SUNDAY IN REVIEW

BENGALS: The Bengals came out flat but then found their game in the second half. Carson continues to be fantasy relevant because of how much he is throwing, and Ocho is clearly the only receiver worth starting and TO is nothing but a flex play if you don't have other options. I know he had a good day but Shipley is eating into his production. Cedric Benson coughed the ball up in a critical situation which led to a Falcon score and would wind up being the difference. He has not lived up to his pre-season hype and is a good sell if you can get value for him. He is currently ranked 17th in standard scoring and has only broken double digit fantasy points once.

FALCONS: This is a team that has only a few weapons, yet despite everyone knowing what is coming they are still effective. It's like trying to hit Mariano Rivera's cutter. You know what he's gonna throw but his one trick is better than anything you can do about it. Roddy White is on track to finish this year as a top three WR and has scored double digit fantasy points in all but one game. Matt Ryan is still a number two QB but seems to be slowly evolving into a possible start status depending on your options. Mike Turner has only scored double digit points now in two games, and this was his second game of the season with a score. I see him as a sell high after this performance. He has not lived up to his first round status and you should be able to trade him for a guy like Felix Jones who has more upside going ahead and a solid #2 WR.

STEELERS: I called a Miami upset, and it should have been in the end there but Big Ben got lucky once again. He is obviously a solid starter at QB and the value of Hines Ward is back to normal. Most likely, anyone who drafted Wallace, Ward, or Ben did so in the middle rounds and has a solid line up already so these guys have just made your team that much better. I do think that Mendenhall's value actually decreases with the return of Ben since he's been relied on less and the Steelers are more effective passing. Mike Wallace is a must start every game going ahead and will finish the second half as a top ten WR.

DOLPHINS: Oh Ronnie Brown...where are you? The Dolphins have become a passing team with the ineffective run game this year. Neither Brown nor Williams has come close to their original values, and I don't see things getting much better for them. Henne is still not a starting QB on your team, but Hartline and Bess are emerging as guys who are fantasy relevant come your bye week or depending on the match up.

BILLS: What? Go buy a lottery ticket if you saw this one coming. Fitzpatrick a 28 pt. day against the Ravens? Don't jump on the bandwagon yet, though Fitz does have value as a number two guy because he will be throwing so much. Although Lee Evans had the monster game here, Steven Johnson is the WR you want on this squad. He has been the most consistent week to week and has great value in keeper leagues. I still don't trust either RB as a start unless it's against lesser defenses.

RAVENS: Nothing changes for this team in fantasy perspectives, but talk about being unprepared. In their defense, Buffalo always plays to the level of their competition and is the Cinderella man of football. The Ravens will be good to go moving ahead as your starters are concerned but I think Houshmenzadeh has value as a player but not in fantasy. He should carry nothing more than sleeper status from here out. Rice has been somewhat of a let down so far, scoring in double digits in only three of the seven games. He does have a great schedule though coming after the bye week, facing only two tough rush defenses in Pittsburgh and Miami. He should payoff for you soon.

JAGS: Uhh, Todd Bouman, you may be 38 years old but here's your new five year deal....That's what the Jags should be saying. A guy who hasn't thrown a game pass in five years just performed better than any of your starters. Even better, he made the Jags players somewhat relevant again. If Del Rio has any cojones he will start Bouman again to see what he can do for this team. Though, isn't this a huge knock on Del Rio being the problem? A QB who you only had a week to coach lights it up compared to the QB you have groomed. MJD finally had that game we were all waiting for, though keep in mind he only put up 47 rush yards. Yes, KC is stout against the run but he has only broken the century mark on the ground once this year. Only one other time did he come close so far. Given this team and just how bad the pass defense has been, they will be throwing a lot more to come. Yes Drew still has value in the pass game as he just showed, but I think he is a great sell high candidate who can garner multiple players to shore up the holes on your team. You can probably get a top WR and a guy like Cedric Benson, Felix Jones, Moreno, T. Jones, or B. Wells. All guys who can give you a decent average close to the norm for Jones Drew.

CHIEFS: As I've said before, the Chiefs may have the only fantasy duo at RB worth starting every week. With the pass game coming alive we can see the benefits Jones and Charles are reaping. KC has the best schedule this year against the rush and both have potential to produce. Although, if you have needs and multiple backs worthy of starting, Thomas Jones is the one you would want to part with over Charles barring any injury. Charles is getting the touches and has more long term value as the season goes on. The Chiefs are the real deal this year and should win their division.

BROWNS: Hello upset city! The Browns have always had a good defense but 4 picks on what many consider the 2nd best QB in the league? While this was a great win, don't expect it to happen again. Sorry Browns fan. Peyton Hillis continues to impress and is a solid #2 RB going ahead. The overall problem will be the growing curve McCoy has to face since he is a rookie and will limit Cribbs' value and Masssaqoui when he returns. Ben Watson's value on the other hand should continue to be high as McCoy will continue to rely on him. He is a TE who may quietly be a top ten for the season when all is said and done.

SAINTS: I was saying it all pre-season to whomever would listen. Being a Bucs fan, no team in this division tends to repeat winning it the next year. Also, the numerous surgeries to all the WR's gave me doubts. They have all looked to be missing a step except for Lance Moore whom looks to finally be healthy after struggling with injury last year. Brees just had a bad game, and not much should be read into his performance. The great thing about the Saints is that even on a Brees off day both he and the team still have fantasy value. Colston is slowly looking like the receiver we expected of him and should be solid moving ahead. Reggie Bush should be back this week which is great news for a team that is missing the dimensions he brings. It should also have an impact on Chris Ivory's value so trade him if you can while you can. This was just a bad day for the Saints, but do not expect last year's numbers as they have proven to have lost a step.

REDSKINS: They are the epitome of Rocky this year. They get beaten all game, take their lumps and in the end deliver a knock out blow after wearing you down. This game wasn't as typical, since both teams made a number of errors. In the end, it was Deangelo Hall's record day that led the Skins to victory. All the names continue to be decent fantasy starts, but the guy I am most excited about is Anthony Armstrong. While he finished with only 42 yds, he dropped a pass that would have gone for about a 30 yard score in open field. Mcnabb trusts him and he has become the down field threat that matches Moss. He will be a feast or famine guy, but his famine consists of about 5 fantasy points. Not that horrible for a #3 guy who has the ability to score double digits in any game. Especially with bye weeks, he garners great consideration.

BEARS: Jay Cutler single handedly gave the game to the Redskins with four picks, but the blame doesn't fall completely on him. He was also sacked four times and faced pressure throughout the game. This Offensive line needs to create more time for Jay. A QB running for his life all game can't be effective no matter who you are. Johnny Knox is definitely the only Bears WR you can trust, and will face the Buffalo secondary after the bye. Other than Forte, I would sell high on all your Bears. They face Minnesota, Philly, New England, and the Jets at home along with Minnesota and Miami on the road. Excluding NE, all these teams have good secondaries and are solid overall defensively.

49ERS: Alex Smith went down with a shoulder injury to his non throwing arm which opened the door for David Carr. Too bad he showed nothing to garner confidence and threw the interception that allowed a Carolina win. It's too early to abandon ship fantasy wise as we need to see what Carr does with a week of practice as the starter. Smith was just starting to look somewhat dependable and now there may be more frustration to come for Crabtree and Davis owners. Gore is and will continue to be the work horse for this team and is an obvious start every week.

