Fantasy Football Player's Edge

September 27, 2008

The key to winning your league revolves around
matchups and the injury status of key players.
The Player's Edge is the best source for timely
and comprehensive information and advice on
who to start, who to sit and why.


The Walking Wounded: (updated and revised)

Donovan McNabb returned to practice without any
limitations and will start on Sunday vs. the Bears.

Brett Favre is listed as questionable with an ankle
sprain. Pencil him in on Sunday vs. Arizona.

Carson Palmer is listed as questionable with a sore
elbow but is expected to start against the Browns.

Willie Parker is out this week with a sprained knee.
He could miss more than one game. Rookie Rashard
Mendenhall will get the start vs. the Ravens.

Brian Westbrook was unable to practice all week and
is questionable for Sunday. Correll Buckhalter will get
the start if Westbrook's out but faces a tough Bears
defense that allows only 3.4 ypc.

LaDainian Tomlinson practiced fully and will play on
Sunday vs. the Raiders.

Steven Jackson is upset with the benching of Bulger
but is physically ready for the Bills.

Willis McGahee practiced yesterday and is listed as
probable for Monday night's tilt vs. the Steelers.

Adrian Peterson is listed as questionable but plans on
taking a full workload on Sunday vs. Tennessee. His
caddy Chester Taylor is also questionable but is likely
to play.

Ryan Grant is not on the Packers injury report. He
should be full out against the Bucs.

Justin Fargas is out for week 4 with a groin injury.
Darren McFadden will be a game time decision due
to a turf toe. Michael Bush practiced fully and is a
solid play, should he receive all of the carries vs. the
Chargers, who allow 5.0 ypc. Check back on Sunday.

Jonathan Stewart is dealing with an injured toe but
is probable for the Falcons and will play.

Ahman Green is questionable and may be able to suit
up but Steve Slaton will get the start vs. the Jaguars.

Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor returned to
practice, are listed as probable and will play against
the Texans.

LenDale White is probable for the Vikings game as
he nurses a sore shoulder.

Anquan Boldin tweaked a hamstring yesterday but
is probable for the Jets.

David Patten is doubtful. Lance Moore is working
with the 1st team and is a good #3 vs. the 49ers.

Kevin Walter missed some practice time with a sore
toe but is probable for the Jaguars game. He's a solid
#3 WR this week.

Jerry Porter, another solid #3 this week, should make
his 2008 debut against the Texans. He's probable.

Devin Hester is still troubled by a painful rib injury
and will be a game time decision. Pass on him this week.

Laveranues Coles is questionable with a thigh injury.
He played well last week with the same issues.

Joey Galloway has not practiced and is out for this
week.

Braylon Edwards practiced without restrictions and
is probable for the Bengals.

Donte Stallworth is still a week away from returning
to the Browns.

Justin Gage is likely to start this week vs. Minnesota.

Bryant Johnson missed practice due to a hamstring
and will be a game time decision. Look elsewhere for
a #3.

Darrell Jackson will not return this week as he deals
with a calf injury.

Brandon Lloyd is questionable for the Eagles game
with a hip injury.

Jeremy Shockey got good news from the doctors and
may be able to return in week 6 from a sports hernia.

L. J. Smith missed practice all week and is likely to be
out with a balky back.

All Pro C Nick Hardwick may return to the Chargers
this week further enhancing Tomlinson's value. He's
questionable.

Shaun Andrews, a McNabb bodyguard, is having back
problems. He's doubtful.

All Pro G Eric Steinbach remains questionable and will
likely miss Sunday's game with the Bengals.

LT Orlando Pace is probable for this week against the
Bills. Trent Green needs all the help he can get.

Shaun Rogers was rested most of the week because of a
sore shoulder. He's probable which is bad news for Chris
Perry.

Steelers run stopper Casey Hampton is out this week
making Willis McGahee's job a lot easier.

S Troy Polamalu missed practice all week with a quad
strain. He intends to play on Monday night. Todd Heap
would be upgraded this week if Polamalu is sidelined.

Al Harris is out for the Packers with a torn spleen. Ike
Hilliard could have a nice game for the Buccaneers as
Charles Woodson is likely to be locked on Antonio
Bryant.


