SUNDAY IN REVIEW

BUCCANEERS: One yard....The Bucs were one yard away from winning this game on the road, but Legarrette Blount missed the hole and chose a lane which led him into a chop tackle just short on 4th and 1. This team is still in the thick of things for the NFC South and showed poise on the road against the divisional leaders. Raheem Morris continues to allow Cadillac Williams the starters carries for the first two drives of every game and those are very significant tone setting carries which are being lost to Cadillac's ineffectiveness. Blount should be the lead back with Caddy as the 3rd down guy from here on out. The rush defense was better this week, but still allowed Turner 100 yards. Mike Williams is the guy you want most on this team, scoring once again and breaking a 52 yard TD on a ten yard pass. Blount has more favorable match ups coming and was simply a victim of a good rush defense. Aurellious Benn has emerged as the Bucs true #2 WR and is worth picking up off waivers in a keeper league while you can.

FALCONS: The Falcons defense held when it needed it most and escaped by a yard to cement themselves atop the NFC South. Roddy White went down with a knee injury in the first half but returned. This could be worth watching as he was largely ineffective and Ryan looked more to Gonzales and Jenkins. Matt Ryan seems to have found great comfort ability in the pocket but will be hindered if he loses White. His value is clearly tied to White's health and he should finish the second half of the year as a top ten QB if White is healthy.

DOLPHINS: Chad Henne continues the Jeykle and Hyde act as he tossed three picks and no TD's. Given it was against one of the NFL top defenses, but he is not a guy to trust as your starter. Brown had another good game, scoring with 59 yards rushing. He is trustworthy as a #2 RB but I would rather see him in a flex spot if you have better options. Brandon Marshall is a must start since you probably drafted him high but really is only safe as a WR 3 with amazing upside depending on Henne's day. The Dolphins are better plays at home stat wise but use caution on any other guys except Brown and Marshall.

RAVENS: The Ravens came out firing after the bye week. Ray Rice found his usual form rushing for 83 yards and receiving for 97 yards though he did not score. Derik Mason and Willis Mcgahee caught the only two TD passes. Boldin was kept in obscurity catching only 2 balls for 28 yards. The Ravens are one of the few teams that have lived up to the hype and have yet to really let down. Boldin and Rice are the studs, but I think Flacco and Mason are being very undervalued. Both guys are putting up solid numbers for their position and you should be able to get them for lower value than you would expect. If you have Mcgahee, trade him to upgrade or get depth at another position you need while his value is high this week. He is too sporadic to trust overall.

BEARS: While the Bears had a bye week to prepare for this game, they came out a bit flat, most likely due to the time off. It really doesn't matter since they get the win though. Cutler was only at about 55% but more importantly he didn't throw an interception. He seemed to manage his throws well and pick his spots. Forte had another ho-hum game on the ground getting 49 on 14 carries and not being a factor in the pass game. After a fast start, Forte has slowed a bit giving fantasy owners an average of 8 PPG. He still has great potential but faces the Vikings twice, the Jets, Philadelphia, and Miami on the road. Receiving wise, Earl Bennett had the catch this week but Knox is the only true threat overall. None of them are better than WR #3. Forte though should be considered a RB #2 due to schedule the rest of the way. He does have a good match vs Detroit but it gets tougher overall.

BILLS: Steve Johnson overcame a slow start to finish with 11 catches and 145 yards. He clearly is Fitzpatrick's favorite target and has been one of the safest WR plays this year. Fitzpatrick has also been a good start lately given his need to throw so much coming from behind every game. The Bills run game has come up short from being the lead attack expected, but were facing a tough run defense. They do have some favorable matches against Cleveland, Miami, and New England whom currently do not have the greatest rush defenses. However, all three teams seem to be improving vs the run and come week 14 could be tough opponents. Better to find options if you are in contention.

SAINTS: What looked to be a close one during the first quarter turned into an easy scrimmage game as the Saint defense knocked out both Matt Moore and Jonathan Stewart then make Clausen look just bad. The Saints got a win they needed as the NFC South is very up for grabs and should be until the final weeks. Lance Moore and Marques Colston are the only two to trust at WR as Meachem and Henderson continue to have bad statistical seasons. Both are drop worthy or trade bait if you can find any takers. While Betts got the start and the carries, it was Julius Jones who doubled his rushing total on half the carries with 68 yds. on 6 carries. The good news is that Bush should be back after the bye week and maybe Pierre Thomas will be close to returning. Thomas was almost traded to the Patriots this year and looks to have worn out his welcome with Sean Payton. Ivory and Bush are the best two options moving forward.

