Fantasy Football Player's Edge

October 31, 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.

Tomorrow: Walking Wounded (revised/updated)


Week 9 News: (Daily Updates)

Matt Jones is likely to suit up vs. the Bengals while
the league reviews his appeal of a 3 game suspension
for an arrest on possession of cocaine. He's a fair play
as a #3 as the Bengals have played the pass well.

Eric Mangini has made it clear to Brett Favre that
he would like him to cutback on the interceptions. Duh.

Bye Week: Saints, Chargers, 49ers, Panthers


Van Winkles: (deep sleepers)

Gus Frerotte- it will be ugly but look for Frerotte to
capitalize on a Houston secondary that allows 7.6 ypa.
The Texans will have to deploy a safety to help control
Peterson at the point of attack opening passing lanes
for Berrian and Wade.

Justin Fargas- was an effective running back late last
season. McFadden is likely out with multiple turf toe
injuries allowing Justin to receive the bulk of the totes
vs a Falcons defense which has yielded a generous 4.7
ypc.

Ricky Williams- Sparano suggests that Williams will
be getting additional carries against the Broncos. The
Denver run defense is awful allowing a staggering 5.4
ypc.

Tim Hightower- is very close to unseating Edgerrin
James as the Cards feature back. The Rams defense
will offer little resistance with a leaky 4.8 ypc.

Greg Camarillo- the Broncos will be focused on Ted
Ginn Jr. and the Dolphins running game. Camarillo
should get plenty of targets.


No He Didn't:

Ryan Fitzpatrick- the Jaguars defense has been kind
to QB's all season allowing 7.2 ypa and 12 touchdowns.
Fitzpatrick is playable only as a last resort but he could
actually provide a surprise to the upside.


Start/Sit: (Week 9)

1. QB's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Kyle Orton- worked over the Lions secondary in week
5 by throwing for 334 yards and 2 scores at Ford Field.
If the weather cooperates Orton is likely to approximate
that performance.

Donovan McNabb- has been on the precipice of having
a breakout performance. The Seattle pass defense has
allowed 7.5 ypa and yielded 11 scores in 7 games. Curtis,
Jackson and Brown should have plenty of open looks.
Westbrook will play a major role in the passing game.

Marc Bulger- will have to throw early and often to keep
pace with Warner and Co. Arizona's backline has been
generous allowing 7.5 ypa and a league leading 14 TD's.
Fasten your seat belts.

Good Bet: Warner vs. Rams, Cutler vs. Dolphins
Pennington vs. Broncos, P. Manning vs. Patriots
Ryan vs. Raiders, Garcia vs. Chiefs

Unfavorable:

Jason Campbell- has the unenviable task of throwing
vs. the Steelers defense which allows a league stingiest
4.8 ypa.

Derek Anderson- has played better recently but faces
a Ravens secondary that is getting healthier. Even with
backup players at cornerback Baltimore yields only 5.9
ypa.

Aaron Rodgers- has been a must start all season but
will face a Titans secondary that has allowed 5.2 ypa &
only 3 TD's on the season. He's playable but a bit risky.

Bad Bet: Collins vs. Packers, Orlovsky vs. Bears
Thigpen vs. Bucs


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

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

Favorable:

Michael Turner- has had his best games vs. permissive
run defenses such as the Raiders, which has allowed 4.5
ypc & 11 rushing TD's on the season.

Matt Forte- has been surprisingly consistent all season
regardless of the opponent. He faces the Lions front 7
which has been gouged for 4.7 ypc and 9 TD's.

Willis McGahee- has a good matchup vs. the Browns
rush defense which allows 4.7 ypc. The Ravens will seek
to control the clock with McGahee and Ray Rice.

Good Bet: Ch. Johnson vs. Packers, Dunn vs. Chiefs
White vs. Packers, Graham vs. Chiefs


Unfavorable: (sitting a #2)

Jamal Lewis- the Ravens defense has been ravenous
stonewalling RB's allowing a league best 2.8 ypc & 1 TD.

Steve Slaton- has a bad matchup vs. the Vikings rush
defense which holds RB's to 2.9 ypc. He may have some
chances in the passing game but is a risky play.

Marshawn Lynch- faces a Jets interior defense which
has been stout vs. the run allowing only 3.2 ypc.

