Teams on bye: Kansas CityAFC East
Buffalo — QB Alex Van Pelt should not be considered a starter on your
fantasy squad. If he is, and your league isn’t enormous in number of owners, then you
might as well pack it in or look elsewhere for a QB. … RB Travis Henry has
strung together two solid games, though he didn’t rack up massive yardage or score
any touchdowns. In the Bills’ last two games, Henry is averaging 3.9 yards per carry
after averaging 2.4 yards in weeks Six and Seven. With a healthy offensive line in front
of him and QB Rob Johnson expected to miss 3-5 weeks, Henry should get plenty of
opportunities.
Indianapolis — With Edgerrin James out, QB Peyton Manning could be
forced to pass more often. Likely, if backup RB Dominic Rhodes stays healthy, that
won’t happen, since Rhodes proved in Week Eight that he could carry the load. But
Rhodes’ shoulder is tender after slightly injuring it last week. If the shoulder
flares up, the Colts may have to rely on Manning’s arm more.
Miami — There’s no need to wait on WR Chris Chambers — he’s
practically arrived. But, owners, be wary: He’s going up against the Jets’
secondary, which has been very, very good this year. … Given the fact that the Jets
are one of the top takeaway teams in the league, you should avoid starting QB Jay
Fiedler. He’s had problems turning the ball over this season.
New England — Just because Tom Brady is starting at quarterback this week
doesn’t mean Drew Bledsoe owners should dump him. There’s a chance that
Bledsoe will come back. If you can stow him away on your roster somewhere, we
wouldn’t give up on him just yet.
N.Y. Jets — QB Vinny Testaverde had a very efficient outing against the
Dolphins earlier this year, and with the Dolphins’ secondary hampered by injuries,
Testaverde could thrive. … Feel free to start rookie WR Santana Moss this
week. Several of our sources expect big things from him right away, and the Dolphins are
certainly concerned about his speed.
AFC Central
Baltimore — With RB Terry Allen out 4-6 weeks at the very least with a
broken hand, the Ravens’ ground game will primarily be shared by Jason Brookins
and Obafemi Ayanbadejo, with Moe Williams expected to be used more in spot
duty as an occasional receiver out of the backfield. Brookins, who has had his moments
this season, figures as the best fantasy option. He will be facing a Cleveland defense
this Sunday that allowed a whopping 263 yards rushing against the Steelers last week,
including 163 from Jerome Bettis. … Aside from the fact he is just one reception
short of breaking the all-time league record for catches by a tight end, TE Shannon
Sharpe figures to get a lot of pass-catching opportunities vs. the Browns. Sharpe and
WR Qadry Ismail have pretty much provided the Ravens’ offense the last few
weeks. Against Tennessee, Baltimore scored only one touchdown for the second straight
game.
Cincinnati — TE Tony McGee has become an afterthought in the Bengals’
new system and basically has served as a sixth lineman for much of the year. His five
drops in the past two games haven’t helped Jon Kitna’s confidence in him,
either.
Cleveland Browns — If you have QB Tim Couch on your roster, you might want
to think about investing in an insurance quarterback. While Couch is having a decent year,
there is some concern over the number of hits he is taking. The offensive line has been
pretty leaky of late, which has led to 28 sacks in eight games. Considering Couch’s
past — injuries have cut short both of his NFL seasons — he might not be able to
last the remainder of the season unless his blockers up front do a better job of
protecting him.
Jacksonville Jaguars — Despite missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday because
of a pulled quad muscle, the Jaguars are hopeful that QB Mark Brunell will be able
to start Week 10 vs. the Steelers. … The same can’t be said for RB Fred
Taylor. He’s expected to miss his seventh consecutive game with a groin injury.
That means that Stacey Mack will be starting this week.
Pittsburgh — Just because the Jaguars put up 21 points on the Steelers in Week One
doesn’t mean you should avoid starting Pittsburgh’s defense. In Week One, the
Steelers backed off the Jaguars on their blitzes a bit but have since brought everything
but the kitchen sink at teams. Expect them to do the same against the Jaguars this week.