Van Winkles:

Kerry Collins- was at best mediocre last week but
still managed to put up 13 points. He faces a Vikings
team that will be dedicated to stopping the run and
will force Collins to throw. Minnesota allows a tepid
6.8 ypa primarily because they make opposing offenses
one dimensional. He should have another double digit
scoring afternoon.

Le'Ron McClain- Parker owners who missed out
on Mendenhall may want to start the burly Ravens
fullback. He had 18 points and 18 touches last week vs.
the Browns.

Pierre Thomas- is likely to get 12-15 touches and is
in line for the goal line activity. The 49ers defense has
been better against the pass than the run. Thomas
will be used to keep the 49ers defense from deploying
nickel packages on 1st/2nd downs. He could have a nice
day.

Ike Hilliard- will be single covered and targeted often.
Cover corner Al Harris is out for the game leaving shut
down corner Woodson to harass Antonio Bryant. Ike
is averaging 5 catches and 50 ypg this season with 2 TD's.
He plays extremely well in the heat and this game is at
1pm on Sunday in Tampa.

James Hardy- will be a popular sleeper this week with
Roscoe Parrish out. The Rams are awful allowing a
league worst 9.3 ypa. They've fired a starting corner and
have turned back to Tye "Toast" Hill. Hardy is a giant
receiver and this game should showcase his skills.


Start/Sit: (Week 4)

1. QB's: Matchups

The Standard: 300 yards, 2 TD, 0 Int = 20 points

Favorable:

Trent Edwards- faces the Rams who yield a league high
9.3 ypa. Edwards is averaging 7.8 ypa and has a 96.6 QB
rating on the season. Both of these metrics will rise after
Sunday's game. The Rams allow 18 points per game (ppg)
to QB's.

Carson Palmer- got back on track last week against a good
Giants defense and faces a Browns secondary this week
that allows 8.5 ypa. Palmer has a lifetime passer rating of
90.3 and 20 TD's vs. Cleveland. The Browns yield 20 ppg
to signal callers.

David Garrard- faces a Texans secondary that has allowed
7.1 ypa attempt even though they've played running offenses
in the Steelers and the Titans. Jerry Porter is due back this
week giving Garrard a much needed primary option. QB's
are averaging 18 ppg vs. the Texans.

Good Bet: Huard vs. Broncos, Schaub vs. Jaguars
Rodgers vs. Bucs.

Unfavorable:

Ben Roethlisberger- faces the stingiest pass defense in the
NFL in the Ravens who allow only 3.0 ypa. He'll be without
Willie Parker which will allow Baltimore to play the pass
even more aggressively. Throw in a bruised hand and you
have a formula for disaster.

Gus Frerotte- brings a questionable passing team in to face
a stout defensive team. The Titans yield 4.6 ypa and have
allowed only 1 TD pass so far this year.

Derek Anderson- could be yanked this week if he gets off
to a poor start. He faces a Bengals secondary that has been
surprisingly good giving opposing QB's only 5.8 ypa and 2
scores.

Bad Bet: Griese vs. Packers, Green vs. Bills,
Delhomme vs. Panthers


2. RB's: Matchups (starting a #2)

The Standard: 110 yards rush, 30 yards rec, 1 TD = 20 pts

Favorable:

Jamal Lewis- has a solid matchup vs the Bengals
front 7 which has allowed 4.9 ypc with 4 rushing TD's
year to date. Lewis has averaged 5.5 ypc and has 10
scores in 13 games against Cincinnati.

Earnest Graham- should be a big part of the Bucs
game plan this week in an effort to control the ball and
keep the Packers offense on the sidelines. Green Bay
is yielding a league worse 5.7 ypc.

Selvin Young- every Broncos player is a decent start
vs. the Chiefs. Young averages 7.2 ypc against Kansas
City, who has been gouged for 5.5 ypc this season. The
Chiefs allow about 18 ppg to RB's.

Good Bet: Jones-Drew vs. Texans, J. Stewart vs.
Falcons, McFadden vs. Chargers.

Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Edgerrin James- faces a Jets defense that held L.T. to
under 3.0 ypc and all RB's this season to a cumulative 3.1
ypc. The Cards will throw often and James is said to be
losing carries to Hightower. Not a good play.