PANTHERS: I had the Panthers down as my upset of the week, but after two drives those thoughts were shattered by Matt Moore going down and then adding Jonathan Stewart to the injury list. After that it was an after thought. The question became how bad would the Panthers lose. No receiver came away with more than 22 yards and no RB with more than 41 yards. As Steve Smith said...it was pathetic. While Clausen looks in line to get the next start, Tony Pike came in an put up the same yardage on fewer throws and looked better overall. Steve Smith is officially no better than a flex play until he can develop continuity with a QB. Coach Fox needs to make a statement and roll with one guy for the rest of the year for the team's sake and start developing for next year. No Panther is trustworthy and Deangelo Williams will be hampered when he returns by a passing attack which scares nobody.

PATRIOTS: While I pegged Hernandez for a score as my sleeper, it was about all I had right in this game. Brady couldn't find a rhythm, the law firm went bankrupt, and Danny Woodhead led all players with 92 total yards. The Patriots were caught by a Browns defense which has gone under rated most the year. Coming off the bye allowed them extra time to scheme against the Pats short shot game and catch them off guard with some sneaky play calls. The Patriots simply had an off day but will look to get back on track next week. Hernandez is a solid TE #1 and Woodhead has clearly overtook Welker as that all purpose guy who racks up the yards. Brady however has fallen in value after losing Moss and is not the dependable monster you are used to expecting. If you can get name value for Welker do it. Green Ellis may have fallen short this week but has some good games coming up and is worth being patient with. Try and get him if you are weak at RB #2 or need a good flex play.

BROWNS: The Browns overwhelmed the Pats in a game that may have saved Mangini his job yet again. He wins the ones the shouldn't and loses everything else giving the perception he has potential. It was the same with the Jets until Woody realized this trend. The Browns have the talent and seem to be getting better, but will have to wait until next year before becoming serious contenders. McCoy is clearly the choice at QB so he can develop into the potential he is showing. Peyton Hillis is a monster, running for 184 and 2 scores as well as catching 3 for 36 yards. Massaquoi showed some relevance again and may have value moving forward as a reserve should one of your studs go down.

JETS: Mark Sanchez started off a bit rusty but gained composure and took control of the pocket as time went on, eventually driving the Jet s to the Detroit 20 with two minutes left for the game winning field goal. The bigger concern here is what is going on with the Jets run game? This was a game primed for the Jets backs to have success yet neither reached more than 55 yards on the ground. This is the second game where the run game has come short of expectations and while you are not going to move LT anywhere, it may cause you to lower expectations just a bit. I have been a firm believer that as the season wares on, LT will slow a bit and we will see Greene a bit more. Greene was featured more towards the end of this game and this could be a sign of things to come. Santonio and Braylon each continue to give fantasy numbers worthy of #2 and 3 guys and should be trusted moving ahead. Given the schedule coming up, Sanchez may also be a good play for the next three weeks if your starter has a bye or some really bad match ups.

LIONS: At this point either Stafford has a bum shoulder and needs to sit out the rest of the year or the Detroit medical staff is the worst. Either way, Stafford will only be able to afford so much scar tissue before it limits his career. Bench him since the season is mostly shot at this point and let him fully heal and prepare for the long term. He has amazing potential but it's worth nothing if he misses 5 games a year. I called Jhavid Best as a sleeper and he delivered with 88 yards. The Lions as a whole are playing good football, but the defense can't close in the 4th. There is much to be hopeful about but fantasy wise Calvin Johnson and Jhavid should be the only two guys you put in as starters. Megatron is the obvious start week in and out but he will fall to WR #2 as long as Stafford misses time. As long as Best is healthy he will continue to rack up yardage and you can depend on about 70 YPG. While it may not be spectacular, it should be consistent production and more than you can rely on compared to higher picks like Ryan Mathews, Shonn Greene, or Deangelo Williams.

CHARGERS: Phillip Rivers is undoubtedly the best QB in football right now. While it was the worse secondary in the NFL, Rives threw 4 TD's without any of his star receivers, a stagnant run game, and came back from a 23-14 deficit to win. It will only get better for Rivers after the bye week when Vincent Jackson returns, Malcom Floyd should return as well as Naanee and Gates. Rivers also faces a favorable schedule after the bye making him all the more valuable. Ryan Mathews injured his ankle once again which only strengthens the case for Mike Tolbert being on your team. He has the most TD's out of the RB core and is a more durable back. Sit on your Chargers during the bye as it should only get better.

TEXANS: Matt Schaub and Andre Johnson were shut down by the top rated pass defense, making it the Arian Foster show. Foster ran for 127 yards and led all receivers with 70 yards. Foster is by far the best back in the NFL but the work load is worrisome. Every touch means another hit and in today's NFL that can be a slippery slope to tread. It's not like you would dream of trading the guy away, but if you own Foster you are most likely in playoff contention and should have some reserves just in case. He runs smart and does know how to avoid the big hits, but it should be a valid strategy to have depth. Owen Daniels missed the game and if you own him it is time to seek other options.

