Fantasy Football Player's Edge

October 2, 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.


Week 5 News: (Daily Updates)

Bill Belichick has expressed confidence in QB Matt
Cassel. The Edge would prefer a vote of confidence
from Randy Moss.

Bye Week: Browns, Raiders, Rams, Jets


The Walking Wounded:

Carson Palmer has reversed course saying he'll wait
and see if he can play against the Cowboys on Sunday.
He's dealing with swelling and inflammation in his right
elbow.

Aaron Rodgers was limited to handing off on 4 plays
in practice while he nurses a right shoulder injury. He's
questionable for Sunday vs. the Falcons. Jennings
owners have the most to lose if Rodgers is sidelined.

Donovan McNabb worked out sparingly but will play
vs. the Redskins.

Brody Croyle returned to practice but is likely to miss
this week's game vs. the Panthers. Huard will get the
start which is good news for Bowe/Gonzalez owners.

Ben Roethlisberger sat out practice to nurse a sore
shoulder. He's likely to play vs. Jacksonville.

Vince Young has returned to practice which should
set off a QB controversy for the 4-0 Titans.

Willis McGahee is battling a rib injury and was able
to attend practice although his activities were limited.

Brian Westbrook participated in a walk through with
the offense as tries to recover from an ankle sprain. His
status for the Redskins game has not been determined.

Maurice Morris is out again this week which gives the
start and the bulk of the carries to Julius Jones. The
Giants are solid vs. the run allowing 3.8 ypc but may
have to focus on Seattle's passing game with Branch
and Engram returning. Jones is a serviceable start.

Chris Perry was limited in practice with a hamstring
strain and Kenny Watson is likely to be out this week
leaving the newly signed Cedric Benson with the ball.
For many reasons he's not a play. Foremost, Dallas is
tough upfront.

Deuce McAllister practiced fully. He faces a tough run
defense in Minnesota this week but will provide strong
bye week relief in weeks 6/7/8/10.

Ahman Green was not on the Texans injury report.
Steve Slaton is a solid play this week vs. the Colts so
Green's availability is not necessarily a good thing.

LenDale White did not practice due to a sore shoulder.
Neither he nor rookie sensation Chris Johnson are
great plays vs. the Ravens this week.

Anquan Boldin has attended but has not been cleared
to practice pending medical tests after a vicious helmet
hit in the Jets game.

Santonio Holmes is taking it easy as he tries to heal a
sore neck. He's likely to play vs. the Jaguars.

Kevin Curtis was limited in practice as he tries to come
back from a sports hernia. He'll probably return in week
6.

Joey Galloway is still out due to a foot sprain. It does
not look good for a return this week.

Justin Gage sat out practice with a sore knee. He faces
the Ravens this week and should not be added or started
even if he's able to play.

Bears WR Brandon Lloyd missed practice with a knee
injury and is questionable for the Lions.

David Patten is likely to miss the tilt vs. the Vikings.
Lance Moore will start and has been very effective
the past 2 weeks. He's a solid #3 even with Minnesota
game planning for him.

Deion Branch and Bobby Engram have returned to
practice making Hasselbeck a viable fantasy option
for the remainder of the season. It makes sense to give
Branch one start before considering him on a weekly
basis as a #3.

Chris Henry is practicing with the Bengals affording
Palmer another weapon, especially, in the red zone.

L.J. Smith practiced fully but is not a great bye week
play vs. the Redskins. Smith has averaged 25 ypg
and scored 3 times in 10 games against Washington.

Antonio Gates sat out with a sore hip. Pencil him in
for the Dolphins game on Sunday.

T Bryant McKinnie returns to the Vikings from a
4 game suspension. Adrian Peterson will benefit by
having Mt. McKinnie back at left tackle. As if A.P.
isn't already unstoppable.

Eagles G Shaun Andrews is visiting a back specialist
and it's unlikely that he'll be ready for this week's fracas
with Washington. McNabb misses his protection.

Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris could not go
at practice yesterday due to a sore knee. Lions Rudy
Johnson would benefit if Harris has to sit out.

Shawn Springs is not practicing due a strained calf.
Donovan McNabb and DeSean Jackson would be
upgraded to must starts if Springs is sidelined.

Troy Polamalu did not practice because of a strained
quad. Maurice Jones-Drew and Fred Taylor would
prosper greatly if Polamalu can't go on Sunday.