… RB Amos Zereoue is expected to return to action this week as a
change-of-pace back for Jerome Bettis.
Tennessee — QB Steve McNair did not practice Thursday because of a thumb
injury on his throwing hand. He has been wearing a splint the last two days. Head coach
Jeff Fisher hoped McNair could throw some Friday. If not, starting Neil O’Donnell
becomes a likely scenario. … The Titans’ TE position remains decimated by
injuries. Erron Kinney (calf) did not practice Thursday and probably won’t
play Sunday. Frank Wycheck (ankle) sat out as well. Shad Meier (thumb) did
practice, but he had to wear large cast. … With the Bengals’ secondary badly
beat up, it might not be a bad idea to play either Derrick Mason or Kevin Dyson.
AFC West
Denver — It would be wise to start Mike Anderson this week with Terrell
Davis back on the shelf for at least two weeks. It’s safe to assume the Broncos,
with all their WR problems, will look to try to get back to their commitment to the run.
The Redskins’ run defense also checks in at 26th in the league, if you
needed more of a reason to get Anderson off the bench. … With four touchdowns and 442
receiving yards, TE Desmond Clark has become a nice fantasy target for QB Brian
Griese.
Kansas City — The Chiefs are on bye this week.
Oakland — The Raiders’ offensive line suffered another blow this week when it
was determined OLT Barry Sims would miss the next few games to rest his ailing
foot. The Raiders’ offense hasn’t suffered much from the various injuries the
line has had to deal with this year because of its depth. The Chargers’ typically
solid run defense has not looked like itself of late, so it may be a good idea to start Charlie
Garner. RB Tyrone Wheatley’s sprained knee probably will keep him out for
another week.
San Diego — TE Freddie Jones has been playing with a bad ankle for weeks,
and it’s finally caught up to him. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner told PFW that
Jones likely will miss the next two weeks. In Jones’ place will be Steve Heiden,
but don’t look for him to be much of a fantasy contributor. … The Chargers’
defense lost two members of its secondary to injury last week. CB Alex Molden is
out for the year, and SS Rodney Harrison will miss at least a couple of weeks.
Seattle — WR Darrell Jackson’s recent hot streak is not something that
should be ignored. His concentration and route running have improved, and with RB Shaun
Alexander’s success, defenses are sliding extra defenders into the box, meaning
more room for the Seahawks’ wide receivers to operate. QB Matt Hasselbeck is
also coming off his best game as a pro.
NFC East
Arizona Cardinals — WR David Boston has become a must-play receiver,
especially in yardage leagues. He has topped the 100-yard mark four weeks in a row, and
five times in eight games this season. However, he has scored just two touchdowns. Boston
may have better luck getting into the endzone this week, though, as the Lions have allowed
an NFL-high 16 passing touchdowns.
Dallas Cowboys — It looks like Emmitt Smith will start Sunday but will
split time with Troy Hambrick. Hambrick put up some impressive rushing numbers last
week vs. the Falcons, but running against the Eagles is a different story. … WR Joey
Galloway has been urged to step up his production by head coach Dave Campo. Galloway
has caught just 22 passes for 271 yards and two touchdowns this season. This might not be
the best week to start Galloway, though, as he will be facing the No. 3 pass defense in
the NFL.
New York Giants — Ike Hilliard has moved up the depth chart, thanks to his
fine play in recent weeks. Fantasy owners have been getting production out of him, with
four touchdowns in the last five games. He’s moved ahead of Joe Jurevicius
into the starting lineup. While the Vikings expect their secondary to be improved with the
return of S Robert Griffith and the arrival of CB Dale Carter, Hilliard might be able to
take advantage of the 27th-ranked pass defense this week. Even with the new
blood in the Minneosta secondary, it will likely take some time for it to come together.