Chris Johnson- will get the worst of it in the middle of
the field vs. the Vikings who yield a paltry 3.2 ypc. This
one shapes up as a defensive battle of wills between the
Titans and Minnesota. Steer clear.

Rashard Mendenhall- popular add this week replaces
Parker and faces the Ravens who allow 3.7 ypc. This
will be an unpleasant debut for the heralded rookie from
Illinois.

Bad Bet: Forte vs. Eagles


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Lee Evans- runs vs. the league's worst pass defense
in St. Louis on Sunday. The Rams allow 9.3 ypa and
have been beaten through the air 7 times for scores.

Chad Johnson- should see single coverage for most
of the day. The Browns secondary is porous allowing
8.5 ypa and Johnson's in need of a good game.

Kevin Walter-has been invisible this season. Faces a
secondary in Jacksonville that will focus on stopping
Andre Johnson. The Jags allow 7.6 ypa so Walter
should actually have his 1st solid game of the season.

Good Bet: Porter vs. Texans, Bowe vs. Broncos,
Driver vs. Bucs.

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Santonio Holmes- the Ravens have been the
best team vs. the pass early in the season allowing
3.0 ypa and only 1 touchdown.

Bernard Berrian- he's going to be a solid #3 with
Frerotte just not this week. Tennessee yields a
skimpy 4.6 ypa.

D.J. Hackett- had a great matchup last week and
scored 3 points. Faces a Falcons secondary that
has played surprisingly well allowing only 5.1 ypa.

Bad Bet: Henderson vs. 49ers, Ward vs. Ravens


4. TE's: Matchups

The Standard- 40 yards, .3 TD = 6 points

Favorable:

Robert Royal- is another Bills player who will
score well vs. the Rams.

Owen Daniels- had a solid game last week and
faces a Jaguars defense that allows 7 ppg to TE's.

Bo Scaife- has good chemistry with Collins and
faces the Vikings who can be had over the middle.

Good Bet: Gonzalez vs. Broncos, Scheffler vs.
Chiefs

Unfavorable:

Heath Miller- will be a harassed all day by Reed
and his Ravens buddies.

Randy McMichael- the Bills have great safeties
and athletic linebackers. Trent Green will look
for Holt and Kennison first.

Todd Heap- will have Steelers active linebackers
and Polamalu draped over him all day.

Bad Bet: L. J. Smith vs. Bears


5. K's: Matchups

The Standard- 2 FG's, 1/40+, 3 Pat's = 10 points

Favorable:

Matt Prater- will have to eke out a FG or 2 to go
with the 5 PAT's he'll kick for the Broncos vs. the
Chiefs.

Shayne Graham- the Bengals offense came to
life last week and should continue to score vs. the
Browns this week.

Rian Lindell- will be the beneficiary of several
drives into Rams territory by the Bills.

Good Bet: Scobee vs. Texans

Unfavorable:

Ryan Longwell- the Vikings and Titans will
stymie each other all day. This should be a very
low scoring game.

Matt Stover- Pittsburgh is going to dominate
the Ravens offense even with nose tackle Casey
Hampton sitting this one out.

Jason Elam- the Panthers will make it difficult
for young Ryan and the Falcons offense.

Bad Bet: Reed vs. Ravens


6. DEF's: Matchups

The Standard- 13 points allowed, 3 turnovers, 2 sacks = 12 pts

Favorable:

Tennessee- keep riding the Titans as they should
turnover the Vikings in a low scoring contest.

Carolina- will force Ryan to beat them over the top
by stacking the box vs. Turner. That should create
opportunities for the Panthers CB's to pick a few.

Philadelphia- will use a similar blueprint vs Orton
and the Bears as the Eagles allow an NFL best meager
2.4 ypc.

Good Bet: Steelers vs. Ravens, Ravens vs. Steelers


Unfavorable:

N.Y. Jets- Arizona's high powered passing attack
is going to give them fits.

San Francisco- the Saints are going to score 24+
leaving the 49ers searching for turnovers.

Washington- the Cowboys have a juggernaut on
offense. It's best to avoid them.

Bad Bet: Bucs vs. Packers


Bye Week: Lions, Colts, Dolphins, Patriots,
Giants, Seahawks.


All Done!

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