This week’s bye team: AtlantaAFC East
Indianapolis — WR E.G. Green is still not practicing with the Colts. He is
probably no longer worth a roster spot in all but the largest leagues.
New England — WR Troy Brown, who has been banged up recently, is once again
healthy after the Patriots’ bye week. Brown should again become one of QB Drew
Bledsoe’s prime targets on third down. … FB Chris Floyd is also
back and ready to go after some injury problems.
N.Y. Jets — The Jets are going to start inexperienced Ray Lucas at
quarterback this week over Rick Mirer. Word has it that Lucas is Bill Parcells’
choice for the rest of the season, but stay tuned on that front.
AFC Central
Cincinnati — Jeff Blake will once again get the start at quarterback for
the Bengals. His presence makes WR Carl Pickens a legitimate starter in most
leagues. … WR Darnay Scott is healthy, but he did not catch a pass last week
for the first time in 51 games. It appears Pickens is Blake’s go-to guy.
Jacksonville — RB Tavian Banks is out for the season after suffering a knee
injury in Week Nine.
Pittsburgh — Steelers tight ends have no receiving yards in the past three games.
Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride said this week that he wants to let QB Kordell
Stewart play his own game a little more, which could include more deep passes.
Tennessee — If there’s a game in which QB Steve McNair should get his
groove back, it’s this week at Cincinnati. The Titans are well aware of the
Bengals’ deficiencies in the secondary and pretty much did as they pleased
offensively in Week One, a 36-35 win. McNair completed 21-of-32 passes for 341 yards and
three touchdowns, in addition to rushing six times for 27 yards and one touchdown. McNair
didn’t look good at all last week in Miami, throwing three interceptions that never
should have left his hand. But McNair is not one to lack confidence, and the coaches are
100 percent in his corner. Expect a bounce-back performance this week.
AFC West
Denver — The Broncos hope QB Brian Griese can throw on Saturday. If he
does, he could be Chris Miller’s backup this week vs. Seattle. If Griese
isn’t able to work out, then the possibility of season-ending surgery becomes much
greater. … WR Ed McCaffrey will be back in the lineup this week after
missing one game with a knee injury. … With OLT Tony Jones out, Trey Teague
gets his first NFL start. Don’t be surprised if the Broncos keep a tight end —
probably blocking specialist Dwayne Carswell — in to help Teague. Because of
that, it’s probably wiser not to start Byron Chamberlain this week.
Kansas City — The Chiefs are hoping to get RB Rashaan Shehee (hip) back
this week. He provides a speed element to their offense that has been sorely lacking. But
in fantasy terms, it’s probably wiser to leave Shehee on your bench this week to see
what he does. … WR Andre Rison (ankle) probably will not start this week,
with Kevin Lockett getting the call. Rison is no longer worth consideration as a
fantasy starter. … The Chiefs signed PK Scott Bentley to kick off, but they
say Pete Stoyanovich’s job on placements is not in jeopardy.
Oakland — Both QB Rich Gannon (broken left wrist) and RB Tyrone Wheatley,
who has had an assortment of injuries this season, are reasonably healthy after the
Raiders’ bye week. Those injuries should not be factors in your decisions on whether
to play them this week. … There has been a lot of noise about the Raiders using Charles
Woodson on offense. The fantasy verdict: Believe it when you see it. Unless
you’re in a league that drafts individual defensive players or kick returners,
Woodson is not worth a roster spot at this time.
San Diego — RB Natrone Means (knee) is out again this week. The
Chargers have talked about using rookie FB Jermaine Fazande at tailback, but
Fazande is not worth a look at this time. He has not been active for a game this season.
Seattle — We recommend not playing Joey Galloway this week. It is
questionable whether he will play at all vs. Denver, and if he does play, it likely
won’t be for more than 10-15 snaps. Give him a week to get acclimated before you
throw him in your lineup. Galloway’s return will hurt Derrick Mayes’
numbers a little bit, and it makes Mike Pritchard and Sean Dawkins fantasy
afterthoughts.
NFC East
Arizona — The Cardinals have finally given up on Adrian Murrell getting his
act together. With Murrell failing to top 100 yards rushing in a game this year and still
looking for his first rushing TD of the season, head coach Vince Tobin has decided
to bench him. That opens up the starting job for Michael Pittman, who is eager to
prove he’s worthy of being a No. 1 running back in the NFL. … QB Jake Plummer
is pointing to the Nov. 28 game vs. the Giants for his return from a broken finger.
