Fantasy Football Player's Edge

September 29, 2008


Monday: (Recap)

Browns 20/Bengals 12- Crennel's conservative
game plan resulted in modest scores for Anderson
(9)/Edwards (8) & Winslow (5). Lewis (13) was
able to find the end zone. Palmer was out nursing a
sore elbow leaving Ryan Fitzpatrick (9) to operate
the offense. Johnson (8) and Houshmanzadeh
(5) got what they could. Perry (1) was simply awful.
The Brown's (17) defense stepped up.

Jaguars 30/Texans (27)- Garrard (23) finally got
in gear with a passing and rushing TD. Jones-Drew (4)
and Fred Taylor (4) were neutralized. Matt Jones
(13) is getting more targets while Porter (0) played but
was invisible. Walter (19) came up big leaving only the
crumbs for Andre Johnson (3). Schaub (26) played
extremely well. Slaton (17) was a great bye week play.
Owen Daniels (8) was solid. The Jaguars (0) defense
was a major disappointment.

Panthers 24/Falcons 9- Steve Smith (15) rewarded
his patient owners. Muhsin Muhammad (20) reprised,
at least for 1 game, his reputation as a quality receiver.
Delhomme (19)/Stewart (11) scored well while Hackett
(2)/D. Williams (5) belong on waivers. Roddy White (9)
continues to be a serviceable #2. Michael Turner (5) was
stonewalled. The Panthers (6) defense was pedestrian.

Chiefs 33/Broncos 19- Larry Johnson (29) was amazing.
Most pundits have suggested that Johnson's best days were
behind him. The Broncos (2) D would vehemently disagree.
Gonzalez (10)/Bowe (8) benefited from Huard (10). Cutler
(16) and Marshall (10) scored acceptably with Royal (8) and
Stokely (8) having solid games as #3's. Selvin Young (4) and
Scheffler (2) were dismal.

Saints 31/49ers 17- Deuce McAllister (14) had 21 touches.
Brees (25) had fantastic chemistry with Lance Moore (22).
Reggie Bush (3) and Patten (2) were lost while Meachem
(15)/Henderson (8) scored well. Pierre Thomas (0) was
the odd man out of the offense. O'Sullivan (12) owners were
expecting more. Gore (13) continues to display his stud status
while Vernon Davis (1) is non-existent in Martz's offense.
Battle (12)/Bruce (11) were solid but Bryant Johnson (0)
was not used even though he was active.

Jets 56/Cardinals 35- Farve (34) was ridiculously effective
tossing 6 touchdowns. Coles (28) and Cotchery (18) were the
primary beneficiaries. Thomas Jones (6) was not invited to
the party. Warner (17) had his usual high yardage/turnover
performance with Fitzgerald (12)/Boldin (15) scoring well.
James (19) had an odd game with only 29 yards rushing but
his owners will take it. Breaston (12) marched in the parade.
Hightower (7) got into the act on a short score. The Jets (23)
defense cashed in on Warner's sloppy effort.

Buccaneers 30/Packers 21- Graham (17) had a nice game.
Dunn (8) was playable. Griese (6)/Bryant (3)/Hilliard (2)
were terrible. Ryan Grant (0) continues to struggle even after
proclaiming that he would be all out vs. the Bucs (18) defense
which scored nicely. Rodgers (11) had his first tough outing as
a starter but hooked up with Jennings (22) twice. Driver (0)
went missing. The Packers (12) defense scored well.

Titans 30/Vikings 17- Chris Johnson (19) was impressive
while White (7) vultured a goal line score. Gage (9)/Collins
(7) are in sync. Peterson (20) was fantastic. Berrian (7) was
useful as a #3 while Frerotte (7) is unplayable unless he has a
favorable matchup. The Titans (13) continue to be fantasy's
best outfit while the preseason favorite defense, Minnesota
(1) has been inconsistent.

Chargers 28/Raiders 18- Tomlinson (22) got going late
with Rivers (12), Gates (11), Jackson (5) and Chambers
(4) tagging along for the ride. Michael Bush (12) was good
while McFadden (3) struggled. Russell (12) connected with
Zach Miller (15) for a long score. Javon Walker (3) had his
points in the 1st quarter. The Chargers (11) were serviceable
for owners.

Bills 31/Rams 14- Trent Edwards (12) and Lee Evans (16)
made the most out of 2 receptions. Lynch (7) had his 1st subpar
game of the season as Fred Jackson (10) had the RB points.
Steven Jackson (24) broke out with Holt (6) only marginally
effective. Trent Green (8) fared no better than Bulger. The
Bills (13) had a defensive score.

Redskins 26/Cowboys 24- Campbell (17), Portis (13) and
Santana Moss (14) are becoming fantasy's 3 amigos. Cooley (2)
was left at the altar. Romo (23), Witten (15) and Owens (14)
came through nicely. Barber (3) was thwarted all day and Miles
Austin (10) had his 2nd straight double digit day while Crayton
(8) was also in play. Neither defense scored effectively.

Bears 24/Eagles 20- Orton (13) marred a good performance
with 4 turnovers. Forte (8) struggled but still put up respectable
numbers. Hester (9) maximized 4 touches. Olsen (9) had his 1st
solid game of the season. McNabb (13) missed Westbrook with
Buckhalter (14) playing well in his stead. Jackson (14) had good
production as a #3. Brown (7) had 6 catches. The Eagles (12)
had another strong showing while the Bears (8) were a useful start.


Quick Picks: (free agents to acquire)
Jason Campbell
Deuce McAllister
Lance Moore
Kevin Walter
Matt Jones
Robert Meachem
Justin Gage
Matt Prater
Tampa Bay

Castaways: (waiver candidates)
Chris Perry
D'Angelo Williams
D.J. Hackett
Selvin Young
David Patten

Hard Knocks: (injury notes)
A. Rodgers- shoulder
G. Frerotte- hand
A. Boldin- neck
D. Patten- groin
Brandon Lloyd- knee
R.McMichael- foot


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. Falcons


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


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.


All Done!

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