Fantasy Football Player's Edge

October 22, 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 8 News: (Daily Updates)

The Chiefs are looking at Daunte Culpepper to fill
a void, hopefully, as head coach.

Tony Romo is out this week due to a fractured pinkie.
Brad Johnson gets the start vs. an aggressive Bucs
defense and is not playable

Laurence Maroney has been placed on IR. Release
him and pick up Sammy Morris if he's healthy. He
was seen walking without a limp at New England's
training facilities.

Cedric Benson will be the Bengals starter this week
vs. the Texans. He's actually playable as Houston
has allowed 4.4 ypc and 11 rushing TD's in 6 games.

Kellen Winslow has been suspended for the Jaguars
game for conduct detrimental to the team.

Bye Week: Bears, Broncos, Packers, Vikings


Start/Sit: (Week 8)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Jason Campbell- has a favorable matchup against a
porous Lions secondary which allows a league worse
8.8 ypa and has yielded 11 TD's in 6 games. Detroit
is also awful vs. the run so the downside risk is that
the Redskins will pound the rock and use the pass
judiciously.

Trent Edwards- faces a Dolphins backline that been
overly generous allowing 8.0 ypa. The key to Edwards
success is the availability of Miami nose tackle Jason
Ferguson. If Ferguson plays Buffalo will be forced
to pass otherwise the Dolphins will get an unhealthy
dose of Marshawn Lynch. Stay tuned.

Matt Cassel- is coming off a career game and has the
Rams coming to town. St.Louis is on a roll but allows
8.0 ypa and padded their statistics vs. an inept Brad
Johnson. Cassel is likely to replicate his performance
vs. the Broncos on Monday night.

Good Bet: Garrard vs. Browns, Farve vs. Chiefs
Anderson vs. Jaguars, O'Sullivan vs. Seahawks
Bulger vs. Patriots, Delhomme vs. Cardinals

Unfavorable:

Eli Manning- faces a Pittsburgh defense that allows
a league best 4.6 ypa, a 2nd best 2.9 ypc and 14.8 ppg.
A sliver of a silver lining may show if Polamalu is out.

Chad Pennington- has a tough opponent in the Bills
which yields 5.8 ypa & may be getting its best coverage
CB Terrence McGee back from a knee issue.

Peyton Manning- should be started but expectations
need to be realistic against a Titans secondary that has
allowed 5.2 ypa and only 1 TD on the season. Plan for
12-15 points from Peyton.

Bad Bet: Warner vs. Panthers, Russell vs. Ravens
Orlovsky vs. Redskins


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

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

Favorable:

Thomas Jones- has the worst run defense coming for
a visit. The Chiefs have allowed a league worse 5.6 ypa
and a ghastly 12 TD's in 6 games.

Maurice Jones-Drew- is well rested coming off a bye
and lines up vs. the Browns run defense which yields 4.8
ypc. He has never faced Cleveland but is likely to make
a lasting impression on Sunday.

Willis McGahee- has a good matchup vs. the Raiders
front 7 which allows 4.6 ypc. The Ravens will seek to
run the ball 40+ times with McGahee likely to get 25+
touches if he can stay on the field.

Good Bet: Morris vs. Rams, Lewis vs. Jaguars


Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Darren McFadden- the Baltimore defense has been
ravenous stonewalling RB's allowing a league best 2.8
ypc and 1 TD. Fargas needs to be inactive as well.

Brandon Jacobs- an irresistible force hits an immovable
object. The Steelers allow a paltry 2.9 ypc & should be
getting premier run stopper Casey Hampton back from
a knee injury.

Michael Turner- has underachieved vs. stout defenses.
The Eagles yield only 3.5 ypc and will try to make Ryan
beat them over the top.

Bad Bet: L. Johnson vs. Jets, Rhodes vs. Titans,
Lynch vs. Dolphins, Moore vs. Giants


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Lee Evans- run silent, run deep. Evans will likely exploit
the Dolphins backline which allows 8.0 ypa.

Chad Johnson- has created a good rapport with young
QB Fitzpatrick. The Texans are abysmal in coverage
allowing 8.2 ypa and made Orlovsky look like Brees.

Laveranues Coles- faces a Chiefs secondary that has
been abused all season. Favre will bounce back from an
awful effort vs. Oakland.

Good Bet: S. Moss vs. Lions, Muhammad vs. Cards
Morgan vs. Seahawks, Avery vs. Patriots

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Steve Breaston- will be shadowed by a Panthers team
which only allows 5.4 ypa.

