Fantasy Football Player's Edge

October 16, 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 7 News: (Daily Updates)

Tony Gonzalez is extremely upset with the Chiefs
for not trading him before the deadline. He says that
this will not affect his play. It's not going to matter
as Edwards will do more to adversely affect his play
than Tony's anger and disgust.

Shaun McDonald will replace Roy Williams as
the starter at wide receiver for the Lions. Calvin
Johnson will get lots of attention from secondaries
so McDonald can be used as a bye week play when
the matchup is favorable such as this week against
the Texans.

Bye Week: Falcons, Eagles, Cardinals, Jaguars


The Walking Wounded:

Matt Hasselbeck may be out for an extended time
due primarily to a bulging disc in his back. It's time to
move on and add a healthy QB as a backup. Garcia/
Cassel could be added if Garrard/Schaub are gone.
Charlie Frye or Seneca Wallace gets the start for
Seattle and should be avoided vs. the Bucs.

Tony Romo got a call from Favre telling him to gut
it out if he can. Romo is expected to miss 2-4 weeks
with a broken pinkie but has advised the team that he
is willing to play. Brad Johnson should get the start
as the Cowboys are likely to protect their franchise
QB for at least a week. Johnson could be a bye week
play against a soft Rams backline but probably needs
this game to shake off the inactivity.

Jon Kitna is out for the season with back problems.
Dan Orlovsky will start for the Lions and faces a
Texans secondary that has been kind to QB's. He's
playable but only as a last resort.

Carson Palmer is out with elbow problems. Ryan
Fitzpatrick gets the start and is not playable vs the
Steelers.

Trent Edwards has returned to practice and is likely
to start against the Chargers.

Aaron Rodgers came out of week 6 none the worse
for wear and should be ready for his shootout against
Manning and the Colts.

Eli Manning has a bruised chest but will practice and
play vs. the 49ers.

Ben Roethlisberger is practicing as his sore shoulder
improves.

Marc Bulger has a sore right index finger but plans to
start vs. the Cowboys.

Clinton Portis was rested today due to a hip flexor.
He's very likely to play against the Browns.

Darren McFadden has shed the boot that he has been
wearing to protect his turf toe. He's backing up Fargas
but it's prudent to think that his role will increase as his
toe improves.

Willie Parker aggravated a knee injury & was held out
of practice. Mewelde Moore will start if fast Willie has
to sit vs. the Bengals.

LaDainian Tomlinson and Darren Sproles were not at
practice. Tomlinson, nursing a sore toe, will play while
Sproles, dealing with a sore ankle, is questionable.

Reggie Bush sat out practice with a swollen knee. He has
had this knee problem from time to time during the season
and is likely to start vs. Carolina.

Kevin Smith has a sore shoulder and may miss the game
vs. the Texans which would upgrade Rudi Johnson to
playable. Houston's run defense allows 4.5 ypc and an
NFL high 10 scores.

Felix Jones is out for a few weeks with a sore hamstring.
Marion Barber will have an enormous game against the
Rams.

Joseph Addai is battling a torn hamstring and will miss
2-4 weeks. Dominic Rhodes gets the start and is a nice
play against a porous Green Bay run defense.

Ladell Betts is out for several weeks. Rock Cartwright
will serve as Portis' backup. Shaun Alexander has been
added as RB depth.

Ryan Torain has returned to the Broncos practice from
a fractured elbow and should return after the week 8 bye.
Michael Pittman is playable this week vs. the Patriots
but will be caught up in Shanahan's RB shenanigans after
the bye.

Laurence Maroney & LaMont Jordan were held out
of practice with nagging injuries. Sammy Morris is likely
to start with Kevin Faulk serving as the situational back.
Avoid this situation even though the Broncos feature a
porous run defense.

Jameel Cook has been signed to replace Byron Storer
at FB by the Bucs. Storer has been placed on the IR due
to a knee injury. Earnest Graham returns to tailback &
a timeshare with Warrick Dunn diluting the value of both
backs.

Joey Galloway caught about 100 passes on the side and
may actually return to active duty this week vs. Seattle.
The Seahawks are allowing 7.7 ypa so Galloway would
be a solid #3 if he starts. Stay tuned as he's still not going
all out in practice.

Marques Colston should play vs. the Panthers. He's
still limited so it might be wise to let him play against a
formidable backline in Carolina before activating.