PANTHERS: It looks like Matt Moore was the right choice for coach Fox as he threw for two TD's . D. Gettis was the primary beneficiary catching a TD and 125 yards. We may have found a second WR that makes Carolina relevant again and takes some pressure off Steve Smith, but let's wait and see what this team does next week. They beat an uninspiring team who has fallen hard. Both Deangelo Williams and Stewart continue to be major disappointments but do have some good match up's coming up. Williams has been listed as day to day with injury so Stewart gets a slight bump in the coming weeks as a Flex play.

RAMS: The Rams continued their road losing ways against the Bucs, but had the game in their grasp until a Josh Freeman TD pass to Cadillac Williams with only 20 seconds left. Steven Jackson looked good and was extremely effective against the Bucs rush defense. Sam Bradford also threw 2 TD passes but was held to 126 pass yards. The Rams were at a loss in terms of finding a passing game but were effective in the red zone where it mattered. They let the Bucs hang around, hitting field goals throughout the game. Danny Amendola is the receiver to trust on this team as Denario Alexander disappeared completely. Steven Jackson continues to be a very under rated back this year, as he has scored double digit points every week except one. He did have some type of surgery on Monday to a finger but looks good to go based on his words. Bradford has also proven to be a viable number two QB.

BUCCANEERS: Josh Freeman continued his 4th quarter come backs pulling out a win in the final two minutes which led to the Bucs only TD of the day. He looked overall off his game, having a bad day until the second half. Mike Williams came inches from a score and is the WR you want on this team. He is just outside of top 20 WR in fantasy and is someone who continues to slip under the radar. He showed special poise on the last drive where with time winding down instead of running out of bounds, he cut in and ran for another fifteen yards which set up the score. Cadillac Williams is all but drop material as Legarette Blount ran for over 70 yds. and showed the best performance by a back this year. He is a definite pick up this week. Freeman has been reliable as a QB 2 this year but is still lower tier #2. Kellen Winslow is playing hurt and it is showing. He will have his games where he blows up, but don't expect him to return to last years stats.

EAGLES: Kolb officially lost the job with his 2 interception day and misses the opportunity to continue his hold on what could have been his. The Eagles are a much different team without Desean Jackson and there is a shot he can return after the bye. The Eagles played a good team that is going largely unnoticed. The Titans defense has played better than anyone expected, but Kolb had his chances and could not get it done. Vick will return and hopefully get the Eagles back on track. The bye comes at a perfect time for the Eagles so they can regroup and get their guys some health back. Celek has been a huge let down and if you can find a better replacement do so. Kolb was his best bet at fantasy scoring and now that he is going to be second fiddle, Celek loses the little value he has.

TITANS: Kenny Britt has emerged into a fantasy monster and the future looks bright for him depending on if he avoids a suspension and future trouble. Chris Johnson has opened up the passing game for Britt but the Titans need Nate Washington to step it up. Bo Scaife is putting up numbers very similar to Washington and that isn't a good thing. Vince Young looks to possibly return this week and will get his job back. Though it is comforting to know Collins hasn't missed a step and is a very solid replacement. The Titan defense is quietly having a very solid year and warrant consideration as a capable defense to start.

CARDINALS: Max Hall left in the third Quarter after having his bell rung and Anderson again proved unable to make something happen. Hall has been named the QB for the season but there will be cause for concern in Arizona since he is just getting his feet wet. Fitzgerald carries name value only this year. While he will get his, it will be a far cry from what we expect from him. If you can get a good deal trading Fitz in non-keeper leagues, I say do it while you can. The better news is that both Wells and Hightower looked decent but Wells is definitely the guy you want as he is getting double the carries and most likely to score. Neither one is a safe play yet but they only have two games left on the fantasy schedule which look like tough run match ups.

SEAHAWKS: They continue to get the job done, chipping away at opponents. This is a team playing very similar to the Redskins as they always seem to do just enough to win. Mike Williams is officially a legitimate starter and has looked to shed the baggage he once literally carried. Hasselbeck trusts Williams and is the only WR you can trust on this team for now. Marshawn Lynch's 24 carries to Forsett's 9 has to worry you as a Forsett owner. It looks like Carrol trusts Lynch and has all but crowned him the lead back. Like Arizona, the Hawks back field only have two somewhat tough run defenses left to face so Lynch is a good #2 going ahead.

PATRIOTS: They just got away with one against the Chargers and this new offense is taking some getting used too. Brady is spreading the ball out too much to trust anyone at this point, even Welker. This is reminiscent of the old Patriots that went to the Super Bowl, but minus the swagger. Aaron Hernandez seems to be the best fantasy play for now week in and out with Woodhead a close second because of his carries and receiving abilities. He's one of the first to carry a RB/WR positional slot making him very valuable to your fantasy team. The law firm did not do anything special but again got the carry for a TD. He is only trustworthy as a borderline flex/#2 play at best. The Pats continue to cause headaches for owners of their RB's and a healthy Fred Taylor may just compound things when he returns.

CHARGERS: Another week of Ryan Mathews getting the touches but not the score. The Chargers are a pass first team which opens up the run. You would expect more production from Mathews with teams on their heels, but he has not been able to produce anything close to expectations. Tolbert seems to be the guy you want because of his nose for the end zone, and I would expect Norv to maybe get him back to touching the ball more. Rivers is a great play regardless of who he's throwing too. With another week of rest for Gates and Floyd, the team should be more effective. Floyd is still a question mark this week and we may be getting closer to seeing Naanee return. Stay patient with your Chargers, but look for options if you own Mathews.

RAIDERS: Don't even act like you saw this one coming. The Raiders had their best day in years where everything they did resulted in a TD. A game like this only makes things harder to evaluate since they went from a horrible game against the 49ers to a lifetime game in Denver. What we can take for fact is Mcfadden is recovered and a solid starter from here on out and Zach Miller is the only receiving option you can trust. Murphy re-injured his collar bone and has questions on if he will be ready this week coming. Forget about buying into Campbell just yet until he shows reliability two weeks in a row. The Oakland defense has been playing well but faces some tough opponents from here on out.

BRONCOS: Nothing changes here in terms of fantasy starts, though Moreno does become slightly more reliable after two weeks of decent performances on the ground. Far from great, he has proven to be Denver's best option. Overall, this is a game you chalk up to fate. The Broncos were beaten around from the first possession and will return to their passing form and effectiveness next week. Start the guys you have in confidence next week.

VIKINGS: Don't panic just yet Harvin and Moss owners. Yes Favre's iron man streak may come to an end, but he wasn't really lights out so far. Despite his ineffectiveness, the WR core has put up points and Tavaris could be a good thing. He will especially pay off for Schiancoe and Harvin in those intermediate routes. While Moss may take a slight hit in value, he will still be the top red zone target cause of his size and don't underestimate Jackson's ability to throw deep. He's never had all these weapons at once to work with and will surprise if given a chance. While Favre is not a sure bet to be ruled out, my guess he is done for at minimum a week. He looked to be very hampered by the injury and a heel isn't the best place for a QB to get injured. If he is out, look for more doses of Peterson. Thankfully, the Vikes face the NE secondary next week so don't expect a big drop off from any production in your receivers. Buy low on Harvin and Moss if there are anxious owners out there.