Dallas — It could be a good move to steer clear of Cowboys players this week. With
Troy Aikman out of the lineup, Jason Garrett will be starting at
quarterback. He didn’t look very sharp last week in relief of Aikman in Minnesota.
However, he is expected to perform a little better because he took most of the snaps in
practice this week. RB Emmitt Smith is expected to miss 2-3 weeks with his
fractured hand, and, of course, WR Michael Irvin is still sidelined with a spinal
injury.
Philadelphia — RB Duce Staley has become a must-play individual every week.
He is having an outstanding season in the yardage department and has scored three rushing
touchdowns. With the Eagles committed to starting rookie QB Donovan McNabb the rest
of the season, they will continue to use Staley as the workhorse. They don’t want to
put too much pressure on McNabb by forcing him to throw a lot.
NFC Central
Chicago — Don’t expect Jim Miller to last long as the Bears’
starting quarterback. The coaching staff was very impressed with rookie Cade McNown
in practice this week, despite the knee injury he suffered last week in Green Bay. It
looks as though the only way for Miller to retain the job for Week 11 at San Diego is if
he has an incredible showing vs. Minnesota. Don’t forget about Shane Matthews,
who has been nursing a hamstring injury. He could figure in all of this as well. In other
words, steer clear of Bears quarterbacks for now.
Detroit — Though QB Charlie Batch’s sprained thumb was feeling a
little better Friday, it wasn't sufficiently healed to permit Batch to practice. As a
result, head coach Bobby Ross said that he would start Gus Frerotte against
Arizona Sunday. Frerotte has led the Lions to two wins in the second halves of games, most
recently last Sunday vs. the Rams. In what amounts to about one full game of action,
Frerotte has completed 27-of-40 passes (five of his incompletions were the result of
spiking the ball to stop the clock) for 349 yards with two touchdowns, no interceptions
and a 111.4 passer rating. Ross said he would make a game-time decision as to whether
Batch would be able to serve as the backup quarterback against the Cardinals.
Green Bay — RB Dorsey Levens was downgraded from probable to questionable
after a knee injury kept him from practicing Wednesday and Thursday. If Levens can’t
play Sunday at Dallas, rookie Basil Mitchell would get the nod. Mitchell has three
carries for 10 yards this season. De’Mond Parker, who has rushed four times
for 35 yards, would also see some action.
Minnesota — RB Robert Smith, who has missed the last three games after
a hernia operation, had a good practice Wednesday and worked with the first team a bit
Thursday, meaning he could make an early return this week at Chicago. … According to
head coach Dennis Green, Jake Reed’s recent spell of the drops can be
attributed to various injuries the receiver has suffered, the latest having to do with his
groin. We’re not so sure, though. Reed has said nothing but how healthy he’s
been this season.
Tampa Bay — For those of you out there who have to play Trent Dilfer this
week, take heed. The quarterback had his ankle stepped on in practice by LB Don Davis,
preventing Dilfer from finishing the session. Rookie Shaun King, who was suffering
from a bout with the flu, ran the offense the rest of the way. Eric Zeier is
already out with a rib injury. What does all of this mean? Well, head coach Tony Dungy
said that Dilfer "will be fine," though you would never have known it by the way
he grabbed his ankle and walked off the field. If the veteran can’t go Sunday vs.
Kansas City, the rookie would. So, if you have Week 10 in your Shaun King lottery, you may
be a winner.
NFC West
Carolina — Stay away from RB Tshimanga Biakabutuka this week and use WR Muhsin
Muhammad. Biakabutuka will be out again this week with a bad ankle, and even when he
is healthy enough to return, he will be used in a rotation system with other Carolina
running backs. Muhammad should never be benched. He’s really come into his own this
year and remains QB Steve Beuerlein’s favorite target.
New Orleans — RB Ricky Williams looks like he’s on a roll finally and
will get more and more chances with Mike Ditka calling the plays.
St. Louis — Put RB Marshall Faulk in your lineup. He struggled vs. the
Lions but is going against the Panthers’ 29th-ranked run defense this
week.
San Francisco — The 49ers’ move to QB Steve Stenstrom was made because
he is a better downfield passer than Jeff Garcia and will be looking primarily for
the wide receivers who have been neglected since Steve Young was injured. |