Muhsin Muhammed is day to day with a bruised knee.
He's been solid as a #3 the past few weeks and would be
usable vs. the Saints if healthy.

Chris Chambers is likely to return this week to face the
Bills. He sat out practice with a sprained ankle.

Calvin Johnson was sidelined due to a slight concussion.

Deion Branch missed practice due to a sore heel. He has
a difficult matchup vs a solid Tampa Bay secondary with
Charlie Frye/Seneca Wallace at QB. Look elsewhere
for a #3.

Brandon Stokely received his 10th concussion and is
likely to miss the Patriots game. Eddie Royal in on
track to return to fill the void.

T.J. Houshmandzadeh missed practice due to a rolled
ankle. He's expected to play vs. the Steelers.

David Patten returned to practice from a nagging groin
strain and should play vs. the Panthers affording Brees
another weapon.

Bernard Berrian sat out nursing a sore knee. He's likely
to play against the Bears and would be a solid #3 against
a depleted Chicago secondary.

Kellen Winslow is questionable vs. the Redskins this
week.

Jeremy Shockey may be able to play vs. the Panthers
as he recovers from a sports hernia.

Jeff Reed has a sore groin but is likely to kick against the
Bengals.

Shayne Graham missed practice with a sore groin. He is
not a good start vs. Pittsburgh even if he plays.

Charles Tillman joins Nathan Vasher on the sidelines
with a jammed shoulder. The Bears are vulnerable with
their starting cornerbacks hurting. Frerotte and Berrian
will benefit if Tillman and/or Vasher can't play.

All Pro OT Chris Samuels sprained a knee. Portis will
have a more difficult time vs. the Browns if Samuels is
limited or out.

Run stopper Casey Hampton has returned to practice
for the Steelers making any Bengals RB unplayable.


Start/Sit: (Week 7)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Matt Cassel- virtually every opposing QB has played
well vs. the Broncos which have yielded 7.5 ypa and
9 TD's. He's played much better at home this season
with a QB rating of 85.7 as opposed to 74.1 on the
road.

Brett Favre- is likely to exploit a generous Raiders
backline which has allowed 7.5 ypa and 8 aerial scores.
Farve has 114.5 passer rating and 10 touchdowns in
3 games vs. Oakland.

Matt Schaub- prospers vs. poor secondaries such as
the one he faces this week in the Lions which allows
a league worse 8.9 ypa. They've yielded 9 passing TD's
in 5 games. His passer ratings are 93.2 indoors & 90.2
at home. He's coming off a strong effort last week.

Good Bet: Cutler vs. Patriots, Collins vs. Chiefs
Garcia vs. Seahawks, Campbell vs. Browns

Unfavorable:

Ben Roethlisberger- returns to action to face a good
Bengals secondary which allows 5.8 ypa. Historically,
Ben has averaged about 12 points in 8 starts against
Cincinnati. He does play well on the road & will have
more snaps as the Bengals offense will not move the
ball consistently with Fitzpatrick at the helm. He is
playable but expect production of 15 points or less.

Chad Pennington- the Ravens were humiliated last
week and are certain to take it out on the Dolphins.
The Miami passing attack will not be able to exploit
the Ravens CB's like Manning/Wayne did. Baltimore
allows only 5.3 ypa and will lower this metric on Sunday.

Philip Rivers- has been a top 3 QB all season but faces
a tough foe in Buffalo which has been stingy allowing
5.7 ypa. A caveat is necessary, Terrence McGee must
play for the Bills. The outstanding CB was out vs. the
Cards and Warner exploited the void.

Bad Bet: O'Sullivan vs. Giants, Frerotte vs. Bears
Croyle vs. Titans


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

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

Favorable:

Domenic Rhodes- will face a Green Bay run defense
that has been gouged for 5.1 ypc. Certainly he should
only be used if Addai is out.

Steve Slaton- faces a unit that actually looked good vs.
the Vikings. This is more of an indictment of the offense
of Minnesota than a vote of confidence for the Lions
defense which allows 4.9 ypc.

Ryan Grant- has been coming on every week and is close
to his 2007 form. The Colts have yielded 4.6 ypc and will
have to respect Rodgers and the Packers aerial attack
creating running lanes for Grant.

Good Bet: Pittman vs. Patriots, C. Johnson vs. Chiefs
Ru. Johnson vs. Texans

Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Willis McGahee- the Dolphins have stonewalled every
running attack they've faced allowing 3.5 ypc. Baltimore
will have to throw to move the ball consistently.