PACKERS: Brandon Jackson had another productive fantasy day and although he is putting up average yardage, the ability for Rogers to get him within scoring distance makes him a decent play. The biggest thing I noticed was the play of Andrew Quarless. He caught a TD and looked more athletic than Lee and reminiscent of Finley. Expect Mcarthy to use him more next game. If he produces again you may have your new GB TE #1 for the season which carries good value. Pick him up and stash him for a week if you have the room. I wouldn't completely buy into James Jones yet though he would be interesting in a keeper league to pick up if you have the room to stash a guy for a while. Given Driver's age and injury issue, Jones could even pay off this year IF he continues to get the playing time instead of Driver.

COWBOYS: What a difference a day makes....Romo looks to be out anywhere from 6 to 10 weeks with a fractured clavicle. While Kitna is a serviceable replacement, he is far from the threat or talent Romo is. Dez Bryant would be about the only guy I trust as far as the receivers go since he will run those routes Kitna is comfortable with. Austin takes the biggest hit, as his down field value diminishes with Kitna. I would buy low on Felix Jones however. The Boys will need to run the ball more often in hopes of not putting too much on Kitna and Jones has the best upside. The problem comes if the Cowboys continue to find themselves behind and need to pass more. Even then, Jones pass catching ability does make him interesting. While the Cowboys won't necessarily mail it in for the season, they are in a big hole to dig out of. We will have to see what Kitna can do since he's always been an under rated QB and has ability to manage a game if given the chance. This could not be as bad as we all think if Kitna avoids turning the ball over.

GIANTS: Manning started off bad but finished with a career day, tossing 4 TD's. Jacobs and Bradshaw continued their effectiveness in their new defined roles and Hakeem Nicks had another feast this game. Steve Smith may have cemented himself as the #2 WR you want over Manningham, but week to week it is still uncertain. Nicks is the only sure play at WR but now Jacobs has increased his value big time. The Giants have a great schedule after the bye but face Minnesota, Philadelphia, and Green Bay come playoff time. Something to keep in your mind going forward. If you have depth at RB and Jacobs is on your squad I say sell high and address weaknesses on your team.

WEEK 7 PREVIEW

CINCINNATI BENGALS at ATLANTA FALCONS: BENGALS: The Bengals no doubt spent their bye week shoring up their pass issues. Ochocinco, T.O. and Carson Palmer have not looked in snyc this year and it has affected Cedric Benson's effectiveness. They now face Atlanta who plays better at home but is facing further pass defense issues as Dunta Robinson looks to be held out this week due to his concussion after a hit on Deshaun Jackson. Atlanta already ranks 25th against the pass and that was with Robinson. Cincinnati ranks 7th passing even with their lack of continuity passing wise and face a great match up here. Look for the Bengals to air it out often and Carson to have his best game of the season after preparing well to take advantage of the situation. Atlanta ranks 9th against the rush so expect an average day for Benson.

FALCONS: The Falcons boast the 7th rated rush offense and face the Bengals 18th ranked rush defense. The Falcons know the Bengals will air it out and will give Cedric Benson all the work he can handle to keep the ball out of Palmer's hands. Matt Ryan finally got Jenkins back who saw as many targets as White last week. The Bengals do have corners capable of covering Jenkins and White well leaving the opportunity to bring a man up against Turner's rush attack. Turner has not looked particularly stellar this year but will be a good start given the work load he should see. Given the tight secondary the Bengals will play, look for Gonzales to score with single coverage.

Cincinnati has the better match ups here offensively and despite their lack of a pass rush will probably use a lot of cover 1 effectively. Cincinnati is in a much more desperate situation and coming off an extra week to prepare should be effective. Atlanta plays great at home but loses this one by a hair. CINCI 27-ATL 24.

FANTASY STARTS: BENGALS: Palmer (270 yds. 2 TD) Ochocinco (5 for 90 1 TD) T.O. (4 for 60 1 TD) FALCONS: Turner (19 for 100 yds. 1 TD) Gonzales (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD) White (7 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: J. Greisham CIN...Given how the ATL secondary will have it's hands full, Greisham should be productive and sneak in for a score.

JACKSONVILLE JAGS at KC CHIEFS: JAGS: David Gerrard went down with what seems to be yet another concussion on Monday night and Trent Edwards has been diagnosed with a thumb injury serious enough for Del Rio to call in some players for a work out. Whoever the QB is, it will be on them to win this game. KC ranks 5th against the run so MJD should be relatively held in check. Good news for Jags is that they also rank 25th against the pass. However if it boils down to Patrick Ramsey or some other guy they pull off the street all Jags, yes even MJD become secondary thoughts if you have another warm body to replace them. If Gerrard does play, MJD is an average play but Simms-Walker and Mike Thomas become decent #3 WR options.

CHIEFS: Somehow in a game where everything went right for the Chiefs they managed to lose. It was a bad call, but none the less was a loss. Todd Hailey has these guys believing in what they can do and the Chiefs are a legitimate contender for the division this year. Jacksonville is 19th against the run where the Chiefs are tops in the league. The Jags are even worse against the pass facing a Matt Cassel that hit his stride last week and looks to build on it. All the Chiefs look to be solid plays this week in Arrowhead where it's tough enough for better teams to win much less the Jags.

The Chiefs should have a field day with Jacksonville, regardless who starts.

KC 28-JAGS 17.

FANTASY STARTS: CHIEFS: Charles (13 for 90 yds 1 TD) Jones (10 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Cassel (240 yds 1 TD) Bowe (4 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
JAGS: If Gerrard plays...MJD (14 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Mike Simms-Walker (4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Chris Chambers....If KC gets up quick they will want to involve Chambers and show him some love after he was the only one left out in the cold last week.

WASHINGTON REDSKINS at CHICAGO BEARS: SKINS: Mcnabb and co. finally ran out of 4th quarter luck against the Colts. Washington continues to hang around and while they are not excelling in anything they always get that play when they need it. Torain should find it hard against the Bears 3rd ranked rush defense leaving it to Mcnabb to put up the points. I love Anthony Armstrong and think by season end he becomes this teams leading TD grabber. Look for a big game from him this week against the Bears 18th ranked pass D.
BEARS: A huge let down last week to the Seabags will have this team hungry again. I called the upset last week and believe it was a result of several factors, one being Cutlers rust. That won't be the case this week. Greg Olsen needs to be involved this week as Martz tends to just forget about him yet the team is more effective when he gets targets. Aromashadu actually played last week and is interesting this week to see how they use him. The Skins rank 31st against the pass so there should be plenty to go around for Knox, Olsen and even Hester.

The Bears offense should thrive in this match up as there really is no Washington defense to speak of.
BEARS 31- SKINS 21

FANTASY STARTS: WASH: Mcnabb (250 yds. 2 TD) Armstrong (5 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Moss (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD) CHI: Cutler (300yds. 3 TD) Knox (6 for 110 yds. 1 TD) Hester (5 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Forte ( 14 for 90 yds./ 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Olsen ( 4 for 50 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: K. Williams WASH....after last week, he should look to be more involved going ahead. Maybe as a 3rd down back but could see more action with Torain a bit nicked up.

