 57 yd TD. Cooley continues to be the only source of Offense you can depend on. The Skins lose at St. Louis then win at Philly? Go figure. This is a big win for the team, showing they can pull it out even when having an off day. The Defense continues to show potential of dominance but need to put it together consistently. This division is officially for the taking.

SAN DIEGO CHARGERS: Am I happy the owner of Ryan Mathews rejected my selling high on Tolbert. Forced to start him due to a bye, Tolbert rewarded anyone in the same dilemma handsomely. over 100yds and a score in a game where Mathews was "back". I actually think Tolbert will continue to have value going forward and has earned more than just short yardage duties. This could become a 60-40 split and Tolbert has shown that he can put up numbers on just ten touches, raking up 80 yards in the first half alone. It will be interesting what Turner decides to do, but do not sell Tolbert for nothing. The value is legit and though Mathews is a great back, he is a rookie and runs hard. Two things that invite injury. Rivers and Gates were feeling the love yesterday and this is a team with too many weapons to handle.

ARIZONA CARDINALS: Here comes Max Hall? After Anderson threw two picks, Hall was given the call and produced a scoring drive that resulted in a field goal. Matt Leinart actually may have been right all along. Regardless who is at QB, they are not starting caliber and Fitzgerald should be dropped to number two WR value. Another position suffering due to the QB play are the RB's Hightower and Wells whom totaled only 12 carries for 43 yards. Arizona has got to be regretting not being committed to keeping most this team together after last year.

CHICAGO BEARS: The Offensive line was picked apart, allowing 9 sacks in the first half alone and an astonishing 110 total yards to the Bears. Cutler was taken out with a concussion and Todd Collins wound up getting injured as well. This was one of those nights where everything that could go wrong did. Defensively, the unit did continue to look fast and play well but they were just on the field too long. Lovie will be chewing some major Mike Tice ass and a drastic change could be in order when it comes to finding a solution.

NY GIANTS: Even without Kiwanuka, the Giants Defense was suffocating. Osi and Tuck led the charge with 3 sacks each and were constantly in the backfield all game. Manning certainly did not look great, but he didn't have to with Bradshaw and Jacobs gaining 191 yards on the ground and 2 scores. Bradshaw was quickly in Coughlin's dog house after the fumble, but it was a blindside strip and can't be put too much on poor ball control by Bradshaw. If the Giants can continue this play and get back to pounding the ball on the ground they will have a chance to stay competitive for the division. Lets see them do this a few times before making this the expectation.

FRIDAY GUT CHECK

A list of players whom may have a bad match-up or may be low on your list as far as options on your fantasy team whom for some reason you get the feeling in your gut to start them regardless.

MIKE CRABTREE SF: He has been horrible the first three weeks and it's not really the fault of Alex Smith. He has dropped passes and his run after the catch has been nothing to write home about as well. However, with the firing of Jimmy Raye, I am looking for the Niners to simplify things and get Crabtree and Davis involved much more. They have been losing because it has been the Frank Gore show only and with no other help. Singletary knows he needs to ease the pressure off Gore or he will break down by mid season. Atlanta is allowing opponents 7.9 yards per pass play and almost 250 yds. passing per game.

DARIUS HEYWARD-BEY OAK: Murphy's collar bone and a Houston Defense who is worst against the pass should make this a game where Bey runs wild and is targeted in double digits. Murphy's injury was late news after writing my projections and regardless if he plays, Oakland will have success throwing the ball. With Bey's speed and the odds in his favor, this could be his best professional game to date.

SHONN GREENE NYJ: I had him on here last week, and though he wasn't amazing, he did up his numbers and looked to be running angry as hell in the last quarter against Miami. While LT will get the start, if the Jets get up big they may want to limit his touches, giving Greene a good amount of carries. Also, with the expectation that LT will have plenty of big yardage plays, he may need a bit more rest than usual. If Greene can't put up numbers worthy of a number two back then he will be officially nothing more than a flex play after this.

DEANGELO WILLIAMS AND JONATHAN STEWART CAR: I have been super low on these guys since the pre-season after keeping tabs on their surgeries and watching them look slower than normal. Both guys did make good contributions last week against the Bengals and I think that carries over here against New Orleans. Fox will not trust to put the game in Clausen's hands just yet and the two backs should get about 15-17 touches each against a New Orleans team where the best way to beat them is not to let Brees touch the ball.

DAVID GERRARD JAGS: This one is the riskiest of the group given his horrific start, but the Colts are not great against the pass (Houston, Denver) and while the Jags have been under performing, they do have talent at all positions. Gerrard was essentially put on notice with the signing of Trent Edwards and he knows the next few games could put his career on the line. Gerrard has the talent but seems lazy and slow at times. I expect him to have a fire under his ass this week against a divisional foe who they tend to give a great game. While he is risky, don't shy away from him if you're other QB has a stiff match up but has played better.