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.

FRIDAY GUT CHECK

A list of players whom despite the match up or expectations gnaw at you as a good play despite all the facts. We all have em, here are mine.....

BEANIE WELLS ARI: He's playing Seattle's 2nd ranked run defense in Seattle, on an offense that has been terrible. Yet, Beanie has had a bye weak to continue his health and is the clear lead back. Arizona should have taken their win against New Orleans as a motivator and used that during an extra week of study for Seattle. Expect to see Wells best effort and I believe he could wind up as a solid number two RB in hindsight after Sunday.

CADILLAC WILLIAMS TB: He has averaged a miserable 3 YPC this year and has yet to put up a decent game. Yet last week he was inches from a score and has had a few big runs negated by penalties. He faces a mediocre run defense this week at home in St. Louis. His job was on the line last week as Kareem Huggins was slated to start taking his carries, but after two touches, Huggins was lost for the year with injury. So, Cadillac gets a week stay of facing the bench and his future is on the line this week. Enough motivation and a good match up make this a possible surprise week.

STEVE JOHNSON BUFF: The Bills face the Ravens in Baltimore and while this sums up to the "they will have to throw cause they are down" theory, this is one time I believe it fits right. Buffalo will face a deficit and will need to play catch up. I expect Baltimore to rest it's starters towards the end and allow some good fantasy time for guys like Johnson.

MIKE CRAYTON SD: Naanee is a question mark, Floyd looks to be out, Gates is questionable and now on Thursday Buster Davis was named probable with a rib issue. We know what Crayton can do and we know Rivers is going to throw often because of their depth at WR and scheme. I believe if Gates does play, Crayton becomes his second most trust worthy target and they will put up some points against the weak Patriots defense.

MAURICE JONES DREW JAGS: MJD has been nothing close to his top five status this year and as I've said in the past, I believe he is playing injured. He faces a KC rush defense that ranks 5th with the possibility of Gerrard and Edwards missing time, though unlikely. MJD should be relied on heavily this week, more than normal, and more than normal when it comes to the passing game. Don't be surprised if he has his best game of the year this week. He is a must start every week since if you own him you probably don't have better options. I say start him and expect minimum 10 fantasy points.