CLEVELAND BROWNS at NO SAINTS: BROWNS: As if it couldn't get worse, Massoqoui and Cribbs went down with injuries. Massoqoui seems more serious as he may have a concussion and was down for a bit before getting up. Cribbs is a gamer and it wouldn't surprise me if he plays. McCoy probably gets the start, but he is facing an uphill battle against a NO pass Defense that ranks 7th and likes to bring the heat. NO brought 8 and even 9 men up against the Bucs last week and should have no problem being effective again. Hillis says he will be fine after getting banged up as well but will see too many Saints in his way to be effective.
SAINTS: Quite simply, a great match up for Brees and co. whom will be facing the Browns 21st pass defense and 23rd Run defense. Chris Ivory should get the start again and is a good bet to hit 100 yards. Look for Colston to get his this week after not having a huge day while everyone else did against the Bucs.

The Saints should roll over the Browns...NO 32-CLE 13.

FANTASY STARTS: BROWNS: Watson (7 for 60yds. 1 TD) Hillis (17 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SAINTS: EVERYBODY!!! Just be wary of Devery Henderson who continues to look phased out since Bush' injury.
SLEEPER: Julius Jones....The Saints should be trying to be respectable and run often in the 4th, giving Ivory some rest and Jones garbage time that could result in a score. Betts is a possibility here too depending on which back Payton wants to get a better look at.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES at TENNESSEE TITANS: EAGLES: Kolb gets the nod as Vick still lingers and all of a sudden Reid seems to be easing off the Vick is the starter rhetoric. The Eagles will be without Deshaun Jackson who suffered memory loss and is a good bet to lose decent time possibly after the bye week. Jason Avant becomes the pick up you want since he's a good possession guy and does have the ability to break one. Celek gets a big boost since he already is Kolb's go to guy in the red zone and of course Maclin is a must start. The Titans have the 23rd ranked pass defense and 8th rush defense so look for a lot of success through the air.
TITANS: Vince Young got away with only a knee sprain but is iffy for Sunday as it stands. Collins looked like he hasn't missed a beat, and should get the start even if Young feels good to go. Scaife seemed to actually play better with Collins and gets a little boost here since Britt will be facing the Eagles 9th rated pass defense. Tennessee will...run the ball, especially against a lower tier rush defense like the Eagles. Look for a lot of ground game, ball control to keep Kolb off the field.

The Titans are hot right now and looking for three straight as are the Eagles. This will be an interesting game and higher scoring than most people would expect since both teams strengths play to each others weaknesses. While the CJ run game will eat clock and move the ball, I give the edge to the Eagles who have a stronger pass game and may force a rusty Collins into a turnover or two which decides the game. Collins looked good last week, but it was the Jags. PHI 28-TEN 24

FANTASY STARTS: EAGLES: Celek (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Maclin (8 for 100 yds. 1 TD) McCoy (14 for 60 yds. 1 TD) TITANS: CJ (16 for 110 yds. 2 TD) Britt (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Scaife ( 5 for 55 yds.)
SLEEPER: Jason Avant PHI....He will see enough targets and if the Titans force coverage on Maclin he will get a lions share of the yardage with a score.

BUFFALO BILLS at BALTIMORE RAVENS: BILLS: Fred Jackson is expected to get the ball in his hands more as Buffalo realizes he is their best option as CJ Spiller develops. Unfortunately, he will face 8 man fronts since Baltimore has the 3rd rated pass defense and is capable of keeping the Bills receivers in check with man to man coverage. There really doesn't seem to be many positives for the Bills this week as the Ravens defensive strengths fit well with the Bills strengths. However, S. Johnson will be the one to watch as he has the speed and ability to make the Ravens pay if they get over zealous.
RAVENS: The Ravens are actually middle of the pack in both offensive categories and face a Bills team that does rank 10th against the pass and will focus on Boldin without having to worry about Todd Heap since he looks to miss a game after a helmet to helmet hit and possible concussion. Regardless, the Bills are dead last against the run and will need help up front if they want to try to stop Rice which will lead to Boldin getting his.

The Ravens should not allow a let down and will come out making sure the Bills have their backs against the wall early. BAL 28-BUFF 17.

FANTASY STARTS: BILLS: S. Johnson (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Jackson (15 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
RAVENS: Flacco (280 yds. 2 TD) Rice (15 for 100 yds. 1 TD) Boldin (6 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Mason ( 5 for 90 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: W. Mcgahee....after getting zero touches last week, Ray Rice is a prime candidate to get rest after leaving a mark on this worst rated run defense allowing McGahee a good amount of touches.

PITTSBURGH STEELERS at MIAMI DOLPHINS: STEELERS: Roethlisberger was no doubt hungry and had a great match up against the Browns during his return. While he will be prepared this week, he faces a much better pass defense in Miami ranked 12th against the pass, and he is on the road for the first time. The Dolphins are a well balanced team defensively, ranking 16th against the run. Big Ben does have the weapons to expose the Dolphins, but Miami is quick and will be his first real challenge of the year. Even against Cleveland there were moments where you saw the little rust and the adjustment to throwing to Wallace. Mendenhall should be called on to relieve that pressure but also will face a decent challenge on the road. Ben's conditioning will also be tested in what is expected to be 90 degree heat with the good old Florida humidity.
DOLPHINS: Henne and the team are coming off a huge confidence booster after beating Green Bay on the road and will no doubt be ready for the Steelers as a result. The Steelers are 1st against the run which will limit the Dolphins 14th run offense. However, the Steelers are 24th against the pass and facing a Henne that will have more steadiness throwing the ball. Marshall should be in for a good day, and the emergence of Bess and Hartline will be an issue for the Steelers.

My upset of the week, Miami's pass game steps up two weeks straight and Ben comes back to earth after an easy opening game. MIA 23-PITT 20.

FANTASY STARTS: STEELERS: Wallace (5 for 80 yds.) Ward (7 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Miller (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Mendenhall ( 16 for 80 yds. 1 TD) DOLPHINS: Bess (5 for 60 yds 1 TD) Hartline (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Marshall (7 for 85 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Fasano...the Dolphins should be in a position where they throw often to win and Fasano will find room in the middle of the field possibly getting either Bess' or Hartline's score instead of them when it gets inside the ten.

ST. LOUIS RAMS at TAMPA BAY BUCS: RAMS: They got their biggest win of the year without their best receiver as Danario Alexander looks to be the newest rookie sensation. However, the Rams have yet to win on the road and have only traveled to Oakland and Detroit. This will be the Rams second game outdoors so far all year. Bradford continues to make a case for ROY and looks to have a new weapon in Alexander who came from the practice squad and showed his speed, burning SD for a TD pass. Tampa does have run stop issues, ranking 31st against the run. They lead the league in interceptions, but rank 16th against the pass. Steven Jackson must be salivating at this match up with good reason.