Bad Bet: Grant vs. Titans, Portis vs. Steelers
Ko. Smith vs. Bucs, Ke. Smith vs. Bears


3. WR's: Matchups

The Standard: 80 yards, 1 TD = 14 points

Favorable: (starting a #3)

Joey Galloway- needed last week's action to shake off
a season of inactivity and faces a Chiefs secondary that
has been targeted all year allowing a generous 7.5 ypa.

Steve Breaston- the Rams secondary has not limited
any passing offenses this season much less one like the
Cardinals high powered aerial circus.

Eddie Royal- the Dolphins backline has been abused
consistently yielding 7.8 ypa.

Good Bet: Ginn vs. Broncos, Berrian vs. Texans,
Houshmandzadeh vs. Jaguars, Avery vs. Cards
Curtis vs. Seahawks, Gonzalez vs. Patriots

Unfavorable: (sitting a #3)

Donald Driver- faces a Titans secondary that limited
Wayne, Gonzalez and Harrison to 68 total yards.

Dwayne Bowe- will have to earn his keep against a solid
Bucs secondary that has allowed only 5.8 ypa. They will
harass Thigpen into a lot of checkdowns to Gonzalez &
Kolby Smith.

Hines Ward- faces a secondary that excels in coverage.
The Redskins pass defense yields a paltry 5.7 ypa with
only 10 sacks on the season. Ward will face tight man to
man schemes underneath forcing Roethlisberger to look
elsewhere.

Bad Bet: S. Moss vs. Steelers, Stallworth vs. Ravens
Gage vs. Packers


4. TE's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Greg Olsen- returns from a bye to face the Lions. That
is the NFL's equivalent to Christmas morning.

Tony Scheffler- was out with a groin injury prior to the
Broncos bye week. He has a nice matchup vs. Miami if
he's healthy.

Anthony Fasano- the Broncos offer little resistance on
defense and have lost Champ Bailey.

Good Bet: Al. Smith vs. Chiefs, Da. Clark vs. Patriots
L.J. Smith vs. Seahawks, Shiancoe vs. Texans


Unfavorable:

Kellen Winslow- will struggle vs. Ed Reed and the rest
of his Ravens buddies.

Bo Scaife- the Packers will lock down on Collins primary
target.

Chris Cooley- the Steelers have the best pass defense in
football and will make life miserable for all of the Redskins
skill players.

Bad Bet: Lee vs. Titans, H. Miller vs. Redskins


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. Expect the Cardinals to
score often which will force the Rams follow suit.

Matt Prater- has the best leg in football and kicks in
Mile High this week vs. the Dolphins.

Robbie Gould- should have plenty of opportunities as
the Bears move the ball at will vs. the Lions.

Good Bet: Bryant vs. Chiefs, K. Brown vs. Vikings
Rackers vs. Rams, Vinatieri vs. Patriots


Unfavorable:

Mason Crosby- the Titans defense is stingy yielding
a league best 12.4 ppg.

Jeff Reed- the Steelers/Redskins brawl on Monday
night shapes up to be a hard hitting, low scoring affair.

Shaun Suisham- will not get many chances vs. the
Steelers.

Bad Bet: Hansen vs. Bears, Barth vs. Bucs


6. DEF's: Matchups

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

Favorable:

Tampa Bay- faces a young QB in Thigpen who does
not have a strong running game to keep this aggressive
defense honest.

Baltimore- the Ravens could be getting starting CB
Samari Rolle back from an injury to soften the loss
of Chris McAlister. Browns Donte Stallworth has a
sore quad and may not play allowing the Ravens to
focus on Edwards & Winslow.

Philadelphia- Jim Johnson's blitzing defense will
create confusion for Seahawks QB Seneca Wallace.
Seattle's running game will be thwarted which should
cause the young signal caller to make mistakes in the
passing game.

Good Bet: Chicago vs. Lions, Pittsburgh vs. Redskins


Unfavorable:

Minnesota- the Texans strength stacks up well vs.
the weakness in the Vikings defense. Schaub and co.
will exploit Minnesota's secondary.

New England- faces a Colts offense that has a great
deal to prove. Peyton Manning should have his best
game of the season vs. a Patriots backline that allows
7.3 ypa and has yielded 11 TD's over the top.

Washington- Roethlisberger will throw deep as the
Redskins have had trouble applying pressure on QB's.
As long as the Steelers protect the ball Washington
will have problems scoring points without sacks in what
should be a low scoring game.