Marvin Harrison- has not had separation all season and
faces a Titans secondary that has yielded a scant 5.2
ypa and 1 passing TD.

Greg Camarillo- will be neutralized by a solid Bills back
line that only allows 5.8 ypa.

Bad Bet: Toomer vs. Steelers, A. Gonzalez vs. Titans


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Vernon Davis- perhaps the new regime will force Martz
to use him more. The Seahawks are porous.

Mercedes Lewis- should get more looks with Matt Jones
serving a suspension. The Browns allow 7.0 ypa.

Robert Royal- will be ignored as the Dolphins game plan
Evans and Lynch.

Good Bet: Cooley vs. Lions, Heiden vs. Jaguars
Watson vs. Rams, Rosario vs. Cards


Unfavorable:

Zach Miller- will struggle vs. Ed Reed and the rest of his
Ravens buddies.

Anthony Fasano- the Bills handled Gates last week &
are likely to stifle Fasano.

Dallas Clark- had a solid day vs Green Bay but will find
the Titans to be extremely inhospitable.

Bad Bet: Boss vs. Steelers


5. K's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Josh Brown- has kicked well all season and the Rams
are starting to jell on offense. The Broncos made the
Patriots look really good turning the ball over 5 times.
Expect the Rams to be competitive on offense.

Joe Nedney- it's a new day in San Francisco. The
Seahawks will provide little resistance for a group of
players looking to make a good impression.

Taylor Mehlhaff- the rookie will have his chances as
Saints play the Chargers in London.

Good Bet: Kaeding vs. Saints, Kasay vs. Cardinals
Lindell vs. Dolphins


Unfavorable:

Jason Elam- the Falcons may have difficulties vs. a
well rested Eagles defense.

Sebastian Janikowski- may have to kick a couple of
60 yarders to get on the board.

Jason Hansen- the Redskins will stymie the Lions.

Bad Bet: Rackers vs. Panthers, Folk vs. Bucs


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Baltimore- at home against the Raiders. The key will
be if they can turnover Russell.

New York Jets- faces an inept Edwards offense which
starts a 3rd string QB. The Chiefs are in total disarray
and are deciding whether to bench Larry Johnson for
a 2nd consecutive game.

San Francisco- there have been rumblings about Matt
Hasselbeck returning. Barring that, the 49ers should
dominate a Seneca Wallace led offense at home.

Good Bet: Eagles vs. Falcons


Unfavorable:

Jacksonville- the Browns will be able to probe &
ultimately exploit the Jaguars weakness in both run
and pass defense.

New England- faces a Rams offense that is much
improved. The Broncos imploded on Monday night
with 2 fumbles in Patriots territory in the first 10
minutes of the game. Look for the Rams to serve
up a heavy dose of Steven Jackson to set up Holt,
Avery and Bulger.

Miami- the Bills have an offense that will give the
Dolphins fits. Edwards is accurate & careful with
the ball & Lynch will keep the Miami safeties from
doubling Evans all afternoon.

Bad Bet: Cowboys vs. Bucs


Notes from the Edge: (October 21st)

Trent Edwards continues to be a solid bye week play.

Lee Evans remains a must start #3 regardless of the
opponent.

LaDainain Tomlinson had 20 touches translate into
6 points. It is time to buy low from frustrated owners.
A reasonable offer such as Michael Turner or Lynch
might get it done. L.T. faces the Saints, Chiefs, Colts,
Falcons and Raiders leading up to the playoffs & the
Chiefs again in week 15.

Norv Turner's offense is enigmatic. Vincent Jackson
does not get enough targets while Rivers, Tomlinson
and Gates have been inconsistent especially on the
road.

Malcolm Floyd looks are likely to be minimized when
Chris Chambers returns.

The Chargers defense has not jelled & seems to miss
Shawne Merriman more than was expected.

Jake Delhomme & Steve Smith are on the same page.
This week's matchup with the high flying Cardinals will
be interesting.

Drew Brees forgot left his cape in New Orleans. It has
been shipped to London for the Chargers game.

Marques Colston was rusty and may need another start
before being a safe play.

Jeremy Shockey's mouth is far more prominent than his
play. It's the reason the Giants sent him packing.

Deuce McAllister becomes a feature back with Bush on
the sidelines. If Deuce gets 20-25 touches he'll be solid.