BUCS: After playing a great defensive game against the Bengals, the Bucs as they often do came out looking equally as bad against the Saints. Part of it was Drew Brees understanding of the Bucs defense, facing them twice a year for quite some time, and part was blown assignments in the secondary. They still have only 1 sack in four of their games, and are abysmal at stopping the run. Their run game has been as bad, ranking 27th and the loss of Huggins should have the Bucs turning to Graham who has always been reliable. Mike Williams is a good play here as the Rams rank 20th against the pass. The wild card player here is Stroughter, whom the Rams will have trouble accounting for in the middle of the field.

This could be an interesting game, coming down to the 4th quarter. The key here is if the Bucs secondary can hold Rams receivers in check using man and cover 1, allowing extra bodies to guard against Steven Jackson. Since the Rams have yet to win a road contest and Alexander's talents will be no surprise.......BUCS 23-RAMS 21

FANTASY STARTS: RAMS: Jackson (17 for 110yds. 2 TD) Amendola (11 for 90 yds. 1 TD)

BUCS: M. Williams (6 for 90 yds 1 TD) Stroughter ( 5 for 80 yds.) Winslow (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: E. Graham....if his hammy is healthy this week, watch for Graham to get a good share of the carries if Williams comes out struggling again. The Bucs will probably allow Cadillac two series to see where he is and then make an adjustment.

SF 49ERS at CAROLINA PANTHERS: SAN FRAN: Finally, a win, though it was at home against Jason Campbell whom was horrible last week with a 10.7 passer rating. The win also came at the expense of Vernon Davis whom suffered a strained right knee and is day to day. Crabtree has settled in as I called once they made the change from Jimmy Raye at OC. Despite the win, don't be fooled into thinking San Fran found it's passing game. They were struggling early and were still sporadic passing wise. They face a Carolina team coming off a bye with extra prep time that ranks 5th against the pass. Where they will have great success is in the run where Carolina is 26th. Expect heavy doses of Frank Gore with average at best passing numbers.

PANTHERS: Matt Moore gets the call at QB. Carolina has opted to protect their franchise QB Clausen and not feed him to the wolves. However, like Gore, Williams and Stewart should have productive days against the SF 20th ranked run defense. Steve Smith did practice on Wednesday, so it may open things a bit for Carolina as San Francisco is 11th against the pass. He's always been a good healer, and should be good to go Sunday. San Francisco ranks 10th in total yards allowed despite their run D problems and is an indication of how they will give up plays but do have success holding opponents from long drives.

This game looks like toss up, you have two teams that love to run the ball. I am a big fan of teams coming off a bye week facing close match ups. SF does have more weapons, but if Davis is unable to go, this becomes a dead even race. Carolina has yet to put up more than 7 pts. at home and SF has maxed out at 14 pts. on the road. Carolina wins a close one that sees both teams score more than their norms.
CAR 24-SF 20.

FANTASY STARTS: SF: Gore (17 for 90 yds. 1 TD/ 4 for 40 yds.) Crabtree (5 for 70 yds 1 TD)

PANTHERS: Williams (13 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Stewart (9 for 50 yds. 1 TD) S. Smith (4 for 60yds. 1 TD)

ARIZONA CARDINALS at SEATTLE SEAHAWKS: ARIZONA: The Cards are coming off a bye where hopefully Beannie Wells had yet another week to get healthy and in shape to perform. Max Hall received a ton of credit for their win versus NO but his actual play was far from better than Anderson. Hall does have the luxury of facing the 30th ranked pass defense, but is in Seattle where better teams find it hard to win. Seattle is 2nd against the run so despite Wells return don't expect much.

SEAHAWKS: A huge win in Chicago may be just what this team needed to propel them to that next level of play they have been lacking. It should be easy for the Hawks to execute against Arizona as they are 26th and 29th against the Pass and Run respectively. Mike Williams continues his return from the depths of obscurity under his college coach. Marshawn Lynch had some very telling carries last week which seem to point in the direction of him being the goal line/red zone back.

While this will be a hard fought divisional game, the Seahawks always find ways to win at home and Sunday should be no different against a lesser opponent. The game should be closer than expected though since they will get Arizona's best effort after a bye week. Take the points with Arizona if you're a betting man. SEA 24-ARI 21.

FANTASY STARTS: ARI: Fitzgerald (7 for 100yds. 1 TD) Wells (16 for 60yds. 1 TD)

SEA: M. Williams (4 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Butler (3 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Forsett (12 for 60yds./3 for 20 yds.) Lynch ( 9 for 70 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: B. Patrick ARI....Patrick hat five receptions last week and as everyone knows a TE is a young QB's best friend. Expect Patrick to see about as many catches again with a score as the attention focus' on Fitz come red zone time.

OAKLAND RAIDERS at DENVER BRONCOS: RAIDERS: oh what a difference a week makes. Oakland pounded SD defensively two weeks ago and then comes up flat against the 49ers. Campbell may be out this week leaving Kyle Boller at QB who actually looked very good in pre-season. Believe it or not, he may be the best QB on this team in my eyes. He is more of a pocket presence and has been waiting for a shot at becoming a starter in the NFL again. I believe he actually helps the value of the Raiders WR's, but especially Z. Miller who will be his security blanket. McFadden will test the hammy out this week and looks close to a return. He and Bush should see plenty of yardage against the Bronco 25th ranked run defense.

BRONCOS: A heart breaker against the Jets last week will have the Broncos up and ready for a divisional match against the Raiders. The Broncos horrible run game actually broke the century mark in a collective effort that saw Tebow rush for his first score. If Moreno is going to have a good game this year it should come against the Raiders as they are 30th against the run. This will make it easier against the Raiders tough secondary and is the key to winning this game. Orton targeted Thomas heavily in the second half and seems to be his go to guy in the red zone.

The Broncos will get the Raiders best shot this week. However, the Broncos have three great WR's and that may be one more than the Raiders can handle despite their tough pass D. In the end, it should be the Denver run game of all things that makes the difference and forces the Raiders loss. DEN 28- OAK 21.

FANTASY STARTS: OAK: McFadden (12 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Bush (10 for 60 yds. 1 TD) Miller (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Murphy (4 for 50 yds.) DENVER: Moreno (15 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Gaffney ( 4 for 60 yds.) Lloyd (6 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Thomas (5 for 70 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Heyward Bey....With Murphy drawing Champ Bailey, Heyward Bey should be the one who has the most success out of the two Raider wide outs...if he shows up that is.

NE PATRIOTS at SD CHARGERS: PATRIOTS: New Englands new dink and dunk pass offense had success last week against Baltimore and the emergence of Woodhead is for real. Especially in this new offense, Woodhead should thrive. This new offense should be the perfect fit going against the Chargers 1st ranked pass Defense and they don't allow many big downfield plays. The Chargers are just as stout against the run 5th and given that NE has a weak run game we could see Brady air it out 40-50 times this week. All the NE receivers should bring in decent numbers due to sheer work load, but especially A. Hernandez.

CHARGERS: Another loss, this time at the Rams has a bitter taste in the franchise's mouth. They may have lost Floyd for this game and Gates looks like he will play through a toe injury. Regardless, SD does have enough talent to be effective against the Pats 29th pass defense. Expect to see a heavy work load for Mathews this week and for him to be effective. Mike Tolbert only saw three carries last week but did score. Due to the Pats weak rush defense 17th, I see Mathews getting the goal line touch as they need him to get going.