Start/Sit: (Week 5)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Philip Rivers- an already soft Dolphins secondary will
brace for single coverages vs. Chambers and Jackson as
Miami will deploy a safety in the box to try to neutralize
Tomlinson. The Dolphins have allowed 8.2 ypa and 2
passing touchdowns per contest. Rivers boasts a 109.8 QB
rating with 10 TD's in 4 games this season.

Jake Delhomme- the emergence of Muhammed and
the resurgence of Steve Smith gives Delhomme plenty
of options over the top. The Chiefs visit Carolina with a
backline that yields a generous 7.2 ypa. Jake has a 95.6
passer rating and 3 scores at home this year.

Ben Roethlisberger- he's been mediocre all season but
will be forced to throw against Jacksonville. RB Willie
Parker is out again leaving Ben with Mewelde Moore
and Najeh Davenport as his running game. The Jags
are vulnerable to the pass allowing over 7.6 ypa. Big Ben
had a 19 point game against Jacksonville in a wild card
game last January.

Good Bet: Cutler vs. Bucs, Griese vs. Broncos
O'Sullivan vs. Patriots, E. Manning vs. Seattle.

Unfavorable:

David Garrard- has yet another tough game with the
Steelers coming to town. Pittsburgh has been stingy
in the passing game allowing a scant 4.8 ypa and only 3
passing touchdowns on the season. He had a 41.9 passer
rating the last time these teams met in January during
the 2007 playoffs.

Jon Kitna- faces a ferocious Bears front 4 and a solid
backline that gives only 5.5 ypa. As a further mitigating
factor the Lions will likely play a conservative game in
an effort to play fundamentally sound football. This staff
can ill afford to get routed by the Bears.

Carson Palmer- is not 100% due to a sore elbow and
will look over a Cowboys secondary that has allowed a
solid 6.4 ypa after having already faced McNabb and
Rodgers. It's likely that the week off will work against
Palmer who had regained some of his swagger vs the
Giants 2 weeks ago.

Bad Bet: Hasselbeck vs. Giants, Cassel vs. 49ers
McNabb vs. Redskins, Rodgers vs. Falcons


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

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

Favorable:

Michael Turner- faces the Packers who generously
permit 5.2 ypc. He's had very solid games against soft
run defenses offered by the Lions and the Chiefs.
In those contests, Atlanta wins, he had 20+ touches
while in the other 2 games this season, Falcons losses,
he had fewer than 20 touches. If the Atlanta coaching
staff is paying attention he's likely to get more than 20
touches vs. Green Bay on Sunday.

Steve Slaton- has a fantastic matchup vs. the Colts
which gives opposing RB's 4.9 ypc and a TD per game.
Slaton averages 64 ypg rushing and another 30 plus
ypg on receptions with 2 TD's so far this season. He's
accomplished this vs. the Steelers/Titans/Jaguars
on the road.

Ryan Grant- it's now or never for the 2nd rounder.
The Falcons have been run on allowing 4.6 ypc and
5 TD's so far this season. He's been pathetic but will
use this home game to reassert his status and restore
his confidence to be an elite back once again.

Good Bet: Forte vs. Lions, Brown vs. Chargers,
Stewart vs. Chiefs

Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Maurice Jones-Drew- the Steelers have redefined
stingy, yielding a paltry 2.9 ypc to opposing RB's. MJD
has the ability to beat any defense but only averaged
54 ypg with no scores in 2 outings vs. Pittsburgh.

Chris Johnson- it's hard to bet against this youngster
but the Ravens have been ravenous this season allowing
3.1 ypc and 0 TD's on the ground.

Deuce McAllister- will have a tough road to travel vs.
the purple people eaters from Minnesota on Monday
night. The Vikings interior defense is as good as any in
football giving only 2.9 ypc. The stain on their resume is
that they've allowed 6 rushing TD's. You play Deuce on
the chance of him getting a short TD. That's a tough bet
and Reggie Bush is likely to get additional touches out
of the backfield in 2nd/3rd and long situations.


Bad Bet: R. Johnson vs. Bears, Portis vs. Eagles,
McClain vs. Titans, S. Young vs. Bucs


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Vincent Jackson- Miami will fixate on containing
Tomlinson/Gates leaving Jackson single covered
all afternoon. The Dolphins have been porous in the
secondary yielding 8.2 ypa. Jackson's averaged 60+
ypg and is likely to improve that number this week.