Bad Bet: Indianapolis vs. Patriots


The Walking Wounded: (October 30th)

Matt Hasselbeck has been ruled out for the game vs.
the Eagles. Seneca Wallace gets the start & has little
value.

Carson Palmer will sit out week 9 with elbow problems.
Ryan Fitzpatrick gets the call vs. the Jaguars.

Ben Roethlisberger is still dealing with a sore shoulder.
He's expected to start vs. the Redskins on Monday night.

Aaron Rodgers threw lightly on the sidelines preparing
for the Titans on Sunday.

Steven Jackson is likely to return from a quad injury to
face the Cardinals. He is practicing without limitations
but is still questionable.

Willis McGahee missed practice with a sore ankle but
is likely to start vs. the Browns.

Ryan Torain is the healthiest of the Broncos RB's and
may receive extensive action vs. the Dolphins. He does
not have a great matchup as Miami allows only 3.7 ypc.
Michael Pittman has sore ribs and Selvin Young is
still struggling with a groin strain.

Clinton Portis sustained an ankle injury and is likely to
be limited in practice. He's expected to start against the
Steelers on Monday night.

Joseph Addai practiced & could play vs. the Patriots.
Dominic Rhodes sat out practice with a sore ankle.

Willie Parker is making progress and hopes to play vs.
the Redskins. Mewelde Moore is likely to stay in the
mix diluting the value of both backs.

Ahman Green sat out practice with lingering groin and
hamstring injuries. He's questionable for the Vikings.

Warrick Dunn was held out of practice with back issues.
He's not likely to play vs. the Chiefs increasing Earnest
Graham's value.

LaMont Jordan returned to practice from a nagging calf
injury. He has a solid matchup vs. the Colts defense which
has allowed 4.2 ypc & 9 TD's especially if Sammy Morris
cannot play. Morris missed practice.

Darren McFadden his injured the toe on the other foot
and now suffers from multiple turf toes. He is sporting a
walking boot in practice & may not be healthy for the rest
of the year. Fargas will get the bulk of the snaps vs. the
Falcons & is playable against a run defense which allows
4.7 ypc.

Santana Moss tweaked a hamstring but should be ready
for a Monday night fracas with Pittsburgh.

Brandon Lloyd returned to practice and has a nice start
against the Lions.

Deion Branch has already been scratched from a week 9
game against the Eagles.

Donte Stallworth reinjured a quad & will be questionable
for the Ravens who would be able to focus on Edwards
if Stallworth is sidelined.

Reggie Brown practiced and is expected to play against
the Seahawks giving McNabb a full compliment of WR's
vs. a soft pass defense.

Brandon Stokely is expected to return from a concussion
to face a porous Dolphins secondary.

Kevin Walter missed practice with a knee injury. He has
a nice matchup against the Vikings and is a solid #3. Stay
tuned.

Laveranues Coles sat out with a thigh injury. He has been
nicked up and played every week so it's highly likely that he
will suit up against the Bills.

Josh Reed will be out several weeks with assorted ailments.
Roscoe Parrish should be the beneficiary of more snaps.

Jason Witten has a fractured rib but wants to play vs. the
Giants. He's likely to be a gametime decision so it's prudent
to have a plan B in case Witten sits. Martellus Bennett
would fill in at TE for the Cowboys.

L.J. Smith suffered a concussion and will be questionable to
play against Seattle.

Tony Scheffler was limited in practice due to a groin injury.
It's advisable to have a plan B should Tony need more time
to heal.

CB Shaun Springs is out for the Steelers which bodes well
for deep threat Nate Washington.

All Pro OT Chris Samuels is expected to return for Monday
night's battle with Pittsburgh. Even with Samuels, Portis
will have tough running vs. the NFL's #1 run defense.

Defensive player of the year SS Bob Sanders has a chance
to return to action which would be bad news for all Patriots
RB's.

Bills DE Aaron Schobel sat out again nursing a sore foot.
He's missed the past 2 games & Favre would benefit greatly
if Schobel can't go.

Bears CB's Charles Tillman and Nathan Vasher are still
limited in practice. Shaun McDonald gets an upgrade to
a playable #3 if either misses the contest.

Ravens stellar CB Chris McAlister could be done for the
season with a knee injury. Samari Rolle may return which
would soften the impact of McAlister's loss on a stout pass
defense.


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