This will be one of the better games of the weekend. NE makes the East coast to West coast trip which is always a hard one. While they will be in the game, the Chargers have just too much to lose at this point and their backs are against the wall. Their defense is the difference maker.

SD 28- PATS 20.

FANTASY STARTS: NE: Brady (260 yds. 2 TD) Welker (7 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Woodhead (90 total yards) Branch (4 for 50 yds. 1 TD) SD: Rivers (300yds 2 TD) Mathews (16 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Gates (8 for 90 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Buster Davis...with Floyd out, Davis becomes the field stretcher and connects on one deep.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at GREEN BAY PACKERS: VIKINGS: Finally out of their slump, the Vikes looked effective against Dallas and could be the spark they needed. Moss gets another week of practice with Favre which is needed. He still looks a bit uncomfortable out there but the more time that passes will develop their connection. The Packers rank 21st against the run so Peterson could have success her and will be a big part of the game to keep the ball out of Rogers hands.

PACKERS: Green Bay defense gets a boost with the return of Matthews this week and they will need it facing a Viking offense slowly coming into their own with Moss in the fold. Green Bay had a let down last week against Miami and the loss of Finley with Driver's injury slowing him down has had it's effect on this once explosive offense. The run game allowed the trade deadline to pass without getting help. Don't expect much either as the Vikes rank 11th against the run and are even better against the pass.

While Green Bay needs this game desperately, there seems to be a lack of confidence surrounding this team. The lack of any run offense has had big impact on the offense overall and the Vikings many weapons are going to cause issues for the Pack. I think the Pack actually lose another one at home. VIKES 24-GB 21.

FANTASY STARTS: VIKINGS: Moss ( 5 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Harvin ( 4 for 50 yds/ 2 rush for 25 yds.) Peterson (16 for 90 yds. 1 TD) PACK: Rogers (250 yds. 2 TD) Jennings (7 for 90 yds. 1 TD)

SLEEPER: D. Lee...after being held in check last week the Pack need that TE position to be a difference maker. Lee should become more involved and score as the Viking defense clamps down against the run in the red zone.

WEEK 3 PREDICTIONS

CLEVELAND at BALTIMORE: Easily overmatched and on the road, Flacco should have his way with the secondary. Clevelands run defense is better than the perception and could hold Ray Rice under control. Seneca Wallace should be getting another start after a good performance last week, and Cribbs should touch the ball more if the Browns have a shot to compete. Hillis and Harrison will face their toughest opponents yet and given their low rushing totals so far, they should have no place to go. The Ravens have yet to hit their stride Offensively and this could be just what they needed to get things moving. After being man handled again by the Bengals, look for the Ravens to come out strong and not let up. Baltimore wins 28-13.



FANTASY STARTS: CLEVELAND- Cribbs (5 for 70 yds 1 TD) BALTIMORE- Rice (14 for 65/ 4 catch for 35 1 TD) Boldin (6 for 85 1 TD) Mason ( 4 for 50 1 TD) Flacco (240 yds. 2 TD)

SLEEPER: McGahee...he could steal some carries once this one gets out of hand as well as a goal line steal.



CINCINNATI at CAROLINA: The Bengals are averaging 340 yds/pg versus Carolina's 257. Given the Bengals ability to hold Baltimore down last week, the defense should have it's swagger back and make Clausen's first NFL start one to forget. Steve Smith has a deep bruise on his wrist though mild injuries don't seem to hinder him. Chad Ochocinco has a fractured rib and could be a late scratch given the opponent. Carolina doesn't have the horses to compete with top tier teams this year and Clausen will make a few mistakes that turn into points. The Bengals should feed Cedric Benson a good portion of touches in an effort to get him into a rhythm after a slow start. Bengals 23-Panthers 14.



FANTASY STARTS: CAROLINA- Steve Smith (5 for 70 yds 1 TD) Williams (19 for 80 1 TD)

CINCINNATI- Benson (18 for 90 1 TD) Palmer ( 260 yds. 2 TD) T.O. (7 for 90 1 RD) Ochocinco could get those numbers if he plays the duration.

SLEEPER: J. Greisham...If Ocho is given some time to rest, Greisham could be utilized often.



DALLAS at HOUSTON: These two teams are actually close statistically in YPG and Passing but it all separates when it comes to PPG. Dallas is averaging a poor 13.5 compared to Houston's 32. This may be a must win game for Dallas but Houston proved they can score with anyone and are the real deal.Last week was their first ever OT win. The Defense will allow Dallas to score better than the previous two games which can make this a shoot out until the end. Andre Johnson's ankle will be a big factor in how this game turns out. The Texans become very one dimensional without him and even if he isn't at top speed it's better than not having him on the field. Dallas will have to get their run game going and control the clock, keeping the ball out of Schaub's hands. If Dallas loses I would not be surprised to see Jerry Jones pave the way for a bye week firing of Phillips. This team is portraying all the signs of poor prep and some new blood could be what they need to spark some fire under them. Roy Williams has all but lost the job to Dez Bryant, whom has done more in two games than Williams last six. Contingent upon the health of Johnson, Houston wins 28-24.



FANTASY STARTS: DALLAS- Dez Bryant (7 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Austin (9 for 110 1 TD) Romo (290 yds. 2 TD) HOUSTON- Foster (18 for 95 1 TD/ 3 for 25) Johnson ( 8 for 100 yds. 1 TD) Schaub ( 300 yds. 2 TD)

SLEEPER: Felix Jones...The Texans have yet to face a speed back and Jones could provide them some problems. J. Jones (Hou)...He was able to display a bit of his ability against Washington and given Johnson's ankle issue they may look to ease his work load giving Jones a chance to shine.



SAN FRANCISCO at KANSAS CITY: The new Arrowhead is as hostile a place to play as the old one, just ask the Chargers. The Chiefs always take it to another level at home and after a great start will be playing at full speed. The lack of a pass game outside of Vernon Davis should help the Chiefs focus in on Gore who will be coming off a short week where he carried a heavy load. KC is in a good postion to win only if Cassel can do better than he has and get his receivers involved early. KC has yet to face a good LB corps like the Niners, whom will be able to keep the run game in check. The way Rivers and Seneca Wallace were able to pass on KC could turn out being the secondary key to the game. Alex Smith looked a lot better on Monday night and although they lost, I think it may have been a slight motivator confidence wise knowing they can come back when the game is on the line. Look for Charles to get more work here as Weiss follows the Saints game plan and sends Charles running routes more often than normal. The speed of the SF linebackers will prove tough for Thomas Jones' style. Although this game is a toss up, Alex Smith has shown he is playing at a high level for him and we have yet to see Cassel scratch the surface of a good outing. This is where he does, and it pays off. KC squeaks it out 17-14.



FANTASY STARTS: KANSAS CITY-Charles (10 for 45/ 4 for 50 yds. 1 TD) Bowe ( 4 for 60 yds. 1 TD) SAN FRANCISCO- Davis ( 7 for 85 1 TD) Gore (14 for 70 yds/ 5 for 55 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Crabtree, SF...Both Naanee and Cribbs had success againts this secondary and Crabtree knows the bust birds are circling.