Devin Hester- should be joining the growing ranks of
WR's who have burned the Lions this year. Detroit
has the league's worst pass defense allowing over 9.0
ypa. Devin had 3 receptions last week and should get
additional snaps if Brandon Lloyd is out. If Lloyd
plays Hester is not quite as attractive as a #3.

Antonio Bryant- faces an overrated Broncos team.
Denver's pass defense is among the worst in the NFL
allowing 8.2 ypa. Bryant has been inconsistent so far
this season but this game could deteriorate quickly in
to a shootout similar to the Bucs/Bears tilt where he
had 10 catches for 138 yards.

Good Bet: Toomer vs. Seattle, Ward vs. Jaguars,
Royal vs. Bucs, Muhammed vs. Chiefs, Battle vs.
Patriots, Harrison vs. Texans

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Roddy White- is likely to be face up with Charles
Woodson all day. The Packers secondary has been
outstanding allowing only 5.8 ypa. Even with Harris
out there's no other WR threat on the Falcons roster
that will command any attention from the Packers.

DeSean Jackson- should get lots of attention from
an excellent Redskins backline. Washington allows
6.1 ypa after facing Romo/Warner/Brees. That is
impressive.

Dwayne Bowe- has a tough task vs. the Panthers
who sport one of the better pass defenses allowing 5.4
ypa. Bowe has averaged 5 catches and almost 70 ypg
but will be shadowed all day because he is the Chiefs
only legitimate receiving threat other than Gonzalez.

Bad Bet: Breaston vs. Bills, Crayton vs. Bengals,
Ch. Johnson vs. Cowboys, Ro. Williams vs. Bears
Porter vs. Steelers, Driver vs Falcons, Gage vs.
Ravens.


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Heath Miller- the Steelers will use the passing
game extensively this week against the Jaguars.

Greg Olsen- will be one of several Bears players
that have a good game this week vs. the Lions.

Jeremy Stevens- big red zone target should have
several opportunities against the Broncos.

Good Bet: Royal vs. Cards, Clark vs. Texans


Unfavorable:

Bo Scaife- will be a harassed all day by Reed and
his Ravens buddies.

John Carlson- rookie from Notre Dame will be
hampered all day by a swarming Giants defense.

Todd Heap- has not been a factor all season and is
very unlikely to be one on Sunday vs. the Titans.

Bad Bet: L. J. Smith vs. Redskins, Gonzalez
vs. Panthers, Lee vs. Falcons


5. K's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Matt Prater- had a 56 yarder vs. Kansas City
on the road last week. Returns to Mile High and
should get additional FG attempts due to a solid
Bucs defense that's likely to play the Broncos
tough.

Kris Brown- finally gets to kick at home vs. the
Colts. The Texans have been on the road for 3
games due to the adverse effects of Hurricane Ike
on the Reliant Dome. This game should be a high
scoring affair.

Adam Vinatieri- the Colts will score early and
often vs. the Texans.

Good Bet: Gould vs. Lions, Reed vs. Jaguars


Unfavorable:

Shayne Graham- the Cowboys are very likely
to limit the Bengals scoring opportunities.

Matt Stover- Tennessee is going to dominate
the Ravens offense. He may not get too many
chances to kick.

Mason Crosby- the assumption is that Green
Bay will play conservatively to protect Rodgers.

Bad Bet: Scobee vs. Steelers


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Tennessee- keep riding the Titans as they will
turnover the Ravens in a low scoring contest.

Baltimore- will control the Titans ground game
and force Collins into mistakes.

Dallas- the Bengals offense will have to throw to
stay close to the Cowboys. Advantage defense.

Good Bet: Bills vs. Cards, Bears vs. Lions,
Panthers vs. Chiefs


Unfavorable:

Indianapolis- they're not the same defense with
out Bob Sanders. The Texans will move the ball
and score.

New York Giants- Seattle has been readying for
this game for 2 weeks and will get WR's Engram/
Branch back. They could surprise New York.

Minnesota- they face the Saints Monday night in
New Orleans. Brees and company have averaged
28 ppg and 414 ypg.

Bad Bet: Jaguars vs. Steelers


All Done!

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