Philadelphia Eagles — Duce Staley romped all over the Vikings last week,
which might be a sign that Andy Reid is finally committed to the run. Last year, Staley
rushed for 201 yards and a touchdown when the Eagles visited the Cowboys. While Dallas has
improved against the run this season, Staley is still considered a good play this weekend.
… Look for the Eagles to expand the role of rookie WR Freddie Mitchell, and it
will likely come at the expense of Todd Pinkston, whose production has fallen off a
bit. James Thrash has emerged as the No. 1 target in Philadelphia.
Washington Redskins — Hold out starting TE Stephen Alexander, who has
missed several weeks with a high ankle sprain. He is listed as questionable for this
week’s game in Denver.
NFC Central
Chicago — One game should not tarnish RB Anthony Thomas’ outlook. Last
week he faced a highly ranked Packers defense that was geared to stop him. Thomas finished
with only 45 yards on 22 carries. This week should be a different story. The Buccaneers,
who have had their problems with bigger backs, have allowed an average of 132.0 rushing
yards in their last five games. … The Bears’ downfield passing game has become a
concern without WR Marcus Robinson around. He still owns the team’s only
100-yard receiving game of the season, though there have been some 80- and 90-yard
efforts. Marty Booker (24 catches in last three games) and Dez White (21)
continue to pace the WR corps, with David Terrell (13) longing for more action.
Detroit — QB Charlie Batch’s future with the Lions is looking
worse and worse by the day. The team is committed to giving Mike McMahon more
playing time as the season progresses, regardless of how well Batch is playing. And with
Batch being pulled on occasion in favor of McMahon, the odds of success are stacked
against Batch, whose fantasy value is dropping by the week. … Bert Emanuel has
moved into the starting lineup opposite Johnnie Morton. Larry Foster, who
initially was promoted upon the losses of Germane Crowell and Herman Moore,
has been very disappointing, and no one else has stepped up. Emanuel at least gives the
Lions a veteran presence, even though he’s still learning the offense.
Green Bay — TE Tyrone Davis said he was ready for increased action this
week after testing his surgically repaired hamstring in practice. Said Davis: "This
week I really let it go. I opened it up. I think I’m ready right now. It’s not
easy to get back into football shape, but it’s coming. If called upon, I could
play." The Packers have had only two tight ends on their roster since releasing Bobby
Collins after Week Four. A healthy Davis would give the team the ability to stretch
the field with a tight end, something they have not been able to do much this season. At
the same time, though, a healthy Davis might reduce the pass-catching opportunities for TE
Bubba Franks, who has six touchdowns.
Minnesota — After two blowout losses on the road, the Vikings think some home
cooking will do them good. They’ve been a completely different team at the Metrodome,
with point totals of 35 and 31 in their last two games. In four road games, the Vikings
have scored 17, 14, 15 and 10 points. So perhaps back-to-back home games will help right
the ship. … Look for RBs Michael Bennett and Doug Chapman to share
carries this week. Bennett will return from an ankle injury that sidelined him for three
games. Chapman still owns the team’s best rushing performance with 90 yards in Week
Six against Green Bay. … After scoring once in his previous six games, WR Randy
Moss has caught a TD pass in each of the last two games, but he’s still looking
for his first 100-yard outing.
Tampa Bay — The Buccaneers will look a lot like their old selves this week, as Mike
Alstott and Warrick Dunn will split carries. Last week vs. Detroit, Dunn had 17
carries to Alstott’s eight, and more of the same can be expected this week. Head
coach Tony Dungy realizes that he needs to give Dunn a chance to get going, but at the
same time, he can’t deny Alstott’s production. Alstott averaged 6.0 yards per
carry last week and had a 129-yard outing two weeks before. So for the foreseeable future,
both will see playing time. … WR Jacquez Green continues to nurse an abdominal
injury and will not play this week. That gives Reidel Anthony yet another start,
though he hasn’t had productive numbers. In the three games Green has missed, Anthony
has caught five passes for 54 yards.