PITTSBURGH at TAMPA BAY: This game is one of the more intriguing games due to the fact that it is the only game on Sunday where two 2-0 teams will square off and that it should be closer that what you would think given the recent history of these two teams. The Steelers are winning with Defense and Dixon was proving to be the QB they expected to groom for the future. However, after a miniscus injury Dixon is out and either Leftwich or Batch is in. The Bucs know Leftwich well, but Batch should be the front runner due to health. The Bucs had success shutting down the Carolina run game and the Defense in general seems to be playing as fast as they ever have. The Steelers have so far kept teams with more explosive backs in check, so it will be on the Bucs passing game to try and put up points through the air. Mendenhall should be called on often to allow whoever the QB is to settle in on their first start. This should be where the Buc D focuses and forces Pittsburgh to beat them through the air. At the risk of making a bias projection, the Bucs pull this one out 16-14.



FANTASY STARTS: BUCS- Winslow (7 for 50 1TD.) Mike Williams ( 8 for 60 1 TD)

STEELERS- Mendenhall (18 for 90 1 TD) Ward (6 for 70 1 TD)

SLEEPER: Stroughter (TB)...The Bucs will need to spread the ball around and Stroughter could provide a big game out of the slot where the Steeler secondary weakens a bit.



DETROIT LIONS at MINNESOTA: Who in the world would have expected the PPG stats to be 23 vs 9.5 in the LIONS favor! I have a hard time believing the Sidney Rice was that integral a part of this team that would have the Vikes averaging only 185 yds per game. Their slow start looks to me more the result of guys playing out of position and a lack of chemistry due to the Favre holdout and injuries. The Vikings get the match up they need in the Lions, whom have lost Nate Burleson to his yearly ankle injury and Matt Stafford to his yearly shoulder injury. Though missing both men, Shaun Hill has stepped in admirably and Detroit is a team that will fight until the end. Jhavid Best is proving to be this years best rookie back so far and could give the Vikes some headaches. Regardless, the Vikings run game will be able to control the clock and Favre should find a rhythm finally with Harvin and Berrian. Harvin is nursing a hip strain, but it didn't seem to hamper him too much last week. Pettigrew had a great outing last week and should get more looks with Burleson out. Given how well the Lions are playing, the Vikings could just as easily lose this game as they could win it. In the end, the Vikings home stand proves dividends and they pull away 28-17.



FANTASY STARTS: LIONS- Best (16 for 50 yds/ 4 for 55 1 TD) Johnson (7 for 80 yds. 1 TD)

VIKINGS- A.P. ( 16 for 90 1 TD/ 4 for 35) Harvin ( 6 for 72 1 TD) Favre ( 250 yds. 2 TD)

SLEEPER: Bryant Johnson...someone will need to step up in Burleson's place and help take pressure off Megatron. Johnson had some good games last year and could sneak up on the Vikings.

BUFFALO at NEW ENGLAND: New QB, same result. The Bills are a rebuilding team who need more help than they can draft in one year. They are young and better days are ahead. Normally a competitive game by the Bills, I think the swap to a new QB making his first start on the road here hurts. Lee Evans has been a complete let down though not his fault and Chan Gailey has not really brought the spark everyone hoped for. Lynch needs to be traded to get some help fast. New England is back on track in what should be an easy day. New England 31-17

FANTASY STARTS: NEW ENGLAND: Uhh, everyone. BUFFALO: NOBODY!! With Lynch getting all the work last week and Gailey now promising Spiller will get a bigger work load with Fred Jackson. Until there are only two RB's in this town there is nobody safe starting.
SLEEPER: Roscoe Parrish: He has seemed to get the little bit of work amongst the WR and could post some good numbers since Buffalo will be throwing a lot.

ATLANTA at NEW ORLEANS: Mike Turner is expected to be back and active this week but pay close attention to how much work he gets on Thursday practice. Overall, this is a bad sign for Atlanta who overworked Turner last year and wound up missing him in some games. Matt Ryan is proving to be a one dimensional QB who needs more weapons. Gonzales has maybe hit the end of the road and no Mike Jenkins forced Ryan to target White a ridiculous 25 times? Atlanta is an easy team to scheme for and New Orleans should have a fairly easy game at home. Atlanta will make the score look closer than the game actually is. Fantasy wise, no NO WR has looked really great or put up the big numbers. I think the loss of Bush will hurt more than people think. Chris Ivory may be a good waiver claim but Deshaun Wynn should get all the initial work, but it will be limited since Pierre Thomas can will be a work horse. NO 28-21.

FANTASY STARTS: ATLANTA: Turner/Snelling ( 17 for 80 yds. 4 for 46 1 TD) White (9 for 110 1 TD) NEW ORLEANS: Thomas (19 for 90 yds. 6 for 45 1 TD) Brees (290 yds. 3 TD) Colston ( 6 for 90 1 TD) Meachem (5 for 80)
SLEEPER: Chris Ivory...He showed explosiveness in the pre-season and if healthy could get a few touches that are made to count.

TENNESSEE at NY GIANTS: This should be one of the better games to watch because this game should say a lot about how these teams deal with adversity going forward. The Giants were dismantled by the Colts and Brandon Jacobs meltdown led to a meeting with management. The Titans benched Vince Young and last time he was benched it wasn't good. Coaches seem more comfortable than ever benching then starting QB's but I don't see Young as a guy that appreciates it. Then again every competitive QB wants in there regardless. Chris Johnson should have a good but not great day as the Giants force VY to beat them with the throw. Giants win a close one, 20-17

FANTASY STARTS: NY GIANTS: Manning (250 yds 2 TD) Nicks ( 5 for 80 1 TD) Manningham (4 for 60 1TD) TITANS: CJ ( 17 for 96/ 3 for 40 1 TD) Nate Washington ( 4 for 65 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Brandon Jacobs....He is bound to get a bigger workload after supposedly asking for a trade and making his frustrations known. The Giants know they need him for the long season and will appease him by giving him 10 to 12 touches and maybe some goal line work.

WASHINGTON at ST.LOUIS: The Redskins have shown more Offense than anyone anticipated given their lack of receiver depth. Larry Johnson was released yesterday, opening the door for Keiland Williams who could steal the lead back job if given a real opportunity. Portis won't be healthy all year and the Redskins may have a diamond in the rough here. The Rams have been the best losing team to watch so far with Bradford and Mark Clayton surprising critics. The Rams will beat some unsuspecting teams this year and it may just start this week. Portis is a bit banged up and two hard fought games should have Washington's aged team a bit slower than normal. Upset of the week, St. Louis wins 21-17.

FANTASY START: WASHINGTON: Cooley (5 for 68 1 TD) Moss (7 for 95 1 TD) McNabb (225 2 TD) ST. LOUIS: Clayton (8 for 110 1 TD) Jackson ( 16 for 90 1 TD/ 6 for 60)
SLEEPER: Bradford...Washington has given up a lot of points through the air and Bradford could have a statistically great game fantasy wise.