Julius Jones- faces a tenacious Tampa Bay front 7. The
Bucs are yielding 3.4 ypc and have yet to allow a rushing
TD.

Ronnie Brown- has the unenviable task of rushing vs. the
Ravens which have allowed 2.8 ypa and only one score.
Sparano has returned to a backfield timeshare which will
further erode Brown's value against this opponent.

Bad Bet: Perry/Benson vs. Steelers, Forte vs. Vikings,
Fargas/McFadden vs. Jets


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Kevin Walter- faces a soft Detroit secondary who will be
preoccupied with stopping Andre Johnson. He's likely to
see single coverage all afternoon.

Derrick Mason- will be the beneficiary of a gameplan that
will have to include more short & intermediate passes. The
Dolphins will stop the run and force Flacco to throw to
beat them.

Laveranues Coles- faces a Raiders secondary that has
been exploited all season. Favre will open up the offense
as Oakland will work to limit Thomas Jones after his
big game against the Bengals. Jerricho Cotchery is a
solid play as well.

Good Bet: A. Bryant vs. Seahawks, Gage vs. Chiefs
Royal vs. Patriots

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Chad Johnson- the Bengals offense will stall with Ryan
Fitzpatrick facing a voracious Steelers defense.

Dwayne Bowe- will remember the Titans which has only
allowed 5.1 ypa. Croyle returns to action vs. the league's
best defense and will be hard pressed to locate Bowe on
a consistent basis.

Isaac Bruce- the preacher will pray for open looks. New
York will have something to prove after being upset by
the Browns on Monday night.

Bad Bet: Camarillo vs. Ravens, Moore vs. Panthers,
V. Jackson vs. Bills, Berrian vs. Bears


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Bo Scaife- should be targeted often by Collins vs. the
Chiefs.

Todd Heap- although he's a shadow of his All Pro form
the matchup vs. the Dolphins will force Flacco to pass
early and often.

Owen Daniels- should have a free run down the middle
vs. the Lions.

Good Bet: Watson vs. Broncos, Baker vs. Raiders
A. Smith vs. Seahawks


Unfavorable:

Vernon Davis- had his best game of the season against
the Eagles. The Giants will take notice.

Anthony Fasano- the Ravens limited Dallas Clark to 17
yards on 2 catches. It's hard to expect more from Fasano.

Heath Miller- has averaged 35 yards with only 1 TD in 6
games vs. the Bengals.

Bad Bet: B. Miller vs. Panthers, Shiancoe vs. Bears
Gonzalez vs. Titans


5. K's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Matt Prater- possesses the strongest, most accurate
leg in football. A must start every week.

Rob Bironas- will have plenty of chances to kick as
the Titans amass yards vs. the Chiefs.

Kris Brown- the Texans offense should have its way
with the Lions defense.

Good Bet: Gotkowski vs. Broncos, Bryant vs. Seattle


Unfavorable:

Shayne Graham- the Bengals will be lucky to cross
midfield against the Steelers with Fitzpatrick at the
helm.

Joe Nedney- the 49ers offense will struggle this week
vs. the Giants.

Matt Stover- will be involved in a low scoring defensive
struggle between the Ravens and Dolphins.

Bad Bet: Longwell vs. Bears, Mare vs. Bucs


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Tampa Bay- will feast on Charlie Frye. The Bucs
will stifle Seattle's running game and force Frye into
mistakes in the passing game.

Tennessee- faces an inept Edwards offense. They'll
stuff Larry Johnson and force Croyle to beat them
creating turnovers in the process.

Pittsburgh- will devour Fitzpatrick and a miserable
Bengals rushing attack. No contest.

Good Bet: Jets vs. Raiders, Dolphins vs. Ravens
Bears vs. Vikings, Ravens vs. Dolphins


Unfavorable:

Green Bay- could fare better if Al Harris returns.
You saw what Manning and company did against
the Ravens who had a reserve starting at CB.

New England- faces a Broncos offense that will
exploit a suspect secondary. This is a bounce back
game for Denver after misfiring vs. the Jaguars.

Carolina- Brees had 3 touchdowns and 260 yards
vs. the Panthers the last year in Charlotte. He's
been even better this year.

Bad Bet: Seahawks vs. Bucs, 49ers vs. Giants


All Done!

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