CARDINALS: The Cards had this game until the last five minutes but it never really felt like they were winning. It was more a case of the Vikings offense beating itself, and it proved to be true as Favre led two scoring drives in five minutes to tie and eventually win. Fitztgerald did get his on 107 yards receiving but failed to reach the end zone. I liked Hightower more than Wells though neither was appealing and Hightower finished with a team leading 39 rush yards. Though Wells is the starter, Hightower brings a better ball control game and is more physical right now. Regardless, you won't feel comfortable using either of these two and need better options. Fitzgerald is a high end #2 as I've been saying and should be expected to give you around 10 PPG. That said, if the QB carousel can stop, Fitzgerald only faces one solid pass defense for the rest of the year including the playoffs.

VIKINGS: Now the work is Ziggy Wilf is still considering if he should release Childress. It's the only true option and needs to be done now while the team is still in contention. The fans and players hate the guy and think he is clueless. He questioned Percy Harvin's work ethic on Friday and Sunday he posted 126 receiving yards. Berrian was my sleeper and he came away with 89 yards. I had said not to panic on Harvin just yet and it will only get better. Sidney Rice warmed up before this game and could return next week. That will help this team and help Harvin find the end zone. Schiancoe's value will still be high regardless of Rice's return since it looks like Childress has figured out that him being involved means a more effective team. Pick up Rice from waivers now if he is available. The Vikes only have two tough pass defenses through the fantasy playoffs left.

GIANTS: Bradshaw and Jacobs flip flopped their roles this week, with Jacobs getting the yardage and Bradshaw getting the scores. The Giants came out rested and overwhelmed Whitehurst. Eli went to his favorite target Nicks often who finished with 126 yards and a score. Manningham and Smith had decent days, with Smith getting the TD but neither is a safe play every week because you really don't know which one will come out with the score. Jacobs is a trustworthy start depending on the match up and Bradshaw is a must start weekly. Eli and his receivers have a good schedule until the fantasy playoffs where he faces Min, Phi, and GB. All three will be challenges so if you have a solid back up or can trade for a QB/need player I would go for it. Sounds crazy, but if you are looking at getting in the playoffs with Eli as your guy it could be tough to expect production three weeks straight from him.

SEAHAWKS: So much for the Whitehurst hoopla. The Seahawks were not the healthiest group, but right now Hasselbeck gives them the best chance of winning as everyone saw on Sunday. The only player of note that produced anything significant was Marshawn Lynch who posted 48 yards. Lynch is the back you want on this team but is nothing more than a reserve. The Mike Williams bandwagon should also be unloaded and he should be traded while he carries some weight.

CHIEFS: Jamaal Charles delivered again on fewer touches than Jones and was also an impact in the pass game catching 5 balls for 47 yards and rushing for 53 yards to Jones' 32. Once again, Charles is the one you want on this team though both are starter worthy. Dwayne Bowe has continued his new found trust with Cassel, receiving for 63 yards and a score. Bowe has become a solid #2 WR and should be trustworthy as such for the rest of the year. The Chiefs have the best rushing schedule in the NFL and don't face a truly tough rush defense until the last week of the fantasy playoffs against Tennessee. Despite the loss, the Chiefs are still in the divisional race and will be playing hard. Moeaki should be in your line up every day despite the fact you probably have a better name on your squad. He is the Chief's second option in the pass game and should not be benched.

RAIDERS: After a bad first half which looked like KC would be in control, the Raiders regrouped and Jacoby Ford ate his Wheaties. Ford finished with 148 yards and was the only other player than Mcfadden to make a significant impact. He is worthy of a waiver pick up since he may have just earned himself starter time given Heyward-Bey's magic act week to week and Murphy's health. Oakland has a bye week coming and should have all it's receiving threats back so wait and see what Ford will do and how he will be used. Mcfadden and Miller are the two you can obviously trust but take a wait and see approach before you start anyone else despite this week's production. Besides, you'll probably forget Ford's performance after next week anyway.

COLTS: I tweeted it on the 4th and had him here as a sleeper. Javarris James didn't give you crazy yards but he did give you two scores if you had the balls to start him. Just when you think it's safe to play Garcon, he shows up for 15 yards on two catches. Both Tamme and Wayne had 11 receptions but Tamme had the score on a night where Peyton was hurried often and faced solid coverage. Tamme is another one I called the night of Clark's injury and has lived up to the label of being a Clark clone. As of now, Reggie Wayne is the safest play at the WR position. Garcon and Collie are interchangeable from week to week and the addition of Blair White only complicates things. Garcon has the most upside overall, but is only trust worthy as WR#3 or a flex.