PHILADELPHIA at JACKSONVILLE: Looks like the locker room won here as Reid came out on Monday naming Kolb the starter then flip flopped naming Vick the starter on Tuesday. The players will rally around Vick who really does give them the best chance to win for now. I do agree with Mr. Clayton form ESPN though in believing this is a bad long term decision. Kolb is the future and what happens when Vick wets the bed? While Kolb looked weak in both pre-season and game 1, lets see what happens as the season wares on. For now, Vick is a top five QB start this week. Mike Simms-Walker was finally involved last week though most of it was garbage time. I have been preaching that something is wrong with MJD since pre-season. He has had an amazing amount of work the last four years and that 500 carry mark is when backs start to show signs of over use. I believe MJD is playing hurt and while he will be an every day start, he will not come close to his top five draft status. This could be a closer game than expected as Jacksonville always seems to play their A game at home. Philadelphia wins though 24-21.

FANTASY STARTS: PHILADELPHIA: Vick ( 230 yds. 2 TD/ 4 for 50 yds) D. Jackson ( 6 for 85 1 TD) McCoy ( 16 for 75 yds/ 4 for 40 1 TD) JACKSONVILLE: Simms-Walker (7 for 90 1 TD) Gerrard ( 250 yds. 2 TD) MJD (16 for 90yds. 1 TD) M. Lewis (6 for 70 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Mike Thomas...not necessarily a sleeper, Thomas should produce as most of the attention is on the right side of the field and MJD.

INDIANAPOLIS at DENVER: The Broncos will play an emotional game coming off the death of receiver Mckinley. How they respond is anyone's guess and there would be no criticism should they fall flat under the circumstances. I do think they play a hard fought game and give the Colts a run for their money. The return of Moreno and Buckhalter is good news as the passing attack will become more balanced. Orton loves to spread the ball around and the run game return adds another dimension. He has quietly thrown for 295 and 302 in 2 games. The Colts picked apart the Giants last weekend but they will face a stiffer challenge as the Broncos secondary is much better than the Giants. Pierre Garcon's disappearing act has been tempered by Austin Collie's emergence and the run game had it's first decent game last week. If the Broncos come out strong amid their adversity, this could be an upset. Broncos 31 Colts 28.

FANTASY STARTS: INDIANAPOLIS: Wayne (7 for 90 yds 1 TD) Collie ( 5 for 70 yds) Manning (300 yds 3 TD) Addai (16 for 80 1 TD/ 5 for 40 yds) DENVER: Orton (310 yds. 2 TD) Thomas (7 for 90 1 TD) Moreno (15 for 80 yds 1 TD) Royal ( 6 for 70 1 TD)
SLEEPER: J. Gaffney and P. Garcon...with the attention on Demaryus Thomas' breakout game and Royal being a known threat, this could be the game where Gaffney sneaks in a score again. The Broncos know what to expect form the Colts, and Garcon may be the key to Manning winning this one. Both receivers get out of the basement here.

OAKLAND at ARIZONA: Cable makes the smart move and Gradkowski is the starter. This benefits Louis Murphy the most since they seem to have a trust with each other. Being a TB fan, I see a lot of Jeff Garcia in Gradkowski whom served as his mentor somewhat. The return of McFadden helps take the pressure off a weak pass protecting Offensive line and Heyward-Bey's best game of his young career could mean good things to come. The Cards are in trouble and must be re-thinking the release of Leinart. Wells doesn't seem quite ready to play yet, but Hightower has taken the lead back role effectively, but the problem is with Anderson and the passing game. Fitzgerald will get his numbers, but looks so far like he will not reach his elite fantasy status. Especially with Asomugh covering him. Oakland wins this game behind a shifty Gradkowski and the run game, 21-14.

FANTASY STARTS: OAKLAND: Murphy (7 for 85 1 TD) Miller ( 6 for 70 1 TD) McFadden ( 22 for 120 yds. 1 TD) ARIZONA: Fitzgerald (5 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Hightower (17 for 80 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Breaston...who will need to have a good game and should have plenty of targets while Fitz is blanketed.

SAN DIEGO at SEATTLE: The Chargers bounced back after and upset loss in KC and Rivers could end up right behind Rogers as the league's top passer. Malcom Floyd met expectations last week, but the ankle injury to Matthews while minor could be something to watch long term. Mike Tolbert looks to be who they will turn to should he have issues and may get more carries this game than expected. Norv already stated he will split goal line duties with Matthews and could pose big problems for opposing Defenses. Seattle came back to earth last week and the lack of any production from their run game is allowing Defenses to key on the pass. While always tough at home, San Diego just has too many options and should win a high scoring affair. SD 34-28.

FANTASY STARTS: SAN DIEGO: Floyd ( 6 for 90 1 TD) Naanee ( 5 for 70 1 TD) Gates (6 for 80 1 TD) Matthews ( 17 for 70 yds. 1 TD) Rivers ( 320 yds. 3 TD) SEATTLE: Hasselbeck (290 yds. 2 TD) Williams ( 6 for 80 1 TD) Carlson ( 6 for 50 yds 1 TD) Forsett ( 13 for 55 yds/ 6 for 50 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Deion Branch...Branch is always a gamer at home and Hasselbeck trusts him.

NY JETS at MIAMI: Miami is coming off a big win at home against the Vikings but Henne still has yet to prove he is reliable as a passer. Marshall's stock will continue to be in doubt until Henne hits his stride. Ricky Williams has been non existent as Ronnie Brown has shown knee surgery has not hampered him. The lack of a number two threat out wide will keep teams in games against them. Their top rated pass defense will keep them competitive if Henne can produce. The Jets will not start Braylon Edwards after another DWI which kills their potential even more to score through the air, making them one dimensional. Even if Edwards plays this is an easy game for the Dolphins to plan for. Shonn Green and L.T. will be used heavily and I think the Dolphins follow suit with Williams getting more carries. Cromartie should shadow Marshall taking the Dolphins pass game away.

FANTASY STARTS: JETS: Greene (17 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Tomlinson ( 15 for 60 yds./ 6 for 50 yds. 1 TD) MIAMI: Brown ( 18 for 90 yds. 1 TD) Williams ( 13 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Fasano and Keller....Both teams will need to move the ball somehow through the air and their TE are the only decent second options as Cromarie and Davis hold each teams WR studs at bay.

GREEN BAY at CHICAGO: The Bears are riding high at 2-0 silencing the critics who doubted Cutler's abilities. Forte has bounced back after an off year and looks to be heavily involved all season long. This week will prove just how legit their Offense is facing a Defense that is much stronger than Detroit's or Dallas'. This game will come down to the Bears D ability to hold Rogers in some kind of check so that the game doesn't get away from them too fast and allow GB to sit back. While being able to use Forte as a pass catcher is a great weapon, I actually think the smarter move is to pound the ball with the run and keep the ball out of Rogers hands. If Chicago can win the posession time then they have a great chance. Regardless though, it doesn't take Rogers much time to score and the Bears have given up an average of 30 PPG. In the end Green Bay's Defense keeps Chicago from pulling it out. GB 31-28 CHI.

FANTASY STARTS: GREEN BAY...all the normal players in a game where Finley, Jennings, Jackson, and Driver score. CHICAGO: Forte (18 for 70 yds 1 TD/ 7 for 60 yds) Knox (6 for 70 1 TD) Cutler (270 yds. 2 TD) Hester ( 4 for 60 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: G. Olsen...Martz used Olsen last week with good results and I think he will need to do the same while Matthews is busy following Forte around. Olsen could easily take the stats projected for Hester or Knox.