Kyle Orton continues to outplay Peyton Manning and
has the Lions after a bye week. Brees owners take note
for a week 9 play.

Mewelde Moore may get one more start before Parker
returns. It's hard to get excited about his chances against
the Giants defense which manhandled Gore.

Heath Miller has basically become a blocking TE & can
only be started when there are no other options available.
He is likely, however, to grab a red zone TD as defenses
forget to account for him.

Chris Johnson & LenDale White face another soft
run defense when the Colts come for a visit on Monday
night. It's going to be hard to replicate the performances
from the Chiefs game but the duo should be solid plays.

Larry Johnson is in hot water with the law and faces a
possible league suspension. They'd be doing him a favor
as the Herm Edwardses are awful and down to a 3rd
string QB.

Tony Gonzalez and Dwayne Bowe will suffer unless
Huard can play.

The Ravens defense is nasty and will be even better if
Samari Rolle can return soon.

Todd Heap almost had a nice game. He's not ownable.

Derrick Mason & Joe Flacco have a solid chemistry.
Mason is still available in many leagues.

Miami's defense will be unusable if nose tackle Jason
Ferguson has to sit out.

Ronnie Brown is better than the Ravens made him
look, however, the Bills neutralized Tomlinson and
are likely to focus on Brown and Williams.

How productive would Brandon Jacobs be if the he
was afforded feature back workloads of 25+ touches?

J.T. O'Sullivan is rumored to be precariously close
to losing the 49ers starting QB gig to Shaun Hill.

Josh Morgan has done enough to earn a starting WR
job opposite Isaac Bruce. He's usable this week vs.
a weak Seahawks secondary.

Vernon Davis has been consistently inconsistent and
may benefit if Hill is named QB.

Steven Jackson decimated the Cowboys but had to
leave with a quad injury. Stay tuned.

Torry Holt and Marc Bulger continue to disappoint.
They'll have a chance at redemption vs the Patriots.

Donnie Avery is the beneficiary of the attention that
is being given to Holt by secondary's. He's usable this
week vs. a weak New England backline.

All Cowboys would be risky against a swarming Bucs
defense if Tony Romo is unable to play.

Calvin Johnson will develop into a top 5 receiver but
will have to earn every yard against a stout Redskins
pass defense.

Kevin Smith is the Lions feature back for what it is
worth. Rudi Johnson should be jettisoned. Smith has
limited value especially vs. Washington.

Peyton Manning faces another tough foe on the road
vs. the Titans. He should have a double digit day with
Wayne playing better than he did against shut down
CB Charles Woodson. Marvin Harrison is only a bye
week play at best & is likely to struggle vs. the Titans
backline.

Javon Walker came to life but will be smothered by
the Ravens. Fargas and McFadden will struggle as
well.

Favre was disappointing but should bounceback vs the
Chiefs. Thomas Jones will be raring to go.

Santana Moss reappeared in Washington's offense
after going AWOL for a couple of weeks and faces the
Lions next. Campbell's stock rises precipitously with
Detroit on the horizon.

Braylon Edwards says he dropped 4 passes because
he was upset with earlier missed opportunities. Really?
He's too explosive to sit especially with a soft Jaguars
backline coming up.

Jeff Garcia is coming off a 300 yard game but look for
the Cowboys defense to make it tough for him.

Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn have become the
epitome of a start/sit conundrum. Steven Jackson had
his way with the Dallas run defense but it's hard to play
any Bucs RB due to distribution uncertainties. Graham
would be the play if you're backed into a corner.

All Seahawks, including the defense, are unplayable.


Quick Picks: (free agents to acquire)
Kyle Orton
Deuce McAllister
LaMont Jordan
BenJarvis Green-Ellis
Mewelde Moore
Derrick Mason
Javon Walker
Malcolm Floyd
Josh Morgan
Donnie Avery

Castaways: (waiver candidates)
Gus Frerotte
Julius Jones
Rudi Johnson
Lance Moore
Isaac Bruce
Bobby Engram

Hard Knocks: (injury notes)
Brodie Croyle- knee
Damon Huard- hand
Jason Campbell- groin
Steven Jackson- quad
Reggie Bush- knee
Warrick Dunn- back
Sammy Morris- knee
Laveranues Coles- thigh
Devin Hester- unknown
Plaxico Burress- finger
Ike Hilliard- head
Jerricho Cotchery- leg
Jeremy Shockey- groin
Troy Polamalu- head


All Done!

Site Updated by Noon EST Daily