EAGLES: Mike Vick returned right where he left off, rushing for 74 yards with 1 TD and passing for 218 with a score. Desean Jackson is his favorite target and returns to WR 1 status as long as he is healthy. McCoy had his best rushing day since week two, gaining 95 yards on 16 carries. Maclin had a quiet game, but Vick will find him like he did before the injury. The only true change from what you expected on this team is the total lack of production from Brent Celek. Celek had a hard enough time hooking up with Kolb who looked for him more often. Now with Vick, Celek is bench material. Given he was probably drafted as your TE #1, look for options on the wire.

COWBOYS: I've said previously that regardless of what Jerry Jones says, Wade Phillips will get the boot before seasons end. It looks like after the blow out in GB that Jones has softened his stance on not making moves as he stated he will be making changes. It starts with Phillips and has translated to the mentality of this team. The Cowboys have the talent, but they don't have the discipline needed. They need a coach who knows how best to use each individual's talent in given situations. Best to make the change now and use the rest of the year slowly implementing a new system under a new coach. Jason Garrett has always been the guy in waiting and the time is now. Still, Dez Bryant carries the most value on this team and is the only one you can trust to start every week. He faces weaker corner opposition than Austin, runs the routes in space, and has the speed to burn a defense. Austin continues to take a big hit without Kitna, but like Fitzgerald is a high end #2 with #1 potential. If you can hold Austin until the second week of the playoffs, he faces Washington and Arizona. Until then he faces some tougher opponents but will still produce, just not what you expected on draft day.

PACKERS: James Jones came up big again in relief of Donald Driver catching a TD on 123 yards. Jennings added 80 yards with a score and Brandon Jackson had one of his most productive days rushing for 42 and a score along with 26 receiving and a score. The Packers defense has gotten healthier and may be the fastest defense in the league. This is a defense that can win you games. Jones has evolved to a solid WR 3 but will have to be monitored since Driver has the extra week to heal with the bye. Brandon Jackson is a decent RB 2 start, but since you probably have better options could make great trade bait if you have holes on your team.

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.

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.

MONDAY NIGHT PREVIEW

MINNESOTA VIKINGS at NY JETS:
VIKINGS: Brett Favre returns to New York a few days after Randy Moss returns to the Vikings. They are coming off a bye, so Favre and Moss will have had four days together getting in sync. It's Randy Moss, so all you need is a deep post, a hook, or a streak. It won't be hard for him to step right in and be effective. Other than what he will bring to this team, he also brings a knowledge of what the Jets will do on defense having played them once already with the Patriots. A game where he burned Revis and Revis came up lame. Moss instantly changes this team for the better. Peterson will get a bit more room to run up front since teams will need to respect the run, but the biggest benefactors are Percy Harvin and Schiancoe. Playing out of position and being the main receiving threat, Harvin has not been what everyone expected. The trade allows Harvin to see more slot time and some more single coverage. No doubt the Jets will put the focus on Moss, especially with Ryan already knowing what Moss will do to him, he will make sure it doesn't happen twice. Moss should get some decent yardage and a score, but look for Harvin and Schiancoe to do most the damage. Peterson should be kept in check relatively speaking as the Jets boast the 3rd ranked rush defense.
JETS: Not since week one against Baltimore have the Jets faced a team with this many play makers on the field. Revis looks to return and avenge himself in the rematch between he and Moss. The Vikings have been stingy on Defense against the run as well allowing about 87 RYPG (9th), so don't expect much out of Greene or Tomlinson. LT will be the better start because of his pass catching abilities, but the duo should be average at best. Minnesota is also good against the pass allowing just under 190 YPPG (8th). Santonio Holmes couldn't have been returning at a better time. His presence will stretch the defense, and like Harvin and Schiancoe, I think the biggest benefactor will be Dustin Keller. Holmes and Sanchez seemed to have great chemistry together during the pre-season and I wouldn't be surprised to see them hook up immediately in this game to get him going.

It's a home game for the Jets, but both teams are capable of looking stellar or under achieving against top opponents. The Jets get the edge for consistency as of late, but the Vikings have more to lose and need this game desperately. VIKINGS 24-JETS 20.

FANTASY STARTS: VIKINGS: Moss ( 4 for 65 yds. 1 TD) Harvin (6 for 80 yds. 1 TD) Peterson (15 for 55 yds./ 4 for 35 yds. 1 TD) Schiancoe ( 5 for 60 yds.)
JETS: Keller ( 5 for 65 yds. 1 TD) Holmes ( 6 for 70 yds. 1 TD)
SLEEPER: Bernard Berrian MIN....Berrian is not a number one threat as has been proved, but the guy has a knack for showing up when he is the forgotten man on the field. The Jets will be stretched thin as it is and Berrian's speed could end up torching them.