NFC West
Atlanta — After sitting out last weekend with bruised ribs, QB Chris Chandler
is a very strong bet to start in Green Bay this Sunday, even though he is listed as 50-50
on the injury report. The game is just too important for the Falcons, who can’t
afford to go at teams with less than their best at this stage of the season. … RB Maurice
Smith, who is coming off a 148-yard rushing effort in the win over Dallas, continues
to be a pleasant surprise (the Falcons have rushed for 100 yards in seven of eight games
after doing it just three times all of last season). But Smith will have his work cut out
for him vs. a Green Bay defense that did an excellent job of making early adjustments to
put the clamps on Chicago’s ground game last weekend. … TE Reggie Kelly
(sprained right knee) is almost certain not to play, but don’t expect Atlanta to let
up on its two-TE formations. Rookie Alge Crumpler and Brian Kozlowski (TD
last week) could still get some big-play opportunities.
Carolina — There’s a chance QB Chris Weinke’s return may be put
on hold another week. Weinke, who sat out the loss to the Rams last weekend with a
sprained right shoulder, was splitting reps in practice with Matt Lytle at
week’s end, and it now looks as though head coach George Seifert could wait right up
until game time to make a decision between the two. Weinke did finish last Thursday’s
practice by airing out a long 60-yard pass and seemed to show no signs of pain. … WR Muhsin
Muhammad has 42 catches, 519 yards and five TDs in the last five games. The Panthers
have really struggled on offense as of late but could have some success vs. a 49ers
secondary that had trouble handling Saints WRs Joe Horn and Willie Jackson last Sunday.
New Orleans — Even though WR Joe Horn is coming on like gangbusters (19
catches for 303 yards and four TDs in his last three games), the Saints’ most
reliable fantasy weapon remains PK John Carney, who kicked four more FGs in the
loss to the Niners last weekend and is the NFC’s leading scorer with 75 points. New
Orleans’ offense has been moving the ball with ease between the 20s but continues to
come up short near the goal line (ranked seventh in total offense but just 29th
in red-zone production). The Saints are just one of two NFL teams that have scored more
field goals than TDs so far this season. … QB Aaron Brooks, who is coming off
an impressive performance in defeat in San Francisco, goes up against a banged-up Colts
defense that has shown a tendency to give up big plays (ranked 25th overall).
… TE Cam Cleeland (ankle) is expected to miss his third straight game.
St. Louis — QB Kurt Warner, who has thrown seven interceptions in the last
two games, has been throwing the ball well in practice this week and doesn’t appear
to be slowed by the thumb injury he recently said might be the cause for his deep passes
having a tendency to float as of late. A much bigger challenge for Warner this Sunday will
be the fact he’s playing outdoors at night in potentially cold Foxboro. Mass. That
said, Warner still leads the NFL with 2,308 yards passing and will be facing a Patriots
defense that is undermanned at linebacker. … Rams RB Marshall Faulk, who
looked terrific against Carolina after a two-game layoff (183 yards rushing in just one
half), has 328 yards from scrimmage in the Rams’ last two games vs. New England.
San Francisco —QB Jeff Garcia, who threw for four TD passes last Sunday and
is tied for the league lead with 17 TD passes, could have a field day vs. a Panthers
defense that couldn’t have been more ineffective vs. the Rams last Sunday, giving up
almost 500 total yards, including 337 on the ground. One negative on Garcia: He’s
coming off his first negative-yardage rushing effort of his career (four carries for
minus-six yards). But the Niners say he’s still capable of running, and Jerry
Garcia could probably run against the Panthers right now. … WR Terrell Owens
remains red-hot, first in the NFL with 10 TD catches. … RB Garrison Hearst,
coming off his best game since returning from the foot injury that sidelined him the
previous two seasons, has 444 yards and a pair of TDs in his last four games vs. the
Panthers. … Rookie RB Kevan Barlow has a strained left quadriceps but is
expected to play Sunday. He had a brilliant TD catch-and-run vs. New Orleans last Sunday
on which he broke numerous tackles. |
